Walk Talk Listen Podcast

Reconnecting with Purpose - Religion’s True Meaning and Humanitarian Leadership with Abagail Nelson - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 164)

Abagail Nelson is the Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer at Episcopal Relief & Development. Abagail brings over 25 years of global experience in human development, focusing on financial inclusion, disaster risk reduction, and economic empowerment. She reflects on her journey growing up in a mixed-race family and how the societal struggles of her upbringing shaped her commitment to social justice and humanitarian work.
One of the key themes in this conversation is Abagail’s reflection on the true meaning of religion, derived from the Latin term "re-ligare," meaning "to reconnect." She explores how this concept drives her work in bridging differences and fostering community resilience. Through stories of rebuilding communities in Honduras after disasters and her deep involvement in sustainable development across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Abagail demonstrates the power of faith-driven action and collaborative efforts in creating lasting change.
 
Abagail also touches on the evolving role of faith-based organizations in addressing modern challenges, and how personal faith can be a source of strength and purpose. Her insights offer a thoughtful exploration of how spirituality, leadership, and humanitarianism intertwine to create impact on a global scale.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by Abagail and other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here.
Connect with Abagail and/or her organization via social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and the Episcopal Relief & Development website episcopalrelief.org.
Share your thoughts on this episode at innovationhub@cwsglobal.org. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
 
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Brews, Bites, and Banter - A Sustainability Sip and Share with Carlos Vicente (episode 17) - A Special Series of Walk Talk Listen at the UN.

Carlos Vicente is the National Coordinator for the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI) in Brazil. Carlos discusses the urgent need to address the environmental crisis by raising awareness among religious leaders and communities. He emphasizes how faith-based organizations can play a crucial role in tackling issues such as deforestation, climate change, and social inequality. Highlighting the interconnection between social and environmental sustainability, Carlos explains how initiatives like IRI help foster empathy for the planet and drive system change. He also shares insights on using Virtual Reality (VR) to immerse people in the Amazon rainforest, offering a powerful way to connect them with the beauty and fragility of nature, motivating action.
 
Carlos Vicente has over 30 years of experience in environmental advocacy and sustainable development. As the National Coordinator for IRI in Brazil, he leads efforts to engage faith leaders in protecting the Amazon rainforest and addressing climate change. His work focuses on fostering dialogue between religious communities and scientific experts, building empathy for nature, and pushing for systemic political and business reforms to safeguard the planet.
 
Carlos his personal social media: LinkedIn.
Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI): social media handles Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 
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Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter, 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 CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Brews, Bites, and Banter - A Sustainability Sip and Share with Laura Vargas (episode 16) - A Special Series of Walk Talk Listen at the UN.

Laura Vargas, the Executive Secretary of the Peruvian Interreligious Council and Coordinator of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI) in Peru is the guest of episode 16 of the special series at the UN. Laura brings a wealth of experience from her long-standing work in social justice, human rights, and faith-based action. We discussed the crucial role of faith communities in addressing environmental and social challenges, particularly in preserving the Amazon rainforest, which she describes as vital for the future of humanity and all living beings.
 
Laura passionately highlights the interconnectedness of life, emphasizing that humanity’s survival is deeply linked to the well-being of the planet and all its ecosystems. In her work with IRI, she mobilizes religious leaders across faiths to advocate for environmental sustainability and social justice, knocking on the doors of governments and organizations to drive meaningful change.
 
Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI): social media handles Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 
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Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter, 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 CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Brews, Bites, and Banter - A Sustainability Sip an Share with Osmawani Osman (episode 15) - A Special Series of Walk Talk Listen at the UN

Osmawani Osman, a humanitarian professional and former diplomat, joins me to discuss her role at Islamic Relief Worldwide, her experience attending UN events, and her personal reflections on sustainability. We explore the balance between addressing humanity’s urgent needs, such as poverty alleviation, and the environmental challenges that the world faces today. Osmawani shares her unique insights on faith-based approaches to nudging behavior change, particularly the role of religious leaders in encouraging environmental stewardship.
 
Her many yeaers of experience in international relations, policy advisory, and crisis communications, Osmawani highlights the importance of including youth voices in global policy discussions and shares her observations from the Summit of the Future and Climate Week in New York City. Her reflections emphasize the power of empathy, collaboration, and the vital role that faith-based organizations can play in driving sustainable development.
 
Her social media handles: LinkedIn. Her company Islamic Relief Worldwide: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 
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Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter, 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 CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Brews, Bites, and Banter – A Sustainability Sip & Share with Alondra Ponce (episode 14) - A Special Series of Walk Talk Listen at the UN.

