Inviting Oneness

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

Our guest today is Michael Hawkins. Mike is a mediator and arbitrator at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and is the President of the board at Equasion. 

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

To honor Chip Harrod’s Legacy, we invite you to invest in the Chip Harrod Transformative Dialogue Fund. EquaSion’s year-end giving campaign continues through the end of December. 

For decades, Chip Harrod, EquaSion’s founder and former Executive Director, brought people together across faith, race, and ideology. Chip retired this year but EquaSion is continuing his work through The Chip Harrod Fund for Transformative Dialogue. Dialogue can give us a way forward. When we sit together, listen honestly, and share our stories, something shifts. Understanding grows. Trust grows. Community grows. This is the work Chip spent his life championing, and it’s the work we must continue.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

Our guest today is Audrey Holtzman. Audrey is the Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager at the Network for Hope in Cincinnati and a new board member at EquaSion.

Audrey is a dynamic, mission-driven leader with deep experience in social impact, diversity, equity and inclusion, and community engagement. Rooted in a passion for equity, education, and healthcare advocacy, she excels at designing and delivering programs that spark transformational change, strengthen partnerships, and build organizational capacity. A strategic and collaborative leader, Audrey believes in the power of inclusivity to create meaningful, community-centered change. She is committed to empowering individuals, advancing equity, and ensuring every voice is seen, heard, and valued.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

To honor Chip Harrod’s Legacy, we invite you to invest in the Chip Harrod Transformative Dialogue Fund. EquaSion’s year-end giving campaign continues through the end of December. 

For decades, Chip Harrod, EquaSion’s founder and former Executive Director, brought people together across faith, race, and ideology. Chip retired this year but EquaSion is continuing his work through The Chip Harrod Fund for Transformative Dialogue. Dialogue can give us a way forward. When we sit together, listen honestly, and share our stories, something shifts. Understanding grows. Trust grows. Community grows. This is the work Chip spent his life championing, and it’s the work we must continue.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

My guest today is Dr. John J O'Keefe. John is the Director of the Brueggeman Center for Dialogue at Xavier University and is a new board member at EquaSion.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

To honor Chip Harrod’s Legacy, we invite you to invest in the Chip Harrod Transformative Dialogue Fund. EquaSion’s year-end giving campaign starts today and continues through the end of December. 

For decades, Chip Harrod, EquaSion’s founder and former Executive Director, brought people together across faith, race, and ideology. Chip retired this year but EquaSion is continuing his work through The Chip Harrod Fund for Transformative Dialogue. Dialogue can give us a way forward. When we sit together, listen honestly, and share our stories, something shifts. Understanding grows. Trust grows. Community grows. This is the work Chip spent his life championing, and it’s the work we must continue.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

My guest today is Aasees Kaur. Aasees currently serves as Community Development Director at the Sikh Coalition. She is also a board member at EquaSion.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

To honor Chip Harrod’s Legacy, we invite you to invest in the Chip Harrod Transformative Dialogue Fund. EquaSion’s year-end giving campaign starts today and continues through the end of December. 

For decades, Chip Harrod, EquaSion’s founder and former Executive Director, brought people together across faith, race, and ideology. Chip retired this year but EquaSion is continuing his work through The Chip Harrod Fund for Transformative Dialogue. Dialogue can give us a way forward. When we sit together, listen honestly, and share our stories, something shifts. Understanding grows. Trust grows. Community grows. This is the work Chip spent his life championing, and it’s the work we must continue.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

My guest today is Almas Kherani. Almas is an anesthesiologist and board member at Equasion.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

To honor Chip Harrod’s Legacy, we invite you to invest in the Chip Harrod Transformative Dialogue Fund. EquaSion’s year-end giving campaign starts today and continues through the end of December. 

