Shows
Sultans and SneakersEp. 093 - Saad Tasleem - He Lost both Parents in 33 DaysShaykh Saad Tasleem is a graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah Faculty of Shariah and is an instructor with AlMaghrib Institute. He also is the founder of a clothing brand, the Saad Tasleem Collection which can be found online at https://www.saadtasleem.com/ Losing parents is something we all have to come to grips with and its inevitability doesn't make it any easier to process. In this episode, Shaykh Saad tells us what he went through when he lost both his mother and father within a 33 day span. We also discuss issues affecting...2024-05-1255 min
Sultans and SneakersEp. 092 - Abdullah Oduro - Dudes in DistressShaykh Abdullah Oduro is a Ghanian-American convert to Islam who graduated from the Faculty of Shariah at the Islamic University of Madinah. He is also a Senior Fellow at Yaqeen Institute and hosts the Iman Cave YouTube series for Yaqeen. In this episode of the podcast, we talked about how men should utilize fitness to overcome the distress of divorce, how embracing discomfort is critical to masculine development, and much more. To learn more about Shaykh Abdullah and engage his work, you can go to https://www.abdullahoduro.com/ Resources for "Sultans and S...2024-04-2652 min
Sultans and SneakersEp. 091 - Tom Facchine - What is Innovation in Islam?Imam Tom Facchine of Yaqeen Institute returns to the podcast to break down the concept of innovation in Islam. Tom talks about his studies at the Islamic University of Madinah and how his understanding evolved over the years. We specifically cover the issue of the Mawlid (the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)'s birth) and discuss it from various angles. Tom Facchine accepted Islam in his early twenties. He holds a BA in Political Science from Vassar College (2011) and a BA in Islamic Law from the Islamic University of Madinah (2020). He also holds...2024-02-2248 min
Sultans and SneakersEp. 090 - Yasir Qadhi - Habits, Hobbies, and Social Media HysteriaFor the second time on the podcast, I was joined by Dr. Yasir Qadhi. Shaykh Yasir is someone who needs little introduction as he is one of the leading Muslim public intellectuals in the world. We discussed topics such as: -His motivations in studying Islam -His mindset when juggling secular studies with his aspirations for higher Islamic studies -His favorite hobbies -What he would study today if he had more bandwidth -How he's managing social media and his approach to armchair critics Resources...2024-01-3153 min
Sultans and SneakersEp. 090 - Yasir Qadhi - Habits, Hobbies, and Social Media HysteriaFor the second time on the podcast, I was joined by Dr. Yasir Qadhi. Shaykh Yasir is someone who needs little introduction as he is one of the leading Muslim public intellectuals in the world. We discussed topics such as: -His motivations in studying Islam -His mindset when juggling secular studies with his aspirations for higher Islamic studies -His favorite hobbies -What he would study today if he had more bandwidth -How he's managing social media and his approach to armchair critics Resources...2024-01-2753 min
Sultans and SneakersEp. 089 - Hasib Noor - Modern Approaches to Learning IslamShaykh Hasib Noor is the Founder and Director of The Legacy Institute. He is also among the founders of Faith. Global, which is a global platform for creating faith-based community spaces. He studied Islam formally at the Islamic University of Madinah College of Islamic Law. He has a special interest in the archaelogical sites and historical landmarks related to the life events of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). As a resident of the holy city of Madinah, he is well known for his walking tours that he provides to those performing Hajj and...2024-01-231h 15
Sultans and SneakersEp. 088 - Mustafa Umar - No Women Allowed!Shaykh Mustafa Umar is a returning guest to the podcast; he is an Islamic scholar from Southern California who is the youngest executive member of the Fiqh Council of North America. He studied Islam in India, Egypt, France, and the UK. In this episode, we talk about the first annual Men's Conference he is helping to organize in Southern California. We discuss the importance of such an event due to the challenges Muslim men are facing. The Men's Conference will be held on January 13, 2024 at the Islamic Center of Irvine. You can register for onsite or online at...2024-01-081h 02
Sultans and SneakersEp. 087 - Haroon Sidat - Confidence and the Drive for JannahDr. Haroon Sidat is a student of knowledge in the Islamic sciences. After completing the memorization of the Qu'ran, he completed the traditional Darsi-i Nizami curriculum and then pursued his secular education in Economics and Finance along with an MA in Education. He also has a PhD in Religion and Theology. He is a Research Associate at Cardiff University in the UK. In this episode of the podcast, we talked about the mindset required to construct a Jannah-focused life. We also discussed what it means to build confidence, requirements for the laity in studying Islam, how Muslims...2024-01-031h 24
Sultans and SneakersEp. 086 - Hamzah Maqbul - A Mawlawi's Perspective on the Gaza GenocideShaykh Hamzah Maqbul is the resident scholar for Ribat, a center of Islamic education and dhikr based out of the greater Chicagoland area. He did his formal education at the University of Washington and pursued traditional Islamic studies across the Muslim world; in Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, U.A.E., and Pakistan. He is also currently collaborating with the Imam Ghazali Institute. In this timely episode of the podcast, we discuss various points regarding his recent treatise "Mawlawi's Guide to Ghazzah". Shaykh Hamzah discusses the history of the turmoil in the Holy Land and offers pragmatic advice...2023-10-301h 25
Sultans and SneakersEp. 085 - Ismail Kamdar - Auditing a Week in My LifeShaykh Ismail Kamdar is the founder of Islamic Self Help and Izzah Academy. He completed the Alimiyyah Program in 2006, and a BA in Islamic Studies in 2014, specializing in Fiqh, Tafsir, and History. Currently his full time day job is as Research Operations Manager at Yaqeen Institute. He is the author of over a dozen books in the fields of Islamic Studies and personal development. Due to his work in the personal development and self-help space, I walked him through a typical week for me and asked him to audit it. The results and discussion were very eye open...2023-10-222h 23
Sultans and SneakersEp. 084 - Mohamed Ghilan - How to find a Spiritual PathBack on the episode for a second time is Dr. Mohamed Ghilan. He is someone who has managed to excel in both the Islamic sciences and his professional career and exemplifies a model of the "Deep Life". Mohamed has had a unique spiritual journey and is familiar with various methodologies of spirituality within Islam. For this reason, I wanted to have an open conversation about how one finds a spiritual path that works for them. You can learn more about his work at https://alandalusacademy.com/ Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts...2023-09-281h 48
Sultans and SneakersEp. 083 - SOLO - 2023 Al-Maqasid Retreat ReviewMy family and I attended the Al-Maqasid Summer Retreat from August 7, 2023 to August 13, 2023. It was one of the best experiences we have ever done together as a family. In this rare solo episode of the podcast, I share my full review. *One slight edit: In the episode I refer to Imam Ahmad Mashur Al-Haddad. The proper title he is referred to is: Habib Ahmad Mashur Al-Haddad. My apologies. You can learn more about Al-Maqasid at: https://www.almaqasid.org/ Please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts! To support the channel...2023-09-0150 min
Sultans and SneakersEp. 082 - Habeeb Quadri - Islamic Schools, Leaving a Legacy, and Dealing with one's own MortalityHabeeb Quadri is the superintendent of MCCA (Muslim Community Center Academy) schools, one of the largest and long-standing Islamic schools in the country. He also serves as part-time staff at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In this episode, we discuss how he got into his field, issues surrounding modern-day education, how Islamic schools can keep leveling up, a father's role in their children's education, the legacy his father has built in Chicago, and how Habeeb came to terms with his own mortality as a result of his cancer diagnosis a few years ago.2023-08-201h 18
