PODCAST · religion
Mending Divides
by Global Immersion
How do you handle the real-world conflict in your life? Most of us were never taught how. So, this season, Mending Divides isn’t a show about conflict. It’s a collection of stories from people who were actually inside it. The moment their convictions got tested, their fears got exposed, and something in them had to change. These aren’t polished success stories. They’re honest accounts of what conflict costs, what it reveals, and what becomes possible when you do the slow, courageous work of healing instead of winning.Mending Divides is a production of Global Immersion.Hosted by Jer Swigart. Produced by Andrew Brumme. Audio post-production by Great Feeling Studios.Learn more about Global Immersion: globalimmerse.org.Support this show and Global Immersion’s work forming leaders who mend divides: globalimmerse.org/donate
Episodes
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Ep 4: Katy’s Story: Finding Freedom from My Addiction to Control
What if control, the thing that once made you feel safe, is keeping you from the freedom you actually want? Growing up in a family shaped by addiction, Katy learned to manage the people and circumstances around her in order to survive. Her story explores what happens when we begin to recognize…
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Ep 3: Rahn’s Story: Defending My DEI Role in a White Institution
What happens when your work, your identity, and your sense of belonging become entangled in conflict? Rahn’s story takes us inside the experience of a Black leader navigating a DEI role at a predominantly white Christian university in the midst of extreme national tension around the politics of...
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Ep 2: Jen’s Story: Facing the Authority Who Wanted Me Fired
Jen had never known what it feels like to become the villain in someone else’s story. When she found herself on the outside of a community she had come to serve, she had to navigate the unfamiliar territory of being misunderstood, betrayed, and afraid. Her story explores what it means to become...
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Ep 1: Andrea’s Story: Meeting the Man Who Killed My Husband
More than a decade after her husband was killed, Andrea’s daughter asked to meet the man responsible. That moment opened a door Andrea had spent years keeping closed, inviting her into a difficult journey of grief, forgiveness, and seeing the person she had made an “other” in a new way. What...
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Season 7 Trailer
How do you handle the real-world conflict in your life? Most of us were never taught how. So, this season, Mending Divides isn't a show about conflict. It's a collection of stories from people who were actually inside it. The moment their convictions got tested, their fears got exposed, and...
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Loving Our Enemy in a Wounded World — Shane Claiborne
From the Holy Land and US Prisons to our very living rooms, this conversation reveals how proximity, humility, and courageous tenderness make enemy love—the radical way of Jesus—possible, disarming fear, confronting injustice, and transforming our own hearts in the process.01:53 Two Stories - The...
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Pastoral Presence in a Fracturing World: Wisdom from Northern Ireland — Rev. Harold Good
Rev. Harold Good—Protestant minister, contemporary of Desmond Tutu, and key figure in Northern Ireland’s peace process—reflects on what it means to pastor through division. Having played a pivotal role in bringing Catholics and Protestants to the same table, Rev. Good shares hard-won wisdom for…
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Enneagram Wisdom for Conflict — Rob Yackley
Conflict is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to divide us. In this episode, Enneagram coach Rob Yackley joins Jer to explore the Enneagram and how each of the nine types tends to show up in conflict. Together, they explore each type’s default responses, the unique gifts and traps they bring, and...
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History Repeats When We Forget: A Call to the Remnant — Latasha Morrison
In a time of exhausting division, what we need isn’t a new moral majority—it’s a faithful remnant. In this timely conversation with Latasha Morrison of Be the Bridge, we explore what it means to follow Jesus into the hard and holy work of repair. We talk about the habits that shape bridge…
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Circles and Pollination: A New Way to Engage Conflict — John Paul Lederach
What if peacemaking meant moving into people’s lives instead of waiting for them to come to the table? In this profound conversation, renowned peacemaker Dr. John Paul Lederach shares how presence, story, and deep listening can transform conflict—and why this “circulation” approach looks a lot…
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Ending Conflict Begins with Listening — Robi Damelin
What if the path to peace begins with listening? In this story-driven conversation, Robi Damelin—a bereaved Israeli mother and peace activist—shares how, after losing her son to a Palestinian sniper, she chose to seek connection with those she was taught to see as enemies. Her journey is not just...
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From Othering to Belonging: A Radical Reimagining — Ben McBride
The dominant story isn’t working. In this bold conversation, Ben McBride challenges Christians to confront power, discomfort, and exclusion—and reimagine a faith big enough for belonging. Learn why he says we must be hard on systems, soft on people, and always building a bigger table. 00:25Iintro...
