- 17
- Episodes
- Bi-weekly
- Cadence
- 2025
- First episode
About Interfaith Conversations
Here, we connect with each other's faith and beliefs. Here minds are opened, hearts are strengthened, and souls are knitted together. Please join us!
- Publisher
- Matthew McKnight
- Category
- religion & spirituality
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 20 Jan 2025
- Latest episode
- 18 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
17 episodes in the feed.
18 Sept 2026
16 - Building Bridges at Interfaith America with Scott Rasmussen
Have you ever wondered how to overcome the incessant beat of negativity online and in our communities today? Looking for ways to bridge divides? Then you should check out Interfaith America!Interfaith America is a non-profit organization that brings together people from all different perspectives—from Atheists all the way to Zoroastrians. They offer programs to improve interreligous dialogue, youth engagement, and help heal our diverse communities. Come learn more about them on this episode!I sat down with Scott Rasmussen to tell me all about Interfaith America and share his own experience as a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer involved in peace building efforts between Israelis and Palestinians. Interfaith Americahttps://www.interfaithamerica.org/ Links to their Team UP Projecthttps://www.interfaithamerica.org/programs/team-up/ https://teamupproject.org/ Touro Synagogue info https://youtu.be/q1mqU3RDwkQ?si=Hjx0QRQ9ip-m1dSuPresident George Washington’s letter to Touro Synagogue can be found here:https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0135Avery Field story https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/service-shared-value-braid-student-american-university/#interfaith #interfaithamerica #dialogue
18 Sept 2026
15 - How to Find Purpose in Life with Dr. Robert Quinn - Part 2
Have you ever wondered what your life could be like if you found greater purpose? On today’s episode, I sit down with one of the world’s greatest experts on how to find and live life with purpose. Dr. Robert E. Quinn, who goes by Bob by those who know him, spent decades researching how help people the world over learn how to find purpose in order to live happier, more impact lives. Please join us and make sure to watch the upcoming part 2 of this episode! Dr. Robert E. Quinn’s Websites https://robertequinn.com/https://michiganross.umich.edu/faculty-research/faculty/robert-quinn Prof. Barbara Fredrickson http://unclineberger.org/directory/barbara-fredrickson/ Most recent book (from 2025) https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Emotions-Scientific-Contributions-Cornerstones/dp/0197754791
13 Aug 2026
15 - How to Find Purpose in Life with Dr. Robert E. Quinn
Have you ever wondered what your life could be like if you found greater purpose? On today’s episode, I sit down with one of the world’s greatest experts on how to find and live life with purpose. Dr. Robert E. Quinn, who goes by Bob by those who know him, spent decades researching how help people the world over learn how to find purpose in order to live happier, more impact lives. Please join us and make sure to watch the upcoming part 2 of this episode!Dr. Robert E. Quinn’s Websiteshttps://robertequinn.com/https://michiganross.umich.edu/faculty-research/faculty/robert-quinn Prof. Barbara Fredricksonhttp://unclineberger.org/directory/barbara-fredrickson/ Most recent book (from 2025)https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Emotions-Scientific-Contributions-Cornerstones/dp/0197754791
16 Apr 2026
14 - What is Interfaith and Why Does it Matter?
What does the word interfaith even mean? And why does interfaith work matter across the world in the digital age? In this episode, I share key points to understanding the interfaith space: Examples of what happens when religious intolerance occurs What is interfaith The Who of interfaith The Outcomes of interfaith The How to interfaith You can use this as a tool to help you in your own community get involved in interfaith engagement! Links to interfaith resources: Local Utah Valley Interfaith Association https://uvinterfaith.org/ (https://uvinterfaith.org/) Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable https://www.interfaithroundtable.org/ (https://www.interfaithroundtable.org/) Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington ( or IFC) https://ifcmw.org/ (https://ifcmw.org/) Montgomery Alabama https://interfaithmontgomery-al.org/home/ (https://interfaithmontgomery-al.org/home/) National Interfaith America https://www.interfaithalliance.org/ (https://www.interfaithalliance.org/) Interfaith Alliance https://www.interfaithalliance.org/history-of-impact (https://www.interfaithalliance.org/history-of-impact) Pluralism project https://pluralism.org/about (https://pluralism.org/about) Association for Interreligious / Interfaith Studies (AIIS) https://www.aiistudies.org/ (https://www.aiistudies.org/) Global General Parliament of World Religions https://parliamentofreligions.org/ (https://parliamentofreligions.org/) United Religions Initiative https://www.uri.org/ (https://www.uri.org/) Peace oriented The Gülen Movement https://www.gulenmovement.com/ (https://www.gulenmovement.com/) Religions for Peace https://www.rfp.org/ (https://www.rfp.org/) Dialogue based KAICIID: https://www.kaiciid.org/who-we-are (https://www.kaiciid.org/who-we-are) Network of Centers for Christian-Muslim Relations (NCCMR) https://nccmr.org/about-nccmr/ (https://nccmr.org/about-nccmr/) Arno Michaelis https://rememberoakcreek.org/story-of-oak-creek/ (https://rememberoakcreek.org/story-of-oak-creek/) https://www.lifeafterhate.org/ (https://www.lifeafterhate.org/) Al Ahmed Story https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-25/bondi-hero-ahmed-al-ahmed-awarded-key-to-city-terror-attack/106495970 (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-25/bondi-hero-ahmed-al-ahmed-awarded-key-to-city-terror-attack/106495970)
