Can forgiveness truly heal us and transform the world? In the premiere episode of The Forgiveness Effect, co-hosts Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer explore this powerful question. Azim, founder of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, interviews Melaina, an award-winning peacebuilder, coach, and Founder & CEO of Inner Peacebuilding, about her two decades guiding communities and organizations in conflict transformation.

Melaina shares lessons from Colombia, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Iraq, and the U.S. criminal justice system, showing how inner peace work creates external change. Listeners will gain practical tools for managing personal conflicts, fostering dialogue across divides, and engaging in lasting social impact.

Mentioned Books:

• “The Moral Imagination,” by John Paul Lederach 

• “There is Nothing Wrong with You,” by Cheri Huber

• “Radical Acceptance,” by Tara Brach

• “Forgive for Good,” by Fred Luskin

• “The Four Agreements,” by Don Miguel Ruiz 

• “Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit,” by Azim Khamisa
  

Other Resources:

• Peace Thru Forgiveness – https://peacethruforgiveness.org/

• Jericho Circle Project – Helping to reduce violence and crime by supporting emotional healing for incarcerated individuals and returning citizens. https://jerichocircle.org

• Internal Family Systems Model – Richard C. Schwartz https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline

Production Credits:The Forgiveness Effect is a PeaceThruForgiveness.org production, hosted by Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer. Produced and edited by Liz Ramos and Melaina Spitzer; sound engineering by Vikas Srivastava; original music by Austin Ray. Marketing team: Farideh Albornoz, Meesha De Rumi, Alejandro Hierro, Dianne McKay, and Elizabeth Richards. Melaina Spitzer is Executive Editor.