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Conflict Is Inevitable, Division Is a Choice — Nina Barnes
Conflict can strengthen relationships—if handled well. Nina Barnes shares why avoiding conflict causes more harm, how to tell the truth with kindness (not just niceness!), and why “agreeing to disagree” isn’t always the answer. Learn strategies for turning conflict into deeper connection. This...
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Trailer: Introducing the Mending Divides Podcast
Welcome to the Mending Divides Podcast, formerly known as the Everyday Peacemaking Podcast! Join us for a brand new series of unfiltered conversations about conflict and how we navigate it. In a world familiar with conflict, Mending Divides offers a fresh perspective. Hosted by Dr. Jer Swigart,...
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Season Finale: The Power of Remembering
In this final episode of the 2024 season of the Everyday Peacemaking Podcast, hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart reflect on the past year, emphasizing the importance of radical reflection over resolutions. They explore the Hebrew concept of ‘zakar,’ which means to remember and retell a story...
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The Election’s Over. The Peacemaking Continues.
In this episode, hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart explore what peacemaking looks like in the aftermath of the election. They unpack how different communities are processing the results and the impact on marginalized groups, emphasizing that there’s no single “right” way for a peacemaker to use...
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Election Day and Beyond: Embracing Belovedness
In the uncertainty of an imminent election, Osheta and Jer offer a hopeful alternative to getting swept up in the anxious swirl of this divisive political moment. They invite us to receive the gift of our own belovedness and then extend this recognition to others. They offer this practice as a...
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Compassion Fatigue & Discernment: What’s Mine to Do?
Autumn is here, and with it come plenty of starts and a constant barrage of asks to give, volunteer, and show up for meaningful causes. In this episode, Osheta and Jer explore the reality of compassion fatigue and how to discern ‘what’s mine to do.’ With personal anecdotes, they discuss the pulls...
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Failing Forward: Peacemaking in a World Afraid of Making Mistakes
In this episode, hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart delve into the realities of failure and mistakes as crucial elements of our growth as peacemakers. They explore the anxiety around mistakes, the societal pressure to avoid them, and the importance of embracing mistakes as pathways to improvement...
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Embracing Loneliness and Finding Your People
In this episode, Osheta and Jer reflect candidly on the common experience of loneliness, recognizing that it’s always a part of the path of peacemaking. Reflecting on their recent Deep South immersion with the 2024 Leadership Cohort, they share their journey from isolation to discovering a sense…
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An Attempted Assassination and America’s Lethal Fixation on Violence
This episode was a spontaneous conversation between hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart reflecting on the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They discuss their immediate reactions, the importance of maintaining a peaceable presence, and how to navigate violent political…
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Raising Peacemakers: Parenting in a Divided World
In this episode, Osheta and Jer delve into the intersection of parenting and peacemaking. They grapple with the temptation of fixing vs. being, naming the lure of project-oriented parenting and peacemaking. The high stakes of Christian parenting in particular are addressed, opening up a…
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Our Fabricated Fables and the Humanizing Truth
Jer kicks off the episode with a story about a recent encounter with his own stereotypes at a Guns to Gardens event in Bend, Oregon. This experience led him to question the fables he’s fabricated about “those people.” They wrestle with stereotypes as organized lies that shape the way we see…
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Brace for Impact: Preparing for Triggering Spaces
In this episode, Osheta processes a challenging experience of racism and her struggle to respond as a peacemaker when she was already depleted. The conversation explores the importance of self-care, acknowledging our triggers, and building an ‘infrastructure of support’ to remain grounded amidst...
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The Practice of “Yes, and:” Embracing Resurrection Life Everywhere
In this episode, Osheta and Jer explore hope and its paramount importance in Everyday Peacemaking, inspired by this season of Eastertide. They delve into how hope, seen as both a skill and a practice, is essential in looking for and participating in ‘little resurrections’ amidst life’s challenges...
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[Virtual Immersion] Facing Despair, Fear, and Anger Together - Mercy Aiken and Bruce Fisk
Our next Virtual Immersion conversation into the Israel/Gaza war wrestles with what to do as peacemakers when we drift into despair, give in to fear, or move in our anger from righteous indignation to dehumanizing rage. Jer Swigart is joined by Mercy Aiken and Bruce Fisk from the Network of...
