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
Zoroastrianism--The forerunner of The Judeo-Christian Tradition Parts 1 & 2
If you've never studied the teachings of Zoroastrianism I highly suggest these episodes. It occurred to me during my conversation with Sharooz Ash that this religion seems to be a fascinating middle …
00:56:58 |
Wed 30 Sep 2020
Diary of an Afghan Refugee Parts 1 &2
Gulwali Passarlay is an Afghan political refugee. He joins us to talk about the plight of refugees around the world and the book he's co-written about his experiences called, The Lightless Sky. This…
00:53:51 |
Tue 29 Sep 2020
The Aspen Institute & Interfaith Engagement in West Michigan Parts 1 &2
These episodes might not be of interest to many outside of Michigan, but we are proud & pleased that the venerable Aspen Institute took notice of our very progressive interfaith engagement scene here…
00:42:58 |
Sun 27 Sep 2020
White Dresses--A Memior of Love & Secrets, Mothers & Daughters Parts 1 & 2
We welcomed Mary Pflum Peterson to the program. Mary is the author of White Dresses: A Memoir of Love and Secrets, Mothers and Daughters. In the book, Mary describes her discovery that her mother …
00:56:16 |
Fri 25 Sep 2020
Hindu World Service parts 1 & 2
It is frustrating for many Hindus to see that the common narrative is that they must rely on the beneficence of missionaries for any charitable efforts in basic sustenance, healthcare, disaster relie…
00:55:15 |
Thu 24 Sep 2020
Did God Kill Jesus? Parts 1 & 2
From 2015, these are great episodes for the theologically minded. Rev. Tony Jones offers a variety of views on just exactly what the death of Jesus meant. Tony is of brilliant mind. I think I need to…
00:56:13 |
Wed 23 Sep 2020
I Saw The Holy City--Charleston in the aftermath as Pilgrimage Parts 1 & 2
Back in 2015 a friend alerted me to an article published by a local (Grand Rapids, MI) writer about her experiences going to Charleston shortly after the horrendous massacre at Mother Emmanuel Church…
00:54:48 |
Tue 22 Sep 2020
Latter Day Saints--Mormons Next Door Parts 1 & 2
From 2015, this is a conversation with Garth Aamodt, a Mormon who is a member of the IDA Speakers Bureau. We've sent him out to speak on the LDS all over West Michigan.
00:55:13 |
Mon 21 Sep 2020
Oppression--Religious Repression & Violence in Bangladesh Parts 1 & 2
In the early 1970s the more religiously tolerant East Pakistan broke away from West Pakistan to form the new nation of Bangladesh. Sadly, though it was founded as a secular state it later fell into I…
00:55:57 |
Sun 20 Sep 2020
Interfaith Alliance-Civility in Politics & Religion
I'm not sure when we aired this episode, but it had to be in the late '90s or very early 00s. I just did a search, & the only presence IA has these days in our state seems to be as a student org at …
00:28:22 |
Sun 20 Sep 2020
Islam in the Black Community
I suspect that this episode goes back to the beginning--perhaps 1997 or '98. Our guest is Noah Seifullah, who was the imam of the predominantly Black mosque here in Grand Rapids, MI then. It has bee…
00:28:42 |
Fri 18 Sep 2020
The True Story of an Interfaith Pioneer Parts 1 & 2
I've got no real date on this one, but I'm suspecting it is from 1998 or 9. I'll warn you up front that the sound quality is not at all up to snuff. It's been interesting uploading these ancient cas…
01:06:16 |
Wed 16 Sep 2020
Standing Still__Hearing the Call to a Spirit Centered Life Parts 1 & 2
These episodes aired in 2006. Meredith Jordan has appeared on Common Threads a few times. She's really an insightful woman. Her books are still available, but doing a quick web search, I am not able…
00:55:48 |
Sun 13 Sep 2020
The God of Intimacy & Action Parts 1 & 2
These episodes are among my favorites. Over the years I have referred people to the book we discuss here many times. These aired in 2007.
Here's the thing, while generalizations go only so far, it's…
00:55:37 |
Sat 12 Sep 2020
The Nature of Good & Evil in Christianity, Islam & Hinduism
What a find! I really thought that the only show I had featuring Marc Evan Jackson was the very 1st one that is in our collection here. Lo & behold, I find another ancient cassette. And the fidelity…
00:46:02 |
Thu 10 Sep 2020
Remembrance--A Holocaust Pilgrimage Parts 1 &2
These episodes, which aired in 2007, feature an interview with co-founder of IDA Dr. Lillian Sigal. We discuss her journey to Germany where she, along with other interfaith enthusiasts, observed the …
00:57:32 |
Wed 09 Sep 2020
Avatar--Anatomy of a Scam Parts 1 & 2
This is from 2001. I interview 2 promoters of Avatar, a for-profit org that "sells enlightenment." OK, that's a bit overblown. But if you search the internet you'll find many ex-members who tell the …
01:00:31 |
Mon 07 Sep 2020
The Boulder Institute--Interfaith & Ecological Activism Parts 1 & 2
I know, I know, If you are wondering why I publish so many episodes that promote events that happened years ago, I get that some might consider this pretty useless. But the messages from the speaker…
00:52:50 |
Sun 06 Sep 2020
Plain Secrets--An Outsider Among the Amish Parts 1 & 2
These episodes come from 2007. They contain very insightful conversations with Prof. Joe Mackall, the author of the book Plain Secrets. The audio quality is OK, which is better than some of the class…
00:56:29 |
Fri 04 Sep 2020
Joel Beversluis--A Powerful Interfaith Voice in His Time Parts 1 & 2
These episodes are from 2000. They feature conversations with one of the most important people in the interfaith movement in West Michigan at that time. Joel Beversluis was an international presence.…
00:56:59 |
Fri 04 Sep 2020
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