Relief, development and podcast

It’s 2025. And we’re looking back on last year. In this episode, hosts Christy Kauffman and Meghan Mast share some favorite moments from the podcast and talk about why these clips impacted them. Meghan also shares an announcement.  Full transcript available here.

This episode features a conversation between Reverend Munther Isaac and his former student Anthony Khair. The two Christian Palestinian men talk about how they are navigating grief and the immense loss in Gaza, while cultivating courage and resilience. Their conversation covers challenging truths and talks about the importance of language in this moment. Full transcript and show notes available here.

With Canadian thanksgiving just past and the United States election around the corner, some people are psyching themselves up for the awkward conversations that can come up. Sometimes this means talking about difficult topics. Bumping elbows with people who have conflicting worldviews. Maybe it involves passing gravy to an uncle that likes to play contrarian.  In this episode, we're taking questions from listeners. Jessica Stoltzfus Buller, a facilitator, trainer, mediator and peacebuilder joins us to talk about how to navigate conversations with more curiosity and compassion. Full transcript and show notes available here.

Surendra Shrestha, Executive Director of SAHAS, discussed the challenges faced by Nepali farmers, including lack of irrigation, poor seed quality, and climate change impacts. He emphasized the importance of community-based organizations (CBOs) in addressing these issues, highlighting their role in accessing resources, developing leadership, and fostering social capital. Fish farming initiatives, supported by CBOs, provide economic benefits, environmental sustainability, and fresh fish for local communities. Surendra's dedication to improving agricultural practices and community well-being is rooted in his agricultural background and personal experiences.  Transcript

Rediscovering black history in Appalachian coal town, MCC staff in Kimball West Virginia piece together a story of a Black owned hospital that used to sit on the site of the current Appalachia Build program site. mcc.org/dismukes Dismukes project cordinator Tylah Cline tylahcline@mcc.org Transcript

Bruce Guenther remembers his grandma describing the smell of the bread at the MCC soup kitchen in Ukraine. She received food from MCC over 100 years ago. Today, Bruce helps coordinate MCC's relief response, getting food and other basic needs to those who need it most. View full transcript here.

When pesticides are used so much it starts to harm the community, MCC partners are looking to find natural ways to grow a safe vegetable. Go into the field with us to Bogura Bangladesh where MCC staff member Jahangir Alam shows us exactly what that looks like and the challenges that come with it.   Learn more and see images from this story on MCC's website https://mcc.org/our-stories/farmers-grow-safe-vegetables-protect-health-environment   Transcript

"I didn't expect something like this program to be in jail," says EPP participant Chantelle Peele. "It was very compassionate and understanding. And it came from a place of true caring. You can sense it right away when you walked in the room that the guides, and the facilitators cared, and they genuinely wanted to help." The Enneagram Prison Project uses a personality test called the Enneagram to facilitate trauma healing and self-awareness training for people in prison and jail. If you don't know what the Enneagram is, don't worry, we get into that in this episode... Featuring EPP participant Chantelle Peele and guides Leanne Schellenberg and Amanda Dodge. Full transcript and show notes available here.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the military seized power again in 2021. Distributing aid is dangerous, so MCC's partners in the region face significant challenges. Meet Mr. Khong (not using his real name for security reasons), an MCC partner in Myanmar. He shares how he is navigating these dangerous conditions, talks about the moral obligation he feels as a peace worker, the livelihoods being impacted, families fleeing from their homes, the unpredictability of the army and the constant worry about being a target.  "Being meaningful to my country, being meaningful to my community, that can’t be measured," he says. Full transcript available here.

Part two of the conversation with Jonathan Kuttab and Alain Epp Weaver focuses stories of Palestinian nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation. We also hear stories from Jad Issac, the director general of the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ), an MCC partner of over 40 years. Give and advocate through MCC here Transcript