With Compassion

What happens when a Tibetan Buddhist monk becomes a scientist? In this episode of our With Compassion Podcast, talk with Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, who spent 27 years as a monk and earned the Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree in Tibetan monastic education, before completing a PhD at Emory University. Today he is Cofounder and Executive Director of Emory’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics.

Lobsang has spent his career bringing two great traditions of human understanding into conversation. From Buddhism he draws centuries of practice in training the mind and heart. From Western science he draws the tools to test whether that training works. The results are striking. His research shows that compassion training can lower markers of stress and depression. At the invitation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he led the creation of SEE Learning, which now teaches social, emotional and ethical skills to children and young people around the world.

We talk about why the Dalai Lama says a spiritual revolution is called for, and why investing in inner values matters as much as outer progress. We also cover how compassion can protect doctors, nurses and teachers from burnout, and what parents and communities can do to help. Lobsang also offers simple, practical tools for self-awareness and self-compassion. Above all, he reminds us that we are not alone in our vulnerabilities, and that recognising our shared humanity may be the surest path to peace.

Lobsang’s new book, Engaged Compassion: Seven Practices to Cultivate Resilience, Connection, and a Joyous Life, is out now.

In this episode

* The integration of Buddhist principles with Western science

* The impact of compassion training on stress and immune markers

* The development and global implementation of SEE Learning (Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning)

* The role of compassion in reducing burnout among healthcare and education professionals

* Practical tools for self-awareness, self-compassion and connection

* The importance of understanding our interdependence and shared humanity

In the latest episode of the With Compassion podcast we speak to Professor Dr. Anne Pattel-Gray, one of Australia’s leading theologians, activists, and Aboriginal leaders, about racism, reconciliation, and the role of the church in the history of First Nations dispossession. Anne shares how her upbringing, her mother’s strength, and her womanist theology shaped a lifelong commitment to truth-telling, justice, and compassion.We discuss why genuine reconciliation in Australia must include treaties, reparations, and accountability, and why compassion has to be more than sentiment if it is to transform institutions and public life.

Key topics

* Anne describes growing up in Queensland under laws that tightly controlled Aboriginal lives, from where people could live and marry to whether they could earn income.

* She explains how state and church systems sought to erase Aboriginal identity, and how that effort ultimately strengthened cultural resistance instead.

* Anne shares how her mother’s fierce matriarchal example taught her equality, resilience, and how to respond to racism without internalizing shame.

* She discusses the church’s role in the forced removal of Aboriginal children and says truth-telling has often made her an outcast in religious circles.

* Anne argues that apologies without reparations, justice, and transformation are hollow and insufficient.

* She says real reconciliation in Australia requires treaties with First Nations people, material reparations, and honest education about history.

* Anne reflects on the failed Voice referendum and says the result exposed widespread ignorance about Australia’s colonial past.

* She warns about the rise of racism, misinformation, and far-right politics, including the appeal of One Nation and the return of white Australia thinking.

* She corrects the label “feminist” and identifies instead as a womanist, rooted in Aboriginal women’s cultural authority and knowledge.

* She shares that her upcoming book, The Sacred Dilly Bag, will honor Aboriginal matriarchs and the women who protected families, children, culture, and justice.

* Anne explains why she does not call herself Christian, describing Christianity as deeply tainted by colonial violence, while still maintaining a spiritual relationship to Creator Spirit.

* She emphasizes that Aboriginal spirituality, law, ceremony, land, and relational ethics are not separate from faith, but part of a long-standing sacred framework.

* Anne closes by saying compassion is essential because it invites transformation, resists dehumanization, and offers a different model of leadership than domination and greed.

The latest episode of With Compassion traces the extraordinary story of Dr. Yosuke Nagai, who as a student in Japan decided he wanted to do something to help people starving in Somalia. That decision eventually led him into some of the world’s most violent conflict zones, where he carried compassion with him and began working with young people involved in armed groups.In this episode, Jennifer Nadel speaks with Dr. Yosuke Nagai, founder and executive director of Accept International and a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford. Yosuke shares how he went from being a first-year university student in Japan to working with young people involved in armed and extremist groups in Somalia and beyond. The conversation explores a central question for the podcast: what does compassion look like when it is extended not only to victims of violence, but also to those who have caused it? We discuss youth, trust-building, detention work, and the idea that even those labeled as threats may hold the potential to become agents of peace.

Key topics

* In this episode, Yosuke explains how the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami first pushed him into action, even before he had money, experience, or English.

