Walk Talk Listen Podcast

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).

A Human Library of Peace with Martine Miller - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 208)

Martine Miller takes us on a journey through two decades of working on the front lines of conflict in over 80 countries worldwide. From Libya and Sudan to Afghanistan and Myanmar, she has partnered with local communities, governments, and multilateral agencies to support early warning systems, negotiations, transitional justice, and post-war recovery. In this deeply human conversation, Martine shares her reflections on the power of dialogue and the role of faith and cultural sensitivity in building sustainable peace. Maurice thanks Martine for being his "human library" for an hour, offering a rare and personal glimpse into the stories behind global crises and the lessons learned from them.
 
As President of the International Center for Religion & Diplomacy and a member of several international expert pools, Martine brings both academic expertise and hands-on experience to her work. With dual master’s degrees and advanced certifications in mediation, negotiation, and emergency response, she continues to serve her local community as a volunteer AEMT and as a lecturer at top universities. Her unique perspective bridges the local and the global, showing how connection and courage can transform even the most complex conflicts.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the song picked by Martine and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Connect with Martine's organization via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Instagram and ICRD website. Martine is also on LinkedIn.
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).

Faith, Family, and Leadership in Health with Peter Yeboah - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 207)

Peter Yeboah is the Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the largest and oldest non-state health actor in the country, responsible for nearly 30% of national health service delivery. With three decades of leadership across Ghana and Africa, he has become a key figure in advancing equitable, accessible, and community-centered health care.
In this conversation, Peter shares deeply personal stories of growing up in a Catholic family of 14 children, his parents’ powerful influence, and how faith and resilience shaped his life path. From returning to work at the very hospital where he was born to leading CHAG and international health associations, Peter reflects on the intersection of family values, education, faith, and leadership — and how they guide his vision for health equity across Africa.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the song picked by Peter and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Connect with Peter's organization via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and CHAG website.
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).

Living Diversity in Times of Conflict with Nayla Tabbara - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 206)

Nayla Tabbara is a Lebanese scholar, activist, and co-founder of Adyan, an organization dedicated to promoting coexistence, diversity, and interreligious solidarity. With decades of experience in interfaith dialogue, citizenship education, and pluralism, Nayla has become a leading voice in bridging divides across communities. She currently serves as Adyan’s President and has been instrumental in shaping its vision of living together in diversity.
In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Nayla reflects on her childhood during Lebanon’s Civil War, the daily realities of conflict, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to building peace and resilience. She shares the story of Adyan’s founding, its work uniting Muslims, Christians, and those beyond religious identity, and the challenges of addressing displacement, injustice, and extremism in today’s world. This conversation moves from deeply personal memories to global perspectives, offering wisdom on how diversity, when embraced, becomes a source of strength.
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the song picked by Nayla and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Connect with Nayla via:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Adyan Foundation website.
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 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).

Special Intermezzo Episode

This week’s Walk Talk Listen comes with a quick update. Due to my travels to South Africa for the G20 Interfaith Forum, the regular episode will be released on Friday morning instead of Wednesday.
In this special intermezzo, I share my reflections from the forum in Cape Town, where over 400 participants gathered under the theme Ubuntu in Action – Focus on Vulnerable Communities. These impressions were first published on jliflc.com, and I hope you enjoy hearing them here as well.
If you’d like to support the podcast, please share and like my posts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Blue Sky—and let me know if you have ideas for future guests. Your feedback and encouragement help keep Walk Talk Listen growing.

I Wanna Know What Love Is with Sherrie Steiner - Walk Talk Listen (Episode 205)

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, I’m joined by Dr. Sherrie Steiner, Associate Professor of Sociology at Purdue University Fort Wayne and historian for the G20 Interfaith Forum. Speaking with openness and candor, Sherrie takes us from her childhood in the California desert through the challenges that shaped her resilience, to her work today in environmental sociology, public health, and global policy.
We explore her research on the health impacts of heavy metals, her newly published book documenting religious leaders’ engagement with the G20 system, and her belief that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals demands both political will and inner transformation. Along the way, she reflects on the people, moments, and choices that have shaped her understanding of what love means in action. You can find her latest book at Brill. This is the discount code: DGBSUMMER25 (valid until August 31, 2025).
 
Listener Engagement:
Discover the songs picked by Sherrie and other guests on our #walktalklisten here.
Connect with Sherrie via:  LinkedIn.
Share your thoughts on this episode at innovationhub@cwsglobal.org. Your feedback is invaluable to us.
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).

Still Searching, Still Showing Up with Patrick Bell – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 204)

In this heartfelt episode of Walk Talk Listen, Patrick Bell reflects on the journey that shaped his personal faith and professional calling. From formative moments in the UK—where a touring Christian band sparked his spiritual curiosity—to becoming a voice in global faith-based collaboration, Patrick’s story is rich with reflection, growth, and honesty.
 
We explore the tension between certainty and searching, and how music, faith, and global engagement continue to inform his path. Whether discussing leadership, failure, or the ongoing challenge of “showing up,” Patrick brings humor, humility, and insight to this vulnerable and inspiring conversation.
Listener Engagement
Learn more about Patrick's work on LinkedIn. 
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten.  Your feedback is invaluable.
Explore Patrick's song pick and others 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).

Local Wisdom, Global Voice with Vanda Lengkong – Walk Talk Listen (Episode 203)

In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Maurice speaks with Vanda Lengkong, a grounded and visionary leader whose work spans from the heart of rural Indonesia to the global arena. Raised in a small village in North Sulawesi, Vanda reflects on how her early experiences continue to shape her values and leadership today.
 
Now based in Jakarta, Vanda serves as a senior leader with Plan International Asia Pacific, helping guide the organization’s work across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. In this conversation, she speaks openly about the power of listening, the importance of humility, and her commitment to shifting how leadership and development are understood. This is a rich and human conversation that reminds us how local wisdom can indeed shape global impact.
Listener Engagement
Learn more about Vanda's work on LinkedIn. Find out more about Plan International Asia Pacific via this link here and it's social media handles: Instagram and Facebook.
Share your thoughts on this episode via walktalklisten.  Your feedback is invaluable.
Explore Desmond's song pick and others 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).