Nonviolence Radio

As we come to the close of the year, we’re offering two reflections from Michael Nagler’s Nonviolent Moment—previously aired pieces brought together as a single, contemplative year-end offering. We’ll return with new recordings in January. Until then, we invite you to pause, listen, and carry these moments gently into the turning year.

In this end-of-year episode of Nonviolence Radio, we reflect briefly on the long arc of nonviolence—its strengths, its strains, and the importance of staying grounded during a season that can feel heavy and uncertain. The heart of the program is a deeply nourishing conversation with John Blue, a Taoist monk and doctor of Chinese medicine, who invites listeners into the inner practice of nonviolence through the lens of Taoism. Drawing on themes of wintering, harmony, and wu wei—“doing non-doing”—John explores how rest, stillness, and attentiveness to natural cycles are not retreats from the work of justice, but essential sources of clarity, resilience, and renewal. As political and social pressures mount, this episode offers a timely reminder that rest itself can be a form of resistance. Transcript available at NonviolenceRadio.org

In this episode, we speak with Sudanese organizer and activist Mubarak Elamin about the unfolding crisis in Sudan. Mubarak offers a perspective on the nonviolent history of the country and how the current war is not a civil war but a proxy war, and what we can do as part of an international community of solidarity.

In this episode, Nonviolence Radio speaks with Sheila McCarthy of Meta Peace Team about her recent month in the West Bank providing unarmed civilian protection. She shares stories of courage and daily life under occupation—from olive harvests under threat to villages gated off by the Israeli military—and reflects on how standing nonviolently with others becomes an act of resistance and hope. Transcript and archives available at MettaCenter.org/NonviolenceRadio and NonviolenceRadio.org

Sarah Van Gelder has spent decades asking a vital question: how do we build power rooted in love and community? As the founding editor of YES! Magazine (now on Truthout), and through her Substack, How We Rise, she explores ideas and stories that help us resist authoritarianism and create systems that work for everyone. Join us for an inspiring conversation about what it means to rise together in these challenging times. Plus, don’t miss our popular segment—the Nonviolence Report with Michael Nagler! Transcript available at NonviolenceRadio.org

In this episode of Nonviolence Radio, hosts Stephanie Van Hook and Michael Nagler speak with Kathy Kelly, board president of World Beyond War, about the urgent need to move beyond militarism and the false promises of security through violence. Sparked by a recent speech from U.S. official Pete Hegseth glorifying lethality and dismissing pacifism, the conversation dives into the deeper truths about human nature, real security, and the power of nonviolent action. Kathy, a lifelong peace activist, contrasts militarism’s destructiveness with the courage and coordination of nonviolent efforts like the Global Sumud Flotilla, and Michael joins with insights from science and history affirming our innate capacity for cooperation. Transcript available at NonviolenceRadio.Org

In this interview, we speak with Dr. Deb Roman, an integrative physician and advocate for compassionate health care. Together, they explore the current state of health care—what’s working, what’s not, and how we can move toward a more humane, whole-person approach to healing. Deb shares insights from her experience in medicine, as well as her vision for a system that better supports both patients and practitioners. Learn more about her work: Finding-Health.Com And find more of Nonviolence Radio (including transcripts) at NonviolenceRadio.org

Journalist and author John Washington joins Nonviolence Radio to examine immigration, border enforcement, and the human costs of closed borders. From the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border to the deeper forces driving migration, Washington challenges common assumptions and explores how solidarity, awareness, and principled action can foster more humane and just policies.

What if staying curious — even when it feels risky — is an act of courage? In this episode of Nonviolence Radio, journalist and bridgebuilder Monica Guzmán joins us to talk about the power of curiosity in a polarized world. Together we explore how fear, pain, and technology amplify division, and how curiosity can become a nonviolent force that keeps bridges standing, even when crossing them feels impossible. Guzmán shares insights from her work with Braver Angels, stories of rehumanization across political divides, and why questioning — even our own side — takes courage. At a time when polarization tempts us to burn bridges, curiosity reminds us to keep them. “Anything courageous requires risk. You’re not risking anything by attacking the other side. What’s really brave is calling out your own side for making the culture toxic.” ~Mónica Guzmán

Pastor Michael Neely, a survivor of domestic abuse, provides support to individuals grappling with the decision to remain in abusive relationships influenced by religious beliefs, and advocates for reforming church responses to better assist survivors.

