Walk Talk Listen Podcast

Going Against the Norm with Hira Aftab – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 216)

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Hira Aftab — founder of Our World Too, a platform dedicated to re-humanizing narratives around refugees and displaced communities, and co-founder of The Hybrid Tours, a social enterprise blending travel and social impact, is our guest.
 
Hira reflects on her journey as a “third-culture kid” growing up between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, and how her lived experiences shaped her commitment to dignity-centered communications. She talks about pushing back against expectations, carving her own path outside the family tradition of medicine, and why her chosen song speaks to her:
 
“…that speaks to me, because I feel … going against the norm, doing what I did, and how I did it.”
 
With two master’s degrees and her engagement as an ACWAY Fellow, Hira brings clarity, courage, and compassion to every space she enters — from storytelling to peacebuilding.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the song picked by Hira and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Hira via her LinkedIn, and Instagram and Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook of Hybrid Tours. Also check Facebook of Our World Too.
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work.
Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Finding Joy Against the Odds with Sarah Rehman – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 215)

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, host Maurice Bloem speaks with Sarah Rehman, Membership and Administrative Specialist for the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. Holding four master’s degrees — in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Mediterranean Security, Theology, and Women’s and Gender Studies — Sarah combines intellectual depth with the compassion of a peacebuilder who has seen both struggle and hope up close.
 
Sarah reflects on her journey across disciplines, cultures, and faith traditions, speaking about love, resilience, and what sustains her in difficult times. As she puts it:
 
“Resilience. It’s the overcoming incredible odds, but still finding joy.”
 
She also reminds us that “the basis of every religion is love, and what people do with it after that is a reflection on them, not on faith.”
 
Together, Maurice and Sarah explore how this understanding shapes her work in preventing violent extremism, empowering women and youth, and keeping hope alive in the face of adversity.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the song picked by Sarah and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Sarah's work via LinkedIn
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work.
Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

The Courage to Hope with Fadi Daou – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 214)

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, host Maurice Bloem talks with Fadi Daou, Executive Director of Globethics and one of today’s most thoughtful voices on ethics, spirituality, and leadership.
 
Fadi shares his journey from leading the Adyan Foundation to his current work promoting ethical governance and human fraternity. He speaks about what it means to act from conviction rather than ambition, and how quitting—when done in integrity—can become a step toward renewal, not retreat.
 
Through stories of dialogue, discernment, and moral courage, Fadi invites us to rediscover the courage to hope: a hope that resists cynicism, rebuilds trust, and reminds us of our shared humanity.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the song picked by Fadi and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Fadi's work via his social media handles of his organization Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Connect with him personally on LinkedIn.
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work.
Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

This Is Not a Xylophone: Finding Voice Through the Vibraphone with Drew Tucker – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 213)

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, I speak with Drew Tucker, vibraphonist, educator, and Director of the Jazz Road program at South Arts. Known for his wit, creativity, and signature reminder that “It’s not a xylophone,” Drew has spent his career reshaping how people listen — not only to instruments, but to one another.
 
Drew shares stories of his early musical influences, his lifelong love of rhythm, and the turning points that led him from performer to cultural leader. The conversation explores the power of mentorship, the role of the arts in building community, and what it means to create spaces where young musicians can thrive.
 
Together, Maurice and Drew reflect on sound as a language of empathy and curiosity — and how, in the right hands, a vibraphone can become an instrument of connection, creativity, and change.
Learn more about Drew's work via his website: Its is not an xylophone..
Connect with him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work.
Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Faith, Education, and Human Flourishing with Martha Middlemiss Lé Mon – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 212)

In this episode, Martha Middlemiss Lé Mon joins Maurice for a deep and thoughtful conversation about the intersections of faith, education, and human flourishing. Martha, a researcher and educator at Uppsala University’s Faculty of Theology, reflects on her work exploring how religious and worldview education can foster understanding, empathy, and coexistence in plural societies.
 
