Best Ifrc Podcasts (2025)

1
Digital MHPSS 23:58

1d ago23:58

23:58

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, Monia Aebersold and Kristofer Vernmark explains the concept and the benefits of digital MHPSS and present the digital MHPSS toolkit availble on the MHPSS Hub website. Monia is the MHPSS Project Manager in charge of psychosocial support services at the Swiss Red Cross with 20 years of experience in the field…

1
Feeling responsible for the safety of colleagues in a shrinking humanitarian space: the MHPSS Specialist 34:41

15d ago34:41

34:41

In this third and final episode in a podcast series about ‘feeling responsible for the safety of colleagues in a shrinking humanitarian space’ MHPSS Hub, Senior Communication Officer, Villads Zahle interviews Team Lead for the Technical Unit at the MHPSS Hub, Sarah Harrison. Almost 300 aid workers were killed in 2024 – the largest number in history…

1
Feeling responsible for the safety of colleagues in a shrinking humanitarian space: the Crisis Communicator 26:22

23d ago26:22

26:22

In this second of three episodes in a series about ‘feeling responsible for the safety of colleagues in a shrinking humanitarian space’ MHPSS Hub, Senior Communication Officer, Villads Zahle interviews former Communication Team lead for a large humanitarian INGO, Iben de Neergaard. Almost 300 aid workers were killed in 2024 – the largest number in …

1
‘A month of giving’ during ‘unprecedented suffering’: IFRC’s director for the Middle East and North Africa reflects on Ramadan and acts of kindness amidst conflict and tragedy 31:03

29d ago31:03

31:03

As Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, IFRC’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Hossam Elsharkawi, reflects on the humanitarian crises impacting his region and on what Muslims consider a sacred month of fasting, giving and prayer. “Through fasting, you feel what's it like to be hungry, what's it like to be thirsty,” sa…

1
Feeling responsible for the safety of colleagues in a shrinking humanitarian space: the Security Adviser 34:45

30d ago34:45

34:45

In this first of three episodes in a series about 'feeling responsible for the safety of colleagues in a shrinking humanitarian space' MHPSS Hub, Senior Communication Officer, Villads Zahle interviews Danish Red Cross, Senior Security Adviser, Sabina Brimson. Almost 300 aid workers were killed in 2024 – the largest number in history. Additionally, …

1
Big challenges, uncertain times. A talk with Loyce Pace, IFRC’s new regional director for the Americas 32:34

1M ago32:34

32:34

How will technology shape the way we respond to emergencies? What is ‘human biology’ and how is it connected to human rights? What are the big challenges ahead for global health during uncertain times? Loyce Pace, IFRC’s new Regional Director for the America, is well placed to explore these questions. With a long background in community and global …

1
‘I know what it takes to experience that level of vulnerability’ – IFRC’s new regional director for Africa talks about the challenges ahead 35:39

1M ago35:39

35:39

What does it take to manage humanitarian crisis response for a massive continent dealing with a wide range of challenges – conflict, mass population movements, epidemics, tropical storms, drought and a widespread hunger crisis. Find out how IFRC’s new regional director for the Africa region, Charles Businge, plans to tackle these challenges and how…

1
Unpacking trust – that invisible yet critical element – with Jessie Thomson, IFRC’s head of delegation in Türkiye 41:02

2M ago41:02

41:02

Trust is not easy to quantify. But without it, many things in life become impossible. Humanitarian work is no exception. Jessie Thomson, IFRC’s head of delegation in Türkiye, shares what she’s learned about building trust, including some essential, concrete behaviours that build trust among partners, the public and work teams. When trust is present…

1
Speaking up for people in crisis: Unpacking ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ with IFRC’s Dylan Winder 25:48

2M ago25:48

25:48

Most people have some idea of what is meant by diplomacy. But what is ‘humanitarian diplomacy?’ Dylan Winder, permanent observer to the United Nations and director of global humanitarian diplomacy at the IFRC, says it’s about speaking up and finding solutions for people caught in crisis, who find themselves in vulnerable situations but don’t have a…

