Claire Hoffman is a journalist, author, and a journalism professor at the University of California, Riverside. Her new book, Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson was hailed by The New Yorker’s Casey Cep as “magnificent,” “gripping”, and “wonderfully thorough, the type of biography in which you learn just the right amount of everything.”

In her book, Claire dives into the story of how, for two months in 1926, Pentecostal superstar Sister Aimee’s disappearance from a Southern California beach dominated headlines across the world.

Claire also grew up in the 1980’s and ‘90’s in Fairfield, Iowa - ground zero for the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation movement in America. Since her parents were devout practitioners, Claire and her brother were raised also as meditators. She recounts her childhood experiences in her 2016 book, Greetings from Utopia Park: Surviving a Transcendent Childhood

Renowned American sportscaster, Bob Costas talks about growing up on Long Island, how his introduction to the world of sports was inextricably linked to his father’s addiction to gambling, how his Catholic upbringing shaped his world view, how he pursued his dream of becoming a sports broadcaster, the people he most admired and how he decided to retire from being the best play-by-play baseball announcer of his generation.

Rabbi Sharon Brouse, named America's most influential Rabbi by Newsweek in 2013, shares her journey from an unaffiliated Jewish upbringing to co-founding the progressive IKAR Temple in Los Angeles. She delves into the profound wisdom of her 2024 bestseller, The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Heal Our Hearts, emphasizing ancient rituals and their relevance in modern times. The conversation highlights a sacred pilgrimage ritual from the Mishnah and its teachings on compassion and communal support. Rabbi Brouse addresses the challenges of maintaining tradition while advocating for inclusivity and justice. She recalls her emotional connection to Jewish practices, her parents' initial shock at her rabbinical path, and how Ikar aims to integrate spirituality with social activism. The episode also touches on broader themes of faith, human connection, and the transformative power of ancient wisdom.

Watch Scott Carter’s 2024 TEDx talk “Indivisible” on YouTube.