Podcasts about walk talk

Growing up in western Kenya, Alvin Andanje learned that a community is built not only through shared geography, but through shared responsibility. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Alvin reflects on a childhood where neighbours cared for one another, where faith was expressed through everyday acts of kindness, and where the idea that "a child belongs to the community" shaped his understanding of life. Those early experiences continue to influence his work today, leading him to believe that lasting development is built as much on relationships, dignity and social capital as it is on infrastructure. Along the way, he shares moving stories about his family, the challenges surrounding his older brother's illness, the remarkable origin of his family name, and why he has "always had this fascination about how ordinary people create extraordinary change."   Today, Alvin serves as the Africa Regional Coordinator at the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI), where he also leads Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) for the Faith and Positive Change for Children initiative. With experience spanning more than twenty countries, he has contributed to research and learning on climate justice, peacebuilding, gender equality, vaccine uptake and the role of faith communities in development. During our conversation, he also reflects on the influence of the late Dr. Agnes Abuom, whose integrity and refusal to take shortcuts continue to shape his own leadership. Throughout this conversation, Alvin reminds us that extraordinary change often begins with ordinary people who choose to care, to serve and to walk alongside others.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Alvin and his work via his LinkedIn or the JLI website. Don't only listen to the song picked by Alvin, but also those by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Tony Hernandez is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, oral historian, and founder of the Immigrant Archive Project. Over the past two decades, he has dedicated his life to preserving thousands of first-person immigrant stories, ensuring that families, communities, and future generations never lose the voices that shaped them. Today he also produces private documentary films for families and founders who wish to preserve their personal histories with the care of an oral historian and the craftsmanship of cinema.   In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Tony reflects on his own journey from Cuba to the United States as a young child, the extraordinary sacrifices made by his parents and grandparents, and the unexpected role Church World Service played in helping his family begin a new life. Those early experiences became the foundation for a lifetime of listening.   Our conversation explores what "home" really means when you feel both from somewhere and not entirely from there anymore. Tony shares how Steven Spielberg's Shoah interviews inspired the Immigrant Archive Project, why storytelling is fundamentally an act of respect, and how listening deeply creates spaces where people often share stories they have never told anyone before. Along the way we discuss resilience, belonging, kindness, memory, faith, identity, and why, despite today's polarized debates around migration, Tony remains convinced that we are far more alike than we are different. The episode is filled with remarkable stories, from a migrant farm worker, families rebuilding their lives after unimaginable hardship to quiet moments of hope, including a little girl learning to dance with her homeless mother under the stars. If you care about preserving family history, understanding migration beyond headlines, or simply becoming a better listener, this conversation is for you.   At the end of the episode Tony answers the previous guest's question, "What's good?" and leaves a thoughtful question for the next guest, and reminds us that every life contains a story worth preserving. I forgot to ask Tony the question about a song or piece of music that represents what Tony is about. After listening to this episode, you will not be surprised that he texted me after our recording. "It would be Cecilia Cruz's La Vida es un Carnaval (Life is a Carnaval) as the song's central message is that life inevitably contains pain, loneliness, injustice, and difficult moments, but none of those conditions is permanent. We should face adversity with hope, companionship, faith, and the determination to keep living fully. That message feels especially powerful coming from Celia Cruz. Her performance turns the song into more than cheerful advice. It's an anthem of resilience, particularly for people who have endured displacement, loss, or hardship."   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Tony and his work via his LinkedIn or his company IAP website. Also check out his SubStack. His Instagram and Facebook are also worthwhile following. Don't only listen to the song picked by Tony, but also those by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Explore how movement, especially running and walking, can be integrated into therapy to improve mental health. Sepideh Saremi shares her innovative Run Walk Talk approach, combining physical activity with psychological healing.Learn more at https://www.runwalktalk.com/

Sabrina Matthews believes that good questions can change the way we lead, learn, and build community.   In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Sabrina reflects on growing up in Macon, Georgia, overcoming a childhood speech impediment, learning from her parents' example of civic engagement, and gradually discovering that leadership is less about being in front and more about helping others find their voice. Throughout the conversation, she returns to a simple conviction: assumptions limit people, while curiosity creates opportunity. We explore how her career evolved from accounting and financial analysis into organizational development, leadership, and workplace transformation. Sabrina shares the three questions that have guided every career decision she has made: What issues do I want to work on? Who do I want to work on them with? And what room do I want to be in? Those questions ultimately led her to her current work at FSG, helping organizations create more equitable and healthier workplaces.   Along the way we also talk about faith, belonging, siblings, grief after losing a parent, creating intentional traditions like an annual siblings-only retreat, and why communities become stronger when people feel safe enough to ask honest questions.   As always, the conversation includes a question from the previous guest, Sabrina's question for a future guest, and her choice of music: Waltz (Better Than Fine) by Fiona Apple, a song that celebrates embracing who you truly are.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Sabrina and her work via her LinkedIn or her organization FSG website. Don't only listen to the song picked by Sabrina, but also those by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Fathers & Founders is back with another Walk & Talk through the Renosterveld fynbos of Cape Town.This time, Will is joined by Johan for a conversation between friends exploring AI, creativity and the future of storytelling.From building richer stories with AI tools like ChatGPT and MilaNote to unpacking what makes African founders unique, they reflect on the opportunities and trade-offs of the technology shaping our world.Together, they explore why walking sparks better thinking, the importance of boredom, balancing ambition with family and health, and why the best founders never lose sight of what matters most.If you're curious about AI but equally interested in the human stories behind innovation, this episode is well worth the walk. Enjoy!

Grant and Will hit the trail to talk about the stuff that actually shapes a career: manners, mentorship, and knowing your own story.They break down the "two-minute commercial," a simple way to talk about yourself using Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, so you never sound like you're reciting a script. They also get into why small gestures (like holding a door) still say something about your character, how to network without it feeling fake, and why good leadership comes down to impact, not perfection.Plus: a quick exercise for shutting down imposter syndrome, and why love and honesty are the real foundation for leading, parenting, and earning trust.ConnectGrant WebsterWill Green

Join HawgSports.com publisher Trey Biddy as he walks with his thoughts from the Marriott Waterside in Tampa following Arkansas' meeting with the press at 2026 SEC Football Media Days Kickoff.

