Walk Talk Listen Podcast

Breaking the Cycle of Polarization with Rudelmar Bueno de Faria – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 188)

In this powerful episode of Walk Talk Listen, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of ACT Alliance, a global coalition of over 137 faith-based organizations working across more than 125 countries is our guest. From Rudelmar his early days in southern Brazil to his influential roles at the World Council of Churches and now ACT Alliance, he shares his journey of faith, peacebuilding, and advocacy. He opens up about navigating political polarization, religious instrumentalization, and the deep challenges of today’s humanitarian sector—including the dangerous shift away from values like compassion, inclusion, and solidarity.
 
Rudelmar offers grounded reflections on hope, drawn from the courage of youth and the potential of interfaith collaboration. He calls for a renewed prophetic voice from faith communities and challenges us to rethink our models of leadership, development, and climate justice in a fragmented world. As we explore what gives him hope, his passion for dialogue and his belief in collective action shine through. A must-listen for anyone seeking clarity and courage in complex times.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover more about ACT Alliance via their Website. Check their Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube as well. Follow Rudelmar via LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky.
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
Please do explore the songs selected by previous guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. One of the songs selected by Rudelmar is not available on Spotify, so check out the song via YouTube.
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Faith in Action for Gender Justice with Elaine, Paul and Nora – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 187)

This special episode of Walk Talk Listen explores the vital intersection of faith, gender justice, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Maurice is joined by three inspiring guests behind the new report 30 Years On: Faith in the ICPD Programme of Action:
Rev. Dr. Elaine Neuenfeldt, Global Gender Justice Programme Manager at ACT Alliance and a theologian with deep expertise in feminist theology, faith-based advocacy, and inclusive organizational change.
Dr. Paul Z. Mmbando, Medical Doctor and Director of Health and Diakonia Programs at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), with regional and global leadership in SRHR and public health.
Dr. Nora Khalaf-Elledge, a gender expert and religious feminist with a PhD in Gender, Religion and Development, currently chairing the Gender-Based Violence and Faith Working Group at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI).
Together, they reflect on how faith actors across diverse traditions have consistently shown up for justice over the past 30 years, advocating for SRHR, countering backlash, and embodying love through action.
Themes explored include:
The unique role of faith actors in community-rooted SRHR efforts
Multi-faith collaboration in policy and advocacy
Faith, ethics, and feminist theological frameworks for gender justice
What gives each guest hope—and what “duckie” they’ve had to put down to grow
Listen in for a deeply moving and timely conversation on faith and justice. Stay tuned for the report release—coming soon via ACT Alliance and JLI.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover more about ACT Alliance via their Website. Check their Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube as well.
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
Although we didn't ask a music question during this episode, please do explore the songs selected by previous guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here.
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

The Music Within Us: A Walk Talk Listen Compilation

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with incredible musicians—artists who use their craft not just for entertainment, but for healing, storytelling, activism, and connection.
In this compilation episode, you’ll hear highlights from conversations with past musical guests such as Maya Azucena, Lakecia Benjamin, Endea Owens, Noah Jackson, Andromeda Turre, Amina Scott, Shirazette Tinnin, Desirée, Patrick Drabe and Maurice Rugebregt.
 
They share how music shaped their paths, inspired change, and continues to connect us all. If any voice in this episode speaks to you, I invite you to explore their full story in the original episodes.
Let these clips move you—and maybe even lead you to your next favorite episode.
 
Listener Engagement:
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
Explore the songs selected by artists like Endea Owens and other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here.
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Transforming through Encounter with Julie Clague – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 186)

We are joined by Dr. Julie Clague, a Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Glasgow. Julie shares how her journey from a devout Catholic upbringing in post-industrial northern England to the cloisters of academia has been shaped by moments of kindness, deep reflection, and a powerful sense of calling. From studying chemistry to teaching theology, she opens up about the unexpected turns in her life, the transformative impact of gratuitous generosity, and how teaching in a secular, diverse university setting informs her understanding of religion, spirituality, and justice today.
 
Julie reflects on the evolving nature of student engagement, the role of faith in development, and the importance of creating new structures when the old ones no longer serve. With warmth and insight, she also discusses her role in caring for her elderly mother, her involvement with JLI, and the music that moves her. This conversation is an invitation to consider how simple human encounters can carry transformative power and how each of us can walk our own path toward a more just and connected world.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover more about Julie via her University Website. Check the University of Glasgow Facebook, Instagram, and Blue Sky as well.
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
Explore the songs selected by Julie (she selected three!) and other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here.
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Bridging Faith and Policy with Peter Mandaville - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 185)

In this episode, Dr. Peter Mandaville, a leading scholar in global Islamic studies and international affairs, shares insights from his extensive career in academia, government, and policy advising. A professor at George Mason University, he has held senior advisory roles at USAID and the U.S. Institute of Peace, focusing on faith engagement and inclusive societies. With experience at the U.S. State Department under multiple administrations and affiliations with institutions like Brookings and CSIS, Mandaville has shaped discussions on religion, politics, and diplomacy. He is also the author of several influential books, including The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power and Islam & Politics.
 