1
Working with children with missing family members 35:38

3M ago35:38

35:38

In this third and final episode of our miniseries on Ambiguous Loss, we dig deep with Roubina Tahmazian from ICRC into the critical yet often overlooked topic of children’s wellbeing in the context of families of the missing. Too often, the needs and emotional wellbeing of children are sidelined as families grapple with the uncertainty and challeng…

1
Ambiguous Loss in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement 28:16

3M ago28:16

28:16

In this second episode in a three part miniseries about ambiguous loss, MHPSS Technical Advisor Arz Stefan talks to Dr. Maureen Mooney about operationalising ambiguous loss in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. Dr. Maureen Mooney is a clinical psychologist. She worked in the French Red Cross and the ICRC supporting the Restoring Family Links prog…

1
Ambiguous loss 31:26

4M ago31:26

31:26

In this first episode in a three part miniseries about ambiguous loss, Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Hub MHPSS Technical Advisor Arz Stephan engages in a thought-provoking interview with Dr. Pauline Boss, an esteemed research therapist and author. Dr. Boss is widely recognized as a pioneering figure in the field of ambiguous loss, a concept she i…

1
The meaning of water: For Guillermo Sanchez, giving water is not just about saving lives. It’s about helping people reclaim their inherent dignity 28:30

4M ago28:30

28:30

“I was always told that water is life,” says Guillermo Sanchez, a water, sanitation and hygiene specialist for the Panamanian Red Cross who lives and works in the Darien Gap, a stretch of undeveloped jungle that connects South and Central America. “But I never really appreciated what that meant until I was able to see water really save the lives of…

1
Whether telling a story with photos or riding his bicycle across a continent, Brad Zerivitz says connecting with people is what it’s all about. 28:39

5M ago28:39

28:39

Behind the lens of a camera or the handlebars of a bicycle, Brad Zerivitz is driven by the desire to connect with his fellow humans. “I don't approach somebody with the camera in front of my face,” says Zerivitz, senior director of visual communications for the American Red Cross. “I approach them first as a Red Crosser and as a person.” By listeni…

1
Memory and legacy of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami 21:08

5M ago21:08

21:08

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, MHPSS Technical Advisor Shona Whitton talks with Associate Professor Emmanual Raju from the University of Copenhagen about the role of memory in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and recovery and how memories of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami influenced DRR work in India. This is the final episode in a four-part…

1
‘Climate-preneurship’: One young Ghanian’s response to the worsening impacts of climate change 23:39

5M ago23:39

23:39

Climate change is hurting everyone in Ghana, but it’s hitting young people particularly hard, says Abudi Razak, volunteer and national youth president for the Ghana Red Cross. Droughts in the north and floods down south mean that crop yields and incomes are low, while the cost of living is skyrocketing. Young people see their futures evaporating. R…

1
Reflecting on the impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on global MHPSS practice 46:55

5M ago46:55

46:55

In this episode, MHPSS Technical Advisor Shona Whitton talks with Professor Emeritus Mike Wessells from Columbia University about developments in MHPSS programming and practice following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamis, including the development of the IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergency Settings. This is the third episode in a four-part series of…

1
MHPSS responses to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Sri Lanka 41:47

5M ago41:47

41:47

This is the second episode in a four-part series of Heartbeat of Humanity reflecting on the impacts of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis. In this episode, MHPSS Technical Advisor Shona Whitton talks with Ananda Galappatti, co-founder and co-Director of MHPSS.net about the impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on MHPSS work in Sri Lank…

1
International law expert Vasilka Sancin says humanity must seize a critical chance to get ahead of advancing technology 26:52

5M ago26:52

26:52

With new technologies changing our lives in rapid and radical ways, Vasilka Sancin says this is a time of unprecedented opportunity. “This is an enormous opportunity for humankind to act preventatively, to address issues ahead of any potential disasters,” says Sancin, an international law expert who serves as Vice-President of the Slovenian Red Cro…

1
Health responses to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Indonesia 30:43

5M ago30:43

30:43

This is the first episode in a four-part series of Heartbeat of Humanity reflecting on the impacts of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis. In this episode, MHPSS Technical Advisor Shona Whitton talks with Dr Dewindra Widiamurti, Regional Health Program Delegate with the Finnish Red Cross, about her experiences working in Aceh Province wit…

1
A pioneer for women in humanitarian leadership talks about gender equity in the ‘peculiar profession’ of humanitarian relief work 37:16

