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Disrupting Peace

World Peace Foundation

Disrupting Peace explores why peace hasn’t worked, and how it still could. In each episode, Bridget Conley, research director at the World Peace Foundation, speaks with a researcher specializing in one obstacle to peace, and an activist who’s changing systems from the ground up. Together they explore what worked, what didn’t, and why we shouldn’t give up.

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S5 · E2
Tuesday · 44 min
Who funds the genocide in Gaza, and who profits?
In this episode, we turn our attention to the genocide in Gaza, where weapons supplied by the United States and Europe are enabling mass killing. As a warning, today’s episode discusses profound personal losses. We’re going to hear the story of Ahmed Alnaouq’s family – and of the weapons that killed them. It’s a story driven by government corruption, corporate greed, and Bridget's own tax dollars. This conversation was recorded on July 21st, 2026. This episode continues our conversations inspired by the soon-to-be-published book, Making a Killing: How the West Profits from Slaughter in Gaza and Yemen, by Ruth Rohde, Jack Cinamon, and Andrew Feinstein. Andrew Feinstein is the Executive Director of Shadow World Investigations. Originally from South Africa, he was a member of the African National Congress (ANC), which was voted into Parliament in the country’s first post-apartheid election. He served on several oversight Committees, but eventually resigned from his position in protest of the ANC and government’s refusal to allow a full investigation into massive corruption in a $10 billion arms deal. Andrew is the author of several books on the arms trade including The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade. You can follow Andrew on X at @andrewfeinstein and Instagram at @andrewfeinstein. Ahmed Alnaouq is co-founder of We Are Not Numbers, an organization that shares stories of the next generation of Palestinian writers and leaders. Some of those stories are collected in We Are Not Numbers, a book he co-edited. Ahmed is also the host of Palestinian Deep Dive, a video podcast. He grew up in Gaza, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from al-Azher University. He later won the UK’s prestigious Chevening scholarship and earned a master’s degree in international journalism from Leeds University Ahmed is currently based in London. You can follow Ahmed on Instagram at @ahmed_alnaouq, Palestine Deep Dive at @palestinedeepdive, and We Are Not Numbers at @we_are_not_numbers. He is also on X at @AlnaouqA Pre-Order the Book: Making a Killing: How the West Profits from Slaughter in Gaza and Yemen (out Nov 24, 2026) References: Suffering by Design: The Human Cost of Repeated Displacement in Gaza UNOSAT Gaza Strip Comprehensive Damage Assessment Health system at breaking point as hostilities further intensify in Gaza, WHO warns Israeli attacks on educational, religious and cultural sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amount to war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination, UN Commission says War on Gaza: Weaponizing Access to Water, Energy, and Food IPC Famine Review Committee Report Gaza Strip, August 2025 Gaza death toll exceeds 75,000 as independent data verify loss Violent and non-violent death tolls for the Gaza conflict: new primary evidence from a population-representative field survey Gaza: study reveals unprecedented losses of life and life expectancy Israel’s genocide wiped out over 2,700 families in Gaza Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Frayashti Shekhawat. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. This episode was produced by Bridget Conley, Emily Shaw, and Anna Van Dine. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Frayashti Shekhawat. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Lisa Avery, Michelle Anderson, Alex de Waal, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S5 · E1
September 8 · 44 min
How corrupt is the global arms trade?
