The Paths To Understanding Podcast

Allison Ralph is a thought leader in religious pluralism and social cohesion, Allison Ralph brings 20 years’ experience in strategy, research, and nonprofit and philanthropic leadership. She previously worked at The Aspen Institute, where she served as Associate Director of the Religion & Society Program and Director of its Religion and Philanthropy Initiative. Allison has a PhD in church history from The Catholic University of America, and an MPhil from Cambridge University. Her graduate research focused on how societies manage or fail to manage their internal diversity, and how they create and maintain social boundaries.

Learn more about Paths to Understanding at https://www.PathsToUnderstanding.org Join the Paths Network at https://www.PathsNetwork.org New mothers and their infants are more likely to die in the United States than in any European country. The life expectancy of the average American is closer to that of middle eastern or south American countries than counterparts in western or central Europe, and it’s been decreasing. Physicians are concerned those trends will continue with federal cuts to healthcare and health research programs. Our guest in this episode of Challenge 2.0 will address those concerns- Seattle-area cardiologist Dr. Ma...

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The Seattle-based Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment was founded thirty one years ago with the recognition that every purchase is a vote; one that reflects personal values and ethics. Those purchases include investments in corporate stocks and bonds. The efforts of faith based organizations to influence corporate policies and practices have recently encountered stiffer opposition. We discuss the importance, successes and frustrations of investor activism with board member Sister Susan Francoise

Learn more about Paths to Understanding at https://www.PathsToUnderstanding.org Join the Paths Network at https://www.PathsNetwork.org Last week, we met two members of the Seattle area Ukrainian-American community. As the Russian invasion of their country enters its fourth year, they outlined the economic, physical and psychological impact on the members of their community and their families still living in Ukraine. We continue that conversation with Tanya Zayka and Father Andriy Matlak in this episode of Challenge 2.0

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More Ukrainian refugees come to Washington than any other state. The Ukrainian-American community here continues to extend monetary, physical and emotional support as the war with Russia enters its fourth year. But those efforts are becoming increasingly difficult with a change in national support for Ukraine and possible deportation of refugees living here. In this edition of Challenge, we talk with members of the local Ukrainian-American community, including Tanya Zayka

The Seattle area health and technology industries have strong connections with the Middle East-particularly with Israel and Gaza. Those connections have led to equally strong emotions within those communities. The resulting disconnect has escalated in light of recent proposals to evict Palestinians from Gaza and transform it into a high end resort. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we speak with two Seattle residents familiar the region-Mercy Corps founder Dan O’Neill who once lived on an Israeli kibbutz, and surgical nurse Christie Jucht who has regularly volunteered in hospitals located in Gaza.

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Dr. Harold Koenig is an internationally recognized psychiatrist who serves as the director of Duke University’s Center for the Study of Religion, Spirituality and Health. His research has produced documented evidence of the positive impacts of faith on both physical and mental disorders, findings that are leading to changes in the way doctors, nurses and therapists relate to their patients. In this week’s edition of Challenge 2.0, we explore the healing power of connection through fait...

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Joy would seem to be an unlikely emotion in a world increasingly filled with uncertainty, and the fear, anger and anxiety it creates. The noted figures of the Dalai Lama and the late South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu emphasized we can access and experience joy even in the face of great suffering. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we connect with faith leaders from Buddhism, Christianity and Islam who offer guidance of finding joy, even when...

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Last month’s elections left many Americans deeply troubled. Whatever our individual opinions might be, what approaches and thoughts will best help us navigate the uncertainty of the coming months? In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we turn to three leaders from the major faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam to offer their perspectives and guidance

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In our last episode of Challenge 2.0, we began a conversation with John Philip Newell, the author of a new book called “The Great Search”. It explored why an increasing number of people believe organized religious institutions are failing to help them cope with the challenges of contemporary life. We continue that conversation in Part 2 of Healing Shattered Spirits, examining possible solutions, and new perspectives on questions such as “if there is a God, how cou...

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Churches are closing, faith communities are declaring bankruptcy, the ‘faithful’ are increasingly expressing a sense that their religious communities have broken faith with them. I recently read two sentences that provided a useful summary-“Religion as we have known it has failed to adequately address the most urgent challenges of humanity, including the threatened plight of Earth. These challenges are not just ecological, and political and economic. They are also spiritual.” Those words are in the new book...

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One hundred and twelve years ago, Washington became one of the first states to adopt the initiative and referendum process. This gave citizens the ability to overturn laws and write new ones...essentially acting as a check on the power of elected officialsand on lobbyists. But some assert the initiative process has been coopted by the wealthy and powerful. Several initiatives on the ballot this year are sponsored by a hedge fund manager who has...

