An exploration of the Universal House of Justice's Ridvan message for 2025. Includes an exploration of the construct of 'hope' - a summary of key achievements over the past year - and an appeal based on the urgency of the hour. The episode concludes with an original song, "Ridvan 2025", exploring key themes in the message. Contents: 0:00 Introduction 1:28 A dark, dark world 3:56 A focus on hope 15:57 Achievements of the year 24:09 Urgency of the hour 26:00 Closing thoughts 27:25 Song: "Ridvan 20...
Apr 22, 2025•32 min•Ep. 38
An exploration of two key messages by the Universal House of Justice exploring Bahá’í family life: The message of March 19th, 2025 and its Naw Ruz message (2025) to the Baha'is of Iran. We explore the evolution of a new construct in our new Society Building aspirations: 'The Bahá’í Home' - focusing on marriage, family, community and the role of family in elevating conditions in wider society. The episode concludes with an original song summarizing the theme: "The Bahá’í Home". Note: The close of...
Apr 05, 2025•44 min•Ep. 37
An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'. In Part Four, we explore how our approaches need to facilitate learning in action across four stages: Action, reflection, consultation and study which is framed by application of the Creative Word and scientific analysis. The episode concludes with the original song "Learning Together in Action" which summarizes the theme of the episode. CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 1:49 Learning in Action ...
Mar 19, 2025•29 min•Ep. 36
An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'. In Part Three we explore the power of capacity building - and how even impossible dreams can be met as we cultivate this capacity. We explore this on three levels of capacity building: for the individual; for institutions; and for the community. This episode sets the stage for the final episode in our sequence on social action which will explore learning in action. The episode concludes w...
Mar 15, 2025•35 min•Ep. 35
An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'. In Part Two, we explore how our approaches should be participatory, giving agency to all. We discuss how this builds on the construct of 'universal participation' and frame agency as both right and responsibility. We conclude by focusing on the change each of us can make in our lives and in the lives of the communities around us. CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 2:19 What is Agency? 6:45 Univer...
Feb 19, 2025•29 min•Ep. 34
An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'. In Part One, we explore two key principles: Organic Growth (that initiatives should start small and grow over time) and coherence (finding balance between our material and spiritual needs). CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 5:10 Organic Growth 20:13 Coherence 29:06 Closing Thoughts
Nov 07, 2024•32 min•Ep. 33
The third and final episode in a sequence exploring Bahá’í-inspired approaches to depolarization. Part three explores how to break false binaries and how to optimize conditions for contact between antagonistic groups, including a strong positive-to-negative ratio, facilitating synchronicity, empowering participant agency, dialog over debate and the role of theories of change.
Aug 01, 2024•41 min•Ep. 32
An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to depolarization building on what we've been learning over the past few episodes from the world's leading luminaries in this discourse. Part Two explores what we can do to help 're-humanize' the other and how we can better listen to and understand others so that they truly feel 'heard'. CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 3:19 Re-Humanization 18:51 Active Listening 24:33 Closing Thoughts
Jul 11, 2024•28 min•Ep. 31
An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to depolarization building on what we've been learning over the past few episodes from the world's leading luminaries in this discourse. Part One explores what we can do to limit the influence of toxic polarization in our own lives and how we can best regulate our own behavior so we don't unintentionally contribute to the problem. Show notes: Dr. Peter Coleman's Polarization Detox Challenge: https://startswith.us/pdc/ Gary Friedman: https://understand...
Jun 07, 2024•34 min•Ep. 30
An exploration of the Ridvan Message of 2024 by the Universal House of Justice. The message explores the interaction between the forces of disintegration and integration at work in the world today - highlighting the inescapable need for a sustained, rapid rise in the number of those committing their time, energy and concentration to the success of our peace-building initiatives. CONTENTS: 0:00 Introduction 1:26 Dark Times 8:15 Our Role as Haven 11:24 Methods & Instruments 12:58 Our Message 1...
