Amplify RJ (Restorative Justice)
Restorative Justice is often framed as an alternative to punishment in criminal legal and education settings, and but that’s only part of the story. Join host David Ryan Barcega Castro-Harris to learn how to apply Restorative Justice philosophy, practices, and values in your everyday life.
Episodes
Tashmica Torok joins David Ryan Barcega Castro-Harris to talk about joy as an organizing strategy, why we should plan for care over chaos, and her decades long efforts to end child sexual abuse.
In this conversation, Tashmica shares how joy and community care have sustained her activism, what it takes to build hope in the midst of grief and injustice, and why treating children as full human beings is essential to preve...
What happens when you speak out for justice and its costs you everything?
In this raw and intimate conversation, Michelle MiJung Kim (author of The Wake Up and host of I Feel That Way Too) joins us to explore the aftermath of speaking up for Palestine in a world that often punishes courage.
We explore:
- Losing clients and credibility after speaking up for Palestine
- Grieving the collapse of a once-successful career and ...
A new dad joked that parenting has been “pretty easy,” and the comedian clapped back—calling him a scumbag for leaving the mom at home. The internet celebrated it as a powerful “callout.”
But was it really accountability?
In this episode of Restorative Justice Breakdown, I sit down with Kori (the dad and owner of https://hiveclimbing.com/winnipeg/ in the viral clip) and Kerri (his wife, and a feminist reproductive healt...
Ruth Ifakemi Jeannoel returns to share the intimate journey behind her new book, Restorative Justice Practices: Circlekeeping for Community Healing. This conversation is rooted in grief, ancestry, and the deep practice of restorative justice as both strategy and spiritual path. We explore what it means to be a practitioner, a mother, an organizer, and a descendant—especially in times of personal and collective loss. T...
Can a youth basketball team be a site of healing, justice, and joy?
In this episode, David is joined by youth sports expert, educator, and restorative justice practitioner Carolyn Sideco for a conversation about the role of youth sports in shaping identity, belonging, and community.
As David begins coaching young kids, he asks:
- How can I prioritize equity and development over winning?
- How can I create a team cult...
This conversation with Carolyn Sideco will be released in two parts this week.
In part 1, we catch up on life, identity, and community. Carolyn is a youth sports professional, grandmother, and founder of Coaching Kapwa, bringing a restorative, justice-driven lens to athletics. But beyond sports, we dive into her journey embracing elderhood, building Filipino community in New Orleans, and wrestling with identity as dia...
This episode is specifically for the white folks who listen to this podcast, and especially white women, because Hillary has written a powerful invitation to her own community to step into deep, ongoing reparative work.
We talk about what it means to be in right relationship, with the land, with ancestors, with communities of color, and how her journey of waking up to the truths of colonization, white supremacy, and hi...
In this episode, I’m joined by the newest Amplify RJ intern, Kylie Chen to check in about how we're navigating the heaviness of ICE raids happening in my city, to the overwhelm of polycrisis, to the exhaustion of being a young parent trying to balance it all, and how we both wrestle with showing up for justice in ways that are sustainable.
We talk about building community where you are, the nonlinear journey of f...
What can a Star Wars show teach us about organizing, resistance, and healing? In this episode of the Amplify RJ Podcast, I sit down with strategist, therapist, and writer Gabes Torres to talk about Andor—yes, that Star Wars show—and what it reveals about real-life revolution.
We dive into how Andor de-romanticizes rebellion and reflects the complex realities of movement work: the banality of evil, conflict in organizin...
Last week, I spent 24 hours supporting teachers in running restorative justice classroom circles, and the impact was powerful. In this episode, I’m sharing what I witnessed—the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the small but meaningful shifts that happen when teachers commit to building relationships, not just managing behavior.
🔹 How teachers are integrating circles into their classrooms
🔹 The impact on student...
Tap in for an important conversation about the election, community care, and building a more just and equitable world, no matter who wins, through a restorative justice lens.
Voting ends in about 24 in most spaces so its not too late, especially if you're considering casting a protest vote.
Vote Harris in a swing state to defeat Trump.
Cast a protest vote in a safe state to put Dems on...
This episode pays tribute to the late Ted Lewis, a remarkable figure in restorative justice, whose life and work provide profound insights into this balance.
We explore how his bicultural upbringing and Mennonite roots led him into mediation and facilitation. We also reflect on Ted's legacy, balancing systemic change while addressing relational harm on the micro-level. We also explore the "Listenin...
Eric Butler passed away this summer. We're re-airing this conversation in his honor. He was internationally recognized for his impactful work as a restorative justice practitioner, activist, and educator in Oakland and beyond. He went on to found the “Talking Peace” model of Restorative Justice, a set of practices and philosophy aimed at building relationships through shared values.
Support his family ...
After a long break, I'm back! I'll be back next week with more info and new content, but for the next few days I'm sharing 3 episodes from the archives.
(Today) 10/31/24 You'll here the very first episode of This RJ Life with Cheryl Graves my mentor, elder, OG! She had a stroke this summer and it's important for me to make sure that those who didn't get to hear from, learn from her d...
(Today) 10/31/24 You'll here the very first episode of This RJ Life with Cheryl Graves my mentor, elder, OG! She had a stroke this summer and it's important for me to make sure that those who didn't get to hear from, learn from her directly get the opportunity to.
Our conversation covers her start in the work, her famous "Aaron" story, and so much more.
You can Support Chery...
My friend and mentor Shedrick Sanders passed a way last weekend.
To honor his memory we're revisiting our conversation from Fall 2020 detailing his journey from standing up to bullies as a young boy to becoming an esteemed peacemaker and problem solver. He shared his transformative experiences ranging from teaching math in Ghana to facilitating peace circles in Chicago. Shedrick's incredible knack ...
Our conversation with Saniah Brown Jones is the last in our series highlighting Restorative Justice in South Florida. She shares her wisdom and experiences as a young person who's been impacted by the RJ work and programing of our previous contributors. This episode is not just about Saniah's growth, but also about how restorative justice transforms lives, builds confidence, and creates spaces for growth and...
Jose Dominguez is a youth organizer at Power U, focusing on campaigns against the school-to-prison pipeline and advocating for restorative justice practices in schools.
Our conversation touched on contentious topics like police presence in schools, queer liberation, and homophobia in the church. Jose emphasized the power of grace and communication in addressing these issues. We also explored the importance o...
Cindy Mahendar is a Training and Operations Manager for the Healing and Justice Center and an alumni of Dream Defenders.
Our conversation takes a fascinating turn as Cindy discusses the alternative initiatives implemented by the Healing and Justice Center. From a mobile crisis unit to a peacemaker team, Cindy and her team paint a picture of a reimagined approach to navigating conflict and harm. Her candid sh...
Ruth Ifakemi Efungbemi Ajewole Ajeleti Ifaloro Jeannoelis a Haitian American, cultural organizer, holistic healer and writer. She is also a mother and wife. Currently, Ruth serves as the Founder and Director of the growing non-profit, Fanm Saj, Inc based in Miami, FL. Fanm Saj in the Haitian Kreyol language means, Midwife, we’ll say Midwives catch babies and Fanm Saj catches communities.
In this enlightening ...
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