The Courage to Look: A Deep Dive Within, with Elana Maryles Sztokman

Stay tuned, this podcast is changing its name next week! In this final episode of the Peace is Possible podcast, Eva sits down with the person who inspired her to begin her solo pursuit of podcasting. This week, she’s talking to anthropologist, writer, and activist Elana Maryles Sztokman. For 3 seasons, Eva and Elena co-hosted Women Ending War. Today, they discuss their shared experiences working in peace organizations where women are frequently at the helm. Elana shares insights into her transformative journey from a rigid upbringing that dehumanized the Palestinian existence, to becoming a peace activist and space holder to witness Palestinian pain. They reflect on their past collaborations, exploring the psychological roots of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the current resistances to confronting the ongoing suffering of Palestinians, and the importance of internal work that arrives at the ultimate reckoning: that peace begins within. Through heartfelt dialogue, they address the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the role of education and awareness to counter unconscious and conscious dehumanization, and the necessity of individual and collective agency in creating lasting peace. Click here for Elena’s books and essays.