5M ago37:16

37:16

“It’s a peculiar profession,” Margareta Wahlström says when asked about her life as a humanitarian aid worker. Wahlström has worked in crisis situations from Vietnam to Cambodia to Afghanistan, and she held high-level positions at both the United Nations and the Swedish Red Cross. Along with a stressful work culture that often rewards a certain wor…

1
New IFRC Youth Commission leader: Young volunteers want real influence, not ‘box-checking’ exercises 27:50

6M ago27:50

27:50

Young people do not fit into “cookie-cutter” stereotypes, says Michelle Chew, IFRC’s newly elected Youth Commission Chair. “Young people are very diverse and only by valuing and accepting all forms of young people can we engage communities properly.” While young people are gaining influence, she says efforts to engage with youth can seem like “box-…

1
Climate change, economic uncertaintly and the future of volunteering: IFRC youth leader takes on the hot issues impacting young people 30:12

6M ago30:12

30:12

When Bas van Rossum was elected to represent youth on the Governing Board of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), he was the youngest person to have ever served in that role. Now as he steps down as president of IFRC’s Youth Commission, he talks about the challenges ahead. “Young people are perhaps the closes…

1
‘The worst year for humanitarians’: IFRC Secretary General at UN General Assembly presses for urgent action to protect humanitarian workers 27:20

7M ago27:20

27:20

The vast majority of humanitarians killed in the last decade are not foreign aid workers, but local humanitarians who often face grave dangers simply trying to save lives in the communities where they live, says IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain in this special episode, recorded during the United Nations General Assembly in late September. “Mo…

1
Duty of care: supportive supervision for staff and volunteers - Arabic 40:37

7M ago40:37

40:37

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, Ahlem Cheffi, PS Centre MHPSS technical advisor for the MENA region explains the concept of supportive supervision. Supportive supervision is a safe, supportive, confidential and collaborative relationship between a supervisor and supervisee, and/or supervisees where supervisees can voice their difficulties…

1
Caring for Staff and Volunteers: When your workplace is a warzone - voices from the field - Arabic 47:56

7M ago47:56

47:56

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, Ahlem Cheffi, PS Centre MHPSS technical advisor for the MENA region talks to Nisreen Qawas, MHPSS director for the Palestinian Red Crescent and Rim Alsakkaf, Psychosocial Support and Protection manager at the Yemeni Red Crescent about Caring for staff and volunteers when the workplace is a warzone.…

1
The ‘toxic’ hero narrative: Red Cross youth leader says calling volunteers ‘heroes’ all the time can actually put them at great risk 23:57

7M ago23:57

23:57

It’s quite common to refer to volunteers and first-responders as ‘heroes’. After all, they often risk their lives to save others. But in some cases, can that hero narrative do more harm than good? Ukraine Red Cross volunteer and IFRC Youth Commission member Maryna Kozhedub answers unequivocally ‘yes’, especially for young volunteers. Calling them h…

1
Award-winning photojournalist talks about walking with migrants through Central America’s perilous Darién Gap 50:52

8M ago50:52

50:52

Federico Rios Escobar has spent more than a decade documenting the epic struggles of migrants in South and Central America. The hardships they face in the roadless jungle known as the Darien Gap go beyond anything he’s seen before. “There’s only one way to cross and it’s on foot,” he says. “There's the mud, rain, humidity, the hot sun, rivers that …

1
Community disaster resilience 33:21

8M ago33:21

33:21

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, MHPSS Technical Advisor Shona Whitton talks to Antonia Mackay about how communities can build resilience to climate disasters and other shocks and hazards. Antonia Mackay is the National Resilience Manager at Australian Red Cross, where she leads the organisation's disaster resilience programming, including…

1
Mental health and the climate crisis 32:39

8M ago32:39

32:39

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, MHPSS Technical Advisor Shona Whitton talks to Ana Mejia about mental health and the climate crisis. Ana Mejia is a former member of the Youth Advisory Group of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and a volunteer from the Ecuadorian Red Cross. Ana leads a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team i…

