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
The Story of the Yazidis Parts 1 & 2
Most of us have never heard of the ancient people known as the Yazidis. It has been only in recent times since the invasion of ISIS that resulted an unmerciful slaughter of so many.
Houman Oliaei …
00:54:56 |
Fri 30 Sep 2022
Khalistan: Anatomy of Terror Parts 1 & 2
There are several forces at work to break up India into separate ethno-religious states. The odd thing here is that the vast majority of Sikhs in the Punjab really enjoy being Indian. Yet, there is a…
00:57:00 |
Thu 15 Sep 2022
Race, Religion & The Future of Democracy Parts 1 & 2 Featuring Lisa Sharon Harper
As I say in the beginning of Part 1, I met Lisa at the Council on Foreign Relations conference on Religion & Foreign Policy in 2016. We reconnected at the same event in 2022. Our conversations are ex…
00:57:53 |
Fri 05 Aug 2022
The Medium & The Minister Parts 1 & 2
You don't have to 'be religious' to believe there may be a life after death.
The Medium and the Minister explores psychical and religious approaches to the possibility of an afterlife. The tensions…
00:54:10 |
Sat 23 Jul 2022
Is Wokeism Becoming a Religion? Parts 1 & 2
Close to the top of Culture War issues is the concept of Wokeism. It's such a loaded word. And the thing is, it not only riles those on the right, but can be a pain for more progressive people as wel…
00:57:28 |
Fri 17 Jun 2022
From Jerusalem to Delhi Parts 1 & 2
At 1st glance, it would seem that Jews and Hindus have very little in common. Judaism is known as one of "the great monotheistic religions of the world." How can there be much to talk about with a re…
00:55:51 |
Thu 12 May 2022
Hindu and Black Americans: An Important Alliance in Civil Rights Parts 1 & 2
When we think about the religious communities that offered assistance to the civil rights struggles of the past and present, we don't usually think of Hindus. There is a good reason for that. Nonethe…
00:55:34 |
Fri 08 Apr 2022
In Good Faith: Questioning Religion & Atheism Parts 1 & 2
As I mention in the introduction to Part 1, it is rare that you find someone from the theist crowd acknowledging that the other camp has something important to say. I was impressed with this book's a…
00:44:07 |
Wed 30 Mar 2022
Breakfast With Seneca: The Brilliance of Stoicism Parts 1 & 2
Today our use of the word "stoic" is so far removed from how it is used classically. I'm so glad our old friend & colleague David Fideler decided to get in touch with us about his new book "Breakfa…
00:55:05 |
Sun 27 Mar 2022
Simple Truths: On Values, civility & Our Common Good Parts 1 & 2
I recall really enjoying these 2006 conversations with Rev. Stephen Bauman, who is a pastor for a church in NYC. We discuss the rewards & challenges of being a spiritual leader in the city that never…
00:54:10 |
Fri 25 Mar 2022
The Growing Power of Christian Nationalism Parts 1 & 2
Since Trump never went away like a good ex-president should, we must continue to be vigilant, as his hapless followers are determined to wreak havoc on our democracy. There are many strains of this t…
00:55:56 |
Thu 17 Mar 2022
Krishna Consciousness Parts 1 & 2
I am just about done with digitizing these old cassette copies of episodes from the ancient past. I have no honest idea as to the air dates of these. I suspect we're talking about the very early year…
00:54:25 |
Wed 16 Mar 2022
UFOs, Religion and Purgatory Parts with Diana Pasulka 1 & 2
Boy, do we cover a lot of ground in these 2 episodes! As I state in my introduction to Part 1, over beer & pizza my cousin Andres tells me about this awesome author he's read who he thinks would be a…
00:56:30 |
Fri 25 Feb 2022
Reparations: A Moral Imperative Parts 1 & 2
We are now hearing and reading about a subject that has been thrown in the back of the closet for decades. The question before us is: Should the descendants of slaves be compensated for the invaluabl…
00:56:38 |
Sun 20 Feb 2022
The Value of Preserving Indigenous Culture Parts 1 & 2
These episodes from 2006 were real finds for me. My guests here are Yashwant Pathak & Shekhar Patel from the International Center for Cultural Studies. They make a solid case for protecting the many…
00:53:18 |
Sat 19 Feb 2022
A Good Way to Die: The Moonies Who Worship Guns Parts 1 & 2
Back in the 70s, a religious punchline often included "The Moonies." That's what members of the Unification Cult were called, in reference to their messy messiah Sun Myung Moon. We haven't heard much…
00:56:13 |
Fri 18 Feb 2022
The Making of Biblical Womanhood Parts 1 & 2
In November of 2021 Calvin University presented an online conference that focused on how Evangelical Christianity has, over time, defined just what made a woman "godly." Needless to say, in this 21st…
01:21:37 |
Wed 16 Feb 2022
Hildegard of Bingen: Mysticism Today Parts 1 & 2
These are wonderful conversations that I had in 2021 with author Susan Garthwaite. We discuss the wisdom of St. Hildegard, a 12th century mystic who was a woman of great regard by the Catholic Church…
00:52:52 |
Sun 13 Feb 2022
The Kashmir Files Parts 1 & 2
The movie The Kashmir Files was slated for a massive release in India in January of 2022. Due to Covid it is being held back. Here in the US there were some private screenings in major metro areas. …
00:52:31 |
Sat 05 Feb 2022
SpiritualPerspectives on Globalism Parts 1 & 2
I do take great pains to correctly ID the year of original broadcast of these oldies; but remember, they all came out of 2 big boxes sequestered in my basement. Very few had any markings on the casse…
00:55:42 |
Sat 05 Feb 2022
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