Throughout the conversation, Mandaville and Maurice explore the evolving role of faith communities in diplomacy, the challenges of sustaining strategic religious engagement amid political shifts, and the broader implications for development and humanitarian efforts. He reflects on his upbringing in Saudi Arabia, his academic journey, and the intersection of leadership, ethics, and global policy. The episode also features Mandaville answering a question from previous guest Nikhil on what he is currently seeking to learn in his leadership journey.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover more about Peter via his LinkedIn profile and Instagram. Check the Schar School of Policy and Government website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn profile as well.
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
Explore the songs selected by Peter and other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here.
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Revisiting Beijing: Power, Progress, and the Promise of 2030 with Kagwiria Muturia - Special WTL Series (Ep. 12)

In this last episode of the special #CSW69 series of the podcast Walk Talk Listen , Maurice Bloem speaks with Kagwiria, a human rights lawyer and gender technical advisor, about the ongoing fight—though she prefers to call it a journey—for gender equality and justice. With CSW 69 marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, Kagwiria reflects on the progress made and the alarming pushback against women’s rights globally. She shares how her upbringing in a family of justice warriors shaped her commitment to this work, recounting how her father, as a land adjudicator, defied patriarchal norms by ensuring fair rulings for women. Now, leading gender advocacy efforts at World Renew, she emphasizes the need to bridge grassroots realities with global policymaking, ensuring that the voices of marginalized women inform international conversations.
 
Throughout the discussion, Kagwiria stresses that faith-based organizations have a critical role to play in advancing gender justice—not just through advocacy but by challenging harmful interpretations of scripture that have long been used to justify inequality. She highlights the power of alliances across sectors, calling for stronger funding, results-driven action, and collective messaging to counter rising opposition. She has a clear reply when she is asked about how she maintains hope in a time of setbacks. Wearing a T-shirt with the message “Gender Justice Now,” Kagwiria embodies the belief that this journey requires all of us to show up, to educate, and to keep moving forward—until equality is a shared reality, not a distant goal.
 
Listener Engagement:
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
You can find Kagwiria her organization World Renew on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. You can find Kagwiria on LinkedIn.
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Revisiting Beijing: Power, Progress, and the Promise of 2030 with Michael Trice - Special WTL Series (Ep. 11)

Reflecting on the progress made since 1995, Michael Trice (the Spehar-Halligan Professor and Executive Director at the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle University) also confronts the harsh reality that resistance to gender justice is growing, driven by nationalism, authoritarianism, and religious fundamentalism.
He shares how his center is working to counteract this backlash by equipping faith-based institutions with the tools to challenge patriarchal interpretations of religious texts and foster inclusive leadership within religious and academic spaces. He speaks passionately about the need to build alliances that transcend traditional advocacy silos, bringing together gender justice movements with climate activism, labor rights, racial justice, and democracy-building efforts. In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly, he emphasizes the importance of countering harmful narratives and reclaiming public discourse with values rooted in equity and inclusion.
As they discuss the challenges of the current political climate, Michael reflects on what it takes to maintain hope and resilience and he draws from Pope Francis’ warning about the dangers of disconnection and reminds us that at the heart of progress—whether in policy, activism, or daily life—is the fundamental belief that we need one another.
As the episode concludes, Michael leaves listeners with an open question for the next guest, curious about his question? Start listening.
#WalkTalkListen #CSW69 #GenderEquality #FaithInAction #IntersectionalJustice #EndGenderDiscrimination #BeijingDeclaration #Misinformation #InterfaithDialogue #HumanRights #putdowntheduckie
 
Listener Engagement:
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
You can find Michael's Center CEIE on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram and they also have their own website. Michael is himself also on LinkedIn and Facebook.
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Revisiting Beijing: Power, Progress, and the Promise of 2030 with Eileen DeGuire - Special WTL Series (Ep. 10)

Eileen DeGuire, the Legislative Director for the Franciscan Action Network came from Washington DC to discuss the 30-year legacy of the Beijing Declaration on gender equality, the significant role of faith-based organizations in advancing and defending women's rights, and the increasing global challenges faced by women's rights. Eileen shares insights on how faith organizations, including the multi-denominational Franciscan Action Network, are partnering with other groups to counteract setbacks, promote gender equality, and stay inspired in their work. They also discuss the perspectives of younger generations on politics and institutional faith, emphasizing the importance of listening, community support, and self-care in their advocacy efforts.
 
Listener Engagement:
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
You can find Eileen her organization FAN on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram and they also have their own website. Eileen is herself also on LinkedIn.
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast and Maurice by liking and following Maurice on Blue Sky, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit our website at 100mile.org for more episodes and information about our initiatives.
Check out the special WTL series "Enough for All," featuring Church World Service (CWS) and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).