In Episode 248 of Walk Talk Listen, I speak with Rachel Bayani, Principal Representative of the Bahá'í International Community to the United Nations. Rachel reflects on growing up between cultures, choosing the Bahá'í Faith for herself as a teenager, and how the principle of the oneness of humanity shapes her understanding of development, education, governance, and international cooperation. We explore why development cannot simply be transferred from one part of the world to another, why humility is essential for meaningful collaboration, and why every community possesses knowledge the world needs. One idea especially stayed with me: the ultimate expression of faith is service to humanity. Rachel Bayani serves as the Principal Representative of the Bahá'í International Community to the United Nations in New York. Previously, she led the BIC's Brussels Office, engaging with the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and civil society organizations on issues including social cohesion, food systems, youth, global governance, and the role of religion in society. Before joining the Bahá'í International Community, Rachel served at the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the European Union and worked with the United Nations and European Union missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. She holds a law degree from Sorbonne University and a master's degree in international law from the University of Cambridge. Listener Engagement: Learn more about Rachel and her work via LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Check out the website of the Bahá'í Community. Click here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).    

Welcome to Episode 276 of Pelo Buddy TV, an unofficial Peloton podcast & Peloton news show. This week we cover the following topics: Katie has a new Power Pyramid series coming, and a new Sculpt 30 class type is also on the way. Matty Maggiacomo is taking a short break from the Walk & Talk class series. The fourth class in Mariana Fernandez's "Run + Flow" series was released this week. The "Move For Life" and "At the Next Table" podcasts are now in Peloton Entertainment. Peloton has shared that members should expect 1 power zone class from Jess King a month. There is a new collection for Sam Yo's Seasonal Recovery Rides, and a new installment this week too. A new artist series showcasing the music of Madonna took place. Peloton had a few classes & scenic rides in celebration of the World Cup. Peloton highlighted some classes in "This Week at Peloton." Rebecca Kennedy posted an AMA video about her HiLit+ program. Peloton Studios London will close for a few days in August with no live classes. Peloton is holding a sale on the Peloton Bike/Bike+, Tread/Tread+, and Row+. Jess Sims & Kirsten Ferguson are hosting a run in Chicago. There is a meet & greet with Alex Toussaint in London. A new "Off Air" skit features Matt Wilpers & Olivia Amato. Christine D'Ercole has a new Wordshop coming up. Tunde Oyeneyin was on the "Shut Up Evan" podcast on Netflix. Class Picks of the Week Enjoy the show? Become a Pelo Buddy TV Supporter!  Find details here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/membership-levels/ You can find links to full articles on each of these topics from the episode page here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/pelo-buddy-tv-episode-276/ The show is also available via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PeloBuddy This episode is hosted by Amanda Segal (#Seglo3) and Holly Kabler (#Crabbie_KakeS).

In Episode 247 of Walk Talk Listen, I travel through conversation to the shores of Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, where Marina Cruz shares a remarkable story of courage, healing, and ancestral wisdom.   This conversation was conducted in Spanish with interpretation by Krysten Vazquez. Throughout the episode, we intentionally preserve portions of Marina Cruz's original voice so listeners can experience both the beauty of her language and the English interpretation.   Marina reflects on growing up during Guatemala's armed conflict, the persecution of Indigenous spiritual leaders, and the extraordinary strength of her mother, whose courage protected both her family and their sacred traditions. We explore what it means to be a Maya spiritual guide, why the Maya calendar is known as the "medicine of time," and how ancient wisdom continues to offer guidance for future generations.   Marina Cruz is a Maya Tz'utujil spiritual guide (Ajq'ij), ceremonial leader, educator, and guardian of Maya ancestral knowledge from San Pedro La Laguna on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. She conducts traditional fire and cacao ceremonies, teaches the Maya calendar and cosmology, and works to preserve and share Indigenous knowledge, language, and healing traditions with future generations. Her work has brought Maya wisdom to audiences around the world while remaining deeply rooted in her community and ancestral lineage.   Special thanks to Krysten Vazquez for her thoughtful interpretation, making it possible to preserve Marina's original voice while sharing her wisdom with English-speaking listeners.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Marina Cruz and her work via her Facebook and Instagram. Also check the episode with Kristen Vazquez if you didn't do so already. Click here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In Episode 246 of Walk Talk Listen, Samantha Jack, an Indigenous youth leader, educator, and policy advocate from Nuu-chah-nulth and Yale First Nations is the guest. Samantha reflects on growing up between worlds, navigating adoption, discovering her identity through Indigenous Studies, and how understanding intergenerational trauma transformed both her life and her purpose. We explore belonging, reconciliation, youth leadership, spirituality, courage, and why changing ourselves is inseparable from changing the world. One message will probably stick with you: leadership is not about status, it is a submission to duty.   Samantha serves as the elected National Youth Executive of the National Association of Friendship Centres, representing urban and away-from-home Indigenous youth across Canada. She also serves as the North American Focal Point for the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus at the United Nations, advocating for Indigenous rights and ensuring Indigenous youth are not simply included but centered in decision-making. Her work is driven by a vision of creating a future where Indigenous governance, healing, joy, language, and identity flourish for the next seven generations.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Samantha Jack via Linkedin and Instagram. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Healing begins long before medicine is prescribed. In this episode, Dennis Cherian reflects on a remarkable journey from growing up between Singapore, India and Dubai, spending much of his childhood in boarding school, to becoming a physician, missionary doctor, and global health leader. Through deeply personal stories, from treating more than one hundred patients a day in a remote mission hospital to witnessing how trust, faith, and human connection transformed lives, Dennis explains why health is never simply about treating disease. Together we explore resilience, leadership, misinformation, community trust, faith-inspired service, and why true healing requires understanding the whole person rather than only their symptoms. This conversation reminds us that dignity, peace, and relationships are just as essential to health as medicine itself.   Dr. Dennis Cherian is Managing Director for Technical Services and Global Practice Head for Health & Nutrition at Corus International. With nearly three decades of experience, he has held leadership positions with Jhpiego, World Vision, Plan International, MCDI, and the New York State Department of Health. His work has spanned Asia and Africa, leading innovations in health systems, nutrition, and community development. Dennis also serves on the Board of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network and chairs its Advocacy Advisory Committee. His academic background includes medicine, health management, psychological counseling, and leadership psychology, bringing together science, leadership, and compassion in service of healthier communities.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Dennis Cherian and his work with Corus (website). His Linkedin, Instagram and Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Growing up on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, surrounded by coffee farms, banana trees, faith, family, and a strong sense of community, Edwin Maleko learned early lessons about service, perseverance, and responsibility. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Edwin reflects on his journey from a curious young boy inspired by his father's work with refugees to becoming Program Manager for Sightsavers Tanzania, where he has spent nearly a decade advancing eye health, disability inclusion, and equitable access to healthcare. Along the way, he shares stories of boarding school life, formative mentors, and the experiences that shaped his commitment to development work.   The conversation explores what it means to create lasting change rather than short-term projects. Edwin discusses how Sightsavers works alongside government, communities, health providers, and people with disabilities to strengthen systems, expand access to care, and promote health equity. He shares powerful stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed through restored sight and reflects on the importance of locally led development, co-creation, and ensuring that communities themselves shape the solutions that affect their lives. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that meaningful development begins with listening, partnership, and a commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.   Edwin Maleko is Program Manager for Sightsavers Tanzania, where he leads programs focused on eye health, disability inclusion, and inclusive education. With more than 13 years of experience in international development, he has worked across health, education, livelihoods, water and sanitation, and social inclusion.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Edwin Maleko and his work with Sightsavers (website). His Linkedin. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

