With Compassion

The Charter for Compassion with Jennifer Nadel

With Compassion, a global podcast series that brings together visionary voices from around the world to explore how compassion can serve as both compass and catalyst for transformational change. The podcast premieres November 19, as part of the soft launch of the Compassion Transformation Institute, the Charter’s new educational and cultural hub designed to support the next generation of compassion leaders, educators, and changemakers. Hosted by Jennifer Nadel, co-founder of Compassion in Politics, journalist, lawyer, and lifelong advocate for justice, With Compassion will feature active, challenging, and deeply engaged conversations that reimagine how compassion can reshape our systems, our stories, and our shared future. For more information, visit: https://charterforcompassion.org/what-we-do/offer-compassionate-education/podcast-series/with-compassion.html thecharterforcompassion.substack.com

Episodes

  1. An Accidental Activist: Joan Blades' Journey

    12/03/2025

    An Accidental Activist: Joan Blades' Journey

    In this episode of the With Compassion podcast, Jennifer Nadel speaks with Joan Blades, an accidental activist and co-founder of MoveOn.org. They discuss Joan’s journey from a simple petition during the Clinton impeachment scandal to leading significant movements like Moms Rising and Living Room Conversations. Joan emphasizes the importance of compassion, community, and collaboration in activism, especially in the face of polarization and systemic bias against mothers. The conversation explores the challenges of opposing the Iraq War, the need for supportive workplace environments, and the role of healthy conflict in political discussions. Joan shares her vision for a future where diverse viewpoints can coexist and work towards common goals, highlighting the power of human connection and understanding. Takeaways * Joan Blades describes herself as an accidental activist. * The first petition for MoveOn.org went viral, gathering 100,000 signatures in a week. * Polarization has been a persistent issue in American politics. * Moms Rising was created to address systemic bias against mothers. * Compassion in the workplace leads to better organizational health. * Living Room Conversations aim to bridge divides through structured dialogue. * Healthy conflict can lead to better understanding and solutions. * The media often amplifies divisive narratives, impacting public perception. * Restoring trust in communities is essential for progress. * Activism requires collaboration and a focus on shared goals. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecharterforcompassion.substack.com

    38 min
  2. The Mayor Who Made Compassion His Mission

    11/19/2025

    The Mayor Who Made Compassion His Mission

    We are thrilled to announce the launch of With Compassion, a new podcast hosted by Jennifer Nadel, founder of Compassion in Politics – UK and proudly sponsored by the Charter for Compassion. In our debut episode, Jennifer sits down with Greg Fischer, former Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, for a deeply insightful conversation on compassion, civic responsibility, and compassionate leadership in politics. Greg Fischer is not your typical politician — under his 12-year tenure as mayor, he made compassion one of Louisville’s three core city values, alongside health and lifelong learning. Here’s a glimpse of the powerful themes explored in the episode: * Compassionate City Movement: Fischer led Louisville’s commitment to the International Charter for Compassion, turning it into one of the world’s model Compassionate Cities. * Give A Day Week: His signature civic initiative, an annual week of service, volunteerism, and acts of kindness, inspired citizens across the city — and broke its own world record for number of compassionate acts. * Institutionalizing Compassion: In 2019, Fischer helped launch Compassionate Louisville as a 501(c)(3) organization — ensuring that the city’s compassion work would outlast any single mayoral administration. * Leading in Crisis: Even in moments of tension and tragedy — like the vandalism of a mosque — Fischer called on the community to respond with unity and generosity. Within days, hundreds rallied to repaint and restore, turning an act of hate into an outpouring of solidarity. * Global Compassion Leadership: Louisville, under Fischer, wasn’t just locally minded — he led delegations of mayors to meet his Holiness the Dalai Lama, and nurtured a network of other cities exploring the Charter for Compassion. In their conversation, Jennifer and Greg dive into the power of compassion in public life: How do you make “compassion” more than a slogan — building it into the fabric of a community? And how can civic responsibility thrive in turbulent times? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecharterforcompassion.substack.com

    25 min

About

With Compassion, a global podcast series that brings together visionary voices from around the world to explore how compassion can serve as both compass and catalyst for transformational change. The podcast premieres November 19, as part of the soft launch of the Compassion Transformation Institute, the Charter’s new educational and cultural hub designed to support the next generation of compassion leaders, educators, and changemakers. Hosted by Jennifer Nadel, co-founder of Compassion in Politics, journalist, lawyer, and lifelong advocate for justice, With Compassion will feature active, challenging, and deeply engaged conversations that reimagine how compassion can reshape our systems, our stories, and our shared future. For more information, visit: https://charterforcompassion.org/what-we-do/offer-compassionate-education/podcast-series/with-compassion.html thecharterforcompassion.substack.com