My macro level view of the world leaves me with the impression it's on fire most days. Political turmoil in the US, and wars dot the globe. I look at the media, including social media, and see searing division.

My faith in humanity wanes often, and I wonder if our cultural and political differences are beyond repair. Friends and family routinely bicker then ghost each other over policies they have little control over.

I wondered if I could bridge the gap between myself and someone whose life and situation are very different from mine. Would I regret starting a conversation? Would we spiral into emotional unrest? I needed an answer.

For my show, I chose a writer whose articles I read previously. Her writing style, although passionate, appeared non-confrontational. However, I’m a Christian older adult living in the United States, and the writer, a female young Muslim adult from Eastern Europe.

Although we had snippets of interaction before the show, an hour-long conversation might result in tensions.

In this episode, recorded on the 13th of June 2025, we discussed questions about politics, life, and the human experience using Zəhra’s articles as our guide. I wondered how our faiths and cultures would influence our views of the world. Would those influences cause us to agree or disagree on many topics?

Spoiler alert:

We realized despite our differences; we landed on the same overarching page and that is empathy and concern for humanity.

We didn’t aim to score points to win a debate or convince one another of our righteousness, a pattern we’ve seen so often in so many.

Instead, we approached each topic with open minds, although we based our views on the study of issues, not just subjective opinion. You’ll hear analysis from both of our lives with a common thread of respect.

I’m hoping this podcast will provide an example of how to engage in a conversation with someone whose outlook may appear to be drastically different from yours. At a time when division is easy and even encouraged by social media, our dialogue stands as a small but meaningful example of how understanding can be achieved.

So, please give my show with guest Zəhra Üzeyirli a listen. I know you will see how our shared humanity can shine through the many differences that make us unique.

Zəhra means "brilliance, light, and radiance.” Her articles exude those traits, as does her persona. It was my privilege to speak with her. Please check out her articles in her newsletter on Substack.

In this episode, I conduct an interview with a courageous woman who confronts her illness through creativity, her families support, and her faith in God.

Amy Nicole Tangel is a journalist, author, playwright, and founder of The Human Interest Story. In 2017, she published the children’s book, Buster Backpack Adventure and in 2020, she released the memoir, Hello Sunshine A Caregiver’s Unexpected Journey of Love and Loss. Most recently Amy authored a new children’s book, An Apple a Day.

In this episode, John discusses with Amy her journey as a caregiver and the profound discoveries encountered along the way. She reflects on overcoming spirit-numbing grief and discovering light amidst the darkness.

One of Amy’s many charitable events is coming up on June 28th, 2025 in the NY area. Take a look to support this event and orgranization.