In this episode, I spoke with Manal Hamdoun Ghandour, a peacebuilding expert from Lebanon who works with a nonprofit addressing the country’s history of conflict, collective trauma, and efforts toward reconciliation.

She shared what happened after Lebanon’s civil war ended—how the government passed an amnesty law that let perpetrators from all groups to walk free, and what that meant for the families of the thousands whose loved ones disappeared. Manal talked about how families responded to the silence and denial, and how they’ve been fighting for truth, justice, and healing ever since. She explained how AI can be used to commemorate places and people to remember the disappeared, and to support truth-telling and accountability.

Her story speaks directly to state and other violence. It offers a powerful reminder that when the past is buried without justice, it never really disappears—and that communities have ways to resist and remember.