The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

MU Center for Peacemaking
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Creative problem solving is an essential skill in any peacebuilder's toolbox. In this series, the Marquette University Center for Peacemaking will interview peacemakers from a wide range of professions and disciplines to explore time-tested and novel ways that nonviolent action can infuse creativity and pragmatism into addressing pressing issues in our communities.

  1. 19h ago

    Discernment, Purpose, and the Mission of Catholic Higher Education with Conor Kelly

    What does it mean to live a good life, make difficult decisions with integrity, and build communities rooted in meaning and purpose? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne sits down with Conor Kelly, Associate Professor of Theology and Marquette University's incoming Vice President for Mission and Ministry, for a conversation about moral theology, ethical discernment, peacemaking, and the transformative role of higher education. Drawing from his scholarship and his co-authored book, Who Will You Become? An Ignatian Introduction to Catholic Theology, Kelly explores how the Ignatian tradition can help people navigate life's most important questions. He discusses the practice of discernment as prayerful decision-making, the challenges of cultivating moral clarity in a polarized age, and why courage often means acting on convictions we already know to be true. The conversation also examines the connections between theology and peacemaking, the importance of relationships and accompaniment, and how Catholic universities can help students develop lives of meaning, service, and ethical leadership. Whether you are a student, educator, leader, or someone wrestling with life's big questions, this episode offers thoughtful insights into courage, vocation, community, and the ongoing work of becoming the people we are called to be. Recommended resource: Who Will You Become? An Ignatian Introduction to Catholic Theology (https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/Who-Will-You-Become)

  2. Oct 23

    Creating Space for Courage: Reflection, Service, and the Common Good with Dr. Jennifer Maney

    What if one of the most courageous acts in today's noisy, distracted world is simply to slow down and reflect? In this episode of The Need for Courage, John Byrne speaks with Dr. Jennifer Maney, Director of Marquette University's Center for Teaching and Learning and recipient of Marquette's Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award. Together, they explore how Ignatian pedagogy, service learning, discernment, and reflection can help students become not only successful professionals, but people committed to justice, solidarity, and the common good. The conversation examines the challenges facing higher education today, from AI and social media to rising polarization and anxiety among students. Dr. Jennifer Maney explains why Jesuit education remains uniquely relevant in this moment, offering practices such as reflection, contemplation, and community-building that help students develop moral and intellectual courage. Along the way, she shares powerful stories from Marquette's nationally recognized service-learning program, reflects on the difference between charity and justice, and offers a hopeful vision for how education can prepare students to create a more peaceful world. Recommended resource: On the Vocation of the Educator in This Moment (edited by Dr. Maney with Dr. Melissa Shew, 2021).

  3. Oct 16

    Building Peace Through Opportunity: Hope, Entrepreneurship, and El Salvador with Annie Boyd-Ramirez

    What does peacebuilding look like beyond diplomacy and conflict resolution? For Annie Boyd-Ramirez, it begins with accompaniment, opportunity, and hope. A 2007 Marquette graduate and co-founder of Programa Velasco, Annie joins host John Byrne to discuss how empowering women entrepreneurs, supporting families, expanding access to mental health services, and investing in children can help build more peaceful communities in El Salvador. Drawing on nearly two decades of work, Annie shares the story of Programa Velasco's evolution from a small scholarship initiative to a holistic organization supporting economic well-being, trauma-informed care, and community resilience. She also reflects on the role of Marquette students, global citizenship, and why hope is not passive waiting but an intentional commitment to creating a better future. Learn more about Programa Velasco and ways to support its work at Programa Velasco.

  4. Oct 9

    Can We Abolish War? Rethinking Peace, Power, and the Catholic Tradition with David Cochran

    What if war is far less effective than we have been led to believe? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne welcomes Dr. David Cochran, professor of politics at Loras College, co-director of the Peace and Justice Minor, and author of The Catholic Case Against War: A Brief Guide. Drawing from both political science research and Catholic social teaching, Cochran examines the human costs of war, the limits of military power, and the growing movement within the Catholic Church toward a just peace ethic. He reflects on recent developments at the Vatican, his participation in a Rome conference on nonviolence, and what contemporary research reveals about the effectiveness of armed conflict compared to nonviolent alternatives. The conversation explores just war theory, civilian suffering, international cooperation, the promise of active nonviolence, and the courageous individuals who have challenged cycles of violence around the world. At a time of global conflict and uncertainty, Cochran offers a compelling case for why peacemaking requires not naïveté, but courage, imagination, and a renewed commitment to building a more just and peaceful world. Learn more about Professor Cochran's work here.

