In 1990 David Hanscom was a fearless spine surgeon when he started developing  migraine headaches, ringing in the ears, skin rashes, burning feet, anxiety, depression and full-blown OCD. He bounced around the medical system for 15 years before finally learning to shift his own body chemistry from sustained threat physiology to a sense of safety and rewiring the brain’s response to pain. One watershed moment was discovering Fred Luskin’s book, Forgive for Good, and since then David has helped hundreds of patients heal from pain, migraines, insomnia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and many other chronic symptoms—without surgery.

This was a really special conversation for Fred and I, and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we did recording it.

David Hanscom, MD, practiced complex orthopedic spine surgery for 32 years. He left his practice in Seattle, Washington, to share his insights on overcoming chronic mental and physical pain, which developed from his 15-year personal struggle. Emerging from this ordeal, he realized that mental pain was the most significant issue: anxiety is the pain. David just released a new book, Calm Your Body, Heal Your Mind and his self-directed action plan is available at thedocjourney.com. David is an active speaker, author, and consultant. His work and resources can be accessed at backincontrol.com.

Dr. Fred Luskin is the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He’s also the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness. Fred has been interviewed hundreds of times in worldwide media, including The New York Times, O Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and he has been featured on the Today Show and CBS Morning News. Learn more at fredluskin.com.

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Anger The Threshold

00:17 Podcast Welcome And Guest

02:49 David’s Health Collapse

04:42 Threat Physiology Explained

05:40 Facing Victimhood And Anger

07:59 Thoughts Suppression And Control

09:47 Why He Challenged Spine Surgery

11:51 Self Induced Deep Healing

16:12 Calm Your Body Heal Your Mind

18:16 Tools Awareness And No Pain Talk

27:03 Vulnerability Anxiety And Letting Go

29:40 Resources Contact And Closing

When Andy Woodward showed remarkable talent for football as a boy, it brought him to the attention of the coach who sexually abused him for years. After bottling up his emotions and suffering panic attacks on the football pitch, Andy made the extraordinary journey from silence to speaking out on a public stage. How did he find the courage to confront a powerful coach and a prominent football organization in the UK? In this podcast Andy talks about transforming pain through the practice of forgiveness.

Andy Woodward blew the whistle on the sexual abuse of junior players in British football in 2016. His story helped spark a global conversation about the misuse of authority and trust in sports, and gave a voice to countless survivors who needed to be heard. Through his book Position of Trust and the BBC drama Floodlights, Andy is inspiring people worldwide with the message that healing is possible and each of us can help create a safer future.

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Andy’s book: “Position of Trust”

BBC drama: “Floodlights”

Dr. Fred Luskin is the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He’s also the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness. Fred has been interviewed hundreds of times in worldwide media, including The New York Times, O Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and he has been featured on the Today Show and CBS Morning News. Learn more at fredluskin.com.

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Heart of Peace

00:15 Meet Andy Woodward

01:58 Football Dream Turns Dark

03:30 Trapped in Systemic Abuse

06:08 Aftermath and Breaking Silence

10:02 From Exposure to Forgiveness

13:13 Spirituality and Purpose

22:10 Energy Balance Practices

25:38 Final Takeaways and Closing

In this moving and ultimately beautiful epsiode, two guests share intimate stories about growing up in dysfunctional families shaped by the emotional volatility of one parent — and the journey toward healing and forgiveness.

Parva Moshiri grew up with an unpredictable mother whose periodic tantrums and rages would ignite conflict and fear. As a child, Parva became the family’s mediator. As an adult, she became a caretaker for both parents and eventually a therapist herself. In this episode, Eileen and Fred work directly with Parva to help her take the first steps in her own forgiveness process.

Judith Janssen was raised by a father whose anger and dominance overshadowed family life, while her mother’s despair became so overwhelming that she attempted suicide when Judith was 11 years old. Judith would crank up Metallica in her headphones as a teenager to drown out the sound of their fighting. Over time, however, she discovered something unexpected: compassion for the father who had wounded her. Today, she looks back on her story with gratitude for the wisdom and resilience that helped shape her into the coach and facilitator she has become.

This episode offers a powerful reminder that forgiveness does not excuse harmful behavior. Rather, it can help us release old burdens, reclaim our own lives and find meaning even in the most difficult family histories.

