I first met Ørjan when he contacted me to see if I might be open to being interviewed for his Master’s thesis. He was specifically looking for Buddhist teachers who had some experience with conflict resolution or mediation, as his thesis explored the application of the Buddhist concept of emptiness to peace and conflict transformation.

I was intrigued, as I had never thought of this application of the idea of emptiness, and Ørjan and I had several long and fascinating discussions about this topic. After he had submitted his thesis, I asked him if he would be willing to reverse roles and be a guest on the “Voices of Love” podcast, as his academic and scholarly approach offered a unique lens on the topic of peacemaking and bridging divides.

Voices of Love: Bridging Differences Through Compassionate Conversations

We are living in a time of deep fragmentation. Communities and nations are increasingly divided along lines of political affiliation and ideology, race, class, religion, immigration status, language, and more. The public conversation often suggests there are only two sides: winners and losers, us and them.

Voices of Love begins from a different premise. This series asks whether another way forward is possible—one grounded not in uniformity of belief, but in curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to truly listen to one another.

When we perceive others’ beliefs and opinions as different from our own, it can feel difficult—sometimes even unsafe—to listen openly or ask why they see the world as they do. Yet, research in conflict and peacebuilding, as well as lived experience, suggest that our collective capacity to bridge divides is essential for any sustainable future. When we slow down enough to hear each other, we begin to recognize a shared humanity beneath our labels and positions.

This podcast explores that possibility.

Throughout the series, Voices of Love brings together guests who work at the front lines of social, cultural, and interpersonal challenge. Episodes will touch on various forms of “othering,” including those related to race, class, religion, ethnicity, immigration status, access to housing, dominant language, and more. Alongside these stories, we also explore the science of compassion and emotion, investigating what helps us expand our circle of care even when common ground feels hard to find.

Our aim is not to provide easy answers. The conversations may raise as many questions as they resolve. But we believe that across the spectrum of human experience, there is at least one shared space in which we can all meet: we all have needs, we all have dreams, and those dreams can be expansive enough to include concern, curiosity, and love for others.

Voices of Love invites readers and listeners alike to:
	•	Question assumptions and stereotypes,
	•	Stay curious when it might feel easier to disengage, and
	•	Consider reaching across at least one divide in their own lives.

At the heart of this project is a simple conviction: everyone belongs. In a system organized around winners and losers, everyone ultimately loses. In a culture shaped by empathy, compassion, and love, we all have the possibility of being seen and included.

Hosted by Tenzin Choki, with Greg Morris and Mathew Divaris, Voices of Love: Bridging Differences Through Compassionate Conversations invites you into stories and insights that illuminate what it means to care across our differences—and to rediscover our shared humanity.