Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience

For this episode of the show, Parvez and Zaki shine a spotlight on Muslim authors who've successfully broken through into the mainstream. First, we chat with Ayesha Mattu, co-editor of Love, Inshallah and its new sequel Salaam, Love about how the two books came about, what the reactions have been, and what she's learned from her audience. After that, we have a conversation with Ali Eteraz, author of Children of Dust and the upcoming Falsipedies and Fibsiennes. You can download or stream below, and also listen at iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!) and Stitcher Radio. Feel free to send any comments or questions our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com or via our Facebook page!

For this month's show we're joined by Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institute and author of Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East for a far-ranging conversation on the foreign policy events that have been playing out in the Middle East over the last few years, including the Arab Spring, the rise of ISIS, and the escalation of conflict between Gaza and Israel this past month. Whether you're a policy wonk or just have a mind to learn more about what's been going on lately, this is a conversation you're certain to enjoy. As always, download or stream below, and listen at iTunes and Stitcher Radio. Send any comments or questions to diffusedcongruence@gmail.com or via our Facebook page!

For this episode, we're joined by famed photographer and filmmaker Mustafa Davis, co-founder of Ta'leef Collective, about his road to Islam, and what he views as the role of Muslim-Americans artists. As usual, download or stream the show below, and also listen at iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!) and Stitcher Radio. Feel free to send any comments or questions our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com or via our Facebook page!

This month, we speak with Professor Zareena Grewal about her new book, Islam is a Foreign Country, and engage in a spirited conversation about the many rich facets of Islam in America. You won't want to miss this one! Download or stream the show below, and also listen at iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!) and Stitcher Radio. Feel free to send any comments or questions our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com or via our Facebook page!

For this month's show, Parvez and Zaki are joined by acclaimed Pakistani-American actor Faran Tahir, who's been appearing on big and small screens for more than twenty years now in big budget fare such as Iron Man, Star Trek, and Elysium, as well as TV's Dallas, for a spirited conversation about what he's learned during his many years in the Hollywood trenches, his hopes for future Muslim engagement in media arts, and his work with the Muslim Advocates organization. In addition, he offers up some details on his latest project, the supernatural thriller Jinn (currently in theaters), and shares a heartwarming story of what he learned from the late Larry Hagman. As always, you can download or stream the show below, and also listen at iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!) and Stitcher Radio. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to send them our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com or via our Facebook page!

This month we're honored to be joined by Imam Abu Qadir Al-Amin, a veteran religious leader in the San Francisco Bay Area who came to Islam after first being exposed to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. Imam Abu Qadir shares his reflections on being at the forefront of Black Muslim experience, including thoughts on Malcolm X, and his memories of the late W.D. Muhammad, one of the most influential religious leaders of our time. Download or stream the episode below, as well as via iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!). Send any questions and concerns our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com.

For episode five of the show, we had an in-depth chat with with Islamic scholar Dr. Muneer Fareed on a variety of topics, including the distinctions between secular and spiritual scholarship, what he learned during his time as an imam in Detroit, and his work with ISNA (the Islamic Society of North America), the ALIM Program, and more. You can download or stream the show below, as well as via iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!). Send any questions and concerns our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com.

We encountered a slight delay thanks to various unforeseen technical difficulties, but nonetheless, the Diffused Congruence team is back to help you ring in 2014! And for this, their very first episode of 2014, co-hosts Parvez Ahmed and Zaki Hasan are joined by world renowned fitness expert Rehan Jalali, who has plenty of advice to offer on how to make 2014 the healthiest it can be, how he's achieved all the success he's achieved, and the role that his Muslim faith plays in that success. You can download or stream the show below, as well as via iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!). Send any questions and concerns our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com.

It's the first Friday of the month, and that means it's time for a new Diffused Congruence podcast! Our special guest for this episode of the show is Hollywood writer-producer Kamran Pasha, who's spent more than ten years working in the film industry on projects such as Sleeper Cell on Showtime and Kings on NBC, and also authored the acclaimed novels Mother of the Believers: A Novel of the Birth of Islam and Shadow of the Swords: An Epic Novel of the Crusades. With the depth and breadth of his experience as one of the few Muslim writers in Hollywood, Kamran discusses the importance of Muslim engagement in non-traditional fields such as media production, and also shares some of the life lessons he's picked up during his time in the Hollywood trenches. You can download or stream the show below, as well as via iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!). Send any questions and concerns our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com.

For our second episode, hosts Parvez Ahmed and Zaki Hasan are joined by Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco-Bay Area chapter of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), for an in-depth conversation on the goals, history, and criticisms of the venerable civil rights organization (it marks its second decade next year), and her own efforts to bridge interfaith understanding both before and after becoming a part of it. You can download or stream the show below, as well as via iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!). Also, many thanks for all the feedback and comments on episode 1! Please keep them coming! You can send any questions and concerns our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com.