Judith Janssen is an experienced trauma-informed coach and facilitator specializing in leadership development and forgiveness. Based on her own life journey, she built a business in 2009 called U-turn Coaching & Personal Development, including a profound forgiveness training called Letting Shit Go. Her focus is on helping people to overcome trauma, learn how to forgive, and treat themselves with love, kindness, and self-compassion. Connect with Judith at u-turncoaching.com.

Parva Moshiri was born in Tehran and eventually moved to the United States to continue her education after completing high school in London. She has a master’s degree in education and psychology, has worked at the Department of Child and Family Services, and has had a private therapy practice.

Dr. Fred Luskin is the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He’s also the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness. Fred has been interviewed hundreds of times in worldwide media, including The New York Times, O Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and he has been featured on the Today Show and CBS Morning News. Learn more at fredluskin.com.

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Stuck But Shifting Perspective

00:19 Welcome And Meet The Guests

03:13 Parva Childhood With Rage

05:59 Boundaries And Mother’s Death

08:05 What Forgiveness Means Now

10:07 Judith Dysfunctional Childhood

11:34 Caregiver Role And Loss

14:25 Escape To Buenos Aires

15:26 Anger Marathon Turning Point

16:30 Reframing And Forgiving Dad

18:40 Boundaries After Forgiveness

19:49 Patterns Victim To Hero

23:29 Victimhood And Moral Superiority

26:24 Repression And Self Forgiveness

29:08 Superpower Of Caring Love

31:09 Final Takeaways And Closing

Blood is thicker than water—and family also has the unique power to push all of our buttons. In this episode two guest share candidly about a beast rarely spoken of: resentment against ourselves or loved ones going through illness.

Karen Krebs is still working to forgive herself and her body through multiple rounds of cancer treatment and graciously accepts on-the-spot coaching from Fred and Eileen.

Barbara Hunt was finally able to overcome her stiff upper lip and emotional denial and recognize underlying resentment at caring for her aging mother. This set her on a path of becoming a forgiveness specialist herself.

This very special episode is inspiration for anyone in the middle of a forgiveness process, and in the end finding the beauty and balance between self-love and being a caretaker.

Karen Krebs is a healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health and medicine, committed to helping individuals and families access treatment, begin recovery, and rebuild their lives. She brings a compassionate, informed perspective to navigating today’s complex healthcare system. With roots in New York and Massachusetts, Karen now resides in West Seattle, where she is a devoted caregiver to her 94-year-old father, who lives with her.

Barbara J Hunt is a forgiveness specialist and advocate, speaker, workshop leader, global peace visionary, award-winning and bestselling author of “Forgiveness Made Easy: The Revolutionary Guide to Moving Beyond Your Past and Truly Letting Go.” She has over 30 years experience in personal and spiritual development as a mentor, coach and group facilitator. She works in private practice internationally, and is also a musician and singer-songwriter. Connect with Barbara at forgivenessmadeeasy.co.uk and her YouTube channel.

Dr. Fred Luskin is the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He’s also the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness. Fred has been interviewed hundreds of times in worldwide media, including The New York Times, O Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and he has been featured on the Today Show and CBS Morning News. Learn more at fredluskin.com.

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Emotional Shutdown

00:15 Season Two Welcome

00:55 Caregiving and Illness

01:25 Meet Karen and Barbara

02:52 Karen Cancer Wakeup Call

06:05 Caregiver Stress and Resentment

06:56 Self Forgiveness Struggle

09:32 Barbara Young Caregiver Story

11:06 Resentment and Forgiveness Path

12:29 Host Reflections on Caregiving

17:10 Choosing Caregiving

20:30 Tools for Self Forgiveness

21:53 Culture Duty and Boundaries

23:41 Resentment as a Signal

25:23 Freedom and Choice Reframing

27:38 Final Messages and Takeaways

32:46 Closing Thanks and Resources

When Lisa Angelini’s relationship ended without warning, her world turned upside down. In this candid conversation Lisa admits she expected years of training and spiritual practice would shield her—she was shocked by betrayal, anger, grief, and all the layers of emotion she couldn’t skip. What she found on the other side was something quieter: freedom, calm, and the ability to wish him well.

Even in the middle of our own messy humanity, forgiveness is the door back to that quiet center.

Lisa Angelini is a licensed psychotherapist, trauma specialist, and relationship expert who brings a rare blend of clinical precision and spiritual depth to her work. With over two decades of experience, her clinical foundation includes advanced training in trauma and codependency at The Meadows in Wickenburg, an internationally recognized treatment center. Her background spans residential treatment, community-based settings, private practice, and leading transformational retreats in the U.S. and internationally.