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Last week, we met the father and mother of a young man who died from suicide. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, they’ll outline a program they’ve developed to prevent such tragedies, aided by their son’s friends, as well as medical and mental health professionals.

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Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people. Only car crashes claim more lives. The number of suicide deaths continues to increase dramatically, even among children as young as eight.In the next three editions of Challenge 2.0, we’ll meet the mother and father of a young man who took his own life, who now seek to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.

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Holiday dinners frequently pose challenges. But as differences in politics, philosophy and faith have become more extreme, such gatherings can become toxic-even or perhaps especially when the guests are related. But a new program called Potluck for Democracy believes with the right approach, the dinner table can become a place of connection, not division-even when the guests hold vastly different views. That’s the subject of this week’s edition of Challenge 2.0

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Workers who move to a region for oil, gas and mining jobs often set up what are called ‘man camps’; residential villages often located near or even on native reservations. Investigators from groups such as Amnesty International have documented the increased risk of murder, rape, sex and human trafficking experienced by Indigenous women and children. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we visit with two native American activists about this and the broader problem of murdered and miss...

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The story of today’s Challenge episode was born in tragedy. A young woman who unsuccessfully sought to escape an abusive husband died at his hands when she was unable to find safe shelter. But it inspired a response that has literally saved thousands from similar fates. That response is called Maher-“Mother’s Home”. The setting for the story of Maher is in India, but it demonstrates the healing power of determination, imagination and compassion-a healing...

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Translating values into policy and law is never easy and rarely quick. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we visit with leaders from the group Faith Action Network which represents 167 faith communities throughout the state. Those communities encompass Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Buddhism and prove the existence of common ground and shared values across different belief systems. Today, we’ll discover how successful they were in achieving their goals this year in the Washington state legislature.

One faith leader has described what is called ‘wokeness’ as a pseudo-religion, another as simply being ‘vile’. Florida governor Ron DeSantis brags his state is where ‘wokeness’ goes to die. Yet other faith leaders call it an expression of authentic religious faithwith some qualifications. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, three faith leaders of Christianity, Judaism and Islam consider this controversy.

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The most common narrative of the current conflict in the middle east is that it pits Muslims and Jews against each other. It suggests differences in the two religions, and the expectations inherent in those faiths makes finding common ground impossible. But are differences in faith at the center of the conflict? We’ll ask three faith leaders from Christianity, Islam and Judaism for their assessment, and whether finding common ground might be possible.

Learn more about Paths to Understanding at https://www.PathsToUnderstanding.org Join the Paths Network at https://www.PathsNetwork.org Last week, we began a conversation examining the force of White Christian Nationalism in America; how it conflicts with the essence of Christianity and the motto found on coins-‘E Pluribus Unum’-out of many, one. We continue our discussion this week with the author of the new book, “Go and Do Likewise”-and how we can counter efforts to divide Americans.

White Christian Nationalism has become a potent and disruptive force in American politics. Some would argue that it has everything to do with a mix of anger and fear among white Americans, the impulse of nationalism, but very little to do with authentic Christianity. Reverend Terry Kyllo is among those. Go and Do Likewise is the title of his analysis of this toxic force in our culture. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, he explores the destructive force of White Christian Supremacy, as well as effective ways to counter it. 

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In last week’s episode of Challenge 2.0, we began a conversation with an internationally recognized advocate of nonviolence and how it’s a proven path to peace and justice. This week, we explore what the practice of nonviolence is, how change within us is needed to create change around us as well as the evidence supporting the effectiveness of this strategy.

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Violence or the threat of violence dominates the news-whether it’s in the Middle East, the Ukraine, on American streets or in classrooms. It seems to be a never-ending cycle, with peace and justice remaining ever elusive. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we speak with an advocate of nonviolence, who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Activist John Dear asserts it offers a proven path to peace and justice, and is anything but pa...

Learn more about Paths to Understanding at https://www.PathsToUnderstanding.org Join the Paths Network at https://www.PathsNetwork.org The two basins formed by the Columbia and Snake rivers were once the biggest salmon habitats in the world. But no longer. Just as the native fish population in this once famed region is struggling to survive, what are called the ‘people of the salmon’ are also facing major challenges-the Yakama, the Nez Perce, the Umatilla and the Warm Springs tribes. We continue last week’s conversation in this episode of Challenge 2.0.