Sultans and SneakersEp. 081 - Salah Sharief - Business, The Means to KnowledgeIn this episode of the podcast, I had the privilege of chatting with Dr. Salah Sharief, who is an entrepreneur, academic, and student of the Islamic sciences. He is the Founder and CEO of Kalaam Halal Audio and the Founder of Wordsmiths Editing. Currently, he is residing in Cairo, Egypt where he is continuing his pursuit of Islamic studies. We discussed several topics including productivity, time management, his relationship with Shaykh Akram Nadwi, the challenges of pursuing sacred knowledge in a social media age, and where the best place to live for a Muslim right now is.2023-06-191h 26
Sultans and SneakersEp. 080 - Ismail Alqadi - The Melody of The DivineShaykh Ismail Alqadi is a Qari (professional reciter of the Qu'ran) from Amman, Jordan. He learned the various sciences related to the recitation of the Qu'ran from several teachers and has an ijazah and sanad in the ten different narrations of the Qu'ran. He also has a degree in Islamic studies majoring in Fiqh and Usul. In this podcast, Shaykh Ismail introduces the topic of maqamat, which refers to a system of melodic modes used to recite the Qu'ran. He walks us through examples of maqamat and the context that best suits their usage. We also discuss...2023-05-151h 27
Sultans and SneakersEp. 079 - Saaleh Baseer - An Ivy League/Madrassa FusionMawlana Saaleh Baseer is a brilliant young scholar of Hanafi law and Mughal history from the Bay Area. After completing his memorization of the Qu'ran, he received his Alim degree from Darul Uloom Azaadville in South Africa. Afterwards he went on to pursue a Bachelor's degree from Columbia University where he majored in History. Most recently he has completed a Master's from the University of Chicago and is wrapping up his studies at Darul Qasim College where he has trained to be a mufti(scholar qualified to give legal rulings). Mawlana Saaleh has been able to disperse...2023-05-051h 09
Sultans and SneakersEp. 078 - RAMADAN 1444: Prep, Anxiety, and Aspirations - Umair HaseebOn this episode of the podcast, I bring back Shaykh Umair Haseeb to talk all things Ramadan. What do we do if we don't prep at all? How do we navigate Ramadan when we're struggling with sins? How do sages of today approach Ramadan? Shaykh Umair is a graduate of Al-Qayrawayin University in Fes, Morocco and is currently serving as Director of Religious Affairs for Ta'leef Collective. (Re-released with improved audio on 3/26/2023, Original Release: 3/20/2023) Resources for "Sultans and Sneakers" Patreon: https://patreon.com/sultansandsneakers Yo...2023-03-271h 24
Sultans and SneakersEp. 078 - RAMADAN 1444: Prep, Anxiety, and Aspirations - Umair HaseebOn this episode of the podcast, I bring back Shaykh Umair Haseeb to talk all things Ramadan. What do we do if we don't prep at all? How do we navigate Ramadan when we're struggling with major sins? How do the sages of today approach Ramadan? Shaykh Umair is a graduate of Al-Qayrawayin University in Fes, Morocco and is currently serving as Director of Religious Affairs for Ta'leef Collective. (This episode originally released on March 21, 2023 and is being re-uploaded with better audio on March 25, 2023) Resources for "Sultans and...2023-03-251h 24
Sultans and SneakersEp. 078 - RAMADAN 1444: Prep, Anxiety, and Aspirations - Umair HaseebIn this pre-Ramadan episode, I bring back Shaykh Umair Haseeb to talk all things Ramadan. What do we do if we don't prep at all? How do we navigate Ramadan when we're struggling with sins? How do sages of today approach Ramadan? Shaykh Umair is a graduate of Al-Qayrawayin University in Fes, Morocco and is currently serving as Director of Religious Affairs for Ta'leef Collective. Resources for "Sultans and Sneakers" Patreon: https://patreon.com/sultansandsneakers YouTube: www.youtube.com/sultansandsneakers Instagram: https://instagram.com...2023-03-211h 24
Sultans and SneakersEp. 077 - Crafting History - Dr. Yakoob AhmedDr. Yakoob Ahmed is an Ottoman historian with a specialization in late Ottomon history. He received his Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London and he currently teaches at Istanbul University in Turkiye. I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Yakoob after I attended a weekend seminar he did in Chicago on Ottoman history. We discussed his origin story, his identity as a "Londoner", how he developed empathy for others, and biases that Western academics operate from..amongst other things. Resources for "Sultans and...2023-03-181h 46
Sultans and SneakersEp. 076 - 40 Hadith on Masculinity - Nabeel AzeezIn this episode, I bring back my good friend Nabeel Azeez who's a Dubai based copywriter to talk about his latest project, "40 Hadith on Masculinity: How to be a Good Man". We discuss how he went about commissioning the project and tackled a few examples of things related to masculinity that content creators struggle with. We also discussed his foray into boxing and the "MuslimMan" brand he is cultivating. To purchase the book you can go to https://muslimman.com/book Resources for "Sultans and Sneakers" Patreon: https://patreon.co...2023-03-011h 59
Sultans and SneakersEp. 075 - Fitness Made Stoopid Simple - Jumha AburezeqJumha Aburezeq is an active entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of StoopidFit. To date, he's helped over 1000 people across the world gain freedom with their body, mind and food with his trademark 3 Phase Fat Loss System. To connect with Jumha and learn more about his programming, go to: https://stoopidfit.com/ Resources for "Sultans and Sneakers" Patreon: https://patreon.com/sultansandsneakers YouTube: www.youtube.com/sultansandsneakers Instagram: https://instagram.com/sultansandsneakers Twitter: https://twitter.com/SultansNSnkrs Facebook: https://facebook.com/sultansandsneakers2023-02-171h 41
Sultans and SneakersEp. 074 - "A Farmer Meets an Emir" - John Kiser on Emir Abd el-KaderJohn Kiser is a former international technology broker and author. He wrote "Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader, A Story of True Jihad". I had the chance to discuss the character of Emir Abd el-Kader with John and we talked about the lessons that people today can take away from his life. Currently, John enjoys raising pigs on his farm in Virginia (hence the title of the show). To learn more about John and his works, please go to www.johnwkiser.com His previous books include "Communist Entreprenuers: Unknown Innovators in...2023-02-101h 39
Sultans and SneakersEp. 073 - Double Duty - Shaykh Umer KhanShaykh Umer Khan is a rare individual who has excelled in both corporate America as well as Islamic studies. Up until recently, he was the VP of Information Technology and Security at SpaceX, where he reported directly to Elon Musk. He recently left to become Chief Information and Security Officer at another firm. While progressing through his corporate career, Shaykh Umer decided to pursue his Islamic studies passion and has completed study of the Arabic language, memorization of the Qu'ran, two Alim programs and received his Ifta license from Darul Ilm Birmingham, granting him the traditional title...2023-01-091h 41
Sultans and SneakersEp. 072 - Andrew Tate: Convert or CON-MAN? - Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, Sh. Mustafa Umar, Nabeel AzeezAndrew Tate's conversion to Islam has sparked a discourse in the Muslim community regarding the conversion of individuals who are coming to Islam from a past life that seems antithetical to Islamic teachings. In this panel, we discuss Tate's conversion from various angles with Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, Shaykh Mustafa Umar and Nabeel Azeez. All three of my panelists have been guests on the podcast so they need no introduction. Nabeel Azeez provides the unique perspective of having known Andrew Tate and his brother for several years. In the episode we allude...2022-11-131h 43
