Hamza Yusuf is president and senior faculty member of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, America’s first accredited Muslim liberal arts college. He is an advisor to the Center for Islamic Studies at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union. Yusuf also serves as vice president for the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies (Abu

Dhabi), which was founded and is currently presided over by Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, a world-renowned Muslim scholar and jurist. In addition, Yusuf has joined the Emirates Fatwa Council under the leadership of Shaykh Abdallah.

He is the author of several books and scholarly articles, while also translating major creedal Islamic texts into English. Books he has authored or translated include Purification of the Heart, The Content of Character, The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi, Caesarean Moon Births, Prayer of the Oppressed, and Agenda to Change our Condition. Recently, Hamza Yusuf was ranked as “the Western world’s most influential Islamic scholar” by The Muslim 500, edited by John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin. Along with his extensive training in the Western liberal arts, Yusuf has studied Arabic and the Islamic sciences for over 40 years with leading scholars of the Muslim world.

Some things need to be felt rather than summed up with words. Some things are better understood by that shiver down your spine, that smile on your face, or that tear that sneaks down your cheek. Whatever soul means to you, experiencing the music of Ambre McLean, may just leave you with a new definition. A veteran of the Canadian music scene, with her genre-defying style and indie approach, Ambre McLean has carved her own path along the way. Ambre has released multiple studio albums, garnered numerous accolades and has appeared regularly on the Canadian music festival circuit. McLean is truly one of Canada’s rising stars. She has been called “Canada’s best-kept secret”. With songs that will stick with you, and a voice bound to haunt you, this is one secret you’ll want to be in on.

Kevan Chandler grew up in the foothills of North Carolina with his parents and two siblings. The youngest of the bunch, he was the second to be diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disease. He has a bachelor’s of arts degree in counseling from John Wesley College. In the summer of 2016, Kevan and his friends took a trip across Europe, leaving his wheelchair at home, and his friends carried him for three weeks in a backpack. An avid storyteller, Kevan has authored several books, including a memoir of their adventures, and speaks worldwide about his unique life with a disability. He is also the founder of We Carry Kevan, a nonprofit striving to redefine accessibility as a cooperative effort.

Just before a show in March 2015, Drew was told that a former guest / turned friend had just died. MS finally took Marcella Immacolata Trichilo. She was only 38. Since she was first interviewed by Drew in 2006, especially during his years of “public doubt”, Marcella was a pebble under his soul. Over time, her body slowly trapped and betrayed her. Drew was in complete awe of her unwavering dedication to the God who never answered her hope & prayers to be healed. Drew was honoured to have been asked by the family to lead the funeral service for this young, vibrant, stubborn and cheeky Italian woman. Marcella was tenacious grace!

They tried 28 years of doing marriage their way, but eventually, it ended. However, after a long separation, Canadian talk show host Drew Marshall and his wife Bev recently renewed their vows on a small deserted island off the coast of Mexico. Now, to make sure he doesn’t screw it up again, Drew has asked renowned psychologist and relationship guru Dr. Sue Johnson to help he and his wife rebuild their love - but this time with new foundational building blocks, using tools they’ve never had before. Dr. Johnson has agreed to personally take Bev and Drew through her Hold Me Tight Program.

THIS WEEK:

HOLD ME TIGHT Conversation #6

“Bonding Through Sex & Touch”

*Follow these incredibly vulnerable conversations with Bev, Drew & Dr. Sue. Then, when you’re ready, click on the Hold Me Tight banner on our website and register for the HOLD ME TIGHT program and begin to rebuild your love.

Ted Dibiase, AKA The Million Dollar Man, was once again an icon walking amongst today’s wrestling heros at Wrestlemania 34 last weekend. Ted DiBiase became a professional wrestler in the summer of 1975 and he paid his dues in the early years of his wrestling career, traveling thousands of miles by car, spending many nights in less than luxurious hotels, and making little money. His big break came in the spring of 1987 when he headed for New York and the WWF to become the “Million Dollar Man”. It was from here that his career skyrocketed. Ted literally traveled the world with the WWF, wrestling in some of the biggest venues in the world. Places like Madison Square Garden, The Superdome, The Skydome, The Tokyo Dome, and Wembley Stadium, all became familiar places to Ted. After six years with the WWF, seeing his likeness made into action figures, characters in video games and his face on everything from T-shirts to pinball machines, he ended his active career at the end of 1993 due to a neck injury. He then went on to be a ringside manager and commentator with the WWF from 1994 to the fall of 1996. During that time, he managed such wrestling superstars as “Stone” Cold Steve Austin and Bam Bam Bigelow. Ted finished his career working for Ted Turner owned World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from the Fall of 1996 to the Fall of 1999, spending a total of twenty-five years in the industry. As he was ending his wrestling career, Ted was already turning his talents elsewhere and looking to the future.

