Peace Catalyst Podcast

Michael J. Wood is an open-space coach and facilitator based in Melbourne, Australia. He's been providing leadership coaching to leaders in the university, government, business, church, and community sectors for the last 15 years. He has a special interest in supporting people to make positive changes in the world whether or not they're in formal management or leadership roles. Michael also specializes in dialogue facilitation exercises such as talking circles, restorative justice conferencing, and contemplative retreats. Michael serves as community chaplain at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, and his first book, Practicing Peace: Theology, Contemplation, and Action was published in 2022.   LINKS: Practicing Peace: Theology, Contemplation, and Action (book) by Michael Wood Harrison Owen: Open Space Technology: A User's Guide     Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Elfidar was born in Urumchi, East Turkistan and grew up in Istanbul, Turkey until immigrating to the U.S. in 2000. She has over 20 years of marketing and project management experience, has taught the Uyghur language to U.S. government employees, and as the daughter of a prominent Uyghur writer and journalist, is an active member of the Uyghur community and an outspoken human rights activist.   Bill is a peacebuilder and Program Director at Peace Catalyst and heads an initiative of Peace Catalyst called the Uyghur Wellness Initiative, providing free mental wellness support to Uyghurs in North America who are experiencing secondhand and vicarious trauma from the genocide happening against their people and their family members overseas.   LINKS: Uyghur American Association: https://www.uyghuraa.org/ Bill Clark (Contact him or support his work at Peace Catalyst): https://www.peacecatalyst.org/billclark Uyghur Wellness Initiative: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/uyghur-wellness-initiative Emily Feng's reporting on NPR: https://www.npr.org/2022/09/16/1123536630/the-black-gate-a-uyghur-familys-story-part-1 BBC Where Are My Children?: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-china-48873934 Uyghur Human Rights Project: https://uhrp.org/ Campaign for Uyghurs: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/ SaveUighur.org: https://www.saveuighur.org/   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Katerina Gea is an organizer with The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and coordinates the Repair Network. She also is the pastor of Wild Church in Fresno, CA, where she currently lives in the traditional homelands of various Yokuts and Mono nations on whose lands her Russian Mennonite ancestors settled. We talk with her about what the Doctrine of Discovery is, how damage done to indigenous populations is still an ongoing problem, and what Christians can do about it today and live out Jesus's command to love our neighbors.   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast 

On this episode we talk with the 2022 Rick Love Young Innovators in Peacebuilding Award winners. We presented these awards to two young peacebuilders in honor of our late Founder Rick Love, who cared deeply about young people and wanted a new generation of peace builders to be raised up after him. Each winner received a financial award to help fund their work and provide them with a path to living out peace in the way modeled by Rick Love. Learn more about the awards and all four Rick Love Award recipients at www.peacecatalyst.org/rick-love-award-recipients Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast 

Peter Coleman is Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University and Director of the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution. He's a renowned expert on constructive conflict resolution and sustainable peace, and among many other things, he's also the author of over 100 articles and chapters, as well as multiple books, including The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization.   LINKS: The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization book: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Out-Overcome-Toxic-Polarization/dp/0231197411/ref=sr_1_1?crid=320NUI2UB5TM&keywords=the+way+out+peter+coleman&qid=1675118327&sprefix=the+way+out%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-1   Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution:  https://icccr.tc.columbia.edu/   Peter Coleman TIME Magazine article:  https://time.com/6222633/second-civil-war-us-how-to-avoid/   The Abortion Talks docuseries:  https://whatisessential.org/the-abortion-talks   Finding The Way Out Political Courage challenge: https://www.startswith.us/findingthewayout   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast  

