With Compassion

The Charter for Compassion with Jennifer Nadel
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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

  1. Oct 15

    Linda Pence Gunter on the Human Cost of Nuclear Power and Weapons

    Jennifer Nadel speaks with Linda Pence Gunter, journalist-turned-activist and founder of Beyond Nuclear, about why she sees nuclear power as a human rights issue, not just a technical one. The conversation covers the full uranium fuel chain, the health and environmental harms to frontline communities, and why the rush toward small modular reactors and data centers may worsen both climate and justice outcomes. We discuss Linda’s path from sports journalism to anti-nuclear advocacy, the connection between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and why compassion and justice sit at the center of her work. Key topics * Linda Pence Gunter explains how her journalism career began in tennis reporting, then shifted toward environmental campaigning after a personal pull toward nature and animals. * She describes founding Beyond Nuclear in 2007 after working in the anti-nuclear movement, shaped in part by her father’s involvement in the UK Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. * Linda argues that nuclear power is usually discussed in technical and economic terms, while the people harmed by the uranium fuel chain are left out of the story. * In the uranium mining stage, she highlights long-standing harms to Navajo communities, First Nations, and Aboriginal Australians, including exposure from tailings and contaminated landscapes. * She says nuclear transportation adds risk, and that spent fuel is more than a million times more radioactive than the fuel when it enters a reactor. * Linda notes that communities targeted for waste storage or permanent repositories are often communities of color or politically marginalized communities. * She rejects the idea that nuclear power is the best climate solution, arguing it is too slow and too expensive compared with renewable energy. * She contrasts Georgia’s 14-year, 36 billion dollar nuclear build that delivered 2.2 gigawatts with Texas spending the same amount over 4 years for 36 gigawatts of solar and battery backup. * She warns that the push for new nuclear power is increasingly tied to AI data centers and weakened radiation standards, especially in the United States. * Linda explains the link between civil nuclear technology and weapons proliferation, citing India, Saudi Arabia, and Iran as examples of how nuclear capability can create a weapons back door. * She points to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a source of hope, along with public pressure and anti-data-center organizing. * She closes by saying compassion and justice are essential, because without them societies keep scapegoating others instead of solving climate and nuclear risk. * Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

    Linda Pence Gunter on the Human Cost of Nuclear Power and Weapons

  2. Oct 1

    From Monastery to Laboratory: Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi on the Science of Compassion

    What happens when a Tibetan Buddhist monk becomes a scientist? In this episode of our With Compassion Podcast, talk with Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, who spent 27 years as a monk and earned the Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree in Tibetan monastic education, before completing a PhD at Emory University. Today he is Cofounder and Executive Director of Emory’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics. Lobsang has spent his career bringing two great traditions of human understanding into conversation. From Buddhism he draws centuries of practice in training the mind and heart. From Western science he draws the tools to test whether that training works. The results are striking. His research shows that compassion training can lower markers of stress and depression. At the invitation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he led the creation of SEE Learning, which now teaches social, emotional and ethical skills to children and young people around the world. We talk about why the Dalai Lama says a spiritual revolution is called for, and why investing in inner values matters as much as outer progress. We also cover how compassion can protect doctors, nurses and teachers from burnout, and what parents and communities can do to help. Lobsang also offers simple, practical tools for self-awareness and self-compassion. Above all, he reminds us that we are not alone in our vulnerabilities, and that recognising our shared humanity may be the surest path to peace. Lobsang’s new book, Engaged Compassion: Seven Practices to Cultivate Resilience, Connection, and a Joyous Life, is out now. In this episode * The integration of Buddhist principles with Western science * The impact of compassion training on stress and immune markers * The development and global implementation of SEE Learning (Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning) * The role of compassion in reducing burnout among healthcare and education professionals * Practical tools for self-awareness, self-compassion and connection * The importance of understanding our interdependence and shared humanity Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

    From Monastery to Laboratory: Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi on the Science of Compassion

