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    We're Just Talking About It's podcast

    Were Just Talking About It is an extension of the Introduction to Islam talks and courses that Jason Howk has been leading nationally since June 2015. This podcast does not aim to denigrate Islam or to spread a religion. Simply put this is an effort to get people talking more openly about religion and focused on finding common ground and understanding. Around the world the loudest voices that focus on Islam are usually on the far extremes of the topic. Either speakers love or hate Islam. This is a discussion rooted in facts; and by design those facts are relayed to the public in a form that most can understand. This isn't a professor's lecture and it's not a hate filled tirade. This is two people having a rational discussion about religion.
    enJason Howk42 Episodes

    Episodes (42)

    S3 E9- Sabeeha Author and Interfaith Speaker

    S3 E9- Sabeeha Author and Interfaith Speaker

    Welcome to Episode 9 of Season 3 of We're Just Talking About It

    This is our last episode of 2019

    Wishing you all a wonderful 2020
    #wjta
    Today we finish our discussion with Sabeeha.
    We will explore many of the misconceptions that people have about Muslims and some creative solutions to religious tolerance.
    Thanks for joining us.
    Jason and Hollie

    S3 E8 Sabeeha Author and Interfaith Speaker

    S3 E8 Sabeeha Author and Interfaith Speaker

    Welcome to Episode 8 of Season 3 of We're Just Talking About It
    #wjta
    Today we continue our discussion with Sabeeha.
    This week we learn about how September 11th affected her family and how that changed her purpose in life.
    I hope you enjoy getting to know her and the role Islam plays in her life.
    Thanks for joining us.
    Jason and Hollie

    S3 E7 Sabeeha Author and Interfaith Speaker

    S3 E7 Sabeeha Author and Interfaith Speaker

    Welcome to Episode 7 of Season 3 of We're Just Talking About It
    #wjta
    Today we start a 3 part journey to get to know Sabeeha.
    She arrived in America after an arranged marriage brought her from Pakistan.
    I hope you enjoy getting to know her and the role Islam plays in her life.
    You can tell we really had some laughs learning her story, an engaging speaker.
    Thanks for joining us.
    Jason and Hollie

    S3 E6 Sabir- Interfaith Conversations 110819 25 min

    S3 E6 Sabir- Interfaith Conversations 110819 25 min

    Welcome to Episode 6 of Season 3 of We're Just Talking About It

    #wjta

    Today we finish our 3-part journey to get to know Sabir.

    He grew up in Kabul Afghanistan and Pakistan and eventually came to the United States.

    Today we talk about how we conduct Interfaith communication and Why its so important.

    Thanks for joining us.

    Jason and Hollie 

    S3 E5- Sabir - Mosque State 102519

    S3 E5- Sabir - Mosque State 102519

    Welcome to Episode 5 of Season 3 of We're Just Talking About It

    #wjta

    Today we continue our 3-part journey to get to know Sabir.

    He grew up in Kabul Afghanistan and Pakistan and eventually came to the United States.

    Today we talk about the separation between religion and government and ask Sabir what one question he would ask the Taliban movement.

    Yet another perspective, you might not know about.

    Thanks for joining us.

    Jason and Hollie 

    S3 E4 Sabir 101119- growing up in destruction

    S3 E4 Sabir 101119- growing up in destruction

    Welcome to Episode 4 of Season 3 of We're Just Talking About It

    #wjta

    Today we start a 3 part journey to get to know Sabir.

    He grew up in Kabul Afghanistan and Pakistan and eventually came to the United States.

    I hope you enjoy getting to know him and the role Islam plays in his life.

    Yet another perspective, you might not know about.

    Thanks for joining us.

    Jason and Hollie 

    We're Just Talking About It (~19 min)

    We're Just Talking About It (~19 min)

    Welcome to our 3rd and final episode with Angie Gad, our first in-studio guest, on We're Just Talking About It!

    In this episode we talk about how Angie confronts people who use ISIS-like propaganda to recruit terrorists.

    We also discuss what it is like when conservative Egyptian culture clashes with American ways of life. A six hour commute explains it well.

    We hope you enjoy getting to know Angie as much as we did.

    Check out Angie's MyIslam Project to help answer your questions about Islam! 

    We're Just Talking About It (~19 min)

    We're Just Talking About It (~19 min)

    Welcome to our 2nd episode with Angie Gad on We're Just Talking About It!

    We continue this week with our first in-studio guest.

    In this episode we learn about Angie's work in the Homeland Security field and discuss how she was received in the office. Find out who became her mentor and how they learned to combat stereotypes together.

    We also discuss how Angie heard about our podcast and how our religious tolerance projects intersect.

     

    We hope you enjoy getting to know Angie as much as we did.

    Check out Angie's MyIslam Project to help answer your questions about Islam! 

    We're Just Talking About It

    We're Just Talking About It

    Welcome to Season 3 of We're Just Talking About It!

    We kick off our 3rd season of the show with our first in-studio guest,  Angie Gad.

    Angie was born in the U.S. but moved to Egypt with her family when she was 16. She describes what it was like being a Muslim in Egypt verse the U.S.

    Plus she explains how her unique upbringing ultimately led her to a career in counter terrorism.

