Secrets of Peace Negotiator Antti Pentikäinen
What can a former terrorist negotiator teach us about healing our families and ourselves? In this moving conversation, Antti Pentikäinen shares what he’s learned from conflict zones to parenting teens: Transformation begins with how we see one another. The energy we bring into a room—whether love or judgment—shapes every outcome. Antti invites us to become “insider reconcilers” in our own lives, healing divisions through presence, compassion, and belief in the dignity of others. You are the healer your family and community need.
Antti Pentikäinen
Finnish Peace Prize winner Antti Pentikäinen is currently professor of practice at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, executive director of the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation and the Think Peace Learning and Support Hub, where he leads research on how communities and nations heal after violence. He has a lifelong dedication to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and truth-seeking processes that have left a profound impact on communities worldwide.
He also works with indigenous communities on decolonizing mental health and finding ways to connect their cultural practices to existing mental health modalities. Previously, Antti served as Finland’s Special Envoy on the refugee crisis, advised the U.N. on genocide prevention, and worked in the U.S. Institute of Peace and served as Secretary for the U.S. TRHT Leadership Group.
Antti has written a book called How Nations Heal. If anyone knows of an agent or publisher who might be interested, please contact Antti Pentikainen at apentika@gmu.edu.
Contact Antti
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University
Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation
Think Peace Learning and Support Hub
LinkedIn: @Antti Pentikäinen
Dr. Eileen Borris
Dr. Eileen Borris is a clinical and political psychologist who has pioneered the concept of political forgiveness on the individual, community and national level. She has addressed the United Nations and has worked for over 30 years to build peace in areas of conflict around the world, including Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Eileen is the author of Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness and the creator of Healing the Divide, a program that trains leaders and other individuals interested in applying the principles of political forgiveness to transform their lives and create social change.
Be Part of Eileen’s Community
Subscribe to Political Forgiveness: Voices of Peace podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe to Political Forgiveness newsletter at drborris.com or on LinkedIn.
Eileen’s book: Finding Forgiveness: A 7 Step Program for Letting Go of Anger and Bitterness
Timecodes
00:00 Introduction to Political Forgiveness
00:33 Introducing Antti Pentikainen
00:45 Life in War Zones
02:33 Transition to Academia and US Advisory Role
03:55 The Concept of Sacrifice
08:56 Spiritual Injury and Healing
15:14 Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation
24:35 The Role of Art and Community in Healing
28:06 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
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