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[Virtual Immersion] Peacemaking with Palestinian Youth - Mahmoud Subuh
This powerful next conversation in our Virtual Immersion series is with Mahmoud Subuh, a Palestinian Muslim Peacemaker waging peace in the midst of the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank, currently under complete siege. Mahmoud shares openly about the immense challenges of both raising his own...
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From Gumbo to Gratitude: A Peacemaking Journey at the Table
Jer and Osheta discuss the table as a vital tool in mending divides. Osheta sets the stage with a poignant tale of gumbo-making that fostered connection, empathy, and a sense of belonging to one another. The duo unpacks practical strategies, emphasizing the essence of simplicity in hosting, the...
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[In Conversation] The Practice of Lament: Drawing Near to God in a Broken World - with Alejandra Ortiz
Theologian and peacemaker Alejandra Ortiz joins Osheta and Jer for a profound discussion on the practice of lament as central to our formation as Everyday Peacemakers. They explore how lament gives space to grieve the brokenness of the world. Alejandra shares a rich theological perspective...
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The Power of the Table in Everyday Peacemaking
In this episode of the Everyday Peacemaking Podcast, hosts Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart discuss the centrality of the table as the most important furniture used in the work of peacemaking. Jer shares an incredible story from his recent trip to the front lines of the conflict in Burma, where a...
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Moving Beyond 2024 Resolutions to Radical Self-Reflection
As we step into 2024, Osheta and Jer invite us beyond New Year’s resolutions into a journey of intentional self-reflection. In a year already marked by “anti” sentiments, they aim to shift their focus towards what they aspire to be “for”. Embracing the belovedness of each person, they discuss...
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[In Conversation] Anger or Love as our Peacemaking Fuel for 2024? - with Ben McBride
Peacemaker Ben McBride joins Jer for this soul-stirring conversation about the interior formation of peacemakers in 2024. With the humanity and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. as a springboard, they grapple with the idea that the social transformation we’re dreaming of will not be realized in…
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[Virtual Immersion] Christ in the Rubble - Live from Bethlehem - Munther Isaac
This Advent, while global Christians prepare to commemorate the arrival of the Prince of Peace, our Palestinian kin in Gaza suffer unthinkable violence. Their cries for deliverance, echoing those of two millennia ago, seem to be falling unheard in the United States. To see their pain and hear…
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[Virtual Immersion] Rabbi David Jaffe
In our ongoing Virtual Immersion series, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Rabbi David Jaffe from the Kirva Institute. Delving into the complex landscape of the Gaza-Israel conflict, we navigate through the lenses of antisemitism, Islamophobia, trauma, and power dynamics. Rabbi...
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[Virtual Immersion] Palestinian-American Peacemaker & Telos President - Greg Khalil
This Virtual Immersion features a conversation between Greg Khalil (@eternalvagabond) of @thetelosgroup and @jerswigart. It includes remarkable analyses of this current moment in Israel & Palestine, what made it both predictable and preventable, and the outcomes that global power brokers are...
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Pondering Advent: Expectation Amidst Despair
Osheta and Jer wrestle with Advent and how it exemplifies our posture as Everyday Peacemakers. Osheta explores the gift of pondering as Mary did, waiting in expectation for God’s restoration. Jer confesses deep feelings of despair and discouragement as the violence seems to be winning. Together,...
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[Virtual Immersion] Bereaved Mothers Robi Damelin (Israeli Jew) and Layla Alsheikh (Palestinian Muslim)
This special Virtual Immersion conversation is with two peacemakers, Robi Damelin (Israeli Jew) and Layla Alsheikh (Palestinian Muslim), bereaved mothers who share their stories of loss, reflect on the current horror in Israel and Palestine, and encourage us forward on the journey from revenge to...
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[Virtual Immersion] Jewish Historian and Theologian Jared Goldfarb
In our second Virtual Immersion conversation, we delve into the profound realms of Jewish trauma with Jared, a Jerusalem-based Jewish historian and theologian. Through his personal narrative on October 7th, Jared provides insights into the pervasive fear that extends throughout the Jewish...
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Bridging Ideological Divides Amidst Power Differentials
Osheta and Jer delve into the challenges of bridging ideological differences when power differentials are at play. Osheta shares a challenging personal experience that kicks off the conversation, sparked by their interaction in Episode 2 where Jer shared a story about bridging differences with…
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[Virtual Immersion] Palestinian Peacemaker & Pastor Munther Isaac
The first conversation as part of our Virtual Immersion into the Israel/Gaza war is with Palestinian pastor, scholar, and peacemaker Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, one of the most profound voices in global Christianity on the crises in Israel/Palestine. We explore his personal experience of what is...
