Our 7 Neighbors: Religion and Resistance in America · InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary

Season 1: Ep. 1: Roadtrips & Allyship

·29 min·2 clips

With hate crime violence at a 16-year high, this podcast explores how to be better neighbors in a divided America.

This episode introduces the podcast "Our 7 Neighbors" and focuses on a Ramadan road trip to explore Muslim American life and interfaith allyship. Host Kim Schultz guides conversations with guests Laila Ali, Catherine Orsborne, and Najiba Saeed. The episode examines themes of religious identity, immigration, and building solidarity against a backdrop of rising hate crimes. The road trip visited five iftar dinners in Raleigh, Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., during the holy month of Ramadan. The journey was organized in partnership with the interfaith organization Shoulder to Shoulder. Laila Ali shares her perspective as an Egyptian Muslim immigrant living in Raleigh. Catherine Orsborne discusses her work as a white Christian woman practicing interfaith allyship in Washington, D.C. Scholar and peacemaker Najiba Saeed contributes theological and social insights. The conversations address the experience of being Muslim in America and the importance of intersectional solidarity. Guests explore the impact of media narratives on public perception of Muslim communities. They emphasize the power of local, personal action in countering fear and ignorance. Specific stories highlight the realities of being an immigrant in the contemporary political climate. One memorable focus is the practice of sharing iftar meals as a direct method of building community and understanding. The episode reveals how simple acts of hospitality can challenge broad stereotypes. The road trip format itself is presented as a deliberate tool for immersive learning and connection. The tone is conversational, educational, and intentionally inspirational. The style blends narrative travelogue with interview-based dialogue and personal reflection. Listeners interested in interfaith dialogue, social justice activism, and personal stories of American Muslim life would appreciate this episode. Those seeking purely academic or debate-focused content might find it less aligned with their interests.

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