Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue
Rated as the #1 podcast on all matters interfaith by Feedspot (https://blog.feedspot.com/interfaith_podcasts/), this is a weekly program that airs on Michigan NPR affiliates WGVU and WGVK. These 2 stations cover the entire western portion of the state. The show is hosted by Fred Stella, President of Interfaith Dialogue Association, an affiliate of Kaufman Interfaith Institute, which operates out of Grand Valley State University, the license holder of both stations.
Each week Fred invites clerics, authors, activists and the occasional mystic into conversation about the role of spirituality and religion in politics, world affairs, societies and individuals. The parameters are quite wide.
Besides his passion for all things transcendent, Fred Stella has an extensive resume in the world of media. Since his graduation from college Fred has worked in multiple radio formats, including news/talk, where he developed his skills in the art of the interview. He also has extensive experience in TV, stage, web entertainment, audiobook narration and more. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Philosophy
Religion
News
Progressive
Religion & Spirituality
Society & Culture
Interviews
News Commentary
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 54 minutes
- Episodes
- 335
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Roman Catholic Women Priests: Valid but Illicit Parts 1 & 2
At the 2019 Parliament of World Religions I met a group of women at a booth that claimed they were fully ordained Roman Catholic priests. Needless to say, I was taken aback, and quickly questioned …
00:56:24 |
Fri 29 Jan 2021
John Fetzer: A Powerfully Lived Life in the Spirit Parts 1 & 2
Here in West Michigan the name Fetzer is well known. The Kalamazoo area businessman owned a broadcast complex of WKZO-AM/FM/TV. Little did the community know that this nominal Presbyterian was engage…
00:55:30 |
Thu 28 Jan 2021
Walking Each Other Home: Conversations On Loving & Dying Parts 1 & 2
These were wonderful conversations with Mirabai Starr. Those of us of a certain age will most likely have a fond place in our hearts for Ram Dass of "Be Here Now" fame. For the past several years he …
00:56:29 |
Tue 26 Jan 2021
Religion & The Midterms 2018 Parts 1 & 2
Yes, it may be dated, but it's often interesting to go back in time to find out where & what we were at any given moment. When this aired we were waiting with bated breath to find out if there was go…
00:27:24 |
Wed 13 Jan 2021
American Buddhism Today parts 1 & 2
Shuji Mintzmeyer is one of the leading voices in contemporary Buddhism in Michigan. One of the things I do is coordinate speakers from different religions for schools, colleges, churches, etc. Whenev…
00:56:38 |
Fri 08 Jan 2021
The Religious Liberty Task Force: Much Ado About Nothing Parts 1 & 2
Former AG Jeff Sessions did a great deal of damage to this nation before he was unceremoniously booted by Trump out of his office. Interestingly, his demise was an example of a rare showing of nobili…
00:58:26 |
Tue 05 Jan 2021
What's Behind America's Promotion of Religious Liberty Abroad Parts 1 & 2
As with many other terms, the political/religious right has co-opted "religious liberty." For many in the center & left it referred to the tolerance & acceptance of those who practice a minority fait…
00:56:59 |
Sat 02 Jan 2021
The State of the Church: One Man's Take Parts 1 & 2
Fr. Patrick Collins has been a guest on CT multiple times. We enjoy his point of view because he approaches the various issues confronting the Catholic Church with a progressive, yet not radical, mi…
00:52:49 |
Fri 01 Jan 2021
Chaplaincy, The Government: Religion Meets The Legislature Parts 1 & 2
Ever wonder how we as a secular nation support chaplains in various aspects of our government? Whether one believes this is correct or not, we certainly have precedent--over 200 years of tax supporte…
00:55:17 |
Fri 01 Jan 2021
The Monk's Record Player: Thomas Merton & Bob Dylan Parts 1 & 2
There are 2 icons of the 60s who spoke to, for the most part, different audiences. Fr. Thomas Merton was a legendary Catholic monk who inspired thousands of Christians to adapt a more contemplative l…
00:54:19 |
Wed 30 Dec 2020
The Life of Yogananda Parts 1 & 2
In the 20th century a good number of Hindu teachers emigrated to the US. One of the most influential was the man known as Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952). He began a small school in India that grew …
00:56:48 |
Tue 29 Dec 2020
Hiding Out: A Memoir of Drugs, Deception and Double Lives Parts 1 & 2
We would not be living up to our mission at Common Threads if we did not occasionally explore the dark side of religion. This is one of those times. Tina Alexis Allen, in 2018, brought to us a very …
00:57:09 |
Mon 28 Dec 2020
‘At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life' Parts 1 & 2
Dr. Sam Harrington joins us for conversation on his book, ‘At Peace: Choosing a Good Death After a Long Life.’
Sam Harrington is an honors graduate of Harvard College and the University of Wisconsin…
00:55:15 |
Wed 23 Dec 2020
‘Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.’
Fr. James Martin has a reputation of being a very inclusive thinker in Catholic circles. So much so that he occasionally get in trouble Case in point: In this 2018 interview he details the slings & a…
00:56:48 |
Mon 21 Dec 2020
‘The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching,’ ‘A Pursued Justice: Black Preaching from the Great Migration to Civil Rights’ Parts 1 & 2
When we think of the truly unique American Religious experiences, we must include the African-American church. And of course, the hallmark of that would be the preaching. Not only did it provide spir…
00:56:39 |
Sat 19 Dec 2020
CPR For the Soul Parts 1 & 2
It's always a treat to have my cousin Fr. Tom Stella on as a guest. He's been on multiple times, but it seems some of the older episodes are lost in the ether. I'm happy to have these 2 from 2018, wh…
00:57:24 |
Fri 18 Dec 2020
The Proselytizers and the Privatizers: The Ruinous Reign of Betsy DeVos Parts 1 & 2
Ah, yes. Another couple of shows on the corrupt &incompetent Trump administration, as it once again intersects with the world of religion. Here we interview Katherine Stewart, who wrote an insightful…
00:55:46 |
Thu 17 Dec 2020
Remember Roy Moore? That Kinda Creepy Guy Revisited Parts 1 & 2
I know that one could dismiss these episodes as being rather dated. The originally aired in January of 2018, shortly after the special election in Alabama that made Roy Moore somewhat redundant. But…
00:55:05 |
Wed 16 Dec 2020
So What Happens When a Rabbi Gets a Really, Really Nasty Anti-Semitic Letter? Parts 1 & 2
This is an amazing story, seriously. My good friend Rabbi David Krishef gets a letter that is just one long anti-Jewish screed from a Christian man that so many others would have just thrown away wit…
00:57:53 |
Sat 12 Dec 2020
Lived Hinduism: Religion Beyond Academics Parts 1 & 2
One of the major beefs (OK, not the best word in this context here) that so many Hindu friends have with academia is that when they study Hinduism in high school & college they don't really recognize…
00:57:39 |
Thu 10 Dec 2020
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are the property of Fred Stella. This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by eachpod.com.