Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue

Fred Stella, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, WGVU-FM, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Grand Valley State University

Spirituality

Mental Illness

Constitution

Self-Identity and Doubt

American Constitutional Law

Aziz Rana

Evangelical Christianity

United States

Mental Health Treatment

Malocchio

Islam

Hinduism

Separation Of Church and State

Trump Bible

Faith and Spirituality

Catholic Church

Judaism

Electoral College

Italian Folk Magic

Catholicism

Rated as the #1 podcast on all matters interfaith by Feedspot (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 o... more

3 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	353	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Religion & SpiritualityReligionSociety & CulturePhilosophy

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Latest Episodes

The Future of God Parts 1 & 2

Host Fred Stella discusses the new book ‘The Future of God’ with its author Steve Schwalbe. Together they explore the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) to determine how adherents will accommodate God in the future. While there are m... more

20 Mar 2026 • 51 min

Invading the Sacred: Academia's Bias Against Hinduism Parts 1 & 2

Another classic from our radio archives that we recently discovered, these 2009 episodes involve a conversation with Ravi Joshi of Medha Journal. While most often our interviews are with the actual authors, this time we analyze a book that was writte... more

16 Mar 2026 • 57 min

A Case For the Existence of God Parts 1 & 2

Well, we are getting close to the bottom of the pile. By that I mean the pile of CDs that I discovered in my basement of old CT episodes I'd forgotten about. This one, if I am correct, is from 2008. It's an interview with Dean Overman, who wrote the ... more

3 Mar 2026 • 56 min

The Plight of the Bhutanese Refugees Parts 1 & 2

There are so many vulnerable populations around the world, and it's hard to keep up with them all. One group that sustained very serious abuse is the Hindu community in the Asian nation of Bhutan. Oddly, for centuries there existed a comity between H... more

13 Feb 2026 • 56 min

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Recent Guests

Ravi Joshi

Hindu educator, promoter of Invading the Sacred

Hindu Temple of Toledo; Medha Journal; Invading the Sacred (book)

Episode: Invading the Sacred: Academia's Bias Against Hinduism Parts 1 & 2

Dean Overman

Author of A Case for the Existence of God; former senior partner at Winston & Strawn; Templeton scholar; historian of information theory, physics and religion

Author of A Case for the Existence of God

Episode: A Case For the Existence of God Parts 1 & 2

Narad Adhikari

Born in Bhutan, he lived in exile for nearly two decades before resettling in the United States and currently works with the Global Bhutanese Hindu Organization.

Global Bhutanese Hindu Organization

Episode: The Plight of the Bhutanese Refugees Parts 1 & 2

Jacob Ryeff

A Catholic and Benedictine Oblate with interests in inter-religious dialogue, eco-spirituality, and world literature.

Osage Dinerie

Episode: Contemplate: Toward an Expansive Heart Parts 1 & 2

Dr. Paul Knitter

Professor Emeritus of Theology and author

Union Theological Seminary

Episode: If It Were Not For Buddha I Could Not be a Christian Parts 1 & 2

Michael Henderson

Author and freelance journalist focusing on forgiveness and reconciliation.

Episode: No Enemy Left to Conquer: Forgiveness in an Unforgiving World Parts 1 & 2

Reverend Danny Hyde

Pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church and author

Oceanside United Reformed Church

Episode: In Living Color: Calvinism Explained Parts 1 & 2

Maz Qureshi

Database Specialist at Pitney Bowes Legal Solutions and translator of Islamic texts.

Sunnah Publishing

Episode: Islam: The Basic Tenets Parts 1 & 2

Salahuddin Ali

Ex-Marine and active in Sunnah Publishing.