  5. Oct 2

    Discerning AI: Ethics, Technology, and the Future of Human Flourishing with Dr. Michael Zimmer

    Artificial intelligence is transforming education, work, public policy, and daily life at a breathtaking pace. But how should we discern when these technologies serve humanity and when they threaten human dignity, privacy, and the common good? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne sits down with Michael Zimmer, director of Marquette University's Center for Data, Ethics, and Society, to explore the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Drawing on decades of research in privacy, surveillance, internet ethics, and technology policy, Zimmer discusses why human judgment must remain at the center of decision-making, the importance of cultivating ethical reflection alongside technological innovation, and how Marquette's new Discerning AI Community of Practice seeks to bring Jesuit values to one of the defining issues of our time. Their conversation explores AI regulation, privacy, data centers, social justice, the enduring influence of media scholar Neil Postman, and the question facing universities, policymakers, and citizens alike: How do we harness powerful new technologies without losing sight of our humanity? A thoughtful discussion about technology, ethics, and the courage required to navigate an uncertain future.

  6. Sep 25

    The Courage to Welcome the Stranger: Immigration, Faith, and Belonging with Sergio Gonzalez

    What do we owe one another in an age of migration, uncertainty, and political division? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Dr. Sergio Gonzalez, historian at Marquette University and nationally recognized scholar of immigration, religion, and Latino history. Together they explore the history of immigration in the United States, the role of faith communities in welcoming newcomers, the origins and meaning of sanctuary movements, and the moral questions facing communities today. Drawing on his research and forthcoming books on sanctuary activism, Gonzalez reflects on human dignity, solidarity, and the ways ordinary people can respond courageously when confronted with injustice. He also offers a hopeful vision of education, civic engagement, and the responsibility to see immigrants not simply for what they contribute, but as fellow members of our common human family.

  7. Sep 4

    Courage, Nonviolence, and Becoming Fully Human with Martin Sheen

    What does it mean to live courageously in a world shaped by fear? In this episode of The Need for Courage, the Center for Peacemaking welcomes acclaimed actor, activist, and Marquette University honorary degree recipient Martin Sheen for a wide-ranging conversation on nonviolence, spirituality, community, and the lifelong work of peacemaking. Drawing on his friendships with figures such as Daniel Berrigan, his reflections on Mahatma Gandhi, and his engagement with the nonviolent teachings of Jesus, Sheen explores how fear often limits our humanity and how courage can set us free. He discusses poetry as a “proxy language of the spirit,” the challenges and rewards of nonviolent living, and why authentic faith must be lived rather than merely professed. Whether discussing activism, faith, poetry, or patriotism, Sheen offers a compelling invitation to become more fully human by embracing courage, community, and the practice of nonviolence. Listen to the Martin Sheen Podcast: https://martinsheenpodcast.com/

  8. Aug 28

    Universal Love, Civil Disobedience, and the Nonviolent Jesus with Fr. John Dear

    In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Father John Dear, peace activist, author, and Executive Director of the Beatitudes Center for the Nonviolent Jesus. Drawing on decades of advocacy, more than forty books, and a lifetime of work for peace and justice, Dear reflects on the nonviolence of Jesus, the spiritual foundations of civil disobedience, and the challenges facing peacemakers in a time of war, political polarization, nuclear threat, and climate crisis. The conversation explores Dear's latest book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace, his longstanding collaboration with Terry Rynne and the Center for Peacemaking, lessons from leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Andrew Young, and Cornel West, and his hopes for forming a new generation of peacemakers. Ultimately, Dear offers a vision of hope grounded not in optimism, but in faithfulness to the work of nonviolence and universal compassion. You can find Dear’s new book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace, here: https://johndear.org/universal-love-surrendering-to-the-god-of-peace/ Dear’s podcast, The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast, is here: https://beatitudescenter.org/podcast/

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About

Creative problem solving is an essential skill in any peacebuilder's toolbox. In this series, the Marquette University Center for Peacemaking will interview peacemakers from a wide range of professions and disciplines to explore time-tested and novel ways that nonviolent action can infuse creativity and pragmatism into addressing pressing issues in our communities.

Information

  • Creator
    MU Center for Peacemaking
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MU Center for Peacemaking

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