Hi, I'm Leah Simone Bowen, the host of CBC's podcast playlist. Every week we

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This is a CBC podcast. John Nudol still remembers the first time he set foot

inside a mosque. It's sometime in the mid-2000s. He's got his studded leather

jacket and army boots on and he's been drinking. He turns to his girlfriend

Amanda Karodi and tells her not to follow him. We were in Victoria and we were

interested so I went to the mosque and I said well just wait across the street

because I don't want them to see you dressed like that. It's early in John and

Amanda's relationship. Many years before the two would read the Quran and

convert to Islam. And Amanda's being told to wait outside because she's wearing a

mini skirt. I said I will never wear the e-john or give up my mini skirts. Never.

To say John had a shaky grasp of the religion is an understatement. At the time

he apparently knew Muslim women dressed modestly but he was overlooking his

own behavior. I had like a 26 year old Jack Daniels stuffed in my inside of my

coat and John because of his skunk and I didn't know you're not supposed to drink

and they they asked me to leave but very politely and come back tomorrow when I'm

not drunk. It's an awkward moment but John is embodded. He comes back apparently

ready to learn. So I asked him about Islam they gave me some pamphlets and stuff

...