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Hello and welcome to the Baha’i Blogcast with me your host, Rainn Wilson.
In this series of podcasts I interview members of the Baha’i Faith and friends from all over the world about their hearts, and minds, and souls, their spiritual journeys, what they’re interested in, and what makes them tick.
In this episode I’m in Chicago again, and I’m joined by my friends Syda Segovia Taylor and Kelsey Taylor, an awesome couple who live here in the Chicago area. Syda works as a consultant in issues relating to social justice and Kelsey owns his own civil engineering company. They are both members of the Baha’i Faith and are passionate about working on issues around social justice and youth empowerment. In this conversation we talk about the work they’re doing, issues relating to race, youth, violence, social inequality in the neighbourhood and the lessons they’ve learned. They also really open up and talk about how they’ve separated twice within their 21 years of marriage, what that was like, and the hard work they put in to strengthen not only their relationship, but themselves as individuals.
I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!
To find out more about Syda and Kelsey, and some of the things we covered in this episode, check out the following links:
* Syda Segovia Taylor’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syda-segovia-taylor-m-a-414a4629/
* Kelsey Taylor’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseyataylorcivil/
* Syda’s talk on BahaiTeachings.com can be watched here: Healing the Trauma of Racism and Violence
* Syda talks about her work with Dr. Joy DeGruy, who was also a guest on the Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson, and you can listen to that episode here: Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson – Episode 10: Joy DeGruy
* Syda also mentions Steve Sarowitz, who was also a guest on the Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson, and you can listen to that episode here: Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson – Episode 25: Steve Sarowitz
* Syda talks about the work being done by Environmentalists of Color, and the Sacred Keepers organisation.
* Rainn mentions the Baha’i gardens in the Holy Land, which you can learn more about here, and you may enjoy this visual exploration of the Baha’i gardens in this video called ‘Pathways‘.
* Kelsey talks about his namesake, Curtis Kelsey, whom you can read about here: The Shining Services of Curtis Kelsey
* Syda mentions the quotation from the Baha’i Writings: “The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.” -Baha’u’llah
* Syda also refers to the following Hidden Word of Baha’u’llah: “O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest 4 Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.”
* Rainn mentions his conversation with Stephen Phelps, who was also a guest on the Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson, and you can listen to that episode here: Baha’i Blogcast with Rainn Wilson – Episode 7: Steven Phelps
* Kelsey talks about the ‘Love Bank’ model found in therapist Dr. Harley’s book: Effective Marriage Counseling: The His Needs, Her Needs Guide to Helping Couples
* Kelsey talks about the book Divorce Busting
* Syda mentions Imago Therapy.
* Kelsey talks about the quotation from the Baha’i Writings: “Not until man is tried doth the pure gold distinctly separate from the dross. Torment is the fire of test wherein the pure gold shineth” -Abdu’l-Baha
Be sure to ‘subscribe’ to the Baha’i Blogcast for more weekly episodes on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and Soundcloud.
Thanks for listening!
-Rainn Wilson
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I was riveted by this conversation with an awesome couple who’re devoting their lives to purposeful societal transformation. I especially appreciated the comment about looking through the lens of justice, i.e . fair-mindedness, and I got helpful insights into that Hidden Word on justice, including being reminded thart seeing with “thine own eyes and not with the eyes of others” is one of the four qualities Baha’u’llah liked to see in people, as has been mentioned in a couple of these episodes. And I was touched by the Taylors’ honesty about their tough but ultimately successful struggles to make their marriage a “fortress of well-being”. Good stuff!
Keith J. Taylor (March 3, 2019 at 8:37 PM)