Can forgiveness truly heal us and transform the world? In the premiere episode of The Forgiveness Effect, co-hosts Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer explore this powerful question. Azim, founder of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, interviews Melaina, an award-winning peacebuilder, coach, and Founder & CEO of Inner Peacebuilding, about her two decades guiding communities and organizations in conflict transformation.

Melaina shares lessons from Colombia, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Iraq, and the U.S. criminal justice system, showing how inner peace work creates external change. Listeners will gain practical tools for managing personal conflicts, fostering dialogue across divides, and engaging in lasting social impact.

Mentioned Books:

• “The Moral Imagination,” by John Paul Lederach 

• “There is Nothing Wrong with You,” by Cheri Huber

• “Radical Acceptance,” by Tara Brach

• “Forgive for Good,” by Fred Luskin

• “The Four Agreements,” by Don Miguel Ruiz 

• “Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit,” by Azim Khamisa
  

Other Resources:

• Peace Thru Forgiveness – https://peacethruforgiveness.org/

• Jericho Circle Project – Helping to reduce violence and crime by supporting emotional healing for incarcerated individuals and returning citizens. https://jerichocircle.org

• Internal Family Systems Model – Richard C. Schwartz https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline

Production Credits:The Forgiveness Effect is a PeaceThruForgiveness.org production, hosted by Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer. Produced and edited by Liz Ramos and Melaina Spitzer; sound engineering by Vikas Srivastava; original music by Austin Ray. Marketing team: Farideh Albornoz, Meesha De Rumi, Alejandro Hierro, Dianne McKay, and Elizabeth Richards. Melaina Spitzer is Executive Editor.

What if we didn’t judge people by the worst thing they’ve ever done? Our conversation with Dr. Laura Sheppard, JD may change the way you view crime and punishment in America.

Laura didn’t know Azim Khamisa when she began teaching an anti-violence curriculum at a prison in Northern California that included the story of his son Tariq’s killing. Years later, after law school and a career as a post-conviction criminal law and parole specialist, their paths finally crossed.

Laura was the attorney who successfully represented Tony Hicks, the young man who killed Tariq Khamisa, Azim’s only son, at his first parole hearing. Azim and Tariq’s sister, Tasreen, were there in support.

Her career was profoundly shaped by a man she calls her big brother, a “lifer” named Terry, whom her parents mentored in prison for nearly four decades. As a young attorney, she helped secure Terry’s release at his 18th parole hearing.

Over time, Laura came to see that nearly every offender was also a victim of trauma, and that rehabilitation with community support can transform even serious offenders into contributing members of society.

She now advocates for restorative justice as a critical part of America’s criminal justice system, which houses 25% of the world’s prisoners despite having only 4% of the global population.

Forgiveness, she argues, is essential—helping victims process grief and anger, and allowing those who caused harm to shed shame and rebuild their lives.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Peace Thru Forgiveness

• Tariq Khamisa Foundation

• Life Connection Program

• Jericho Circle Project

• Inside Circle

Production Credits:

The Forgiveness Effect is a PeaceThruForgiveness.org production, hosted by Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer.

Produced and edited by Liz Ramos and Melaina Spitzer.

Sound engineering by Vikas Srivastava.

Marketing and production assistants: Farideh Albornoz and Marcus Bonner.

Original music by Austin Ray.

Melaina Spitzer is Executive Editor.

PRISON AND RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS ACCEPTING VOLUNTEERS

Jericho Circle Project Helps reduce violence and crime by supporting emotional healing for incarcerated individuals and returning citizens.

Inside Circle: Supports incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals through restorative practices that foster accountability, connection, and personal transformation

Prison Fellowship  National prison ministry and volunteer network.

Prison Book Program  sends books to incarcerated people nationwide.

The Petey Greene Program  trains student volunteers and community members to serve as academic tutors.

Volunteers of America helps formerly incarcerated individuals transition back to community life.

From Prison Cells to PhDs runs pen pal programs, mentoring, tutoring, and advocacy work.

Inside Out Prison Exchange Program matches college students with incarcerated students for joint learning experiences.

PEN Prison Writing Program offers a mentorship program pairing incarcerated writers with writing teachers.

STATE PROGRAMS

Prison Education Project (PEP) (California) offers academic courses, life skills, and enrichment programs.

Utah Prison Education Project is a leading college-in-prison program in the Mountain West.

SAN DIEGO BASED PROGRAMS

San Diego Workforce Partnership - Reentry Works  runs career centers at East Mesa and Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facilities. 

