Curiosity Invited

Author. poet, intellectual, Omar Imady is an uncommon collection of many things – poet, historian, novelist, Syrian, American, exile, Sufi, ‘Alan Wattsian’, cat lover, avid coffee drinker, insatiable gastronome – all of which find expression in his growing repertoire of eclectic fiction. He is the author of multiple books, including The Gospel of Damascus, a 2012 Book of the Year Award finalist, and When Her Hand Moves, a collection of three controversial, thought-provoking novellas. His forthcoming novels dig ever deeper into the human experience of alienation and the quest for meaning in a world increasingly hostile to answers.  

His recent book, Divine Pronouns, grows out of a 40 year personal journal to reconcile his love for the Moslem faith, the Islamic sacred book, the Quran, and his and other Moslems struggle with some of the Quran's verses.  The cover notes describe the work thusly:
Despite centuries of scholarly contributions on the Quran,  unprecedented numbers of Muslims find the Quran to be unrelatable in both its wording and in how it has been explained. Existing approaches to interpretation offer little to fall upon when they encounter a verse which appears to go against their deeply held ethical sensibilities, often leaving them with little choice other than to suffer in silence, leave in protest, or master the art of spiritual disassociation.

"In response to these challenges, this work attempts to arrive at new approach to reading and understanding the Quran. It presents a hermeneutical framework, derived from the wording of the Quran itself, through which verses are categorised according to the presence and absence of pronouns used to refer to God and to specific audiences. In this work, first in its series, this new framework is used to identify verses containing principles which can be described as definitive; timeless, universal, and applicable regardless of context."

A prolific writer, Imady is the author of Erasures (2024), winner of the Literary Titan Gold Award, Catfishing Caitlyn (2023) and The Celest Experiment (2022), both recipients of the Literary Titan Silver Award, Transference (2022), a Pushcart Prize nominee (Litro Magazine), When Her Hand Moves (2022), a collection of three novellas, and The Gospel of Damascus, a Book of the Year Award (BOTYA) finalist (2012), published in three English editions, and subsequently translated into Arabic, French and Spanish. The novel weaves Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions to tell the story of a Damascene man who becomes totally consumed with the idea that Damascus is the site of the Second Coming of Jesus.

Imady is also the author, and coauthor, of several works on Syria and Sufism, including: An Inside Story of Modern Syria: The Unauthorized Biography of a Damascene Reformer (2023), Historical Dictionary of Syria Fourth Edition (2021), Syria at War, Eight Years On (2020), Sufism and the Preservation of Syrian Spiritual Identity (2020), The Weaponization of Syria's Reconstruction (2019), The Syrian Uprising Domestic Origins and Early Trajectory (2018), Syria’s Reconciliation Agreements (2017), Organisationally Secular: Damascene Islamist Movements and the Syrian Uprising (2016), Syria at War, Five Years On (2016),  Civil Resistance in the Syrian Uprising: From Democratic Transition to Sectarian Civil War (2016), How a microfinance network could have preempted the Syrian uprising (2014), When You're Shoved from the Right, Look to Your Left: Metaphors of Islamic Humanism (2005),  The Rise and Fall of Muslim Civil Society (2005), and Sanduq: A Microfinance Innovation in Jabal Al-Hoss, Syria (2003).

Claire wrote “How Much Is Enough? Getting More By Living With Less” as an interactive memoir, to give voice to the ever present conversation we’re all having in our heads. How Much Is Enough… Exercise? Religion? Health? Shoes? Family? Food? Claire tackles an array of topics in twenty-two chapters that can be adapted into an entertaining, interactive keynote that will engage audiences in every age and stage of life.

For over four decades, Claire Berger has been earning a living as a comedian, improv actor, speaker and writer. She began her career in Chicago with The Second City and found big laughs in Los Angeles, earning acclaim as a warm-up comedian on over sixty five of your favorite sitcoms, including Seinfeld. Claire was also the first comedian HGTV hired to host a series on their network (Fantasy Open House). 

Pivoting from television to corporate boardrooms, Claire helped businesses have fun while getting the job done with her memorable bespoke events.

Claire has always found humor in unlikely places, including Italian kitchens, where she served as resident writer, ambassador and cookbook contributor for two popular culinary immersion programs, Tuscan Women Cook and Italian Culinary Adventures.

https://claireberger.com/

Jeff Clements, CEO of American Promise, discusses the organization's mission to amend the United States Constitution and limit the influence of money in politics. He explains that American Promise is nonpartisan and aims to give power back to the people by addressing the role of money in the political system. 

Clements shares the backstory of his involvement in the fight against corruption and the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case, emphasizing the need for Americans to come together and pass a constitutional amendment to protect the integrity of elections and ensure a level playing field for all citizens. 

The conversation discusses the need for a constitutional amendment to address the influence of money in politics. It highlights the negative impact of unlimited money on elections and the divisive nature of negative campaign ads. American Promise is working towards getting a two-thirds vote in Congress to pass the "For Our Freedom Amendment," which aims to limit the influence of money in elections. The conversation concludes with a call to action for listeners to get involved and support the movement.