Sultans and SneakersEp. 071 - Work: Practice for Life - Subhi SaadehSubhi Saadeh is a quality engineer, triathlete/marathoner, podcaster and coffee aficionado. He works in the pharmaceutical industry and is the host of the Combinate Podcast, a show that's focused on Quality in BioTech and MedTech. In this episode, we discuss Subhi's approach to work and learning. He shares how his discipline spreads out to other aspects of his life such as training for marathons and triathlons. Resources for 'Sultans and Sneakers' Patreon: https://patreon.com/sultansandsneakers YouTube: www.youtube.com/sultansandsneakers Instagram: https://instagram.com/sultansandsneakers Twi...2022-11-072h 20
Sultans and SneakersEp. 070 - Tempering the Cross - Paul WilliamsPaul Williams is a blogger and bibliophile based out of London and the South of France. He hosts the popular YouTube channel Blogging Theology, which has reached over 170,000 subscribers at the time of this recording. In this episode we talk about why Blogging Theology has been so popular in the day and age of clickbait videos. We also explore how to understand Christians and Christianity through a Muslim lens and Paul provides valuable insight as a former Christian. To support this channel, please consider becoming a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/sultansandsneakers2022-10-0455 min
Sultans and SneakersBONUS: Digital Minimalism - 30 Day ResultsAfter listening to Cal Newport's "Digital Minimalism" on Audible, I went on a 30 day plan to reduce my social media intake. In this short episode, I talk about what I did and what the results were. You can learn more about the book here: https://www.calnewport.com/books/digital-minimalism/2022-09-2611 min
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 069 - Smorgasboard of Fiqh - Mustafa UmarShaykh Mustafa Umar is the founder and president of California Islamic University, the Director of Education and Outreach at the Islamic Institute of Orange County, an executive member of the Fiqh council of North America, and most recently a Research Fellow at Yaqeen Institute. He began his Islamic studies overseas in India and Egypt before obtaining a B.A. in Theology and Islamic Law from the European Institute of Islamic Sciences in France and an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of Gloucestershire in the UK. He also has a B.S. in Information and...2022-09-261h 49
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 068 - Pursuing the "Deep Life" - Naveed Husain, Esq.This episode discusses the overall shift of the Sultans and Sneakers podcast platform as I attempt to have more conversations around what author and professor Cal Newport refers to as the "Deep Life". In summary, it's defined as "living a life that has radical alignment with your core values". Getting into that, it's also a life that is very intentional and avoids distractions. Naveed Husain is my guest for this podcast; he is a managing partner at Farooqi and Husain LLC, where he specializes in family law, estate planning and business litigation. He has a Y...2022-09-101h 34
Sultans and SneakersBONUS: We Plan, He Invites - Hassan Shibly on Hajj and Muhammad AlShareefIn this shorter segment recorded after a main podcast, Hassan Shibly talks about his experience of praying at the janazah of Shaykh Muhammad AlShareef (rahimahullah) and how his last minute trip to Hajj materialized this year.2022-09-0231 min
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 067 - Creative Collab: The Future of Muslim Podcasts with Ahmed KhanAhmed Khan is the host of "The Creative Minority" podcast, which seeks to engage with contemporary intellectual issues ranging from but not included to politics, philosophy, theology, sociology, metaphysics, ethics, history, medicine and others. I recently learned about Ahmed's channel after speaking to Dr. Mohamed Ghilan and he recommended I check it out. What appealed to me is that Ahmed is getting beyond surface level conversations and getting deep with his guests, most of who not all have Ph.D's in their specialty. He does a great job of bringing in subject matter experts. This...2022-08-291h 27
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 066 - Dr. Yasir Qadhi, Dr. Shadee Elmasry, Hassan Shibly, Esq. - ENGAGEMENT: Foundations and ApplicationsToday's atmosphere amongst Muslims who consider themselves practicing has become a divided landscape. One of the main factors in that is how American Muslim leaders have engaged with media, Muslim politicians and other entities in an increasingly left-leaning climate. I am joined on this episode with three noteworthy leaders in the American Muslim community: Dr. Yasir Qadhi, Dr. Shadee Elmasry, and Hassan Shibly to hash through these issues. Resources related to Sultans and Sneakers: Patreon: https://patreon.com/sultansandsneakers YouTube: www.youtube.com/sultansandsneakers Instagram: https://instagram.com/sultansandsneakers...2022-08-142h 18Sultans and SneakersSNS Live: What Muhammad AlShareef and AlMaghrib did for meOn this livestream episode (originally done on YouTube), I talk about my personal story with AlMaghrib Institute and my interactions with Shaykh Muhammad AlShareef (May God have mercy upon him) who recently passed away suddenly at the age of 47. I am joined as well by Mort from "MuzzyBuzz" and "The Mad Mamluks". To support this channel you can become a Patron at www.patreon.com/sultansandsneakers I would also appreciate a 5 star review on ITunes or Spotify. 2022-08-071h 22
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 065 - Imam Tom Facchine - "The Only Rule is..There are No Rules"Tom Facchine accepted Islam in his early twenties. He holds a BA in Political Science from Vassar College (2011) and a BA in Islamic Law from the Islamic University of Madinah (2020). He also holds a chaplaincy certificate from The Chaplaincy Program conducted by the Prophet's Mosque (2019). Tom is currently the Imam and Program Director of Utica Masjid in NY, and the Imam of Hamilton College. He also teaches Tafseer to middle-schoolers online through Legacy International Online High School. In this episode, I talk to Imam Tom about the details of his knowledge journey after he accepted Islam. 2022-08-052h 31
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 064 - Midlife Crisis or Midlife Mission? - Dawood YasinImam Dawood Yasin is the Director of Student Life and Center for Ethical Living and Learning at Zaytuna College. He studied the Islamic sciences at the Abu Nour Institute in Damascus, Syria while also holding a BA in Community Studies from UMass-Boston and an MA in Liberal Studies and Globalization Studies from Dartmouth College. He's well known for leading a sustainable lifestyle and his never ending pursuit of various hobbies which includes hunting and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, we discuss the crisis that many married men fall into after starting a family. We talk about why men s...2022-07-192h 05
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 063 - "Selling out to Liberals on ABORTION?" - Shaykhs Joe Bradford and Hamzah MaqbulIn light of the recent overturning of Roe vs. Wade, many Muslims have found themselves thrown into the middle of the abortion debate. For this episode, I brought in two individuals who are respected in the North American community for their knowledge and leadership to help navigate the issue. Shaykh Joe Bradford is an entrepreneur and American scholar of Islam. He has a Master of Islamic Law from the Islamic University of Madinah. Shaykh Joe's specialty is in Islamic finance and he focuses his efforts on creating companies that allow people of faith to align their values...2022-07-061h 52
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 062 - Defamation and Divorce in Light of the Depp/Heard Trial - Hassan ShiblyHassan Shibly is a Civil Rights Attorney based out of Tampa, Florida. He is best known in his role as the former Executive Director for CAIR-Florida. As a victim of defamation himself, he provides a unique perspective on the recent Johnny Depp - Amber Heard trial. He specifically highlights what Muslims in this day and age need to learn from such events. If you'd like to support the podcast you can become a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/sultansandsneakers For any questions or comments you can e-mail me at info@sultansandsneakers.com Follo...2022-07-0458 min
