Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience

Episode 159: Exploring Online Ecosystems and Subcultures with Sana Saeed

Omar and Parvez welcome back Sana Saeed [https://x.com/SanaSaeed]to discuss the intersection of social media, politics, and the Muslim community. They explore the Mamdani campaign as a case study in Islamophobia, the evolution of online communities, and the impact of online and social merdia cultures on Muslim youth. The conversation delves into generational differences in online consumption and the challenges confronting young Muslim, male and female, navigating their identities in a complex digital landscape. The conversation explores the impact of algorithms on discourse, the rise of toxic masculinity in online spaces, and impact it continues to have on gender dynamics in contemporary society.  About Sana Saeed Sana Saeed is an award-winning media writer and critic, and a former on-camera correspondent with Al Jazeera. For the past fifteen years, she’s written, reported, and commented on Islam and Muslims in the United States, national security, foreign policy, immigration, and the culture wars — and how they intersect with both popular and news media.

Episode 158: Insights into Chaplaincy and Civic Leadership with Imam Khalid Latif

This episode was another opportunity to check off a bucket list for the podcast as we were honored to sit with Imam Khalid Latif [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalid_Latif_(imam)]. Some unchartered territory for the show as co-host Omar Ansari was unable to make the recording but Parvez was able to find a last minute Associate co-host to fill in! We had the chance to discuss Imam Khalid's life and the experiences that shaped him, the challenges and joys of building community, and his civic engagement via various Mayoral appointments. We even discussed his work with the rising star in New York politics, Zohran Mamdani. Toward the end of our conversation, we also turn to a sobering moment in recent public life: the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and what events like this mean for our country and our collective future. About Imam Khalid Latif Imam Khalid is Executive Director and Community Chaplain for The Islamic Center of New York City and serves as Director of Campus Support with Muslim Campus Life, a national initiative supporting Muslim students in higher education. He previously served as the University Chaplain for New York University (NYU) and Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, where he also held faculty positions in the NYU Wagner School of Public Service and Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He continues to serve as Visiting Faculty at Bayan College of Chicago Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary. Imam Latif was appointed the first Muslim chaplain at NYU in 2005, and in 2006, became the first Muslim chaplain at Princeton University. After a year of serving both institutions, he committed full-time to NYU, where in 2007 his position was officially institutionalized. Under his visionary leadership, the Islamic Center at NYU grew into the first-ever established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States. His work helped shape a dynamic and inclusive Muslim community that emphasizes both spiritual growth and civic engagement. Imam Latif has been a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue, social justice, and community service. His efforts have brought him to global platforms, sharing stages with leading faith leaders, while also working on the ground in refugee camps, conflict zones, and disaster-stricken regions, raising millions of dollars in humanitarian relief. Through his public scholarship, teaching, and pastoral care, Imam Latif has carved out essential space for young American Muslims to authentically embrace and celebrate their identities, while amplifying their voices in broader societal conversations. A highly sought-after speaker, Imam Latif has shared his insights with audiences worldwide and has been featured in media outlets such as the Huffington Post, BBC, NPR, CNN, the New York Times, New York Magazine, The Colbert Report, Katie Couric, Newsweek, Time, BET and GEO TV. Imam Latif continues to be a transformative voice and bridge-builder, dedicated to fostering healing, equity, and spiritual well-being in both local communities and across the globe.

Episode 157: David Coolidge Returns to Discuss His Study of Hinduism

Parvez and Omar finally return after the longest hiatus in the show's history! They bring us up to speed with all the going-ons in their lives from new jobs, moves, kids graduating to new kids being born! As the show returns so does the show's guest! David Coolidge [https://bayanonline.academia.edu/RDavidCoolidge] returns to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Hindu Bhakti Through Muslim Eyes [https://a.co/d/c8oaAwe]. The book places the Caitanya Vaiṣṇava tradition—devotion to Krishna—into conversation with Islam, tracing a rich millennium-long trajectory of Muslim reflection on Hindu theology and spirituality. The discussion balances between diving deep into the book while at the same time offering a layperson's perspective to the theology and basic tenants of the faith. The discussion is deeply enriched by David's ability to masterfully interweave analogs from his own Islamic theological, ethical, and liturgical commitments. This offers a unique perspective into Hinduism, a continuation of past Muslim studies of the Hindu tradition, and true inter-religious scholarship. The discussion ends with an examination of modern Hindutva politics and its relationship if any with the religious tradition of Hinduism.    About David Coolidge David earned his PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in 2023 and serves as Research Faculty at Bayan Islamic Graduate School. David Coolidge was born in Chicago, and raised in Kenilworth, IL. He has a BA from Brown University and an MA from Princeton University. He converted to Islam in 1998.  From 2008-2013 he worked as a Muslim chaplain, first at Dartmouth College and then again at Brown. From 2014-2017 he taught an undergraduate course on Islamic law and ethics at New York University.  Highly recommend folks go and listen to David's first appearance  [https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-dq3ea-e97bbf]on the show where he discusses his unique and deeply moving journey to Islam as well as within the Islamic Tradition.

Episode 156: Understanding the Challenges Young Muslims Face in High School with Mental Health Clinician Ali Bishop

Parvez and Omar kick-off 2025 by finally dedicating an entire episode to a recurring and perennial conversation on the podcast: parenting challenges in today's climate. To help navigate this conversation, they are joined by Ali Bishop, an experienced mental health professional who works as a Mental Health Clinician at a local Bay Area public high school. Topics include the general challenges facing teens in high school today (e.g., mental health, academic and peer pressures, social media, etc.), how these challenges might uniquely affect Muslim youth, and what can parents do to better support their children in navigating these challenges. Ali Bishop also shares his personal faith journey resulting in his conversion to Islam in 1998.    About Ali (Mark) Bishop Ali Bishop is a dedicated mental health professional with over 17 years of experience in both clinical and educational settings. He earned his Master's degree in Social Work, with a focus on Community Mental Health. Following graduation, he became a licensed clinician in the state of California. He specializes in providing therapy to families impacted by physical abuse, grief and loss, drug addiction, and suicide prevention.  For the past 10 years, Ali has served as the Mental Health Clinician at a public high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this role, he works directly with students, providing individual and group support to navigate social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. He resides in Fremont, California with his wife, an educator at an area Islamic School, and their cat, Iggy. In his free time, Ali is passionate about supporting vulnerable populations, including children. He is an active member of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), using his love of motorcycling as a way to make a positive impact for abused children.

Episode 155: Syrian-American Perspectives on the Syrian Revolution, Overthrowing Assad, and the Future of the Region

To close out 2024 Parvez and Omar are joined by two Syrian-American guests to share their perspectives on the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the potential implications and challenges facing post-Assad Syria, and how the Syrian-American community is responding to these events. Along the way the show's guests candidly (and humorously!) discuss their experiences growing up as children of Syrian immigrants in the United States. To change things up a bit, the show begins dropping listeners in the midst of a "pre-podcast" conversation about the present challenges of professional life and grind culture in Silicon Valley. Interestingly a conversation that’s happening right now on social media after Vivek Ramaswamy’s recent comments.