Episode 66: Michael O'Neal

Hello and welcome to the Baha’i Blogcast with me your host, Rainn Wilson. In this series of podcasts I interview members of the Baha’i Faith and friends from all over the world about their hearts, and minds, and souls, their spiritual journeys, what they’re interested in, and what makes them tick. In this episode, I'm joined by my dear Baha'i friend and award-winning actor, Penn Badgley, known for his role in many things including the TV series 'Gossip Girl' and 'You'. Penn tells me about his upbringing, his spiritual journey, and becoming a Baha'i. We talk about being a celebrity and issues around the ego and injustices that exist in society. He tells me about his appreciation of rap music and indigenous culture, and how the Baha'i Faith has inspired his work. We discuss social media, participation in the discourses of society, the power and importance of encouragement, and he leaves us with a story about Abdu'l-Baha. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! To find out more about some of the things we covered in this episode, check out the following links: * The Universal House of Justice: https://bit.ly/3mgH0wN * Shoghi Effendi: https://bit.ly/3rCOeNM * Abdu'l-Baha: https://www.bahai.org/abdul-baha/ * The Bab: https://www.bahai.org/the-bab/ * Baha'u'llah: https://www.bahai.org/bahaullah/ * QUOTE: "As to racial prejudice, the corrosion of which, for well-nigh a century, has bitten into the fiber, and attacked the whole social structure of American society, it should be regarded as constituting the most vital and challenging issue confronting the Baha’i community at the present stage of its evolution. The ceaseless exertions which this issue of paramount importance calls for, the sacrifices it must impose, the care and vigilance it demands, the moral courage and fortitude it requires, the tact and sympathy it necessitates, invest this problem with an urgency and importance that cannot be overestimated." -Shoghi Effendi * QUOTE: "...an enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk..." -Baha'u'llah * QUOTE: "Know ye the value of this time. Strive ye with all your hearts, raise up your voices and shout, until this dark world be filled with light, and this narrow place of shadows be widened out, and this dust heap of a fleeting moment be changed into a mirror for the eternal gardens of heaven, and this globe of earth receive its portion of celestial grace." -Abdu'l-Baha * The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson: https://amzn.to/2WnPRUC * Introduction to The Seven Valleys: bit.ly/38yX0SI * The Seven Valleys by Baha'u'llah: bit.ly/32VC46Z * The Promise of World Peace: https://www.bahai.org/documents/the-universal-house-of-justice/promise-world-peace * Baha'i Pioneering: https://bit.ly/3jjTmVH * Study Circles: https://bit.ly/3qkIJSR * Ruhi courses: https://bit.ly/3w16G44 * Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program: https://bit.ly/3x52jX0 * Penn's Podcast PODCRUSHED: https://podcrushed.com/ * Baha'i Pilgrimage: https://bit.ly/2EDykz8 * QUOTE: "The world’s equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order. Mankind’s ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System—the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed." -Baha'u'llah * The Importance of Service in the Baha’i Faith: https://bit.ly/3eDDyKr * Centenary of Abdu'l-Baha's passing: https://bit.ly/3jkV0WX Be sure to subscribe to the Baha’i Blogcast for more episodes on: * YouTube: http://bit.ly/2JTNmBO​​ * iTunes: http://apple.co/2leHPHL​​ * Soundcloud: https://bit.ly/30dX0G4​​ * Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2IXRAnb​​ If you would like to find out more about the Baha'i Faith visit BAHAI.ORG, and for more great Baha'i-inspired content, check out BAHAIBLOG.NET: http://bahaiblog.net/​ Thanks for listening! -Rainn Wilson