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 061 - Compassionate Conservatism - Chaplain Tricia PethicTricia Pethic is a chaplain based out of upstate New York. Raised in a blue-collar Democratic family and having campaigned for Senator Bernie Sanders, Tricia finds herself leaning more right on several critical issues of our day namely with regards to sexual ethics and abortion. She also has a unique 'pro-life' stance on the gun issue. We discuss these issues on this episode. You can find her writings at: https://beyondthesurface.substack.com/ She is also on Twitter at the handle @TheCivilMuslim and Facebook/Instagram @ChapTricia If you'd like to support the podcast you...2022-06-261h 23
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 060 - "Go East, Young Man!" - Arthur RichardsArthur Richards is a Jamaican-American convert to Islam who resides in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He currently is the Chief Marketing Officer for Mecca Books and is also a teacher for Markaz Imam Malik. In this episode, we talk about Arthur's upbringing, conversion to Islam, the importance of Hijrah, and the methodology of studying Islam. 2022-06-062h 02
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 059 - "Decoding the Matrix" - Darrick the "Red Pill Muslim"For this show, I sat down with Darrick, a brother I met on Twitter who goes by the handle @redpillmuslim We talk about his upbringing in foster homes, the search for his biological parents, joining the military, conversion to Islam and how he formulates his political positions. He walks us through his thought process in explaining the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and finally we discuss some of our common influences in the manosphere. You can support the channel at www.patreon.com/sultansandsneakers 2022-05-201h 31Sultans and SneakersIG Live - Sartorial Spirituality with Umair HaseebTaken from an IG Live done in February 2022 where I chopped it with my good friend, Umair Haseeb on the relationship between sartorialism and spirituality, specifically from the Islamic context. Umair is a young student of knowledge who graduated from the Qayrawayin University in Fes, Morocco and is continuing studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. He's also well known for his fine taste in men's clothing. 2022-05-1656 minSultans and SneakersSNS Monday Night Live with Gareth BryantGareth Bryant is a writer, poet, chaplain, and part-time model based out of New York City. For this live stream, we discussed the passing of Kevin Samuels and waht the appropriate response should be for his passing. We also discussed the recent leak of Roe v. Wade and the Islamic position on abortion. 2022-05-1658 minSultans and Sneakers1K Subscribers LiveStream!This episode is from a YouTube live stream I hosted right after hitting 1,000 subscribers! Did a quick Ramadan recap, discussed the direction of the podcast amongst other things. To support the channel as a Patreon go to: https://www.patreon.com/sultansandsneakers2022-05-1641 min
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 058 - The State of American Muslims - Ubaydullah Evans and Umar LeeBack from a holiday and COVID hiatus...I had the opportunity to facilitate a conversation between Umar Lee and Ubaydullah Evans on the state of American Muslims. Ubaydullah Evans is the Scholar-in-Residence at ALIM (American Learning Initiative for Muslims). He converted to Islam in high school and went on to obtain his degree in Shariah from Al-Azhar University in Egypt. He is also active with the Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) and Ta'leef Collective in Chicago. Umar Lee is a writer, media personality and political activist from St. Louis, Missouri. He converted to Islam 30...2022-02-201h 48
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 057 - Conservative or Contrarian? Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid AliDr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali is a scholar of Islamic law with field specialties in Islamic Theology as well as Race and Blackness Studies in Muslim History. His research interests include the interconnection between law and identity formation, comparative Islamic law, and Islam’s role in the modern world. He is an associate professor at Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. Dr. Abdullah is well known for his inclination towards conservative views especially over the last few years. In this podcast, I wanted to explore the rationale behind his political philosophy. We also get into the current issue of the...2021-11-082h 17
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 056 - Sultana's Gambit: Mister Omar's Chess Academy - Omar DurraniOmar Durrani is a chess coach based out of South Florida. He cut his teeth in the chess world growing up in Columbus, Ohio before picking up on teaching chess during his undergraduate years as a way to pay the bills. He found himself teaching chess to kids in a small town in Ohio where he came across the children of comedian Dave Chappelle, who in turn became some of his top students. He coached these kids to back to back Ohio high school state championships at the Queen City Classic in both 2018 and 2019. In this episode...2021-09-241h 08
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 055 - Pro-Polygamy Sex Coach - Estela Rodriguez-JebrilEstela Rodriguez-Jebril is a sex coach and licensed therapist. In this episode, we discussed how various religious traditions and cultures approach sex, the issues men and women have with regards to intimacy and why polygamy is a solution that should be normalized and utilized in our society. You can check out her YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/Estela39/featured Her show, "Let's Talk about Sex" on British Muslim TV can be found at:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPW6DPCy_o_nDBliKEiTcc7sRSMu2FJsL If you are enjoying the...2021-09-131h 26
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 054 - Secular Koranism - Claire KhawClaire Khaw believes Western governments should adopt their legal system from the Qu'ran...and she's not even a Muslim. We discuss how she came to this belief and its proposed implementation on Episode 54. If you are enjoying the channel, please consider becoming a Patron at https://www.patreon.com/sultansandsneakers Video Podcasts are available at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8nN9RSnLs08M87yEZppwaA You can find Claire's writings at: https://thevoiceofreason-ann.blogspot.com/ and https://radicalisedrabbi.blogspot.com/ Social Media Links for Sultans and Sneakers: IG: ...2021-09-121h 43
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 053 - White on White Violence - Should Caucasians Convert to Islam?Is there a viable future for people of European descent in Islam? For this discussion, I bring on Robert Dufour and Umar Lee; two converts of European descent. Robert is the North American head of Islam4Europeans, an organization that seeks to support a positive identity for Muslims of European descent. Robert will argue from the point of view that there is a viable future for Caucasian converts. Robert is a French-Canadian who converted to Islam in 2003. He resides in London, Ontario. You can learn more about Islam4Europeans at http://islam4europeans.com/ and follow Robert...2021-08-261h 41
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 052 - Human Trafficking in the Heartland - Rana ZakariaRana Zakaria is a Community Educator for the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CCAHT). Rana completed her bachelor’s in human services with a minor in social work at East Tennessee State University. I met Rana on Clubhouse and felt she would be a great person to educate the listening audience about human trafficking; how it works, common misconceptions, and what we can do to combat it. It was shocking to learn that human trafficking is such an issue that there are regionalized efforts (like in East Tennessee of all places). If you want to learn more about...2021-08-0545 min