For decades, Chip Harrod, EquaSion’s founder and former Executive Director, brought people together across faith, race, and ideology. Chip retired this year but EquaSion is continuing his work through The Chip Harrod Fund for Transformative Dialogue. Dialogue can give us a way forward. When we sit together, listen honestly, and share our stories, something shifts. Understanding grows. Trust grows. Community grows. This is the work Chip spent his life championing, and it’s the work we must continue.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

My guest today is Bertha Lynn Davis. Bertha is a storyteller, community advocate, and award-winning playwright, director, and filmmaker based in Norwood, Ohio. She cherishes her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother - foundations that inspire much of her creative work. After more than 32 years with Procter & Gamble, Bertha founded Three Babies Productions LLC, a company that merges her business experience with her passion for storytelling. Through film, theatre, and community-based projects, she creates work that uplifts themes of inclusion, resilience, and mental well-being. Bertha is an active member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, where she partners with her pastor, Dr. John Ivey, in event coordination with Equasion. She also serves with the Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition Cincinnati. She established the “Inclusion Walk and Talk” in her neighborhood—an initiative that brought people together across political differences. Through every project, Bertha hopes to inspire others to become inclusion advocates and to live out the values of compassion, connection, and justice. Above all, she strives to ensure that her work reflects the principles of God’s word.

January 19, 2026 is the 51st annual MLK Day March and Program. Bertha is the Program Coordinator this year. The march starts at 10:30a in front of the Underground Freedom Center and concludes in Washington Park. The annual program is inside Music Hall and begins at 12:00p

Visit Bertha's website www.3babiesproduction.com where she will announce my upcoming 2026 season!

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

My guest today is Dr. Katie Sellers. Katie is a founding member of the Catholic Education and the Common Good Lab and a J.D. candidate at the University of Cincinnati. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership, Culture, and Curriculum from Miami University and multiple degrees in Theology from Boston College. Her research employs critical theory to analyze the impacts of the policy, pedagogy, and philosophy of religious schools and school systems in the U.S. and globally.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

My guest today is Daniel Burridge, the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, otherwise know as MARCC.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

My guest today is Rev. Dr. Lauren Jones Mayfield, Executive Director of the Center for Interfaith Relations. Her organization hosts the Louisville Festival of Faiths — the event that inspired Cincinnati’s Festival of Faiths. This year’s festival takes place November 12th to 15th.

Before returning to her home state of Kentucky in 2012, Lauren served the Riverside Church in New York City as the Director of Worship and held pastoral leadership positions in Baptist, Mennonite, and United Church of Christ churches across the country. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, Lauren completed her Doctor of Ministry degree at the Pacific School of Religion where she focused her research on social justice and transformation.

As part of her doctoral project, she created liturgy for the communal work of advocacy, considered the role of faith in the public square, and led an innovative Reparations Task Force as the Associate Pastor of Care and Justice at Highland Baptist Church (Louisville, KY). During her tenure at Highland Baptist, the church voted to darken the image of Jesus in one of the sanctuary’s stained-glass windows and began paying reparations to local Black organizations.

Lauren believes that when we embody our interconnectedness to one another and our planet we will discover joy and Presence, and it is interfaith dialogue that connects us through collective curiosity and communal wondering.

Lauren finds ongoing nourishment at the local, independent bookstore, by celebrating the art of Georgia O’Keeffe, and in wondering about the compassionate mystery of the Divine at work in the world.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.

Welcome to Inviting Oneness, a podcast where we explore true stories from friends and members of EquaSion—stories where the illusion of separateness gave way to the deeper truth of our shared humanity. Oneness isn't an idea, it's an experience. And today we continue listening for it one story at a time. 

This week's storyteller is Dr. Anas Malik. Dr. Malik is Professor of Political Science at Xavier University in Cincinnati, is the author of Polycentricity, Islam, and Development (Lexington, 2018) and Political Survival in Pakistan: Beyond Ideology (Routledge, 2011). His research interests are in governance in Islamic and multicultural contexts, and the political economy of institutions. Malik has been affiliated with the Ostrom Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis at Indiana University (Bloomington).

He is also a member of the steering committee of Faith Communities Go Green.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org.

Until next time, may we keep inviting oneness—within ourselves, and with one another.