    She is a Muslim woman currently teaching counter terrorism at a Christian school in the South.

    Check out Angie's MyIslam Project to help answer your questions about Islam! 

    We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    We dive right in to episode S2 E15 to discuss the Islamic misconception that, "All Jihad is terrorism." 

    Salma breaks down the difference between terrorists claiming to use Jihad and individuals who are "Jihadist." 

    "Jihad is a noble struggle for God. It is a struggle that is pleasing to Allah."

    Another misconception we touch on is that "Islam permits forced marriages." Salma says forced marriages are typically a cultural thing, not a religious thing. 

    Other misconceptions we talk about:

    "Islam forces people to become Muslim." 

    "Muslims do not share good and noble values with non-Muslims."

     

     

     

    We're Just Talking About It (~16 minutes)

    We're Just Talking About It (~16 minutes)

    Welcome back to Were Just Talking About It. This is Season 2 Episode 14.

    This week pick up right where we left off with our guest Salma, talking about common misconceptions of Islam. We dive right into the conversation—asking Salma to explain the misconception that the entire religion of Islam is oppressive to women—plus we discuss several other topics.  

    We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    In s2E13 of WJTA we interview a brand new guest, Salma. Salma was in the 1st grade when the Taliban took over in Afghanistan. She and her family went to Pakistan so she could continue school. After the Taliban collapse in 2002, they came back to Afghanistan

    Against her parents wishes, Salma decided she wanted to study Sharia Law.

    "When you inherit a religion, if you were given the choice would you still be in this religion," Salma asked. It was that curiosity that led her to study Islamic law.

    When she graduated, Salma said she’s not Muslim because she was born muslim, she was now, a Muslim by choice.  

    We discuss the education system in Afghanistan and common misconceptions about Islam. 

    "You have to fight this mentality of black and white," said Salma. 

     

     

    We're Just Talking About It (~ 15min)

    We're Just Talking About It (~ 15min)

    In S2 E12, we wrap up our conversation with Khalil. He talks about the night U.S. troops arrived in Afghanistan and what it meant to him and his fellow Afghans.

    We also talk about the current situation in Afghanistan and how the young Afghans are living. Finally, we discuss the transition from war to peace and what that looks like in Afghanistan. 

     

     

    We're Just Talking About It (~22min)

    We're Just Talking About It (~22min)

    This is S2E10 of WJTA.This week we have a brand new guest for you, his name is Khalil. 

    Khalil was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan.

    Khalil shares his remarkable stories of what it was like—the day the Taliban arrived in his city and how his walk to school would never be the same.

    Plus he shares the amazing work he did as a physician alongside other organizations to help rebuild his city's infrastructure after the Taliban destroyed everything. 

    We're Just Talking About It (~25 min)

    We're Just Talking About It (~25 min)

    In S2E9 we wrap up our conversation with Mina Sharif. We touch on a variety of topics, from how younger generations view religions and why it's important to have faith, especially in war-torn countries. Plus stereotypes Mina deals with being a Muslim woman who returned to Afghanistan after living in the West. Finally, we discuss a TV show Mina is working on, called Roya, about a Muslim woman in the work place. The show addresses Muslim culture stereotypes through comedy and entertainment. 

    S2E8 We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    S2E8 We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    Welcome to S2E8 of WJTA. We are back with Mina Sharif, a muslim woman who left Afghanistan with her family at the age of one. Decades later, an unexpected family tragedy brought her back to Kabul, the city she left behind. Mina discusses what it was like rediscovering Afghanistan and its culture, plus we discuss if religion and its text are open to interpretation.

     

    We hope you enjoy this episode!

    Email us at wjtanc@gmail.com 

    S2E7 We're Just Talking About It (~25 min)

    S2E7 We're Just Talking About It (~25 min)

    This is S2E7 of WJTA. This week we have a brand new guest on the show, Mina Sharif. Mina was born in Afghanistan but she and her family fled when she was just a year old. Decades later, Mina built a successful career in communications and filmmaking. She made the decision to return to Afghanistan as an adult and it was life-changing. 

    In this episode we discuss if it's possible for religion and culture to be separated not only for Muslims, but all religions and what happens when religion and cultures collide. 

    S2E6 We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    S2E6 We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    Welcome to s2e6 of WJTA. Today we are wrapping up our 3-part conversation with Junaid. We are asking the deeper, philosophical questions like:

    -Should you be able to question your own religion?

    -What would a Muslim-majority government look like?

    -Are religious texts open to interpretation.

     

    Let us know what you think at wjtanc@gmail.com 

    s2e5 We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    s2e5 We're Just Talking About It (~20 min)

    In this episode, we continue out conversation with American-Muslim, former U.S. Army solider, Junaid. 

    We start with his life, after active-duty. Juanid talks about his responsibility as an American-Muslim to counter violent extremism and shares how he goes about his mission.

    We continue to learn and discuss how critical our words are in this conversation. For example, knowing the difference between Islamist and Islamic. 

    Junaid talks about Islam undergoing a reformation. He says it's not Islam vs. the West. 

    "It's a journey inside of Islam for all Muslims to go through which takes time and talking."_ Junaid.