How Joyful Generosity Is Changing the Way We Give
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What if giving could be joyful instead of guilt-driven? In this episode, Jamie Goodwin, professor at Wheaton College, shares how her background in global churches, journalism, and teaching led her to a deeper view of generosity. We talk about practical ways to give—like giving circles and hybrid nonprofit models—that engage communities and reflect diverse cultures.
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The Future of Foreign Aid
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What’s on the horizon for foreign aid and humanitarian response strategies, especially in light of ongoing funding cuts to foreign aid around the world?
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NGO Strategy and Leadership: 10 Steps of Crisis Management
The Better Samaritan Podcast
Veteran humanitarian leader Roger Sandberg joins us to discuss how NGOs can lead effectively in the midst of funding cuts and uncertainty. As political shifts tighten budgets, the gap between global needs and available resources continues to widen. Roger shares practical strategies for assessing risk, strengthening communication within teams, and re-imagining sources of funding.
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Faith, Resilience, and the Realities of Humanitarian Work
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when humanitarian work collides with political upheaval and shifting policies?
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How Funding Cuts Are Impacting Anti-Trafficking Efforts With Rev. Dr. Sandra Morgan
The Better Samaritan Podcast
How do federal and foreign aid cuts impact anti-trafficking work, both directly and indirectly?
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Compassion and Complexity: Evangelicals on Government and Humanitarian Aid
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when churches, governments, and communities work together across differences in opinion for the common good? In this episode, Dr. Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, joins us to talk about how different parts of the evangelical church are responding to shifts in humanitarian aid and funding, and why these varied responses matter.
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Beyond Charity: Rev. Eugene Cho on Faith, Advocacy, and Fighting Global Hunger
The Better Samaritan Podcast
How do advocacy and policy help combat child hunger and malnutrition, both in the U.S. and around the world? In this episode, Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World, joins us to talk about what’s needed to tackle food insecurity around the world, what’s working, what’s not, and why surface-level solutions won’t cut it.
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What Happens When Foreign Aid Gets Cut? Lessons from the Front Lines
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when humanitarian aid gets pulled, but the needs don’t stop? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Beth Stuebing, a missionary surgeon in Malawi with the Christian Health Service Corps. She shares what it’s like on the front lines of healthcare when funding disappears—and why faith-based organizations working on the ground can’t do it alone.
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Faith in Action: How Students Are Advocating for Global Health and Justice
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when college students decide to take action on global issues?
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Inside PEPFAR: What’s at Stake and How Churches Can Engage
The Better Samaritan Podcast
This episode, we talk with Jenny Dyer, founder of the 2030 Collaborative, about her involvement raising awareness for HIV/AIDS - from working with Bono and the ONE Campaign to championing global health in Washington and beyond.
info_outlineWelcome to The Better Samaritan, a podcast where we’re learning how to do good, better. Hosts Dr. Jamie Aten and Kent Annan will — along with you — explore ways we can more effectively love our neighbors, from everyday acts of kindness to navigating the most complex humanitarian challenges facing the church and society.
The name “The Better Samaritan” was inspired by a sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan from The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “It is not enough to aid the wounded man on the Jericho Road. It is also necessary to work to change the conditions of the Road that made robbery possible.”
In our work at the Humanitarian Disaster Institute, we see many well-intentioned Christians set out to help those in need who end up unintentionally causing harm, or at least not doing as much good as they hoped. This is a podcast where you can listen in as we learn from the wisdom and experiences of those who are seeking to be Better Samaritans through their work... so we can all help those with urgent needs in front of us today, and improve the road so others can walk it safely in the future.
Join us on The Better Samaritan podcast as we learn from experts on disaster recovery, refugee assistance and resettlement, human trafficking, public health, racial reconciliation, and more.
Subscribe to The Better Samaritan podcast today to get each new episode as we embark on this journey of learning to do good, better.
Thank you to The Brilliance for permission to use their song "Turning Over Tables" — learn more about them and their music at http://thebrilliancemusic.com/.
RESOURCES:
"On Being a Good Neighbor", sermon draft by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This podcast is Produced by Wildfire Creative
Executive Producer - Tammy Munson
Theme Song “Turning Over Tables” by The Brilliance
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Follow us on Twitter: @kentannan | @drjamieaten | @laura_e_finch
(Note to the listener: In this podcast, sometimes we'll have evangelicals, sometimes we won't. We think learning how to do good better involves listening to lots of perspectives, with different insights and understanding with us. Sometimes it will make us uncomfortable, sometimes we'll agree, sometimes we won't. We think that's good. We want to listen for correction. Especially in our blind spots.)