Where to Find Lisa Angelini:

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Dr. Fred Luskin is the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He’s also the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness. Fred has been interviewed hundreds of times in worldwide media, including The New York Times, O Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and he has been featured on the Today Show and CBS Morning News. Learn more at fredluskin.com.

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Betrayal And Shock

00:28 Season Two Welcome

01:08 Meet Lisa Angelini

01:49 Rumi Quote And Walls

03:54 Therapy And Co Parenting

05:04 Family Models Of Forgiveness

07:56 Sudden Heartbreak Story

09:25 Dream Of Scotland

11:02 Real Betrayal Revealed

11:31 Thawing Out The Nervous System

14:00 IFS And False Invulnerability

15:25 Messy Middle And Anger

17:37 Layers Of Forgiveness

19:02 Freedom And Quiet Mind

20:31 Gems On The Other Side

21:28 Humility And Acceptance

23:49 Writing The Book To Serve

24:49 Lean In And Get Support

25:34 Contact And Closing Thanks

26:24 Podcast Outro And Subscribe

Welcome to Season 2 of Voices of Peace: Personal Forgiveness, with a new name, a new focus and a new co-host, Fred Luskin. Our first guest is Lyndon Harris. Lyndon was an Episcopal priest in New York City when his life after 9/11 fell apart. He dealt with PTSD, personal injustice, divorce, and losing his house — yet until he hit rock bottom, he never thought about forgiveness. When he finally did, forgiveness changed his life in the most amazing way.

Lyndon Harris is a former Episcopal priest, whose journey toward forgiveness began in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. His work was covered widely in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and a host of others. But in the aftermath of 9/11, Lyndon’s life fell apart. Forgiveness became the essential tool for reclaiming his life. Harris is a forgiveness teacher now and has been invited to offer keynotes and workshops around the world. He is co-author, with Dr. Luskin of the Forgive for Good Recovery Workbook.

Learn more at lyndonharris.com

Pre-order Lyndon’s memoir, release date June 2026:

Forgiveness at Ground Zero: A Journey of Service, Loss, and Redemption after 9/11

Dr. Fred Luskin is the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He’s also the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness. Fred has been interviewed hundreds of times in worldwide media, including The New York Times, O Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and he has been featured on the Today Show and CBS Morning News. Learn more at fredluskin.com.

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Forgiving Imperfection

00:14 Season Two Kickoff

00:49 Meet Fred and Lyndon

02:55 Lyndon Before 9 11

04:40 Witnessing the Attacks

07:56 St. Pauls Relief Mission

09:16 Conflict and Resignation

12:31 Bitterness and Revenge

15:47 Life Falls Apart

18:47 Rock Bottom and Gratitude

22:31 Self Forgiveness Breakthrough

26:35 New Mission and Love

28:41 Advice for the Stuck

30:13 What Forgiveness Means Now

32:33 Closing and Resources

I’m thrilled to announce we’re just days away from the season 2 kick-off of my podcast! To reflect a new focus on forgiveness in our daily lives, the title is now “Voices of Peace: Personal Forgiveness,” and I’m delighted to have Dr. Fred Luskin as my co-host. Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects and the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Fred is a true expert on forgiving spouses, parents, children, friends, co-workers, bosses — and even ourselves.

We have a fresh line-up of interviews with more forgiveness leaders and forgiveness stories, as well as normal people struggling to forgive. For the first time ever, Fred and I will be offering forgiveness coaching on the podcast. Our first guest is Lyndon Harris, who was an Episcopal priest in New York City when his life after 9/11 fell apart. Listen to this quick teaser with a few snippets from the first episode!

Dr. Fred Luskin is the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. He’s also the author of the bestselling books, Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love. Forgive for Good is the best-selling self-help book published on the topic of forgiveness. Fred has been interviewed hundreds of times in worldwide media, including The New York Times, O Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Huffington Post, and he has been featured on the Today Show and CBS Morning News. Learn more at fredluskin.com.

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 We Are More Than Our Mistakes

00:21 Podcast Welcome

01:01 What Forgiveness Feels Like

01:40 Stories and Takeaways

02:00 Join the Journey

When is anger appropriate? How does humility play a part in forgiveness? What about those who cling to revenge? Is there an optimal time for forgiveness? How do I deal with guilt? When do I need to set a healthy boundary? How do we heal trauma?

