The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

The Need for Courage - A podcast of the 福利在线 University Center for Peacemaking

 

Creative problem solving is an essential skill in any peacebuilder鈥檚 toolbox. In this series, the we 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.

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Meet the host

John Byrne, Arts '78, is an internationally known regulatory, policy, and legislative expert. He received the 鈥淒istinguished Alumnus of the Year Award鈥� for the College of Arts and Sciences from 福利在线 University in 2024. He also hosts , a podcast focused on financial regulation and compliance.

John Byrne
Full bio

John Byrne, Esq., CAMS, is the Executive Chairman of the Advisory Board of . He is also an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University鈥檚 Schar School of Policy and Government at the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TRACC).

John has been a leading voice in the anti-money laundering (AML) community for over 40 years. John has experience in a vast array of financial service-related issues, with particular expertise in regulatory oversight, policy, governance, anti-money laundering, privacy and terrorist financing.

John has received numerous awards, including the first Director's Medal for Exceptional Service from the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the American Bankers Association鈥檚 (ABA) Distinguished Service Award for his career work in the compliance field, the ACAMS Lifetime achievement Award (2023), as well as several awards for writing columns and blogs and for his podcast, AML Now. The podcast is now 鈥淎ML Conversations鈥� and combined with 鈥淭his Week in AML鈥� are closing in on one million downloads since 2018.

John also serves on 福利在线 University鈥檚 Commercial Banking Board and co-created the AML Partnership Forum in 2022.

Season 1

Episode 1 | Introduction: The need for courage in peacemaking with Pat Kennelly

In the inaugural episode, host John Byrne speaks with Pat Kennelly, director of the 福利在线 University Center for Peacemaking. They discuss the Center's goals, highlighting the impacts on student formation and community engagement. The discussion also explores peacemaking in different professions and geographies.

Episode 2 | Restorative justice and conceptualized peace: Ideas for improving society with Dr. Gabe Velez

Dr. Gabriel Velez, associate professor at 福利在线 University and author of Making Meaning of Justice and Peace: A Developmental Lens, discussed how peace education and restorative practices shape young people鈥檚 understanding of justice, belonging, and community鈥攂oth in Colombia and Milwaukee. Dr. Velez also shares insights on conceptualizing peace, the challenges of fostering optimism in turbulent times, and practical steps for encouraging youth engagement.

Episode 3 | Approaches to global justice with Dr. Grant Silva

Dr. Grant Silva, associate professor at 福利在线 University, discussed how his philosophy course on global justice challenges students to expand their understandings of power, justice, globalization, and nationalism. The course was in part inspired by field research he conducted along the U.S.-Mexico border, including a ride along with a Customs and Border Patrol unit. Dr. Silva also shares his unique approach to understanding racism as a form of self-love, which he argues allows for better understanding of the motivations individuals act on, even when their beliefs are said to lack bias, prejudice, or 鈥渉atred鈥�.

His forthcoming monograph will expand upon the article 鈥淩acism as Self-Love鈥� available at and .

Episode 4 | Small steps, big impact with T. Michael McNulty, S.J.

T. Michael McNulty, S.J. joins to discuss ethics in real estate, immigration policy, and educating leaders who recognize that small steps can have big impacts. The conversation touches on the important role of zoning boards, the case for open immigration, and the value of good trouble to effect change.

His article  is available at America Magazine.

Episode 5 | Financial Access and Global Peace Efforts

Delve into the world of financial regulations with an expert panel on the critical need for collaboration between financial institutions, regulators, and nonprofits to ensure that humanitarian efforts are not stifled by regulatory hurdles. Brian Kimari, coordinator of Kenya NPO Working Group on the Financial Action Task Force, discusses how the Financial Action Task Force has produced unintended impacts on peacebuilding and human rights organizations in Kenya with Recommendation 8. Michael Beer, co-director at Nonviolence International, discusses how derisking has impacted Nonviolence International. And Poorvika Mehra, Howard S. Brembeck Fellow at the Charity & Security Network, discusses the challenges posed by de-risking and de-banking practices that often hinder nonprofit organizations from accessing essential financial services. Their combined analysis uncovers the need for a truly risk-based approach that balances compliance with the operational realities of civil society groups.

Suggested resources include , , and .