Jeff Clements serves as CEO of American Promise. He has practiced law for three decades in public service and private practice, and is the author of Corporations Are Not People: Reclaiming Democracy From Big Money & Global Corporations. He is also the founder of Whaleback Partners LLC, which provides sustainable financing to businesses in the local agriculture economy. Previously, Jeff has been a partner in a major Boston law firm and served as Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the public law enforcement bureau in the Attorney General’s Office in Massachusetts. Jeff has helped to start and been a board member of many non-profit organizations and businesses.

In Our New World of ADULT BULLIES: How to Spot The, How to Stop Them, author Bill Eddy - lawyer, therapist, educator, and Co-Counder of High Conflict Institute - writes with authority that comes from 40+ years of working with bullies and other high conflict personality individuals. Bullies may always have been a feature of human society. Eddy suggests that between 5 and 10% of people have personalities that do not allow them to put the reins on the abusive behaviors of bullies. Rich with examples the Eddy tells us how to spot bullying behavior/s as well as techniques to contain, channel and stop the abuse that bullies visit on their victims.
   
Eddy's work - in his book and his conversation - avoids a simplistic understanding: bullies are bad. Rather he speaks about how bullying behavior can, when channeled, can push us to be better, push society into new frontiers that may not otherwise be accessible.


Bill Eddy is a lawyer, therapist, mediator and the Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer of the High Conflict Institute. He is the author of over 20 books and manuals about managing relationships and situations with high conflict people and bullies. He trains lawyers, judges, mediators, and therapists worldwide in managing high conflict situations. Now he is writing books for everyone including his latest: Our New World of Adult Bullies: How to Spot Them - How to Stop Them.

Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. is the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer. While pioneering High Conflict Personality Theory (HCP), he was the National Conflict Resolution Center’s Senior Family Mediator for 15 years, a Certified Family Law Specialist for 15 years, and a licensed clinical social worker therapist for over 12 years.
Bill serves on the faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law and is a Conjoint Associate Professor with the University of Newcastle Law School in Australia. He has been a speaker and trainer in over 35 U.S. states and 13 countries.
The author or co-author of over 20 books, manuals, and workbooks, he also has a popular blog on the Psychology Today website with millions of views. He co-hosts the podcast, It’s All Your Fault! with HCI co-founder, Megan Hunter


https://highconflictinstitute.com/

Dr. Greg Chasson, clinical psychologist and researcher, speaks broadly about his work helping people and organizations who manage perfectionists.  Dr. Chasson's book - Flawed : Why Perfectionism is a Challenge for Management - is a highly regarded contribution to the fields  of psychology and business management. 

Dr. Gregory S. Chasson, a distinguished licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist, Associate Professor, and the Director of Behavioral Interventions of the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders Clinic within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago.

With a rich academic background, Dr. Chasson earned his BA in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and later obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston. His professional journey led him through three transformative years at Harvard Medical School, including a prestigious internship at McLean Hospital and postdoctoral Clinical and Research Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Before joining the faculty at the University of Chicago, Dr. Chasson made significant contributions as an Assistant Professor at Towson University and later as an Associate Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology. For the latter, his impactful leadership extended to a four-year tenure as the Director of Clinical Training for the accredited Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program.

Dr. Chasson’s expertise lies in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, encompassing conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviors, and tics/Tourettes, alongside anxiety disorders. His commitment to evidence-based treatment is exemplified by his ownership and operation of two specialized practices—CBT Solutions of Baltimore (2010-2016) and Obsessive-Compulsive Solutions of Chicago (2016-2022).

An accomplished and award-winning educator, Dr. Chasson has accumulated thousands of hours of teaching experience, leaving an indelible mark on students at various academic levels. His international reputation as a sought-after professional trainer is evidenced by workshops delivered in China on the nature and treatment of OCD for the Chinese Psychology Society and the China Mental Health Association. The International OCD Foundation recognizes his expertise, inviting him to lead trainings and serve as an expert consultant.

As a prolific scholar, Dr. Chasson has authored over 70 scientific publications (Google Scholar Profile) and spearheaded grant-funded research projects in the field of OCD and related disorders. His commitment to advancing the field is reflected in his recent co-authorship of a book on cognitive-behavioral therapy for hoarding. Dr. Chasson’s editorial contributions extend to multiple journal boards, and he has notably served as the Program Chair for the 2021 annual conference for the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Currently, he is the editor of the Behavior Therapist, solidifying his status as a leading authority in the field.

Dr. Chasson's wealth of clinical experience, a dedication to education, and  prolific research portfolio, enables him to offer unparalleled insights and expertise to those seeking speaking engagements, media involvement, and a deeper understanding of OCD and related disorders.

Mayor Karen Bass returns to Curiosity Invited for a third time a little more than 1 and 1/2 years since assuming the position. In this conversation Karen takes a deeper dive into the challenges of moving unhoused citizens from the streets to appropriate housing within their communities. The mayor explains that evaluating the scope of the problem and the cost of solutions requires looking more carefully at the true cost of the homeless crisis, which includes the costs of all of the ancillary services that must be marshalled when large groups of people are forced to live on the streets. These include - but aere not limited to -support from the fire department, the police, sanitation, in addition to the loss of business income merchants incur when customers are frightened off by homeless encampments.

