Episode 71: Todd Steinberg

10/28/21 • 62 min

1 Listener

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 friend Todd Steinberg, who helped out in the early days of SoulPancake and runs a teddy bear company - yep that's right - teddy bears! Todd shares his journey to finding the Baha'i Faith and how grateful he is for finding it. We talk about how systems are as important as the people within them; the importance of being in tune with our hearts and the importance of service. He tells us a little about his work with prisoners, and shares a couple of stories about Abdu'l-Baha. I hope you enjoy the conversation! Find out more about some of the things we mentioned and covered below: * Abdu'l-Baha: https://www.bahai.org/abdul-baha/ * The Universal House of Justice: https://bit.ly/3mgH0wN * Shoghi Effendi: https://bit.ly/3rCOeNM * The Bab: https://www.bahai.org/the-bab/ * Baha'u'llah: https://www.bahai.org/bahaullah/ * Todd's family business "Plush in a Rush": https://www.plushinarush.com/ * SoulPancake: https://participant.com/soulpancake * Baha’i Pioneering: https://www.bahaiblog.net/bahai-pioneer-travel-teacher/ * The Baha’i “Pupil of the Eye” Metaphor—What Does it Mean?: https://bahaiteachings.org/bahai-pupil-eye-metaphor/ * Bahaʼi Prayers: https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/devotion/prayer * 6 Questions About the Independent Investigation of Truth: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2021/05/6-questions-about-the-independent-investigation-of-truth/ * An Introduction to the Kitab-i-Iqan – The Book of Certitude: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2021/02/an-introduction-to-the-kitab-i-iqan-the-book-of-certitude/ * The Bahaʼi Fast: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2012/03/the-bahai-fast/ * Book: The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson: https://amzn.to/3Ccb6Ja * Todd’s article about teaching prisoners: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2016/12/experiences-teaching-bahai-faith-prisoners/ * The Training Institute & Ruhi sequence of courses: https://bit.ly/3qkIJSR * Learn more about Abdu'l-Baha and the commemoration of the Centenary of His passing here: https://bit.ly/3jkV0WX * The Shrine of the Bab and its Significance: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2013/07/the-shrine-of-the-bab-and-its-significance/ * A Tribute to Anis Zunuzi: https://www.bahaiblog.net/2016/07/tribute-anis-zunuzi/ * Devotional Meetings: https://www.bahai.org/action/devotional-life/devotional-meetings/ * Website created in honor of Abdu'l-Baha's visit to North America: 239Days.com: https://239days.com/ * Becoming a Baha’i: https://bahai.org.au/index.php/the-bahai-faith/becoming-a-bahai/ 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://soundcloud.com/bahaiblogcast * 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

Previous Episode

Episode 70: Sovaida Ma'ani Ewing

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 Sovaida Ma'ani Ewing, the founder of 'The Center for Peace and Global Governance' and a person of many talents. She's the author of a number of books, has worked as a lawyer for 20 years, is a 7th generation Baha'i, and she's passionate about the role of women in society, issues around global governance, the environment, peace-building, and leadership. We discuss all of these topics and also look at ideas around Collective Security, the meaning of power, and she even shares some personal stories of her time growing up in the Holy Land. I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Find out more about some of the things we mentioned and covered below: * Abdu'l-Baha: https://www.bahai.org/abdul-baha/ * The Universal House of Justice: https://bit.ly/3mgH0wN * Shoghi Effendi: https://bit.ly/3rCOeNM * The Bab: https://www.bahai.org/the-bab/ * Baha'u'llah: https://www.bahai.org/bahaullah/ * Learn more about Abdu'l-Baha and the commemoration of the Centenary of His passing here: https://bit.ly/3jkV0WX * Sovaida has published the following books: - The Alchemy of Peace - 6 Essential Shifts in Mindsets and Habits to Achieve World Peace: https://amzn.to/3ucNZeq - Collective Security Within Reach: https://amzn.to/3EWIplp - Building a World Federation: The Key to Resolving Our Global Crises: https://amzn.to/3ucxFdw - Bridge to Global Governance: Tackling Climate Change, Energy Distribution, and Nuclear Proliferation: https://amzn.to/3zJofYb * Sovaid's 'Re-Imagining Our World' Vlogcast on Youtube: https://bit.ly/3EON6xz * Interview with Sovaida about her book 'The Alchemy of Peace': https://bit.ly/3kIpmmE * QUOTE: "Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements." -Baha'u'llah * Sovaida's NGO: Center for Peace and Global Governance (CPGG): https://www.cpgg.org/ * Sovaida's life coaching business: https://unleashyoucoaching.com/ * Siyyid Yahya-i-Darabi, given the title Vahid: https://bit.ly/2Y1qsBq * Nayriz: https://www.awakeningnayriz.org/template.php * Independent Investigation of Truth: https://bit.ly/3h2bd1V * Baha'i principle of Progressive Revelation: https://bit.ly/2Vkay0B * The Baha'i World Centre: https://www.bwc.org/ * Why is the Baha’i World Centre in Israel?: https://bit.ly/3yGYqr1 * Hands of the Cause: https://bit.ly/2EATuOD * Abu’l-Qasim Faizi: https://bit.ly/3AJGkqg * Ruhiyyih Khanum: https://bit.ly/3ugcvLz * Ali-Akbar Furutan: https://news.bahai.org/story/261/ * Paul Haney: https://bahaipedia.org/Paul_Haney * Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson – Ep.52: Dara Feldman: https://bit.ly/3AM5STR * The Promise of World Peace - Universal House of Justice letter 1985: https://bit.ly/3m56Jsm * Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson – Ep.35: Michael Karlberg: https://bit.ly/3ibDMdd 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://soundcloud.com/bahaiblogcast * 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

