PODCAST · society
UNDERCURRENTS
by MCC Ontario
How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our action? For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting basic human needs and working for peace and justice. In this all new season of Undercurrents, we'll share not only the stories of hope and challenge from MCC’s programs, but also to help us learn from them and ultimately inspire us to action.Thank you for joining us - please subscribe!Sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union.
Episodes
-
Ep 43 - Learning to listen before we respond: a practice for communities in conflict.
Peacebuilding can feel out of reach, even for people who care deeply about it. In this episode, host Ken Ogasawara shares about four African diaspora communities in Ontario (Eritrean, Ethiopian, South Sudanese and Congolese) that are doing practical peacebuilding through the Working Together for...
-
Ep 42 - Make bread, not bombs
Canada is re-arming at a pace not seen since World War II — and most of us have no idea what that actually means. In this episode, Ken talks with Kelsey Gallagher, senior researcher at Project Ploughshares, to cut through the political spin and understand what Canada's historic increase in…
more -
Season 7 trailer!
Welcome to Season 7 of Undercurrents! Well, once again, if you only look at headlines, the world is a raging dumpster fire. We’ve got trade wars, we’ve got genocide, we’ve got catostrophic flooding and wildfires, billionaires and unhoused people, the list goes on. At times like this, a prayer…
more -
Ep 41 - What does change actually look like? A season 6 recap
Changing your mind is hard. Changing your relationships is awkward. And changing systems can take generations. In this Season 6 finale of Undercurrents, we revisit the most powerful moments from the season — some heard for the first time — to ask: what does it actually look like when perspectives...
-
Ep 40 - "We never lose with refugees": Canada's most important open door
What does it look like to open a door that changes everything? In this episode of Undercurrents, we trace the remarkable story of how Canada became a world leader in refugee welcome — and why that legacy matters more now than ever. Host Ken Ogasawara sits down with Mike Molloy, retired Foreign...
-
PSA
Two public service announcements, some truly disturbing social media comments and a reminder that "We are Better Together!"
-
Ep 39 - Daily bread and a hundred-year plan: Sarah Augustine on long-haul justice
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts! What does it mean to follow Jesus in a world built on systems of oppression? Ken sits down with the prophetic Sarah Augustine - author, scholar, activist and co-founder of the Coalition to Dismantle the...
-
Ep 38 - Re-mastered: Bidder sweet update!
Watch the video here: It's relief sale season in Ontario! As the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale celebrates its 60th anniversary — and an extraordinary $15 million raised over six decades — we're re-releasing one of our favourite episodes with a fresh coat of paint. Episode 16 "Bidder Sweet"...
-
Ep 37 - How "zooming in" can help us take climate action for peace
In this episode of Undercurrents, Ken Ogasawara connects stories from Guatemala to a high school in Ontario to explore how climate action can be a form of peacebuilding. Meeting MCC partners in Guatemala, Ken witnesses how climate change is disrupting crops, livelihoods, and families—forcing...
-
Ep 36 - The best thrift shops in the world
What makes MCC thrift shops the best? In this episode, Ken Ogasawara goes behind the scenes of MCC Thrift to follow the life of a donation—from the moment it’s received to the moment it finds a new home (or gets repurposed in surprising ways). Along the way, we hear from Mark Patfield, General...
-
Ep 35 - From charity to relationship: a better way forward for the Church (Part 2)
Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts! How should non-Indigenous Christians engage in Truth and Reconciliation? What does it really mean to “love your neighbor” on Turtle Island? What does it actually look like to move from charity to...
-
Ep 34 - Listening first: how non-Indigenous Christians can engage with the TRC (part 1)
How should non-Indigenous Christians engage in Truth and Reconciliation? What does it really mean to “love your neighbour” on Turtle Island? In this special live panel episode of Undercurrents, recorded at Westside Church in Burlington in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), we...