  3. Sep 17

    Aboriginal Justice, Theology, and Compassion with Professor Dr. Anne Pattel-Gray

    In the latest episode of the With Compassion podcast we speak to Professor Dr. Anne Pattel-Gray, one of Australia’s leading theologians, activists, and Aboriginal leaders, about racism, reconciliation, and the role of the church in the history of First Nations dispossession. Anne shares how her upbringing, her mother’s strength, and her womanist theology shaped a lifelong commitment to truth-telling, justice, and compassion.We discuss why genuine reconciliation in Australia must include treaties, reparations, and accountability, and why compassion has to be more than sentiment if it is to transform institutions and public life. Key topics * Anne describes growing up in Queensland under laws that tightly controlled Aboriginal lives, from where people could live and marry to whether they could earn income. * She explains how state and church systems sought to erase Aboriginal identity, and how that effort ultimately strengthened cultural resistance instead. * Anne shares how her mother’s fierce matriarchal example taught her equality, resilience, and how to respond to racism without internalizing shame. * She discusses the church’s role in the forced removal of Aboriginal children and says truth-telling has often made her an outcast in religious circles. * Anne argues that apologies without reparations, justice, and transformation are hollow and insufficient. * She says real reconciliation in Australia requires treaties with First Nations people, material reparations, and honest education about history. * Anne reflects on the failed Voice referendum and says the result exposed widespread ignorance about Australia’s colonial past. * She warns about the rise of racism, misinformation, and far-right politics, including the appeal of One Nation and the return of white Australia thinking. * She corrects the label “feminist” and identifies instead as a womanist, rooted in Aboriginal women’s cultural authority and knowledge. * She shares that her upcoming book, The Sacred Dilly Bag, will honor Aboriginal matriarchs and the women who protected families, children, culture, and justice. * Anne explains why she does not call herself Christian, describing Christianity as deeply tainted by colonial violence, while still maintaining a spiritual relationship to Creator Spirit. * She emphasizes that Aboriginal spirituality, law, ceremony, land, and relational ethics are not separate from faith, but part of a long-standing sacred framework. * Anne closes by saying compassion is essential because it invites transformation, resists dehumanization, and offers a different model of leadership than domination and greed. Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

    Aboriginal Justice, Theology, and Compassion with Professor Dr. Anne Pattel-Gray

  4. Sep 8

    Compassion for Perpetrators: Dr. Yosuke Nagai on Turning Young People in Armed Groups Into Peacebuilders

    The latest episode of With Compassion traces the extraordinary story of Dr. Yosuke Nagai, who as a student in Japan decided he wanted to do something to help people starving in Somalia. That decision eventually led him into some of the world’s most violent conflict zones, where he carried compassion with him and began working with young people involved in armed groups.In this episode, Jennifer Nadel speaks with Dr. Yosuke Nagai, founder and executive director of Accept International and a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford. Yosuke shares how he went from being a first-year university student in Japan to working with young people involved in armed and extremist groups in Somalia and beyond. The conversation explores a central question for the podcast: what does compassion look like when it is extended not only to victims of violence, but also to those who have caused it? We discuss youth, trust-building, detention work, and the idea that even those labeled as threats may hold the potential to become agents of peace. Key topics * In this episode, Yosuke explains how the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami first pushed him into action, even before he had money, experience, or English. * He shares how news of the 2011 famine in Somalia exposed a stark contrast: huge public sympathy and mobilization for Japan, but fear and hesitation when it came to Somalia. * He describes how he began by reaching out to Somali students in Japan, then connected with youth leaders in Somalia and Kenya through Skype. * Yosuke explains the early formation of Japan Somalia Youth Organization, a youth-led effort that later became Accept International in 2017. * He recounts traveling to Mogadishu in 2013, where a suicide bombing and the death of a guide’s family member deepened his commitment to return with more knowledge and skills. * He discusses studying conflict and peacebuilding at the London School of Economics, where he realized there was little existing guidance for dealing with non-state armed groups such as Al Shabab. * We discuss how Accept International shifted from general youth engagement to direct work with disengaged combatants, low-risk defectors, and high-risk detainees. * Yosuke shares his belief that prison and rehabilitation work should not treat people only as threats or labels, but should look for their unique potential and lived experience. * He explains that trust, repeated visits, and genuine conversation are the foundation of his approach inside detention centers. * The conversation broadens to questions of rights, adulthood, child soldiers turning 18, accountability, and why compassion must include people who have caused harm if peace is to be possible. Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

    Compassion for Perpetrators: Dr. Yosuke Nagai on Turning Young People in Armed Groups Into Peacebuilders