Community Transition Center (CTC)  helps within the first 48 hours after release.

San Diego Urban League - Re-Entry Program offers employment connections and soft skills training.

Back 2 Work partners with other organizations to provide temporary employment upon re-entry.

San Diego Re-entry Roundtable is an umbrella organization partnering with other re-entry organizations.

YOGA AND MINDFULNESS PROGRAMS

Prison Yoga Project 

Yoga Behind Bars 

Prison Yoga + Meditation 

Ratna Peace Initiative 

Prison Mindfulness Institute 

Satchidananda Ashram Prison Project 

In this episode, Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer talk to Dr. Fred Luskin, a Stanford University psychologist and Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects, about his teaching and research on forgiveness. Dr. Luskin’s personal stories, including his struggles with his mother-in-law, as well as his professional experiences show how unforgiveness keeps people trapped in victim narratives and fear, while forgiveness frees them to make better decisions and live more peaceful lives. His academic research shows that forgiveness offers measurable health benefits, from reduced cardiovascular risk to decreased chronic pain and improved emotional well-being. Dr. Luskin leads listeners through four simple practices that can aid in the process of forgiveness and addresses the challenges of self-forgiveness. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Luskin stresses that forgiveness is a practical skill that can be learned and practiced, with applications ranging from everyday irritations to profound traumas.

Mentioned:

Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness, by Fred Luskin

The Forgive for Good Recovery Workbook, by Fred Luskin and Lyndon Harris

Forgive for Love: The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Lasting Relationship, by Fred Luskin

The Stanford University Forgiveness Projects

Production Credits:The Forgiveness Effect is a PeaceThruForgiveness.org production, hosted by Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer. 

Produced and edited by Liz Ramos and Melaina Spitzer; sound engineering by Vikas Srivastava; original music by Austin Ray. Marketing team: Farideh Albornoz, Meesha De Rumi, Alejandro Hierro, Dianne McKay, and Elizabeth Richards. Melaina Spitzer is Executive Editor.

In this episode, Melaina Spitzer interviews Azim Khamisa about his forgiveness journey, from the senseless murder of his son, Tariq, to his destination: peace. 

At a time when division and conflict dominate headlines, Azim's story offers a radically different path forward. His journey from devastated father to global peace advocate proves that even the most profound tragedies can become catalysts for healing and transformation. This conversation challenges listeners to reconsider their own capacity for forgiveness and their role in creating a more peaceful world.

Whether you're struggling with personal forgiveness, interested in restorative justice, or seeking inspiration for overcoming life's greatest challenges, this episode provides both practical wisdom and profound hope. Azim's story reminds us that peace isn't just possible - it's within reach when we choose love over hate, understanding over judgment, and forgiveness over revenge.

Mentioned Books and Meditations:

• The Forgiveness Trilogy, by Azim Khamisa:
• “From Murder to Forgiveness”
• “From Forgiveness to Fulfillment”
• “From Fulfillment to Peace: A Roadmap”
• “The Power of Intention” by Wayne Dyer

Azim’s Meditations: https://peacethruforgiveness.org/meditation/

Mentioned Resources:

• Peace Through Forgiveness – https://peacethruforgiveness.org/

• Jericho Circle Project – Helping to reduce violence and crime by supporting emotional healing for incarcerated individuals and returning citizens. https://jerichocircle.org

• The Tariq Khamisa Foundation – Creating safer schools and communities through educating and inspiring children in the restorative principles of accountability, compassion, forgiveness, and peacemaking. https://tkf.org/

• The Stanford Forgiveness Project - https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2020/01/forgiving-others-to-help-improve-your-health.html

• Hawaii Forgiveness Project - http://www.hawaiiforgivenessproject.org/

• The Forgiveness Project - UK - https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/

Connect with the Movement: Learn more about the Tariq Khamisa Foundation and Peace Through Forgiveness initiatives at their respective websites, where you can find resources for educators, parents, and individuals interested in joining this global peace movement.

Production Credits:The Forgiveness Effect is a PeaceThruForgiveness.org production, hosted by Azim Khamisa and Melaina Spitzer. Produced and edited by Liz Ramos and Melaina Spitzer; sound engineering by Vikas Srivastava; original music by Austin Ray. Marketing team: Farideh Albornoz, Meesha De Rumi, Alejandro Hierro, Dianne McKay, and Elizabeth Richards. Melaina Spitzer is Executive Editor.