Walk Talk Listen Podcast

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with Patrick Watt, CEO of Christian Aid, about what it means to lead in a time where poverty, climate, and inequality are deeply intertwined. Patrick reflects on his journey from a rural upbringing in England to leading one of the world’s most respected faith-based development organizations, sharing how his background in theology and development shaped a lifelong commitment to justice. Throughout
the conversation, he emphasizes that real motivation comes not from abstract goals, but from encounters with communities, partners, and supporters who dedicate themselves to a purpose beyond their own lives.
 
The discussion explores the evolving role of faith in development, the shifting landscape of institutional religion, and the growing importance of locally-led approaches. Patrick speaks candidly about the challenge of “letting go” of power as an organization, describing Christian Aid’s role increasingly as a convener, connector, and catalyst. He also reflects on the role of prayer and perspective in sustaining leadership, and the importance of holding difference while working toward shared values of dignity, equality, and justice.
 
Patrick Watt is the Chief Executive Officer for Christian Aid, leading the organization in its work to tackle poverty and promote dignity, equality, and justice. He works closely with the SLT and the Board of Trustees and engages staff, supporters, partners, and sponsoring churches to realize Christian Aid's vision. Patrick has widespread experience working in development and humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam, ActionAid, and Save the Children International, where he was the Advocacy and Campaigns Director. He holds degrees in Theology from the University of Cambridge and in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by Patrick Watt and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Patrick Watt and his work through the Christian Aid website and/or check Linkedin. Christian Aid's Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.
Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter!
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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).

In this deeply personal and courageous conversation, Suzie Greco shares a journey that moves from silence and survival to truth-telling and transformation. What begins as a story of trauma and fragmentation unfolds into something much larger: a reflection on how personal experience can illuminate systemic failure. Through the powerful metaphor of the “Stone Sphere,” Suzie describes how the structures we build to survive can sometimes need to break apart in order for something more whole, more authentic, and more deeply connected to emerge.
 
Suzie Greco is a theologian, author of The Stone Sphere, and doctoral candidate in practical and ethical theology. Her work explores trauma, institutional power, spirituality, and the relationship between personal healing and collective change. Drawing from lived experience, academic research, and a deep connection to nature and the divine, she brings a unique voice to conversations on faith, systems, and transformation.
 
Listener Engagement:
Learn more about Suzie Greco and her work through her website and/or check Facebook.
Suzie is also on Linkedin or check all her research articles via this link.
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).

Rev. Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe takes us on a deeply personal journey from growing up as an outsider in apartheid South Africa to becoming an ordained minister and global advocate for SOGIE inclusion in faith spaces. Raised in an atheist household and navigating identity, belonging, and authenticity from a young age, Toni shares how embracing her truth as a lesbian shaped her path, even when it meant standing apart from dominant narratives.
 
In this conversation, Toni reflects on a transformative spiritual encounter that expanded her understanding of reality, her search for community, and the critical importance of affirming faith spaces. From resisting rigid religious norms to ultimately answering a call to ministry, she now works at the intersection of faith and justice as Executive Director of the Global Interfaith Network for People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions (GIN-SSOGIE). This episode is a powerful exploration of authenticity, faith, and the courage to reshape systems from within.
 
Listener Engagement:
Learn more about Rev. Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe and her work through GIN-SSOGIE (their website and their social media handles: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Toni is also 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).
 

In this episode, Maurice sits down with David Elcott and Barney Aspray to explore the space where faith, policy, and lived experience meet. Rather than treating immigration as a purely technical or political issue, the conversation unpacks how religion shapes the moral imagination behind public debates—how we define belonging, responsibility, and community. Moving between practice and theory, David and Barney reflect on the tensions that arise when deeply held beliefs encounter real-world policy decisions, and why engaging that “space between” is essential in a polarized world.
 