This season, we're going deep into the arms trade, and giving you a sneak preview of the new book Making a Killing: How the West Profits from Slaughter in Gaza and Yemen. To kick things off, Bridget speaks with the book's co-authors about how the arms trade - and corruption - are inextricably linked to political systems in the US and UK. They also debunk common myths about the benefits of military spending. Andrew Feinstein is the Executive Director of Shadow World Investigations. Originally from South Africa, he was a member of the African National Congress (ANC), which was voted into Parliament in the country’s first post-apartheid election. He served on several oversight Committees, but eventually resigned from his position in protest of the ANC and government’s refusal to allow a full investigation into massive corruption in a $10 billion arms deal. Andrew is the author of several books on the arms trade including The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade. You can follow Andrew on X at @andrewfeinstein and Instagram at @andrewfeinstein. Ruth Rohde is a researcher and project coordinator at Shadow World Investigations UK where she investigates the role of the Arms Trade in the Yemen war. She is also a co-founder and programme manager of the Corruption Tracker project. Originally from Germany, she is a dedicated member of the German peace movement, campaigning for nuclear disarmament, against the arms trade, and for a world founded on peace and solidarity nationally and internationally. Follow Ruth on X at @Ruth4Peace. Jack Cinamon is a researcher and Parliamentary Liaison with Shadow World Investigations, where he investigates issues around militarism, the global arms trade, and all the corruption that comes with it. He is also a Researcher for the Corruption Tracker, where he documents the ways that the arms trade contaminates politics on a global scale. You can follow Jack on X at @jackcinamon and on Instagram at @jack.cinamon. Find out more about Shadow World Investigations, follow them on X at @shadowworldinv, & Instagram at @shadowworldinv. You can also follow the Corruption Tracker on X at @ArmsTradeCT & Instagram at @armsradect. Pre-Order the Book: Making a Killing: How the West Profits from Slaughter in Gaza and Yemen (out Nov 24, 2026) Additional Resources: Indefensible: Seven Myths that Sustain the Global Arms Trade Responsible Statecraft: Trump wages war, his sons get payoff through savvy investments Middle East Eye: Israel uses video from Gaza genocide to market arms to European, Asian countries Foreign Affairs: The Talks That Could Have Ended the War in Ukraine Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Frayashti Shekhawat. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Lisa Avery, Michelle Anderson, Alex de Waal, Anna Van Dine, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
August 12 · 2 min
Introducing Season 5: Who makes a killing from war, and how can we stop them?
In Season 5 of Disrupting Peace, we ask how private companies and powerful individuals make their fortune from killing…and why no one stops them. As defense budgets reach new heights, we examine the corruption and myths that prop up today’s international arms trade. This season builds on a forthcoming new book, Making a Killing: How the West Profits from Slaughter in Gaza and Yemen by Andrew Feinstein, Ruth Rohde and Jack Cinamon from Shadow World Investigations. Episode 1 launches on September 8, 2026. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. Find out more at worldpeacefoundation.org.
S4 · E7
May 5 · 39 min
Bonus: Feminist Foreign Policy: Centering Dignity, Equity, and Justice Worldwide
This week, Disrupting Peace is bringing you a bonus episode from our friends at RePROs Fight Back, a podcast fighting for reproductive health, rights, and justice, hosted by Jennie Wetter, who is the Director of the rePROs Fight Back initiative at the Population Institute. In this episode, “Feminist Foreign Policy: Centering Dignity, Equity, and Justice Worldwide,” Jennie speaks with Jill Montilla and Spogmay Ahmed, who work with the Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative, about why a framework that disrupts colonial, racist, patriarchal, and male-dominated power structures is critical. Learn more about rePROs Fight Back and listen to more episodes here: https://www.reprosfightback.com/ Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. This season was partially funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S4 · E7
April 28 · 48 min
Bonus: AI: Anasuya Sengupta on Colonizing and Liberating Knowledge
This week, we’re bringing you a bonus episode from our friends at the “If You Were in Charge” podcast. In a world increasingly led by autocratic superpowers, exploiting fear and uncertainty, the premise of if you were in charge is simple: for every major problem out in the world, there are ordinary people finding extraordinary solutions. The episode we’re sharing is “AI: Anasuya Sengupta on Colonizing and Liberating Knowledge.” Sengupta is the cofounder of “Whose Knowledge?”, a global campaign to center the knowledge of marginalized communities (the majority of the world) on the internet. “If You Were in Charge” is produced by ADA Productions, a podcast agency based in London, in partnership with the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) for women's rights, peace and security. It i hosted by: Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE, a peace strategist, founder, and CEO of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), and Kavita Nandini Ramdas, a globally recognised advocate for gender equity and justice and a Senior Strategic Advisor to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Disrupting Peace is a production of the World Peace Foundation.