“Everyone you're looking at is also you.” That James Baldwin-inspired line sits at the heart of this conversation with flutist, composer, educator, and collaborator Anne Drummond.   In Episode 243 of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with Anne about music, creativity, improvisation, community, and the people who shape our lives. Raised in Seattle by music educators and profoundly influenced by her middle school band director Robert E. Natt, Anne reflects on the experiences that helped form her unique musical voice.   The conversation explores her journey from Seattle to New York, her collaborative approach to music-making, and the vibrant creative community she is cultivating through her recording studio and ongoing series of singles.   Anne also shares the story behind her song People, inspired by the words and wisdom of James Baldwin. Together, Maurice and Anne discuss listening, learning, hope, neuroscience, creativity, and why music can help us reconnect with ourselves and one another.   Topics include: • The influence of mentors and teachers• Finding a unique musical voice• Collaboration and creative community• Music, neuroscience, and learning• Improvisation and navigating uncertainty• James Baldwin and shared humanity• The story behind the song People• Why Anne believes that life itself is improvisation   As Anne reminds us, music is more than performance, it is a language, a way of listening, and a way of understanding ourselves through others.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Anne Drummond and her work through her University website, her own website and her social media handles: Instagram. Anne is also on Linkedin. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, I speak with Jody Fry about the journey that led him from engineering and organizational leadership to becoming one of the leading voices on spiritual leadership and leadership for sustainability. We explore purpose, belonging, hope, sustainability, and the challenge of bridging competing worldviews in an increasingly polarized world. Along the way, Jody reflects on personal experiences that shaped his thinking and explains why leadership ultimately begins with an inner journey of self-awareness and service to others.   Jody Fry is Regents Professor of Management and Leadership at Texas A&M University-Central Texas and Director of its MS Leadership for Sustainability Program. His work on Spiritual Leadership has been cited more than 20,000 times and has influenced scholars and practitioners around the world. He is the author of Maximizing the Triple Bottom Line Through Spiritual Leadership, founder of the International Institute for Spiritual Leadership, and co-author of the forthcoming book Completing the SDG Promise: Leadership to Bridge Competing Worldviews for a Sustainable Future. His research focuses on helping leaders and organizations create flourishing futures that work for people, planet, and prosperity.   More information:https://www.iispiritualleadership.com/ Texas A&M Central Texas:https://www.tamuct.edu/directory/louis-fry/ International Institute for Spiritual Leadership:https://www.iispiritualleadership.com/   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Jody Fry and his work through his website, see above and his social media handles: YouTube and Facebook. Jody is also on Linkedin. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

David Beckmann returns to Walk Talk Listen for a third conversation. An economist, Lutheran pastor, World Food Prize laureate, and former President of Bread for the World, David has spent decades working to end hunger and poverty through advocacy, faith, and civic engagement. This time, we discuss his new book, Poverty Abolitionists: Faith, Activism, and Hope for Difficult Times, which argues that poverty is not an inevitable feature of society but a solvable problem if people organize, advocate, vote, and work together for change.   Our conversation explores the book's five key insights and ten strategies, including legislative advocacy, democracy, social justice movements, faith communities, and reaching across divides. We discuss whether policy advocacy is still as effective as it once was, the importance of local agency and community action, the role of spirituality and inner transformation, and why David remains hopeful despite what he sees as a significant setback in the fight against poverty. We also revisit a question from a previous Walk Talk Listen guest: What is the single most important thing civil society should focus on today?   Find his Book via:https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/poverty-abolitionists-9798216275893/. Previous Walk Talk Listen conversations with David: https://walktalklisten.podbean.com/e/virtual-walk-talk-listen-with-david-beckmann/ and https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5unud-11dbf4b   Listener Engagement: Learn more about David Beckmann and his work through his website and his social media handles: YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Blue Sky. David is also on Linkedin. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with Caterina Tino, ACT Alliance's Representative to the United Nations. Growing up in Rome, Caterina was shaped by a family that lived their faith through service, a Scout movement that emphasized citizenship and responsibility, and an early encounter with the world of international development that sparked a lifelong calling. What followed was a journey marked by determination, unexpected turns, and more than a few setbacks along the way.   The conversation explores how values become action, the lessons learned from working in Kosovo during a period of reconstruction, the realities of building a career in international cooperation, and the role faith communities can play in addressing today's global challenges. Caterina also reflects on rejection, resilience, family, and why creating change often begins with small acts of service and solidarity.   Caterina is an international development professional with expertise in human rights, advocacy, and partnerships. Prior to joining ACT Alliance, she worked with UNICEF, UNFPA, and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), and contributed to the global civil society campaign that helped secure adoption of the UN Arms Trade Treaty. Caterina holds a Master's degree in Human Rights and Conflict Management from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Caterina and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Caterina (via her Linkedin)  and her organization ACT Alliance: website. Caterina's Instagram and Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice speaks with Krysten Vazquez, a holistic physician assistant, clinical herbalist and sound healer whose life journey bridges medicine, spirituality and connection to nature. Raised in Miami in a deeply outdoors-oriented Cuban family surrounded by horses and rescued animals, Krysten reflects on the experiences that shaped her understanding of healing, resilience and community.   Their conversation moves through New York, the pandemic, burnout, spirituality, ancestral wisdom and the tension between modern healthcare systems and more holistic approaches to well-being. Along the way, Krysten shares moments that transformed the direction of her life and explains why creating safe and nurturing spaces has become central to her work today. The episode invites listeners into a thoughtful conversation about healing, vulnerability and remembering what reconnects us to ourselves.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Krysten and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Krysten (via her Linkedin)  and her work through her own website. Krysten's Instagram and Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this Walk + Talk episode, Aaron Brewer invites you to move your body while engaging with the Word of God and reflecting on what it truly means to love others well. Lace up your shoes and bring your whole self—body, mind, and spirit—as Aaron keeps you company on your walk, run, or workout. This is more than a podcast to listen to. It's one to experience. A Question to Reflect On As you move today, consider this: Can someone belong with you before they believe like you? How welcome would an unbeliever feel around you? Would they sense openness? Curiosity? Compassion? Or would they feel pressure to perform, prove, or pretend? Belonging Before Belief Jesus consistently created space for people before they fully understood who He was. He saw people. He walked with people. He welcomed people. Today's conversation invites us to examine how we carry ourselves as followers of Christ—and whether our lives reflect the kind of welcome Jesus offered. As You Move Stay open. Stay honest. Notice what rises up in you as you reflect. Where might God be expanding your compassion? Where is He inviting you to love more like Him? Keep moving. Keep listening. And remember: sometimes belonging is the very thing that opens the door to belief. New to REVING the Word? Press play and take this episode on a walk, run, hike, or to the gym. You pick how you want to move as you work out your body, and work in the good news!

