Intercross: The Podcast

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, we sit down with ICRC's Jess Markt, an American who coaches wheelchair basketball in war zones. At age 19, he suffered a spinal cord injury in college. Twenty one years later, he is bringing his experience and story to help others as ICRC's first-ever Disability, Sport and Inclusion Advisor. In this conversation, we discuss his personal triumph over adversity and how he brings that experience to the disabled in some of the world's most dangerous contexts. From Afghanistan to South Sudan and Cambodia, Jess is using sport to help the disabled see themselves in a different light, and witnessing some radical societal transformations along the way. We talk about diversity, what that term really means, and how he's using his role at ICRC to change the way that people, and humanitarian organizations, think about what it means to fully integrate diversity into their work. Hosted by Anna Nelson and Sara Owens.

After thirty years in the US Marine Corps, including serving as Deputy Legal Advisor at the White House within the National Security Council, Ian Brasure recently joined the ICRC Delegation in Washington as the Deputy Legal Advisor. In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, Ian discusses his long--and inevitable--journey to the ICRC and his storied time in the military, including embracing the uncertainty following 9/11. We also chat about working under then-General James Mattis (now of course, the US Secretary of Defense), how the NSC has impacted his insights into his current role, and his constant companion through conflict (a dogeared copy of the Geneva Conventions). Hosted by Niki Clark and Anna Nelson

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, the second of a three part conversation in our cultural series, we are joined again by Wes Rist, Deputy Executive Director of the American Society of International Law and Joe Gibson, Program Officer for International Humanitarian Law at the American Red Cross. This time, we discuss how the influence of video games. Nearly 2/3rds of American households have video game consoles, meaning audiences are being exposed to games in much greater concentration and in increasingly different ways. How does that translate to shaping public perceptions? We also chat about how video games are being utilized in humanitarian partnerships, military trainings and more. You can check out our first conversation here. Next week, we'll be joined by Christian Rouffaer, the head of the ICRC's Virtual Reality unit based in Bangkok to discuss how ICRC is harnessing the power of video games to reach audiences in new and creative ways. Hosted by Niki Clark.

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, our first of 2018, we are excited to add another iteration to our cultural series, where we explore the intersection of culture and conflict. In this episode, the first of a three part series, we sit down with Wes Rist, Deputy Executive Director of the American Society of International Law and Joe Gibson, Program Officer for International Humanitarian Law at the American Red Cross. Since 2012, ICRC has worked closely with the game developer Bohemia Interactive, who produces the award-winning Arma series of video games, to explore new ways to spread messages about international humanitarian law. In this first conversation, we talk about how a public relations hiccup resulted in a dynamic partnership and opportunity to talk about the rules of war to completely new audiences. We also discuss how including more realistic portrayals of armed conflict in video games can contribute to the user experience without taking away any of the fun. In the second episode, we are joined again by Wes and Joe to discuss how video games shape public perceptions and in the third episode, the head of the ICRC's Virtual Reality unit based in Bangkok will discuss how ICRC is harnessing the power of video games to reach audiences in new and creative ways. Hosted by Niki Clark.

In this episode of Intercross the Podcast, we are joined by Martin Lacourt, ICRC in Washington's Senior Armed Forces Delegate, and Koby Langley, Senior Vice President, Service to the Armed Forces and International Humanitarian Law for the American Red Cross. They discuss the work the Red Cross—both ICRC and National societies—does with military both domestically and globally. The American Red Cross has served more than 1 million military families since 9/11 including members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service. ICRC works to bridge the cultural divide between arms bearers and humanitarians through trainings and IHL dissemination. What are the different ways ICRC and national societies approach this work? What are the challenges of engaging with these audiences? How does neutrality play a role? And has the evolving technology of warfare changed the way the Red Cross works and the needs we serve? Hosted by Niki Clark.