Today we talk with Ibrahim Anli and Mehmet Saracoglu, leaders of the Rumi Forum, an organization dedicated to fostering interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding.  Rumi Forum website: https://rumiforum.org/   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon is the Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and the author of several books, including Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action, Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World, Beyond Hashtag Activism: Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age, and Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith. She holds a Ph.D from the University of California Davis and a D.Min from Northern Theological Seminary.   LINKS: Churches for Middle East Peace website: https://cmep.org Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action https://www.amazon.com/Just-Spirituality-Practices-Social-Action/dp/0830837752/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=mae+elise+cannon&qid=1664848010&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=mae+elise+cannon%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-3 Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World https://www.amazon.com/Social-Justice-Handbook-Better-Bridgeleader/dp/0830837159/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=mae+elise+cannon&qid=1664848010&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=mae+elise+cannon%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-1 Beyond Hashtag Activism: Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Hashtag-Activism-Comprehensive-Complicated/dp/0830845895/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=mae+elise+cannon&qid=1664848010&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=mae+elise+cannon%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-2 Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith https://www.amazon.com/Forgive-Us-Confessions-Compromised-Faith/dp/0310515963/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=mae+elise+cannon&qid=1664848010&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=mae+elise+cannon%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-5 A Land Full of God: Christian Perspectives on the Holy Land https://www.amazon.com/Land-Full-God-Christian-Perspectives/dp/149829880X/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=mae+elise+cannon&qid=1664848010&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=mae+elise+cannon%2Caps%2C254&sr=8-4 Our podcast episode with Greg Khalil and Todd Deatherage from Telos: https://peacecatalystpodcast.podbean.com/e/greg-khalil-and-todd-deatherage-reconciling-seemingly-intractable-conflict/ Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East: https://neme.network/about/#:~:text=The%20Network%20of%20Evangelicals%20for%20the%20Middle%20East,Jews%2C%20Christians%2C%20and%20Muslims%20in%20the%20region.%20Vision%3A Mike Pence speech before Israel's Knesset: https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Full-transcript-of-Pences-Knesset-speech-539476   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

This week we're talking with Pastor Czeslaw Kusmider from the town of Przemysl, Poland, just west of the border with Ukraine. Pastor Kusmider was called by his local community & government leaders at the beginning of the Ukraine crisis to help with the refugees that were coming from Ukraine into Poland, and he ended up converting his entire church into a refugee care center. In this episode, he tells us what that has been like and what we can all do to help. Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Andrew Larsen, a devoted peacemaker and long-time friend of Peace Catalyst, joins us to talk about a recent trip to Iraq and an unexpected personal meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, as well as his own approach to bridge-building in the Middle East and the U.S. Andy has worked as a consultant to churches and nonprofit groups seeking to understand “the other,” particularly Muslims. He empowers peacemaking initiatives through photography, personal relationships, and building a network among Muslim, Christian, and advocacy groups to build bridges between divergent communities.   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Today we talk with Greg and Todd, Co-Founders of fellow peacemaking organization The Telos Group.  Before founding Telos, Greg lived in Ramallah, the West Bank, where he advised the Palestinian leadership on peace negotiations with Israel. He's lectured widely on the Middle East and has been published by outlets like the New York Times, and he's also an adjunct professor at Columbia University's graduate school of journalism. Todd spent 16 years in senior positions in the Executive and Legislative branches of the U.S. government, and from 2005-2009 he was Chief of Staff in the Secretary of State's Office of Policy Planning. He also spent two years as Senior Advisor in the Department's Office of International Religious Freedom, where he specialized in religious freedom in the Middle East, and worked for 10 years in the U.S. Congress. The Telos Group: https://www.telosgroup.org/   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Dr. Miroslav Volf and Hurunnessa Fariad, two of our first ever Rick Love Peacemaker Award winners, join our President, Martin Brooks, for this conversation about  the "why" and "how" of embracing 'the other.' The conversation is based around Dr. Volf's book, Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation.   LINKS: Peace Catalyst International website: www.peacecatalyst.org Rick Love Awards: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/rick-love-award-recipients Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/ Miroslav Volf's books: https://www.amazon.com/Miroslav-Volf/e/B001IGJSHG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_10&qid=1660078768&sr=1-10 Exclusion & Embrace book: https://amzn.to/3BPKNv3 Multifaith Neighbors Network: www.mfnn.org Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla  

