The most brutal conflict of the modern era is grinding onwards in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this episode, we’ll hear from Justin Zihindula and Esther Muziranenge, two Congolese from different families who were displaced and resettled in Canada many years apart. Undercurrents is generously supported by Kindred Credit Union. Transcription is here . Download the discussion guide for this episode here. Read about MCC’s new $4.7M relief project with Global Affairs Canada https://mcc.org/...
Jun 20, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 4
On January 18, 2025, a brand new 10,000 square foot facility had its grand opening at the MCC Hub in New Hamburg, Ontario. Over 700 people of all ages including local dignitaries and politicians, came out to tour the place, eating bushels of popcorn, drinking gallons of coffee, and generally creating the most festive atmosphere you could imagine for the opening of an industrial canning facility. Why the excitement? Because this was MCC’s new Stationary Meat Cannery. We hear from Jon Lebold, Mart...
Mar 20, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 29
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35 There are 22 scriptures in the Bible about welcoming newcomers from another land, but it could be argued that none resonate with MCC as much as that verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”. Follow along as MCC Ontario sponsors a refugee family for the first time. Transcription here. Discussion guide here. Read the written story about ...
Nov 02, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 2
"I was looking for justice, tangible justice. I was looking for something that said, ' We're not just going to repent. We're not just going to be sorry. We're going to do something and here it is .'" With great patience and grace, Adrian Jacobs from the Cayuga Nation, Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy shares a beautiful and challenging opportunity for the Church to make real steps toward reconciliation. Transcription here . Discussion resource here . " A Global Solution for the Six Nations o...
Oct 17, 2024•33 min
Our guest today is Leah Reesor-Keller. She is a speaker, leadership consultant, Transitional Executive Director of KAIROS Canada, and now - an author. We sat down to discuss her debut book, Tending Tomorrow: Courageous Change for People and Planet. If you’re looking for the one magic bullet solution that will fix everything for everyone, this is not the book for you. Leah calls for us to make room for all the ways each of us as individuals, as communities, as societies and beyond, can do our par...
Jun 12, 2024•41 min
Happy Earth Day, Undercurrents listeners! Today, we're sharing an episode from our sister podcast, Relief Development & Podcast, produced by my amazing colleagues Meghan Mast and Christy Kauffman. We hear from Dr. Sibonokuhle Ncube who says climate change chose her since she learned as a child that people in her rural village in Zimbabwe suffered from drought and hunger. But today she doesn't focus on all that is broken and what to fear, she focuses her energy on working towards a better fut...
Apr 22, 2024•23 min
In the second part of our mini-series on affordable housing, we hear from Beyond Housing executive director Dan Driedger - the single greatest challenge to building, the role of the private sector, stories from tenants, and more. Plus, a big life update from a previous Undercurrents guest! Read the transcript. Download the small group discussion guide. Advocacy actions: 1. Say Yes to Fair Rents! - Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - ACTO 2. Take Action: More Urgency on Housing Affordability...
Mar 02, 2024•20 min
We sit down with MCC's Ontario advocacy guru Greg deGroot-Maggetti as he breaks down our affordable housing crisis: where we are, how we got here, and three (of many) solutions. Advocacy actions: 1. Say Yes to Fair Rents! - Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - ACTO 2. Take Action: More Urgency on Housing Affordability - The National Housing Accord: A Multi-Sector Approach to Ending Canada’s Rental Housing Crisis Comprehensive explanation of rent control: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/h...
Jan 13, 2024•29 min
In light of the horrific ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, we are re-posting this episode from Season 1, called “David and Goliath” featuring Palestinian Christian Tarek Al-Zoughbi and Israeli Jew Sahar Vardi. What happens when David becomes Goliath? This is our only international episode in Season 1. We explore the tragic realities of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, and hear from those on both sides of the wall working for peace. What can you do? When confronted with the e...
Nov 22, 2023•28 min
In light of the horrific ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, we are re-posting this episode from Season 2, called “Home” with Israeli Jewish filmmaker Lia Tarachansky and Palestinian poet Izzy Hawamda. It's a powerful story of shared humanity, shared land, and a challenge for all of us who live on settled land. Urgent calls for a ceasefire in Palestine and Israel: mcc.org/ceasefire (Canada) change.org/ceasefirenow A link to Lia Tarachensky’s feature film “On the side of the road” where she...
