Walk Talk Listen Podcast

Maurice A. Bloem
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Walk Talk Listen, an attempt to connect people and make this world a bit better by sharing opinions and experiences based on the belief that everyone’s perspective is true albeit partial. It is also an effort to create awareness and to inspire a growing group of listeners to be engaged with the Global Goals (SDGs) and their attainment. A spin-off of the 100 mile walk. #gotheextra100mile

  1. 6d ago

    A New Sense of Possibility with Sam Daley-Harris - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 258)

    Sam Daley-Harris joins Walk Talk Listen to reflect on an unlikely journey that began in Miami, Florida, where he grew up in an observant Jewish household and discovered a love of music that eventually led him to play percussion in the Miami Philharmonic Orchestra and teach high school music. Experiences around the deaths of a friend and Robert F. Kennedy prompted Sam to begin asking questions that would stay with him: “Why am I here? What am I here to do? What’s my purpose?” A 1977 presentation on ending world hunger then challenged his assumption that hunger was inevitable. Sam realized that while he might feel hopeless about human nature, there was one human nature he could do something about: his own. That realization eventually contributed to Sam founding RESULTS in 1980, followed by his work with the Microcredit Summit Campaign and Civic Courage. In the conversation, Sam explores what he calls “transformational advocacy”: not only working to change policies and systems, but creating the support that enables people to do things they never thought they could do and, in the process, see themselves differently. Maurice and Sam also talk about younger generations, faith and spirituality, fear, cynicism and hope, the Sustainable Development Goals and Inner Development Goals, and why organizations sometimes underestimate what volunteers are capable of. Near the end, Sam asks whether something in the conversation might have “sparked some excitement, sparked some hope, sparked some new sense of possibility.” Music, fittingly, remains part of his story, with Sam choosing Dan Hill’s Hold On and Peter Mayer’s Holy Now as pieces that speak to who he is. Listener Engagement Learn more about Sam and Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy at reclaimingourdemocracy.com. You can also learn about his work through Civic Courage and RESULTS, and follow Sam on LinkedIn and Instagram (@samdaleyharris). Sam specifically invited listeners who would like to learn more or explore ways of getting involved to complete his Sign-up Sheet. Don’t only listen to Hold On by Dan Hill and Holy Now by Peter Mayer, Sam’s music choices, but also the songs picked by other guests on the Walk Talk Listen Spotify playlist. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us Support Walk Talk Listen by following the 100 Mile Hunger Walk on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information. Check out the special Walk Talk Listen series Enough for All and learn more about the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI).

  2. Sep 23

    I Intentionally Go Small Picture with Lisa le Roux - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 257)

    Dr. Elisabet “Lisa” le Roux joins Walk Talk Listen from Stellenbosch, South Africa, and takes us back to her childhood as the youngest of four children, growing up in a home where faith, theology, books and conversations were part of everyday life. Her father was a minister and later taught theology at Stellenbosch University, while her parents modeled a conviction that became a kind of guiding light for Lisa: your life should make a positive difference, even if that difference is small. Lisa also recalls becoming aware of gender inequality remarkably early, including a childhood encounter with a library registration form that made her wonder why women, but not men, were defined by whether they were married. That early journey eventually took Lisa to the mountains of Lesotho, where living alongside people affected by HIV/AIDS profoundly shaped the direction of her life, and later into nearly two decades of research on religion, gender equality and violence against women and girls. Today, through her work with Stellenbosch University and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), Lisa continues to explore the complicated role of religion: faith communities can help challenge violence and harmful norms, while at the same time sometimes reinforcing them. Lisa talks about listening, participatory and feminist approaches to research, and what researchers themselves must be willing to learn and unlearn. She also reflects on hope and why, when the problems of the world feel overwhelming, she intentionally chooses to “go small picture” and focus on the difference we can make in the lives immediately around us. Her musical choice is Toto’s Africa. Listener Engagement Learn more about Lisa’s work through Stellenbosch University and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI). Don’t only listen to “Africa” by Toto, Lisa’s song choice, but also the songs picked by other guests on the Walk Talk Listen Spotify playlist. Share your feedback on this episode through our Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information. Check out the special Walk Talk Listen series Enough for All and learn more about the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI) and its work connecting evidence, learning, faith and locally rooted experience.