Apr 20, 2024•19 min•Ep. 29
In this episode we explore the recent message which the Universal House of Justice sent to the Baha'is in Iran on Naw Ruz (March 20th, 2024). The message is not only important for the love and admiration which the Universal House of Justice showers on the Persian Bahá’i community, suffering under intense and relentless persecution, but also because in many ways, it represents the next chapter, building on its November 28, 2023 message - helping us navigate a path to universal peace. The episode ...
Mar 25, 2024•41 min•Ep. 28
An interview with Nealin Parker, Executive Director of Common Ground USA, exploring the range of like-minded organizations contributing to depolarization (including over 6,700 such organizations in the US alone). Nealin explores the different approaches such organizations take and provides guidance on how to find collaborators, assess their quality and best engage with them. She also explores the role of neighborhoods, society building and more. Organization referenced in episode (in order of ap...
Feb 28, 2024•55 min•Ep. 27
An interview with Dr. Lisa Schirch, a global authority on social media's impact on polarization. Here, Dr. Schirch explains how the algorithms that drive social media platforms favor polarization, a force further amplified by malicious foreign actors exploiting the platforms. She also explores solutions at the individual level designed to improve our media diet and improve our etiquette of expression. CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 2:10 How social media amplify polarization 14:27 Feeding our lower n...
Feb 03, 2024•58 min•Ep. 26
An interview with Andrea Bartoli, former dean of a number of prestigious conflict resolution schools; diplomat; and President of the Sant'Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue. Andrea shares insights from his participation in a number of successful peace initiatives, starting with efforts that brought an end to the civil war in Mozambique. He also shares lessons learned through Sant'Egidio, a Catholic force for peace.
Jan 01, 2024•54 min•Ep. 25
On November 28, 2023, the Universal House of Justice shared its message providing a history of our organic evolution as a community over the past hundred years. This episode explores parts of that message addressing the 'society building' focus across four key themes: the organic evolution of initiatives, our interaction with wider society, principles for society building and the interplay between the forces of integration and disintegration at work in the world today.
Dec 01, 2023•54 min•Ep. 24
An interview with Rabbi Roly Matalon sharing his efforts to promote depolarization including an amazing exchange which saw representatives of his very progressive-liberal congregation living with MAGA supporters for three days - followed by their living with his congregation for three days. The results of this exchange will move you and highlight the power of personal transformation in better learning to understand others.
Oct 30, 2023•46 min•Ep. 23
An interview with global pioneer in mediation training, Gary Friedman, co-founder of the Center for Understanding in Conflict which has trained over 10,000 mediators. Gary has taught at both Harvard and Stanford and for the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva and the American Bar Association and is the author of three books. In this episode, Gary shares his 'understanding-based' model of mediation, providing strategies to help those in conflict better understand each other in thei...
Oct 01, 2023•50 min•Ep. 22
An interview with award-winning scholar, Dr. Peter Coleman, sharing his research at Columbia University's 'Difficult Conversations Lab', exploring the variables best contributing to bringing antagonistic groups closer together. In this 'power hour', discover the main principles which have emerged in the scientific literature for effective depolarization. This includes the benefits of complicating the narrative, the power of movement, pursuing a common goal, the limits of contact theory, apprecia...
Sep 01, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 21
An interview with award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley who shares insights on the science of bringing antagonistic groups together based on her recent best-selling book, High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out. Includes discussion on evidence-based strategies for depolarization and on how the Baha'i community serves as a role model in this arena. CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 5:20 Background to the Book 11:29 Avoiding High Conflict 16:03 Feeling Heard 19:10 Breaking Binaries 21:00 Av...
Aug 16, 2023•57 min•Ep. 20
How can you best engage withe the prevalent discourses of society? In this episode, we explore FIVE stages one should consider in engaging with a discourse: Prioritizing which discourse to engage with. 'Reading society' and getting familiar with the discourse. Immersion in the Baha'i Writings in search of relevant insights. Sharing insights in ways that be best understood and welcomed. Reflection - an iterative cycle of action and reflection. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 3:27 Choosing a Discourse ...
