What does it mean to truly know God in a world drowning in distractions, noise, and false guides? In this deeply inspiring conversation, writer and spiritual traveler Michael Sugich shares his extraordinary journey from the stages of America's theater to the timeless wisdom of Islam and Sufism.Michael Sugich is an acclaimed American writer and spiritual traveler who converted to Islam in his early twenties. He has authored several celebrated works, including Signs on the Horizons, Hearts Turn, and the nine-volume series The Exemplars for Our Time (co-authored with photographer Peter Sanders), which document stories of faith, repentance, and the lives of contemporary saints.Michael opens up about his youth in the 1960s, his spiritual awakening, and the transformative role of Sufi teachers and authentic spiritual guides. We dive into the purpose of religion, the dangers of self-guided spirituality in the “Shaykh Google” age, and how seekers today can discern truth from illusion.This episode is a treasure chest for anyone seeking authentic spirituality, the meaning of Islam, and the path of the heart.Episode Breakdown:00:00 mins – Introduction & Michael Sugich’s journey across the world01:24 mins – Discovering Islam through Sufism and the power of repetition06:30 mins – A life-changing teenage spiritual experience10:00 mins – Sufism as an integral part of Islam (Islam, Iman, Ihsan)14:43 mins – The importance of travel & seeking authentic teachers20:16 mins – The role of spiritual guides and the dangers of false sheikhs30:18 mins – Why Sharia and Tasawwuf cannot be separated36:50 mins – The rise of “Shaykh Google” & pitfalls of online spirituality42:00 mins – Colonialism, modern crises, and forgetting the true purpose of religion46:15 mins – Islam as a toolkit to know God (not identity or politics)49:54 mins – The power of Dhikr and remembrance of God54:47 mins – True vs false spiritual teachers: red flags and green flags1:10:00 mins – Stories of saints, miracles, and the subtle signs of sincerity1:18:10 mins – Why authentic sheikhs live ordinary lives, not cult-like ones1:21:15 mins – Destiny, connection, and the secret of finding a true guideClosing mins – Final reflections on spirituality, humility, and knowing GodStay Connected with The Growth Mindset:Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/silawath_irshad/⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/TheGrowthMindsetwithSilawathIrshad⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/silawathirshad/⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/silawathirshad/You can reach out to Michael Sugich below, and the list of books written is mentioned below:Books: Signs on the Horizons, Hearts Turn, The Exemplars for Our TimeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.sugich/