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 051 - Med School, Anti-Vaxxers, & Kicks - Dr. Mohamed GhilanDr. Mohamed Ghilan has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada and is a recent medical school graduate from the University of Queensland in Australia. In this episode, he reflects upon what he learned from medical school and how that adds insights to what he brought in as a Ph.D in neuroscience. We also discussed the ideology of anti-vaxxers, specifically focusing on one of the main ideologues behind the movement, Andrew Wakefield. Finally, Dr. Ghilan tells us about his newfound affinity for sneakers. ...2021-08-021h 43Sultans and SneakersEpisode 050 - The "Injil", Lying Muslims, and other Tangents - Ijaz Ahmad, Joe Wyrostek, Usama DakdokEpisode 50 of the podcast was meant to be a discussion between Ijaz Ahmad of EFDawah and Calling Christians and Joe Wyrostek, Pastor of MPI Church in Chicago. The topic was intended to be around the concept of the "Injil" in the Quran and why it poses an issue for Muslims (from Joe's POV). We may or may not have covered that as we went in multiple different angles throughout the show. Joe was also joined by Usama Dakdok, a Christian Arab. You can follow Ijaz on Twitter, Clubhouse and TikTok @IjaztheTrini You can find Joe at ht...2021-06-292h 22Sultans and SneakersEpisode 049 - California Nightmare - Yusuf ClackYusuf Clack is the owner of ClackFit, a gym that opened in 2009 and closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we talked about approaches to fitness and his perspective on how the state of California handled the pandemic. You can follow Yusuf on Instagram @clackfit.2021-06-071h 27Sultans and SneakersEpisode 048 - Epistemological Warfare - Hamza DudgeonIn this episode, I caught up with Hamza Dudgeon from the YouTube channels "Hamza the Historian" and "Hamza the Linguist". Hamza is a Muslim convert from Minnesota who I met while he was doing his graduate studies at the University of Chicago. In this almost 3 hour long episode, we talked about powerlifting, his upbringing in Minnesota, his conversion to Islam, approaches to understanding various world views and the aftermath of the George Floyd murder.(We recorded this episode during the trial but it's being released after the conviction of Derek Chauvin) His full bio is available below.2021-05-152h 35Sultans and SneakersEpisode 047 - Prophecy or Blasphemy? The Ahmadiyyah MovementThe Ahmadiyyah Movement was started in the late 1800s by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian which is located in the state of Punjab in modern day India. The Ahmadiyyah ascribe Messiah-ship to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and are considered to be outside the fold of normative Islam by traditional Muslims. In this episode, I talk to Farhan Yusufzai, who used to engage in dialogue with the Ahmadiyyah and wrote a book called "With Love to the Ahmadis of the world". The book is available for free download at https://ahmadiyyafactcheckblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/with-love-to-the-ahmadis-of-the-world-by-farhan-khan-2010.pdf I al...2021-04-031h 45Sultans and SneakersEpisode 046 - Has the Alt-Right Reformed? - Richard SpencerRichard Spencer is the founder of the Alternative Right movement, known more commonly as The Alt-Right. He is well known for his support of Donald Trump in the 2016 election and considers himself an "identitarian". In this episode, Richard shares his passion for philosophy, particularly the works of Friedrich Nietzsche. He also discusses his mistake in supporting Trump while we have some candid discussion about traditional religious spaces becoming places of worship again instead of museums. We also walked through what kind of individuals would be most aligned with his worldview. Finally, I pressed him on some of...2021-03-141h 33Sultans and SneakersEpisode 045 - Musings of a Spiritual Mutt - Art OrtArt Ort has been writing a blog about his spiritual endeavors since 2007. I found it when looking up Unitarian Christians and noticed he seemed to have objectively studied Islam in a fair and balanced way. Although he never converted, Art maintains a great deal of respect for Islam and in this show he walks us through his journey...as well as explaining the reasons for his non-conversion. You can find Art's blog at http://spiritualmutt.blogspot.com/ In addition to his blog, he is on Quora at https://www.quora.com/profile/Arthur-Ort-2/ If...2021-03-131h 34Sultans and SneakersEpisode 044 - Louis Farrakhan's Former Close Companion Opens Up - Albi AbdullahEpisode 44 of the podcast is with Albi Abdullah, formerly known as Tracy X. Albi grew up in the foster system in Pittsburgh, PA before enlisting in the US Navy in the 1950s. He joined the Nation of Islam in 1956 and would spend close to two decades in the close companionship of Minister Louis X..whom we know today as Louis Farrakhan. In this interview, Albi opens up about his orphaned childhood, his path to the Nation, and life after the Nation…including future plans for The Gambia. If you have any questions or comments you can re...2021-02-231h 25Sultans and SneakersEpisode 043 - From Schoolyard Brawls to Philosophy - Asadullah Ali Al-AndalusiAsadullah Ali Al-Andalusi is a research fellow for Yaqeen Institute, member of the Muslim Debate Initiative, and founder of the Andalusian Project; an independent research platform for Islamic studies. He holds degrees in both Western and Islamic Philosophy and a Masters in Library and Information Science. He specializes in topics related to the philosophy of science, atheism, terrorism, Islamic ethics, and other issues facing the global Muslim community. This episode was an off the cuff casual conversation into his backstory, his rough upbringing and the circumstances that led him to eventually accepting Islam. We talked about other...2021-02-021h 42
Sultans and SneakersEpisode 042 - Objectivity in a "Fake News" World - Sana SaeedSana Saeed is a senior producer and host at AJ+. I wanted to bring Sana on to answer the big question, how do we as laypeople get objective takes in a world of social media gurus and fake news? We eventually got to that question at the end but we first discussed her involvement in exposing the Muslim Leadership Initiative or MLI…cancel culture..what the parameters are for someone to be de-platformed? And then she offered some candid and interesting takes on Joe Rogan and Ann Coulter. This was one of those shows where the guest had me on my...2021-01-191h 44Sultans and SneakersEpisode 041 - Dumbest Things I heard while Rollin' with the Madkhalis - Bro HajjiOn this show, I welcome one of Birmingham's (UK) finest, Bro Hajji. Bro Hajji has made a name for himself exposing deviance within the Muslim community. One of the groups he has focused in on is the Madkhali cult AKA "The Super Salafis". As I spent time in the mid 2000s with this group, I wanted to share some of my experiences first hand and have him comment. Check out Bro Hajji on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxsG... You can support my channel at https://www.patreon.com/notifications2021-01-111h 33Sultans and SneakersEpisode 040 - From Socialist Marine to Capitalist Millionaire - Matt SapaulaMatt Sapaula AKA “The Money Smart Guy” is the Chief Distribution Officer for PHP Agency, a financial services firm based out of the Dallas Texas area. Many of you may have heard of PHP because of it’s founder, Patrick Bet-David who hosts the popular Valuetainment Podcast. Matt is a US Marine Corps combat veteran who transitioned into the insurance industry where he has been able to become a first generation millionaire. Our conversation in this episode is about Matt’s belief system in capitalism and how that has evolved as he went from a US Marine making l...2021-01-0433 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 039 - "The Muslim Biblicist" - Dr. Ali AtaieDr. Ali Ataie is by many accounts, the most knowledgeable Muslim alive today on the subject of Christianity. He is grounded in both the Islamic sciences and has also earned a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California where he did his thesis on an esoteric interpretation of the Gospel of John in the New Testament; an interpretation that seeks to reconcile the Islamic understanding of monotheism with the Gospel that has the highest Christology. His knowledge of Arabic, Greek and Hebrew allows him to have a rare insight when it comes to Comparative Religions. 