What happens when Earth itself starts to wake up? In this episode, Kroc School Prof. Topher McDougal joins us to talk about his new book Gaia Wakes, where he explores the idea of Earth’s emergent consciousness and the possibility of a global AI-powered governance system. From the collision of economics and ecology to the Butlerian Jihad of the Dune series, McDougal pushes us to rethink humanity’s role in an AI-dominated future.
In this wide-ranging episode, we dive into Luddites, the idea of a grand bargain between humans and AI, and what it really means to have — or be — a soul. In this episode we discuss:
Check out these links for more information after you listen:
Gaia Wakes The Book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/gaia-wakes/9781788218283/
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Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/school/krocschool/posts/?
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For our Season 6 premiere episode we examine what it really looks like when business leaders put people and planet before profit. In this episode, we dive into the rise of socially responsible businesses in San Diego with Jeff Blanton and Abraham Chen. From conscious capitalism to B Corps and social innovation, they share how a new wave of companies is reshaping the way we think about success.
If you’ve ever wondered how business can become a true force for good, this conversation will give you inspiration—and practical insights—for the road ahead. In this episode we discuss:
Check out these links for more information after you listen:
BLocal San Diego: https://linktr.ee/blocalsandiego
Jeff 's Podcast: https://jailbreakleadership.com/podcast/beyond-profit-how-b-corps-are-changing-capitalism-with-abraham-chen/
Conscious Capitalism Chapter in SD: https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/chapter/san-diego
Cause San Diego: https://www.causesandiego.org/
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What does it mean to hold space at the edge of life? In this episode, we sit down with two experienced death doulas to explore how they guide individuals and families through death, dying, and grief. We unpack the emotional, spiritual, and practical layers of end-of-life care—and what it means to show up with presence, compassion, and clarity.
Whether you're navigating personal loss, exploring a calling in death care, or simply curious about how we can face death more honestly—this conversation is a powerful entry point. In this episode we discuss:
Destigmatizing conversations about death
How grief is both personal and unpredictable
Why death education should be taught in schools
When “I’m sorry” is the wrong thing to say
For more information about death doulas check out: Inelda
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Explore Dr. Lailatul Fitriyah's journey through inter-religious education and feminist theology. Hear her insights on bridging Islam and Christianity, challenging stereotypes about Muslim women, and why feminist theology and dialogue matter for peace and activism. In today's episode we discuss:
Follow the KrocPod on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krocschool/?hl=en Learn more at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/krocschool/ Reach us at krocpod@gmail.com
In this episode, we explore how innovation can unlock solutions to complex social challenges, emphasizing the power of collaboration between NGOs, governments, and private industry. Our guest, Paola Santana — a lawyer, public procurement expert, and tech entrepreneur from the Dominican Republic — shares her inspiring journey from public service to building tech startups in Silicon Valley.
In this powerful episode of Kroc Pod, Dr. Cindi Cassady—Kroc School alumna and clinical psychologist—reveals her groundbreaking work establishing Kigali's first ketamine clinic to address Rwanda's critical mental health challenges. With one in five citizens struggling with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, Dr. Cassady shares how strategic partnerships and innovative ketamine treatments offer a transformative approach to healing in a nation still processing historical trauma. Her work not only provides hope for individuals battling mental health issues but also represents a crucial intersection of peace, justice, and psychological recovery. Join us for an illuminating conversation that explores how targeted medical interventions can help rebuild individual and collective mental wellness in post-conflict Rwanda.
What does justice look like when power, inequality, and environmental rights collide? Dayanna Gladys Palmar Uriana, a Violence, Inequality, and Power Fellow, joins us to explore the fight for Indigenous sovereignty through the lens of the Wayuu people. As a lawyer, journalist, and human rights advocate, Dayanna works to amplify the collective voice of her community, challenge entrenched power structures, and push for solutions that reflect Indigenous visions of justice and equity.
Dr. Bochra Laghssais, one of the 2024 Kroc Women Peacemaker Fellows, focuses her research on the adversities, vulnerabilities and agency of Amazigh Indigenous women in Morocco and the diaspora. Her work highlights the post-colonial realities that continue to impact Indigenous women today. Tune in to discover how the empowerment of Amazigh women shapes their own unique understanding of feminism.
Temi Mwale, racial justice activist and founder of 4Front, shares her journey advocating for transformative justice as one of the Kroc School's 2024 Women Peacemaker Fellows. We discuss the systemic challenges of violence and criminal justice in both the UK and the U.S. and her focus on the urgent need for healing-centered approaches over punishment. Temi’s work highlights the power of youth-led activism in driving meaningful change and reimagining justice for impacted communities.
For more information about Temi's work visit:
Dr. Mariia Levchenko, a 2024 Kroc School Women Peacemakers Fellow, takes us into the heart of conflict resolution in this riveting episode. Drawing from her groundbreaking work in Ukraine and Ethiopia, she offers a razor-sharp analysis of women's critical roles in navigating complex war zones, unpacking how her immigrant experience has uniquely positioned her to bridge divides and challenge traditional approaches to international conflict. With insights that are at once scholarly and deeply personal, Dr. Levchenko demonstrates why women's perspectives aren't just valuable, but essential in crafting sustainable peace—making this episode a must-listen for anyone passionate about understanding the nuanced human dynamics behind global conflict resolution.