In this Walk + Talk episode, Aaron Brewer invites you to move your body while engaging with the Word of God and reflecting on what it truly means to love others well. Lace up your shoes and bring your whole self—body, mind, and spirit—as Aaron keeps you company on your walk, run, or workout. This is more than a podcast to listen to. It's one to experience. A Question to Reflect On As you move today, consider this: Can someone belong with you before they believe like you? How welcome would an unbeliever feel around you? Would they sense openness? Curiosity? Compassion? Or would they feel pressure to perform, prove, or pretend? Belonging Before Belief Jesus consistently created space for people before they fully understood who He was. He saw people. He walked with people. He welcomed people. Today's conversation invites us to examine how we carry ourselves as followers of Christ—and whether our lives reflect the kind of welcome Jesus offered. As You Move Stay open. Stay honest. Notice what rises up in you as you reflect. Where might God be expanding your compassion? Where is He inviting you to love more like Him? Keep moving. Keep listening. And remember: sometimes belonging is the very thing that opens the door to belief. New to REVING the Word? Press play and take this episode on a walk, run, hike, or to the gym. You pick how you want to move as you work out your body, and work in the good news!

Ignacio Packer's journey is not defined by titles or roles, but by a thread connecting people, places, and moments. From early experiences shaped by the Cold War to a pivotal decision to leave a career in finance for humanitarian work, Ignacio reflects on what it means to live with purpose and passion. A simple but powerful moment—his mother telling him to “free yourself”—set him on a path that would take him across the world, working in some of the most challenging contexts and ultimately leading him to a deeper question: how do we rebuild trust in a fragmented world? In this conversation, Ignacio shares how his thinking evolved from focusing on systems and policies to recognizing the essential role of relationships, inner transformation, and personal responsibility. Drawing from decades in humanitarian work and now leading Initiatives of Change, he explores the courage it takes to listen, to speak respectfully across divides, and to reconnect even when trust has been broken. This episode is a powerful reflection on leadership, humanity, and the quiet work required to heal relationships—within ourselves and with others. Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Ignacio and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Ignacio (via his Linkedin) and his work through the Caux website and/or check Linkedin. Caux's Instagram and Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with Patrick Watt, CEO of Christian Aid, about what it means to lead in a time where poverty, climate, and inequality are deeply intertwined. Patrick reflects on his journey from a rural upbringing in England to leading one of the world's most respected faith-based development organizations, sharing how his background in theology and development shaped a lifelong commitment to justice. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes that real motivation comes not from abstract goals, but from encounters with communities, partners, and supporters who dedicate themselves to a purpose beyond their own lives.   The discussion explores the evolving role of faith in development, the shifting landscape of institutional religion, and the growing importance of locally-led approaches. Patrick speaks candidly about the challenge of “letting go” of power as an organization, describing Christian Aid's role increasingly as a convener, connector, and catalyst. He also reflects on the role of prayer and perspective in sustaining leadership, and the importance of holding difference while working toward shared values of dignity, equality, and justice.   Patrick Watt is the Chief Executive Officer for Christian Aid, leading the organization in its work to tackle poverty and promote dignity, equality, and justice. He works closely with the SLT and the Board of Trustees and engages staff, supporters, partners, and sponsoring churches to realize Christian Aid's vision. Patrick has widespread experience working in development and humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam, ActionAid, and Save the Children International, where he was the Advocacy and Campaigns Director. He holds degrees in Theology from the University of Cambridge and in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Patrick Watt and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Patrick Watt and his work through the Christian Aid website and/or check Linkedin. Christian Aid's Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this deeply personal and courageous conversation, Suzie Greco shares a journey that moves from silence and survival to truth-telling and transformation. What begins as a story of trauma and fragmentation unfolds into something much larger: a reflection on how personal experience can illuminate systemic failure. Through the powerful metaphor of the “Stone Sphere,” Suzie describes how the structures we build to survive can sometimes need to break apart in order for something more whole, more authentic, and more deeply connected to emerge.   Suzie Greco is a theologian, author of The Stone Sphere, and doctoral candidate in practical and ethical theology. Her work explores trauma, institutional power, spirituality, and the relationship between personal healing and collective change. Drawing from lived experience, academic research, and a deep connection to nature and the divine, she brings a unique voice to conversations on faith, systems, and transformation.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Suzie Greco and her work through her website and/or check Facebook. Suzie is also on Linkedin or check all her research articles via this link. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Rev. Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe takes us on a deeply personal journey from growing up as an outsider in apartheid South Africa to becoming an ordained minister and global advocate for SOGIE inclusion in faith spaces. Raised in an atheist household and navigating identity, belonging, and authenticity from a young age, Toni shares how embracing her truth as a lesbian shaped her path, even when it meant standing apart from dominant narratives.   In this conversation, Toni reflects on a transformative spiritual encounter that expanded her understanding of reality, her search for community, and the critical importance of affirming faith spaces. From resisting rigid religious norms to ultimately answering a call to ministry, she now works at the intersection of faith and justice as Executive Director of the Global Interfaith Network for People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions (GIN-SSOGIE). This episode is a powerful exploration of authenticity, faith, and the courage to reshape systems from within.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Rev. Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe and her work through GIN-SSOGIE (their website and their social media handles: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Toni is also on Linkedin. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).  

