Saint Martin's Cloak

Andrew Loftesnes and Miloš Maggiore
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Welcome to the Saint Martin’s Cloak podcast! Our mission is to shed light on humanitarian issues around the world in a way that will inform listeners of the ground truth, while always centering the human stories and voices of individuals and populations in focus. Our focus is on humans, not statistics. Over the course of this series, we will be speaking to humanitarian workers on the ground, as well as the people directly affected by the crisis at hand. We want to look beyond what is (or often isn’t) represented in the media and to remind ourselves of the human story behind the headlines. The purpose of knowledge is to inform action. At the end of each episode, we will always ask our participants to provide listeners with actionable steps they can take to help. We are already actively planning on episodes concerning Sudan, Gaza, Iran, Ukraine, and immigration in the United States among many others. If we haven’t covered a topic yet, it’s because we are searching for the right voice from that community to tell us that story. If you have any suggestions about topics to cover or people to talk to, please send us a DM here or an email at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com Wishing you courage and health, Andrew and Miloš

  1. 2d ago

    SMC - Ep. 17 - Mohanad El-Balal - Khartoum Aid Kitchen - Sudan - June 3, 2026

    The world is not talking about Sudan enough. At Saint Martin’s Cloak we are committed to changing that. We spoke with Mohanad El-Balal, the co-founder of Khartoum Aid Kitchen about the realities that the Sudanese people are enduring amid the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, how the Sudanese led efforts and volunteers of Khartoum Aid Kitchen are saving lives on the ground on a daily basis, the history of UAE support to the RSF militia in Sudan, Colombian mercenaries, the impact of foreign aid cuts, misconceptions of Sudan in the media, how the international community has failed Sudan, the human stories behind the headlines, and much more. If you are involved with humanitarian aid that the world needs to know about, we want to hear from you. Drop us an email at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com or follow us on Instagram at saintmartinscloak_pod Stay strong, stay safe, and stay brave,  Andrew and Miloš To donate to Khartoum Aid Kitchen’s life saving efforts, click here To follow and get in touch with Khartoum Aid Kitchen -  Khartoum Aid Kitchen websiteKhartoum Aid Kitchen Twitter Mohanad ElBalal personal TwitterReports on genocide, war crimes, and foreign involvement in Sudan - Limkin Institute Active Genocide Alert in Sudan Refugees International report on UAE enabling of RSF genocide in Sudan  Antony Blinken declaration of RSF genocide in Sudan UN report on RSF genocide in al-Fasher Conflict Insights Group (CGI) report on Colombian mercenaries presence in al-Fasher BBC article on UAE recruitment of Colombian mercenaries

    1h 29m

  2. May 22

    SMC - Ep. 16 - Jessie Ebersole - Washington English Center - American Immigration Series (Part 1)

    America is a nation of immigrants and so we’re proud to be kicking off our American immigration series - to provide actionable ways you can help immigrants in America right now. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Jessie Ebersole, who is the Director of Programs at the Washington English Center. The mission of the Washington English Center is “To provide affordable English-language instruction and workforce programs to adult immigrants using volunteers.” We hear from Jessie about her personal motivations to teach English language classes to immigrants and refugees, how language instruction can change someone's life, the importance of community, the personal stories of some of the students she’s worked with, how the Washington English Center is making a real impact in people's lives, and much more.  To reach out to the Washington English Center and register to volunteer, sign up for classes, and support their mission, click here www.washingtonenglish.org To reach out to Jessie directly to learn how you can support the Washington English Center, email her at - jebersole@washingtonenglish.org  Drop us an email at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com or give us a follow on Instagram @saintmartinscloak_pod Stay strong, stay safe, and stay brave, Andrew and Miloš

    38 min

  3. May 19

    SMC - Ep. 15 - Andrea Tracy - Sudan - Proximity 2 Humanity - Mutual Aid Sudan Coalition

