All Things Conflict Podcast By Maria Arpa MBE cover art

All Things Conflict

All Things Conflict

By: Maria Arpa MBE
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Who doesn't have conflict in their lives? Whether at work, at home or somewhere out in the world we are all affected by conflict even when it is indirect. The impact of poorly managed conflict can devastate lives. With 30 years’ experience mediating conflict and training peacemakers, Maria has held people’s hearts through everything from workplace hostility, board room battles, belligerent teenagers, separated parents at loggerheads to neighbours at war, street gang rivalries, threats to life and business deals gone wrong. In this podcast Maria lifts the lid on why we fight and how we can resolve conflict and design it out of our lives. Maria’s mission is to reduce unnecessary human suffering through conscious awareness, facilitated dialogue and trauma healing, using her communications tool, the Dialogue Road Map. Economics Management Management & Leadership Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Resetting the System: Solving the UK’s Sentencing and Overcrowding Crisis

    Resetting the System: Solving the UK’s Sentencing and Overcrowding Crisis
    Mar 25 2026
    In this episode of All Things Conflict - Justice Redesigned, Maria sits down with Ben Leapman, the editor of Inside Time, the UK’s only national newspaper dedicated to the prisoner population. With a unique background as a former Fleet Street journalist who also has lived experience of the justice system, Ben provides a rare and balanced look at life behind bars. We explore how Inside Time serves as a vital communication hub, offering news, legal information, and a powerful "voice" for those often silenced by the state. From the emotional release of "Wing Worries" to the struggle for in-cell technology and the fight against illegal book bans, Ben explains the daily mechanics of incarceration. Finally, we discuss a radical "reset" for British sentencing to fix the overcrowding crisis and restore public trust in the justice system. Key Takeaways A Trusted Source of Truth: Inside Time provides prisoners with reliable information to combat the rumors and "official speak" that often lead to confusion and disappointment on the wings. The "Wing Worries" Release Valve: Beyond news, the paper acts as a safe container for emotional distress through its agony aunt column, helping prisoners process the trauma of incarceration. The Digital Divide: While the world has moved online, many UK prisons still rely on print media due to a lack of infrastructure, though in-cell technology is slowly beginning to save staff time and improve family contact. The Fight for Literacy: Ben recounts the paper's role in monitoring and overturning illegal local book bans, emphasizing that "sunlight is the best disinfectant" for systemic rule-breaking. Decency and Dignity: A sobering look at the reality of modern prison conditions, where Victorian-era single cells are often doubled up, forcing prisoners to live in cramped, undignified spaces. The Hidden Costs of Prison: From expensive in-cell phone credits to overpriced "canteen" items, the financial strain on prisoners (who earn an average of £13 a week) can directly impact suicide rates and mental health. The Sentencing Reset: Ben argues that the current system of long sentences served at a fraction of their length (33% or 40%) is a "joke" that satisfies no one; he calls for shorter, more honest sentences focused on clear public safety risks. Inside Time Newspaper - https://insidetime.org/ Ben Leapman https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-leapman-29a053191/ Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.workplacehuddle.com⁠ HOST BIO Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM). Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
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    39 mins
  • Lifting Women Up: Activating Change Through Education in Nigeria

    Lifting Women Up: Activating Change Through Education in Nigeria
    Mar 18 2026
    In this profound and inspiring episode of All Things Conflict -Justice Redesigned, Maria welcomes Kelechi Ezeigwe, a remarkable activist, educator, and author based in Nigeria. Kelechi is the founder of the Saint Abigail’s Women’s Initiative, an organisation dedicated to empowering women through financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills. Kelechi shares her transition from a secure corporate career in banking to the "restless" pursuit of building a school system that prioritizes critical thinking over rote memorisation. We explore the themes of her powerful book, Vultures of a Kind, which serves as a poetic outcry against leadership failure and the systemic oppression of women. From navigating culturally entrenched domestic violence to advocating for women’s voices in boardrooms, Kelechi's story is a masterclass in using "love in action" and education to disrupt toxic cycles. Key Takeaways The "Hyena" Metaphor: Collette discusses the powerful imagery in her writing, comparing failed leadership to a predator that "kisses its prey" before consuming it, reflecting the broken promises of government. Education as Liberation: Why Collette walked away from the financial sector to build a preschool and primary school that teaches children to "question things" rather than simply follow rules. The Struggle for Women’s Autonomy: A raw look at the stigma surrounding divorced or independent women in Nigeria and the ongoing battle against domestic violence. Financial Literacy as Power: How the Saint Abigail’s Initiative teaches women financial education to build integrity with banks and secure their own economic futures.The Art of Patient Activism: Collette reflects on shifting from "fierce" activism to a model based on "listening to understand," inspired by Nelson Mandela and her work with Maria on conflict resolution. A Call for Global Sisterhood: Collette’s plea to women everywhere to keep opening doors for one another and to ensure their voices are never shut down, whether in small communities or global boardrooms. Vultures of a Kind https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vultures-Kind-Kelechi-Ezeigwe/dp/1914560280/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Kelechi Links https://ng.linkedin.com/in/kelechi-ezeigwe-2b4b74171 https://www.stabigailintlschools.org/ Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.workplacehuddle.com⁠ HOST BIO Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM). Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠
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    41 mins
  • The Biased Juror & The Broken System: A Seven-Week Fight for Justice

    The Biased Juror & The Broken System: A Seven-Week Fight for Justice
    Mar 11 2026
    In this episode of All Things Conflcit - Justice Redesigned, Maria sits down with Shahab (Shab) Hashtroudi, a former high-flying entrepreneur and "Nightclub King" who saw his world collapse following a dawn raid and a grueling seven-week trial. After losing his business empire, Shab found himself in the "darkness" of the British prison system—but he didn't just serve his time. Shab became a powerhouse of peer-led rehabilitation, clocking over 700 hours as a Dialogue Roadmap facilitator. He shares the shocking details of his trial—including a juror who wore a T-shirt signaling bias—and discusses the profound "ego death" that allowed him to find true happiness behind bars. This conversation is a piercing look at the failures of the jury system, the psychological impact of incarceration, and why peer-to-peer support is the most effective tool for saving lives in prison. Key Takeaways The Jury System Scandal: Shab recounts the unbelievable moment a juror wore a T-shirt mocking the defendants during his trial, and why the judge’s refusal to dismiss that juror highlights a systemic lack of accountability. The Tax Authority Trap: A discussion on how UK authorities often treat business errors as criminal "theft" rather than civil mistakes, destroying viable companies and jobs in the process. The Trust Gap in Prisons: Why inmates are often unwilling to speak to "outside" psychiatrists but will share their deepest traumas with a fellow prisoner who has "lived it." Peer-Led Rehabilitation: How Shab used the Dialogue Roadmap to help fellow inmates move off suicide watch, proving that the most effective therapy in prison often comes from the cell next door. The "Ego Death" of Incarceration: Shab reflects on how losing his millions, his cars, and his status actually made him a happier, more grounded man by forcing him to focus on internal value rather than external labels. The 700-Hour Lesson: A look at the resilience required to facilitate change in a high-pressure environment and why Shab believes "punishment is not a resolution." A Message for Entrepreneurs: Insights from Shab’s book, Legacy of a Shooting Star, on how to handle failure and find the energy to restart when everything is taken away. Legacy of a Shooting Star https://www.amazon.co.uk/Legacy-Shooting-Star-Beyond-Alcatraz/dp/1839529458 Shab Hashtroudi Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shab-hashtroudi-b51b99243/?originalSubdomain=uk Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.workplacehuddle.com⁠ HOST BIO Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM). Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠
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    34 mins
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