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. 

This week's storyteller is Rabbi Shirah C Kraus. Rabbi Kraus currently serves as the part-time rabbi for Temple Shalom in Lafayette, Louisiana as well as the youth group advisor and teen coordinator for Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a BA in Religion from Bryn Mawr College (2018) and MaHL, MEdL, and ordination from HUC-JIR (2022, 2024).

Since high school, Shirah has brought Jewish education, spirituality, and music to a variety of communities. She has led campers in Zionsville, IN, taught students in Philadelphia, delivered sermons in Jerusalem, traveled as a student rabbi to North Dakota, Lake Tahoe, and Port Angeles, worked as the “Director of Fun” at Eden Village West in Healdsburg, CA, and served as an interfaith chaplain in Cincinnati, OH. In every place, Shirah has shared her passion for connection, learning, justice, joy, and creativity.

Shirah she grew up in Cincinnati with her parents, Rabbi Sissy Coran (z’l) and Rabbi Matthew Kraus, and three siblings, Jacob (Kim), Micah, and Eden. Shirah loves to sing, play banjo and guitar, write, travel, cook, craft, and play with her nieces.

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 Danya Karram. Danya is a community advocate, long time dialogue practitioner and co-founder and president of Brilliant Advice.

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 Bekky Baker. Bekky was born and raised in Cincinnati, she graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and she earned a Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Bekky joined the Ignite Peace team in 2021 and leads the anti-death penalty organizing, and facilitates nonviolence and anti-racism educational programming.

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 Jake Campbell. Jake is currently leading Culture and Belonging at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. He holds an MBA and Master's in Education, and is presently pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology, investigating the impact of intersecting identities and profiling for high-ability learners. Jake has developed and facilitated approved inclusive leadership continuing education experiences for varying audiences, including leaders of Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, law enforcement, hospital administration, law firms, and university administration. Originally from Sydney, Australia, via Tallahassee and Baltimore, his passions outside of work are martial arts, rugby league, and cooking – especially matzah ball soup! He lives with his wife, Morgan, whom he married in March, 2025.

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 Sri Mirle. Sri is a native of India who lives mostly in the US. He was raised as a Hindu and attended a Jesuit high school. Consistent with the Hindu tenet of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbam” (the world is one family), he has always enjoyed cross-cultural and cross-faith enrichment. He has volunteered with the Festival of Faiths in Cincinnati and serves as a Director of the Interfaith Center at Miami University.

He holds a PhD in Polymer Science & Engineering from Lehigh University. He worked in corporate R&D at Procter & Gamble, holds about 25 US patents and retired as Technical Director – Principal Scientist. Currently, he serves as the President of PolyVisionary and focuses on self-improvement based on meditation, emotional intelligence training and iPEC-certified life-coaching.

He has actively participated in organization building and community enhancement with nonprofit groups. For example, he has been involved with AID, Association for India’s Development, for 25+ years and served on its national Executive Board (2015 – 2021). He has also been active culturally. He has served as the founding Secretary of India Cultural

Association in Cincinnati. He has acted and directed in several plays presented at the Smithsonian Institution, World Bank, and the South Asian Theater Festival. He is currently directly directing “Dance Like A Man” for shows in March 2026.

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 episode is a portion of a presentation Dr. Muhammad Faruque gave for Faith Communities Go Green called Living the Interconnected life: Contemplation, Ecology, and the Spirit of Oneness. 

Faith Communities Go Green, a collaboration between Green Umbrella and Equasion, believes that faith communities have a powerful voice to offer as the world confronts the climate crisis. 

Dr. Faruque, in his presentation, explores “ecological living” as more than a set of sustainable practices. It is rather a way of being that arises from a deep sense of interconnection with the universe. Drawing on the Sufi contemplative tradition, he reflects on how inner transformation — through mindfulness, presence, and reverence — can cultivate a vision of wholeness and belonging. 

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org to find out more about the Volunteer Summit on September 17. 

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 Reverend Melanie Slane. In addition to being the Transitions Minister for The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, she is also a longtime member of the Steering Committee for the Festival of Faiths and a personal friend.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org to find out more about the Volunteer Summit on September 17. 

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.

For the next handful of episodes we’ll be listening in on the Opening Interfaith Devotional ceremony that kicked off the 2025 Festival of Faiths. 

In this episode, we begin with Chip Harrod reading a prayer provided by Aruni Marapane before Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola introduces Andrew Musgrave, who leads the audience in a Common Prayer for All.

Then, Rabbi Zachary Goodman leads the singing of the song Turning of the World. 

Finally, Rabbi Zola returns to officially begin the 2025 Festival of Faiths.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org to find out more about the Volunteer Summit on September 17. 

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.

For the next handful of episodes we’ll be listening in on the Opening Interfaith Devotional ceremony that kicked off the 2025 Festival of Faiths. 

In this episode we'll hear prayers from Reverend Melanie Slane, Diocesan Transition Minister for the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, Prabhjot Singh of the Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati, and Acharya Kailash Sharma, Priest of the Hindu Community.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org to find out more about the Volunteer Summit on September 17. 

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.

For the next handful of episodes we’ll be listening in on the Opening Interfaith Devotional ceremony that kicked off the 2025 Festival of Faiths. 

In this episode we'll hear prayers from Dr. Faredoon (Fred) Desai of the Zoroastrian Association of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, Brian Morgan of the Druid Community and Celtic Paganism, Rabbi Zachary Goodman of Isaac M. Wise Temple, and Steve Vance of the Bahá'í Community of Cincinnati.

If today’s story moved you and you’d like to get involved visit us at equasion.org to find out more about the Volunteer Summit on September 17. 

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