Amplify Peace: Creating a Better Story Together

Send us Fan Mail What if the odds said you’d never make it - but you did? David Prian’s life began in foster care, moved through addiction and incarceration, and could have ended there. But it didn’t. Against all odds, David rose—not just to survive, but to lead. Today, he’s a successful entrepreneur (Inspired Marketing and Design), a mentor, and a bold voice of hope in his church and community. H...

Send us Fan Mail In this moving first episode of a two-part conversation, you’ll meet our guest, Michael Zacharia—an Executive Coach, Mediator, Attorney, author, and peacemaker whose life embodies a question the world is still wrestling with: Can one life hold both Palestinian and Israeli identity? Born to a Palestinian Christian father and a Jewish Israeli mother, Michael’s early life was steeped...

Send us Fan Mail In the first episode with Michael Zacharia, Michael shared his story of becoming—navigating identity, belonging, and the complexity of a multicultural home shaped by both Palestinian and Jewish Israeli heritage. Now, we turn toward the present. Michael opens up about the meaningful work he does today—guiding individuals, organizations, and churches through the challenges of leader...

Send us Fan Mail True peacemaking begins when we get close. In Part 2, Nikki Toyama-Szeto unpacks why proximity - not neutrality -  is the starting point for justice and healing. Through powerful stories and practical wisdom, Nikki challenges us to move beyond comfort and step toward the margins where transformation happens. If you’ve ever wondered where to begin in a world divided by fear and inj...

Send us Fan Mail What would you do if you were offered $1 million? Nikki Toyama-Szeto was - and said no. In this powerful conversation, Nikki shares the radical choices, personal sacrifices, and deep convictions that led her into a life of justice-fueled peacemaking. From global leadership to the recent Chicago Declaration, Nikki invites us to reimagine what courage looks like when we follow Jesus...

Send us Fan Mail Today, I’m honored to welcome someone who has been a mentor, a friend, and a bridge-builder in the truest sense of the word— Joe Tosini . Joe is a pastor, global speaker, and the Founder and Visionary of the J17 Movement—a movement rooted in the prayer of Jesus in John 17: “that they may all be one.” Joe has spent decades building authentic relationships across deep divides—Protes...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Joe Tosini—pastor, leader and bridge-builder. Joe is the Founder and Visionary of the J17 Movement, a global call to relational unity inspired by the heart of Jesus' prayer in John 17, “that they may all be one.” He is also one of the most networked and relational people you’ll meet. Joe and I dive into a story few can tell — his rare and remarkable friendship with Pope...

Send us Fan Mail How would you define a good death? Most of us don’t wake up thinking about death. It feels distant, something to deal with 'someday.' But what if understanding the end of life could actually help us live more fully today? What if embracing the reality of our mortality could bring more purpose, more love, and more peace into our daily lives?  ​"Anticipating Heaven&qu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joizeth Waldmann discusses how labels and assumptions hinder genuine connection for all of us. Through personal stories of cultural change, you are invited to rethink how you treat others and build bridges of understanding.

Send us Fan Mail Joizeth Waldmann shares her immigrant story as she had to flee her home country. She takes up deeper into her struggles with language, cultural labels, and finding her voice. This episode challenges us to look past stereotypes and truly listen to one another's stories.

Send us Fan Mail Where does the US rank out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index? On this special MLK Holiday episode of Amplify Peace Radio, Lisa and Larry Horton dive into the answer while reflecting on their favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Together, they explore the profound connections between peace, service, and personal responsibility. Larry shares insights from his wor...

Send us Fan Mail What’s the difference between keeping peace and building peace? In this episode of Amplify Peace Radio, Lisa sits down with Larry Horton, Past District Governor with Rotary and a passionate Peace Activator, to explore this transformative question. As a former police officer, Larry shares his journey from enforcing laws as a peacekeeper to addressing root causes of conflict as a pe...

Send us Fan Mail What if the path to unity begins by inviting the unexpected to our tables? In this powerful follow-up episode, authors Mark Nelson and Heather Gorman dive deep into the transformative power of shared tables, from communion to community, where everyone belongs—even those we once kept at a distance. Mark and Heather challenge us to break down barriers, inspired by Jesus' vision...

