The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

Creative problem solving is an essential skill in any peacebuilder's toolbox. In this series, the Marquette University Center for Peacemaking will interview peacemakers from a wide range of professions and disciplines to explore time-tested and novel ways that nonviolent action can infuse creativity and pragmatism into addressing pressing issues in our communities.

The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace is a news podcast hosted by MU Center for Peacemaking, with 23 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

MU Center for Peacemaking hosts The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace, a news show with 23 episodes published.

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  The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

  Discerning AI: Ethics, Technology, and the Future of Human Flourishing with Dr. Michael Zimmer

  Oct 2, 202633 min

  Artificial intelligence is transforming education, work, public policy, and daily life at a breathtaking pace. But how should we discern when these technologies serve humanity and when they threaten human dignity, privacy, and the common good? In this episode of The Need for Courage , host John Byrne sits down with Michael Zimmer, director of Marquette University's Center for Data, Ethics, and Society, to explore the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Drawing on decades of research in privacy, surveillance, internet ethics, and technology policy, Zimmer discusses why human judgment must remain at the center of decision-making, the importance of cultivating ethical reflection alongside technological innovation, and how Marquette's new Discerning AI Community of Practice seeks to bring Jesuit values to one of the defining issues of our time. Their conversation explores AI regulation, privacy, data centers, social justice, the enduring influence of media scholar Neil Postman, and the question facing universities, policymakers, and citizens alike: How do we harness powerful new technologies without losing sight of our humanity? A thoughtful discussion about technology, ethics, and the courage required to navigate an uncertain future.

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  The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

  The Courage to Welcome the Stranger: Immigration, Faith, and Belonging with Sergio Gonzalez

  Sep 25, 202632 min

  What do we owe one another in an age of migration, uncertainty, and political division? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Dr. Sergio Gonzalez, historian at Marquette University and nationally recognized scholar of immigration, religion, and Latino history. Together they explore the history of immigration in the United States, the role of faith communities in welcoming newcomers, the origins and meaning of sanctuary movements, and the moral questions facing communities today. Drawing on his research and forthcoming books on sanctuary activism, Gonzalez reflects on human dignity, solidarity, and the ways ordinary people can respond courageously when confronted with injustice. He also offers a hopeful vision of education, civic engagement, and the responsibility to see immigrants not simply for what they contribute, but as fellow members of our common human family.

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  The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

  Courage, Nonviolence, and Becoming Fully Human with Martin Sheen

  Sep 4, 202623 min

  What does it mean to live courageously in a world shaped by fear? In this episode of The Need for Courage , the Center for Peacemaking welcomes acclaimed actor, activist, and Marquette University honorary degree recipient Martin Sheen for a wide-ranging conversation on nonviolence, spirituality, community, and the lifelong work of peacemaking. Drawing on his friendships with figures such as Daniel Berrigan, his reflections on Mahatma Gandhi, and his engagement with the nonviolent teachings of Jesus, Sheen explores how fear often limits our humanity and how courage can set us free. He discusses poetry as a “proxy language of the spirit,” the challenges and rewards of nonviolent living, and why authentic faith must be lived rather than merely professed. Whether discussing activism, faith, poetry, or patriotism, Sheen offers a compelling invitation to become more fully human by embracing courage, community, and the practice of nonviolence. Listen to the Martin Sheen Podcast: https://martinsheenpodcast.com/

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  The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

  Universal Love, Civil Disobedience, and the Nonviolent Jesus with Fr. John Dear

  Aug 28, 202631 min

  In this episode of The Need for Courage , host John Byrne speaks with Father John Dear, peace activist, author, and Executive Director of the Beatitudes Center for the Nonviolent Jesus. Drawing on decades of advocacy, more than forty books, and a lifetime of work for peace and justice, Dear reflects on the nonviolence of Jesus, the spiritual foundations of civil disobedience, and the challenges facing peacemakers in a time of war, political polarization, nuclear threat, and climate crisis. The conversation explores Dear's latest book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace , his longstanding collaboration with Terry Rynne and the Center for Peacemaking, lessons from leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Andrew Young, and Cornel West, and his hopes for forming a new generation of peacemakers. Ultimately, Dear offers a vision of hope grounded not in optimism, but in faithfulness to the work of nonviolence and universal compassion. You can find Dear’s new book, Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace, here: https://johndear.org/universal-love-surrendering-to-the-god-of-peace/ Dear’s podcast, The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast, is here: https://beatitudescenter.org/podcast/

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  Episode #20

  Witnessing War, Choosing Hope: Courageous Peacemaking with Kathy Kelly

  Aug 21, 202630 minS1

  In this episode of The Need for Courage , host John Byrne speaks with renowned peace activist Kathy Kelly about the challenges and possibilities facing peacemakers today. Drawing on decades of experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Central America, and beyond, Kelly reflects on the human costs of war, economic sanctions, forced migration, and growing global militarization. The conversation explores the importance of bearing witness to suffering, building relationships across borders, and embracing nonviolent action in the face of injustice. Kelly also discusses her work with Voices in the Wilderness and World BEYOND War, her experiences engaging in civil disobedience and serving time in prison, and the lessons young people can teach us about courage, solidarity, and hope. From the realities of conflict zones to practical ways individuals can get involved in peacemaking efforts, this episode offers a powerful reflection on what it means to choose courage in an increasingly uncertain world.

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