  3. Sep 16

    Hope Means the Small Daily Actions We Can Take with Andrés Martínez-García - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 256)

    Andrés Martínez-García is a psychologist and peacebuilder whose professional journey began with people directly affected by Colombia's decades of violence. Born and raised in Bogotá, Andrés recalls a happy childhood while recognizing how much his parents did to protect him and his twin brother from dangers they did not always fully understand at the time. His first job as a psychologist brought him face-to-face with that other Colombian reality, providing psychosocial support to landmine survivors and victims of violence. The experience convinced him that addressing trauma alone was not enough without also confronting the conditions that produce violence. It eventually led him into peacebuilding and to a lifelong interest in how psychology, peace, religion and spirituality intersect. A particularly formative moment came when a patient asked him to pray with her, leaving the young psychologist wondering where professional boundaries ended and the spiritual dimensions of healing began. Today, Andrés is Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI), where he helps lead the LAC Regional Learning Hub and works at the intersection of faith, mental health, evidence and locally led development. In this conversation, we explore why sustainable peace requires attention to trauma and personal and community healing; the religious diversity of Latin America and the Caribbean; what younger generations may be teaching us about spirituality, institutions and connection; and why local organizations and religious actors need to help determine the questions that research asks rather than simply participate in someone else's agenda. Andrés also responds to Doug Fountain's question about loneliness, reflects on his hopes and concerns for his daughter in an increasingly technological world, and explains why Bob Marley's Redemption Song speaks so deeply to his work and who he is. Before we finish, he adds Mercedes Sosa's Gracias a la Vida, another song that holds pain and suffering together with hope. Listener Engagement: Learn more about Andrés and his work through his LinkedIn profile. You can also learn more about the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI) and follow JLI on its social media channels. Don't only listen to Bob Marley's Redemption Song and Mercedes Sosa's Gracias a la Vida, picked by Andrés, but also the songs chosen by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Share your feedback on this episode through our 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).

  4. Sep 9

    We Can Do Better. We Must Do Better with Doug Fountain - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 255)

    Doug Fountain has spent nearly four decades working at the intersection of Christian mission, health systems and global development, but his journey toward that work began much earlier. Growing up in Oregon, Doug's life changed when his mother became seriously ill when he was nine and eventually spent much of the last 20 years of her life bedridden. Caring for her alongside his father taught him about caregiving, responsibility and the realities of health, while a painful response from their church also forced him to wrestle with what faith should and should not look like. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Doug reflects on wanting to become a missionary doctor, discovering instead a passion for public policy and systems, and eventually coming full circle into global health. He also shares how eight years living and working in Uganda fundamentally reshaped his understanding of international development: not arriving with solutions, but being invited to come alongside people who are themselves responsible for the change they want to make. Today Doug is Executive Director of Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH), where his work focuses on strengthening the visibility, quality and connectedness of faith-based health actors. Our conversation explores what faith communities can contribute to holistic health, where churches and faith-based organizations sometimes get things wrong, what genuinely locally led health systems require, and why funding and accountability need to be much more closely aligned. We also talk about trust between communities, institutions, governments and faith actors; Doug's concern about increasing loneliness and disconnection; what the SDGs have and have not accomplished; and why he finds the Inner Development Goals useful for thinking about the capacities leaders need to confront complex problems. Along the way, Doug shares a beautiful childhood story about a teacher and a box of geography flashcards, reflects on music and human connection, and leaves us with a challenge that runs throughout the conversation: we can do better, and we must do better. Listener Engagement: Learn more about Doug Fountain and his work through Christian Connections for International Health, and follow CCIH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. CCIH brings together Christian organizations, individuals and partners working to advance health and wholeness around the world. Don't only listen to the songs discussed by Doug, but also those chosen by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Share your feedback on this episode through our 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).

  5. Sep 2

    Just Listening to Them Can Change the World with Kathryn Kraft - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 254)

    Kathryn (Kati) Kraft is a sociologist whose work explores faith, child spirituality and human flourishing, particularly in contexts of vulnerability and displacement. A self-described third culture kid, Kati was born in the United States, spent much of her childhood in Brazil, later lived in Syria and Lebanon, and eventually made her home in England. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, she reflects on growing up in a deeply Christian environment, how friendships with Muslims in Syria challenged and expanded her understanding of faith, and how asking questions rather than making assumptions eventually shaped her career as a researcher. Now Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of East London, Kati previously served as Senior Research Advisor for Faith and Development at World Vision International. Our conversation turns especially to what adults can learn when we genuinely listen to children. Kati describes research involving 658 children whose answers about what mattered to them came back to something remarkably simple: love and loving relationships. We talk about children's spirituality, human flourishing, why adults and researchers are often not very good at listening to children, and why children's experiences cannot always be reduced to indicators or statistics. Kati also reflects on the SDGs and Inner Development Goals, the role of spirituality in development, and her recently edited open-access book, Children, Religion, and Development: Perspectives on Spirituality in Practice, which brings together scholars from different religious traditions while asking what practitioners across traditions can learn from them. The conversation also becomes personal as Kati talks about transition, hope, a memorable experience in an Orthodox church, and the song Faith More Precious Than Gold, which found her during a difficult moment. Listener Engagement: Learn more about Kati and her work via her LinkedIn. You can also read or download her open-access book, Children, Religion, and Development: Perspectives on Spirituality in Practice, which brings together different religious perspectives on children's spirituality and their implications for development practice. Don't only listen to the song picked by Kati, Faith More Precious Than Gold, but also those chosen by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. 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).

