A Little Unorthodox: Navigating Faith and Identity as a Young Adult

Hosts Emily and Abe get personal in this kickoff episode—sharing their own stories of religion, doubt, and discovery. Emily, a journalism major, and Abe, a kinesiology student, created Little Unorthodox to ask big questions with humility and humor. This episode lays the groundwork for the conversations to come.

Michael Gralnick, a student leader and aspiring law student, joins us to discuss being Jewish on a college campus in 2025. From Jewish holiday traditions to confronting antisemitism, Michael opens up about identity, community, and why he hopes Jewish students will feel proud to show up fully as themselves at ASU.

Dr. Irina Levin, an anthropologist at ASU, explores how religion, identity, and public policy collide. From fieldwork among women in Turkey to the politics of religious symbols in France, she discusses what it means to study belief systems with anthropology.

Cronkite student and journalist Tyler Abrams sits down with us to talk about growing up Christian, reconnecting with his Jewish roots, and figuring out how faith fits into life as a future reporter. This episode explores the tension between personal values and professional objectivity and the power of being open.

Sindhu Jayamani, a pre-med student from India, shares how Hinduism shapes her life—from daily rituals to major festivals like Diwali. She reflects on the meaning of karma, navigating cultural transitions, and how faith helps her feel grounded, even thousands of miles from home.

Bri, a healthcare administration grad student at GCU, opens up about rediscovering her Christian faith in college and how it fuels her passion for serving others. She talks about praying during work shifts, finding strength in spirituality, and letting faith guide her career toward healing burnout in the medical field.