Nov 09, 2023•42 min
"Water is life." Indigenous Water Walker Mary Anne Caibaiosai takes us on a 200 km journey of prayer, solidarity and celebration. Transcript here . To learn more about the Grand River Water Walk, go to grandriverwaterwalk.com Produced with support from Kindred Credit Union . Editorial support: Christen Kong Original music: Brian MacMillan Artwork: Jesse Bergen...
Oct 12, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 2
"We must own the whole story." How a former residential school worker wrestles with his past and how his story challenges all of us beyond our good intentions. Powerful listening for all settlers on this land we call Canada. Transcription can be found here . Show notes: National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419. Kid’s Help Phone line 24/7: 1-800-668-6868 https://kidshelpphone.ca/ Merle Nisly’s reaction to the uncovering of 215 Indigenous children in Kamloops. https://mnisly....
Sep 27, 2023•36 min
This episode is from Season 1 and originally aired in spring of 2020. We learn about the oldest Residential School in Canada and hear a powerful story from a survivor. We hear from settlers who are wrestling with the legacy of colonialism and residential schools. And we hear from Indigenous partners who are courageously reclaiming their culture. Transcription can be found here Links: Woodland Cultural Centre’s Save The Evidence campaign. VIDEO: Sandy Yuen and Nick Hamm share about their experien...
Sep 21, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Since 1979, hundreds of thousands of refugees have been sponsored, resettled, and built new lives in communities across Canada. Countless tears of happiness have been shed, countless Canadian flags have been waved, and countless cross-cultural meals have been shared. But, as we'll hear from one sponsorship group, there’s a whole lot more to it than that. If you are interested or have any questions about refugee sponsorship, email refugee@mcco.ca. Transcription here . Read "Consider it (re)settle...
Jun 20, 2023•23 min
We're back at the auctions. But instead of being surrounded by children with pie in their hair, like at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale featured in Episode 16, I’m with farmers with manure on their boots. This is bonus mini-episode that book-ends Season 3 which started with an exploration of the Relief Sale. We explore the mysterious Heifer Sale, get a crash course in dairy farming and how a group of farmers created something truly unique 41 years ago. Transcription is here . More stories ...
Apr 04, 2023•12 min•Season 3Ep. 21
In this very special episode, we sit down with best-selling author, public speaker, podcast wizard, and honorary Mennonite, Malcolm Gladwell. We cover a lot of ground - from pacifism, to soccer, to climate change, and more. Listen to Malcolm Gladwell's podcast Revisionist History here . Watch the Tottenham Hotspur 48-pass goal here . Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union Produced with help from Christen Kong. Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Francy Sound and Music Original music by Brian MacMill...
Dec 01, 2022•56 min
"Somebody has to do something. It's crazy that we've got people that want to work and there is no job." We talk with Suzi and Lucas, two soup chefs who have found meaningful work, #livingwage and a welcoming community at The Raw Carrot. We also hear from The Raw Carrot co-found Rebecca Sherbino. Find out how one bowl of soup can change the world. The Raw Carrot https://therawcarrot.com/ How to Buy Soup https://therawcarrot.com/where-to-buy/ Raw Carrot Volunteer https://therawcarrot.com/get-invol...
Nov 03, 2022•21 min
In Season 2, Ep 8 ("Home") of Undercurrents, we were privileged to hear the poetry of Palestinian poet and teacher Izzeddin Hawamda. We had so much positive feedback from Izzy's poems that I invited Izzy back to share a new poem he wrote while visiting his home in the West Bank earlier this year, as well as new insights into life for Palestinians under occupation. For more stories from Palestine and Israel and ways in which you can work for peace and justice there, go to A Cry For Home , a robus...
Sep 21, 2022•11 min
This is a special episode - a conversation between the Undercurrents team Ken Ogasawara and Christen Kong about their shared experience of doing the SALT program nearly 20 years apart. Some hard times, some funny times, and always a good time. To learn more about the SALT program, go here: mcco.ca/SALT To hear directly from more SALTers living in their placements, go here: SALT videos Sponsored by Kindred Credit Union Produced and edited by Christen Kong Mixed by Francois Goudrealt of Hello Fran...
Jul 31, 2022•26 min
"I had to take my own leadership and not everybody was happy about that, let me tell you." In the newest episode of Undercurrents, Colleen Hookimaw shows us the lay of the (physical and metaphorical) land. We talk smoked geese, 5000 pounds of potatoes and maggots. We also explore historical challenges to Indigenous food sovereignty in Canada. Transcription can be found here . Read Bill Louttit's story here: https://mcccanada.ca/stories/why-living-land-crucial-nearly-impossible-do Discussion reso...