Steve is a Hong Kong-based travel writer, educator, and speaker who has been the Head of Christian and Community Development at Yew Chung Education Foundation for more than a decade. Steve is an experienced adventurer, having completed numerous cross-country journeys including the 500 mile Camino de Santiago in Spain and the 1100 mile Via Francigena from England to Rome. He hosts the Beyond The Pale podcast, which explores living life and spiritual faith through the lens of pilgrimage.  LINKS: Beyond the Pale podcast Yew Chung Education Foundation Seeds of Hope program   Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla

Julia Bacha is a Peabody and Guggenheim Award-winning filmmaker, media strategist, and Creative Director at JustVision, an organization that fills a media gap on Israel-Palestine through independent storytelling and strategic audience engagement. She has strategically used documentary film and multimedia to foster constructive conversation on some of the most divisive issues of our times. Julia's work has been exhibited at the Sundance, Berlin, and Tribeca film festivals; has been broadcast on the BBC, HBO, and Al-Jazeera; and has screened at widely diverse settings from refugee camps and villages to the halls of the American Congress and European Parliament. Her TEDTalk, “Pay Attention to Nonviolence,” was selected as one of the best talks of 2011 by the TED curators and has been viewed by over half a million people worldwide.    LINKS Julia's TEDTalk "Pay Attention to Nonviolence": https://www.ted.com/talks/julia_bacha_pay_attention_to_nonviolence Julia's TEDTalk "How Women Wage Conflict Without Violence": https://www.ted.com/talks/julia_bacha_how_women_wage_conflict_without_violence JustVision: https://justvision.org/ Julia's films: https://justvision.org/films Christian Peacebuilding Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianpeacebuildingnetwork Support the podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla

After serving as a licensed and ordained minister for over 20 years, Keith left his full-time pastoral ministry to start a house church that gave away 100% of the offering to help the poor in their community. After 11 years, Keith and his wife Wendy moved to El Paso, TX, where they now work as peacebuilders in their local community. Keith is also a prolific writer and the author of many books, including Jesus Unarmed: How the Prince of Peace Disarms Our Violence.    LINKS: Keith's website: www.keithgiles.com Second Cup With Keith podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/second-cup-with-keith/id1595608177   Support the Peace Catalyst Podcast: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast Peace Catalyst website: www.peacecatalyst.org Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla  

Lisa Sharon Harper leads trainings that increase clergy and community leaders' capacity to organize people of faith toward a just world. She's a prolific speaker, writer, and activist as well as the Founder and President of Freedom Road U.S., a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment, and common action. She's the author of several books, including Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican or Democrat and the critically acclaimed The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right.    MORE LINKS: Connecting in Conflict course Lisa's newest book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World - and How to Repair It All  Freedom Road   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla  Support the podcast at https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Based in Minneapolis, Peter leads trainings in conflict transformation, nonviolence, trauma awareness and healing, and community-based peacebuilding. Peter is Peace Catalyst's Director of Formation and Minneapolis Program Director. Together with his wife, Liz, he is equipping community peacemakers and collaborating with others specifically in the areas of racial justice and healing.   LINKS: Donate to help develop peacebuilding courses and trainings: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-skills-training Nonviolent Communication Course: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/nonviolent-communication Connecting in Conflict Course: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/connecting-in-conflict CPN (Christian Peacebuilding Network): https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianpeacebuildingnetwork   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast at www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Becca Tyvoll is Peace Catalyst Program Director in the Washington, D.C. area and our very own podcast host! Previously, we did a series interviewing Peace Catalyst staff, and today it's Becca's turn to talk about Peace Catalyst's work in D.C. Becca has a Bachelor's from American University and a Masters in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Learn more about Becca at https://www.peacecatalyst.org/beccapugh   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla

Jud Hendrix is the Executive Director of Interfaith Paths to Peace in Louisville, KY, a grassroots community peacemaking organization that serves the community by bringing people of different faiths, races, cultures, traditions, and philosophies together for the purpose of interfaith understanding and social justice based on the principles of peace. Interfaith Paths to Peace: https://paths2peace.org The Global Human Project: http://www.globalhumanproject.net   Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla

Jason Porterfield is a peacemaker and author of the book, Fight Like Jesus, which explores the radical vision of peacemaking that Jesus embodied throughout Holy Week. The book takes the reader through each day of the week, unpacking the peacemaking principles and practices that might be commonly glossed over in our accounts of the week leading up to Jesus's death and resurrection.   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla Support the podcast at www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast  

