Repeat guest Majid Alsayegh joins hosts Matt Lakenbach and Jess Bryan of the Middle East Peace Civic Forum for this critical conversation about the Israel-Hamas war and prospects for ending the fighting. 
Join us as we discuss the implications of two indigenous peoples, the political challenges facing the Biden Administration and regional actors, and the immense suffering being experienced by Palestinians and Israelis and their family, friends, and sympathizers around the world. 

October 7, 2023 will go down in history as a dark day for the Jewish people. More than  1,400 Jews were murdered in cold blood. The dead included hundreds of civilians: women, men, children, babies and the elderly, with more than 260 alone killed at an outdoor music festival a few miles from the Gaza Strip. At least 200 hostages were captured and are being held in Gaza. In response, Israel has launched an unprecedented and devastating military campaign designed to remove from power Hamas, an organization whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel and Holy War against the Jewish people. All of this has happened in the context of more than 60 years of  violence, with two peoples fighting for legitimacy and land.  On this episode Peace Tribe Rising host Matt Lakenbach is joined by our newest cohost and fellow Middle East Peace Civic Forum director and peacemaker Jess Bryan. 

Emyrald Sinclaire is a dating and manifestation coach for women, helping clients find the love of their life and create a life they love. Emyrald brings a rare blend of intuition, wisdom, and intelligence (not to mention beauty) to support her clients and followers. She can be found on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Insight Timer, and beyond. Listen in on this engaging conversation about dating, intuition, conflict resolution, and life. 

Marking the first time that Peace Tribe Rising has interviewed another podcast host, our guest on this episode is Antonio Goodwin. Antonio is the host of the Freedom Now! Travel Podcast, which explores how people from all over the world experience Freedom and Passion expressed through different kinds of travel. On this fascinating and lively episode, Matt and Antonio discuss communication during conflict, dating, work travel, and a range of entertaining topics. Come laugh with Matt and Antonio in this fast-paced conversation. 

Join Majid and Matt for a fascinating and inspiring conversation about peacemaking, including the power of music and the arts to soften perceptions and create openings for dialogue. Majid also shares about the calling to speak out for peace in a world that often suppresses those voices. Says Majid, "Many people would like to speak out but they fear being ostracized by their own family, their own tribe. But the world is hurting. There are too many conflicts in this world, and some of us are called to make the world whole. And to me that calling is much stronger than my fear of being ostracized. And I've been called out, been put on websites, blacklisted, because I've promised steps toward s understanding the another, steps toward resolving conflict, steps toward compromise, rather than beating that drum of demonizing the other, which I refuse to do. It takes courage. Each person has to decide for themselves if they want to be a change agent or if they want to be satisfied with the status quo. I'm not satisfied with the status quo." 
Listen in to this enlightening discussion and discover what it means to live from a commitment of being pro-peace rather than a partisan for one side or the other. 

Robin Graham, founder of "Peace Club," has a lifetime of experience using football (or as Americans might say, soccer) to bring people closer together and to teach peace. He has discovered a framework for Robin understands that to really make a difference it is critical to speak in language that his audience understands. Through the "Champions in Life" program, Robin teaches virtues that any football player can relate to, including sportsmanship and integrity. Join hosts Matt Lakenbach and Peter Van Geldern for this enlightening discussion.    

PTR host Matt Lakenbach welcomes transformational phenomenon Greiris Diaz onto the podcast. Greiris is an influencer, a coach, and a force for good in the world. Her passion is helping people overcome anxiety and depression and live their best lives. Greiris and Matt discuss how to embrace peace at the individual level and the community level. 

Nathan McCullough is a philosopher, entrepreneur, and coach. In this fascinating episode with co-hosts Matt Lakenbach and Peter van Geldern, Nathan discusses peacemaking from the perspective of philosophy, individual responsibility, and group dynamics. 

Priyanka is a yoga teacher, coach, and entrepreneur who is dedicated to helping people become lighter - both in spirit and in their bodies. After suffering in a job that she was not well suited for and experiencing impacts on her mental and physical health, Priyanka stumbled upon a yoga class in a public park in her native India and discovered her passion. She dropped everything and embraced yoga and teaching as her life's work. In this episode, Priyanka and Matt discuss how yoga and meditation are an access to peace, healing and health, both within our own selves and in the world at large - including in conflict situations. 

Rafa Mismar is a Palestinian activist for peace and reconciliation within the Abrahamic family, and a strong voice for human rights for the Palestinian people. Rafa is on the board of directors of the Middle East Peace Civic Forum. Rafa Mismar is also a journalist with a master’s in Democracy and Human Rights from Birzeit University.

She is a Youth Coordinator and organizer with Combatants for Peace in the Middle East, an organization of Israelis and Palestinians who have experienced personal loss and who work tirelessly for peace and human rights. She appeared as a featured presenter with the annual Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony, which has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.

Check out this fascinating episode in which Matt and Ron Kosmahl, author and modern mystic, investigate what happens to a soul after death that gets stuck between heaven and hell, explore the golden rule, and speculate about divine design. Ron's recent book, A Face in the Night, presents the a half fictional story of a German soldier who comes home drunk one night and sees a face in the window. Was it real or some sort of vision? This kicks off a spiritual journey that seeks to resolve timeless mysteries. 

Ghassan Manasra is the International Director of the Abrahamic Reunion, a group of spiritual peacemakers based in the Holy Land and the United States. In this episode Ghassan and Matt discuss the work of the Abrahamic Reunion and how to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The conversation touches on the role of civil society and its intersection with politics, the potential role of the international community in the peace process, and the role of the media. Matt and Ghassan also share about their work together going back to the founding of the Middle East Peace Civic Forum, when Ghassan was a Co-Chair of the International Board. Currently, Ghassan is on the Advisory Board of the Middle East Peace Civic Forum (www.middleeastpeacecivicforum.org.) 

Peace Tribe Rising podcast co-hosts Matt Lakenbach and Peter van Geldern welcome Angela Sparrow to the show. Angela is the founder of Vivo Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Puerto Rico. Angela and her team are working to support victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and redefine gender relations around the world. The conversation explores the impact of trauma and violence experienced by individuals and communities, and how that contributes to the cycle of violence in the Middle East - in particular in the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians. Join Angela, Matt and Peter for a fascinating conversation about peace and possibility, at home, in families, in communities and in the world. 

Meet your Peace Tribe Rising podcast hosts, Matt Lakenbach, Tarek Nahabet, and Peter van Geldern. We share who we are as peacemakers and introduce a vision of Israeli-Palestinian peace. Through this podcast, we aim to be a hub for a new Tribe - the Tribe of Peacemakers and those who are committed to living together in peace.