Impact!

Today, we examine the unprecedented destruction brought last month by Typhoon Halong to Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, reflecting on the storm's aftermath in the weeks since it made landfall. We highlight the massive crisis the displaced Indigenous communities are facing, which may prove to be truly an existential one. As always, we look at how we might empathise with those needing our prayers and intentions, and suggest where the...

This week we examine the escalating global drought crisis driven by climate change, highlighting alarming statistics on atmospheric evaporative demand, the severe and spiralling regional impacts across many parts of the world and the consequences for food security, ecosystems, and human communities.

We consider mitigation strategies, adaptation measures, and intentions and prayers listeners can hold to ...

In this episode we examine Syria’s deepening humanitarian and political crisis 10 months after the fall of the Assad regime: fractured governance, mass displacement, collapsing healthcare and education systems, severe food insecurity, and threats to religious minorities. The country faces one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, yet virtually no one seems to be listening.

We outline the immense and diverse scale of Syria...

Today we turn our attention to the alarming persistence of mass shootings in the United States, which now occur at a level never seen before. We reflect upon recent incidents, causes, and the broad impacts on victims, families, and communities. We question why the USA stands out among all nations as seeing so many tragedies, and why civilian gun ownership in the States constitutes almost half the world total. As always, we suggest ...

This week, we explore the theme of integrity, this year's final quarter focus for Global Healing Response. We consider what integrity really means, sharing personal reflections, and examining its role in leadership, politics, business, and in facing vital global challenges. As always, we offer suggestions for our prayers and intention-holding, and conclude with a  beautiful guided meditation to inspire integrity both for ourselves ...

Today we review the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing hostage situation as the second anniversary of their abduction from Israel approaches.

We take stock of recent military actions, civilian suffering, and the stalled peace efforts, before asking what we may actually pray and have focused intentions for in what appears to be a dire situation in which both sides in the conflict are determined to continue fighti...

This week we examine US President Donald Trump's continuing threat to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, explaining the legal, political, and community contexts, and how the prospect is being faced up to by state, city and civil groups concerned for their liberties.

While presenting the facts as we understand them, we also take an editorial perspective, focussing on local fears about the threat and against the backdrop of an une...

This week we take stock of the devastating August 31st landslides and earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan and Darfur, both of which are believed to have left thousands dead, displaced and cut off from aid. In two of the world's most troubled regions blighted by oppression, civil war and famine, we reflect upon the added scale of loss, frustrated by blocked access and often limited presence of international aid. As always, we look at...

This episode goes beyond the sci-fi, to look into scientific ideas about parallel universes and the multiverse — from the quantum many-worlds to cosmic inflation and string theory, and more. We explore how those concepts intersect with entanglement, non-locality, and the practice of collective intention. Intriguingly, we ponder the implications for sending intentions, not just within the universe we know, but into realms that we do...

This week we take a deep dive into Spain's growing political and social polarization, exploring reasons for widespread discomfort since the 2023 general election, corruption scandals, the rise of Vox, regional independence movements, and the historical roots that are fuelling distrust and division.

As always, we offer intentions and prayers to hold — calling for tolerance, truthfulness from political actors, fair and transparent in...

This episode takes a clear-eyed deep dive into the complex history behind modern Ukraine’s borders—from the national cradle of Kievan Rus' claimed by three modern-day states, Viking invasions and imperial shifts to Soviet-era decisions—examining how competing historical narratives have shaped both Russia and Ukraine’s territorial claims and international responses.

With negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine possibly imminent, w...

Welcome to a landmark episode as we celebrate the 100th edition of Impact! Reflecting on our journey, we discuss the evolution of the show from its inception in November 2023 amidst global crises to offer a beacon of hope and change. Join us as we reminisce over memorable episodes, remarkable guests, and significant themes we've covered, often opening our hearts and minds to happenings in our world that we know little about. We tal...

In a sobering reflection some 80 years after the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we hear harrowing survivor testimonies and explore the long-lasting effects on human life that resulted that continue to resonate today. Join us as we remember the devastation, honour the strength and resilience of the Hibakusha, and reflect on the implications of nuclear warfare for today's world. Through personal stories and histo...

This week, we give thanks for the remarkably limited life-threatening harm that appears to have resulted from the massive earthquake that struck off Russia's Kamchatka coast earlier this week. Recorded at a magnitude of 8.8, this ranks among the most powerful quakes in history, sending tsunami alerts right around the Pacific. Despite its strength, the earthquake resulted in minimal human casualties, a miraculous outcome that prompt...

Mary Magdalene Feast Day is celebrated each year on 22 July. To mark this event, Ellen talks to Mary Magdalene expert Kathleen McGowan to understand why Mary’s example and role is so important in Christianity, if hers is a story of profound understanding, courage and perseverance that’s been completely misrepresented and suppressed for much of the Common Era. Along with a suppression of Mary’s intended role as a successor to Jesus ...

This week, we reflect on where our intentions and prayers are needed sometime after a major disaster, and especially when it begins to fade from the news headlines. We explore the continuing tragedy that is unfolding in Kerr County, Texas, and its surrounds, as search and rescue efforts continue, and the profound nature and scale of impacts on many hundreds of people and communities become clear, following the flooding of the Guada...

This week we reflect upon the history and legacy of the Srebrenica massacre, which its 30th anniversary on 11 July. We recall the tragic events that unfolded in July 1995, highlighting the significance of remembering and learning from this dark chapter in history. We discuss the many lasting consequences of the massacre, the failures of the international community, and the many profound impact on survivors and their communities. Jo...

As we enter a new quarter of the year, Global Healing Response turns its attention to the theme of honesty. In this episode, we explore the often subtle connections between honesty and authenticity, and see how these may play out in political and organisational leadership, as well as within our own lives. We see that even those of us who believe we live honestly may be deceiving ourselves, as we reflect upon the subtle ways dishone...

In this episode, we delve into the all-too-frequent exploitation by some leaders and regimes of religious narratives to justify their ideologies, control populations and bolster their power. Taking an editorial approach in which we don't hold back from expressing our opinions, we examine historical and contemporary examples to understand the nature of how state power becomes mixed with religious dogma, revealing the detrimental eff...