Sarah and Jonathan Nahar specialize in nonviolent action training. Sarah is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Syracuse, NY, focusing on ecological regeneration, community cultivation, and spiritual activism. Sarah was a 2019 Rotary Peace Fellow and worked at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Atlanta, GA. She has been the Executive Director of Community Peacemaker Teams, which is an organization doing third-party nonviolent intervention in areas of lethal conflict worldwide. Jonathan has also been a leader in Community Peacemaker Teams and has been active in Palestinian liberation activism and countering Christian Zionism.   LINKS: Community Peacemaker Teams: https://cpt.org Stir Up Peace video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL93LFx-9e_ygNKEibtFEaQUnIya3SYulW Salim Munayer podcast interview (Episode #7): https://peacecatalystpodcast.podbean.com/e/salim-munayer-reconciliation-in-israel-palestine/ Telos: https://www.telosgroup.org   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Soulmates by Yigit Atilla

Jeanelle Austin is a racial justice coach with over 15 years of experience facilitating group conversations on race, designing racism and multicultural educational programs, mentoring individuals, and supporting institutional leadership as they think through strategies to take seriously diversity, inclusion, and integration. Jeanelle is also the lead caretaker of the George Floyd memorial and, along with George Floyd's family, co-founded the George Floyd Global Memorial, an organization dedicated to preserving the offerings left at the memorial and the story of the uprising. Jeanelle has a Masters in Intercultural Studies and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.   LINKS: George Floyd Global Memorial: https://www.georgefloydglobalmemorial.org/?msclkid=4dbd1fbda97d11ec9f17d4ab5548b351 Austin Health Commons: http://austinhealthcommons.org/ Clifton Strengths Finder: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx Peace Catalyst Podcast interview with Justice + Equality Founder Devin Turner: https://peacecatalystpodcast.podbean.com/e/devin-turner-justice-equality-and-reimagining-community/ Justice Resolution 001: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1imey1mzBoCnmhaV1JhQ5GPy1dfqeTEL8/view   Produced and Edited by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra and Soulmates by Yigit Atilla 

Jon Huckins is a pastor and Co-Founding Director of The Global Immersion Project, a peacemaking training organization helping individuals and communities move toward conflict equipped to heal rather than to win. He has a Masters from Fuller Theological Seminary in Theology and Ethics; and he writes for publications such as USA Today, Red Letter Christians, Sojourners, and Relevant. He is also the author of Mending the Divides: Creative Love in a Conflicted World, Thin Places: Six Postures for Creating and Practicing Missional Community, and Teaching Through the Art of Storytelling.    LINKS The Global Immersion Project: https://globalimmerse.org Christian Peacebuilding Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianpeacebuildingnetwork/ Everyday Peacemaking Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-peacemaking/id1531330038 Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra  

