Building Bridges and Radical Belonging with Ben McBride

In this episode of Fierce Compassion, community leader Ben McBride shares his journey from experiencing both love and othering in his San Francisco upbringing to becoming a bridge-builder between divided communities. Drawing on his work with law enforcement, community violence intervention, and diverse faith communities, McBride offers a compelling vision for moving beyond political polarization through radical belonging. He explores how practicing self-compassion and genuine curiosity about those different from us can transform societal divisions, while offering practical wisdom for building bridges in our own communities. Join us for this timely conversation about choosing connection over division and co-creating a world where everyone belongs. Episode Transcript Ben McBride is a visionary leader of radical belonging. He is the Co-Founder of Empower Initiative, a leadership development firm that fosters belonging through immersive learning. Through his dedicated work as an internationally recognized peacemaker, faith leader, activist, and sought-after speaker, Ben uniquely develops strong leaders and builds dynamic cultures of empathy, allyship, and belonging. Follow Ben McBride online: Website: https://fosteringbelonging.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjmcbride/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialbenmcbride/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjmcbride Episode Mentions: john a. powell Jennifer Eberhardt and her book, Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice that Shapes What We See, Think, and Do Valerie Kaur and her book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love Empower Initiative The Othering and Belongining Institute Eyes on the Prize Documentary Series I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr You can find more episodes and transcripts of Fierce Compassion at ⁠http://antiracistconversations.com/fierce-compassion-podcast⁠ Stay current with Roxy and Sarah's personal work at ⁠⁠https://roxannemanning.com/⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠https://sarahpeyton.com/⁠ Like this podcast? Leave a rating and review, and share the podcast with your friends! Podcast Manager: Talli Jackson Audio Editor: Brendan Youngquist