Amanda Martinez is a Canadian based singer/songwriter whose music exultingly blends her unique Mexican and South African roots with flamenco soul. Her third and latest CD \"Mañana\" was helmed by GRAMMY-winning producer Javier Limón. Limón, whose production credits include acclaimed singers such as Buika, Mariza and Diego el Cigala, hails Martinez as \"one of the greatest voices in the world.\" \"Mañana\" and her previous solo albums have earned her three Latin Jazz Artist of the Year nominations at Canada\'s National Jazz Awards. Amanda’s songs have appeared on three Putumayo world music collections: Bossanova Around the World, Latin Dreamland and most recently, Cafe Latino. She has headlined at the legendary Blue Note jazz club in New York, at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Festivities in South Africa, and at the 2011 Pan-American Games in Guadalajara. She also performed in a series of concerts during the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games, as well as hosting several events. During the 2015 Pan Am Games, she also served as the honourary co-chair of the Ignite program. In the media, Amanda is currently hosting PANAMANIA-- a TV series she produces with CBC Sports that highlights Toronto\'s cultural scene. Amanda has worked as a radio host (launching Canada\'s JAZZFM91 Latin Jazz program), TV personality (BRAVO Arts & Minds, Star TV!) and actress (Regenesis and Disney\'s Life with Derek). She also hosts and co-produces Ingredients for a Good Life to promote Mexico to Canadians.

As the granddaughter of Bob and Rita Marley, Donisha offers her insight on the amazing lives of “Jamaica’s First Family”, whose many contributions include the founding of the Bob Marley Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to helping people and organizations in the developing world. As an accomplished filmmaker, Donisha’s role in the Canadian feature-length documentary, RasTa, A Soul’s Journey, educates audiences on the RasTafari culture – quelling the many misunderstandings and misconceptions about this way of life. This film shows how Bob Marley’s eternal message of freedom and compassion is relevant to today’s issues of inequality. Donisha explains, “Making the documentary helped me become a little closer to his mission. He was not just a musician, but a freedom fighter.”Her travels throughout the world, from Africa & the Caribbean to India, Europe, Japan has exposed her to many lifestyles, perspectives, and stories that have helped to influence her patience and ability to relate to a cross-section of audiences. “At the end of the day, we are all souls on a journey... bits and pieces of the same whole.” With her highly motivating allocution and famous family pedigree, Donisha always proves to be an enlightened beacon of hope and positive influence educating others about the Rastafari culture.

Which countries grow faster economically—those with strong beliefs in heaven and hell or those with weak beliefs in them? Does religious participation matter? Why do some countries experience secularization while others are religiously vibrant? In The Wealth of Religions, Rachel McCleary and Robert Barro draw on their long record of pioneering research to examine these and many other aspects of the economics of religion. Places with firm beliefs in heaven and hell measured relative to the time spent in religious activities tend to be more productive and experience faster growth. Going further, there are two directions of causation: religiosity influences economic performance and economic development affects religiosity. Dimensions of economic development—such as urbanization, education, health, and fertility—matter too, interacting differently with religiosity. State regulation and subsidization of religion also play a role. The Wealth of Religions addresses the effects of religious beliefs on character traits such as work ethic, thrift, and honesty; the Protestant Reformation and its long-term effects on education and religious competition; Communism’s suppression of and competition with religion; the effects of Islamic laws and regulations on the functioning of markets and, hence, on the long-term development of Muslim countries; why some countries have state religions; analogies between religious groups and terrorist organizations; the violent origins of the Dalai Lama’s brand of Tibetan Buddhism; and the use by the Catholic Church of saint-making as a way to compete against the rise of Protestant Evangelicals.

They tried 28 years of doing marriage their way, but eventually it ended. However, after a long separation, Canadian talk show host Drew Marshall and his wife Bev recently renewed their vows on a small deserted island off the coast of Mexico. Now, to make sure he doesn’t screw it up again, Drew has asked renowned psychologist and relationship guru Dr. Sue Johnson to help he and his wife rebuild their love - but this time with new foundational building blocks, using tools they’ve never had before. Dr. Johnson has agreed to personally take Bev and Drew through her Hold Me Tight Program.

THIS WEEK:

HOLD ME TIGHT Conversation #5

“Hold Me Tight - Forgiving Injuries”

*Follow these incredibly vulnerable conversations with Bev, Drew & Dr. Sue. Then, when you’re ready, click on the Hold Me Tight banner on our website and register for the HOLD ME TIGHT program and begin to rebuild your love.