Julie Ethan is an writer, speaker, and peacemaker pursuing conflict resolution through the power of story. Through friendships with her political opposites, she learned the power of empathy and connecting with those who think and believe differently from her. Julie has a Masters in Peace and Justice Studies from the University of San Diego, and she is the author of How Can Half the Country Be So Stupid?: A Memoir and Guide to Friendship Between Political Opposites.   LINKS Peace Catalyst's Salim Munayer event video: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/blog/2022/2/8/an-evening-with-salim-munayer   Peace Catalyst Podcast episode with Salim Munayer: https://peacecatalystpodcast.podbean.com/e/salim-munayer-reconciliation-in-israel-palestine/   How Can Half the Country Be So Stupid? by Julie Ethan: https://www.amazon.com/How-Can-Half-Country-Stupid/dp/B08JDYXNYF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=6R2542P5D1Y9&keywords=julie+ethan&qid=1645499169&sprefix=julie+ethan%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1   Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/   The Global Immersion Project: https://globalimmerse.org/   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra Support the podcast at www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Ja'mel Armstrong is a change-maker and a leader in his church and the wider community of Louisville, KY, faithfully advocating and working towards the realization of the "beloved community." A native of Louisville, from a young age Armstrong observed the ongoing socio-economic and racial injustices that painted reality for many in his community. His upbringing influenced him to pursue the beloved community in Louisville and beyond.    LINKS: New Horizon Baptist Church, Louisville https://mynewhorizon.church The Post-Black and Post-White Church: Becoming the Beloved Community in a Multi-Ethnic World by Ephraim Smith https://www.amazon.com/Post-Black-Post-White-Church-Community-Multi-Ethnic/dp/1506463479/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+post+black+and+post+white+church&qid=1644272867&sprefix=the+post+black+and%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-2 The Center for Neighborhoods https://www.facebook.com/centerforneighborhoodslouisville/ Parting the Waters: America During the King Years by Taylor Branch https://www.amazon.com/Parting-Waters-America-Years-1954-63/dp/0671687425/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=parting+the+waters+america+in+the+king+years&qid=1644273152&sprefix=parting+the+waters%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-1 The King Center https://thekingcenter.org More about Josiah Royce and the Beloved Community https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Reverend Adam Russell Taylor is a pastor, author, and leader who inspires, mobilizes, and equips communities all over the world to join in the work of making peace and justice realities for everyone. He is the current President of Sojourners and author of his most recent book, A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community.   LINKS A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community by Adam Russell Taylor https://www.amazon.com/More-Perfect-Union-Building-Beloved-Community/dp/150646453X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+more+perfect+union&qid=1643070825&s=books&sprefix=a+more+perfect+%2Cstripbooks%2C127&sr=1-1   Sojourners https://sojo.net   Myths America Lives By: White Supremacy and the Stories that Give Us Meaning by Richard T. Hughes https://www.amazon.com/Myths-America-Lives-Supremacy-Stories/dp/025208375X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1NJYUIA42F09H&keywords=the+myth+America+lives+by&qid=1643070892&s=books&sprefix=the+myth+america+lives+by%2Cstripbooks%2C140&sr=1-2    Peace Catalyst Podcast episode #10 with Devin Turner: Justice, Equality, and Reimagining Community https://peacecatalystpodcast.podbean.com/e/devin-turner-justice-equality-and-reimagining-community/   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra Support the podcast at www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