S4 · E6
April 21 · 33 min
Tools to Get Smarter About the Information We Consume
In our last episode of the season, we explore concrete tools and tips to get smarter about the information we consume. Ebonee Otoo leads the development of social impact strategies and goals at the News Literacy Project. Her career has spanned entertainment, public policy, and community outreach, working with Golden Girl Media, BET Networks and the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute, among other organizations. Dan Evon oversees producing content for RumorGuard at the News Literacy Project, including articles, classroom slide presentations, video guides and other educational materials. Before joining the News Literacy Project in 2022, Dan worked as a reporter for Snopes.com, the internet’s oldest fact-checking site, where he monitored disinformation networks and addressed viral rumors. Resource list: https://www.rumorguard.org/ https://newslit.org/ “Biased,” “Boring” and “Bad”: Unpacking perceptions of news media and journalism among U.S. teens (2025) We’d love to hear your thoughts about Disrupting Peace. Fill out a short survey here: https://worldpeacefoundation.org/survey Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. This season was partially funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Special thanks to Lisa Avery and Alex de Waal, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S4 · E5
April 14 · 43 min
What would it take for AI to benefit peace?
This season, we’ve been looking into the forces that get in the way of accurate information and peacemaking. One theme has repeated across discussions: how AI can muddy the information ecosystem in ways that fuel conflicts. Today, we’re spinning this issue around and asking: how can new technologies and AI benefit peace? Johanna Poutanen is the Head Inclusion and Digital Innovation at the CMI Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, where one of her priorities is to address the opportunities and risks that digital technologies present for peacemaking. She has over two decades of experiences in mediation, including in Yemen, Palestine, South Sudan and Nepal. Find out more at: https://cmi.fi/ Evelyne Tauchnitz is a post-doc and lecturer at the University of Lucerne’s Graduate School in Ethics. Her research focuses on how digital technologies can be employed to build, support, and maintain peace through non-violent methods of conflict transformation. Find out more here. Check out our episode on AI & Autonomous Weapons here. We’d love to hear your thoughts about Disrupting Peace. Fill out a short survey. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. This episode was produced by Bridget Conley, Emily Shaw, and Ben Montoya. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. This season was partially funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Special thanks to Lisa Avery and Alex de Waal, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S4 · E4
April 7 · 30 min
What Can We Learn from Efforts to Combat Climate Change Misinformation?
At a time when the impacts of climate change are undeniable, why does misinformation about it still work… and what can we do about it? In this episode, Bridget speaks with experts to learn more about the right - and wrong - ways to counter misinformation related to climate change, and how this applies to our greater interest in peacebuilding. John Cook is a senior research fellow with the Melbourne Center for Behavior Change at the University of Melbourne and creator of Cranky Uncle, a game that uses cartoons, humor, and critical thinking to fight misinformation. Check out the Cranky Uncle game (available on iPhone and Android devices) at: https:/crankyuncle.com/ Learn more about John’s work at: https://skepticalscience.com/ Nadia Lozano is a research assistant and associate producer with University of Southern California's Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication The Center empowers journalists and other communicators to tell stories about climate change through training that amplifies science, elevates communities, and engages audiences. Check out her podcast, All Things Sustainable here. We’d love to hear your thoughts about Disrupting Peace. Fill out a short survey here: https://worldpeacefoundation.org/survey Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. This episode was produced by Bridget Conley, Emily Shaw, and Ben Montoya. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. This season was partially funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Special thanks to Lisa Avery and Alex de Waal, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S4 · E3
March 31 · 47 min
What Leads People to (and Away) from Violent White Supremacy?
