Campus Voices: Civil Engagement in an Era of Division
Overview:
Campus Voices is a podcast series dedicated to equipping college communities with the tools, strategies, and inspiration to engage respectfully across differences, including confronting the rise of Jew-hatred on campuses. Across five episodes, distinguished guests including scholars, journalists, filmmakers, lawyers and public intellectuals share their expertise in civil discourse, debate, and conflict navigation. Each conversation offers actionable insights, models constructive dialogue, and highlights the real-world experiences of those fostering understanding in polarized environments.
Why This Matters:
College campuses today face heightened tension, where students, faculty, and administrators often struggle to discuss challenging topics without conflict or disengagement. Online discourse, social sensitivity, and ideological polarization can inhibit meaningful conversation. Campus Voices empowers listeners with practical strategies, amplifies courageous voices, and strengthens the capacity of communities to engage thoughtfully, respectfully, and with confidence.
Interested in what this season will bring? Be sure to subscribe to be the first to listen.
Brought to you by Trauma Informed Learning Alliance. Our Stories Matter uplifts personal and collective stories as pathways to healing. Each guest brings forward a narrative that celebrates resilience, fosters recognition of our shared humanity, and helps change the narrative toward empathy and unity. Through these conversations, we cultivate connection and community healing.
As journalist Lauren Gilger profoundly states, “the power of the story will save us all.”
Thank you to the Academic Engagement Network for supporting Our Stories Matter; Courage on Campus. We hope this initiative can help advance DEI efforts in colleges and universities, fostering unity and reducing polarization.
In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month and Jewish Heritage Month in Canada, the Our Stories Matter; We Will Dance Again podcast has been selected for inclusion in the Artists Against Antisemitism gallery.
Please click link to view the gallery.
UNDERCOVER: The Changing Face of Terrorism in the US
In this riveting episode, we sit down with Lara Burns, a former FBI counterterrorism expert, for a deep dive into the evolution of terrorism—from the attacks of September 11, 2001, to the emerging threats we see on today’s college campuses. With decades of experience tracking radicalization and confronting violent extremism, Lara brings a sharp, informed lens to the disturbing parallels between global terror tactics and the ideological warfare now playing out in academic institutions.
Together, we trace the shifting landscape of terrorism, explore how misinformation and propaganda fuel hate movements, and discuss the impact of geopolitical trauma—like the events of October 7—on students, particularly Jewish and Israeli, that increasingly face intimidation and silencing.
Lara’s insights offer a wake-up call: the front lines of extremism are no longer just abroad—they’re here, where the next generation is being shaped. This episode challenges listeners to examine what safety, free speech, and moral responsibility mean in today’s educational spaces.
Our Stories Matter is honored to share the stories of a diverse group of activists, artists, and healers.
Our Stories Matter is proud to work with these fierce co-hosts.
Meet the team that makes the Our Stories Matter podcast possible!
We are raising money for Trauma Informed LA’s new podcast, Our Stories Matter, which celebrates the complex lived experiences of activists and healers by sharing their inspiring stories. We are invested in its mission to foster resilient communities that promote healing and well-being.
Our Stories Matter is proud to work with these fierce co-hosts.