Hurunnessa is the Head of Outreach and Interfaith at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS center), Director of Outreach for Multifaith Neighbors Network, Music Director for the ADAMS Beat youth choir, and local Muslim representative for Peace Catalyst.  For more from Hurunnessa, listen to Episode 1 of the podcast!   LINKS Lutheran Social Services Afghan Relief: https://lssnca.org/take_action/afghan-allies.html   Islamic Relief USA Afghan Work: https://irusa.org/asia/afghanistan/   ADAMS Center: https://www.adamscenter.org   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Lynne works with Home For Refugees in LA County to help refugees from Afghanistan and other countries feel more welcome in the U.S. and ultimately experience a greater sense of belonging. As a career music professional, Lynne sets the example for all of us to be peacebuilders in our everyday lives and communities. She worked as a conductor for many years and also did educational outreach, bringing music and music appreciation to schools in Orange County that might not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience classical music. For the last 4-5 years she has also been active in peacemaking efforts and working with refugees. She leads a Telos Table in California and is a Home Team Coach with Home for Refugees.    LEARN MORE: Home For Refugees: https://www.homeforrefugeesusa.org Telos: https://www.telosgroup.org Telos Table: https://www.telosgroup.org/telos-table/   Our final episode in this Afghan Voices series will be a listener Q&A with Hurunnessa Fariad, and we want to hear from you! Send your questions to nicole@peacecatalyst.org or message us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Chef Hamidullah Noori is the owner of The Mantu restaurant in Richmond, Virginia. He began his chef's career at age 18. In 2003, he joined the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan and soon after, in 2004, joined the Kabul Serena Hotel, a five-star hotel in Afghanistan. After his training, he returned to Kabul Serena Hotel as the Executive Chef. He was featured in several cooking show episodes on TOLO TV in Afghanistan and was later given the Executive Chef position at the USAID.  In May of 2021, Chef Noori made his first appearance on the Food Network as a featured contestant on the culinary competition show, “Beat Bobby Flay.”     LINKS The Mantu restaurant: https://themantuva.com Donate to Chef Noori's work for Afghan refugees: https://themantuva.com/donate Beat Bobby Flay episode: https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/beat-bobby-flay/episodes/peas-of-mind Article about Chef Noori's appearance on Beat Bobby Flay: https://www.styleweekly.com/ShortOrderBlog/archives/2021/05/07/small-screen-dreams   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Mina's List is a nonprofit seeking to build just and peaceful societies by advancing women's political leadership and participation globally. Tanya Henderson is the Founder and Executive Director, Teresa Casale is Mina's List's Advocacy Director, and Palwasha Hassan sits on the Board of Directors and is also a Founding Member of the Afghan Women's Network.   LINKS: Mina's List main website: https://www.minaslist.org/ Donate to Mina's List to help Afghan women refugees or women and girls inside Afghanistan: https://www.minaslist.org/donate Mina's List's Afghanistan Crisis Response: https://www.minaslist.org/what-we-do/afghanistan-crisis-response U.S. Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1141?r=51 UN Women, Peace, and Security Agenda: https://dppa.un.org/en/women-peace-and-security Edited and Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Alli Burnison is Peace Catalyst Program Director in Southern California. After studying Journalism at Pepperdine University, she also received an MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Islamic Studies. In addition to her Peace Catalyst work, she also collaborates with Musalaha, focusing on reconciliation in Israel-Palestine. LINKS: Give to support to Alli's Peace Catalyst work: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/alli-burnison Peace Catalyst Podcast episode with Musalaha Founder Salim Munayer: https://peacecatalystpodcast.podbean.com/e/salim-munayer-reconciliation-in-israel-palestine/ Musalaha: https://musalaha.org/ The World Race: https://www.worldrace.org/   Edited and Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

A former NRA member, Keith shares his journey from guns into peacebuilding and what he and his wife Wendy are doing now as staff peacebuilders in El Paso, TX. Keith is a prolific podcaster and author, and his new book, Jesus Unarmed, launches in the next few weeks.  Learn more about Keith and donate to his Peace Catalyst work at https://www.peacecatalyst.org/keithgiles Jesus Untangled: Crucifying our Politics to Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb Jesus Unarmed: How the Prince of Peace Disarms our Violence   Other Links: Love Anyway book Love Anyway film   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Bryan and Stephanie Carey are Peace Catalyst staff working with local peacebuilders in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Both originally trained as engineers and having lived and worked all over the globe, they now work alongside diverse peace practitioners in Sarajevo and partner with Christian and other leaders around the world to equip and empower Christians for peacebuilding.     Give to Bryan and Stephanie's work: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/bryancarey Bosnia Catalyze trip: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/catalyze Trauma-Sensitive Peacebuilding course: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/trauma-sensitive-peacebuilding   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by J.R. Tundra

Based in Minneapolis, Peace Catalyst staff Peter and Liz are equipping and empowering community peacemakers and collaborating alongside those who are already building peace and working for transformation in their community. They have experience in church youth ministry in Chicago as well as Christian-Muslim peacebuilding in London, and they are now involved in both community organizing and contemplative spirituality, seeking to help people develop holistic approaches to peacemaking on personal, interpersonal, and community levels.   LINKS Donate to support Peter and Liz's work: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/andersons Chasing the Dragon: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Dragon-Struggle-Against-Darkness/dp/0800797035/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=chasing+the+dragon&qid=1633126023&sr=8-1 Be The Bridge organization: https://bethebridge.com Be The Bridge book by Latasha Morrison: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Bridge-Pursuing-Racial-Reconciliation/dp/0525652884   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Peace Catalyst peacebuilders Nick and Laura Armstrong spent 23 years living and working in Indonesia before beginning their work among refugees in Boise, Idaho. They now work as a team to build peace by connecting local church members with refugees from around the world who have settled in their area.    LINKS: Donate to Nick and Laura's work: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/armstrongs Keith and Becca's Christian Peacebuilding Cohort: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/events/christian-peacebuilding-network-shalom-cohort-ecsew   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by J.R. Tundra

