The Journey West

This week’s podcast centers around Abdu’l-Bahá departure, featuring two separate accounts of this day from the perspectives of Juliet Thompson and Howard Colby Ives. Also hear the Master’s farewell address aboard the SS. Celtic on December 5, 1912.   Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Parveen Selvasekaran, Janis VandonDool, Praveen Selvasekaran, […]

The Journey West podcast takes a second look at the journey of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá through North America by review the following passage from Shoghi Effendi: Who knows what thoughts flooded the heart of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as He found Himself the central figure of such memorable scenes as these? Who knows what thoughts were uppermost in His mind […]

In this episode of The Journey West podcast we follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá back to the East coast with a soundtrack by our regular contributor Mitch Doran and end the show with a message for the Baha’i’s of the West given by the Master.   Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Mitch Doran Afshin Toufighian […]

This week’s podcast features the story of Thornton Chase, the first American Bahá’í, and his sudden passing in September 1912. Listen to accounts about this occasion as well as poetry written by Mr. Chase. The second segment of the show centers around a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the subject of international peace given on […]

‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave many public addresses at universities, however His talk at Standford University in October 1912 makes a direct connection between the responsibility of science and its connection to world peace. He also talks openly about His father, Baha’u’llah, a feature not often found in His public addresses. For these reasons we choose this talk along […]

By September ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was making His way to California. This journey took most of the month and added many cities to His American tour. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Jim Traub, Jenna Polk, Aaron Dahm, Afshin Toufighian,  Arilan Karczag, & May Jamshedi Image: Master In America

On the evening of August 30, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived at the Maxwell home. He spent a total of 6 full days in Montreal, Canada giving several private and public talks. In a Tablet addressed to the region he says, The future of Canada is very great and its historical events infinitely glorious. Thus it shall become the object […]

During this weeks podcast we hear a talk by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at Green Acre on the topic of materialism, plus a feature about Fred Mortensen’s journey to meet him there.   Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Cole Sheldon, Ridvan Bruss, Cedric Lenk, Nabil Silva, & Amelia Aminpour

During ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s travels through the United States He stayed a brief time in Dublin, New Hampshire.  This week’s podcast features a brief story of a luncheon held there, as well as a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on literal interpretation and prayer. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: David Honsberger, Diane Thomas, […]

On July, 23 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk on the topic of politics at the Hotel Victoria in Boston. There were variety of people present at this talk, including journalist who quoted Him on the purpose of His visit. I came for the peace gatherings in America. They are good. But their efforts must not end in […]

On June 28th 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Baha hosted a Unity Feast at the home of Roy Wilhelm, this weeks feature is an account from that day. The second half of the podcast is a talk by the Master on the topic of the extremes of wealth and poverty. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin […]

On June 18, 1912 a motion picture was made of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard MacNutt. This week’s podcast features the account of J. G. Grundy of that event, as well as a talk by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the topic of distinction.   Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, Arilan Karczag & Lorraine Sherrill […]

It was during the month of June 1912 that the Master declared New York the City of the Covenant. This week’s podcast feature is an excerpt from Juliet Thompson diary as she describes that overwhelming power the Covenant, along with a discussion on the body politic.   Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: […]

On May 20, 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke at a woman’s suffrage meeting at the Metropolitan Temple on Seventh Avenue and Fourteenth Street in New York city. He stated that “In reality, God has created all mankind, and in the estimation of God there is no distinction as to male and female.”  Full talk available here. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary […]

On May 1, 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá laid the corner stone for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in the West. He states that, “an edifice or temple is to be built in order that humanity might find a place of meeting, and this is to be conducive to unity and fellowship among them.”  Full talk available here.         […]

On April 23, 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk on race unity at Howard University in Washington D.C. He explained that “In the realm of existence colors are of no importance…Rather, colors are the cause of the adornment of the garden because a single color has no appeal; but when you observe many-colored flowers, there is […]

On April 11, 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in New York City, His first stop during His travels in the United States of America. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Rory Cunningham, Michael Mastry, Janis VandenDool, Tjireja Juzgado, Sofie Geschier, Shawheen James, & Haron Ngome

On March 25, 1912 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá boarded the S.S. Cedric, due to arrive in New York City April 10th.   Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Sepehr Fanaeian, Doug Moore, & Rory Cunningham

On November 21, 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk on true happiness and progress saying, I want to make you understand that material progress and spiritual progress are two very different things, and that only if material progress goes hand in hand with spirituality can any real progress come about, and the Most Great Peace reign in […]

On November 10, 1911, ‘Abdul-Bahá gave a talk on the evolution of the spirit. He said that “all things either make progress or lose ground. Everything moves forward or backward, nothing is without motion.”   Full talk available here. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Mitch Doran Afshin Toufighian Guests: Abdullah Norozi, Christian […]

On November 1, 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk on the two natures of man, explaining that “In man there are two natures; his spiritual or higher nature and his material or lower nature. In one he approaches God, in the other he lives for the world alone. Signs of both these natures are to be […]

On October 27, 1911 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk on religious prejudices, explaining that “if these religious prejudices could be swept away, the nations would soon enjoy peace and concord.” Full talk available here. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Roshani Ludher, Ali Youssefi, Ian Cater, Jalal Fietz, & Rahmin Bender

On October 21, 1911, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke to a small group of friends about the pitiful causes of war, and the duty of everyone to strive for peace. He said, I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose […]

During His time in Paris, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would host small gathers in the drawing-room of His apartment at Avenue de Camoens. Later a compilations of these utterances would become known as Paris Talks. Today’s talk explores the idea of manifesting true thoughts into action. Full talk available here. Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Anna Castelaz, […]

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s last public address in London was delivered at the Theosophical Society on September 30, 1911. Mrs. Annie Besant, the renowned president of the Society, had called on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and asked Him to visit and speak in their new headquarters. (H.M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá p152) This weeks podcast credits: Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin […]

On September 17 1911, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the request of the venerable Archdeacon of Westminster addressed the congregation of Saint John the Divine after evening service. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p21) This weeks podcast credits: Production Team: Ivan Mihoci, Mary Okonkwo, & Lorraine Sherrill Music: Afshin Toufighian Guests: Nancy Minden, Anna Castelaz, Nathan Lewis, Ian Lysaght, & Tara Hedayat-Zadeh […]

On September 10, 1911, for the first time in His life, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed a public audience. Standing on the pulpit of a 17th century church, seated on the Western edge of the city of London, the Master’s words of this ‘new cycle of human power’ echoed through the sanctuary. We hope you enjoy our series of […]