David Elcott brings decades of experience in interfaith engagement, public leadership, and cross-boundary collaboration, while Barney Aspray offers a theological and philosophical lens as Assistant Professor at St. Mary’s Seminary and University. Together, as co-authors of On the Significance of Religion in Immigration Policy, they bridge practice and theory, offering insights into how religion can both complicate and enrich policy conversations when engaged thoughtfully.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by David and Barney and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about David via his LinkedIn and Barney's Podcast website, Facebook, Bluesky and 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).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice sits down with Ben Olsen—technologist, philosopher, and pioneer in responsible AI—to explore what happens when data meets discernment. From his early days learning the hard edges of technology to helping shape some of the first responsible AI frameworks inside major tech companies, Ben shares a journey that is anything but linear. Rooted in a background that blends philosophy, theology, and technology, he reflects on how ethics is not an add-on, but an essential lens through which innovation must be understood.
 
The conversation dives into what most people misunderstand about big tech—that many inside are not indifferent, but often limited by what they see and prioritize. Ben introduces the idea of a “sin of omission” in technology and speaks about expanding the moral aperture in AI development. From algorithmic bias to the concept of the “human bar” beyond legal compliance, this episode is an invitation to rethink responsibility, leadership, and what it means to build technology that truly serves humanity.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by Ben and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Ben via his LinkedInand his companies websites1 and website2.
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).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen our guest is Eleftheria (Ella) Egel, whose name literally means “freedom”, a theme that runs deeply through her life and work. Growing up in Greece in a family shaped by post-war values of hard work, security, and compliance, Ella shares how she followed a path that looked right on the outside, yet felt increasingly disconnected on the inside.
 
We explore her journey from teacher and entrepreneur to working in the stock market, and ultimately toward a deeper exploration of spirituality and leadership. A turning point came when she realized that what she believed to be “objective reality” was actually a subjective lens shaped by upbringing and expectations. That realization opened the door to a different kind of freedom—one grounded not in achievement, but in awareness and alignment.
 
Eleftheria reflects on the tension between religion and spirituality, the role of meaning in organizations, and why true connection requires moving beyond ego toward a sense of shared humanity. This conversation is about breaking patterns, rediscovering purpose, and asking a simple but powerful question: what truly makes us feel alive?
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by Eleftheria and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Eleftheria via her LinkedIn, Facebook, and her website.
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).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice Bloem speaks with peacebuilding and humanitarian leader Amjad Saleem, whose work spans interfaith engagement, conflict resolution, and development across global contexts.
 
Amjad shares how growing up across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the UK shaped his identity as a “third culture kid,” giving him an early appreciation for diversity, faith, and belonging. His journey took a decisive turn after the 2004 tsunami, when a personal and professional shift led him from engineering into humanitarian work and peacebuilding.
 
Reflecting on his experiences in Sri Lanka, Amjad highlights a powerful lesson: rebuilding communities is not just about physical infrastructure, but about relationships, trust, and understanding. As he puts it, building the “hardware” is not enough if we neglect the “software” of human connection.
 
The conversation explores the role of faith in today’s world, the growing crisis of trust, and the importance of creating spaces where people can truly encounter one another. Amjad also shares insights from working with young people, emphasizing their deep spiritual curiosity and their desire to express values through action.
 
This is a conversation about identity, purpose, and what it takes to build peace and hope in a divided world.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by Amjad and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Amjad via his LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Also check out his writing on Medium, link here. His article on hope, can be found by clicking here.
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).

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, I speak with Jessica Roland, Senior Specialist for Inclusive Peace at the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, where she advances the leadership of women, youth, and marginalized groups through advocacy, training, and mediation work, and serves as Co-Chair of the Gender Working Group of the Multi-Faith Advisory Council to the UN. Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, Jessica’s worldview was shaped by limited exposure until one opportunity to travel abroad opened a completely different path toward international peacebuilding. Her journey is a powerful reminder of how exposure shapes understanding, and how it can transform the way we engage with the world.
We explore how younger generations are shifting away from institutional religion toward lived values, seeking authenticity, inclusion, and meaningful engagement. Jessica reflects on her work across women, peace, and security, and the importance of inclusive leadership in peace processes, while also naming the growing challenge of polarization and the loss of real dialogue. What stands out is her reframing of courage, not as something individual, but as something collective. Through partnership, empathy, and self-awareness, she reminds us that building peace depends not only on what we do, but on who we choose to become.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by Jessica and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Learn more about Jessica via her LinkedIn and Instagram. Also check out her organization's related website, link here. Her company also has Facebook.
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).