Welcome to Episode 1 of Crossing Thresholds: Religion, Resilience & Migration, a special mini-series of Walk Talk Listen produced by the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI). This series brings to life new research on climate change, faith, and human mobility from JLI’s recently published Climate, Faith & Migration report, developed in collaboration with Christian Aid.   In this opening conversation, Maurice Bloem speaks with Vera Solovyeva, an Indigenous leader and researcher from the Sakha Republic in Siberia. Vera introduces the cosmology of the Three Worlds and the Three Souls, a worldview that shapes identity, responsibility, and resilience for her people. She reflects on ecological imbalance, cultural pressure, spiritual loss, and the deep relationship between people and land. Vera explains how indigenous knowledge systems guide communities in responding to climate change, not only as practical adaptation strategies, but as living expressions of culture, faith, and belonging.   This episode sets the tone for the series by connecting lived experience with evidence, showing how global research findings are rooted in real stories from the frontlines.   Learn more: The full Climate, Faith & Migration report by JLI and Christian Aid is available here.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Vera via her Instagram account Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem is joined by Lorenz Sell, co-founder of Sutra, for a reflective conversation about humility, receiving, and what it means to create spaces—both digital and human—where genuine connection can emerge.   Lorenz shares how experiences such as Burning Man became unexpected teachers in his life, challenging deeply ingrained habits of control, self-sufficiency, and productivity. In those liminal spaces, where usual social scripts fall away, he began to notice how difficult it can be—not to give, but to receive. Receiving attention, support, care, and presence requires a different posture: one rooted in humility.   The conversation weaves together Lorenz’s background in technology and engineering with his growing attention to inner development and relational practice. Rather than seeing technology as neutral or inevitable, he reflects on how digital environments quietly shape our behavior, our pace, and our ability to listen to one another. Designing spaces, he suggests, is always also designing relationships.   Throughout the episode, humility is not framed as self-effacement, but as openness: a willingness to be changed by others and by experience. Receiving becomes an active practice—one that makes mutuality possible and allows communities of learning to form over time.   This conversation is an invitation to slow down, to notice where we resist receiving, and to consider how the spaces we create—online and offline—can support deeper presence, trust, and shared becoming. And it also reminded me that receiving is not something we do once we understand—it’s something we practice by listening a little longer.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Lorenz and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Lorenz via his LinkedIn, and the Sutra's website. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with Sara Rahim, a global interfaith practitioner and youth leader working at the intersection of belonging, inclusion, and social transformation. Sara is part of the Programming Team of ACWAY, supporting young leaders across regions who are building bridges across difference through interfaith cooperation and grassroots leadership. With a decade of experience in network cultivation, health equity, workforce development, and intercultural engagement, she has helped design and lead initiatives that move inclusion from theory into daily practice. Sara has addressed major platforms on the role of interfaith action, including the White House, the United Nations, and multiple G20 Interfaith Forums. She is a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum and previously served as a UN Youth Representative for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago. In this conversation, we explore: how her understanding of belonging formed early in life what youth leadership really looks like today how interfaith engagement translates into everyday work why inclusion is not an “extra,” but a responsibility and how she responds to the powerful question passed on by Benny Rietveld: “What are you doing to help?” This episode is about becoming, choosing to help in quiet but structural ways, and discovering where belonging begins.   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Sara and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Also check out Sara's own playlist here.  Learn more about Sara via her LinkedIn, and the ACWAY Instagram account and their website. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Benny Rietveld — bassist, composer, arranger, musical director for Santana, and former member of Miles Davis’ band — joins Walk Talk Listen for a deeply reflective, funny, and generous conversation about music, presence, heritage, and healing.   Born in Utrecht and raised in Honolulu, Benny grew up in a multicultural mix of Dutch-Indonesian roots, Hawaiian upbringing, family parties full of guitars, and the irresistible pull of a piano in a department store. At age 12 he was playing in bands; by his 20s he was on stage with Sheila E., Prince, and later Miles Davis, whose “laser beam of attention” taught him what it means to be truly present in music.   Today, Benny is the longtime musical director and bassist for Carlos Santana, and continues writing, recording, composing for film, and leading a genre-defying ensemble he jokingly calls “the circus.”   In this episode we talk about: Growing up as a Dutch-Indonesian kid in Hawaii’s melting pot of cultures How Hey Jude sparked his first steps into music What Miles Davis really taught him: presence, intensity, and honesty Why music remains “medicine” for a dark and distracted world Leaving Miles for Santana — and why Miles wanted people to move on The joy (and lessons) of performing with his son His upcoming projects, including a new album and film score Benny also leaves a powerful question for the next guest   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Benny and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Benny via his LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Adam Nicholas Phillips is Chief Executive Officer of Interfaith America, the nation’s largest bridge-building organization working across campus, corporate, and civic settings. With two decades at the intersection of faith and public life, Adam previously served in the Biden–Harris Administration at USAID, where he led Faith-based and Localization efforts, shaped development policy, and supported democracy initiatives in nearly 100 countries. An ordained minister, he has also founded congregations, led national advocacy campaigns, collaborated with the White House and the State Department, and worked with global partners to expand interfaith cooperation.   