Alondra Ponce from Brightest shares her insights on social sustainability and its integral connection to environmental issues. With a background in neuroscience and a passion for social justice, Alondra discusses her transition into the sustainability space and her role in partnerships at Brightest. She emphasizes that sustainability is holistic, requiring connections between environmental, economic, and social aspects, and that organizations need to prioritize collaboration and understanding to create meaningful change. Alondra touches on the importance of empathy and understanding in achieving sustainable development goals and notes the value of events like Climate Week for building consensus and sharing best practices.
 
Alondra Ponce is a Partnerships Manager at Brightest, a sustainability technology platform and advisory firm. Alondra focuses on creating partnerships that drive sustainability efforts forward by connecting organizations, governments, and communities. Her work centers on ensuring that sustainability initiatives are comprehensive and people-centered, addressing social justice and environmental issues in tandem.
 
Her social media handles: LinkedIn. Her company Brightest: Twitter and Instagram.
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter, 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 CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Brews, Bites, and Banter – A Sustainability Sip & Share with Chris Bolman (episode 13) - A Special Series of Walk Talk Listen at the UN.

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen’s "Brews, Bites, and Banter" series, Chris Bolman, founder and CEO of Brightest, returns to discuss the evolving landscape of environmental sustainability. He highlights the need for organizations to recognize their environmental impacts and operational efficiencies, while emphasizing regenerative agriculture and sustainable sourcing practices for commodities like coffee. Chris also shares insights on the need for private-public collaboration and cross-sector engagement to combat climate change, and the growing cultural differences in how sustainability is approached globally. He emphasizes that urgent system changes are needed, especially in the U.S., where a "wait and see" mindset prevails compared to other regions leading on sustainable innovation. Chris also touches on the importance of empathy and communication in bridging ideological divides, particularly when addressing sustainability initiatives.
 
Chris Bolman is a social impact and sustainability entrepreneur, advisor, and activist based in NYC. He is the founder of Brightest, a certified B Corp technology platform and advisory firm that helps organizations develop sustainability strategies, track data, and create sustainable competitive advantages. With experience in renewable energy and analytics, Chris previously led marketing and growth at Percolate, founded BuzzFork, and served as an organizer with SwingLeft. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, and more.
 
His social media handles: LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Brightest: Twitter and Instagram.
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter 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 CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Brews, Bites, and Banter – A Sustainability Sip & Share with Mahdi Ahmad (episode 12) - A Special Series of Walk Talk Listen at the UN.

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen’s "Brews, Bites, and Banter" series, Mahdi Ahmad, a dynamic 19-year-old student and activist, discusses his disappointment with the lack of youth representation at the UN Summit for the Future, despite the critical role young people play in shaping policies for the future. He calls for greater youth involvement in decision-making processes, not just as token participants but as key contributors. Mahdi also stresses the importance of interfaith dialogue and the unifying power of faith in tackling global issues like poverty, climate change, and inequality. As the Global One Youth Champion and Barnet Multi-Faith Youth Forum Facilitator, he advocates for bridging generational gaps through collaboration between youth and elders to address systemic issues and promote economic sustainability.
 
Mahdi is a student at King’s College London, pursuing a degree in History and Political Economy. As an active leader in interfaith work, he serves as a Youth Champion for Global One, the world's only Muslim women-led NGO, and a Facilitator for the Barnet Multi-Faith Youth Forum in London. In addition to his academic pursuits, Mahdi is a passionate advocate for youth inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic development, regularly participating in global platforms like the UN Summit for the Future. He also runs a podcast called Decolonizing the Narrative, where he explores Islamic and Eastern history with the aim of challenging Eurocentric narratives.
 
His social media handles: LinkedIn and Instagram:  -
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter 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 CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Brews, Bites, and Banter – A Sustainability Sip & Share with Raphael Marcus (episode 11) - A Special Series of Walk Talk Listen at the UN.

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen’s "Brews, Bites, and Banter" series, Raphael Marcus, Chief Programs Officer at HIAS, highlights the lack of attention to displaced populations in the Pact for the Future, noting that despite 120 million refugees worldwide, the document mentions refugees only four times and does not adequately address asylum seekers' rights or the growing xenophobia they face. He also emphasizes the critical role of faith-based organizations in supporting displaced communities and advocates for more inclusion and local representation at global events. Raphael calls for a systemic shift in how global gatherings like the UNGA are held, suggesting that hosting them in more accessible locations could lead to better representation from grassroots and local actors.
 
Raphael Marcus is the Chief Programs Officer at HIAS, the Jewish Global Refugee Agency. With extensive experience in executive management, field deployment, and disaster management, Raphael has overseen large-scale humanitarian efforts across 24 countries, focusing on refugee aid, legal protection, mental health, and economic inclusion. His leadership is guided by a commitment to ensuring that displaced populations are supported through advocacy and actionable programs that meet their immediate and long-term needs.
 
His social media handles: LinkedIn and Twitter and HIAS: Instagram and Twitter 
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Twitter 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 CWS, and the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).