1
Disaster preparedness and disaster resilience 43:38

8M ago43:38

43:38

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, MHPSS Technical Advisor Shona Whitton talks to John Richardson about disaster preparedness, disaster resilience and disaster risk reduction. And why it is a problem calling fires, floods and storms ‘natural disasters’. John Richardson is the Manager of Knowledge Development at the Australian Institute for D…

1
Blessures morales et dilemmes Éthiques 22:29

9M ago22:29

22:29

English text below Dans cet épisode de Heartbeat of Humanity, Arz Stephan, conseiller technique SMSPSS, s’entretient avec Ahlem Cheffi, conseillère technique de SMSPS, sur les concepts de « dilemme éthique » et de « blessure morale » et sur leur impact sur les travailleurs humanitaires, y compris le personnel et les bénévoles de la Croix-Rouge et d…

1
Saving lives and saving the planet — all part of daily business for the Costa Rican Red Cross 34:08

10M ago34:08

34:08

Can Costa Rica’s largest ambulance fleet become completely carbon neutral? How can we better work with the forces of nature to protect our communities from natural calamities? Is it possible to save lives and save the planet at the same time? These are some of the questions that the first woman president of the Costa Rican Red Cross, Dyanne Marenco…

1
PFA training for youth in Greenland 25:34

10M ago25:34

25:34

In this episode Communication Officer at the IFRC PS Centre, Villads Zahle interviews project manager, Erni Kristiansen and project consultant, Bebbie Petersen about youth to youth Psychological First Aid (PFA) in Greenland.By The IFRC Psychosocial Centre

1
Why the Ukraine conflict should change the way we respond to large-scale crises. A talk with IFRC’s former Ukraine operations manager Violaine des Rosiers 59:28

10M ago59:28

59:28

A 25-year veteran of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Violaine des Rosiers has served as an emergency response humanitarian worker in more than 30 countries, including Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Liberia and, most recently, Ukraine. In her home country of Canada, she also served as CEO of two social innovation organizations. With all these exp…

1
Born in a refugee camp in Gaza, Mohammed Alburai became a double refugee when he sought safety for his family in Slovenia. Now he helps other refugees as a cultural mediator for the Slovenian Red Cross ... 51:46

11M ago51:46

51:46

Born in the Deir El-Balah refugee camp in Gaza, Mohammed Alburai worked as a volunteer ambulance driver for the Palestine Red Crescent before leaving for Slovenia in 2019. Now a cultural mediator and translator for the Slovenian Red Cross, Mohammed helps migrants and refugees cope with their new life in Slovenia. He helps migrants connect with lost…

1
From dentist to humanitarian leader, Dr. Asha Mohammed’s passion and leadership now focused on Africa’s biggest challenges 45:11

11M ago45:11

45:11

Dr. Asha Mohammed began her career as a dentist in low-income communities in Kenya. Her passion for helping others and her evident leadership skills led her to key roles battling HiV/AIDS and, eventually, to the role of Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross. She now serves as IFRC’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and International…

1
With climate change posing an existential threat to many cultures and communities, it’s time to take the mental health fallout a lot more seriously 49:29

12M ago49:29

49:29

Eco-anxiety is a relatively new term in the lexicon of psychology, but it’s gaining more attention. In a world facing an existential threat from climate change — and many communities already facing tremendous upheaval — the mental health impacts of climate change are impossible to ignore. People who rely on farming, fishing, or whose cultures are c…

1
Presenting Training Guide on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies 25:36

12M ago25:36

25:36

In this episode Communication Officer at the IFRC PS Centre, Villads Zahle interviews emergency expert and MHPSS technical advisor, Shona Whitton about the newly published Training Guide on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies. Shona outlines the potential of the new guide in the context of her professional experiences in emergenci…

1
MHPSS evidence building in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement 36:22

12M ago36:22

36:22

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, Sarah Kate van der Walt, Technical Adviser in the IFRC Psychosocial Centre and Monia Aebersold MHPSS, International Focal Point from the Swiss Red Cross, will be talking with Rebecca Horn Independent MHPSS Specialist on the importance of MHPSS evidence building in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Th…

1
Part 2 of our interview with the first person to visit every country in the world without flying. The humanity of volunteers helped keep me going. 35:46

