Nayyera Haq: There but for the Grace of God go She

Scott met Nayyera Haq when he produced HBO's Real Time, and she was always a smart and insightful guest on a range of social and political topics. She is a highly accomplished professional (see below), a doting mother, a devoted wife and a proud Muslim American. Her parents – a physician and a public school teacher – immigrated from Pakistan to Staten Island, New York and instilled in her a commitment to public service. From an early age, Nayyera has sought to understand how the American Dream worked for her while others around the world struggle. She credits her upbringing and an application of principles from multiple faiths for the enriched life she leads today.  

In My Homily Opinion (IMHO): Scott reflects on the shameful tolerance of child labor for some migrant children in the US today. He recalls the lessons of a 1973 short story, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin, which describes a utopian paradise where everyone's permanent happiness is predicated on one child.

Guest: Nayyera Haq is an energetic and versatile broadcaster. She is a Producer on CommandZ, a social-impact series directed by Steven Soderbergh. She hosts talk radio on SiriusXM where she connects dots for listeners on local and global issues. A storyteller at heart, Nayyera uses her two decades of experience as a senior diplomat and government official to help people make sense of the world today. She launched and hosted the nightly newscast, The World Tonight and was Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for the Black News Channel. Nayyera’s insights and personal appeal make her a regular television guest of hosts like Bill Maher, Joy Reid, and Jake Tapper. She publishes in outlets as varied as The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, Refinery 29, and The Root. Nayyera previously served as a Senior Director in the White House and Senior Advisor at the State Department, advising our nation’s top leaders on issues of international security and diplomacy.

Email Scott:  yegodspodcast@gmail.com

Ye Gods is produced by Efficiency Studios: Creator and Host, Scott Carter; Executive Producer, Dossie McCraw; Co-Executive Producer, Selena Lauterer; Associate Producer, Robyn Rose Valentine. Hosting services provided by Podbean. Music licensed by Epidemic Sound.