The Need for Courage: Experiments with Peace

What if war is far less effective than we have been led to believe? In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne welcomes Dr. David Cochran, professor of politics at Loras College, co-director of the Peace and Justice Minor, and author of The Catholic Case Against War: A Brief Guide.

Drawing from both political science research and Catholic social teaching, Cochran examines the human costs of war, the limits of military...

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 challeng...

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 me...

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...

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, p...

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 ...

What does peacemaking look like in a world shaped by war, displacement, trauma, and division?

In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Basir Bita, a clinical counselor, peace educator, writer, and longtime advocate for nonviolence. Drawing on his experiences as an Afghan refugee, mental health professional, and collaborator with Marquette University's Center for Peacemaking, Basir explores the connections...

What does peacemaking look like when it begins with access to justice?

In this episode of The Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Fr. Owen Chourappa, S.J., Executive Director of the Legal Cell for Human Rights in Northeast India. For nearly two decades, Fr. Owen and his team have empowered vulnerable communities by providing legal education, advocating for children's rights, combating human trafficking, and offering free l...

How do neighborhoods recover from decades of disinvestment? What role do residents, businesses, universities, government, and community organizations play in creating lasting change?

In this episode of the Need for Courage, host John Byrne speaks with Lindsey St. Arnold Bell, Executive Director of Near West Side Partners, about the ongoing revitalization of Milwaukee's Near West Side. Lindsey shares the history of the neighborhood, ...

What happens when schools prioritize relationships, healing, and belonging? In this episode of The Need for Courage, Willie Maryland and Drew deLutio share the story of the Milwaukee Public Schools Success Center, an innovative partnership that helps students thrive through restorative practices and wraparound support. Their conversation explores the transformative power of compassion, community, and meaningful relationships, offer...

Dinorah Cortés-Vélez, a professor of Spanish, specializes in Colonial Latin American literature. More than three centuries before modern debates about gender equality and intellectual freedom, a cloistered nun, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, asked difficult questions about who has the right to learn, speak, and pursue truth. Dr. Cortés‑Vélez, who has published extensively on Sor Juana, explores how Sor Juana sought to make education in...

Dr. Sumana Chattopadhyay, associate professor of Digital Media and Performing Arts, revealed the many insights media studies provides to better understand debates about immigration. She breaks down how sound bites, filter bubbles, affective polarization, and local vs. national coverage shape these stories.

Chattopadhyay also discussed how migrants are turned into symbols in political theater, drawing on the US migrant busing crisis ...

Hon. Mary Triggiano is the director of the Andrew Center for Restorative Justice at the Marquette University Law School and former chief judge of Milwaukee County Circuit Court, District 1. She shared many insights about restorative justice, including how it provides an avenue for people who have been harmed to ask questions directly to the person who’s harmed them—something that doesn’t happen in the traditional ...

Dr. Michael Murphy, director of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago, discusses how Pope Leo XIV is already directing the Catholic Church to engage with today’s most important social issues. Having previously collaborated with then Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Murphy shares why he believes building bridges and promoting peace will be cornerstones of the Pope’s leadershi...

Dr. Kimo Ah Yun, the 25th President of Marquette University, joined us for a discussion about how Marquette is a destination university for students who are interested in discovering their purpose, developing a moral compass, and making a difference in the world. He shared how his own lived experiences—including being a first generation college graduate and growing up in a Catholic household—have impacted how he underst...

In this episode, host John Byrne catches up with alumnus Hari Prasad, now program associate and researcher at the Carter Center and research associate at Critica Research and Analysis. Prasad shares how his involvement with the Center for Peacemaking helped set him up to pursue a career as a peace and conflict researcher before delving into his areas of expertise, including Syria, Palestine, Ghana, and the role of memes in politica...

Dr. Terry Rynne, co-founder of the Center for Peacemaking, discusses how the idea of the Center for Peacemaking evolved out of his long-standing interest in and study of Gandhian and Gospel-based nonviolence. He also shares how recent Popes including John XXII, Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV have embraced a return to Gospel nonviolence. Ultimately, Rynne shares success stories from the Center and why he believes those trained i...

Tom Durkin, director of safety education for the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, discusses how targeted attacks, kidnapping, and even digital threats are reshaping the landscape of safety preparation for journalists both abroad and at home. He shares about the work of the Foley Foundation, including their online curriculum and risk assessment tools that are transforming journalism education for students and seasoned journalists a...

Helen Prejean, C.S.J. joined us to share stories and wisdom from her lifelong journey advocating for the abolition of the death penalty. She discussed how she was pulled into this work, ways the death penalty negatively impacts society at large, and how Catholic teaching on the death penalty has evolved in recent years. To close the episode, Prejean reveals how experiences with empathy, forgiveness, and faith can reshape our unders...