What beliefs make people willing to commit violence, and what could change their minds? In this episode, we explore what makes individuals vulnerable to white supremacist beliefs, what it means when extremism becomes mainstream, the surprising permeability of these groups, and how to talk to people in your life who express racist ideology. Peter Simi is a professor of Sociology at Chapman University, and an expert on extremist groups and violence in the US. Among his many publications, he is co-author of American Swastika: Inside the White Power Movement's Hidden Spaces of Hate, and Out of Hiding: Extremist White Supremacy and How It Can be Stopped. Find out more about Peter at: https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/pete-simi.aspx. Sara Winegar Budge holds a doctorate in Psychology and is a licensed psychologist in Oregon. She is the Director of US Programs at Moonshot, which builds technology to identify and disrupt organized crime, child sexual exploitation, and trafficking, among other forms of abuse and violence. Her clinical work focuses on individuals who are or have been involved in violent extremism. Find out more at https://moonshotteam.com/ In this episode, we talk about Stephen Tyrone Johns, Bridget's former colleague from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum who was killed by a white supremacist. You can learn more about him, and contribute to a fund in his name, here: https://www.ushmm.org/information/press/in-memoriam/stephen-tyrone-johns-1969-2009. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. This season was partially funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Special thanks to Lisa Avery and Alex de Waal, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S4 · E2
March 24 · 38 min
What Can We Learn about War Propaganda from Russia?
How and why do powerful actors use propaganda as a crucial war strategy? In this episode, we see what we can learn from Russia’s use of propaganda in its war with Ukraine, and explore the relationships between misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. We also look at which communities are least susceptible to war propaganda, as well as what we can do to improve the quality of information we have access to worldwide. Daniel Silverman is Assistant Professor of Political Science in the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) at Carnegie Mellon University. His research addresses the psychological factors – including the biases and misperceptions – that drive violent conflicts, and how they can be mitigated or leveraged to promote peace. He is the author of Seeing is Disbelieving: Why People Believe Misinformation in War, and When They Know Better (2024). Jeanne Cavelier is the Head of Eastern Europe & Central Asia Desk for the Paris-based organization, Reporters without Borders – often referred to by its French acronym, RSF. She contributes to the RSF’s Propaganda Monitor, the organization’s multimedia platform that aims to expose the many faces and tactics behind propaganda worldwide. She previously worked as a journalist, including in Moscow, Russia. Access RSF's Propaganda Monitor; and their report on Russia, Reporting under Russian fire: more than 175 journalists victims of abuse in Ukraine in the past four years. Additional Resources mentioned in this podcast: https://www.bellingcat.com/ https://www.bbc.com/news/bbcverify https://journalismtrustinitiative.org/ https://www.osint.industries/ Newsguard app in Apple App Store and on Google Play Store Disrupting Peace is a production of the World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Lisa Avery and Alex de Waal, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S4 · E1
March 17 · 43 min
Understanding the Targeting of Journalists in Gaza
Targeting journalists doesn’t only have a devastating impact on individuals, communities, and the possibility of justice. It also limits what we know about conflicts. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Gaza right now. In this episode, we explore the overwhelming obstacles that journalists in Gaza face, why they are being targeted, and what we can do to increase the accuracy of information in the region. Mohammed R. Mhawish is a journalist and writer, born and raised in Gaza. He has covered his homeland for the New Yorker, MSNBC, The Nation, Al Jazeera, +972 Magazine, The Economist, and more. He left Gaza in 2024, and is currently based in the U.S. Follow Mohammed’s Substack at: https://www.mohammedmhawish.com His latest writing for the New Yorker can be found at: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/mohammed-r-mhawish His Al Jazeera article “When Israeli soldiers shot at hungry Palestinians” can be found here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2024/3/5/the-blood-was-everywhere-inside-israels-flour-massacre-in-gaza Sara Qudah is Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. The organization defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. She was a journalist for 15 years, starting her career in the Middle East. Sara is currently based in Paris. Learn more about the Committee to Protect Journalists at https://cpj.org/. Follow Sara on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-qudah/ Disrupting Peace is a production of the World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Lisa Avery and Alex de Waal, and the Tufts Digital Design Studio team. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
February 17 · 2 min
Introducing Season 4: Dismantling Misinformation to Get to Peace
In Season 4 of Disrupting Peace, we’re asking how we can dismantle the myths, mis- and dis-information that get in the way of achieving peace. Because we can’t move towards peace if we don’t have a clear picture of what’s actually happening. We’ll look at the spread of war propaganda, the targeting of journalists, how violent ideologies distort people's understanding of facts, what works to debunk bad information, how AI might help peace, and more. Season 4 launches on March 17th. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. Find out more at worldpeacefoundation.org. This season is partially funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
S3 · E7
Oct 21, 2025 · 37 min
Bonus: What Makes Social Movements Win (The Context)
This week’s episode is from our friends at The Context podcast. Deva Woodly joins host Alex Lovit to discuss the importance of social movements for American democracy and the role they can play at this precarious moment in American political history. We need these networks of trust and coordinated action to push the country away from authoritarianism and toward a democracy that works for everyone. Deva Woodly is a scholar of social movements. She is a professor of political science at Brown University and a research fellow at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation. Subscribe to The Context here: https://pod.link/1726934311 Learn more about the Charles F Kettering Foundation here: https://kettering.org Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Jeremy Helton, Lisa Avery, B. Arneson, and Alex de Waal, and the team from the Tufts Digital Design Studio, including Kimberly Lynn Forero-Arnias, and Miles Donovan. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Bluesky at worldpeacefdtn.bsky.social, and on Instagram and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S3 · E6
Oct 14, 2025 · 38 min
Can Emergency Response Increase Peace & Resilience? Lessons from Nepal
In our last episode of the season, we see what we can learn from Nepal about the connections between emergency response, peace, and resilience. Staying at the micro level, we closely examine a collaboration between the Nepalese organization Lumanti and the MIT based Urban Risk Lab. One note on this episode: Bridget references "Aceh province" during the opening quiz. To clarify, Aceh province is in Indonesia and was the epicenter of an earthquake and tsunami in 2004. Yatra Sharma worked as an architect and urban developer with the Kathmandu-based Lumanti Support Group for Shelter. The nonprofit works to improve housing for the urban poor in Nepal. Today she is a yoga teacher. Learn more at https://lumanti.org.np and check out the videos Yatra referenced at https://youtu.be/KL51C4j1Vt0?si=8w6Kn19uqNmSr3vp and https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMERBfGBB8_/?igsh=aHBtNGJ0em91ZTMz Larisa Ovalles is a Research Scientist at MIT’s Urban Risk Lab. She develops processes to increase emergency planning and preparedness at local and community levels. This includes developing alternative post-disaster housing solutions for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). And she was on the design team of the project in Nepal that we’ll discuss today. Learn more at: https://urbanrisklab.org. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Jeremy Helton, Lisa Avery, B. Arneson, and Alex de Waal, and the team from the Tufts Digital Design Studio, including Kimberly Lynn Forero-Arnias, and Miles Donovan. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Bluesky at worldpeacefdtn.bsky.social, on Instagram at @worldpeacefdtn, and TikTok at @worldpeacefdtn.
