Electoral Politics in IOWA! On this episode of State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly
radio show and podcast, Rev. Welton Gaddy takes a closer look at
electoral politics through the lens of the upcoming caucuses in Iowa,
focusing on how local organizations are attempting to prepare for them.
Donna Red Wing, executive director of OneIowa, the state’s leading LGBT
organization, joins us to address her advocacy work in Iowa in the
context of the caucuses, as well as her recent meeting with President
Obama. Later, Rabbi and author Jay Michaelson will speak about his brand
new book The Gate of Tears: Sadness and the Spiritual Path, and will
offer some advice regarding living a better life. And, finally, we’ll
take a look back in our archives and listen to part of Welton’s 2007
interview with the late Senator Edward Kennedy, followed by a
conversation with Judy Shephard, mother of Matthew Shephard, who
appeared on the show just weeks before the passage of the Matthew
Shephard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a historic piece
of legislation that Senator Kennedy advocated for before his death.

Iowa Caucuses Enter the National Spotlight
The Iowa Caucuses are just months away, and are the first real- life
test for presidential candidates as they prepare for the general
election later in 2016. Traditionally, Iowa gets a significant amount of
national media attention around the time of the caucus, accompanied by
visits from the candidates themselves. OneIowa, the state’s leading LGBT
organization, takes advantage of this spotlight every year to promote
its advocacy work. Executive director Donna Red Wing has been closely
following these electoral politics as the Iowa caucuses near, and
recently met with President Obama. Donna joins our show to discuss the
importance of her work in Iowa, and the nature of Iowa voters.

Rabbi Jay Michaelson’s new book offers a fresh perspective on spirituality and happiness
The work of Rabbi Jay Michaelson has been discussed a number of times on
State of Belief. Fortunately for us, Jay has been willing to unveil a
number of books from his diverse body of work on our show, and has an
exciting new perspective to share in his latest work The Gate of Tears:
Sadness and the Spiritual Path, which has been called, “A Stunning
antidote to the plethora of ‘get happy’ guides.” Today on the show Jay
will discuss his new book, and will offer his thoughts on the
relationship between happiness and spirituality in our everyday lives.
Tune in to hear Jay’s enlightening perspective on these topics!

A Look Back: An Interview with Senator Ted Kennedy
As we get closer to the 10th anniversary of State of Belief, we are
revisiting some of our favorite interviews. This week, we rewind to a
powerful interview with the late Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. 
In the beginning of October 2007, the Senator appeared on this program
as part of his long-term advocacy for a federal hate crimes law. It was
less than a year later that Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with an incurable
brain tumor.

Senator Kennedy was a tireless fighter for a federal Hate Crimes Act.
The final time that he was able to sponsor this legislation in 2009, he
lived to see its passage in the Senate – but passed away before
President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act into law on October 25, 2009. Just weeks before
that historic moment, Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard was on
State of Belief, and you’ll hear part of that October 3, 2009
conversation.