-
Ep 33 - Redefining "a good neighbourhood" in Queenston, St. Catharines
What makes a good neighbourhood? Low crime rates? Strong property values? Walkability and good schools? In Episode 33 of Undercurrents, host Ken Ogasawara travels to the Queenston neighbourhood in St. Catharines, Ontario—a community many outsiders label “the worst neighbourhood in the city.” But…
more -
Ep 32 - Giving our best: generosity, specificity and riding the roller coaster with the Material Resources team
In this episode of Undercurrents, host Ken Ogasawara goes behind the scenes with the Material Resources team at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to explore how relief kits, hygiene kits, school kits, and canned meat are prepared and shipped to communities facing crisis around the world — and…
more -
Ep 31 - Non-anxious presence, rocky soil and long-term peacebuilding with Rod Friesen
A 30 second scroll through the headlines will give you a glimpse of a world desperately in need of peace. But peacebuilding is not only needed in Palestine and Israel, or Ukraine, or in South Sudan. Peace is needed in our own communities and in our own lives. In my conversation with Rod Friesen…
more -
How do we practice peace in a broken world? - Season 6 TRAILER
How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our actions? These are the questions we want to explore in Season 6. For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting...
-
Update 3: Podcast inspiration, refugee sponsorship and building a better life ... with LY
This update episode is with Ly. She shared her story so eloquently and vulnerably back in 2021 in Episode 10 about the impact of MCC’s hand-crafted relief materials how it changed her life. So today you’ll hear an update from Ly as she shares about how she and her church have paid that forward in…
more -
Update 2: Pulled teeth, acts of kindness and one last favour with Wayne
This update episode is with Wayne. I got to know Wayne through interviewing him a number of times over 2019 and despite the disruption of the pandemic, I’d still see Wayne occasionally around the office at various Circle of Friends gatherings. But over the last few years, I’ve been seeing less…
more -
Update 1: Quitting piano lessons, finding his father and more life updates with PATRICK.
We check in with Patrick - he of the beautiful singing voice and piano lessons - who was featured in the very first pilot episode of Undercurrents. Since I first interviewed him in 2018, life has changed a lot for Patrick. I re-connect with him to find out what's new (spoiler: a lot).…
more -
ANNOUNCEMENT(S)
Host Ken Ogasawara and producer Christen Kong share insights from listeners, tease an upcoming mini-season, and the audio clip that started it all! mcc.org/undercurrents Undercurrents is sponsored by Kindred Credit Union.
-
Ep 30 - Unspeakable suffering; defiant hope in DR Congo
The most brutal conflict of the modern era is grinding onwards in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this episode, we’ll hear from Justin Zihindula and Esther Muziranenge, two Congolese from different families who were displaced and resettled in Canada many years apart. Undercurrents is...
-
Ep 29 - Together, we can! (Or, how an impossible mission keeps producing against all odds)
On January 18, 2025, a brand new 10,000 square foot facility had its grand opening at the MCC Hub in New Hamburg, Ontario. Over 700 people of all ages including local dignitaries and politicians, came out to tour the place, eating bushels of popcorn, drinking gallons of coffee, and generally...
-
Ep 28 - Welcoming the stranger
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35 There are 22 scriptures in the Bible about welcoming newcomers from another land, but it could be argued that none resonate with MCC as much as that verse from Jesus’…
more -
Ep 27 - Spiritual Covenant with Adrian Jacobs
"I was looking for justice, tangible justice. I was looking for something that said, 'We're not just going to repent. We're not just going to be sorry. We're going to do something and here it is.'" With great patience and grace, Adrian Jacobs from the Cayuga Nation, Six Nations Haudenosaunee...
-
Ep 26 - Tending Tomorrow with Leah Reesor-Keller
Our guest today is Leah Reesor-Keller. She is a speaker, leadership consultant, Transitional Executive Director of KAIROS Canada, and now - an author. We sat down to discuss her debut book, Tending Tomorrow: Courageous Change for People and Planet. If you’re looking for the one magic bullet...
