social courage

The Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War: Surprising ideas from everyday people who shifted the cycles of violence
book

The Pocket Guide for Facing Down a Civil War: Surprising ideas from everyday people who shifted the cycles of violence

A collection of stories, reflections, and wisdom offering insight into the challenge of facing down toxic polarization layered with violence and the surprising ways everyday people found to shift harmful patterns of violence that had lasted decades. 

2024
Varela Symposium: Transforming Conflict – From Science to Real World Applications
collection

Varela Symposium: Transforming Conflict – From Science to Real World Applications

John Paul's contributions to the Upaya Zen Center's Varela Symposium 2018, which explored the theme, "Transforming Conflict: From Science to Real World Applications."

2018
Zen Brain: Mind, Brain, Social Perspectives of Views, Values, Ethics
collection

Zen Brain: Mind, Brain, Social Perspectives of Views, Values, Ethics

John Paul's contributions to the Upaya Zen Center's Zen Brain conference in 2017, which explored the theme, "Mind, Brain, Social Perspectives of Views, Values, Ethics."

2017
Forging Inclusive Peace
article

Forging Inclusive Peace

An article exploring challenges of inclusivity in peace processes and proposing a shift in metaphor to enhance inclusivity.

2019
Better Communication for Better Health: A Conversation with Dr. John Paul Lederach
video recording

Better Communication for Better Health: A Conversation with Dr. John Paul Lederach

A conversation exploring how to apply the principles of peacebuilding to public health communications in settings of conflict and polarization.

2025
How to Stop a Civil War
podcast

How to Stop a Civil War

John Paul and John Avlon discuss dangerous polarization and the rising risk of political violence in the United States.

2025
Let’s Talk About Culture: Reconcile Chapter 9 Finale
video recording

Let’s Talk About Culture: Reconcile Chapter 9 Finale

The final session of a book study of Reconcile, hosted through Let's Talk About Culture, in which John Paul features as a guest.

2020
John Paul Lederach Speaks at the Next Gen Peace Conference
presentation

John Paul Lederach Speaks at the Next Gen Peace Conference

A keynote speech at the 2016 Alliance for Peacebuilding Conference reflecting on accompaniment of peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Nepal across a decade.

2016
The Art and Soul of Building Peace
presentation

The Art and Soul of Building Peace

A dharma talk shared with the Upaya Zen Center on the moral imagination and connectedness with self and other.

2020
more reflections