The Keeper: A Human Rights Podcast

The Lantos Foundation
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Bimonthly

Hosted by Lantos Foundation President, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, The Keeper features in depth conversations about the most pressing matters of human rights and justice around the world and welcomes some of the most important human rights figures of our time as guests.The Keeper takes its name from the personal conviction of the Lantos Foundation's namesake Congressman Tom Lantos, fully lived out in his own life, that we have a moral and ethical obligation to be our brother and sister’s keeper. This guiding principle led Congressman Lantos to found the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and use his eloquence, leadership, and personal passion to advocate fiercely on behalf of those whose human rights were being trampled in every corner of the world.

  1. 07/28/2025

    Episode 34: The Re-arrest of Rwandan Opposition Leader Victoire Ingabire

    Episode Notes  Episode 34: The Re-arrest of Rwandan Opposition Leader Victoire Ingabire  On June 17, 2025, Victoire Ingabire was at her home in Kigali, Rwanda, when she received an unusual phone call. She was being summoned by the High Court of Rwanda, and she was required to appear before the court two days later. Victoire was, of course, familiar with the case. It involved supporters of her political party, who were arrested and detained in the days leading up to a celebration of “Ingabire Day,” in honor of Victoire. But over the course of more than three years, Victoire herself had never been called to court for questioning. She answered the summons. She appeared in court. She hoped this would be the end of it. But it was not.  This special episode explores the recent re-arrest of Victoire Ingabire, one of the most prominent dissident voices in Rwanda. It features interviews with her children and legal team, recounting her previous imprisonment by the Rwandan regime and the fear and uncertainty that accompanies this latest arrest.    Rwanda arrests opposition leader Ingabire, her lawyer protests  The Keeper Episode 19: The Real Story of Kagame’s Rwanda   Victoire Ingabire: Opinion pieces in The Guardian  Victoire Inbagire: Opinion pieces in Al Jazeera  Victoire Ingabire with the Polis Project  An Open-Air Prison – Victoire Ingabire on HRF’s Dissidents and Dictators podcast  Producers: Brittany Smith, Chelsea Hedquist    Audio editor: Brittany Smith   Music:   A Distant Call · Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz, Tone Seeker  Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):  https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/whispers-in-the-dark  License code: WBBC6MJARZZFNOYE

  2. 04/29/2025

    Episode 33: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Rachel Miner”

    Episode Notes  Episode 33: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Rachel Miner”  The final episode of this season features a conversation with Rachel Miner, founder and executive director of Bellwether International. Bellwether is a global non-profit taking action to disrupt the cycle of genocide and to create genocide resistant, human rights rights-respecting societies that can live in peace. She is one of the brightest stars of the younger generation that will soon be carrying the torch of international religious freedom. Listening to this wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation, you will likely agree that the movement will be in good hands with women like Rachel leading the way.   Bellwether International  Rachel Miner articles in Deseret News    Producers: Brittany Smith, Chelsea Hedquist & Celie Hudson   Audio editors: Brittany Smith & Celie Hudon  Music:  Always Hopeful - Silent Partner    • Always Hopeful – Silent Partner (No C...

  3. 04/15/2025

    Episode 32: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Michal Cotler Wunsh”

    Episode Notes  Episode 32: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Michal Cotler Wunsh”  The fourth episode of this podcast season features a conversation with Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism. She has had an impressive career as a member of the Israeli Knesset, a researcher, policy advisor, advocate and more. Her appointment as Special Envoy came at an unbelievably critical moment – when the brutal attacks of October 7 sparked an unprecedented surge of global antisemitism. This stark reality has made Michal’s powerful, eloquent, brave voice on this topic more important than ever. In this episode, she talks about the shocking antisemitism witnessed in the aftermath of October 7; what companies, universities and governments can do to better combat rising antisemitism; how the legacy of her father Professor Irwin Cotler motivates and inspires here; and what gives her hope, even in these dark times.  Note: The conversation took place in late 2024, so there are developments in the Middle East and elsewhere that have happened in the intervening months but are not covered in this episode.  Bio: Michal Cotler-Wunsh  Michal Cotler-Wunsh on X    Producers: Brittany Smith, Chelsea Hedquist & Celie Hudson   Audio editors: Brittany Smith & Celie Hudon  Music:      • Always Hopeful – Silent Partner (No C...

  4. 04/01/2025

    Episode 31: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Rushan Abbas

    Episode Notes Episode 31: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Rushan Abbas This third episode of our “Women Leading the Way on Freedom of Religion or Belief” season brings you a conversation with Rushan Abbas, one of the most prominent and respected activists for the rights of the Uyghur people. She is founder and executive director of the Campaign for Uyghurs. For decades, she has advocated fearlessly on behalf of Uyghur Muslims – a religious and ethnic m...

  5. 03/18/2025

    Episode 30: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Anila Ali

    Episode Notes Episode 30: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Anila Ali In this episode, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett speaks with Anila Ali, founder and president of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC). She is a fearless voice countering and condemning extremism, encouraging religious plurality, taking on taboo subjects, and working to build interfaith alliances around the world. This conversation covers the roots of her a...

  6. 02/04/2025

    Episode 29: “Women Leading the Way on FoRB” Season – A Conversation with Ewelina Ochab

    It’s appropriate that we’re releasing the first episode of this season this week, during the fifth annual International Religious Freedom Summit. It’s an incredible gathering of civil society advocates, activists, experts, academics, government leaders, parliamentarians, and more from across the globe – all focused on advancing the fundamental right to freedom of religion, conscience, or belief. Research shows that when countries protect and advance religious freedom, they tend to be mo...

  7. Trailer

    “Women Leading the Way on Freedom of Religion or Belief” Season Trailer

    Coming Soon: “Women Leading the Way on Freedom of Religion or Belief”Freedom of religion, conscience and belief is a fundamental human right – it’s foundational to so many other rights that form the basis of peaceful, prosperous and free societies. But it is too often overlooked and increasingly under threat around the world. A growing global movement is now shining a spotlight on this human right. Among a diverse coalition of advocates, activists, government leaders, faith leaders, academic ...

  8. 12/20/2024

    Episode 28: Sports & Rights Season – A Conversation with Enes Kanter Freedom

    This will be the fifth and final episode of our Sports & Rights season. Over the course of this series, we've taken an in-depth look at what happens when the worlds of sports and human rights collide. We've brought you conversations with Olympians, activists, journalists, academics, and fans. We've tried to unpack some of the stickiest questions around the intersection of sports and human rights. This podcast season started just as the FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar, and perhaps...

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About

Hosted by Lantos Foundation President, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, The Keeper features in depth conversations about the most pressing matters of human rights and justice around the world and welcomes some of the most important human rights figures of our time as guests.The Keeper takes its name from the personal conviction of the Lantos Foundation's namesake Congressman Tom Lantos, fully lived out in his own life, that we have a moral and ethical obligation to be our brother and sister’s keeper. This guiding principle led Congressman Lantos to found the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and use his eloquence, leadership, and personal passion to advocate fiercely on behalf of those whose human rights were being trampled in every corner of the world.

Information

  • Creator
    The Lantos Foundation
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Keeper: A Human Rights Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Keeper: A Human Rights Podcast