The Peace Corner Podcast

Worldwide, people are separated in the name of ‘national security’. Thousands of miles of walls and barbed wire, all with the sole purpose to keep out ‘the other’, the unknown. But all this comes at a cost: not only the trillions of dollars invested in steel, stone and weapons, but also at the cost of our shared humanity. But now, a new era of peacebuilding is on the horizon. Inspired by those who...

Nowadays, almost half of the world’s population is under the age of 24. Yet policy-making and the field of peacebuilding is still dominated by older men in suits. Why is that and how can we change it? How can we break the status quo and create space for youth at the peace table? To find out we sat down with Gizem Kilinç, the leading coordinator of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY)....

The struggle for identity and self-determination fuel conflict in many regions of the world. In Southeast Asia particularly these struggles have become crises in Mindanao and Myanmar. Against this backdrop, there are those that struggle tirelessly for a change. Makers and builders of peace who believe that solidarity between peoples is the way to advocate for peace. To understand how this solidari...

For decades, Mexico has been embroiled in a deadly war on drugs. While the lens of the media remains focused on the government and infamous drug cartels, those striving for a better society remain invisible. It is time to change that. So, we sat down with the President of SERAPAZ, Miguel Álvarez Gándara, a Mexican peacebuilder in heart and word. For over 40 years, he has been using mediation as hi...

A wave of disappointment struck the peacebuilding community after the long-awaited Trump-Kim Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. Without a peace agreement, what are we left with? Or was this Summit still a small step towards peace on the Korean Peninsula? To find out, Ben sat down with returning guest Meri Joyce from Peaceboat. What were her expectations for the Summit and what are her hopes now? Tune in to...

For this New Year’s special, Jo talked with Darynell Rodriguez Torres, the Executive Director of GPPAC. Growing up in war-torn Colombia, Darynell wondered: ‘what is it that unites us and why do we tend to focus on divisions?’ Driven by his experiences, he became an actor of peace, driven to build bridges and prevent violence globally. This conversation reminds us that peace is so much more than ju...

For our final episode of the series, Charlotte gathered three fascinating peacebuilders round the table to discuss how they navigate polarising discourse, such as common ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ divisions. Marc Batac offers insight into dialogue processes in the Philippines; Meri Joyce takes us inside the discreet dialogue initiatives on the Korean Peninsula; and Darynell Rodriguez Torres adds an extremely...

For our fifth episode, Raphael sat down with Meri Joyce from Peaceboat who has a very unique portfolio: enabling dialogue for peace in Korea while also helping manage a cruise boat that spreads the message of peace beyond every border. This conversation reminds us that the most innovative solutions to peace are often the ones that can go further and that no one is too far away to be engaged in dia...

For our fourth episode, our gender intern, Maria, decided to chat to a long-time feminist activist working in the field of Women, Peace and Security, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls. From military coups in Fiji, Sharon talks about her long career striving for more inclusive and peaceful societies; especially urging against the ghettoisation of women in peacebuilding! ‘Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licen...

For our third episode, our curious intern, Raphael, decided to chat to a veteran in grassroots peacebuilding, Jon Rudy. After decades in the field, Jon offers an insightful and philosophical overview of the precarious environments within which civil society often operates, and the powerful individuals driving these operations. This conversation reminds us of the urgency of our collective humanity....

For our second episode, two impassioned Nicaraguans - our intern, Jo, and activist, Chale - sat down to discuss the dire yet under-reported crisis in Nicaragua. In exile, Chale concentrates most of his time on solidarity networks like #SOSNicaragua. The continuous protests and harsh government crackdown in Nicaragua is why Chale travelled to The Hague to unite civil society groups to advocate for...

For our very first podcast, we sat down with longtime peacebuilding pioneer, Lucy Nusseibeh, who has been living and working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1978. We discussed the power of non-violent activism, the significance of youth and women empowerment, and Palestinian symbol of resilience and resistance, Ahed Tamimi. Looking forward in one of the most protracted conflicts in t...