2020-12-261h 24Sultans and SneakersEpisode 038 - Conversion, Compassion, Jinns, LGBTQ+, and More! - Gareth BryantCall this show the "Kitchen Sink" episode. Gareth Bryant AKA "The Muslim Model" chopped it up about his conversion story to Islam, his experience with Salafism, getting hit on by male prostitutes in Mecca, fashion, jinns, and LGTBQ+. Goes without saying I'll probably bring him on again. Follow Gareth on IG and Twitter @themuslimmodel Support the podcast financially at www.patreon.com/SultansandSneakers2020-12-212h 15Sultans and SneakersEpisode 037 - Surviving Police Brutality - Phil HollandIn April 2014, Phil Holland was a 20 year old college student in Philadelphia working 2 jobs. On Tuesday April 22, 2014 after he delivered a cheeseburger his life would change forever as he had an incident with what he later realized to be the Philadelphia Police Department. 6 years before George Floyd, Phil's story is an eye opening account from someone who survived police brutality. You can read more about Phil's story at the following links: https://6abc.com/police-shooting-southwest-philadelphia/32172/ https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/philadelphia/Officers-cleared-of-shooting-philippe-holland.html http://www.westphillylocal.com/tag/philippe-holland/page...2020-12-0252 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 036 - Podcasting, Platforming, and Politics - Parvez Ahmed of "Diffused Congruence"Parvez Ahmed is the co-founder and co-host of "DIffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience" which is to my knowledge the longest running active Muslim podcast. On this show, we discussed ideas around podcasting like the methodology employed to platform guests. This topic was relevant and timely due to the other podcast that I co-host, "The Mad Mamluks" hosting Nouman Ali Khan who was accused of some illicit behavior a few years ago. I also asked Parvez his thoughts on the group that exists in the Muslim community known as the "Akh Right". If you are enjoying the conte...2020-11-232h 09Sultans and SneakersEpisode 035 - Finding Jesus in Jerusalem - Dr. Will CaldwellDr. Will Caldwell is a recent Ph.D graduate from Northwestern University’s Department of Religious Studies where he specialized in the history of Islam in America. Will is also the Convert Care Coordinator at Ta’leef Chicago. He is originally from Georgia and was raised in the Episcopalian denomination of Christianity. Will walks us through his spiritual journey and offers some candid thoughts on the 2020 election. This show was recorded a few days before the election and off the record, Will’s prediction for a Donald Trump re-election doesn’t seem to have panned out. If you are en...2020-11-171h 49Sultans and SneakersBONUS: Election Recap with Umar LeeDropping an off the cuff bonus show with St. Louis activist, author, and media personality Umar Lee. Umar is a life long Democrat who supported Joe Biden since his entry into the race. We discuss the aftermath of the election, Umar's approach to politics and the Democratic Party. We also discuss some of the various factions within the Muslim community as it pertains to US politics and some ideas of what is to come. Umar has recently published a book called "In Malcolm's Path" which is available on Amazon. You can follow him on Twitter @UmarLeeIII If...2020-11-101h 04Sultans and SneakersEpisode 034 - Byzantine Revival - Dr. Hugo MendezDr. Hugo Mendez is Assistant Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in the New Testament and its early reception. Religion and spirituality always played a pivotal role in his life and he takes us through his trajectory in both academia and personal faith. We also had some fun banter about New York sports teams as Hugo is a native of the Big Apple. If you are enjoying the content, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/SultansandSneakers. Every dollar helps! In addition to Patreon, ple...2020-11-031h 33Sultans and SneakersEpisode 033 - "Straight Outta Colombo" - Irshad AzeezIrshad Azeez is a Sri Lankan based hip hop artist. In this episode, we discussed a variety of topics ranging from morning routines to being diaspora kids in major urban centers as well as religious taboos. You can find his music at https://soundcloud.com/irshad_ini If you are enjoying the content, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/SultansandSneakers. Every dollar helps! In addition to Patreon, please continue to support Sultans and Sneakers by following me on my various social media channels, leaving a 5 star review and letting your friends know abo...2020-10-201h 41Sultans and SneakersEpisode 032 - The Rise of the Roman Crescent - Robert DufourRobert Dufour is a French-Canadian convert to Islam currently residing in London, Ontario. He is the North American head for the organization and website Islam4Europeans.com. Robert believes it is imperative for Muslims of European backgrounds to create their own sub-communities within the greater Muslim community. In this episode, we have a discussion around Robert's own background and why there seems to be so much pushback against a "White Muslims" organization. To learn more about "Islam for Europeans" go to http://islam4europeans.com/ You can follow Robert on Twitter at @Robertofcanada If you...2020-10-111h 31Sultans and SneakersEpisode 031 - The Man with Two Names - Abiola Oluwajimi AKA Benjamin GordonAbiola Oluwajimi AKA Benjamin Gordon AKA "Olu" is a man of multiple names and multiple talents. In this episode we talk about his family background and his search for religious meaning. We also get into his professional life. Olu obtained his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh before cutting his teeth working as a project engineer in large plant environments. He then started his own company which he currently is the President of, Allied Innovation Group. This is one of the more practical episodes I have recorded and I am looking forward to the l...2020-09-281h 08Sultans and SneakersEpisode 030 - Imam Hamza PerezHamza Perez is an imam in Pittsburgh, PA. He is of Puerto Rican descent and is a former hip hop artist. Hamza is currently leading the development of a Muslim community on the north side of Pittsburgh composed primarily of converts to Islam. He gained notoriety in 2009 with the PBS documentary called “New Muslim Cool”. In 2010, he was ranked as one of the top 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center for his commitment to youth work. If you are enjoying the content, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/Sultans...2020-09-1537 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 029 - Spirituality and Gender Identity with a Transgender Hafidh/HafidhaAmeera Khan (formerly known as Ameer Khan) is a Bangladeshi-American originally from St. Louis, Missouri. After memorizing the Qu'ran as a young adult, Ameera began to deal with both his/her sexual and gender identities. In this show, we have a candid discussion about Ameera's spiritual journey along with how Ameer became Ameera. If you are enjoying the content, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/SultansandSneakers. Every dollar helps! In addition to Patreon, please continue to support Sultans and Sneakers by following me on my various social media channels, leaving a 5 star revi...2020-09-111h 55Sultans and SneakersEpisode 028 - A Journey through the Abrahamic Religions - Tim BrenneckeTim Brennecke is a transformational recovery coach originally from Idaho. In this episode he walks us through his spiritual journey in studying the 3 Abrahamic religions Christianity, Judaism and Islam. He recently started his own podcast called "Sober Awakenings". If you are enjoying the content, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/SultansandSneakers. Every dollar helps! In addition to Patreon, please continue to support Sultans and Sneakers by following me