In this episode, Maurice sits down with David Elcott and Barney Aspray to explore the space where faith, policy, and lived experience meet. Rather than treating immigration as a purely technical or political issue, the conversation unpacks how religion shapes the moral imagination behind public debates—how we define belonging, responsibility, and community. Moving between practice and theory, David and Barney reflect on the tensions that arise when deeply held beliefs encounter real-world policy decisions, and why engaging that “space between” is essential in a polarized world.   David Elcott brings decades of experience in interfaith engagement, public leadership, and cross-boundary collaboration, while Barney Aspray offers a theological and philosophical lens as Assistant Professor at St. Mary's Seminary and University. Together, as co-authors of On the Significance of Religion in Immigration Policy, they bridge practice and theory, offering insights into how religion can both complicate and enrich policy conversations when engaged thoughtfully.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by David and Barney and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about David via his LinkedIn and Barney's Podcast website, Facebook, Bluesky and LinkedIn. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice sits down with Ben Olsen—technologist, philosopher, and pioneer in responsible AI—to explore what happens when data meets discernment. From his early days learning the hard edges of technology to helping shape some of the first responsible AI frameworks inside major tech companies, Ben shares a journey that is anything but linear. Rooted in a background that blends philosophy, theology, and technology, he reflects on how ethics is not an add-on, but an essential lens through which innovation must be understood.   The conversation dives into what most people misunderstand about big tech—that many inside are not indifferent, but often limited by what they see and prioritize. Ben introduces the idea of a “sin of omission” in technology and speaks about expanding the moral aperture in AI development. From algorithmic bias to the concept of the “human bar” beyond legal compliance, this episode is an invitation to rethink responsibility, leadership, and what it means to build technology that truly serves humanity.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Ben and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Ben via his LinkedInand his companies websites1 and website2. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen our guest is Eleftheria (Ella) Egel, whose name literally means “freedom”, a theme that runs deeply through her life and work. Growing up in Greece in a family shaped by post-war values of hard work, security, and compliance, Ella shares how she followed a path that looked right on the outside, yet felt increasingly disconnected on the inside.   We explore her journey from teacher and entrepreneur to working in the stock market, and ultimately toward a deeper exploration of spirituality and leadership. A turning point came when she realized that what she believed to be “objective reality” was actually a subjective lens shaped by upbringing and expectations. That realization opened the door to a different kind of freedom—one grounded not in achievement, but in awareness and alignment.   Eleftheria reflects on the tension between religion and spirituality, the role of meaning in organizations, and why true connection requires moving beyond ego toward a sense of shared humanity. This conversation is about breaking patterns, rediscovering purpose, and asking a simple but powerful question: what truly makes us feel alive?   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Eleftheria and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Eleftheria via her LinkedIn, Facebook, and her website. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with peacebuilding and humanitarian leader Amjad Saleem, whose work spans interfaith engagement, conflict resolution, and development across global contexts.   Amjad shares how growing up across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the UK shaped his identity as a “third culture kid,” giving him an early appreciation for diversity, faith, and belonging. His journey took a decisive turn after the 2004 tsunami, when a personal and professional shift led him from engineering into humanitarian work and peacebuilding.   Reflecting on his experiences in Sri Lanka, Amjad highlights a powerful lesson: rebuilding communities is not just about physical infrastructure, but about relationships, trust, and understanding. As he puts it, building the “hardware” is not enough if we neglect the “software” of human connection.   The conversation explores the role of faith in today's world, the growing crisis of trust, and the importance of creating spaces where people can truly encounter one another. Amjad also shares insights from working with young people, emphasizing their deep spiritual curiosity and their desire to express values through action.   This is a conversation about identity, purpose, and what it takes to build peace and hope in a divided world.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Amjad and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Amjad via his LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Also check out his writing on Medium, link here. His article on hope, can be found by clicking here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, I speak with Jessica Roland, Senior Specialist for Inclusive Peace at the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, where she advances the leadership of women, youth, and marginalized groups through advocacy, training, and mediation work, and serves as Co-Chair of the Gender Working Group of the Multi-Faith Advisory Council to the UN. Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, Jessica's worldview was shaped by limited exposure until one opportunity to travel abroad opened a completely different path toward international peacebuilding. Her journey is a powerful reminder of how exposure shapes understanding, and how it can transform the way we engage with the world. We explore how younger generations are shifting away from institutional religion toward lived values, seeking authenticity, inclusion, and meaningful engagement. Jessica reflects on her work across women, peace, and security, and the importance of inclusive leadership in peace processes, while also naming the growing challenge of polarization and the loss of real dialogue. What stands out is her reframing of courage, not as something individual, but as something collective. Through partnership, empathy, and self-awareness, she reminds us that building peace depends not only on what we do, but on who we choose to become.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Jessica and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Jessica via her LinkedIn and Instagram. Also check out her organization's related website, link here. Her company also has Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with sociologist and qualitative research expert Dr. Elif Kuş Saillard, originally from Turkey and now based in France. Elif reflects on a life shaped by curiosity and questions. Growing up in central Anatolia, she developed an early habit of asking “why,” a habit that eventually led her to sociology and an academic career as a professor at Ankara University. Over the years, she specialized in qualitative research and narrative methodologies, focusing on how people create meaning in their lives and societies.   After moving to France, Elif went through a profound personal transition that led her to explore deeper questions about identity, purpose, and well-being. Out of this journey emerged her Four-Body model, which describes human life as lived through four interconnected dimensions: the physical body, the social body, the earth body, and the technological body.   In this conversation, Elif shares why understanding meaning-making is essential to understanding society and why science should ultimately serve a purpose — contributing to a more sustainable and meaningful future.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Elif and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Elif via her LinkedIn. Also check out his organization's related website, link here. Her company also has Instagram. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice speaks with Dustin Wilson, Startup Community Manager at Nexcor in Rochester, New York. Dustin shares a deeply personal journey, from growing up between city and suburb, to working in the trades, nearly joining the military, pursuing music industry ambitions, and ultimately discovering entrepreneurship as a calling.   A first-generation college student, Dustin describes how early setbacks, including dropping out of college and later returning as an adult learner, shaped his mindset. A pivotal leadership moment during his undergraduate years introduced him to the power of entrepreneurship, not merely as business creation, but as personal development.   After working in corporate product marketing and launching his own startups (sometimes at the cost of burnout), Dustin pursued an MBA in Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise in Colorado. There, he began reframing his understanding of capitalism, questioning shareholder-first models and advocating for wealth creation and retention rather than simple job counts as the true metric of economic development.   Today, Dustin works at the intersection of entrepreneurship and community building, helping founders shorten the time to decisive learning while emphasizing the human skills behind successful ventures. He reflects on why economic development must adapt in an AI-disrupted world, why we underinvest in the person behind the business, and why the next generation may crave belonging more than growth.   