Sunnah Publishing

Episode: Islam: The Basic Tenets Parts 1 & 2

Host

Fred Stella

President of the Interfaith Dialogue Association; experienced interviewer and media professional.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 3 ratings

Thoughtful and wonderful podcast
A fantastic show with a phenomenal host! I’m so grateful for this podcast that makes space for these conversations.
Apple Podcasts
5
Rachel Rueckert
United States3 years ago
Fascinating topics / smart host
I was raised Catholic and am a practicing Hindu these days. I have always been interested in religion and spirituality. The breadth and depth of topics in this podcast is amazing. The host is incredibly knowledgeable. You can tell. And the variety of guests makes each week interesting. You’ll probably laugh more than you expect to as well. Stella clearly has a sense of humor. The library here is vast and gives you plenty to listen to.
Apple Podcasts
5
Yogini55
United States4 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host animates thoughtful dialogue with humor and depth.

Thoughtful, engaging conversations that make complex topics accessible.

Listeners appreciate respectful, well-researched discussions across faiths.

Diverse range of guests keeps topics fresh and insightful.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#102	Canada/Religion & Spirituality/Religion
Apple Podcasts	#153	United Kingdom/Religion & Spirituality/Religion
Apple Podcasts	#107	Germany/Religion & Spirituality/Religion
Apple Podcasts	#28	Poland/Religion & Spirituality/Religion
Apple Podcasts	#50	Finland/Religion & Spirituality/Religion
Apple Podcasts	#57	Saudi Arabia/Religion & Spirituality/Religion

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Invading the Sacred: Academia's Bias Against Hinduism Parts 1 & 2

Q: What are some concrete examples of misinterpretations you want to correct, such as with Ramakrishna or Ganesha?

Joshi points to scholarly works that misread Bengali terms or sexualized frames of Hindu icons, and notes that these claims gain traction through the influence of prominent scholars, underscoring the need for careful critique, better translations, and more accountable scholarship.

Invading the Sacred: Academia's Bias Against Hinduism Parts 1 & 2

Q: Isn't it a pretty daunting task to start a fight with academia, this tradition that is so rooted in our culture?

Ravi explains that while academia often speaks with authority, the Hindu community has to push back by showing that Hinduism is diverse and that Western scholarly methods, particularly in humanities, don't always capture the living tradition; the goal is constructive dialogue, not confrontation.

The Plight of the Bhutanese Refugees Parts 1 & 2

Q: Could you speak a bit to the resistance movement in Bhutan and to the fate of many of its leaders?

Those who resisted the government's measures faced brutal repression, imprisonment, and in some cases, death, simply for advocating for their rights and identity.

The Plight of the Bhutanese Refugees Parts 1 & 2

Q: What would you say to that, Narad?

The older population, especially those over 60, still long for their homeland and the life they had in Bhutan, feeling a strong connection to their birthplace despite their new lives in the U.S.

Contemplate: Toward an Expansive Heart Parts 1 & 2

Q: Do you think that the church has been doing a disservice by keeping this tradition, this teaching and this instruction kind of in the attic?

Absolutely. The church kind of had a defensive posture, and it has affected the way spirituality is taught.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue

What is Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly program exploring religion, philosophy, and spirituality through conversations with clerics, authors, activists, and thinkers from diverse traditions. Episodes commonly tackle interfaith dialogue, religious pluralism, and the role of faith in politics, society, and personal growth, often weaving in histories, ethics, and contemporary controversies. The host's background in media and deep engagement with interfaith work helps surface nuanced perspectives, making the show valuable for listeners who want thoughtful, wide-ranging discussions about belief, culture, and global issues. A notable strength is the consistent mix of rigorous ideas with accessible storytelling, plus guests ranging from scholars to clergy to storytellers, which... more

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1. Hidden Brain

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Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue launched 6 years ago and published 353 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue?

Recent guests on Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue include:

1. Ravi Joshi
2. Dean Overman
3. Narad Adhikari
4. Jacob Ryeff
5. Dr. Paul Knitter
6. Michael Henderson
7. Reverend Danny Hyde
8. Maz Qureshi

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