Together, they discuss what it means to teach and learn across difference, how faith-based perspectives can enrich moral and civic education, and why spaces for open dialogue matter more than ever in today’s polarized world. The conversation weaves through themes of values, belonging, and inner development — inviting listeners to think about how education and faith together can shape more compassionate communities.
 
Martha leads research at the Uppsala Religion and Society Research Centre and is deeply engaged in international collaborations on religious literacy, worldview education, and intercultural understanding. Her work bridges academia, policy, and practice to promote peace, equality, and meaningful dialogue.
 
Listener Engagement:
Learn more about Martha’s work via her Uppsala University profile.
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work.
Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Building Peace with Children and Communities with Maria Lucia Uribe - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 211)

In this episode, Maria Lucia Uribe, Executive Director of Arigatou International, talks about the power of bringing children, youth, and communities together to foster peace, dignity, and justice. She reflects on how interfaith collaboration and dialogue help create safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive and be agents of positive change.
 
Maurice and Maria Lucia explore her work leading Arigatou International’s Ethics Education for Children Initiative, now active in more than 30 countries. They discuss the importance of values-based education, preventing violence, nurturing compassion, and mobilizing faith communities to stand with children in shaping a more peaceful future.
 
Maria Lucia has been Executive Director of Arigatou International since 2013. She leads the strategic expansion of ethics education, convenes the International Consortium on Nurturing Values in Early Childhood, and co-leads global initiatives on children’s rights and the prevention of violence. She holds a Master in Peace and Conflict Transformation and has served in leadership roles with Child Rights Connect, INEE, and PaRD.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover more about Arigatou International and its initiatives through website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram @ethicseducationforchildren. Maria Lucia is also on Instagram and Facebook.
Connect with Maria Lucia on LinkedIn.
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work.
Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Youth, Faith, and Global Dialogue with Liliya Khasanova - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 210)

In this episode, Liliya Khasanova shares her inspiring journey of empowering youth to become leaders in interfaith dialogue and global peacebuilding. From her work with A Common Word Among Youth (ACWAY) to her academic pursuits, Liliya speaks about the importance of giving young people the tools and confidence to navigate a world filled with complex challenges and divisions.
 
Maurice and Liliya explore the creation of the Interfaith Development Goals (IDGs) and how these goals connect to the Inner Development Goals framework. They discuss the role of faith and collaboration in fostering understanding, and the need for mental health support and self-reflection in youth leadership. This episode offers practical insights into building bridges across cultures and faith traditions through dialogue, empathy, and action.
 
With over a decade at ACWAY, Liliya has organized eight global youth forums, trained young leaders around the world, and currently serves as a post-doctoral scholar at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Her work is a testament to the transformative power of youth-led initiatives in shaping a more just and peaceful world.
 
Listener Engagement:
Explore more about Liliya’s organization, ACWAY, through LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Connect with Liliya on LinkedIn.
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
 
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work.
Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).

Protecting Children, Healing Stories with Noor Rehman - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 209)

In this episode, Noor Rehman opens up about his journey from childhood experiences that shaped his deep commitment to protecting children, to his current role as Regional Coordinator for South Asia at the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI). Noor reflects on how growing up in an environment where discipline sometimes came through physical punishment sparked his lifelong dedication to safeguarding children and preventing violence.
 
Maurice and Noor explore Noor’s work with the Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families, and Communities (FPCC) initiative, a collaboration between JLI, UNICEF, and Religions for Peace. Noor shares stories of how local faith leaders and communities come together to promote child protection, adolescent well-being, and climate resilience. He highlights the vital role of trust-building, listening, and culturally sensitive approaches in creating lasting social and behavioral change.
 
With over 12 years at Islamic Relief Pakistan before joining JLI, Noor brings experience in child welfare, WASH, education, and emergency response. This episode offers an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about how faith and collaboration can transform the lives of children and families across South Asia.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the song picked by Noor and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Connect with Noor's present organization JLI via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and JLI website. Noor is also on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Share your thoughts on this episode at Walk Talk Listen Feedback. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
Follow Us:
Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by liking and following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Visit my website at 100mile.org  or mauricebloem.com 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).