Throughout the conversation, a recurring theme emerges: life may not always unfold as planned, but progress requires courage, self-awareness, and the willingness to keep moving forward.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Dustin and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Dustin via his LinkedIn. Also check out his organization's related website, link here. His company also has Instagram. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of the special series Crossing Thresholds, Maurice Bloem speaks with Hinauri Nehua-Jackson, a proud Māori–South Korean woman born in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and now based on Treaty 6 Territory in Canada. Hinauri introduces herself in her Indigenous language and shares the meaning of her spirit name, Kapiska Mahigan Isku Onitsigason — White Wolf Woman. From the beginning, it is clear: she walks consciously between lands, between cultures, between responsibilities. At age 11, she immigrated to Canada without knowing English. What she searched for was not language — but community. Indigenous elders on Turtle Island welcomed her as one of their own, reinforcing her belief that Indigenous solidarity transcends borders. At 16, during ceremony, her path became clear. Serving elders at Sundance, disconnected from technology and urban life, she experienced what she calls the joy of selfless service. That moment “flipped the switch” for her leadership journey. As a young Indigenous leader in oil-driven Alberta, she navigates the tension between economic systems and Indigenous teachings about land stewardship. For Hinauri, climate is not abstract policy — it is spiritual balance, interconnectedness (Wakotouin), and responsibility to seven generations.   This episode connects deeply with the JLI & Christian Aid report on Climate, Migration and Faith, reminding us that climate displacement is not only physical — it is spiritual, cultural, and intergenerational.   Hinauri does not speak for Indigenous peoples. She speaks as someone who carries her ancestors forward — across oceans. We hope that you enjoy this extra long episode with this inspiring young woman.   Learn more about the research behind this series: [link to JLI–Christian Aid report]   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Hinauri via her LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In Episode 227 of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice talks with Jacco van Sterkenburg, Associate & Endowed Professor of Race, Inclusion & Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam and newly appointed Chief Diversity Officer of the university. His research spans how media, sport, and gaming shape cultural narratives about race, ethnicity, gender, and leadership.   Jacco's work draws on decades of scholarship — from his PhD on race, ethnicity, and the sport media to recent projects on video gaming, gender, and football representation. It sits at the intersection of cultural studies, psychology, and media analysis.   In this conversation, he reflects on what it means to be “inside” and “outside” dominant norms, and how seemingly neutral spaces like games or sports broadcasts are sites of meaning-making. He talks candidly about how easy it is, especially for white researchers, to “go with the flow” without questioning assumptions — and why developing racial consciousness is like training a muscle.   Whether you're interested in media, culture, sport, or leadership, this episode invites you to rethink the familiar and practice deeper awareness.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Jacco and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Jacco via his LinkedIn. Also check out his research related website, link here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Welcome to Episode 5 of Crossing Thresholds: Religion, Resilience & Migration, a special mini-series of Walk Talk Listen produced in connection with research by the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI) and Christian Aid on faith and climate migration.   In this episode, Maurice Bloem speaks with Biswash Chepang, an Indigenous rights advocate from Nepal, about what climate change, displacement, and faith mean for communities whose identity, spirituality, and survival are inseparable from land. Biswash reflects on Indigenous worldviews in which land is not a commodity, but a living relationship that connects birth, death, culture, and belief.   Their conversation explores how climate pressure affects Indigenous communities long before migration takes place. As forests disappear, land rights are denied, and livelihoods erode, people can become displaced without ever moving. Biswash describes how the loss of land ownership and access creates forms of silent displacement that are often overlooked in policy discussions about climate migration.   Faith runs throughout this conversation, not as an abstract concept, but as something embedded in land, rivers, forests, and daily life. Biswash speaks about spiritual practices rooted in nature, as well as the complex role of religious change in contexts of poverty and exclusion, where faith can offer both support and profound cultural disruption.   Biswash's reflections echo findings from the JLI–Christian Aid evidence review, which shows that climate migration is frequently preceded by prolonged environmental and social stress, that strong spiritual ties to land shape decisions not to migrate, and that displacement often takes emotional, cultural, and spiritual forms that are difficult to measure. His story gives voice to these dynamics, grounding research insights in lived Indigenous experience. Rather than a formal interview, this episode is a listening dialogue about land, belonging, faith, and the quiet thresholds people are forced to cross when their relationship with place is put under pressure.   Learn more about the research behind this series: [link to JLI–Christian Aid report]   During our conversation we experienced some challenges with our connection and therefore you will hear a couple of hiccups that we couldn't get edited out. Our apologies for at least two moments where it seems that Biswash his answers were cut short.    Listener Engagement: Learn more about Biswash via his LinkedIn and Facebook. Follow his writings via his WorldPress site. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Rich Havard is the Director of the Youth Mental Health Fund at the Decolonizing Wealth Project and in Episode 226, he shares his journey from growing up in a small town in rural Mississippi to becoming a leader at the intersection of spirituality, justice, and philanthropy. Reflecting on his upbringing, he speaks honestly about how experiences of difference, exclusion, and faith shaped his early sense of vocation and empathy for others.   Rich describes how spirituality became a lifeline throughout his life, from childhood questions about identity and purpose, through his coming-out journey, and into his work creating spiritually grounded communities for young adults. He traces how this calling evolved through pastoral ministry, the founding of the Inclusive Collective, and later into philanthropy, where he sought to become the kind of funder he wished he had when leading a small nonprofit. Now, at the Youth Mental Health Fund, he works to support culturally responsive approaches to mental health that integrate spirituality, justice, and community care for young people.   The conversation also explores what it means to “decolonize” wealth and challenge philanthropic systems to move resources differently toward collective well-being rather than accumulation. Rich reflects on moments that compelled him to act against injustice, on the role of faith communities in standing with vulnerable people, and on the fragile but persistent hope that comes from choosing to be an “arc bender.” This episode is a thoughtful meditation on healing, belonging, and the inner work needed to sustain outer change.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Rich and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Rich via his LinkedIn. Also follow Instagram and Facebook of the Decolonizing Wealth Project. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen Filip Pedersen, senior political advisor at the Centre for Church-Based Development (CKU) in Denmark reflects on a life shaped by movement, service, and encounters across cultures — and how those experiences led him to work at the intersection of development, human rights, and freedom of religion or belief.   The conversation explores why freedom of belief is often misunderstood, how it shows up in people's daily lives, and why a rights-based approach matters for peaceful coexistence, democracy, and development. Drawing on concrete examples from communities and policy spaces alike, Filip speaks about moving beyond abstract dialogue toward accountability, inclusion, and action — and what keeps him hopeful when progress feels slow.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Filip and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Filip via his LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, and the CKU website and Facebook. Background articles as mentioned by Filip during this episode: Their learning review on five years of FoRB projects  https://cku.dk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FORB_LearningReview_web_highRes.pdf and DK MFA report on FoRB by Nordic Consulting Group https://cku.dk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FORB-Report.pdf Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