27 Dec 2025
13 - Baptists and Latter-day Saints: A Conversation with Pastor Earnest Thomas
Can Baptists and Latter-day Saints (#Mormons) have positive conversations and serve together? Absolutely! In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Earnest Thomas from the community leading Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. We talk about what unites us and how Baptist and Latter-day Saint--or really anyone from any background--can learn to build positive relationships with each other. Please join us!Saint Mark Baptist Church websitehttps://smark.org/Black Church History https://www.pbs.org/show/black-church/https://savingplaces.org/stories/the-black-church-is-a-cultural-laboratory-a-conversation-with-dr-henry-louis-gates-jr“The Black Church” Book on Amazonhttps://a.co/d/ae9qet8Copy of W. W. Phelps Essay in 1833 which led to destruction of Church of Jesus Christ property in Independence Missourihttps://bhroberts.org/records/dAzxtc-nRI2yc/phelps_says_we_have_no_special_rule_in_the_church_as_to_people_of_colorAll In Podcast Episode w/ Mauli Bonner and Paul Reevehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiQhzwYb9Zo&t=131sPresident Nelson’s story of inviting Baptist Pastor to a choir concert and vice versa. Speech given at the NAACP's 110th Annual National Convention.- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JpIyW2S-WA
13 Oct 2025
12 - Interfaith Dialogue with The Reverend Patricia Matthews
In a world of division, how can we relate across our differences in religion or other beliefs? In this episode, I interview The Reverend Patricia Matthews from The Interfaith Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. We talk about each other’s faiths—her Episcopalian tradition and my Latter-day Saint tradition—and discuss how people can engage in interfaith efforts. You don’t want to miss this one! Link to Rev. Patricia and her colleagues' panel discussion at BYU Religious Freedom Annual Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFJrn8c71jk&t=2s The Interfaith Center https://www.theinterfaithcenter.org/ Link to their newsletter https://www.theinterfaithcenter.org/newsletter The Episcopal Church of Utah https://episcopal-ut.org/ Utah’s St. John's Anglican Church (in ACNA) https://www.acna.org/admin_units/158 Book of Common Prayer History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Prayer Link to Book of Common Prayer in Episcopalian tradition (1979) https://www.bcponline.org/
7 Sept 2025
11 - Hartford International with Dr. David Grafton
Have you wondered where people can study in an inter-religious way? Where one can continue in their own faith, but learn from other faiths both in a scholarly and experiential way? In this episode, I highlight Hartford International University, which has a strong track record in teaching religion and peace. I sit down with Dr. David D. Grafton, a professor at the University, to discuss HIU's origins, purpose, and current educational opportunities. I also talk with Dr. Grafton about his career as a top Christian-Muslim relations scholar. Hartford International University websitehttps://www.hartfordinternational.edu/Educational opportunitieshttps://www.hartfordinternational.edu/academic-programs/degrees-and-graduate-certificatesDuncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relationshttps://www.hartfordinternational.edu/religion-research/macdonald-center
26 Jul 2025
10 - Krishna Temple with Caru Das
After learning of an attack on the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, I contacted the local priest Caru Das. I wanted to show my solidarity for the good this faith community has brought to Utah Valley and the world for over 30 years. Caru Das shares about the temple, how his tradition understands God, and their primary sacred text, the Bhagavad Gita. There’s so much wisdom to learn in this clip! Consider helping them recover from this tragic event by donating at their GoFundMe page. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-repairs-to-the-krishna-temple-today (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-repairs-to-the-krishna-temple-today) Check out the links below for the Krishna Temple’s website and social media platforms https://www.utahkrishnas.org/ https://www.facebook.com/krishnatemple (https://www.facebook.com/krishnatemple) https://www.youtube.com/utahkrishnas Krishna Consciousness Website https://www.iskcon.org/ Read the Bhagavad Gita online https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/
29 Jun 2025
9 - Faith and Community Engagement with Dr. Rebecca Glazier
With all the division and skepticism in the world today, many find it hard to relate with others, let alone other faiths. Dr. Rebecca Glazier shares with us how to community engagement not only improves interfaith relationships, but helps people become more active in their community and more respectful of other worldviews. Check out our conversation!Link to BYU's Religious Freedom Annual Review:https://religiousfreedom.byu.edu/Dr. Glazier recently published a book on her 12-year community study in Little Rock, Arkansas on Faith and Community. You can check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Community-Engagement-Strengthens-Democratic/dp/1439925305
19 Jun 2025
8 - The Touro Synagogue
Learn about the earliest built Jewish Synagogue in the US, which is still in use today in Newport, Rhode Island! Check out their website at www.tourosynagogue.org.