Jun 06, 2022•23 min
A mystery caller provides some more behind-the-scenes insight into the thrilling quilt auction profiled in Episode 16 - Bidder Sweet: A Quilt to Remember. See you at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale on Friday May 27th and Saturday June 28th! nhmrs.com
May 20, 2022•6 min•Season 3Ep. 17
We go back in time to investigate the heart-pounding, sweaty-palm-inducing thrill of the greatest quilt auction ever caught on tape. Join us for a fun bonus episode of Undercurrents that will whet your appetite for the coming relief sale season! Transcription can be found here . Here is a link to the original auction footage. Thank you to Jennifer Johnston for recording and uploading! Check out all things New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale at their website here , including a photo of the Renske’s...
Apr 04, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Welcome to a third season of Undercurrents! We go behind the scenes of an epic quilt auction, to South Africa with the SALT program, we dig into Indigenous food sovereignty, and much more. This season we’re excited to be adding something new with each episode. We heard from many of you who were using Undercurrents in group sessions like church Sunday schools and community outreach events. To help you out with that, starting with episode 2 on Indigenous food sovereignty, we’ll be including a reso...
Mar 16, 2022•1 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Why MCC's relief materials are created as gifts and how one such hand-made item changed the life of one young girl in a refugee camp over forty years ago. Impact report for Material Resource volunteers: https://mcccanada.ca/learn/about/annual-reports/impact-report-material-resources-summer-2021 New! MCC’s Dignity Kits: Provide sustainable support for vulnerable women and girls ! https://mcccanada.ca/dignity-kits Story of MR champions at Grantham MB Church: https://mcccanada.ca/stories/its-privil...
Dec 03, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This episode covers some heavy topics, including pedophilia and suicide. We don’t go into details, but please take care as you listen. In this final full episode of Season 2, we hear from Chuck, a man who both experienced and caused great suffering. We also hear from his therapist, as we ask ourselves 'how can we keep our community safe from sexual harm'? The answer might not be what we expect. Transcription here . Here are some important resources that could save a life, prevent a victim, and r...
Nov 24, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Content warning: This episode covers some heavy topics, including pedophilia and suicide. We don’t go into details, but please take care as you listen. This story is about a father's anguish and pain, as well as resilient hope and love as he walks through unimaginable challenges with his son who has committed a crime. Part 1 of a two-part series on Restorative Justice and Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA). Transcription is here . Here are some important resources that could save a lif...
Nov 17, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 14
We hear the story of someone whose life was saved through not one, but multiple miracles. We explore the questions: What are miracles? Have you experienced one? And is it possible to work miracles ourselves? Show notes: Transcription here. If you are interested in refugee sponsorship, email refugee@mcco.ca for an automated reply with lots of resources or visit: https://mcccanada.ca/learn/what/refugees Read about how former sponsored refugees are making an impact during the pandemic. https://mccc...
Nov 10, 2021•35 min
In this episode, we explore what it means to "make a living" - what does that mean? How much is enough? And what happens when you can't make it? Also, we explain why we love Kindred Credit Union so much. Here is the transcription for this episode. Here is the Living Wage Framework that shows how the Living Wage is calculated, and here is a blog post from the Ontario Living Wage network on how that has been updated to calculate the 2021 Living Wage. Check out the Ontario Living Wage Network: http...
Nov 03, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Israeli Jewish filmmaker Lia Tarachansky shares a powerful story of shared humanity, shared home, and challenges all of us who live on settled land. Palestinian poet Izzy Hawamda shares beautiful art throughout this episode as he grieves the ongoing tragedies of the occupation, as well as sharing his hopes for the future. Transcript is here . Show notes: A link to Lia Tarachensky’s feature film “On the side of the road” where she explores Israeli soldiers’ collective denial of their roles in dis...
Sep 21, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 8
"Some things in this life ... have no explanation". Season 2 of Undercurrents is coming! We take a deep dive into some incredible stories from our programs and partners. We hit rock bottom, we wonder at miracles, we find defiant hope, and own our shameful past. Check out the trailer and subscribe on Spotify, Apple podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Thank you to our sponsors Kindred Credit Union for making Season 2 possible! Artwork by Jesse Bergen Theme song by Brian MacMillan Production assistance ...
Aug 18, 2021•2 min
