Are you seeking ways to stay spiritually grounded in uncertain times? In this Take Heart Now conversation, we welcome Dr. Amir Hussain—award-winning author and esteemed professor at Loyola Marymount University—who shares personal reflections and insights on navigating today’s challenges through faith, resilience, and connection.
Dr. Amir Hussain is Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he teaches courses on religion. His own particular specialty is the study of Islam, focusing on contemporary Muslim societies in North America. His academic degrees (BSc, MA, PhD) are all from the University of Toronto, where he received a number of awards, including the university’s highest award for alumni service. He served as President of the American Academy of Religion in 2023.
He has a deep commitment to students and holds the distinction of being the only male to serve as Dean of Women at University College, University of Toronto. He was an advisor for the television series The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, and appears regularly on Ancient Aliens, History’s Greatest Mysteries with Laurence Fishburne, Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid, and The UnXplained with William Shatner. In 2008, he was appointed a fellow of the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities.
The author or editor of seven books and over 60 articles about religion, his latest book, One God and Two Religions, comes out in February 2025 from Fortress Press.
Speaker: Take Heart Now Series
Presenter: Muslims and the Making of America
This conversation in our Take Heart Now series features Dr. Jaimie D. Crumley, assistant professor of Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah. She is a Black feminist public historian and intellectual historian, who previously served in ordained ministry in the American Baptist tradition.
This conversation in our Take Heart Now series features Maia Ferdman, Deputy Director of the UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute, which is dedicated to elevating the research and practice of kindness and compassion in the world.
Conflict is a natural part of life, but how can we find kindness and compassion amidst disagreements and disputes? In this session, Maia outlines eight actionable steps to foster understanding and connection, allowing us to truly see and hear one another. There’s also a special ninth step—but you’ll have to listen in to discover it!
endawnis recounts her journey of uncovering a hidden chapter of her family’s history, shedding light on her grandmother’s past—one muted for decades. Her story delves into the painful legacy of Native American boarding schools, where children were forcibly removed from their families, leading to the systematic suppression of culture, language, and identity.