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Science has clearly implicated four dams  on the lower Snake River as bearing major responsibility for the precipitous decline of salmon in the Columbia basin. All four salmon and steel head populations in this area at risk of extinctions. The four major tribal nations living in this and the larger region of the Columbia River basin say that threatens what they call their ‘lifeway’s their culture, their diet, their religion. And it also violates specific treat...

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The George Orwell novel 1984 describes an era ruled by thought police with those who evade book bans charged with ‘thought crimes’. Ironically, as book bans are increasing rapidly in the United States, the Orwellian novel is among those books most frequently challenged and banned from classrooms and school libraries. The American Library Association reports that 2022 was a record year for banning books, with more than 1200 demands to remove books from libraries and schools, and that 2023 is like...

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The textbook definition of history is that it’s the study of the human past as described by written documents left by humans. But when such history is uncomfortable, inconvenient or controversial, some groups seek to erase it. That’s particularly true of black history today. One example is the state of Florida’s STOP WOKE law that limits students and teachers from learning about issues related to race and gender. Such efforts are spreading beyond...

Last week we began an examination of black history-the efforts to marginalize it or eliminate it from school curricula. This week we continue that conversation, and consider why not only black students but also white students lose if the wealth of all cultures aren’t taught. 

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Study after study documents the number of Americans who participate in most organized religions is decreasing. Most religions. The exception may be a surprise. At the turn of the century, census figures estimated 134,000 Americans identified themselves as Pagans. That number has increased ten-fold, to 1.5 million this year. What exactly is paganism, why is it becoming more popular and does it share any elements in common with more traditional religions? Those questions are the focus of...

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Fear is the common denominator between Gaza and Israel. The continued violence, destruction and loss of life has most people fleeing Gaza if at all possible, and continuing to mourn both the dead and lost sense of safety in Israel. But there are volunteers now seeking to enter despite the risk, to help those impacted by the war, just as there have been volunteers during past conflicts. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we’ll continue our co...

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The Hamas attack in Israeli and the counter-attack by Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza have led to thousands of civilian casualties. It is a human tragedy of inconceivable scale and impact. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we’ll seek to move beyond the political, historical and military aspects. Instead, we’ll talk with two caregivers who have deep experience in this region. Each has focused on alleviating human pain, suffering and need, each has done so at g...

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The Pacific Island culture is an important element of the Pacific Northwest identity. But the story behind the migration is often one of pain-the result of colonial domination, the loss of supportive family and friends, the need to adapt to an unfamiliar culture. Gay and trans Pacific Islanders face particularly difficult challenges. UTOPIA Washington is a group that advocates for their needs-in this program, we’ll explore the challenges they face, and what the larger Pac...

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Youth sports are a bigger business than professional baseball. Yet the number of boys and girls participating in team sports is declining, and that doesn’t reflect the impact of the COVID pandemic. It reflects the rising cost of participating in youth sports, the hostility of parents seeking advantages for their children to the detriment of their teammates, and the focus on competitive success at even early ages. In this week’s edition of Challenge 2.0, we talk...

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In last week’s episode of Challenge 2.0, we began a conversation with a leader of the Ukrainian Association of Washington; she has made repeated trips to her homeland since the Russians invaded last year. This week, we continue our exploration of what you don’t hear or read in news reports-part two of ‘What Ukrainians Want You to Know’.

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In four days, Ukrainians will observe the twenty second anniversary of their nation’s declaration of Independence. The holiday will be a bittersweet one, coming during the continuing Russian invasion and occupation of the Ukraine; an invasion that has cost thousands of lives and resulted in the kidnapping and forced relocation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Although the International Criminal Court has issued a war crimes arrest warrant for Russian president Vladimir Putin, major American politicians co...

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Last week, we spoke with two scientists who have explored how changes in the way our food is produced have harmed our health. This week, we look at how those changes are damaging the health of our planet...and explore some solutions that proven to improve our physical and emotional health-and save money.

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Americans spend twice as much on health care than people living in other developed countries. But we land near the bottom of the heap in terms of our health. One aspect is our ability to access and afford health care, but another aspect is what we eat...and what we eat...ate. That’s the focus of this edition of Challenge 2.0

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In last week’s episode of Challenge 2.0, we spoke with a member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility about the growing health impact of air pollution. This week, we hear the groups’ recommendations for change. Part two of “When Air Pollution Won’t Let Us Say “Ahh”.

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In last week’s episode of Challenge 2.0, we spoke with a member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility about the growing health impact of air pollution. This week, we hear the groups’ recommendations for change. Part two of “When Air Pollution Won’t Let Us Say “Ahh”.