The participants in this conversation did not hold back. Through their tough and insightful questions we had a rich dialogue about the deep emotional processing involved in forgiving. I’m honored to share excerpts from my conversation with Mary Noble of Feminenza International and participants of the Erasmus+ project “A Resilient Life,” where I answer their questions about all the ways forgiveness can release emotional burdens and lead to healing, hope, resilience, and freedom.

This was such a wide-ranging conversation with so many wonderful forgiveness stories — don’t miss the complete video. This conversation explores the vital role forgiveness plays in our personal healing and features a rich dialogue with participants from Kenya, Kosovo, Israel, and across Europe.

FEMINENZA INTERNATIONAL

Feminenza International is a global non-profit organization focused on women’s development, trauma healing, and education in forgiveness co-founded by Mary Noble, who has been a guest of mine in previous episodes.

For more information about Feminenza programs reach out to [email protected]

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00  Forgiveness is inner healing, not about the other person

01:30  Meet Dr. Eileen Borris and Mary Noble

03:16  Revenge: The “revenge story” exercise and grieving what was lost

05:04  What forgiveness is—and isn’t

05:44  Humility and anger

08:23  Trauma healing and forgiveness timing

11:47  Stories of transformation

16:12  “I want to forgive, but where do i start?”

18:21  From pragmatic to spiritual: deeper layers of forgiveness

25:57  Hope vs. authoritarianism

27:43  Everyday forgiveness: boundaries, verbal abuse, and the guilt cycle

31:16  Closing and season 2 preview: New co-host and new focus

At 33, Mary Noble’s world shattered—her husband suddenly left her for another woman. Pain and shock ruled for months, until one night a vivid dream sparked an unexpected epiphany: Forgiveness. That single word shifted everything and she forgave him. “It was this feeling of grace,” she recalls. Mary spent the next 20 years on a journey to understanding what it really means to forgive, which led her around the globe to her work in Kenya.

Mary Noble is the co-founder and CEO of Feminenza, a nonprofit organization where she creates and leads training programs in forgiveness. Enjoy this reboot of her episode as we prepare to do a deep dive on personal forgiveness in 2026. Mary was a joy to interview and so transparent about finding herself in one of the most challenging situations. Her story of forgiving someone close to her is an inspiration for all of us.

Email: [email protected]

Feminenza: https://feminenza.org

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Introduction to Political Forgiveness

00:33 Introducing Antti Pentikainen

00:45 Life in War Zones

02:33 Transition to Academia and US Advisory Role

03:55 The Concept of Sacrifice

08:56 Spiritual Injury and Healing

15:14 Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation

24:35 The Role of Art and Community in Healing

28:06 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

This final episode of season 1 features three guests from Forgiveness International, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote interpersonal forgiveness through ESPERE, the schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation. This conversation with Leocadia Montero-Hainley, Rodney Peterson, and Daniel Carman brought me back to the heart of why I do this work.

These three shared stories of gang interventions, restorative circles, and interfaith reconciliation that reveal how deeply harm shapes us — and how powerful it is when people choose to reach out in forgiveness. From a mother who forgave the man who paralyzed her daughter to children learning that forgiveness can become a new default, these guests remind us that healing truly begins with the individual. We can all learn this skill. And when we do, it reshapes our families, communities, and society.

Season two of “Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace” begins spring of 2026 focusing on individual forgiveness. I’ll be joined by co-host Dr. Fred Luskin of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects and author of the bestselling books, “Forgive for Good” and “Forgive for Love.”

Leocadia Montero-Hainley is a psychotherapist and principal of Leocadia Consulting specializing in conflict resolution, trauma processing, and restorative justice. She leads restorative circles and offers workshops that help communities rebuild trust, heal harm, and strengthen relationships.

Rodney Peterson served as executive director of the Boston Theological Institute and the Consortium of Theological Schools in the greater Boston area. He currently leads workshops on forgiveness and reconciliation with Boston’s Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries and is a visiting scholar at Duke Divinity School.

Dan Carman is the director of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Boston’s oldest interfaith social-action network, and serves as vice chair of Forgiveness International. His work centers on community healing, interfaith collaboration, and developing practical pathways toward reconciliation.

Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks

Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.

Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:18 Introducing the Guests

03:21 Leo’s Journey from Law to Psychotherapy

07:54 Dan’s Story: From Bullying to Mediation

13:04 Rodney’s Work in Forgiveness and Reconciliation

18:36 Transformations Through Forgiveness

26:57 Personal Impact of Forgiveness Work

30:10 Final Thoughts and Messages

33:17 Conclusion and Season Wrap-Up