-
Earth Day Special! - Imagining better futures with Dr. Sibonokuhle Ncube
Happy Earth Day, Undercurrents listeners! Today, we're sharing an episode from our sister podcast, Relief Development & Podcast, produced by my amazing colleagues Meghan Mast and Christy Kauffman. We hear from Dr. Sibonokuhle Ncube who says climate change chose her since she learned as a child…
more -
Ep 25 - Affordable housing, part 2
In the second part of our mini-series on affordable housing, we hear from Beyond Housing executive director Dan Driedger - the single greatest challenge to building, the role of the private sector, stories from tenants, and more. Plus, a big life update from a previous Undercurrents guest! Read…
more -
Ep 24 - (un)affordable housing, part 1
We sit down with MCC's Ontario advocacy guru Greg deGroot-Maggetti as he breaks down our affordable housing crisis: where we are, how we got here, and three (of many) solutions. Advocacy actions: 1. Say Yes to Fair Rents! - Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - ACTO 2. Take Action: More Urgency…
more -
Ep 5 - David and Goliath (Palestine and Israel - re-release)
In light of the horrific ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, we are re-posting this episode from Season 1, called “David and Goliath” featuring Palestinian Christian Tarek Al-Zoughbi and Israeli Jew Sahar Vardi. What happens when David becomes Goliath? This is our only international episode...
-
Ep 8 - Home (Palestine and Israel - re-release)
In light of the horrific ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, we are re-posting this episode from Season 2, called “Home” with Israeli Jewish filmmaker Lia Tarachansky and Palestinian poet Izzy Hawamda. It's a powerful story of shared humanity, shared land, and a challenge for all of us who...
-
Ep 23: Water Walking
"Water is life." Indigenous Water Walker Mary Anne Caibaiosai takes us on a 200 km journey of prayer, solidarity and celebration. Transcript here. To learn more about the Grand River Water Walk, go to grandriverwaterwalk.com Produced with support from Kindred Credit Union. Editorial support:...
-
Ep 9: Merle's Story (Re-release)
"We must own the whole story." How a former residential school worker wrestles with his past and how his story challenges all of us beyond our good intentions. Powerful listening for all settlers on this land we call Canada. Transcription can be found here. Show notes: National Indian Residential...
-
Ep 11: Save the evidence (Re-release)
This episode is from Season 1 and originally aired in spring of 2020. We learn about the oldest Residential School in Canada and hear a powerful story from a survivor. We hear from settlers who are wrestling with the legacy of colonialism and residential schools. And we hear from Indigenous...
-
Episode 22 - Five lessons from refugee sponsorship
Since 1979, hundreds of thousands of refugees have been sponsored, resettled, and built new lives in communities across Canada. Countless tears of happiness have been shed, countless Canadian flags have been waved, and countless cross-cultural meals have been shared. But, as we'll hear from one...
-
Ep 21 (Bonus mini-episode)- Heifers: what are they? And why are they worth millions to MCC?
We're back at the auctions. But instead of being surrounded by children with pie in their hair, like at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale featured in Episode 16, I’m with farmers with manure on their boots. This is bonus mini-episode that book-ends Season 3 which started with an exploration…
more -
Ep 20 - Special guest: Malcolm Gladwell!
In this very special episode, we sit down with best-selling author, public speaker, podcast wizard, and honorary Mennonite, Malcolm Gladwell. We cover a lot of ground - from pacifism, to soccer, to climate change, and more. Listen to Malcolm Gladwell's podcast Revisionist History here. Watch the...
-
Ep 19 - "Soup"
"Somebody has to do something. It's crazy that we've got people that want to work and there is no job." We talk with Suzi and Lucas, two soup chefs who have found meaningful work, #livingwage and a welcoming community at The Raw Carrot. We also hear from The Raw Carrot co-found Rebecca Sherbino....
-
Update: "Checkpoint" with Izzy Hawamda
In Season 2, Ep 8 ("Home") of Undercurrents, we were privileged to hear the poetry of Palestinian poet and teacher Izzeddin Hawamda. We had so much positive feedback from Izzy's poems that I invited Izzy back to share a new poem he wrote while visiting his home in the West Bank earlier this year,...
-
Ep 18 - "You need to chill out!" and other lessons from SALT
This is a special episode - a conversation between the Undercurrents team Ken Ogasawara and Christen Kong about their shared experience of doing the SALT program nearly 20 years apart. Some hard times, some funny times, and always a good time. To learn more about the SALT program, go here:...
