Rev. Harold Good—Protestant minister, contemporary of Desmond Tutu, and key figure in Northern Ireland’s peace process—reflects on what it means to pastor through division. Having played a pivotal role in bringing Catholics and Protestants to the same table, Rev. Good shares hard-won wisdom for our polarized age, inviting us all to lead pastorally with courage, compassion, and the hope of reconciliation.

Conflict is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to divide us. In this episode, Enneagram coach Rob Yackley joins Jer to explore the Enneagram and how each of the nine types tends to show up in conflict. Together, they explore each type’s default responses, the unique gifts and traps they bring, and practical ways each can move from reactivity to resourcefulness. Whether you’re new to the Enneagram or fluent in this resource, join us as we discover how the Enneagram can help us show up more fully, more compassionately, and more peaceably when things get hard.

02:00 Opening

02:43 The Dynamic Nature of the Enneagram

05:45 Enneagram and Conflict Navigation

06:53 Intro to Enneagram in the Context of Conflict

11:10 Core Desires and Fears of Each Type

16:30 The Two Tasks of Life

21:53 Virtues and Vices of the Nine Enneagram Types

36:08 Conflict and the Enneagram

41:44 Belly Breathing and Re-growing our Fuses

43:37 Practical Tips for Each Enneagram Type

50:24 The Importance of Otherness in Enneagram

52:12 Conclusion

Mentioned in this episode:

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EMBERS is our community of investors and partners committed to igniting and fueling the Everyday Peacemaking movement. Through their continued monthly support, EMBERS members accompany us in our work of forming Everyday Peacemakers and Reconciling Leaders to mend divides.

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2026 Leadersip Cohort

Discover the 2026 Global Immersion Leadership Cohort! Join a community of leaders, receive coaching from global peacemakers, take part in an immersive experience in Northern Ireland, and earn certification in Dialogue for Peaceful Change. Applications are open until October 31 at globalimmerse.org/cohort

In a time of exhausting division, what we need isn’t a new moral majority—it’s a faithful remnant. In this timely conversation with Latasha Morrison of Be the Bridge, we explore what it means to follow Jesus into the hard and holy work of repair. We talk about the habits that shape bridge builders, and name the biblical and historical illiteracy at the root of so much of our current brokenness. We also reflect on the need for lament and explore prayer as the seedbed for the work of justice.

Mentioned in this episode:

Become an Ember

EMBERS is our community of investors and partners committed to igniting and fueling the Everyday Peacemaking movement. Through their continued monthly support, EMBERS members accompany us in our work of forming Everyday Peacemakers and Reconciling Leaders to mend divides.

Donate - Embers

What if peacemaking meant moving into people’s lives instead of waiting for them to come to the table? In this profound conversation, renowned peacemaker Dr. John Paul Lederach shares how presence, story, and deep listening can transform conflict—and why this “circulation” approach looks a lot like Jesus.02:29 John Paul Lederach’s journey with conflict transformation

07:48 How do we approach conflict today?

10:01 Humiliation and dehumanization

12:20 The way of Jesus with conflict

16:01 A story from Maze prison in Belfast

19:25 What formation is needed? Looking at Defensiveness

24:52 The Pause of Curiosity

26:16 The Vocational Pause

30:22 Fixing conflict vs. wounded companions

36:58 This moment in time?

42:29 Hope in the Everyday and the Local

46:28 Circulatory Approach

48:24 Learning from insects

55:31 Deepening in circles vs. linear “fixing

59:49 Jesus’ circulatory “along the way” ministry

01:02:23 Final encouragement

01:07:49 Closing reflection

What if the path to peace begins with listening? In this story-driven conversation, Robi Damelin—a bereaved Israeli mother and peace activist—shares how, after losing her son to a Palestinian sniper, she chose to seek connection with those she was taught to see as enemies. Her journey is not just about Israel and Palestine—it’s about all of us, and the conflicts we each face. Discover why listening across divides may be the first courageous step toward ending conflict and reclaiming our shared humanity.04:26 Robi Learning to Survive as a Child

08:07 Memorial Day Rememberance

10:50 Revenge Motivating the Violence in Gaza

13:26 Pursuing Survival Together

17:44 Impact on Universities

21:39 Respect for Our Other

23:55 Columbia University Story

29:22 Al Jazeera Interview

32:08 Hoping Beyond Boundaries

34:54 Hope and Resilience

38:46 United States

43:05 close

Mentioned in this episode:

Become an Ember

EMBERS is our community of investors and partners committed to igniting and fueling the Everyday Peacemaking movement. Through their continued monthly support, EMBERS members accompany us in our work of forming Everyday Peacemakers and Reconciling Leaders to mend divides.

Donate - Embers

The dominant story isn’t working. In this bold conversation, Ben McBride challenges Christians to confront power, discomfort, and exclusion—and reimagine a faith big enough for belonging. Learn why he says we must be hard on systems, soft on people, and always building a bigger table.

00:25Iintro

01:34 Leaning into discomfort

06:10 Self-compassion, or hope that’s larger than our fears

09:24 Jer remembers similar experience with his dad

11:20 The need for a new story

15:28 The perceived righteousness of the dominant Christian story

17:52 Gospel of a dead Jesus

22:00 Personal Suffering and America’s Decline

26:22 Relationship with the powerful

36:00 Relationship with the suffering

38:42 The pace of transformation

42:51 Relationship with people in pain

45:25 Challenges engaging all sides at once

48:02 End

Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Navigating Deep Disagreements with Loved Ones

Navigating Deep Disagreements with Loved Ones (Everyday Peacemaking Podcast)

Become an Ember

EMBERS is our community of investors and partners committed to igniting and fueling the Everyday Peacemaking movement. Through their continued monthly support, EMBERS members accompany us in our work of forming Everyday Peacemakers and Reconciling Leaders to mend divides.