In this conversation, Adam reflects on: how his upbringing shaped his calling to service and bridge-building the relationship between faith, democracy, belonging, and civic renewal what gives him hope in a polarized world youth and spirituality — and what the next generation is trying to build why Patti Smith’s People Have the Power still moves him and why remembering that “it’s decreed the people rule” matters now more than ever This episode is a reminder that agency, compassion, and community are not abstract ideals — they’re everyday commitments.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Adam and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Adam via his LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, our guest is Sibu Szymanowska, a human rights advocate, entrepreneur, traveler, and global citizen with nearly two decades of experience living and working across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.   Sibu is the co-founder of The Hybrid Tours, a social enterprise that blends sustainable, intentional travel with storytelling to challenge stereotypes and foster real connection. With a background in economics and a master’s degree in humanitarianism and international conflict, she uses travel as a tool for justice, empathy, identity exploration, and global understanding.   In this conversation, Sibu reflects on: how travel reshaped her sense of self the responsibility we carry when entering someone else’s home, country, or story the difference between seeing a place and being transformed by a place what it means to grow up between cultures and belong to more than one world She also shares how co-founding The Hybrid Tours with Hira Aftab (go to episode 216 to listen to her) grew organically out of shared values — and how their differences strengthen the work. This episode invites listeners to think not only about the places they’ve traveled, but about the ways those journeys have shaped who they’ve become.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Sibu and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Sibu via her LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts of her companies The Hybrid Tours and Go Global with Sibu. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, host Maurice Bloem speaks with Åsa Jarskog, a key leader in the global Inner Development Goals (IDG) movement. Åsa has spent more than 35 years working in leadership, strategy, and sustainability across 67 countries — coaching executive teams, governments, development banks, and global organizations including IKEA, Ericsson, Lufthansa, Vodaphone, and the World Economic Forum.   Åsa reflects on why inner development is not a concept — it’s a practice. She shares personal stories from her early life in northern Sweden, where cross-country skiing taught her the mindset of steady effort and inner resilience, a theme that now guides her work in human flourishing and transformational leadership. When asked about the song that represents her, Åsa laughs and says that while “I Will Survive” reflects resilience, the song that truly embodies her journey is “My Way.” Because for her, leadership is not about perfection. It’s about presence, authenticity, and showing up — again and again.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Åsa and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Åsa via her LinkedIn, and Facebook. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Hira Aftab — founder of Our World Too, a platform dedicated to re-humanizing narratives around refugees and displaced communities, and co-founder of The Hybrid Tours, a social enterprise blending travel and social impact, is our guest.   Hira reflects on her journey as a “third-culture kid” growing up between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, and how her lived experiences shaped her commitment to dignity-centered communications. She talks about pushing back against expectations, carving her own path outside the family tradition of medicine, and why her chosen song speaks to her:   “…that speaks to me, because I feel … going against the norm, doing what I did, and how I did it.”   With two master’s degrees and her engagement as an ACWAY Fellow, Hira brings clarity, courage, and compassion to every space she enters — from storytelling to peacebuilding.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Hira and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Hira via her LinkedIn, and Instagram and Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook of Hybrid Tours. Also check Facebook of Our World Too. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, host Maurice Bloem speaks with Sarah Rehman, Membership and Administrative Specialist for the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. Holding four master’s degrees — in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Mediterranean Security, Theology, and Women’s and Gender Studies — Sarah combines intellectual depth with the compassion of a peacebuilder who has seen both struggle and hope up close.   Sarah reflects on her journey across disciplines, cultures, and faith traditions, speaking about love, resilience, and what sustains her in difficult times. As she puts it:   “Resilience. It’s the overcoming incredible odds, but still finding joy.”   She also reminds us that “the basis of every religion is love, and what people do with it after that is a reflection on them, not on faith.”   Together, Maurice and Sarah explore how this understanding shapes her work in preventing violent extremism, empowering women and youth, and keeping hope alive in the face of adversity.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Sarah and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Sarah's work via LinkedIn Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, host Maurice Bloem talks with Fadi Daou, Executive Director of Globethics and one of today’s most thoughtful voices on ethics, spirituality, and leadership.   Fadi shares his journey from leading the Adyan Foundation to his current work promoting ethical governance and human fraternity. He speaks about what it means to act from conviction rather than ambition, and how quitting—when done in integrity—can become a step toward renewal, not retreat.   Through stories of dialogue, discernment, and moral courage, Fadi invites us to rediscover the courage to hope: a hope that resists cynicism, rebuilds trust, and reminds us of our shared humanity.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Fadi and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Learn more about Fadi's work via his social media handles of his organization Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Connect with him personally on LinkedIn. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, I speak with Drew Tucker, vibraphonist, educator, and Director of the Jazz Road program at South Arts. Known for his wit, creativity, and signature reminder that “It’s not a xylophone,” Drew has spent his career reshaping how people listen — not only to instruments, but to one another.   Drew shares stories of his early musical influences, his lifelong love of rhythm, and the turning points that led him from performer to cultural leader. The conversation explores the power of mentorship, the role of the arts in building community, and what it means to create spaces where young musicians can thrive.   Together, Maurice and Drew reflect on sound as a language of empathy and curiosity — and how, in the right hands, a vibraphone can become an instrument of connection, creativity, and change. Learn more about Drew's work via his website: Its is not an xylophone.. Connect with him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode, Martha Middlemiss Lé Mon joins Maurice for a deep and thoughtful conversation about the intersections of faith, education, and human flourishing. Martha, a researcher and educator at Uppsala University’s Faculty of Theology, reflects on her work exploring how religious and worldview education can foster understanding, empathy, and coexistence in plural societies.   Together, they discuss what it means to teach and learn across difference, how faith-based perspectives can enrich moral and civic education, and why spaces for open dialogue matter more than ever in today’s polarized world. The conversation weaves through themes of values, belonging, and inner development — inviting listeners to think about how education and faith together can shape more compassionate communities.   Martha leads research at the Uppsala Religion and Society Research Centre and is deeply engaged in international collaborations on religious literacy, worldview education, and intercultural understanding. Her work bridges academia, policy, and practice to promote peace, equality, and meaningful dialogue.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Martha’s work via her Uppsala University profile. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode, Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director of Arigatou International, talks about the power of bringing children, youth, and communities together to foster peace, dignity, and justice. She reflects on how interfaith collaboration and dialogue help create safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive and be agents of positive change.   Maurice and Maria Lucia explore her work leading Arigatou International’s Ethics Education for Children Initiative, now active in more than 30 countries. They discuss the importance of values-based education, preventing violence, nurturing compassion, and mobilizing faith communities to stand with children in shaping a more peaceful future.   Maria Lucia has been Executive Director of Arigatou International since 2013. She leads the strategic expansion of ethics education, convenes the International Consortium on Nurturing Values in Early Childhood, and co-leads global initiatives on children’s rights and the prevention of violence. She holds a Master in Peace and Conflict Transformation and has served in leadership roles with Child Rights Connect, INEE, and PaRD.   Listener Engagement: Discover more about Arigatou International and its initiatives through website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram @ethicseducationforchildren. Maria Lucia is also on Instagram and Facebook. Connect with Maria Lucia on LinkedIn. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode, Liliya Khasanova shares her inspiring journey of empowering youth to become leaders in interfaith dialogue and global peacebuilding. From her work with A Common Word Among Youth (ACWAY) to her academic pursuits, Liliya speaks about the importance of giving young people the tools and confidence to navigate a world filled with complex challenges and divisions.   Maurice and Liliya explore the creation of the Interfaith Development Goals (IDGs) and how these goals connect to the Inner Development Goals framework. They discuss the role of faith and collaboration in fostering understanding, and the need for mental health support and self-reflection in youth leadership. This episode offers practical insights into building bridges across cultures and faith traditions through dialogue, empathy, and action.   With over a decade at ACWAY, Liliya has organized eight global youth forums, trained young leaders around the world, and currently serves as a post-doctoral scholar at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Her work is a testament to the transformative power of youth-led initiatives in shaping a more just and peaceful world.   Listener Engagement: Explore more about Liliya’s organization, ACWAY, through LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Connect with Liliya on LinkedIn. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!   Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

In this episode, Noor Rehman opens up about his journey from childhood experiences that shaped his deep commitment to protecting children, to his current role as Regional Coordinator for South Asia at the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI). Noor reflects on how growing up in an environment where discipline sometimes came through physical punishment sparked his lifelong dedication to safeguarding children and preventing violence.   Maurice and Noor explore Noor’s work with the Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families, and Communities (FPCC) initiative, a collaboration between JLI, UNICEF, and Religions for Peace. Noor shares stories of how local faith leaders and communities come together to promote child protection, adolescent well-being, and climate resilience. He highlights the vital role of trust-building, listening, and culturally sensitive approaches in creating lasting social and behavioral change.   With over 12 years at Islamic Relief Pakistan before joining JLI, Noor brings experience in child welfare, WASH, education, and emergency response. This episode offers an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about how faith and collaboration can transform the lives of children and families across South Asia.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Noor and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Connect with Noor's present organization JLI via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and JLI website. Noor is also on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Share your thoughts on this episode at Walk Talk Listen Feedback. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit my website at 100mile.org  or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our initiatives. Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All" featuring CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Martine Miller takes us on a journey through two decades of working on the front lines of conflict in over 80 countries worldwide. From Libya and Sudan to Afghanistan and Myanmar, she has partnered with local communities, governments, and multilateral agencies to support early warning systems, negotiations, transitional justice, and post-war recovery. In this deeply human conversation, Martine shares her reflections on the power of dialogue and the role of faith and cultural sensitivity in building sustainable peace. Maurice thanks Martine for being his "human library" for an hour, offering a rare and personal glimpse into the stories behind global crises and the lessons learned from them.   As President of the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy and a member of several international expert pools, Martine brings both academic expertise and hands-on experience to her work. With dual master’s degrees and advanced certifications in mediation, negotiation, and emergency response, she continues to serve her local community as a volunteer AEMT and as a lecturer at top universities. Her unique perspective bridges the local and the global, showing how connection and courage can transform even the most complex conflicts.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Martine and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Connect with Martine's organization via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Instagram and ICRD website. Martine is also on LinkedIn. Share your thoughts on this episode at Walk Talk Listen Feedback. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit my website at 100mile.org  or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our initiatives. Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All" featuring CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Peter Yeboah is the Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the largest and oldest non-state health actor in the country, responsible for nearly 30% of national health service delivery. With three decades of leadership across Ghana and Africa, he has become a key figure in advancing equitable, accessible, and community-centered health care. In this conversation, Peter shares deeply personal stories of growing up in a Catholic family of 14 children, his parents’ powerful influence, and how faith and resilience shaped his life path. From returning to work at the very hospital where he was born to leading CHAG and international health associations, Peter reflects on the intersection of family values, education, faith, and leadership — and how they guide his vision for health equity across Africa.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Peter and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Connect with Peter's organization via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and CHAG website. Share your thoughts on this episode at Walk Talk Listen Feedback. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit my website at 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our initiatives. Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All" featuring CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Nayla Tabbara is a Lebanese scholar, activist, and co-founder of Adyan, an organization dedicated to promoting coexistence, diversity, and interreligious solidarity. With decades of experience in interfaith dialogue, citizenship education, and pluralism, Nayla has become a leading voice in bridging divides across communities. She currently serves as Adyan’s President and has been instrumental in shaping its vision of living together in diversity. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Nayla reflects on her childhood during Lebanon’s Civil War, the daily realities of conflict, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to building peace and resilience. She shares the story of Adyan’s founding, its work uniting Muslims, Christians, and those beyond religious identity, and the challenges of addressing displacement, injustice, and extremism in today’s world. This conversation moves from deeply personal memories to global perspectives, offering wisdom on how diversity, when embraced, becomes a source of strength.   Listener Engagement: Discover the song picked by Nayla and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Connect with Nayla via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Adyan Foundation website. Share your thoughts on this episode at Walk Talk Listen Feedback. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter and Instagram. Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives. Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All" featuring CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

This week’s Walk Talk Listen comes with a quick update. Due to my travels to South Africa for the G20 Interfaith Forum, the regular episode will be released on Friday morning instead of Wednesday. In this special intermezzo, I share my reflections from the forum in Cape Town, where over 400 participants gathered under the theme Ubuntu in Action – Focus on Vulnerable Communities. These impressions were first published on jliflc.com, and I hope you enjoy hearing them here as well. If you’d like to support the podcast, please share and like my posts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Blue Sky—and let me know if you have ideas for future guests. Your feedback and encouragement help keep Walk Talk Listen growing.

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, I’m joined by Dr. Sherrie Steiner, Associate Professor of Sociology at Purdue University Fort Wayne and historian for the G20 Interfaith Forum. Speaking with openness and candor, Sherrie takes us from her childhood in the California desert through the challenges that shaped her resilience, to her work today in environmental sociology, public health, and global policy. We explore her research on the health impacts of heavy metals, her newly published book documenting religious leaders’ engagement with the G20 system, and her belief that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals demands both political will and inner transformation. Along the way, she reflects on the people, moments, and choices that have shaped her understanding of what love means in action. You can find her latest book at Brill. This is the discount code: DGBSUMMER25 (valid until August 31, 2025).   Listener Engagement: Discover the songs picked by Sherrie and other guests on our #walktalklisten here. Connect with Sherrie via:  LinkedIn. Share your thoughts on this episode at innovationhub@cwsglobal.org. Your feedback is invaluable to us. Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter and Instagram. Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives. Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All" featuring CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).