VLOG Jan 8 For Luigi Mangione Jan 9, perp walk argument https://www.patreon.com/posts/mangione-docket-147680773 Epstein unsealing slow; Sudan BNP verdict upheld, book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FWTSDM7LKeyBank fraud, Comerica layoffs, Federal Reserve OceanFirst games; UN agencies https://matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/extra-defunding-these-un-agencies

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Lucy Plummer, a youth advocate, doctoral researcher, and UN representative with Soka Gakkai International reflects on a deeply personal journey—from seeking peace through retreat, to discovering that real transformation happens through engagement, responsibility, and relationship. Drawing on her experiences in India and her Buddhist practice, she shares how her understanding of happiness shifted from isolation to connection.   Lucy speaks candidly about youth despair, mental health, and why engagement—especially at the local level—matters more than ever in a fragmented world. She explains how spaces for dialogue, such as SGI's community discussion meetings, create belonging and restore dignity in everyday life. Her reflections bridge lived experience, spiritual practice, and policy advocacy, offering a grounded perspective on what it means to take responsibility for one's life while walking alongside others.   The conversation also explores the Inner Development Goals, youth participation in sustainable development, and the inner–outer dynamic of change. Lucy offers a compelling reminder that progress is not only technical or structural—but deeply human. This episode is an invitation to resist retreat, stay present, and choose engagement—even when the path feels uncertain.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Lucy and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Lucy via her LinkedIn, and the SGI's website and Instagram, Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with Brian Adams, who has spent nearly three decades building bridges of respect and understanding across more than 40 countries in Africa, Europe, North America, and the Asia–Pacific. Brian reflects on curiosity as a defining thread in his life — a habit of asking questions that began in childhood, often driving his mother to distraction, and later shaped his work across cultures, faiths, and institutions. Growing up in poverty in rural Arkansas and later encountering deep diversity in places like France and West Africa helped him understand belonging as something richer than simple connection: a sense of unity, purpose, and shared humanity.   Drawing on his experience as Chair of the Board of Trustees of A Common Word Among the Youth (ACWAY), co-founder of the G20 Interfaith Forum, and founder of multiple dialogue initiatives, Brian explores dialogue as a lived practice, not a performance. He speaks about why openness about faith can strengthen trust, what youth teach us about honesty and discomfort, and how ACWAY's Interfaith Development Goals offer a values-based framework for engaging religious and cultural diversity alongside the SDGs and Inner Development Goals. The conversation closes with reflections on humility, inner development, and the invitation to move beyond knowing others toward actively serving those outside our own circles.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Brian and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Brian via his LinkedIn, and the ACWAY's website. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem is joined by Lorenz Sell, co-founder of Sutra, for a reflective conversation about humility, receiving, and what it means to create spaces—both digital and human—where genuine connection can emerge.   Lorenz shares how experiences such as Burning Man became unexpected teachers in his life, challenging deeply ingrained habits of control, self-sufficiency, and productivity. In those liminal spaces, where usual social scripts fall away, he began to notice how difficult it can be—not to give, but to receive. Receiving attention, support, care, and presence requires a different posture: one rooted in humility.   The conversation weaves together Lorenz's background in technology and engineering with his growing attention to inner development and relational practice. Rather than seeing technology as neutral or inevitable, he reflects on how digital environments quietly shape our behavior, our pace, and our ability to listen to one another. Designing spaces, he suggests, is always also designing relationships.   Throughout the episode, humility is not framed as self-effacement, but as openness: a willingness to be changed by others and by experience. Receiving becomes an active practice—one that makes mutuality possible and allows communities of learning to form over time.   This conversation is an invitation to slow down, to notice where we resist receiving, and to consider how the spaces we create—online and offline—can support deeper presence, trust, and shared becoming. And it also reminded me that receiving is not something we do once we understand—it's something we practice by listening a little longer.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Lorenz and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Lorenz via his LinkedIn, and the Sutra's website. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with Sara Rahim, a global interfaith practitioner and youth leader working at the intersection of belonging, inclusion, and social transformation. Sara is part of the Programming Team of ACWAY, supporting young leaders across regions who are building bridges across difference through interfaith cooperation and grassroots leadership. With a decade of experience in network cultivation, health equity, workforce development, and intercultural engagement, she has helped design and lead initiatives that move inclusion from theory into daily practice. Sara has addressed major platforms on the role of interfaith action, including the White House, the United Nations, and multiple G20 Interfaith Forums. She is a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum and previously served as a UN Youth Representative for the Parliament of the World's Religions. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago. In this conversation, we explore: how her understanding of belonging formed early in life what youth leadership really looks like today how interfaith engagement translates into everyday work why inclusion is not an “extra,” but a responsibility and how she responds to the powerful question passed on by Benny Rietveld: “What are you doing to help?” This episode is about becoming, choosing to help in quiet but structural ways, and discovering where belonging begins.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Sara and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Also check out Sara's own playlist here.  Learn more about Sara via her LinkedIn, and the ACWAY Instagram account and their website. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Benny Rietveld — bassist, composer, arranger, musical director for Santana, and former member of Miles Davis' band — joins Walk Talk Listen for a deeply reflective, funny, and generous conversation about music, presence, heritage, and healing.   Born in Utrecht and raised in Honolulu, Benny grew up in a multicultural mix of Dutch-Indonesian roots, Hawaiian upbringing, family parties full of guitars, and the irresistible pull of a piano in a department store. At age 12 he was playing in bands; by his 20s he was on stage with Sheila E., Prince, and later Miles Davis, whose “laser beam of attention” taught him what it means to be truly present in music.   Today, Benny is the longtime musical director and bassist for Carlos Santana, and continues writing, recording, composing for film, and leading a genre-defying ensemble he jokingly calls “the circus.”   In this episode we talk about: Growing up as a Dutch-Indonesian kid in Hawaii's melting pot of cultures How Hey Jude sparked his first steps into music What Miles Davis really taught him: presence, intensity, and honesty Why music remains “medicine” for a dark and distracted world Leaving Miles for Santana — and why Miles wanted people to move on The joy (and lessons) of performing with his son His upcoming projects, including a new album and film score Benny also leaves a powerful question for the next guest   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Benny and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Benny via his LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Adam Nicholas Phillips is Chief Executive Officer of Interfaith America, the nation's largest bridge-building organization working across campus, corporate, and civic settings. With two decades at the intersection of faith and public life, Adam previously served in the Biden–Harris Administration at USAID, where he led Faith-based and Localization efforts, shaped development policy, and supported democracy initiatives in nearly 100 countries. An ordained minister, he has also founded congregations, led national advocacy campaigns, collaborated with the White House and the State Department, and worked with global partners to expand interfaith cooperation.   In this conversation, Adam reflects on: how his upbringing shaped his calling to service and bridge-building the relationship between faith, democracy, belonging, and civic renewal what gives him hope in a polarized world youth and spirituality — and what the next generation is trying to build why Patti Smith's People Have the Power still moves him and why remembering that “it's decreed the people rule” matters now more than ever This episode is a reminder that agency, compassion, and community are not abstract ideals — they're everyday commitments.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Adam and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Adam via his LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, our guest is Sibu Szymanowska, a human rights advocate, entrepreneur, traveler, and global citizen with nearly two decades of experience living and working across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.   Sibu is the co-founder of The Hybrid Tours, a social enterprise that blends sustainable, intentional travel with storytelling to challenge stereotypes and foster real connection. With a background in economics and a master's degree in humanitarianism and international conflict, she uses travel as a tool for justice, empathy, identity exploration, and global understanding.   In this conversation, Sibu reflects on: how travel reshaped her sense of self the responsibility we carry when entering someone else's home, country, or story the difference between seeing a place and being transformed by a place what it means to grow up between cultures and belong to more than one world She also shares how co-founding The Hybrid Tours with Hira Aftab (go to episode 216 to listen to her) grew organically out of shared values — and how their differences strengthen the work. This episode invites listeners to think not only about the places they've traveled, but about the ways those journeys have shaped who they've become.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Sibu and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Sibu via her LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts of her companies The Hybrid Tours and Go Global with Sibu. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this week's Walk Talk, Micah Herbster sits down with Michael McIntyre to explore the ninth stanza of Psalm 119—and the surprising goodness of God in His correction. While the psalmist celebrates God's “good dealings,” “good discernment,” and “good doings,” this conversation lingers where the text itself leads: on the goodness of God in the discipline of His own.Like lost sheep who need the shepherd's staff, we often need the Lord's prodding, redirecting, and even painful correction. Psalm 119:65–68 shows that affliction itself can be a mercy—God's best work to bring wandering hearts back to His Word. Together Micah and Michael trace the repeated theme of God's goodness and remind us that in a season of thanksgiving, we praise not only the gifts God gives, but the God who gives Himself through His wise, purposeful discipline.If God is good—and He is—then everything He uses to shape His children is good too. Join us for a conversation that encourages humble gratitude, renewed trust, and a fresh confidence in the Shepherd who lovingly brings His people home.