Martin Brooks, President of Peace Catalyst, and his wife Susan join us for the first episode in this series featuring our very own Peace Catalyst peacebuilders. Martin has been with Peace Catalyst since 2011 when he and Susan moved back to the U.S. from Turkish Cyprus. The Brooks are based in Louisville, KY and they join Keith and Becca to talk about the origins of Peace Catalyst, their own personal peacebuilding journey, and some of the best stories from their work in Kentucky.   Links: How to Heal Our Divides (book): https://www.amazon.com/How-Heal-Our-Divides-Practical/dp/B0948LPPFS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=how+to+heal+our+divides&qid=1631034258&sr=8-1 Peace Catalysts by Rick Love (book): https://www.peacecatalyst.org/shop/peace-catalysts-book-1 Join Keith and Becca's Peacemaking Cohort Discussions: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/events/christian-peacebuilding-network-shalom-cohort-ecsew Christian Peacebuilding Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianpeacebuildingnetwork Podcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/819725478634711   Edited and Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by J.R. Tundra

Kahlida Lloyd is the founder of the faith-based racial reconciliation nonprofit Mission Reconcile, which exists to connect single-race churches (i.e. black churches with white churches) to have conversations about race and to form relationships. Kahlida is also an attorney and holds degrees in Communications, Political Science, and Law. Danielle Blevins is also a lawyer and a journalist by trade in addition to her role with Mission Reconcile. Kahlida and Danielle join us to talk about their work in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., what kinds of obstacles they face, and what continually motivates them to do this work.    Edited and Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Devin Turner is Pastor of Revolution Church in Washington, D.C. as well as Founder and Executive Director of the faith-based nonprofit Justice + Equality. Devin is also a filmmaker, actor, musician, husband, and father. Join us for this conversation as we talk with him about how he has combined creativity with community development to positively impact people's lives all over the country.    Episode Links: Peace of Art DC Devin's music The Interruptors documentary   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

A Christian writer from Minnesota now living in Djibouti, East Africa, Rachel Pieh Jones joins us to talk about her experience living among Muslims in the Horn of Africa for the last 18 years and how that experience has deepened her Christian faith and led her closer to Jesus. Rachel is an author, blogger and even cookbook writer, and her latest book is called Pillars: How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus. She has written for the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Huffington Post, Runners World, and Christianity Today.  Find out more about Rachel at https://rachelpiehjones.com   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by J.R. Tundra

Shane Claiborne is a best-selling author, renowned activist, sought-after speaker, and self-proclaimed “recovering sinner.” Shane writes and speaks around the world about peacemaking, social justice, and Jesus; and is the author of several books including The Irresistible Revolution, Jesus for President, and his newest book, Executing Grace. He is the visionary leader of The Simple Way in Philadelphia and co-director of Red Letter Christians. His work has been featured in Fox News, Esquire, SPIN, TIME, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, and CNN. Other links: Peace Catalysts by Rick Love (book) Edited and Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra Support the podcast at www.peacecatalyst.org/peacemaking-podcast

In this episode we talk with Salim Munayer, Founder and Executive Director of Musalaha Ministry of Reconciliation, which has been bringing together Israelis and Palestinians since 1990. Salim is a Palestinian Christian and Israeli citizen. After receiving his Bachelor's degree from Tel Aviv University, he went on to earn a Masters from Fuller Theological Seminary, complete graduate studies at Pepperdine University, and receive his PhD from Oxford. Salim has published several books on reconciliation and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; is currently an adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary; and teaches at Bethlehem Bible College, where he previously served as academic dean.   LINKS Musalaha Journey Through the Storm: Lessons from Musalaha (book) Through My Enemy's Eyes: Envisioning Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine (book) With God On Our Side documentary   Edited and produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra  