* He shares how news of the 2011 famine in Somalia exposed a stark contrast: huge public sympathy and mobilization for Japan, but fear and hesitation when it came to Somalia.

* He describes how he began by reaching out to Somali students in Japan, then connected with youth leaders in Somalia and Kenya through Skype.

* Yosuke explains the early formation of Japan Somalia Youth Organization, a youth-led effort that later became Accept International in 2017.

* He recounts traveling to Mogadishu in 2013, where a suicide bombing and the death of a guide’s family member deepened his commitment to return with more knowledge and skills.

* He discusses studying conflict and peacebuilding at the London School of Economics, where he realized there was little existing guidance for dealing with non-state armed groups such as Al Shabab.

* We discuss how Accept International shifted from general youth engagement to direct work with disengaged combatants, low-risk defectors, and high-risk detainees.

* Yosuke shares his belief that prison and rehabilitation work should not treat people only as threats or labels, but should look for their unique potential and lived experience.

* He explains that trust, repeated visits, and genuine conversation are the foundation of his approach inside detention centers.

* The conversation broadens to questions of rights, adulthood, child soldiers turning 18, accountability, and why compassion must include people who have caused harm if peace is to be possible.

In the latest edition of the Charter’s With Compassion Podcast, Sophie Howe, the world’s first Future Generations Commissioner, talks about how Wales created a legal duty to protect people not yet born and why that matters for climate, inequality, transport, democracy, and public decision-making.The conversation shows how this helps create long-term political thinking and a policy shift away from short-term fixes that normally drives political They also discuss how this approach is spreading internationally and how compassion can extend beyond the present generation.

Key topics

* Sophie Howe explains the role of Future Generations Commissioner in Wales and how the office acts as a guardian for people not yet born.

* Wales became the first country in the world to pass a law in 2015 aimed at protecting future generations.

* The Welsh framework requires public bodies to make decisions that support seven long-term wellbeing goals.

* Jennifer Nadel and Sophie Howe discuss how climate, health, inequality, transport, and community are deeply connected rather than separate policy areas.

* Sophie shares the M4 road-building case, where a planned 13-mile motorway expansion was replaced with investment in public transport and active travel.

* The episode explores the idea of induced demand and why building more roads often fails to solve congestion long term.

* Sophie reflects on how short-term political cycles, electoral pressure, and cultural backlash can make future-focused governance harder.

* The conversation examines how future generations thinking can be framed differently for center-left and center-right audiences.

* Sophie describes the importance of including missing voices in decision-making, especially young people and indigenous perspectives.

* They discuss the growing global adoption of intergenerational fairness ideas across governments, institutions, and companies.

* Sophie argues that compassion means thinking beyond yourself and extending moral concern to future generations.

In this latest episode, Bishop William Swing shares his lifelong dedication to peace, interfaith collaboration, and the fight against nuclear proliferation. As the world approaches the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, his insights emphasize the importance of grassroots activism and spiritual leadership to address existential threats.

Key Topics

* Reflection on the 81st anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and current hopes for nuclear disarmament

* The decline in global nuclear arsenals from 70,000 to about 13,000 warheads and the ominous rise of new nuclear states

* The role of political leaders and the lack of top-down action on nuclear disarmament

* The critical importance of grassroots movements and civil society in nuclear non-proliferation

* The relationship between the climate crisis and nuclear threat, emphasizing nuclear weapons as an environmental issue with potentially catastrophic, immediate consequences

* The theological and moral considerations surrounding nuclear weapons, stewardship, and human responsibility

* The founding and progress of the United Religions Initiative (URI) in fostering interfaith cooperation at grassroots levels

* Insights from memorable conversations with historical figures like George Shultz and Mother Teresa

* How youth engagement and interfaith grassroots activism can foster global peace and reduce nuclear risks

* The resilience of the human spirit and the hope rooted in grassroots efforts and spiritual renewal

The latest episode of the With Compassion podcast, features Lauren Coffaro, Executive Director of PeaceJam.

For more than 30 years, PeaceJam has brought young people together with Nobel Peace Laureates, helping them develop the skills, confidence and sense of purpose needed to create change in their own communities and beyond.

Lauren shares her own journey into peacebuilding and explains why meeting a Nobel Laureate can be a life-changing experience for a young person. We explore the importance of service learning, the long-term impact of peace education and how bringing people from different backgrounds together can transform strangers into friends.

At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, this is a hopeful conversation about the power of young people, the possibility of understanding and the radical potential of compassionate leadership.

