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, this Global Immersion podcast delves into the conflicts we all face through insightful conversations with those who deeply understand them.

This isn’t just about prescribing peace-building techniques. Mending Divides invites you into the lives, stories, and practices of individuals shaping our understanding of conflict resolution. Through their journeys, we discover what it means to confront our own conflicts head-on.

Expect candid dialogues that:

• Challenge assumptions and explore diverse paths to peace.
• Shed light on the roles of religion, culture, and biology in conflict resolution.
• Share stories of resilience, creativity, and courage that inspire hope.

Join us as we explore the many dimensions of conflict and peace. Follow us on Instagram @globalimmerse and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Look out for our first episode coming later this month!

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 vividly. Jer shares an impactful experience from a war-torn village in Burma, while Osheta recounts her journey of shedding commitments and rediscovering her creativity.

Together, they invite us to engage in self-reflection, identify pivotal moments from 2024, and look towards 2025 with hope and renewed commitment to Peacemaking.

03:01 Jer remembering

10:58 The Power of the Resurrection

17:05 Osheta remembering

22:45 Navigating the discomfort

25:26 Stones of remembrance

27:28 Invitation to remember

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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 the ballot. With honesty and grace, they wrestle with the best way to engage with those we’re in relationship with—especially those who voted differently.

Grounded in the teachings of Jesus, Osheta and Jer navigate calls to action, the challenge of loving enemies, and the need to confront harmful policies. They remind listeners that “it’s not the end of democracy” and invite them to embrace radical, subversive peacemaking. This episode challenges you to reflect deeply on your role in mending divides and building the beloved community—because the work doesn’t stop with an election.

00:39 Setting up the conversation

02:17 Osheta’s Family Conversation

02:58 Impact of Elections on Different Communities

04:27 Jer’s Initial Reflections and Grounding Reminders

08:26 Navigating the Frenzy

12:06 The Role of Friendship in Peacemaking

13:41 Loving our enemy

19:39 The Responsibility of White Peacemakers

23:44 Distinct Gifts and Graces

26:07 If you voted for Trump...

30:56 The Urgency of Peacemaking

36:42 Different kinds of fear

40:30 Jesus’ Strategy

PRO-HUMAN Apparel - Get your PRO-HUMAN shirt, hoodie, hat or more in our online store at https://www.bonfire.com/store/global-immersion/

Want a free PRO-HUMAN t-shirt? Make a donation of $100 or more or start a recurring monthly gift of $25 or more by December 31, and we’ll send you a free PRO-HUMAN t-shirt! Donate at globalimmerse.org/donate

Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com

Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash

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 vision toward fostering the beloved community from within these politically charged times. Through personal reflections, theological insights, and practical strategies, they emphasize the importance of embracing our intrinsic worth as beloved individuals. Episode highlights include insights on beginning our day as the beloved, input on self-regulation in the midst of triggering moments, and an invitation to be anchored as pro-human peacemakers.

02:18 Belovedness as un-american

04:27 Jesus’ belovedness

13:15 Owning your belovedness

18:02 Microdosing belovedness

23:31 Belovedness on election day

25:51 Jesus’ strategy

27:38 The belovedness of our enemy

30:28 Belovedness beyond the ballot

31:38 Pastoral wisdom for election day

• Apply for the 2025 Leadership Cohort by November 15, 2024 at globalimmerse.org/cohort
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• Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com
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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 on our empathy, managing the feeling of being stretched like Gumby, and the importance of grounding oneself spiritually to make wise decisions. From reflective daily practices to the Ignatian Examen, this conversation provides practical insights on maintaining peace and showing up authentically during this busy season.

02:10 Osheta’s compassion fatigue

05:29 Jer feels like Gumby

08:55 Osheta burns out

10:33 Doing the deeper work

14:38 Three things to look for

18:10 Mentorship

19:56 Socialized as a woman

21:35 Practice: Three questions

23:11 What’s mine to do?

25:33 Osheta does the examen

30:32 Closing

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• Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com
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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 rather than perfection. The discussion includes insights from poet Zedeka Poindexter and emphasizes the need for courage, humility, teachability, and generosity in both making and receiving mistakes. This liberating conversation invites listeners to reframe their approach to failure as a way to engage more deeply in the journey of peacemaking.

01:45 Spark from Zedeka’s Poetry

03:35 Navigating Divides and Fear of Mistakes

07:39 Learning Through Trial and Error

10:52 Insights from Ted Lasso

13:13 Infrastructure of self-reflection

13:49 Creating space for mistakes

18:47 Courage, Humility, and Teachability

24:43 How to receive an apology

27:08 Concluding Thoughts and Encouragement

• Zedeka Poindexter www.zedekapoindexter.com
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• Hear her Peach Cobbler piece - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwYFMtUD70w
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• Brenda Salter McNeil’s new book, Empowered to Repair: https://www.saltermcneil.com/empowered-to-repair
• Photo by Pawel Janiak on Unsplash
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• Learn more about the Leadership Cohort at globalimmerse.org/cohort
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• Sign up for the cohort interest list or RSVP for an info session at globalimmerse.org/cohort
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• Learn more about us: globalimmerse.org
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• Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com
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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 of companionship and learning how to be lonely together.

Through theological reflections and personal stories, they explore the significance of befriending loneliness, prioritizing companionship over community, and finding comfort in prayer practices. They encourage us all to acknowledge our own loneliness without anxiety, while seeking a way forward together with others on this journey.

01:44 shared experience of loneliness

04:38 befriending loneliness

11:08 finding your prayer practice

13:50 being lonely together

19:09 companionship more than community

22:02 gentle invitations

• Learn more about the Leadership Cohort at globalimmerse.org/cohort
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• Sign up for the cohort interest list or RSVP for an info session at globalimmerse.org/cohort
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• Photo by hanya kumuh on Unsplash
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• Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com
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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 climates as peacemakers.

The conversation emphasizes the need for creating safe spaces, fostering sacrificial relationships, and building communities committed to repair. Diving deep into personal anecdotes, theological reflections, and practical advice, this episode offers a specific call to action to move beyond social media posts and instead, to gather around tables and lead through these tumultuous times.

00:41 Reacting to the Assassination Attempt

04:52 Personal Reflections and Boundaries

09:06 The Role of Peacemakers in Turbulent Times

16:50 Political violence

19:41 Embracing Fear and Love

20:07 Starfish vs. Spider Leadership

21:12 The Illusion of Eliminating Ideologies

24:17 Building Communities of Peacemakers

Learn more: globalimmerse.org

Support our work: globalimmerse.org/donate

Turning Over Tables theme music courtesy of The Brilliance www.thebrilliancemusic.com