S3 · E5
Oct 7, 2025 · 35 min
Breaking out of the “Man Box”
We’ve all heard the phrase “toxic masculinity”. In this episode, we explore why this isn’t the most helpful concept, and more importantly, how healthy masculinity can increase peace. We dig into what we can learn from successful interventions in Brazil and Colombia, unpack the “man box”, and learn tools for opening up conversations around masculinity, rather than shutting them down. Gary Barker is an international voice for healthy manhood, gender equality and violence prevention. He is the founder and CEO of Equimundo Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, an international organization that works globally, including the US, to engage men and boys in healthy masculinities. Find out more about Gary’s work at www.equimundo.org. The State of American Men 2025 report can be found here: www.equimundo.org/resources/state-of-american-men-2025 Caroline Ferraz Ignacio is an international development professional focused on gender equity and social inclusion. She has worked with Instituto Promundo in Brazil, Promundo Portugal and Equimundo to support research and programming across Latin America and Europe, and with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as the Gender and Inclusive Development Advisor in Colombia and as the Gender & Social Norms Advisor in Washington DC. Connect with Caroline on Linkedin at: www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-ferraz-ignacio We mentioned two organizations that are helping young dads: the Vermont’s Dad Guild: www.dadguild.org & Brooklyn Stroller Club: www.brooklynstrollclub.com Let us know what topics you’d like us to cover next by emailing us at disruptingpeacepodcast@gmail.com. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Emily Ruhm. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Jeremy Helton, Lisa Avery, B. Arneson, and Alex de Waal, and the team from the Tufts Digital Design Studio, including Kimberly Lynn Forero-Arnias, and Miles Donovan. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Bluesky at worldpeacefdtn.bsky.social, and on Instagram at @worldpeacefdtn.
S3 · E4
Sep 30, 2025 · 33 min
First Steps to a Peaceful Childhood for All
How can we make the world a more peaceful place for children? In this episode, we look at the impact that experiencing violence has on children…sometimes before they - or their parents - are even born. We’ll learn about how war impacts DNA over generations, explore resilience, and look at global and personal first steps that we can take to make things better for kids around the world. Catherine Panter-Brick is a Professor of Anthropology, Health, and Global Affairs at Yale University, and she has published nearly 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications on global health and the social sciences. Her research focuses on children around the world in contexts of homelessness, displacement, and war. You can read the study Catherine referred to, “Epigenetic signatures of intergenerational exposure to violence in three generations of Syrian refugees." Find out more about Catherine’s work here. Susan Bissell is a Visiting Scholar and Senior Fellow at the FXB Centre for Human Rights, T. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University. Of Canadian origin, and now a dual citizen of Canada and the USA, Susan obtained her first two degrees from the University of Toronto, and her PhD in Public Health and Medical Anthropology from the University of Melbourne. A staunch advocate for the rights, safety, security, and protection of the world’s children, Susan’s association with the United Nations Children’s Fund spanned a thirty-year period. She served as UNICEF’s global lead on Child Protection, and was the founding director of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children. Susan’s postings with UNICEF, which encompassed Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India, the research centre in Florence Italy, and finally New York, infuse her work and publishing with a truly global perspective. Her TedX at Amherst, the Weissberg Chair Lecture, and Susan’s numerous media engagements make her a leading voice for children everywhere. Find out more about Susan’s work here. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Emily Ruhm. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Jeremy Helton, Lisa Avery, B. Arneson, and Alex de Waal, and the team from the Tufts Digital Design Studio, including Kimberly Lynn Forero-Arnias, and Miles Donovan. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Bluesky at worldpeacefdtn.bsky.social, and on Instagram at @worldpeacefdtn.
S3 · E3
Sep 23, 2025 · 42 min
Gen Z is Taking Their First Steps onto the Political Stage
How do Gen Z Americans feel about democracy? The short answer: overall they believe in its principles, but don’t feel it’s working for them. In this episode, we explore unique ways that Gen Z is engaging in democracy (and not engaging), and what people of all ages need to do to encourage the next generation of peaceful leaders. Ruby-Belle Booth is a researcher with CIRCLE, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, where she graduated in 2021. Ruby is interested in youth civic participation as a pathway for social, racial, and economic justice. She co-authored the report, “How Does Gen Z Really Feel About Democracy? Insights from Three Profiles of Youth and Democracy." Alex Edgar is a Youth Engagement Manager at Made by Us, a coalition of over 400 US museums that use history to inform and inspire civic participation among younger generations. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 2024. Learn more about Alex’s work at: www.historymadebyus.org Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Emily Ruhm and Kaelen Song. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Jeremy Helton, Lisa Avery, B. Arneson, and Alex de Waal, and the team from the Tufts Digital Design Studio, including Kimberly Lynn Forero-Arnias, and Miles Donovan. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Bluesky at worldpeacefdtn.bsky.social, and on Instagram at @worldpeacefdtn.
