Imam Azhar SubedarEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

What happens when a devout imam and a secular Jewish former federal prosecutor decide to talk about the things that divide them rather than the things they share? In I Am the Other: Debating the Role of Islam in a Divided America (Liminal Space Publications, 2025), Imam Azhar Subedar and Robert Gary offer an unusual model of dialogue. It is not a search for common ground but a sustained, candid engagement with disagreement. Their collaboration began when Gary, attending one of Subedar’s talks at a Florida church, asked a deliberately provocative question about a difficult Qur’anic passage. Subedar answ...

What happens when a devout imam and a secular Jewish former federal prosecutor decide to talk about the things that divide them rather than the things they share? In I Am the Other: Debating the Role of Islam in a Divided America (Liminal Space Publications, 2025), Imam Azhar Subedar and Robert Gary offer an unusual model of dialogue. It is not a search for common ground but a sustained, candid engagement with disagreement. Their collaboration began when Gary, attending one of Subedar’s talks at a Florida church, asked a deliberately provocative question about a difficult Qur’anic passage. Subedar answ...

What happens when a devout imam and a secular Jewish former federal prosecutor decide to talk about the things that divide them rather than the things they share? In I Am the Other: Debating the Role of Islam in a Divided America (Liminal Space Publications, 2025), Imam Azhar Subedar and Robert Gary offer an unusual model of dialogue. It is not a search for common ground but a sustained, candid engagement with disagreement. Their collaboration began when Gary, attending one of Subedar’s talks at a Florida church, asked a deliberately provocative question about a difficult Qur’anic passage. Subedar answered it directly rather than deflecting, and a friendship and five-year writing partnership followed. In this conversation, Subedar and Gary reflect on how September 11 reshaped the place of Muslims in American public life. They discuss how selectively quoted scripture and the actions of extremist groups have sustained Islamophobia, and what Subedar sees as the American Muslim community’s own failures of silence and disengagement. They describe how the book, nearly finished on October 7, 2023, had to be reopened. Even so, their dialogue survived a moment when many Jewish–Muslim partnerships collapsed. Subedar argues that much interfaith work failed because it was built on agreement alone. Gary contends that Jews and Muslims, so often targeted by the same forces, have a shared stake in the survival of American democracy. The conversation closes on their proposals for rebuilding trust through engagement and fact-checking. It also addresses the resistance their public dialogues have met, and why they believe that differing without demonizing is the work this moment requires. Imam Azhar Subedar is a Canadian-raised Islamic scholar and has served as an imam in American Muslim communities since 2002. Robert Gary is a former prosecutor in the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Department of Justice and teaches on the Qur’an and geopolitics at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Iqbal Akhtar is teaches in the Departments of Religious Studies and Politics & International Relations at Florida International University and is the Executive Director of The East-West Foundation. His recent book is Covenantal Pluralism, an open-access book published by Springer Nature. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-31479-6 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this heartfelt episode, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS, sits down with Imam Azhar Subedar to explore the intersection of faith and mental health within the Muslim community. Imam Azhar shares his personal journey and dedication to making mental health accessible and destigmatized in diverse faith settings. He and Diana discuss how faith leaders across religions can promote unity, healing, and empathy in times of division. This episode was inspired by a recent community event hosted by the United Way of Broward County Faith-Based Council, where local faith leaders, including Imam Azhar and Diana, gathered to discuss health and wellness needs in their communities. Through honest dialogue, they aim to encourage listeners to embrace understanding and bridge-building across different beliefs. Topics Covered: How faith and mental health intersect in the Muslim community Breaking down cultural stigmas around mental health in faith-based contexts Imam Azhar's work with SoFlo Muslims and the South Florida Muslim Federation Key values in Islam and the universal messages of compassion, unity, and peace The importance of interfaith understanding and open communication Diana's reflections on faith-based mental health and the call to love one's neighbor Honoring the values of freedom and the sacrifice of veterans Links and Resources Mentioned: Diana's Resources: Through the Valley Therapy - Diana's holistic therapy practice Liberation Lunes Blog - Read Diana's faith-inspired mental health articles Imam Azhar's Resources: Imam Azhar Subedar Website - Learn more about Imam Azhar's work, access his writings, and find ways to connect Florida Muslim Mental Health Network - Access Muslim mental health resources and professionals in Florida South Florida Muslim Federation - Learn about the federation uniting and empowering the Muslim community in South Florida Relevant Social Media Profiles: Diana Rice, LMHC, CIMHP on Instagram | LinkedIn Imam Azhar Subedar on <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/iazhar9/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.