Dr. Fakhira Halloun is a distinguished Palestinian citizen of Israel and a prominent expert in conflict transformation, boasting over two decades of experience as both a researcher and practitioner. In her recent discussions, she emphasizes the critical role of Moral Imagination in addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, how she chooses peace daily and the need to bring more women to the conflict resolution table.
Join us for a compelling conversation with Dean Darren Kew as we discuss the pivotal moments that spark change.From grassroots movements in Nigeria to peacemaking in Northern Ireland, we dive into the unseen threads that can tip societies toward peace. Dean Kew lets us in on his thoughts on peace technology, the role of art in peacemaking and what he hopes the future brings for global peace and the Kroc School.
Dr. May Farid is the newest professor at the Kroc School of Peace Studies and just finished her first year teaching here in San Diego. Dr. Farid is a specialist in NGOs and grassroots movements and her research focuses on the intersection between citizen initiatives and state policies and how this dynamic plays into development and good governance. Dr. Farid talks about the importance of community-driven development, expanding ways for people to engage in social movements and what it was like growing up attending local schools in Macao and China.
Natalia Ventura and Nanzi Muro are activists transforming their communities through art. Natalia, an interdisciplinary artist and abolitionist from Chula Vista, California, blends her Mexican-Cuban-American heritage with her passion for nonviolence. Nanzi, an artivist from the borderlands, channels her unique experiences of living between the U.S. and Tijuana into powerful social practice art, advocating against the injustices at the U.S.-Mexico border. Both are dedicated to using their creative talents to illuminate critical social issues and foster radical love and transformation. Tune in to hear their inspiring stories and their vision for a more just world.
Natalia's website -- https://www.nataliaventura.com/
Nanzi's website -- https://nanzi-muro.wixsite.com/artivism
Yaroslav Trofimov is the Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent at the Wall Street Journal, where he has worked since 1999 covering the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize the last two years for his coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. An author of 3 books, his latest is "Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine's War of Independence." Listen for the inside story on the history of Ukraine, Russia's propaganda warband the role of journalists during conflict.
Keep up with Yaroslov Trofimov and his work here: https://yarotrof.com/
Check out his new book, "Our Enemies Will Vanish" here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/731521/our-enemies-will-vanish-by-yaroslav-trofimov/
Kelsey O. Daniels is a dynamic creative force and seasoned community organizer from South East San Diego. Kelsey delves into the ancestral, wellness, and liberation dimensions of dreaming. As the founder of "Check, Please!" and "The Black Dream Experiment," Kelsey curates spaces that empower authentic storytelling and celebrate the rich tapestry of Black dreaming. Beyond their roles as a poet, mixed media artist, singer, and dreamworker, they have been a dynamic force in community advocacy, collaborating with organizations such as Creative Mornings, Women's March San Diego, Amnesty International, and ACLU San Diego. Join us as Kelsey challenges notions of white failurism and champions self and community care as paths to dream space.
To learn more about Kelsey’s work you can check out her website: https://kelseyshere.com/
To stay updated on Kelsey's live performances follow
https://www.instagram.com/andsheshere_/ and https://www.instagram.com/dreamforgetreturn/
You can contact her via email at heylove@kelseyshere.com
Mara Tissera Luna is an international consultant focusing on understanding the root causes of forced displacement in Latin America and the Caribbean and improving protection for displaced populations. She's a social anthropologist who specializes in Latin America and the Caribbean. She advises UNICEF, Georgetown University, the University of Edinburgh and Refugees International among others and has helped write more than 25 reports, handbooks, and short articles. Her latest work is “A Ridiculously Simplified Guide to Intersectional & Decolonial Research.” In this episode, we talk about decolonial, intersectional, and feminist practices that peacebuilders should be bringing to all of their work.
Reach out to Mara:
:https://www.linkedin.com/in/maratisseraluna/
For more on her research and publications:
https://maratisseraluna.academia.edu/
Suggested reading:
https://aidnography.blogspot.com
The World's Most Neglected Displacement Crisis:
https://www.nrc.no/feature/2023/the-worlds-most-neglected-displacement-crises-in-2022/
An interview with Dr. Nadine Puechguirbal, an expert with over two decades working in gender, peace, and security. The breadth of her experience ranges across a diverse landscape including gender mainstreaming, addressing sexual and gender-based violence, preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguarding, diversity and social inclusion, and advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout her career in peace building she has worked in different sectors of the United Nations training her unique gender lens on humanitarian work in Niger, Somalia, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and more.
For part 2 of our series highlighting the state of prisons in the U.S., we speak with Wehtahnah Tucker, a lawyer with more than a decade experience working in the California Department of Corrections and co-moderator of a recent lecture by Angela Davis on prison abolition. Leeya and Wehtahnah go deep on the current state of the carceral system, the Norway Model and the tricky business of shutting down prisons in communities that have come to rely on them as a source of economic stability. Wehtahnah details the complex issues faced by trans prisoners in California and tells us her "audacious" vision for the future of prisons in the state.
Legendary activist Angela Davis delivers the Kroc School's Distinguished Lecture on the history of American prisons and the urgency of prison abolition. Recorded in front of a live audience on Oct. 11, 2023, Davis speaks about the importance of convincing people that prisons are not inevitable, the role of imagination in advocating for change and how to avoid burnout in social justice activism. She calls out the dangers of prison reform and hails the collective wisdom of incarcerated populations.