  5. Aug 20

    Representing the Unborn in Democracy

    In the latest edition of the Charter’s With Compassion Podcast, Sophie Howe, the world’s first Future Generations Commissioner, talks about how Wales created a legal duty to protect people not yet born and why that matters for climate, inequality, transport, democracy, and public decision-making.The conversation shows how this helps create long-term political thinking and a policy shift away from short-term fixes that normally drives political They also discuss how this approach is spreading internationally and how compassion can extend beyond the present generation. Key topics * Sophie Howe explains the role of Future Generations Commissioner in Wales and how the office acts as a guardian for people not yet born. * Wales became the first country in the world to pass a law in 2015 aimed at protecting future generations. * The Welsh framework requires public bodies to make decisions that support seven long-term wellbeing goals. * Jennifer Nadel and Sophie Howe discuss how climate, health, inequality, transport, and community are deeply connected rather than separate policy areas. * Sophie shares the M4 road-building case, where a planned 13-mile motorway expansion was replaced with investment in public transport and active travel. * The episode explores the idea of induced demand and why building more roads often fails to solve congestion long term. * Sophie reflects on how short-term political cycles, electoral pressure, and cultural backlash can make future-focused governance harder. * The conversation examines how future generations thinking can be framed differently for center-left and center-right audiences. * Sophie describes the importance of including missing voices in decision-making, especially young people and indigenous perspectives. * They discuss the growing global adoption of intergenerational fairness ideas across governments, institutions, and companies. * Sophie argues that compassion means thinking beyond yourself and extending moral concern to future generations. Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Aug 5

    The Urgency of Nuclear Disarmament and Interfaith Cooperation

    In this latest episode, Bishop William Swing shares his lifelong dedication to peace, interfaith collaboration, and the fight against nuclear proliferation. As the world approaches the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, his insights emphasize the importance of grassroots activism and spiritual leadership to address existential threats. Key Topics * Reflection on the 81st anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and current hopes for nuclear disarmament * The decline in global nuclear arsenals from 70,000 to about 13,000 warheads and the ominous rise of new nuclear states * The role of political leaders and the lack of top-down action on nuclear disarmament * The critical importance of grassroots movements and civil society in nuclear non-proliferation * The relationship between the climate crisis and nuclear threat, emphasizing nuclear weapons as an environmental issue with potentially catastrophic, immediate consequences * The theological and moral considerations surrounding nuclear weapons, stewardship, and human responsibility * The founding and progress of the United Religions Initiative (URI) in fostering interfaith cooperation at grassroots levels * Insights from memorable conversations with historical figures like George Shultz and Mother Teresa * How youth engagement and interfaith grassroots activism can foster global peace and reduce nuclear risks * The resilience of the human spirit and the hope rooted in grassroots efforts and spiritual renewal Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Jul 24

    How Can Young People Become Powerful Agents of Peace?

    The latest episode of the With Compassion podcast, features Lauren Coffaro, Executive Director of PeaceJam. For more than 30 years, PeaceJam has brought young people together with Nobel Peace Laureates, helping them develop the skills, confidence and sense of purpose needed to create change in their own communities and beyond. Lauren shares her own journey into peacebuilding and explains why meeting a Nobel Laureate can be a life-changing experience for a young person. We explore the importance of service learning, the long-term impact of peace education and how bringing people from different backgrounds together can transform strangers into friends. At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, this is a hopeful conversation about the power of young people, the possibility of understanding and the radical potential of compassionate leadership. In this episode • Lauren’s personal journey into peacebuilding • PeaceJam’s work and impact over the past 30 years • The skills young peacebuilders need, from empathy to conflict resolution • The transformative power of meeting Nobel Peace Laureates • How to navigate difficult conversations and build trust • Why hope and youth leadership are essential to peace • How each of us can begin creating peace in our own communities “Compassion is a radical trait that transforms everything.” Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

  8. Jul 7

    Compassion in Crisis: Lessons from the Frontlines with Dr. Tim Cunningham

    Compassion in crisis is not soft or simple — it is often inventive, courageous, and deeply human. In this latest episode of the With Compassion podcast, Dr. Tim Cunningham shares stories from war zones, hospitals, and humanitarian settings that reveal how kindness can survive even in the most difficult conditions. From improvisation in crisis care to the bravery required to speak out against injustice, this episode is a reminder that compassion is both a personal practice and a collective responsibility. Main Topics: * Role of compassion in global health crises and humanitarian work * How improvisation and ingenuity foster compassion in war zones * The relationship between systemic change and individual acts of kindness * Spiritual dimensions of compassion and its connection to religious practices * Personal coping strategies for trauma and burnout among healthcare workers * Stories illustrating compassion in Ebola-affected regions and conflict areas * The significance of speaking out against injustice despite personal risk * Hope and interconnectedness amid global suffering Link: * Clowns Without Borders This episode underscores that compassion requires courage, systemic awareness, and ongoing practice—reminding us that even in the darkest moments, kindness can heal and transform. Get full access to Charter for Compassion at thecharterforcompassion.substack.com/subscribe

    Compassion in Crisis: Lessons from the Frontlines with Dr. Tim Cunningham
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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

Information

  • Creator
    The Charter for Compassion with Jennifer Nadel
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Charter for Compassion
  • Show Website
    With Compassion

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