And despite the many challenges of addressing this problem - cost, public opinion, providing infrastructure and social support, etc. etc. - Bass and her team are making enormous progress. significantly reducing the numbers of unhoused living on the streets of LA.

In addition, Mayor Bass tells us that the problem is widespread throughout the United States, and that housing the unhoused does nothing to prevent people from falling into homelessness. It is estimated that in Los Angeles, for every 200 people who come off the streets, another 215 fall into homelessness. Bass and her team are actively working of implementing strategies to address this little talked about but enormously important fact of our social reality. (Currently there are no models anywhere in the US addressing this challenge.)

Peter Tilden well known radio personality, writer, producer, and co-host with Jason Alexander of the popular podcast, "Really? no REALLY?" speaks about his work and what he has learned about life from his nearly 40 years in the business. One of the funniest people I know.

Michael and David speak of many things ... part of the reason they always seem to have so much fun. Among other things Michael speaks of how he manages to invite "the muses" and keeps his art both open and discreet at the same time.  He also speaks of his work as musical composer for the brand new Disney series, Star Wars: The Acolyte.  I always have speaking with Michael: our times always feel rich and multi-dimensional.


2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning and Emmy- and Grammy-nominated composer Michael Abels is best known for his genre-defying scores for the Jordan Peele films GET OUT, US and NOPE.  The score for US won a World Soundtrack Award, the Jerry Goldsmith Award, a Critics Choice nomination, multiple critics awards, and was named “Score of the Decade” by The Wrap.  Both US and NOPE were shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Original Score.  In 2022, Abels’ music was honored by the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Middleburg Film Festival, and the Museum of the Moving Image.  NOPE was awarded Best Score for a Studio Film by the Society of Composers & Lyricists.  Other recent projects include the films BAD EDUCATION, NIGHTBOOKS, and the docu-series ALLEN v. FARROW.  Current releases include CHEVALIER (Toronto Intl Film Festival) and LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND (Sundance 2022), his second collaboration with director Cory Finley.  Upcoming projects include THE BURIAL (Amazon), and a series for Disney Plus.

Abels’ creative output also includes many concert works, including the choral song cycle AT WAR WITH OURSELVES for the Kronos Quartet, the Grammy-nominated ISOLATION VARIATION for Hilary Hahn, and OMAR, an opera co-composed with Grammy-winning recording artist Rhiannon Giddens.  The New York Times named OMAR one of the 10 Best Classical Performances of 2022 and said, “What Giddens and Abels created is an ideal of American sound, an inheritor of the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess” but more honest to its subject matter, conjuring folk music, spirituals, Islamic prayer and more, woven together with a compelling true story that transcends documentary.”

Abels other concert works have been performed by the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and many others.  Some of these pieces are available on the Cedille label, including DELIGHTS & DANCES, GLOBAL WARMING and WINGED CREATURES.  Recent commissions include EMERGE for the National Symphony and Detroit Symphony, and a guitar concerto BORDERS for Grammy-nominated artist Mak Grgic.

Abels is co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, an advocacy group to increase visibility of composers of color in film, gaming and streaming media.

https://michaelabels.com/

Emergency room physician, Onur Yenigun, seems too young to have accomplished what he has by the young age of 37. From a young life growing up in California, raised by his mother and grandmother, the boy with dreams of becoming a doctor seemed destined to fail. Poor grades and a lack of the discipline and dedication he would need, he joined the US Marines. That decision put him on a path hard work, self assessment, community spirit, and the realization that discipline and dedication were choices he could make. And make them he did. 

After his stint in the Marines, Onur returned to the community college at which he had done so poorly, achieving exemplary grades and an acceptance to undergraduate and ultimately medical studies at UC San Francisco, and ultimately to completing a residency in Emergency Medicine from Stanford.

Ever a young man to want to give even more to his community, the newly hooded doctor worked at the front lines of medical efforts combatting Covid-19. Currently based at the California Hospital Medical Center as an Emergency Physician, Dr. Yenigun continues to volunteer, to teach, and give back to his family and community in whatever ways he can. 

Onur is convinced that we are all capable of so much more than we imagine, when we are armed with a desire to learn, to help and to push ourselves past what makes us comfortable. Hearing his story in his own words will convince you as well.

Pat McCabe is a social worker who works with transitional age (18-24) foster, homeless, undocumented, and first generation youth, most of whom are in four year universities, predominantly in California. Pat's journey from Corporate Executive representing  some of the largest franchises and individuals in the sports world, in corner offices and board rooms, to educator and educational administrator, to working with some of the least served people in society is truly inspiring. As the Co-Founder and  Co-Executive Director of Ready to Succeed, Pat works with and on behalf of young people who are often the most overlooked by a society consumed with financial success and public notoriety. Pat's is a story of compassion, responsibility and commitment to helping to create a better and more inclusive community.  Listen in and hear the inspiring story of a man who chose to step off of the corporate ladder for a life of purpose and hope.