S3 · E2
Sep 16, 2025 · 30 min
Learning from Mutual Aid Efforts in Sudan
How can someone help their neighbors and community when a war breaks out? Today we’re seeing what we can learn from mutual aid efforts in Sudan. Omar al-Bashir ruled Sudan for three brutal decades, from 1989 until he was overthrown by a peaceful revolution in 2019. In 2023, a civil war broke out between two warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. Emergency Response Rooms - not to be confused with hospital emergency rooms in the west - are temporary mutual aid networks that have emerged to provide resources critical to the survival of everyday Sudanese people. Omima Jabal is a leader in the ERRs - emergency response rooms - in Sudan’s capital of Khartoum. She also initiated the 'Infinitive of Teaching English Language' program, which allowed around 500 individuals to study English despite living in a warzone. Learn more about Omima’s work here: https://khartoumerr.org Alex de Waal is executive director of the World Peace Foundation, and among the world’s leading experts on the Horn of Africa – which includes Sudan. From 2005-2006, he worked with the African Union mediation team for Darfur, and from 2009-2011, he served as senior adviser to the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel for Sudan. Learn more about Alex’s work here: https://worldpeacefoundation.org/team-member/alex-de-waal Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Emily Ruhm. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Jeremy Helton, Lisa Avery, B. Arneson, and Alex de Waal, and the team from the Tufts Digital Design Studio, including Kimberly Lynn Forero-Arnias and Miles Donovan. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Bluesky at worldpeacefdtn.bsky.social, and on Instagram at @worldpeacefdtn.
S3 · E1
Sep 9, 2025 · 36 min
Why Listening is the First Step to Peace
This season we’re looking at the first steps everyday people can take towards peace. And we’re kicking things off by zooming in to something direct and personal that people engage with every day: listening. How can “generous” listening contribute to peace, and what are practical ways to get started? In this episode, we explore concrete ways to have difficult conversations instead of violent reactions, and how our everyday interactions can ladder up to structural change. Naomi Boase is Tufts University’s inaugural Inclusive and Restorative Dialogues Program Director. She has provided DEI consultations and trainings in the US and abroad for over 10 years. The goal of these trainings is to increase a sense of belonging within communities and organizations. Find out more about Noami’s work here. Jonathan Tirrell is director of the Generous Listening and Dialogue Initiative at Tufts University. Trained as a developmental scientist, he studies positive youth development (PYD), seeking to understand how people become good people. Find out more about Jonathan’s work here. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. The show is produced by Bridget Conley and Emily Shaw. Engineering by Jacob Winik and Aja Simpson. Marketing and Social media by Emily Ruhm. Show artwork by Simon Fung. Special thanks to Jeremy Helton, Lisa Avery, B. Arneson, and Alex de Waal, and the team from the Tufts Digital Design Studio, including Kimberly Lynn Forero-Arnias, and Miles Donovan. Find out more about the World Peace Foundation at worldpeacefoundation.org. Follow us on Bluesky at worldpeacefdtn.bsky.social, and on Instagram at @worldpeacefdtn.
Aug 26, 2025 · 3 min
Introducing Season 3: Taking the First Steps Towards Peace
In Season 3 of Disrupting Peace, we are looking around the world – and here in the US – to explore the very first steps everyday people can take towards peace. We often think of this as something that belongs to policymakers and leaders of armed factions – not to the average person. But this season, we’re diving into the individual efforts we can take to make this world more peaceful. Season 3 launches on September 9th. Disrupting Peace is a production of The World Peace Foundation. Find out more at worldpeacefoundation.org.

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