    How can you help save lives in Sudan? In today’s episode, the first of what will be our long running coverage on Sudan, we speak with Andrea Tracy, the Director of the Mutual Aid Program at Proximity 2 Humanity. Andrea has over 25 years of international aid experience and with her teammates at Proximity 2 Humanity and the Mutual Aid Sudan Coalition, she is leading international support efforts to Sudanese grassroots aid. This is truly life saving work. We hear from Andrea about the devastating impact of USAID cuts both in Sudan and around the world, Sudan’s grassroots Emergency Response Rooms and the local volunteers who operate them, the critical Women’s Response Rooms lead by Sudanese women on the ground, how Proximity 2 Humanity gets 95 cents of every dollar to aid efforts on the ground, and much more.  To donate to the life saving work of the Mutual Aid Sudan Coalition, click here Follow them on Instagram @mutual.aid.sudan  Click here to support Proximity 2 Humanity  For a New York Times article on the Ebola outbreak Andrea discusses in the interview, click here Further reading on Sudan: Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Explained - by Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy for the Council on Foreign Relations The Specter of Genocide Returns to Darfur - by David J Scheffer for the Council on Foreign Relations Nicholas Kristof New York Times articles on Sudan - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/opinion/holiday-gift-guide.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/opinion/famine-darfur-civil-war.html The Most Nihilistic Conflict on Earth by Anne Applebaum for The Atlantic Drop us an email at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com or give us a follow on Instagram @saintmartinscloak_pod Stay strong, stay safe, and stay brave,  Andrew and Miloš

    54 min

  4. May 10

    SMC - Ep. 14 - Sabine Choucair - Clown Me In - Lebanon

    Can the shackles of trauma be beaten by laughter? On today’s episode, we sat down with Sabine Choucair, co-founder of Clown Me In. With qualifications in performing arts from London and social therapy from New York, she has dedicated her life to using her performance and clowning background to spread joy and laughter among disadvantaged communities around the world. We hear about Sabine’s experiences transitioning to the humanitarian field, what goes into the preparations for performances in Lebanon, Gaza, and Türkiye, and how storytelling connects us all as humans regardless of our backgrounds. You can support Sabine and Clown Me In here or visit - https://clownmein.com/support-us/ Give them a follow on Instagram @clownmein Be sure to check out our previous episodes about Lebanon to learn about additional ways you can support efforts on the ground directly. Have a question or suggestion for a topic/participant? Drop us an email at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com or check out our Instagram @saintmartinscloak_pod Stay strong, stay safe, and stay brave, Andrew and Miloš

    1h 5m

  5. May 9

    SMC - Ep. 13 - Cycles and Ceasefires - Lebanon - Voices from the Ground

    "Something always lingers - the news, the dark hours unfolding back home. You smile, you function, you blend into a new normal, yet you are never fully at rest" - Imane Assaf We continue to stand with our friends in Lebanon and to share their stories. In our latest Voices from the Ground installment, we relay messages from Imane Assaf of Ahla Fawda, shared with us just before the recent May 5th strikes on Beirut, in which she ponders the fragility of the ceasefire as the risk of violence continues to hold its grip on everyday life. To support Ahla Fawda's grassroots humanitarian aid efforts in Lebanon, click here or visit - https://gogetfunding.com/ahla-fawdas-lebanon-war-relief-mission-2026/ To reach out to Ahla Fawda directly, click here or visit - https://ahlafawda.org/ To reach out to the Saint Martin's Cloak Podcast, follow and DM us on Instagram @saintmartinscloak_pod or email us at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com

