Peace Is Here with Avis Kalfsbeek – Details, episodes & analysis

Wolff Peace – Richard Hooker & Dorothy Day

A new series on political philosophy, power, and the pursuit of peace.

In this opening episode of the Wolff Peace series, host Avis Kalfsbeek introduces the legacy of political philosopher Robert Paul Wolff and his influential book Political Man and Social Man. Each episode in this special series pairs a classic thinker from Wolff’s anthology with a modern or historical peacemaker, exploring how ideas about law, authority, and society shape the world we live in—and the peace we hope to build.

We begin with Richard Hooker, a 16th-century Anglican theologian who argued that true political authority must be rooted in reason, consent, and the shared moral order of the community. His vision of peace arises not from force, but from lawful agreement shaped by collective participation.

To balance and expand Hooker’s view, Avis pairs him with Dorothy Day—co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement and a living embodiment of radical hospitality. Day didn’t argue for peace in the abstract—she fed, housed, and cared for those most in need, demonstrating that love in action is the foundation of community and resistance.

This episode includes:

• An introduction to the Wolff Peace series and its mission
• A short profile of Richard Hooker’s theory of law and reason
• A peace pairing with Dorothy Day and her radical ethic of hospitality
• Two reflection questions to take with you into your own life

Visit aviskalfsbeek.com to learn more about the podcast, books, and upcoming episodes in the Wolff Peace series.

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez. Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Robert Paul Wolff’s book Political Man and Social Man on Amazon (I am not an affiliate) 

In this episode of Peace Is Here, host Avis Kalfsbeek reflects on The Birth of the Khalsa by Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh—a groundbreaking work that reimagines Sikh identity through a feminist, peace-centered lens. Drawing from her own journey through compassionate Kundalini yoga and a growing curiosity about women’s roles in spiritual traditions, Avis explores how Singh’s writing invites us to see the divine as nurturing, liberating, and powerfully maternal.

You’ll hear a narrated reading of a portion of the book’s Introduction and a reflection on why the spiritual wisdom of the Khalsa—often told through masculine frames—may hold transformative potential for peacebuilding today. We also learn about Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, whose poetic scholarship opens doors to a more inclusive spiritual imagination.

(I am not an affiliate for these products.)

The Birth of the Khalsa: A Feminist Re-Memory of Sikh Identity

The Name of My Beloved: Verses of the Sikh Gurus 

Sikh Archive Podcast: The Feminine Sikh Principle with Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh            https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sikharchive/id1533329730?i=1000510464593

Youtube: Sikh Feminism, What do we know? https://youtu.be/_x3h9z4h8Ek?si=D-93gzp-gzsOkpGP

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez. Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books/Join the community: AvisKalfsbeek.com or https://linktr.ee/aviskalfsbeek

Avis continues reading Henry Stephen Salt’s A Plea for Vegetarianism – Chapter 2 Morality in Diet. “If, then, it be a degrading occupation to kill animals, how can the habit of eating them be other than degrading? If we condemn the ignorant and brutal butcher who supplies the flesh, how can we acquit the refined ladies and gentlemen who demand it? The thoughtlessness alone enables people to endure such a system. From infancy they are taught to ignore what "meat" really is ; until they hardly think of ​oxen and sheep in connection with beef and mutton.” (H.S. Salt 1886)

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez. Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get Avis' Books The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller.

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog

Get the One More Year Audio Book https://www.audible.com/pd/B09M8Z8DFY/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-286720&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_286720_rh_us

(One More Year, Book 1 of the Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet, on Audio)

Digital book Henry Stephen Salt’s A Plea for Vegetarianism: https://archive.org/details/pleaforvegetaria1886salt/page/n1/mode/2up

Another digital book version OF Henry Stephen Salt’s A Please for Vegetarianism: https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/plea-for-vegetarianism.pdf

Earthling Ed’s book How to Argue With a Meat Eater (I am not an affiliate): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=how+to+argue+with+a+meat+eater&crid=DKR5MXWZSDOK&sprefix=how+to+argue+with+a+%2Caps%2C278&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_20

Korean Vegan Instagram @koreanvegan Cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/Korean-Vegan-Cookbook-Reflections-Recipes/dp/0593084276 (I am not an affiliate)

Avis reads Chapter 1 of Henry Stephen Salt's A Plea for Vegetarianism. In the first chapter of this collection of essays, Salt advocates for the adoption of a vegetarian lifestyle based on ethical, health, and environmental considerations. A fervent advocate for animal rights, Salt co-founded the Humanitarian League in 1891, promoting kindness to animals and opposing blood sports. He is considered a pioneer of animal rights.

Digital book Henry Stephen Salt’s A Plea for Vegetarianism: https://archive.org/details/pleaforvegetaria1886salt/page/n1/mode/2up

Another link to the digital book version OF Henry Stephen Salt’s A Please for Vegetarianism: https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/plea-for-vegetarianism.pdf

Earthing Ed’s book How to Argue With a Meat Eater (I am not an affiliate): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=how+to+argue+with+a+meat+eater&crid=DKR5MXWZSDOK&sprefix=how+to+argue+with+a+%2Caps%2C278&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_20

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez. Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books! The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller.