on my various social media channels, leaving a 5 star review and letting your friends know about the show. I have a website now as well...2020-08-262h 23Sultans and SneakersEpisode 027 - A Christian Defense of Nini's Deli - Pastor Joe Wyrostek and Jose Riesco IIIRevisiting the cancellation of Nini's Deli earlier this summer, I brought on two gentlemen who were on the frontlines in defense of Nini's during the turbulent week that resulted in its closure. My guests for this show are Pastor Joe Wyrostek and Jose Riesco III from Metro Praise International(MPI) Church in Chicago. Metro Praise is the church that is attended by Juan-Elias Riesco, who used to run Nini's. I wanted to hear Joe and Jose's perspectives as they were very close to the situation. Jose in fact was preaching outside the restaurant on their...2020-08-252h 04Sultans and SneakersEpisode 026 - The Four Levels of Freedom - Ed LatimoreEd Latimore is a best-selling author, former professional heavyweight boxer, and competitive chess player. When I visited Pittsburgh earlier this summer, I had the honor of sitting down with Ed and discussing an article he wrote on his blog called "The 4 Levels of Personal Freedom". You can find that specific article at https://edlatimore.com/personal-freedom/ From there, you can also access the rest of Ed's website. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @EdLatimore This has been by far my favorite episode to record and I think the listeners will get a tremendous amount of value...2020-08-171h 28Sultans and SneakersEpisode 025 - The Case for Donald Trump - Steve CucklerWith the election looming, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Steve Cuckler, the chairman of the Republican Party for Delaware County which is just north of Columbus, Ohio. In this episode, Steve shares how his rural upbringing influenced his political positions. We discussed issues and contentions around both the Republican Party and Democratic Party. Finally, Steve makes a case for re-electing Donald Trump this November. You can learn more about Steve and his work with the Delaware County Republican Party at https://delawaregop.org/about-the-dcrp/ Please continue to support Sultans and Sneakers by follo...2020-08-0552 minSultans and SneakersBonus - Dating Apps, Cat-fishing, and the CaliphateThis bonus episode is courtesy of my co-host Mort from "The Mad Mamluks". He was testing out Streamyard and we decided to chop it up on a variety of topics. MuzzyBuzz (Mort's channel) doesn't have a podcast platform so I'm publishing this on my channel. We had all the characters from "The Mad Mamluks" join in at some point on this episode as we discussed the following topics. 1. Dating Apps: 3:47 2. Mahin's and Student of knowledge's catfish stories: 13:12 3. Marriage: 17:26 3. Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Caliphate: 40:362020-08-041h 42Sultans and SneakersEpisode 024 - Vyasar Ganesan of Netflix's "Indian Matchmaking"Those of us who are South Asian certainly know about the matchmaker auntie or "Rishta Auntie" as is known in some circles. Netflix's recent show "Indian Matchmaking" gave us a glimpse into this world and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Vyasar Ganesan who was one of the main characters from the series. Vyasar is a college counselor and writer based out of Austin, Texas who engages the help of master matchmaker Sima Taparia from Mumbai to find him a spouse. I chop it up with Vyasar about relationships, various angles on matchmaking, some insights on the sho...2020-07-301h 05Sultans and SneakersEpisode 023 - Colorism in the Black and Brown CommunitiesThe recent killing of George Floyd and the tension of race in America has brought to light many difficult conversations. Colorism is an issue that plagues both the African-American and South Asian communities. To discuss this issue, I brought on Sabria Mills from "The Dope Muslim Woman Podcast" and Rumana Sultana, a former makeup artist who has worked in marketing for some major global beauty brands. You can check out "The Dope Muslim Woman Podcast" wherever you listen to podcasts and engage with Sabria on IG at https://www.instagram.com/thedopemuslimwoman_podcast/ Please continue to s...2020-07-251h 18Sultans and SneakersBonus - The Power of Networking and Connecting PeopleDropping a special bonus episode on the podcast apps with my co-host from "The Mad Mamluks", Shaykh Amir Saeed. This show discusses the importance of networking and how it connected Shaykh Amir with an old friend after almost 20 years. Note: Please excuse some audio clipping near the end; tried to edit as much out as I could. Please continue to support Sultans and Sneakers by following me on our various social media channels, leaving a 5 star review and letting your friends know about the show. I have a website now as well and you ca...2020-07-2444 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 022 - Dutch Fitness Coach Converts to Islam!For Episode 22 of the podcast, I sat down with Maarten Van Elst. Maarten is a vitality coach and personal trainer and the founder of Muslim Fit. Maarten helps professionals create balance and build up their mental, physical and spiritual strength and resilience. He resides in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In this episode we discuss what it means to be Dutch, how he learned about and embraced Islam and his outlook on discipline, health and wellness. You can follow Maarten on Instagram (@muslim.fit), Twitter (@muslimfit) and Facebook at www.facebook.com/muslimfit. His website is www.muslim-fit.nl/ Please co...2020-07-211h 51Sultans and SneakersEpisode 021 - Becoming a Reader - Omar UsmanFor Episode 21, I sit down with an old friend, Omar Usman. In my personal circle of friends, he is the guy that probably has the best reading habits. Omar is a normal person like most of us; he has a day job, family, household responsibilities, hobbies, distractions, etc. However he is always managing to get through books while also absorbing the material in the books. I hope this episode is fruitful for anyone looking to start a reading habit. As this channel is all about exploring the "why" behind people's beliefs, reading is a great tool for people to build...2020-07-141h 30Sultans and SneakersEpisode 020 - Revenge of a Nerd - Dr. Jonathan BrownIn Episode 20 of the podcast, I wanted to get an insight on Dr. Jonathan Brown's back story and we ended up having an interesting discussion about his family history, his personal challenges growing up, and how his parents let him watch the most explicit movies as a child. Dr. Jonathan Brown is the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He received his BA in History from Georgetown University in 2000 and his doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago in 2006. Dr. Brown has...2020-06-291h 41Sultans and SneakersEpisode 019 - The Cancellation of Nini's Deli - Part 2 with Christian RangelWrapping up our quick 2 part series on the downfall of Nini's Deli with Christian Rangel(Twitter: @crangel). Christian wrote the excellent piece highlighting the timeline of Nini's demise (linked below). He has known Nini's owner Juan-Elias Riesco since 2013 and offers a unique perspective on the situation. Link to Christian's article on Nini's: https://medium.com/@crangel7/on-ninis-deli-537b5ee7023a Link to Christian's blog: www.rangeldoesnotexist.com Please continue to support Sultans and Sneakers by following me on our various social media channels, leaving a 5 star review and letting your friends know about the sho...2020-06-161h 08Sultans and SneakersEpisode 018 - The Cancellation of Nini's Deli - Part 1On May 30, 2020 Nini's Deli had its highest revenue day in all of 2020. The famous restaurant had not only survived the COVID-19 pandemic but actually grew their business. Less than a week later, they closed their doors for the last time on June 5. This is an analysis of how the most popular restaurant in the state of Illinois (according to Yelp) and the No. 33 overall in the USA completely collapsed due to a combination of their political and religious positions and a botched Public Relations effort. To join me in speaking about this are two local Chicago guys, Nabeel Khan (IG...2020-06-161h 42Sultans and SneakersEpisode 017 - George Floyd Murder and the AftermathEpisode 17 of the podcast is a discussion around the aftermath of the George Floyd murder. I bring in AbdulRahim and Dallas Wright for this episode. AbdulRahim is a Palestinian from the Bay Area. