Profound Conversations

In this transformative episode of Profound Conversations, we explore a groundbreaking approach to personal development that bridges the gap between Islamic faith and modern goal achievement. Author Fatimah Linda Howard shares how Muslims can pursue their dreams without compromising their beliefs, introducing the revolutionary concept of "Islamic manifestation" - where blessings come not from the universe, but from Allah, the Most Generous.This conversation challenges the either/or mentality that forces Muslims to choose between worldly success and spiritual devotion, revealing how our deepest ambitions can become acts of worship when approached with the right intention and framework. We'll explore why wanting more - whether in career, wealth, or personal growth - isn't "unspiritual" but rather an opportunity to demonstrate trust in Allah's abundance.

New Documentary in Development Explores the Untold History—and Living Legacy—of Black Bookstores in AmericaBaltimore, MD — [October 28, 2025] — Obelisk Productions is proud to announce the development of They Said: Niggas Don’t Read – The Rise & Fall of the Black Bookstore, a feature documentary set to begin production in January 2026.The film traces the rise, cultural significance, and attempted suppression of Black bookstores across the United States—once vibrant centers of knowledge, political organizing, and community empowerment. Through the voices of former bookstore owners, writers, activists, and patrons, the project explores the Black bookstore ecosystem of readers, authors, publishers, and sellers who built these spaces—alongside those who sought to dismantle them.Directed by two Baltimore-based filmmakers, Sadiq Ali & Karim Ali, with direct ties to this movement, They Said: Niggas Don’t Read is both a deeply personal story and a national chronicle of cultural resistance and resilience.To bring this essential story to the screen, the filmmakers are inviting bibliophiles, cultural enthusiasts, and supporters of untold histories to join the movement. A crowdfunding campaign launches Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Baltimore.“This film is more than a documentary—it’s a reclamation,” says co-director Sadiq Ali. “Black bookstores weren’t just places to buy books; they were spaces of safety, imagination, and political power. Their story deserves to be remembered, honored, and shared widely.”W. Paul Coates—one of the film’s primary subjects, founder of Black Classic Press, and father of acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates—adds:“I am excited to be a part of this project and to also show folks Black bookstores actually haven't gone anywhere and this film is about that past and much more about our future.”JOIN THE MOVEMENTThis is a film built by community, for community. To make it possible, we need your support. Contribute to the campaign, share the story, and be part of preserving a vital piece of American history that still shapes our future.Follow along and join our mailing list at ndrfilm.com and on Instagram @theysaidNDR.Press Contact:Blair McQueenobeliskproductionsllc@gmail.com | 470-775-2931

Profound Conversation invites thought leaders to explore the enduring and contested idea of the “American experiment.” Rooted in Enlightenment principles and launched in 1776, this experiment was never merely about forming a government; it was about testing whether diverse peoples could build and sustain a society on the radical premise that all are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights.Yet, from its inception, the experiment has been fraught with contradiction and doubt. Early observers, including Benjamin Franklin, acknowledged the fragility of this undertaking: “A republic, if you can keep it.” The American project has always been a wager on the capacity of ordinary people to govern themselves, and history has tested that wager—through slavery and the Civil War, through the civil rights struggle, through ongoing debates about equality, justice, and belonging.This episode grapples with the question: Is the American experiment succeeding, failing, or still unfolding in ways we have yet to grasp?

This episode of Profound Conversations’ centers Aura Vasquez’s compelling journey, connecting her work in immigration, environmental justice, and civic leadership with the rising threats of  authoritarianism and the need for political engagement in Southern California and beyond. Aura is an Afro-Latina Colombian immigrant, a fearless climate justice advocate, and a rising political figure whose work challenges systemic inequities, fights back against corporate overreach, and empowers everyday people to participate in shaping their communities.At a time when authoritarian rhetoric is gaining traction and democratic norms are under threat, especially in immigrant-heavy urban centers like Los Angeles, Aura’s life story offers urgent lessons—and a call to action.

Profound Conversation invites thought leaders to explore the enduring and contested idea of the “American experiment.” Rooted in Enlightenment principles and launched in 1776, this experiment was never merely about forming a government; it was about testing whether diverse peoples could build and sustain a society on the radical premise that all are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights.Yet, from its inception, the experiment has been fraught with contradiction and doubt. Early observers, including Benjamin Franklin, acknowledged the fragility of this undertaking: “A republic, if you can keep it.” The American project has always been a wager on the capacity of ordinary people to govern themselves, and history has tested that wager—through slavery and the Civil War, through the civil rights struggle, through ongoing debates about equality, justice, and belonging.This episode grapples with the question: Is the American experiment succeeding, failing, or still unfolding in ways we have yet to grasp?

Are we being gaslit as a nation? In this urgent conversation, Dr. Kevin Washington and psychotherapist Dr. Pamela Brewer exposes how denial, distortion, and manipulation — the classic tactics of gaslighting — are shaping public discourse and decision-making in the United States. Learn how these psychological power plays impact our collective mental health and what we can do to reclaim reality, resist manipulation, and rebuild trust in one another.