In this episode

• Lauren’s personal journey into peacebuilding

• PeaceJam’s work and impact over the past 30 years

• The skills young peacebuilders need, from empathy to conflict resolution

• The transformative power of meeting Nobel Peace Laureates

• How to navigate difficult conversations and build trust

• Why hope and youth leadership are essential to peace

• How each of us can begin creating peace in our own communities

“Compassion is a radical trait that transforms everything.”

Compassion in crisis is not soft or simple — it is often inventive, courageous, and deeply human. In this latest episode of the With Compassion podcast, Dr. Tim Cunningham shares stories from war zones, hospitals, and humanitarian settings that reveal how kindness can survive even in the most difficult conditions. From improvisation in crisis care to the bravery required to speak out against injustice, this episode is a reminder that compassion is both a personal practice and a collective responsibility.

Main Topics:

* Role of compassion in global health crises and humanitarian work

* How improvisation and ingenuity foster compassion in war zones

* The relationship between systemic change and individual acts of kindness

* Spiritual dimensions of compassion and its connection to religious practices

* Personal coping strategies for trauma and burnout among healthcare workers

* Stories illustrating compassion in Ebola-affected regions and conflict areas

* The significance of speaking out against injustice despite personal risk

* Hope and interconnectedness amid global suffering

Link:

* Clowns Without Borders

This episode underscores that compassion requires courage, systemic awareness, and ongoing practice—reminding us that even in the darkest moments, kindness can heal and transform.

This week’s With Compassion podcast features Dr Julian Abel who has shown how social connection can quite literally save lives. His work proves that community-based compassion strategies can reduce healthcare costs, foster social bonds, and challenge traditional Western medicine paradigms. Julian Abel, a palliative care physician and director of Compassionate Communities UK, shares ground breaking insights from his work in Frome, England, demonstrating the profound health impacts of social connection.

Main Topics:

* The impact of social relationships on health and longevity

* The community treasure mapping approach to build social capital

* The role of healthcare systems and policy in fostering social connection

* Evidence from Froome: 15% reduction in emergency hospital admissions

* Practical methods for community activation: TLC Bridge Builder training

* The biological and evolutionary basis of social connection’s health benefits

* Challenges and opportunities in integrating compassion into mainstream health policy

* The importance of community movement as a catalyst for societal change

In this episode:

* Julian Abel describes a successful project in Froome that led to a 15% decrease in emergency hospital admissions over four years, despite regional increases

* The concept of “survival of the kindest,” emphasizing social bonds as a key health determinant

* How community treasure maps highlight local assets like clubs, parks, and social groups to create belonging

* The simple yet powerful 90-minute training for community members to become “TLC Bridge Builders”

* The biological evidence linking social relationships to cellular health and genomic expression

* Strategies for combating societal division through increased community connection and belonging

* Challenges in convincing health authorities and politicians to prioritize social connection over biomedical interventions

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Resources & Links:

* Compassionate Communities UK

* TLC: Talk, Listen, Connect

Dive into a profound conversation exploring how kindness and compassion are essential to human survival and societal well-being. Hugh McKay, a renowned Australian social researcher, shares insights from his decades of work that reveal the deep connection between our innate capacities for kindness and our evolutionary success.

In this episode:

* The ancient roots of kindness as a survival skill dating back 42,000 years

* How cooperative behavior has been pivotal in the survival of Homo sapiens

* The neuroscience behind our inherent cooperative nature and the lack of a ‘competitive center’ in the brain

* The impact of childhood environment and trauma on developing compassion

* The difference between kindness and compassion and their roles in human connection

* How modern societal trends and technology threaten social cohesion and our innate kindness

* The importance of personal responsibility in nurturing a kinder, more compassionate society

* Practical ways to reignite community bonds, starting with everyday acts of kindness

Explore the profound ideas of Dr. Riane Eisler, a social systems theorist, cultural historian, and economist, whose journey began as a young girl when the Gestapo came to take her father away. Her experiences have shaped her life’s work on transforming societal narratives and systems to foster compassion, equity, and sustainability. This episode delves into the origins of her work, the impact of trauma, and practical strategies to accelerate a transition from domination to partnership.

Key Topics:

* Dr. Riane Eisler’s childhood experiences during WWII and their influence on her research

* The differentiation between domination systems and partnership systems

* How cultural narratives sustain systems of violence and inequality

* The role of stories, language, and education in societal change

* Practical interventions for shifting economic and social systems

* The interplay between gender equality and societal health

* The significance of trauma, neuroscience, and early childhood in societal transformation

* The importance of reevaluating growth metrics towards wellbeing economies

* The potential of AI and technological advances to support societal shifts

* Strategies for collective action and policy reform to promote partnership and care