On this episode of Nonviolence Radio, Michael and Stephanie begin with a discussion on Gandhian economics, highlighting its emphasis on simplicity, local self-reliance, and the moral dimensions of economic life. They then welcome Erin Axelrod from LIFT Economy, a worker-owned cooperative dedicated to accelerating the transition to a regenerative, just, and inclusive economy. Together, they explore how economics is not just about policy or markets, but is deeply intertwined with philosophy, values, and daily practices. Erin shares insights into the “Next Economy” framework, the limitations of extractive capitalism, and the possibilities emerging through cooperative and regenerative models. The conversation underscores a powerful truth: that nonviolent movements cannot succeed without also transforming the economic structures that support violence and inequality. A truly nonviolent future, they argue, must include a reimagining of how we produce, exchange, and relate through our economies.

In this intimate conversation, Anne Symens-Bucher invites us into the sacred territory of being blessed and broken — the honest work of grief, forgiveness, and transformation. Guided by the wisdom of Joanna Macy, Anne reflects on what it means to stay open-hearted in a wounded world, to turn toward our pain for the world, and to find renewal through connection and courage.

In this episode of Nonviolence Radio, Michael and Stephanie speak with nonviolence trainer and educator Kazu Haga about trauma healing and nonviolence — what he calls “fierce vulnerability” (also the title of his most recent book). Because, as he insists, all violence stems from trauma, Kazu reminds us that we cannot simply “shut down” injustice. At the same time, we need to bring trauma healing into our understanding and practice of nonviolence at every level. He says, “But if we can really understand that these [injustices] are all manifestations of a collective trauma, can we respond to even state violence in a way that brings us closer together, in a way that brings us closer to healing?” In this discussion, Kazu points us toward a paradigmatic shift from harm to healing, where interconnection is as constant as gravity — we really can’t get around it. Following the conversation with Kazu, Michael and Stephanie speak with Hunter Dunn from the 50501 coalition to debrief on the impact of the “No Kings” rallies and explore, as Dr. King asked, “Where do we go from here?”

In this episode of Nonviolence Radio, we explore how nonviolence is showing up around the world—in the news, in movement strategy, and in community-based peacebuilding. We take a closer look at the recent Gaza flotilla and its use of dilemma action as a powerful tool of protest, and we speak with Nina Koevoets, a peacebuilding trainer about the practical and transformative work of building peace from the ground up. From global headlines to grassroots organizing, we reflect on how nonviolence continues to challenge power and open the door to justice.

This episode of Nonviolence Radio welcomes Priyanka Sharma – all the way from India! Priyanka is a lecturer, facilitator and coach and she joins Michael and Stephanie in a wide-reaching conversation about the nature and strengths of matriarchal societies, systems theory, her own path to nonviolence, Internal Family Systems and more. Priyanka speaks candidly about the profound challenge of practicing and living nonviolently; though nonviolence is natural to human beings, it is not always a way of being with others and in the world that is supported by our institutions. Given this, she emphasizes the power of trust in oneself. With deep and enduring trust, Priyanka suggests that we can fortify our strength as we work to embody and manifest nonviolent principles as effective means of responding to and overcoming violence in our world today: "I think if we have trust in life and in our own creativity and intelligence, we can do beautiful things. But the problem is that we live in violent systems. So, these violent systems teach us first, don't trust yourself. Trust the authority figure. The first thing is to program us to stop trusting our only inner wisdom. So, a lot of the work that I'm doing in systems thinking is to encourage people to trust your own inner wisdom. Like even Mahatma Gandhi said, the change has to happen with yourself first."

This week on Nonviolence Radio, Stephanie and Michael speak with Joe Worthy, a nonviolence strategist who is currently developing the Strategic Nonviolence Academy, a place where those interested in being active and effective leaders can learn about the principles and methods of nonviolence. The Strategic Nonviolence Academy will empower those wanting to lead communities in the nonviolent resistance of oppression and exploitation. This comes by ensuring that incoming students acquire not only practical skills but a deeply felt commitment to the values that ground and continue to nurture nonviolent action. "…it is a very powerful approach, process, way of life to, you know, change yourself in the world. And I think most important, in this time, is that it is a pathway towards the world that you want to build. And on your way to that world, you're going to transform yourself, your community, and the world while you're doing that." This Academy aims to be a place where nonviolence is explored and enacted holistically, that is, involving the “head, hearts and feet” of those who join.