1y ago35:46

35:46

Torbjørn ‘Thor’ C. Pedersen not only travelled to every country in the world without flying. He also visited nearly every National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society in the world and wrote stories for his travel blog about their response to a staggering variety of humanitarian challenges. “My motivation to continue and not give up came from differe…

1
He went to every country in the world without flying. His key takeaway: forget the headlines, people are good. 35:00

1y ago35:00

35:00

Part 1 of our interview with Torbjørn ‘Thor’ C. Pedersen, the first person to visit every country in the world without ever taking an airplane. But that’s not his only distinction. He also visited nearly every National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society in the world and wrote stories for his travel blog about their response to a staggering variety …

1
‘Regardless of culture, country, creed, language or religion’ — The first woman president of the Turkish Red Crescent Society talks about the big humanitarian challenges ahead and how to ensure all people ... 44:14

1y ago44:14

44:14

As the first female president of the Turkish Red Crescent, Dr. Fatma Meriç Yilmaz talks about her National Society’s role in supporting one of the world’s largest refugee populations and in running the world’s most ambitious humanitarian cash assistance programmes. She also discusses the continuing impacts from the earthquake that struck Türkiye an…

1
Trauma and abuse along the EU borders 45:43

1y ago45:43

45:43

In this episode Communication Officer at the IFRC PS Centre, Villads Zahle interviews Moaaz Allahham, a young Syrian man forced onto an irregular route to Europe, Maria Marga, an activist working for Collective Aid to assist people on the move at Serbia's border with the EU, and Sarah Harrison, an IFRC PS Centre expert on the pressures, stress and …

1
Local communities and youth must drive the global climate change agenda says IFRC climate champion 34:17

1y ago34:17

34:17

Ani Gevorgyan’s life as a humanitarian began when she was 14 years old and she signed up to bring joy, art and activity into the lives of refugee children. Two years later, the young volunteer for the Armenian Red Cross was organizing “eco-runs” in which people combined physical activity with environmental clean ups. Now, as an IFRC Climate Champio…

1
Humanitarian leaders talk about how far we’ve come in gender equity and the gaps that remain 34:08

1y ago34:08

34:08

Special International Women's Day episode: Kate Forbes, the newly elected president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies joins the organization’s Secretary General Jagan Chapagain in a wide-ranging conversation about the critical importance of gender equity in humanitarian action. They look at how far the humanita…

1
Two years into the escalation of conflict in Ukraine, ‘we have helped 18 million people’ thanks to our neutrality - Episode 2, Season 2 / People in the Red Vest 37:06

1y ago37:06

37:06

IFRC’s regional director for Europe talks about the conflict that has impacted not just the European continent, but the entire world. Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen explains how the principle of neutrality — along with an inspiring level of humanitarian solidarity — has helped the IFRC assist some 18 million people impacted by the crisis. Mental health …

1
‘I wasn't surprised, but I was still shocked’: IFRC’s new president takes on today’s toughest humanitarian challenges - People in the Red Vest / Episode 1, Season 2 45:22

1y ago45:22

45:22

Inspired by her mother’s work helping migrant farm workers in the southwestern United States, Kate Forbes grew up understanding how hard people struggle for a better life. Starting as a Red Cross volunteer at her local branch, she now leads the world’s largest network of local humanitarian organizations. As newly elected president of the IFRC, Forb…

1
Kenya Red Cross' new MHPSS framework and mental health stigma in Kenya 45:38

1+ y ago45:38

45:38

In this episode of Heartbeat of Humanity, Communications Officer Trine Rosa Larsen interviews Kenya Red Cross MHPSS practitioners Soony Wendy, Leyla Semkiwa, and Albert Migowa about the new KRCS MHPSS Framework, operating the toll-free 1199 helpline, mental health stigma in Kenya, suicide prevention, methadone clinics, the El-Nino floods, and carin…

1
Flipping a common humanitarian narrative about a vast, diverse and dynamic region – People in the Red Vest / Episode 8 47:59

1+ y ago47:59

47:59

In this episode, Alexander Matheou challenges a common humanitarian narrative about the Asia Pacific region being “disaster prone.” Yes, it is particularly vulnerable to climate-related events — and it has more than its share of volcanos and earthquakes — but it’s also leading the way in life-saving prevention, preparedness and humanitarian innovat…

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