Spirited

Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the leading force for gun violence prevention. Moms Demand Action has chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network that has affected change at local, state, and national levels. You can find more from Shannon in her book,”Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World.”

Jagmeet Singh is the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party. His campaign to become the country’s next prime minister made international news, thanks to his progressive politics, his appearance as a practicing Sikh, and his viral interactions with discriminatory protestors. In 2019, Singh became the first racial and religious minority to lead a major political party in Canadian history. This episode, Simran talks to Jagmeet about how Sikh spirituality guides his personal and political path.

Rabia Chaudry knew she had to use her voice for the greater good when her religious community entered a time of turmoil and discrimination. This episode, Simran talks to Rabia about her advocacy for the Muslim community. Rabia also shares what brought her through an abusive relationship, and the story of watching her friend go to jail for a crime she believes he didn’t commit. That last experience led her to write her 2016 book, “Adnan’s Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial.” You can also hear more from Rabia on her two podcasts, Undisclosed and The 45th.

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield believes fanaticism happens when people believe they’re 100% right, 100% of the time. But how can someone be resolute in their faith while avoiding this toxic mindset? Rabbi Hirschfield is a lecturer, religious commentator, and president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. This episode, he shares his journey to faith, his past struggle with fanaticism, and his view on how we can heal divides in our society. You can find more from Rabbi Hirschfield in his book, “You Don’t Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism.”

Abdul El-Sayed is a professor and medical doctor turned politician and civil servant, who has a fantastic new podcast about public health called “America Dissected.” Abdul is also an author. His new book, “Healing Politics,” will be out on May 5, 2020. In this episode, he discusses his grandmother’s wisdom, his journey from healthcare to politics and his hope for the future.

Charlotte Clymer is a writer, Twitter savant, and one of the most prominent transgender activists in the country. In this episode, she talks about her personal experience with poverty, faith, the US military, and her ongoing fight for trans rights. Charlotte is currently the press secretary for rapid response at the Human Rights Campaign.

Cecilia Muñoz was both White House Domestic Policy Council and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs under Barack Obama. Even with the faith of the president behind her, she had to practice dealing with imposter syndrome and making sure her voice was heard when she was the only one in the room that looked like her. Cecilia is currently Vice President for Public Interest Technology and Local Initiatives at New America.

Dr. Serene Jones is the first woman president of Union Theological Seminary in the institution’s 183-year history. This episode, she talks about contending with sin and the legacy of racism in this country -- and within our personal lineage. Plus, she shares how her views on grace shape the way she sees the world. Serene wrote about her personal journey in her spiritual memoir, “Call it Grace: Finding Meaning in an Uncomfortable World.” If you’d like to skip over the portion of the story, the times are 8:30-9:30.

Mark Charles is the second-ever Native American to run for President of the United States. This episode, he talks about his mixed heritage background, the twisting of Christian theology, and the need for honest discourse that honors and remembers America’s historical violence against Native Americans. Hear more from Mark in the book he co-wrote with Soong-Chan Rah, “Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery.”

Hari Kondabolu has been incorporating activism into his comedy since the start of his career, drawing no shortage of critics. But he says he’s committed to tackling injustice wherever he finds it. Hari talks more about this on his Netflix standup special, “Warn Your Relatives,” as well as his documentary, “The Problem With Apu.” Special thanks to our friends at Audible! Audible has the world’s largest selection of audiobooks and audio entertainment – including Audible Originals. Audible Originals are stories created exclusively for audio, including documentaries, exclusive audiobooks, and scripted shows that you can’t hear anywhere else. Visit Audible.com/spirited or text spirited to 500-500 to start your 30-day trial.

I’m Dr. Simran Jeet Singh and the host of spirited, a podcast about thinkers, leaders, and activists, and how they use their beliefs to navigate today’s complicated world. For our first episode, we had the opportunity to interview Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. She has been breaking ground and blazing trails her entire life. We discussed her emerging identities, her courage and what drives her to create the change she wants to see. Special thanks to our friends at Native Deodorant. Native creates safe, simple, effective products that people use in the bathroom every day. They create products with trusted ingredients and trusted performance. For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant.com and use promo code SPIRITED during checkout!

What might activism grounded in spirituality look like? How do we identify and practice our core values? We are seeking answers and understanding in Spirited, a new podcast hosted by Dr. Simran Jeet Singh. Hear the voices of diverse spiritual thinkers and leaders as we go on a journey to uncover how spirituality informs action.