Professor Luonne Rouse offers thoughts and hope on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the US homeland
Remembering Richard L. Rubenstein

Photo credit Forward
Professor Richard L. Rubenstein and his wife Dr. Betty Rogers Rubenstein were beloved friends and caring mentors for me.
Dr. Betty died May 19, 2013 at the age of 92. Dr. Richard died May 18, 2021 at the age of 97. I have never seen love and respect greater than Richard’s love for Betty. Their care and lifelong guidance for me came distinctly from each, but always, finally as a single thing. It was comforting, and pushed and inspired me to strive. I wanted to become what they seemed to see in me. So many of their fleeting words remain alive in me now, fresh as the day they were spoken.
When Dr. Betty died, I worried or wondered how so great a loss of a partner so dear would impact Dr. Richard. The Jewish relationship with life and death to me is the finest I know, and Richard’s life, in his closing years, was a reliable paragon of proficiency, command and clarity. Richard’s closing years proved the integrity and force of his earlier years and courageous life. I continued to be blessed with the beauty and elegance of Richard’s social kindness and keen insight even after Dr. Betty was gone.
Interview with Interfaith Veteran, Robyn LeBron-Anders: “Do You Think We Will Ever Get It Right?”
This is an especially good interview for anyone interested in Interfaith either personally or professionally. It contains valuable information for everyone from first time beginners, to seasoned interfaith veterans
Robyn E. Lebron
Writes in the arena of World Religion. Her books received the 2018 Best in class DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Award for Excellence in Religious Communication, given annually by Religion Communicators Council.
Her book “Finding Common Ground between Science and Spiritually” was awarded the DeRose-Hinkhouse Award of Merit in 2019.
She also was recognized internationally by The Books For Peace Commission 2019 for those who have distinguished themselves in the activities of peace and solidarity.
Ms Lebron manages Interfaith Professionals on LinkedIn, with over 5,400 members, has written articles for United Religions Initiative, Harmony Interfaith Initiative, The Interfaith Observer.
See the image and links to Robyn’s books and writing, and if you like, read the rough transcript of this important conversation here Continue reading →
Author Bill Gertz on China and his most recent work, Deceiving the Sky
Bill Gertz is an internationally recognized national security journalist, currently National Security Correspondent for The Washington Times
He is the author of eight books, four of which were New York Times bestsellers. His most recent book is Deceiving the Sky: Inside Communist China’s Drive for Global Supremacy. is the subject of this interview
His 2016 book, iWar: War and Peace in the Information Age highlights 21st Century threats posed by information warfare and cyber attacks.
Mr Gertz wrote Betrayal: How the Clinton Administration Undermined American Security, that was on the New York Times bestseller list for several weeks.
His second book, The China Threat: How the People’s Republic Targets America, was released in November 2000, followed by “Breakdown: How America’s Intelligence Failures Led to September 11,” that too became a national bestseller.
Please enjoy this superb, highly informative conversation here:
Read more about Deceiving the Sky here below
Lao-tse, Taoism (Daoism), and the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing): Conversation with Solala Towler
Solala Towler was editor and publisher of the spiritual and scholarly journal The Empty Vessel: The Journal of Daoist Philosophy and Practice for 25 years.
He has had 14 books published, including Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu, The Tao of Intimacy and Ecstasy: The Promise of Spiritual Union, Tales From the Tao (Watkins); and Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps on the Way.
Mr. Towler’s work has been translated into Dutch, French, Italian and Spanish. He is a founding board member of the National Qigong Association as well as its past President. Mr. Towler has taught qigong and Daoist meditation for over 30 years, and leads tours to visit Daoist temples in the sacred mountains of China.
Solala also leads Daoist Tea Ceremonies and is author of the books Cha Dao: The Way of Tea: Tea As a Way of Life and Tea Mind Tea Heart.
As a musician, Solala has recorded four cds of meditation/relaxation music. He does this using large Tibetan Bowls, flutes, harmonic overtone singing and group chant.
To learn more about Solala and his work visit www.abodetao.com.
Please enjoy this delightful and enriching conversation with Solala Towler here:
Enhancing Food Quality and Quantity by Managing Soil Health: Interview with preeminent soil scientist Professor Rattan Lal
Professor Rattan Lal is distinguished University Professor of Soil Science, Director of Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University.
Professor Lal is the recipient of the 2020 World Food Prize.