Join us for this conversation with author, speaker, and race relations strategist Cleo Scott Brown. Cleo grew up in the home of a civil rights leader and found herself, later in life, propelled into working on issues of race and racial conflict.    Cleo Scott Brown's website: www.cleoscottbrown.com Raceology 101: Fundamentals for Understanding & Change: https://www.amazon.com/Raceology-101-Fundamentals-Understanding-Change/dp/1976195934/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=cleo+scott+brown&qid=1620950005&sr=8-2 Witness to the Truth: My Struggle for Human Rights in Louisiana: https://www.amazon.com/dp/157003818X?tag=cleoscottbrow-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1   Edited and Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

In this, the final episode of our Muslim Women Peacemakers series, we talk with Fathia Absie and Ilays Aden, the founders of Eat With Muslims. As Somali-American women and activists, Fathia and Ilays wanted to deal with rampant misconceptions about Muslims and help neighbors get to know one another, and they found that the best way to do it was through shared meals.  Fathia is a writer, public speaker, and filmmaker whose films include the documentary “Broken Dreams” and the narrative film “The Lobby.” Ilays is an activist who has studied Economics, African Studies, and Law and works to build relationships among diverse communities around the Puget Sound.   Eat With Muslims: www.eatwithmuslims.org More about Fathia and Ilays: https://www.eatwithmuslims.org/the-kitchen   Edited and Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by J.R. Tundra

In this episode we talk with Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs, an organization focused on stopping the systematic human rights abuses against the people of Xinjiang, China (also called East Turkestan). Rushan is a Uyghur herself and shares with us her personal story, what is happening to Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in China, and what we as individuals can do to stop what the US and the international community has designated a “genocide.” NOTE: We do not recommend having children around while listening to this episode.   Campaign for Uyghurs: www.campaignforuyghurs.org UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.1_Convention%20on%20the%20Prevention%20and%20Punishment%20of%20the%20Crime%20of%20Genocide.pdf Uyghur Advocacy Network Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457144825645933 Uyghur Wellness Initiative: https://www.peacecatalyst.org/uyghur-wellness-initiative Sample letter to elected representatives re: Beijing 2022 Olympics: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/nobeijing2022/ Contact the International Olympic Committee: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-rights-no-games.pdf Support the Senate's Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Phoning-Your-senators.pdf   Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra Correction: A previous version of this episode mistakenly attributed the peacemaking quote to Martin Luther King Jr. We have edited the episode to rightly attribute it to Shane Claiborne.

In this episode, we talk with Aneelah Afzali about her advocacy for Muslims and other minority groups in America, and how she is building bridges between various faith and other groups in the Pacific Northwest. Aneelah is the Executive Director of the American Muslim Empowerment Network at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS-AMEN). She also serves as a Governing Board Member of the Faith Action Network (FAN), on the Steering Committee of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, and on the Advisory Board of Washington for Black Lives.    MAPS-AMEN website: https://www.mapsredmond.org/amen/ Get in touch with MAPS-AMEN: amen@mapsredmond.org   Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

Join us for a soulful conversation with Tasneem Noor about spiritual transformation and what it means to embody peace and have courageous conversations with people who disagree with you. Tasneem is the Interfaith Minister in residence for the Episcopal Diocese in Los Angeles, CA and author of The Faith Connection: Your Journey Starts with Knowing Yourself. She's also a facilitator for New Ground: Muslim Jewish Partnership for Change.    The Faith Connector Website: https://thefaithconnector.com/ The Faith Connector Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFaithConnector/ Get in touch with Tasneem: tasneem@thefaithconnector.com New Ground Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change: http://mjnewground.org/   Produced by Nicole Gibson Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra

In this episode we talk with Hurunnessa Fariad about her role as a Muslim woman peacemaker and community leader in the Washington, DC area. Hurunnessa is the Head of Outreach and Interfaith at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society and Director of the first mosque youth choir in the U.S., ADAMS Beat. She is the founder and co-host of the Sister Act Podcast, featuring other women leaders of faith (Christian and Jewish), and sits on the Fairfax county Interfaith and Equity Committee.    Show produced by Nicole Gibson. Music: Shesh Pesh by JR Tundra.   

Welcome to the Peace Catalyst Podcast, where we share stories to inspire, uplift, and encourage you in your peacemaking journey. Join us for faith-based conversations with people of diverse backgrounds to help us as Christians become better peacemakers in our world.