This week Stephanie and Michael welcome the renowned sociologist, Arlie Hochschild. They have a rich conversation exploring the stories we tell about ourselves and others that work to sever communities, communities which in fact hold much in common. Having written two books on America’s move towards the right, Arlie has real clarity about the ways in which our stories stop us from engaging respectfully with those whom we disagree with, breeding shame, eroding understanding and shutting down opportunities for connection. There is a need therefore for story revision, and this comes first from recognizing the humanity of everyone, no matter what their political views. Identifying those core values that connect us all as human beings reveals moments of overlap even among groups who see themselves as wholly at odds. This ‘cross-over’ becomes the basis for building what Arlie calls “empathy bridges.” We must not, she insists, “confuse empathy with weakness” – indeed, it is that quality which has characterized some of the world’s greatest leaders and which may be the path out of polarization today.

This week, Nonviolence Radio hears from John Paul Lederach, an international peace-builder, mediator and scholar. Stephanie, Michael and John Paul have a rich and wide-ranging conversation, one prominent theme is the power of pockets. This plays on the title of John Paul’s latest book: The Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War. In it, he encourages us to remember that we all exist within various communities – pockets of the world – and that each pocket represents a unique perspective which is valuable to every other one: "…there is simultaneously this deep acknowledgment of the specificity of a context and this deep curiosity about what people have done or need to do.…people at a given location, at a given time, have a need to do something in response to what's happening. And in that innovation, their particular pocket, their particular place where they live, brings forward this kind of combination of resilience and resistance to the patterns that lead us toward violence" Only by engaging honestly and kindly with these different views can we create – like a work of art – a better, more peaceful world. One wonderful aspect of this pocket metaphor is that it empowers each and every one of us to make a difference. Even the smallest act of love (in the broadest sense of the word) – wherever one is – is an act of creation. Such simple, accessible actions when woven together re-humanize those we might be inclined to dismiss or degrade. Right from within our pockets, we can build alternatives to the toxic polarization we see so much of today. "It's about assuring the protection of the dignity of the people that I am most proximate with and live with, even if we are different. Then my responsibility is to help make sure that this neighborhood, this town, this area, is brought to a level of dignifying the humanity of the people who live here. And I think that's really a key driver to a lot of this. There's an element to this that I refer to as the principle of accessibility. I think one of the reasons that paralysis works, is a very powerful tool, is that people think they don't have access to the lever that will make a difference. But what if the principle of accessibility is that you have access to it?" Initiating change from within our pockets directly and immediately reveals the power inherent in treating each other as worthy. When we listen closely thereby recognizing the dignity of everyone, we can construct together a world that has space for all.

In this episode of Nonviolence Radio, we talk with Sulaiman Khatib and Chen Alon from Combatants for Peace, along with filmmaker Stephen Apkon, director of There Is Another Way, a powerful new documentary about their movement currently touring the world to spark new conversations about a lasting peace in Israel-Palestine. Former fighters from opposite sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Sulaiman and Chen share their personal transformations and the deep commitment to nonviolence that drives their work. They discuss the challenges of breaking cycles of violence, the power of storytelling, and how nonviolence is not just a strategy but a daily choice. This conversation will leave you thinking about what it truly means to choose peace, even when it seems impossible. "We don’t choose to be violent. We are taught to be violent, and the choice is ours to break that cycle." — Sulaiman Khatib

On this episode of Nonviolence Radio, Stephanie and Michael welcome Leandro Uochas, founder and director of Shanti Brazil, an organization dedicated to education in nonviolence and nonviolent action. Leandro spent time studying nonviolence in India at the university set up by Gandhi and was so inspired that he returned to Brazil to further Gandhian principles on the ground there. This episode explores the exciting work of Shanti Brazil, and more, it brings to light the way in which there is an existing and increasingly expanding global network of nonviolent organizations and institutions. Leandro, Stephanie and Michael discuss the ways in which a dedication to nonviolence can bring together local communities from far corners of the globe. Whether in Brazil or the US, India or Finland, nonviolence is a practice and its methods and strategies can – and should! – be shared. "…we must, at this moment, reimagine how we build our democratic institutions, how they are built. And maybe this must come not from the top. This must come from us, from civil society. And we should be organized and discussing this, about these new institutions and how to reorganize society." From Leandro we can see how nonviolent activity is thriving even amidst some of the distressing political turns the world is now taking. Sometimes we need to look harder to see nonviolence in action for it grows under a light distinct from the glaring spotlight of mainstream/social media. This is the light of truth and love.