Walk Talk Listen Podcast

Jonas Nøddekær is the relatively newly appointed Secretary-General of DanChurchAid (DCA). With over 23 years of experience at DCA, including seven years as International Director, Jonas brings a wealth of knowledge from his time stationed in countries like Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Known for his visionary yet practical leadership, Jonas shares his insights on leading one of Denmark’s largest humanitarian and development organizations. 

Jonas shared about the sessions organized by DCA in collaboration with the Danish government during the week’s UN events, emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in preparing for the future. In this episode, he answers a question from Johanna Litsgärd Lebourne and passes the baton by posing a thoughtful question to the next guest, his colleague Mattias. You can connect with Jonas on LinkedIn or follow him on Instagram and  Facebook as he continues to lead DCA into its next chapter of global impact. DCA's social media: Facebook and Twitter. During our conversation, we wrongly mentioned the Dan Church Aid website as dca.org, because it is danchurchaid.org. 

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen’s "Brews, Bites, and Banter" series, we welcome Johanna Litsgård Lebourne, Head of Communication, Fundraising, and Policy at PMU, a Swedish development organization. With a rich background in advocating for humanitarian causes, Johanna shares her journey in driving global development initiatives and the crucial role that communication plays in mobilizing resources. During the episode, she reflects on a recent Netflix series about Bill Gates, which emphasized the urgent need for increased funding to create a sustainable future. Johanna’s experience highlights the complex interplay between fundraising, advocacy, and the pressing issues facing our world today.

A notable moment in the episode is Johanna’s thoughtful response to a challenging question posed by previous guest Abia Akram, showcasing her depth of understanding on inclusive development. Johanna also touches on the importance of collaboration between faith-based organizations and other stakeholders in advancing sustainable development goals. You can connect with Johanna on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Her organization, PMU, can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

Abia Akram, a globally recognized advocate for women with disabilities and a pioneer in disability rights activism is guest in episode 2 of this special series taking place in the backdrop of the UNGA, the Summit of the Future and Climate Week taking place in NYC in September 2024. Drawing from her personal experience with physical disability, Abia shares her journey in the Disability Movement, which began in 1997. Throughout the episode, she discusses her relentless advocacy at both local and international levels, including lobbying with UN representatives and parliamentarians to ensure that the voices of youth, espcially young women, with disabilities are heard in global forums. 

Highlights of the episode include Abia's answer to a question of previous guest Carrick of WRI. She is such an inspiration.  Her insights offer a deep understanding of how to build advocacy strategies that empower women with disabilities and promote inclusive development on a global scale.

In this special episode of Brews, Bites, and Banter – A Sustainability Sip & Share on Walk Talk Listen, we are joined by Carrick Reddin, Manager II of the Faith and Sustainability Initiative at the World Resources Institute (WRI). With over eight years of experience leading sustainable development, urban planning, and governance projects across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America, Carrick shares insights from his extensive cross-sectoral work. He plays a crucial role in developing and managing global partnerships and fundraising efforts to mobilize faith-based organizations towards climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In today’s episode, we introduced three symbolic items—coffee beans, an SDG pin, and a rubber duckie—to inspire conversations about sustainability. Carrick chose the rubber duckie, sparking a thoughtful discussion on economic sustainability and the need to rethink how we approach development and equity. Tune in to hear Carrick's reflections on creating vibrant, resilient, and inclusive communities and how his work supports the urgent global sustainability agenda highlighted during the UNGA, Climate Week, and the Summit of the Future.