In this episode of Profound Conversations, we enter a dialogue with the stewards of two of the nation’s most enduring African American–owned media institutions—The Washington Informer and The Muslim Journal. Through their histories, struggles, and triumphs, we explore the deeper question: What does it take to sustain authentic Black storytelling in an era where truth itself is contested? Black-owned media outlets have long answered a call larger than journalism. They have stood as protectors of cultural memory, advocates for justice, and interpreters of complex social and political realities affecting Black communities. Yet these institutions operate under unique and often unforgiving pressures: financial precarity, shifting readership habits, political scrutiny, and the constant demand to serve as both chroniclers and defenders of their communities.This conversation brings together leading voices who can speak to the particular ethos, editorial courage, and community-centered missions that distinguish African American–owned outlets from mainstream media—and from one another.

Guardians of the Narrative: The Fate and Future of Black-Owned Media

Exploring mental health crises in Hispanic and Indigenous Native American populations in the Southwest.

Equality Health Foundation Launches the Zip Code Exam Project to Drive Awareness of Health Disparities and Increase Life Expectancy in Underserved CommunitiesEquality Health Foundation is proud to launch the Zip Code Exam—a groundbreaking initiative to bring awareness to health disparities and inequities and improve overall well-being in underserved communities plagued by chronic health conditions, diminished quality of life, and decreased life expectancy.Where you live can potentially have a bigger impact on life expectancy than factors like genetics. From food security, community walkability, job availability, education, housing costs, and access to healthcare—environmental factors determined by geography play a significant role in overall health outcomes and well-being.

Equitable Health by Design

"The Islamic Art of Sacred Manifestation”

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.

From Vision to Divine Provision

The Untold Power—and Living Legacy—of Black Bookstores in America

<h3>New Documentary in Development Explores the Untold History—and Living Legacy—of Black Bookstores in America</h3>Baltimore, MD — [October 28, 2025] — Obelisk Productions is proud to announce the development of They Said: Niggas Don’t Read – The Rise &amp; 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 &amp; 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.”<h3>JOIN THE MOVEMENT</h3>This 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<a href="http://ndrfilm.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> ndrfilm.com</a> and on Instagram<a href="https://instagram.com/theysaidNDR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> @theysaidNDR</a>.Press Contact:Blair McQueenobeliskproductionsllc@gmail.com | 470-775-2931

They Said N*ggas Don't Read

Knowledge, Mercy, and the Ongoing Test of Democracy, Part II

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?

The American Experiment 

Aura Vasquez on the Front Lines

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&nbsp; 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.

"From Standing Rock to City Hall"

the Ongoing Test of Democracy

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?

Reclaiming Our Collective Reality

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.

Gaslighting

Profound Conversation is a listening &amp; dialogue space which brings the foremost thought leaders into a conversation to grapple with the vexing challenges of our times! In an ever evolving world new ideas and transformative ways of being are the lights at the end of the tunnel. Profound Conversations uses intercultural dialogue, extensive community and organizational engagement to initiate valuable cultural, educational, economic, and policy outcomes. To find out more about our show, our mission, and our conversationalists, please go to:https://www.profoundconvos.com You can find our PODCAST on all major podcast platforms. Follow us on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/profoundconversations/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profoundconversations/ Profound Conversations Executive Producers are the Muslim Life Planning Institute, a national community building organization whose mission is to establish pathways to lifelong learning and healthy communities at the local, national and global level. www.MLPN.life The Profound Conversations podcast is produced by Erika Christie www.ErikaChristie.com