Professor Lal commands an uncommon blend of towering achievement, light and grace in his person, and humility, integrity and honor. As winner of the 2020 World Food Prize, Professor Lal has reached a true pinnacle in a life and career already filled with achievement and worthy recognition. Visit Professor Lal’s CV here. Its evidence of devotion and industry is an inspiration in itself.
These brief notes are not offered just to heap praise on a worthy object, however. Rather these are to introduce a conversation on environment, soil health, food security, and matters of serious concern for us all. Dr. Lal’s knowledge and research are impeccable. He wears no blinders, and is clear about challenges posed by population and pollution. Yet his voice and confidence is hopeful and encouraging.
This interview is invaluable for both experts and for laypeople alike.
Scientific and Medical Research Into Transgender Treatments for Children: Interview with Doctor Jonathan Wells
Doctor Jonathan Wells has his Ph.D. in theology from Yale University and his Ph.D. in biology from the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of Charles Hodge’s Critique of Darwinism (1988), Icons of Evolution (2000), The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design (2006), The Myth of Junk DNA (2011), and Zombie Science (2017). Wells is currently a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute in Seattle.
In this interview Dr. Wells discuses his research presented in his 7 part Transgenderism Series, published here. This series is clear, comprehensible, and important for our understanding of this sensitive and important issue.
Please listen to the interview here.
And please read this valuable series here.
Spirituality and India’s Environmental Challenges: Interview with Award Winning, Columbia University Scholar, Professor Jack Hawley
PWPA is fortunate for the generosity of Columbia University, Professor Jack Hawley of NYC, who worked closely and patiently with us past the tech difficulties to bring to us his wisdom on Religion in India, and unique environmental challenges that call urgently for our care and creative response.
This important and timely interview with Professor Hawley, (Claire Tow Professor of Religion at Barnard College, Columbia University) delves into the intersection between religious and political life in India, and how these impact the environment, and the health of its sacred rivers and beyond.
This interview here just below is a must listen for both specialists and new learners alike
Read more about Professor Hawley, and his life and distinguished work here: Continue reading →
The resurgence of Jihadi Violence in Europe: An interview with Dr. Tawfik Hamad
Gruesome Jihadi terror has cursed Europe in recent weeks.
From the New York Times
Man Beheads Teacher on the Street in France and Is Killed by Police
The victim was immediately depicted as a martyr to freedom of expression. France’s antiterrorism prosecutors are investigating the attack, which took place in a suburb north of Paris.
From CBS News
Woman beheaded and 2 others killed in knife attack at French church
An attacker armed with a knife beheaded one person and killed two others at a church in the French city of Nice on Thursday, French police and officials said. The country was already on high alert for extremist violence amid tensions over caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad published by satirical French magazine, Charlie Hebdo. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/france-knife-attack-nice-terrorism-officials-say/
From Jihad Watch
Vienna: Attack confirmed as jihad massacre, five dead, attacker was Muslim who supported ISIS
What caused the sudden resurgence of brutality and terror? To speak on this, PWPA invited radicalization and terrorism expert, author of Inside JIhad:: How Radical Islam Works, Why It Should Terrify Us, How to Defeat It to help us gain a better understanding of this inhuman phenomenon.
Listen to this important conversation with Dr. Hamid here:
PWPA Interview – Thomas Block, author of Shalom/Salaam
Thomas Block is author of five books, a playwright, is a 25-plus year exhibiting visual artist, and Founding Producer of New York City’s International Human Rights Art Festival (ihraf.org). Thomas was the Founding Producer of the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival (2010), a Research Fellow at DePaul University (2010), LABA Fellow (NY, 2013-14), Hamiltonian Fellow (2008-09) and recipient of funding and support from more than a dozen foundations and organizations. He has spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. His books include the non-fiction works Shalom/Salaam: A Story of a Mystical Fraternity, A Fatal Addiction: War in the Name of God; Machiavelli in America, Prophetic Activist Art: Handbook for a Spiritual Revolution and a novel, The Fool Returns. tomblock.com.
This particular interview is dedicated to discussing together Shalom/Salaam: A Story of a Mystical Fraternity. Over the course of the interview we learn that this study is unique (one of a kind), and we learn why. An engaging and encouraging journey.
Please find Shalom/Salaam on Amazon., but also look to see abundant and helpful details about Shalom/Salaam on the site of Fons Vitae, the book publisher.