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, host Maurice Bloem speaks with Åsa Jarskog, a key leader in the global Inner Development Goals (IDG) movement. Åsa has spent more than 35 years working in leadership, strategy, and sustainability across 67 countries — coaching executive teams, governments, development banks, and global organizations including IKEA, Ericsson, Lufthansa, Vodaphone, and the World Economic Forum.   Åsa reflects on why inner development is not a concept — it's a practice. She shares personal stories from her early life in northern Sweden, where cross-country skiing taught her the mindset of steady effort and inner resilience, a theme that now guides her work in human flourishing and transformational leadership. When asked about the song that represents her, Åsa laughs and says that while “I Will Survive” reflects resilience, the song that truly embodies her journey is “My Way.” Because for her, leadership is not about perfection. It's about presence, authenticity, and showing up — again and again.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Åsa and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Åsa via her LinkedIn, and Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Hira Aftab — founder of Our World Too, a platform dedicated to re-humanizing narratives around refugees and displaced communities, and co-founder of The Hybrid Tours, a social enterprise blending travel and social impact, is our guest.   Hira reflects on her journey as a “third-culture kid” growing up between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, and how her lived experiences shaped her commitment to dignity-centered communications. She talks about pushing back against expectations, carving her own path outside the family tradition of medicine, and why her chosen song speaks to her:   “…that speaks to me, because I feel … going against the norm, doing what I did, and how I did it.”   With two master's degrees and her engagement as an ACWAY Fellow, Hira brings clarity, courage, and compassion to every space she enters — from storytelling to peacebuilding.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Hira and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Hira via her LinkedIn, and Instagram and Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook of Hybrid Tours. Also check Facebook of Our World Too. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Hira Aftab — founder of Our World Too, a platform dedicated to re-humanizing narratives around refugees and displaced communities, and co-founder of The Hybrid Tours, a social enterprise blending travel and social impact, is our guest.   Hira reflects on her journey as a “third-culture kid” growing up between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, and how her lived experiences shaped her commitment to dignity-centered communications. She talks about pushing back against expectations, carving her own path outside the family tradition of medicine, and why her chosen song speaks to her:   “…that speaks to me, because I feel … going against the norm, doing what I did, and how I did it.”   With two master's degrees and her engagement as an ACWAY Fellow, Hira brings clarity, courage, and compassion to every space she enters — from storytelling to peacebuilding.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Hira and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Hira via her LinkedIn, and Instagram and Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook of Hybrid Tours. Also check Facebook of Our World Too. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Today welcomes a very special episode. If you've seen my latest posts on Instagram, you'll be familiar with my recent experience at the Audrain Concours in Newport, Rhode Island. Title sponsor A. Lange & Söhne was incredibly hospitable to invite me as a guest of their for the weekend, and I must say, I had an absolute blast. Friday, during the welcome lawn party known as The Gathering, I had the pleasure of walking around with Lange's CEO, Wilhelm Schmid, to chat about the cars, why Lange has chosen these types of events to sponsor, and of course the weekend's release: two Saxonia Thin models. This is a much shorter discussion than normal, though it was an absolute treat, and I kindly ask you please forgive the background noise, which was somewhat unavoidable. This interview will also be slightly more extensive on YouTube should you care to watch it instead, however, I wanted to also offer it as something special here as a podcast. Thank you for listening, and please enjoy my walk and talk with Wilhelm Schmid.

Rhythm is more than a fundamental feature of music. It's what makes us human. Rhythm begins in the womb and the heartbeat. And neuroscience research reveals that for the rest of our lives, rhythm will continue to have a core impact on our innermost selves: how we learn to walk, read and even bond with others. Rhythm — as one researcher puts it — is life. *This episode originally aired on April 30, 2020.