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog

Get the Audio Book! https://www.audible.com/pd/B09M8Z8DFY/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-286720&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_286720_rh_us

(One More Year, Book 1 of the Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet, on Audio)

In this episode, the Avis Kalfsbeek returns after a hiatus which includes a journey of overcoming alcohol addiction. She shares her insights on peace and the compelling interplay between peace and strength, with extraordinary depth drawn from her personal experiences in recovery. Avis explores the strength derived from women and the feminine force that permeates all beings. She further delves into history, examining the contribution of women to the Sikh tradition and their influence on peace by reading a 2015 Ms. Magazine article, "10 Badass Women in Sikh History," written by Lakpreet Kaur, to appreciate and highlight the unseen historical contribution of women's strength in peace-making. This sets the stage for the introduction of another significant Sikh woman, Niki Ganinder Kaur Singh, in future episodes. In her quest to share knowledge and deepen her practice, she introduces her outline for a new series, "Kaur of Peace," driven by the powerful stories of the women of Sikh tradition. Throughout this episode, the host fosters a sense of unity, enlightenment, and deep respect for women's vast contributions to peace, inviting listeners to join her journey in building a more peaceful world, one episode at a time. An absolute must-listen for those seeking to deepen their understanding of women's role in peace-making and the power of personal recovery in shaping our visions of peace.

Badass Sikh Women in History, Ms. Magazine March 17, 2015: https://msmagazine.com/2015/03/17/10-badass-sikh-women-in-history/

Photo on Episode artwork is from Curly Tales, 5 Most Scenic Gurudwaras in India https://curlytales.com/visit-these-most-scenic-gurudwaras-in-india-to-find-inner-peace/

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez. 

Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books: The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller. Book 6 Mono Mutante is coming soon!

Audio Books: You can listen to a free version of the Audio Book One More Year beginning at Episode 25 of this podcast through Episode 32. More audio books are coming soon!

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog. Your support inspires me on my writing journey to support these environmental and social issues and to promote peace. Thank you!

I help women find land for regenerative and organic farming at www.AvisKalfsbeek.com . 

Peace and Love, Avis Kalfsbeek

Please enjoy audio chapters 36 through 41 (THE END) of One More Year, Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet Primer 1 and a bonus, Pedro’s Primer. “One more year -- keep your stuff longer, people” is Tilly’s mantra as she trains for her first Ironman with her best-friend-coach, Camas. Set in an idyllic northwest town on a pristine glacier-formed lake, Tilly sets out to tackle an Ironman for an environmental cause to convince people to curb their consumerism to give the planet a fighting chance against climate change.

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez.

Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books: The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller.

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog

Please enjoy audio chapters 31 through 35 of One More Year, Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet Primer 1. “One more year -- keep your stuff longer, people” is Tilly’s mantra as she trains for her first Ironman with her best-friend-coach, Camas. Set in an idyllic northwest town on a pristine glacier-formed lake, Tilly sets out to tackle an Ironman for an environmental cause to convince people to curb their consumerism to give the planet a fighting chance against climate change. (Chapters 36 - 41 are coming in the next episode.)

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez.

Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books: The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller.

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog

Please enjoy audio chapters 26 through 30 of One More Year, Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet Primer 1. “One more year -- keep your stuff longer, people” is Tilly’s mantra as she trains for her first Ironman with her best-friend-coach, Camas. Set in an idyllic northwest town on a pristine glacier-formed lake, Tilly sets out to tackle an Ironman for an environmental cause to convince people to curb their consumerism to give the planet a fighting chance against climate change. (Chapters 31 - 35 are coming in the next episode.)

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez.

Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books: The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller.

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog

Please enjoy audio chapters 21 through 25 of One More Year, Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet Primer 1. “One more year -- keep your stuff longer, people” is Tilly’s mantra as she trains for her first Ironman with her best-friend-coach, Camas. Set in an idyllic northwest town on a pristine glacier-formed lake, Tilly sets out to tackle an Ironman for an environmental cause to convince people to curb their consumerism to give the planet a fighting chance against climate change. (Chapters 26 - 30 are coming in the next episode.)

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez.

Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books: The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller.

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog

Please enjoy audio chapters 16 through 20 of One More Year, Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet Primer 1. “One more year -- keep your stuff longer, people” is Tilly’s mantra as she trains for her first Ironman with her best-friend-coach, Camas. Set in an idyllic northwest town on a pristine glacier-formed lake, Tilly sets out to tackle an Ironman for an environmental cause to convince people to curb their consumerism to give the planet a fighting chance against climate change. (Chapters 21 - 25 are coming in the next episode.)

Music: Dalai Llama Rides a Bike by Javier “Peke” Rodriguez.

Bandcamp: https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QuyqfXEKzrpUl6b12I3KW

Get the Books: The Pedro the Water Dog Saves the Planet book series can be found at AvisKalfsbeek.com or at your favorite online bookseller.

Support the Peace and Planet messages by contributing to my Patreon for as little as $1 per month: www.Patreon.com/PedrotheWaterDog