-
Ep 17 - Lay of the Land
"I had to take my own leadership and not everybody was happy about that, let me tell you." In the newest episode of Undercurrents, Colleen Hookimaw shows us the lay of the (physical and metaphorical) land. We talk smoked geese, 5000 pounds of potatoes and maggots. We also explore historical...
-
Bidder Sweet update: "You're missing a part of the story."
A mystery caller provides some more behind-the-scenes insight into the thrilling quilt auction profiled in Episode 16 - Bidder Sweet: A Quilt to Remember. See you at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale on Friday May 27th and Saturday June 28th! nhmrs.com
-
Ep 16 - Bidder Sweet: A Quilt to Remember
We go back in time to investigate the heart-pounding, sweaty-palm-inducing thrill of the greatest quilt auction ever caught on tape. Join us for a fun bonus episode of Undercurrents that will whet your appetite for the coming relief sale season! Transcription can be found here. Here is a link to...
-
Season 3 Trailer!
Welcome to a third season of Undercurrents! We go behind the scenes of an epic quilt auction, to South Africa with the SALT program, we dig into Indigenous food sovereignty, and much more. This season we’re excited to be adding something new with each episode. We heard from many of you who were...
-
Ep 10: Giving gifts/receiving gifts
Why MCC's relief materials are created as gifts and how one such hand-made item changed the life of one young girl in a refugee camp over forty years ago. Impact report for Material Resource volunteers: https://mcccanada.ca/learn/about/annual-reports/impact-report-material-resources-summer-2021...
-
Ep 15: Chuck
This episode covers some heavy topics, including pedophilia and suicide. We don’t go into details, but please take care as you listen. In this final full episode of Season 2, we hear from Chuck, a man who both experienced and caused great suffering. We also hear from his therapist, as we ask...
-
Ep 14: John
Content warning: This episode covers some heavy topics, including pedophilia and suicide. We don’t go into details, but please take care as you listen. This story is about a father's anguish and pain, as well as resilient hope and love as he walks through unimaginable challenges with his son who...
-
Ep 13: I believe in miracles
We hear the story of someone whose life was saved through not one, but multiple miracles. We explore the questions: What are miracles? Have you experienced one? And is it possible to work miracles ourselves? Show notes: Transcription here. If you are interested in refugee sponsorship, email...
-
Ep 12: Making a Living
In this episode, we explore what it means to "make a living" - what does that mean? How much is enough? And what happens when you can't make it? Also, we explain why we love Kindred Credit Union so much. Here is the transcription for this episode. Here is the Living Wage Framework that shows how...
-
Episode 8: Home
Israeli Jewish filmmaker Lia Tarachansky shares a powerful story of shared humanity, shared home, and challenges all of us who live on settled land. Palestinian poet Izzy Hawamda shares beautiful art throughout this episode as he grieves the ongoing tragedies of the occupation, as well as sharing...
-
Season 2 Trailer!
"Some things in this life ... have no explanation". Season 2 of Undercurrents is coming! We take a deep dive into some incredible stories from our programs and partners. We hit rock bottom, we wonder at miracles, we find defiant hope, and own our shameful past. Check out the trailer and subscribe...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our action? For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting basic human needs and working for peace and justice. In this all new season of Undercurrents, we'll share not only the stories of hope and challenge from MCC’s programs, but also to help us learn from them and ultimately inspire us to action.Thank you for joining us - please subscribe!Sponsored in part by Kindred Credit Union.
HOSTED BY
MCC Ontario
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does UNDERCURRENTS have?
UNDERCURRENTS currently has 51 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is UNDERCURRENTS about?
How do we practice peace in this broken world? How can we make a meaningful impact in our community? How can we better align our faith and values with our action? For 105 years, MCC’s mission has been to show God’s love to all by meeting basic human needs and working for peace and justice. In this...
How often does UNDERCURRENTS release new episodes?
UNDERCURRENTS has 51 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to UNDERCURRENTS?
You can listen to UNDERCURRENTS 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 UNDERCURRENTS?
UNDERCURRENTS is created and hosted by MCC Ontario.
URL copied to clipboard!