Aug 04, 2023•37 min•Ep. 19
The term 'discourse' means different things to different academic disciplines. There's a difference, for example, between political vs. scientific discourse. In this episode, we explore what discourse means to Baha'is, focusing on five key characteristics: 1. A unifying focus; 2. We view discourse as consultative; 3. We strive for an uplifting approach; 4. Our contributions are principled; 5. We focus on constructive solutions. We close the episode also exploring approaches which we should avoid...
Jul 24, 2023•49 min•Ep. 18
Hot off the press, this episode explores the 2023 Ridvan Message of the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the World, celebrating the key achievements of the past year while articulating priorities for the upcoming one. It's inspiring guidance shaping the society building endeavors for Baha'i communities worldwide.
May 01, 2023•36 min•Ep. 17
This episode, the third in our trilogy, continues our study of the message of the Universal House of Justice of December 30, 2021, providing us with our mandate for society building. The episode features an interview with Dr. Kynan Feeney, a former Auxiliary Board member, summarizing the remaining 27 paragraphs of the message, addressing clusters, training institutes and Baha'i administration.
Apr 01, 2023•55 min•Ep. 16
This episode, the second in our trilogy, continues our study of the message of the Universal House of Justice of December 30, 2021 providing us with our mandate for society building. In this episode, we explore the fourth section of the message which focuses on social transformation.
Mar 05, 2023•38 min•Ep. 15
This is the first of a three part trilogy exploring the message of the Universal House of Justice of December 30, 2021 laying out the vision for Society Building for the global Baha'i community for the next 25 years. Part 1 (this episode) explores the 'bookends' of the message - the first and last sections.
Feb 26, 2023•45 min•Ep. 14
The third in a three part trilogy exploring how the early American Baha'i community championed race unity - perhaps the best example of society building by Baha'is in the Western World. This episode explores the impact the work of the early American Baha'i community had in the evolution of the nascent Civil Rights Movement. It features interviews with Dr. Robert Stockman, Dr. Gayle Morrison, Dr. Chris Buck and Dr. Guy Emerson Mount.
Feb 16, 2023•56 min•Ep. 13
This is the second in a 3 part sequence exploring how the early American Baha'i community championed race unity - perhaps the best example of society building by Baha'is in the Western World. This episode explores Abdul-Baha's engagement with the American race unity discourse - focusing on His talks to African-American audiences in 1912. This sets the stage for our next episode where we explore the impact this all had on both the transformation of the American Baha'i community and on the nascent...
Dec 31, 2022•17 min•Ep. 12
This is the first in a 3 part sequence exploring how the early American Baha'i community championed race unity - perhaps the best example of society building by Baha'is in the Western World. This episode explores the historical context prior to Abdul-Baha's arrival in America. We explore how 'scientific racism' marred racial attitudes throughout America - and how churches that once championed the abolition of slavery now turned a blind eye - setting the stage for Abdul-Baha'is engagement with th...
Dec 25, 2022•27 min•Ep. 11
This episode continues our interview with eminent Baha'i historian, Dr. Moojan Momen, on the transformation of education in Iran facilitated by the Persian Baha'i community's network of over 60 schools spread throughout the nation. At a time when Iran was almost entirely illiterate, the literacy rate in the Baha'i community was near universal. It's a remarkable story. In this episode we explore the impact this network of schools had in Iran - and the circumstances that led to their closure by im...
Dec 18, 2022•27 min•Ep. 10
In our last two episodes, we explored how the early Persian Baha'i community engaged in society building by helping facilitate a discourse on governance reform for Iran. But with the enactment of Iran's first constitution, the reform movement grew increasingly divisive resulting in Abdul-Baha advising the Persian Baha'i community to disengage with political reform and instead focus its energies on address social reform. Baha'is then turned their attention to, among other needs, transforming educ...
Dec 11, 2022•27 min•Ep. 9