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford and has a background in theatre an linguistics. Currently working in the tech industry, he has many years of on the ground experience with social justice activism. Dallas is a Chicago native who has a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.A. from DePaul University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He has over 6 years of experi...2020-06-081h 51Sultans and SneakersBonus - Sufyan Al-Andalusi on Diriliş: Ertuğrul, Family and Religious HolidaysAnother bonus episode lined up for the Internets..that's 2 in 3 days if you're keeping track. For this show I sat down with my good friend Sufyan Al-Andalusi to chat about our favorite Turkish drama, Diriliş: Ertuğrul. We also touched on a few other topics centered around family and how it's like for him navigating faith while being a religious minority in his own family. We recorded this episode the day before Eid-ul Adha in 2019. To learn more about Sufyan, please check out "The Mad Mamluks" episode with him. You can access that show at https://themadmamluks.com/ep-1...2020-05-251h 07Sultans and SneakersBonus - Coming to Islam in a Nursing HomeReleasing a special Bonus episode today. I met Mike Tobin a little under a year ago. He has been living in a nursing home in Chicago for over 12 years. This is a short story on how he came to embrace Islam. If you would like to get in touch with Mike, please send me an e-mail at info@sultansandsneakers.com He is always looking to connect with more people as it does get lonely in the nursing home. Sultans and Sneakers social media links: IG: www.instagram.com/SultansandSneakers Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sultansan...2020-05-2317 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 016 - Where are the Saints? - Umair HaseebBack on the show for a third time is Umair Haseeb as we discuss the concept of saints and what it means to be a saintly figure. We focus specifically on the Islamic concept of sainthood or "wilayah" which translates to "friendship with God". Umair is a graduate of the Qarawayyin in Fez, Morocco where he studied theology, Islamic law and spirituality. He continues to study Islam formally in Chicago while also managing a home furnishing business, Atiq Woodworks. You can follow him on IG at: www.instagram.com/umair_haseeb You can learn...2020-05-0658 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 015 - Turkish Origins and Islam's Impact on PsychotherapyEpisode 15 of the podcast is by far the longest show we have done so far. I pulled in Hooman Keshavarzi from the Khalil Center to double up as a co-host and as a guest as we hosted Dr. Taha Burak, a visiting psychologist from Istanbul, Turkey. In this show, we discussed the Turkic roots of both Hooman and Dr. Taha and then discussed how classical Islamic scholars were pioneers in the field of psychotherapy. This episode was recorded at the Khalil Center office in Lombard, Illinois. Links for following: Khalil Center: https://khalilcenter.com Sult...2020-04-292h 08Sultans and SneakersEpisode 014 - Dhaka Streets, Part 2 - Mohaimin MostafaCapping off our short Bangladesh series, Mahin sits down with fellow Ohio State alum and current Bangladesh resident Mohaimin Mostafa. Mohaimin is a young entrepreneuer who is part of the team responsible for taking the Columbus, Ohio based coffee chain Crimson Cup and franchising it into the top coffee chain in Bangladesh. He is officially the CoManaging Director of Crimson Cup Bangladesh and is the co-founder of a more recent startup, Jhalmuri Bangladesh which is a fashion based E-commerce site. In this show I speak to Mohaimin about leaving the comforts of a cozy 9 to 5 at Nationwide Ins...2020-04-1949 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 013 - Dhaka Streets, Part 1 - Zia ImranMahin made a trip to Bangladesh in December 2019 and recorded a couple of episodes. In the first episode of the series titled "Dhaka Streets" he meets up with his childhood buddy Zia Imran who is doing big things in the education and entrepreneurial space in Bangladesh. Zia is the founder and Managing Director of the American Standard International School. Prior to this, he worked as a consultant for several Fortune 500 companies in the United States such as Nationwide Insurance, Worthington Industries and Bank of America. He continues to build on his portfolio with several new business ventures estab...2020-04-1353 minSultans and SneakersEpisode 012 - Amir Latif of chak16Glasgow visits Chicago for Episode 12 of the podcast. Amir Latif joins us to tell his story of being a second generation Pakistani/Indian kid born into a large working class family in Glasgow, Scotland. Amir's interests are focused on lack of representation within popular culture, particularly in the clothing industry. He makes up 1/3 of the team behind the creative clothing brand chak16, which connects elements of the creators' Southeast Asian cultural backgrounds with a modern streetwear vibe. Shop chak16 at www.chak16.com/store Follow on IG at https://instagram.com/chak16_ Follow Amir...2020-04-071h 25Sultans and SneakersEpisode 011 - Religion and Masculinity in 2020 with Nabeel AzeezSuper excited to drop this episode of Sultans and Sneakers with Dubai's finest, Nabeel Azeez. Nabeel is a copywriter and marketing consultant who co-owns and runs dropkickcopy.com, a boutique B2B copywriting agency. He is also the owner of becomingthealphamuslim.com, a self improvement blog for Muslim men. In this episode we cover topics such as how he got into the copywriting industry, the manosphere and his experience with being cancelled by other platforms. You can follow Nabeel on Twitter and Instagram at @NabeelAzeezDXB. Follow Sultans and Sneakers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Twitter handle...2020-03-142h 11Sultans and SneakersEpisode 010 - Church History, Theology and Islamic Schools with AbdulRahman ChaoFor Episode 10 Mahin catches up with AbdulRahman Chao, an individual well versed in both the Islamic and Christian traditions. AbdulRahman is a Bay Area native who memorized the Qu'ran before going on to earn his Bachelors Degree from the Islamic University of Madinah and his Masters in Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University. AbdulRahman's focus of study was on early church history and we centered this discussion around that topic. We close the discussion off with a rant about Islamic schools. Follow Sultans and Sneakers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Twitter handle is @SultansNSnkrs) Email us with...2020-02-191h 13Sultans and SneakersBONUS: Reflections on the Passing of Kobe BryantDropping a bonus episode this week as the world lost an icon in NBA legend Kobe Bryant. I bring back my pilot episode guests Mike Swies and Umair Haseeb to share some thoughts on Kobe, his legacy and also discussing various perceptions of death within the Islamic worldview while also thinking about how other faiths perceive the passing of people in this world. Mike Swies is a Speech Language Pathologist but has made his name in Chicago for caring for people who convert to Islam. He has had active roles in organizations like Project Downtown and Ta'leef Chic...2020-02-011h 50Sultans and SneakersEpisode 009 - Refugee Support with Ghulam KeharBack from a long hiatus for Episode 9! Mahin catches up the audience on his whereabouts and what's coming up for the show before delving into a conversation with Ghulam Kehar, an individual who has cut his teeth in the field of refugee services. Ghulam currently serves as the Associate Director of US Programs at Islamic Relief USA, leading grant-making initiatives and national capacity building programs for Islamic Relief's partners. Ghulam got his start in the field as the co-founder of Amaanah Refugee Services. He has presented at several TEDx conferences and served on the advisory board for the Mayor's Offi...2020-01-271h 02