Send us Fan Mail Remember those lunchroom tables from school? Were they welcoming spaces, or did they feel exclusive? In this episode, authors Mark Nelson and Heather Gorman invite us to rethink our tables—whether in our homes, boardrooms, or churches—as places for genuine connection and unity. Drawing from their new book Lunchroom Theology: Pushing Tables Together in a Fractured World , Mark and...

Send us Fan Mail Step back in time and reconnect with a familiar voice and a favorite friend! Jonathan Sanborn, the former host of Counter Culture Radio with Amplify Peace, is back—bringing his signature blend of stories and insights. Have you recently moved, started a new job, or stepped into a completely new environment? Jonathan knows exactly how that feels. It can be exciting, challenging, and...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to our ongoing conversation with Leann Hull . Following the heartbreaking loss of her 16-year-old son, Andy, to suicide, Leann established Andy Hull’s Sunshine Foundation to combat the high suicide rates and offer vital coping skills. In this episode, Leann explores how we can transform our personal losses and traumas into sources of hope and healing. We tackle though...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to today’s show, where we dive into a deeply moving conversation with Leann Hull, the founder of Andy Hull’s Sunshine Foundation. After the heart-wrenching loss of her 16-year-old son, Andy, to suicide, Leann has dedicated her life to raising awareness about suicide and helping others navigate their own grief. Leann’s foundation not only highlights the alarming rates of su...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to part 2 of our podcast series, where we delve deeper into disrupting the status quo of peacekeeping to embrace the role of peacemakers.  In this episode, our focus remains on the transformative power of peacemaking over peacekeeping, emphasizing the need to venture beyond comfort zones to understand diverse narratives, cultures, and faith backgrounds. As we continue the...

Send us Fan Mail What can happen when we cross the lines and are in proximity with each other?  In this podcast interview, Salam, a Muslim, shares his insights on faith, aiming to dispel misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. The conversation centers on fostering peace and understanding by crossing cultural boundaries, discovering commonalities, and challenging stereotypes. Emphasizing the beauty...

Send us Fan Mail Is your neighbor limited to someone who looks, thinks, believes, and acts just like you? How we see people is how we tend to treat them. In this podcast, Pastor David Wade, Pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, the oldest predominantly Black Church in Mesa, AZ (est. 1918) shares profound insights and his own personal experiences from the black community and the black faith communi...

Send us Fan Mail We continue Part 2 of our interview with Sami DiPasquale, Founder and Director of Abara Ministries in El Paso, Texas. Is the border with Mexico the problem? Is the border the solution? What if the answer is neither? Take a deeper dive into this disruptive topic of border, immigration, immigrants, and asylum seekers and be better informed as to ways we can help and not hurt and tru...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself saying, “I didn’t know!”. That happens all the time in our work living and leading as peacemakers. There is so much from history, to present day realities that we just don’t know, haven’t been taught, or haven’t been curious enough to hear. This is one of those conversations where you might find yourself saying, “I didn’t know!” Explore the profound co...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we're joined by Maria Fuentes , a visionary with a deep understanding of the unique impact the Faith community and the Church can have in our local communities and the world. Inspired by thought-provoking questions posed by Anne Snyder in a recent Comment Magazine article, our conversation centers on two pivotal questions: "Church, where are you?" and "C...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Part Two of our podcast series with Mercy Aiken. Have you ever experienced the gentle yet persistent call of God, leading you towards an unfamiliar path, out of your comfort zone? Did you choose the scenic route only to find yourself standing exactly where you were meant to be, unlocking gateways to uncharted lands and unprecedented opportunities? This is Mercy’s story...

Send us Fan Mail Over the course of history, narratives have been woven about diverse people and communities, some uplifting and others divisive. It is often far too simple to categorize individuals without delving into their multifaceted identities, their rich histories, their vibrant cultures, and their deep connections to the land they call home. Discover the extraordinary story of Bishara Awad...