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Softening Our Certainty: Reflections on the Israel-Gaza War
In this deeply personal and prophetic conversation, Jer shares his experiences being on the ground as war broke out in Israel and Palestine. Osheta creates a safe space for Jer to reflect on the situation now in Israel and Gaza. Together, they delve into the complexity of the conflict, seeking to...
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From the Field: Immersed in the Deep South
In our first “From the Field” episode, the leadership team of the Journey of Hope cohort sat down for a conversation as their immersive experience in the Deep South concluded. They reflect on the profound impact of this immersion into the stark realities of institutionalized and structural…
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Navigating Deep Disagreement with Loved Ones
Jer recounts the journey with his dad through political, theological and ideological disagreement that came to a head in one particularly revealing conversation. Osheta and Jer delve into the lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of adopting a humble posture, prioritizing understanding over...
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When You Fail at Rest
Osheta’s in a funk! Despite her best intentions, her attempts to rest in the summer were hijacked, and she’s starting the fall feeling depleted. She processes her frustration with Jer, and in the process, they surface surprising insights about befriending feelings of jealousy and disappointment....
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Relaunching the Everyday Peacemaking Podcast with Osheta Moore & Jer Swigart
The Everyday Peacemaking Podcast, co-hosted by Osheta Moore and Jer Swigart, will relaunch in its new format on the International Day of Peace (September 21), featuring vulnerable conversations about the habits, heartaches, and hopes of Everyday Peacemaking. Learn more about us at...
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[Bonus Episode] Laying Down Our Weapons Part 2: How Churches Can Transform Guns into Garden Tools
On April 3, 2023, we hosted a practical conversation about the steps that individuals and congregations can take to move the needle on gun violence. Shane Claiborne (Red Letter Christians) and Mike Martin (RAWtools) invited churches to become gun decommissioning sites in our cities. Pastor Amy...
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[Bonus Episode] Laying Down Our Weapons Part 1: How Christians Can Move the Needle on Gun Violence
In the wake of yet another mass shooting, the conversations are once again saturated with tired arguments leading us nowhere. We’re done waiting for change to begin with Capitol Hill. We’re convinced that measurable change will start with communities of Jesus-followers who transform their guns…
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A Father and Son Talk Politics, Family, & Faith — Doug & Jon Huckins
In today's episode, we have the privilege of meeting Jon's dad, Doug Huckins. Jon and his dad share how they have navigated their own conversations (and convictions) around politics, faith, and their commitment to each other. The episode is both personal and accessible. They discuss the impact of...
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Every Vote Is a Prayer — Nikki Toyama-Szeto
Executive Director of Christians for Social Action Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks about taking a holistic view of our lives when it comes to political action and our votes. When we bring our whole selves to the voting booth, it becomes part of our spiritual formation, so we should approach the way we...
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Damage Control at the Ballot Box — Shane Claiborne
In this episode, activist Shane Claiborne echoes Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s framework that the Church is not the master or the servant of the State, but the consciousness of the State. This is a framework that gives us the freedom as Jesus-followers to actively and wholeheartedly engage…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
How do you handle the real-world conflict in your life? Most of us were never taught how. So, this season, Mending Divides isn’t a show about conflict. It’s a collection of stories from people who were actually inside it. The moment their convictions got tested, their fears got exposed, and something in them had to change. These aren’t polished success stories. They’re honest accounts of what conflict costs, what it reveals, and what becomes possible when you do the slow, courageous work of healing instead of winning.Mending Divides is a production of Global Immersion.Hosted by Jer Swigart. Produced by Andrew Brumme. Audio post-production by Great Feeling Studios.Learn more about Global Immersion: globalimmerse.org.Support this show and Global Immersion’s work forming leaders who mend divides: globalimmerse.org/donate
HOSTED BY
Global Immersion
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Mending Divides have?
Mending Divides currently has 83 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Mending Divides about?
How do you handle the real-world conflict in your life? Most of us were never taught how. So, this season, Mending Divides isn’t a show about conflict. It’s a collection of stories from people who were actually inside it. The moment their convictions got tested, their fears got exposed, and...
How often does Mending Divides release new episodes?
Mending Divides has 83 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Mending Divides?
You can listen to Mending Divides on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Mending Divides?
Mending Divides is created and hosted by Global Immersion.
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