  6. Aug 26

    I Still Think I Could Change the World with Shreya Ramachandran - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 253)

    Shreya Ramachandran was just 13 when experiences with water scarcity in California and India moved her from curiosity to action. What began with research, workshops at libraries and community events, and eventually The Grey Water Project has grown into a decade of environmental leadership. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Shreya reflects on growing up as a self-described "library and museum kid," her connection to her grandparents and family roots in Chennai, and the freedom her parents gave her to explore, including allowing more than 100 plants to temporarily take over their bedroom for her greywater experiments. Looking back, she says she would tell her 13-year-old self to hold onto the same "boundless enthusiasm and energy" and the belief that she could change the world.      Now a Stanford graduate with a master's degree in Sustainability Science and Practice, Shreya works at the intersection of climate resilience, youth participation and environmental policy. She has represented young people through UN processes, helped develop climate action plans, and argues that meaningful youth participation requires bringing young people into agenda-setting and decision-making rather than inviting them in after decisions have already been shaped.  Our conversation explores what sustainability really means, why "action breeds hope," what older and younger generations can learn from one another, and why climate action becomes more powerful when people can see its connection to their own lives and health. We also talk about agency, kindness, the future she hopes to help create, and why she chose Rachel Platten's Fight Song as the music that represents her.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Shreya and her work via her LinkedIn or Instagram. Also check her organization's the Grey Water project website and Instagram. Don't only listen to the song picked by Shreya, but also those by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. 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).

  7. Aug 19

    Mashallah with Rima Alshawkani - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 252)

    Rima Alshawkani's story has unfolded across countries, languages and cultures. Born in New York to Yemeni parents, she spent parts of her childhood in Yemen, Ethiopia and Belgium before eventually settling in Northern Virginia. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Rima reflects on what those transitions taught her about belonging, independence and resilience. She remembers learning Arabic because she wanted to understand what her classmates were saying, cycling freely through Brussels, and walking through markets in Yemen as one of the only girls there alongside a father who encouraged her not to worry about whether she fit the norm, but simply to "keep on going."   Today Rima is Chief Financial Officer of the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities, an organization she joined in 2018 and has helped shape through several stages of its development. Our conversation goes well beyond finance, however. We talk about family, the influence of her father, raising two teenagers, learning to listen rather than immediately defend, and why she sees herself and her two children in the Arabic song Three Friends. We also talk about why she will walk through Washington, DC on September 25 as part of the 100-Mile Campaign: to help amplify voices from communities that too often remain unheard.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Rima and her work via her LinkedIn or the JLI website. Don't only listen to the song picked by Rima, but also those by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. 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).

  8. Aug 12

    How Ordinary People Create Extraordinary Change with Alvin Andanje - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 251)

    Growing up in western Kenya, Alvin Andanje learned that a community is built not only through shared geography, but through shared responsibility. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Alvin reflects on a childhood where neighbours cared for one another, where faith was expressed through everyday acts of kindness, and where the idea that "a child belongs to the community" shaped his understanding of life. Those early experiences continue to influence his work today, leading him to believe that lasting development is built as much on relationships, dignity and social capital as it is on infrastructure. Along the way, he shares moving stories about his family, the challenges surrounding his older brother's illness, the remarkable origin of his family name, and why he has "always had this fascination about how ordinary people create extraordinary change."   Today, Alvin serves as the Africa Regional Coordinator at the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI), where he also leads Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) for the Faith and Positive Change for Children initiative. With experience spanning more than twenty countries, he has contributed to research and learning on climate justice, peacebuilding, gender equality, vaccine uptake and the role of faith communities in development. During our conversation, he also reflects on the influence of the late Dr. Agnes Abuom, whose integrity and refusal to take shortcuts continue to shape his own leadership. Throughout this conversation, Alvin reminds us that extraordinary change often begins with ordinary people who choose to care, to serve and to walk alongside others.   Listener Engagement: Learn more about Alvin and his work via his LinkedIn or the JLI website. Don't only listen to the song picked by Alvin, but also those by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. 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).

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About

Walk Talk Listen, an attempt to connect people and make this world a bit better by sharing opinions and experiences based on the belief that everyone’s perspective is true albeit partial. It is also an effort to create awareness and to inspire a growing group of listeners to be engaged with the Global Goals (SDGs) and their attainment. A spin-off of the 100 mile walk. #gotheextra100mile

Information

  • Creator
    Maurice A. Bloem
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Walk Talk Listen Podcast