Next Episode

Episode 72: Hoda Mahmoudi (In Honor of Abdu’l-Baha)

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 special episode in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the passing of Abdu’l-Baha, I’m joined by Professor Hoda Mahmoudi who holds the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, USA. She tells me about moving to the US as a child and what the Baha'i Chair for World Peace is all about. We talk Abdu'l-Baha and His wonderful insights on what peace is really about, and how all of us can play a role in helping achieve it. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! Find out more about some of the things we mentioned and covered below: * Learn more about Abdu'l-Baha and the commemoration of the Centenary of His passing here: https://bit.ly/3jkV0WX * Abdu'l-Baha: https://www.bahai.org/abdul-baha/ * The Universal House of Justice: https://bit.ly/3mgH0wN * Shoghi Effendi: https://bit.ly/3rCOeNM * The Bab: https://www.bahai.org/the-bab/ * Baha'u'llah: https://www.bahai.org/bahaullah/ * Website in honor of Abdu'l-Baha's visit to North America: https://239days.com/ * Find out more about The Baha'i Chair for World Peace and Hoda Mahmoudi here: http://www.bahaichair.umd.edu/people/mahmoudi * BOOK: A World Without War by Janet Khan & Hoda Mahmoudi: https://amzn.to/3rtWIHn * Association for Baha'i Studies, North America: https://www.bahaistudies.ca/ * The Baha'i World Centre: https://www.bwc.org/ * Why is the Baha’i World Centre in Israel: https://bit.ly/3DjRx1k * Tablets of the Divine Plan: https://bit.ly/3rw39Mp * What Are the Tablets of the Divine Plan: https://bit.ly/3rxKr79 * We mention Dr. Nader Saiedi who has also been a guest on the Baha'i Blogcast: - Baha'i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson - Ep. 20: Nader Saiedi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pSyY-vhxuw - Baha'i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson - Ep.48: A Declaration of the Bab Conversation with Nader Saiedi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jPN99xQLOs * Tablets to The Hague by Abdu'l-Baha: https://bit.ly/3G7hTFy * Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablets to The Hague: An Introduction: https://bit.ly/3oh9Gsn * VIDEO: A World Without War: Abdu’l-Baha & the Discourse for Global Peace - Janet Khan & Hoda Mahmoudi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRlAXd8tr7Q * The Promise of World Peace by the Universal House of Justice: https://bit.ly/31jtjrc * Children's Classes: https://bit.ly/31tnbMI * Why & How Do Baha’is Pray: https://bit.ly/3GbYHXa * Study Circles: https://bit.ly/3qkIJSR * Ruhi courses: https://bit.ly/3w16G44 * What is the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program: https://bit.ly/3x52jX0 * Who Were the Hands of the Cause: https://bit.ly/2EATuOD * Taking the Politics Out of Politics: https://bit.ly/3DmnnKG * Importance of Service in the Baha’i Faith: https://bit.ly/3rDjg82 * BOOK: God Passes By by Shoghi Effendi: https://bit.ly/2UaWgBH * VIDEO: Abdu'l-Baha in Egypt - Baha'i Blog Interviews Payam Rowhani: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvPh6NSaEnA * BOOK: Paris Talks by Abdu'l-Baha: https://bit.ly/3DfhNK5 * VIDEO: Abdu'l-Baha - Servant of Glory: https://youtu.be/tMJoyyEXjr4 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