    9 min

  6. Apr 23

    SMC - Ep. 12 - Elina Beketova - Life under Russian Occupation - Ukraine

    What is life truly like under Russian occupation? In this episode, we sat down with Elina Beketova, a former Ukrainian journalist and current research fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, or CEPA. We hear from Elina as she recounts her work reporting on the annexation of Crimea, the challenges of sharing the stories from occupied territories, and her own experiences of the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. We encourage you to follow Elina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elina-beketova  Check out her “Behind the Lines” tracker and analyses here: https://cepa.org/programs/democratic-resilience/behind-the-lines/ Donate to Ukrainian efforts here: Razom - https://www.razomforukraine.org/ United Help Ukraine - https://unitedhelpukraine.org/ Novi - https://www.novi.ngo/ Wow Vdoma - https://www.instagram.com/vdoma_wow/ Be sure to check out our previous episode with Ukrainian Patriot to learn more about relief works on the ground with additional donation resources. Have a question or suggestion for a topic/participant? Drop us an email at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com or check out our instagram @saintmartinscloak_pod Stay strong, stay safe, and stay brave, Andrew and Miloš

    55 min

  7. Apr 21

    SMC - Ep. 11 - Behind Every Headline are Families - Lebanon - Voices from the Ground April 21, 2026

    "Behind every headline are families." - Imane Assaf We continue to stand with our friends in Lebanon and to share their stories. In our latest Voices from the Ground installment, we relay messages from Imane Assaf of Ahla Fawda after the Israeli attacks of April 8 in Lebanon, as well as the reaction of herself and those around her to the news of a ceasefire declaration and the uncertainty that brings. To support Ahla Fawda’s grassroots humanitarian aid efforts in Lebanon, click here or visit -  https://gogetfunding.com/ahla-fawdas-lebanon-war-relief-mission-2026/ To reach out to Ahla Fawda directly, click here or visit -   https://ahlafawda.org/ To reach out to the Saint Martin’s Cloak Podcast, follow and DM us on Instagram @saintmartinscloak_pod or email us at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com

    20 min

  8. Apr 20

    SMC - Ep. 10 - Marie-Gabrielle Corm - EQUAL NGO Lebanon - April 20, 2026

    What challenges do the visually impaired face during a time of war? In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Marie-Gabrielle Corm, a sociologist and the co-founder and executive director of EQUAL, a Franciscan NGO in Lebanon. We hear from Marie-Gabrielle about EQUAL’s critical work with Lebanon’s visually impaired population, the extra challenges that visually impaired people face when they are displaced in an active war zone, along with EQUAL’s work with migrants, women’s rights, child protection and much more. This is a truly unique conversation about a team with a vital mission in humanitarian aid. We encourage you to reach out to EQUAL directly to learn more about their mission and how you can help. If you know anyone involved with support to visually impaired communities, we encourage you to share this episode with them and help spread the word about EQUAL's mission. To reach out to EQUAL directly, email them at - info@equalngo.org To visit the EQUAL website, click here or visit -  https://equalngo.org/ To follow EQUAL on Facebook, click here or visit -  https://www.facebook.com/equal.ngo.lb/ To follow EQUAL on Instagram, click here or visit -  @equal.ngo  You can reach out to us at the Saint Martin's Cloak podcast at saintmartinscloakpod@protonmail.com or on Instagram @saintmartinscloak_pod

    48 min
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Welcome to the Saint Martin’s Cloak podcast! Our mission is to shed light on humanitarian issues around the world in a way that will inform listeners of the ground truth, while always centering the human stories and voices of individuals and populations in focus. Our focus is on humans, not statistics. Over the course of this series, we will be speaking to humanitarian workers on the ground, as well as the people directly affected by the crisis at hand. We want to look beyond what is (or often isn’t) represented in the media and to remind ourselves of the human story behind the headlines. The purpose of knowledge is to inform action. At the end of each episode, we will always ask our participants to provide listeners with actionable steps they can take to help. We are already actively planning on episodes concerning Sudan, Gaza, Iran, Ukraine, and immigration in the United States among many others. If we haven’t covered a topic yet, it’s because we are searching for the right voice from that community to tell us that story. If you have any suggestions about topics to cover or people to talk to, please send us a DM here or an email at saintmartinscloak@protonmail.com Wishing you courage and health, Andrew and Miloš

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew Loftesnes and Miloš Maggiore
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Andrew Loftesnes and Miloš Maggiore
  • Show Website
    Saint Martin's Cloak