19 Jun 2025
7 - Steps to Creating a Peaceful Society with Bassem
Check out our full video of this discussion here:https://youtu.be/yMlAQNQEYOE?si=xo10YmCDWrx41NgiTo learn more about The Peace Institute that Bassem directs, check out the institute's website: https://www.unitedwestandforpeace.org/
19 May 2025
6 - Learning How to Bridge Divides with Bassem Chaaban
What does a life in the pursuit of peace look like? What are tangible ways to overcome bias for yourself and your own community? Please join me in learning from Bassem Chaaban, the Director of The Peace Institute in Florida, about bridging divides and creating peace, both in our communities and society. Learn more about The Peace Institute at their website: https://www.unitedwestandforpeace.org/
11 Mar 2025
5 - What a Latter-day Saint Perspective Brings to Interfaith Conversations (Part 2)
Every religion or belief produces its own “fruit” from the context in which it developed. In this episode, I share the perspective a Latter-day Saint from the Church of Jesus Christ brings to interfaith conversations. The four “fruits” from my own religious tradition that I share in this episode are: We respect everyone's privilege of following their own conscience (religious freedom) We seek for truth, wherever we find it We value caring for others beyond our own faith We strive to become peacemakers and bridge builders Come learn with us! Resources Recension of mormon extermination order https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2018/09/01/missouri-executive-order-44-mormon-war/1147461002/ https://www.sos.mo.gov › 19760625_RescisOrder (https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/archives/resources/findingaids/miscMormRecs/eo/19760625_RescisOrder.pdf) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints population growth 1924 - 2024 https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/growth-of-the-church-from-1924-to-2024 (https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/growth-of-the-church-from-1924-to-2024) Early Church History quotations on Religious Freedom https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/religious-freedom (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/religious-freedom) 1978 Church Statement on great religious leaders and thinkers of the world https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/06d52821-9342-4f20-9cb3-358e6f8c8bfa/0/0 (https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/06d52821-9342-4f20-9cb3-358e6f8c8bfa/0/0) The Church’s 2023 summary for Caring for those in need https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring/annual-summary?lang=eng (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/serve/caring/annual-summary?lang=eng) President Nelson Sermons and Peace Prize “Peacemakers Needed” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng) “Let God Prevail“ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/46nelson?lang=eng (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/46nelson?lang=eng) Peace Prize Info https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-prophet-receives-gandhi-king-mandela-peace-prize (https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/the-prophet-receives-gandhi-king-mandela-peace-prize)
17 Feb 2025
4 - My Personal Perspective and Interfaith Conversations (Part 1)
What does my personal perspective bring to interfaith conversations? Check out this episode to learn more! This is Part 1 of what perspective I bring to the table. Stay tuned for Part 2!
31 Jan 2025
3 - Interfaith Work with Zeynep Kariparduc
What do you know about Interfaith? How does one get involved in interfaith work? Join us to learn more about it from Zeynep! Zeynep Kariparduc has many years of experience in Interfaith work, particularly in the Salt Lake City area. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in multiple countries, deepening her understanding of diverse cultures. Since arriving in the U.S. in 2011, Zeynep has been deeply committed to interfaith and cross-cultural initiatives, dedicating over a decade as Outreach and Programs Director at the Emerald Hills Institute, where she builds meaningful connections between communities. As the immediate past Chair of the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable, she has been instrumental in fostering religious understanding and collaboration. Check out all the great work done by Emerald Hills Institute: https://emeraldhillsinstitute.org/ To learn more about the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable check out this link: https://www.interfaithroundtable.org/
24 Jan 2025
2 - Understanding Islam with Steven Lease
Welcome to Interfaith Conversations! Here we connect with each other's faith and beliefs. Today, I sit down with my friend Steve Lease who become Muslim a while back. He shares his conversion (or reversion) to Islam and shares with us about the beliefs and practices of Islam. Please remember, we strive for positivity, learning, and growing, so please remember to be kind and well-meaning in our comments. Abusive language is not condoned or accepted. Utah Islamic Center - Meet the Muslims Events https://utislamiccenter.org/community/meet-the-muslims/ Basic beliefs and practices in Islam https://www.uri.org/kids/world-religions/muslim-beliefs Muslims and Latter-day Saints: Beliefs, Values, and Lifestyles Pamphlet https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/muslims-and-latter-day-saints?lang=eng
20 Jan 2025
1 - Introduction to Interfaith Conversations
Welcome to Interfaith Conversations! This is a place where we connect with each other's faith and beliefs. Follow us for more upcoming content on interfaith topics and guest interviews!
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