Donate - Embers

Conflict can strengthen relationships—if handled well. Nina Barnes shares why avoiding conflict causes more harm, how to tell the truth with kindness (not just niceness!), and why “agreeing to disagree” isn’t always the answer. Learn strategies for turning conflict into deeper connection.

This episode kicks off the newly relaunched Mending Divides Podcast, where Dr. Jer Swigart has unfiltered conversations about conflict—what it is, why it matters, and how to navigate it well—with those who think deeply about it.

Chapters

01:00 Start

01:34 Conflict is inevitable

04:43 Conflict styles

06:36 Conflict as an opportunity

09:15 Suspicion in the Absence of Conflict

10:53 Conflict is modeled for us

15:48 Nina’s Direct Conflict Style

16:50 Niceness vs. Kindness

21:17 Truth-telling with Kindness: What’s the Goal?

26:30 Getting Practical - How to do this

32:54 Agree to Disagree?

36:56 Dehumanization is “the line”

42:53 A Real Life Story

50:56 Invitations

58:32 Closing

Guest bio: Nina Barnes

Nina Barnes is a Spiritual Director, the Founder of Transforming Journey, and a featured faculty member of Global Immersion’s Leadership Cohort. She is a seasoned leader who spends her life accompanying Reconciling Leaders as they grow their cultural awareness, resilience, and prophetic witness.

Nina's Website

Mentioned in this episode:

Become an Ember

EMBERS is our community of investors and partners committed to igniting and fueling the Everyday Peacemaking movement. Through their continued monthly support, EMBERS members accompany us in our work of forming Everyday Peacemakers and Reconciling Leaders to mend divides.

Donate - Embers

Welcome to the Mending Divides Podcast, formerly known as the Everyday Peacemaking Podcast! Join us for a brand new series of unfiltered conversations about conflict and how we navigate it.

In a world familiar with conflict, Mending Divides offers a fresh perspective. Hosted by Dr. Jer Swigart, this Global Immersion podcast delves into the conflicts we all face through insightful conversations with those who deeply understand them.

This isn’t just about prescribing peace-building techniques. Mending Divides invites you into the lives, stories, and practices of individuals shaping our understanding of conflict resolution. Through their journeys, we discover what it means to confront our own conflicts head-on.

Expect candid dialogues that:

• Challenge assumptions and explore diverse paths to peace.
• Shed light on the roles of religion, culture, and biology in conflict resolution.
• Share stories of resilience, creativity, and courage that inspire hope.

Join us as we explore the many dimensions of conflict and peace. Follow us on Instagram @globalimmerse and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Look out for our first episode coming later this month!

In this final episode of the 2024 season of the Everyday Peacemaking Podcast, hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart reflect on the past year, emphasizing the importance of radical reflection over resolutions. They explore the Hebrew concept of ‘zakar,’ which means to remember and retell a story vividly. Jer shares an impactful experience from a war-torn village in Burma, while Osheta recounts her journey of shedding commitments and rediscovering her creativity.

Together, they invite us to engage in self-reflection, identify pivotal moments from 2024, and look towards 2025 with hope and renewed commitment to Peacemaking.

03:01 Jer remembering

10:58 The Power of the Resurrection

17:05 Osheta remembering

22:45 Navigating the discomfort

25:26 Stones of remembrance

27:28 Invitation to remember

PRO-HUMAN Apparel - Get your PRO-HUMAN shirt, hoodie, hat or more in our online store at https://www.bonfire.com/store/global-immersion/

Want a free PRO-HUMAN t-shirt? Make a donation of $100 or more or start a recurring monthly gift of $25 or more by December 31, and we’ll send you a free PRO-HUMAN t-shirt! Donate at globalimmerse.org/donate

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• Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com
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In this episode, hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart explore what peacemaking looks like in the aftermath of the election. They unpack how different communities are processing the results and the impact on marginalized groups, emphasizing that there’s no single “right” way for a peacemaker to use the ballot. With honesty and grace, they wrestle with the best way to engage with those we’re in relationship with—especially those who voted differently.

Grounded in the teachings of Jesus, Osheta and Jer navigate calls to action, the challenge of loving enemies, and the need to confront harmful policies. They remind listeners that “it’s not the end of democracy” and invite them to embrace radical, subversive peacemaking. This episode challenges you to reflect deeply on your role in mending divides and building the beloved community—because the work doesn’t stop with an election.

00:39 Setting up the conversation

02:17 Osheta’s Family Conversation

02:58 Impact of Elections on Different Communities

04:27 Jer’s Initial Reflections and Grounding Reminders

08:26 Navigating the Frenzy

12:06 The Role of Friendship in Peacemaking

13:41 Loving our enemy

19:39 The Responsibility of White Peacemakers

23:44 Distinct Gifts and Graces

26:07 If you voted for Trump...

30:56 The Urgency of Peacemaking

36:42 Different kinds of fear

40:30 Jesus’ Strategy

PRO-HUMAN Apparel - Get your PRO-HUMAN shirt, hoodie, hat or more in our online store at https://www.bonfire.com/store/global-immersion/

Want a free PRO-HUMAN t-shirt? Make a donation of $100 or more or start a recurring monthly gift of $25 or more by December 31, and we’ll send you a free PRO-HUMAN t-shirt! Donate at globalimmerse.org/donate

Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com

Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash