Mending Divides

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

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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

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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

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Listen to Navigating Deep Disagreements with Loved Ones

Navigating Deep Disagreements with Loved Ones (Everyday Peacemaking Podcast)

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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

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In a world of division, your support fuels peace, courage, and connection. Help us keep going. Donate Now.

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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

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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

In the uncertainty of an imminent election, Osheta and Jer offer a hopeful alternative to getting swept up in the anxious swirl of this divisive political moment. They invite us to receive the gift of our own belovedness and then extend this recognition to others. They offer this practice as a vision toward fostering the beloved community from within these politically charged times. Through personal reflections, theological insights, and practical strategies, they emphasize the importance of embracing our intrinsic worth as beloved individuals. Episode highlights include insights on beginning our day as the beloved, input on self-regulation in the midst of triggering moments, and an invitation to be anchored as pro-human peacemakers.

02:18 Belovedness as un-american

04:27 Jesus’ belovedness

13:15 Owning your belovedness

18:02 Microdosing belovedness

23:31 Belovedness on election day

25:51 Jesus’ strategy

27:38 The belovedness of our enemy

30:28 Belovedness beyond the ballot

31:38 Pastoral wisdom for election day

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Autumn is here, and with it come plenty of starts and a constant barrage of asks to give, volunteer, and show up for meaningful causes. In this episode, Osheta and Jer explore the reality of compassion fatigue and how to discern ‘what’s mine to do.’ With personal anecdotes, they discuss the pulls on our empathy, managing the feeling of being stretched like Gumby, and the importance of grounding oneself spiritually to make wise decisions. From reflective daily practices to the Ignatian Examen, this conversation provides practical insights on maintaining peace and showing up authentically during this busy season.

02:10 Osheta’s compassion fatigue

05:29 Jer feels like Gumby

08:55 Osheta burns out

10:33 Doing the deeper work

14:38 Three things to look for

18:10 Mentorship

19:56 Socialized as a woman

21:35 Practice: Three questions

23:11 What’s mine to do?

25:33 Osheta does the examen

30:32 Closing

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In this episode, hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart delve into the realities of failure and mistakes as crucial elements of our growth as peacemakers. They explore the anxiety around mistakes, the societal pressure to avoid them, and the importance of embracing mistakes as pathways to improvement rather than perfection. The discussion includes insights from poet Zedeka Poindexter and emphasizes the need for courage, humility, teachability, and generosity in both making and receiving mistakes. This liberating conversation invites listeners to reframe their approach to failure as a way to engage more deeply in the journey of peacemaking.

01:45 Spark from Zedeka’s Poetry

03:35 Navigating Divides and Fear of Mistakes

07:39 Learning Through Trial and Error

10:52 Insights from Ted Lasso

13:13 Infrastructure of self-reflection

13:49 Creating space for mistakes

18:47 Courage, Humility, and Teachability

24:43 How to receive an apology

27:08 Concluding Thoughts and Encouragement

• Zedeka Poindexter www.zedekapoindexter.com
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• Hear her Peach Cobbler piece - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwYFMtUD70w
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• Brenda Salter McNeil’s new book, Empowered to Repair: https://www.saltermcneil.com/empowered-to-repair
• Photo by Pawel Janiak on Unsplash
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• Learn more about the Leadership Cohort at globalimmerse.org/cohort
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• Sign up for the cohort interest list or RSVP for an info session at globalimmerse.org/cohort
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• Learn more about us: globalimmerse.org
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• Support our work: globalimmerse.org/donate
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• Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com
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