About the show
Crossing Faiths is a podcast where people from diverse religious backgrounds openly discuss everything you're NOT supposed to discuss at the dinner table. Join hosts Jt Pinna, a career national security, international affairs, and D.C. insider, and Elliot Toman, a former media director in the Evangelical church, as they engage in lively conversations about the impact of faith on current events. Crossing Faiths also welcomes guests from various religious and experiential backgrounds to share their insights.
The podcast was initially developed in collaboration with Matt Hawkins, a former policy director for the Southern Baptist Convention. Their conversations are built on a decade of collaboration, advocating in Washington, D.C., for religious freedom domestically and globally. The two developed the podcast to share conversations that model friendship and cooperation despite profound differences in religion and background. The podcast has reached almost 3 million multi-faith listeners, 83% millennials.
Crossing Faiths on social media
Episodes
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    171: Laila Alsheikh - Parent's CircleAugust 4th, 2025 | Season 9 | 40 mins 35 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionIn this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Laila Alsheikh, a Palestinian from Bethlehem and a member of The Parents Circle-Families Forum, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization of over 700 bereaved families. 
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    169: 169: Sahar AzizJuly 28th, 2025 | Season 9 | 1 hr 2 minsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionJohn speaks with Sahar Aziz, distinguished Professor of Law, and Chancellor's Social Justice Scholar 
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    170: 170: Chris Campbell, "The Babka King"July 28th, 2025 | Season 9 | 1 hr 9 minsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionIn this episode, John speaks with Chris Campbell—better known online as Chris CARESNONE, “The Babka King”—is a Chicago‑born speaker, podcaster, and viral food creator who uses humor and high‑energy storytelling to turn everyday dishes into unexpected lessons on unity. 
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    168: 168 - Brad KnightJuly 13th, 2025 | Season 9 | 38 mins 23 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionA Christian and a Muslim talk religion & politics. 
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    167: 167 - Sumbul Ali-Karamali: LGBTQ+ Issues and IslamJuly 7th, 2025 | Season 9 | 48 mins 23 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionIn this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Sumbul Ali-Karamali about transgender identity in a Muslim context. 
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    166: 166 - Michael HirshorneJune 23rd, 2025 | Season 9 | 55 mins 17 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionJohn speaks with Michael Hirshorne, a motivational speaker and author, about the concept of "Dawn of Peace" and the path to achieving it through personal and collective transformation. 
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    165: Lost Civilizations, Including OursJune 9th, 2025 | Season 9 | 56 mins 43 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionA conversation between co-hosts John Pinna, a Muslim, and Elliot Toman, an Evangelical Christian. In this episode, John and Elliot discuss the allure of lost civilizations, and explore the possible fate of our own. 
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    164: Joseph YooMay 26th, 2025 | Season 9 | 1 hr 22 minsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionIn this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna talks with Joseph Yoo, an Episcopalian pastor, about his work planting a new, inclusive church in a former bakery in Texas. 
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    163 - Karen Volker: Preventing ViolenceMay 19th, 2025 | Season 9 | 29 mins 34 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionJohn Pinna sits down with Karen Volker, the newly appointed Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative (URI). 
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    161 - Maurice BloemMay 4th, 2025 | Season 9 | 40 mins 33 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionJohn Pinna speaks with Maurice Bloem of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI) on Faith and Local Communities. 
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    162: John KiriakouMay 3rd, 2025 | Season 9 | 41 mins 2 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionFormer CIA officer John Kiriakou delves into the significance of the private meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican. 
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    160: Ani Zonneveld - Muslims for Progressive ValuesApril 28th, 2025 | Season 9 | 44 mins 41 secsbible, christianity, islam, politics, quran, religionIn this episode, John Pinna has a conversation with Ani Zonneveld, founder and president of Muslims for Progressive Values. 
