Ep. 48: Challenges for Education: Unsettling Empathy - How to Hold Conflicting Truths at the Same Time? (Prof. Dr. Björn Krondorfer – Northern Arizona University, USA)

Guest: Prof. Dr. Björn Krondorfer, Northern Arizona University Hosts: Yusuf & Efe Bio: Björn Krondorfer is the Endowed Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Martin-Springer Institute at Northern Arizona University. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Religion from Temple University and studied Protestant Theology in Frankfurt/Main and Göttingen, Germany. Krondorfer is internationally recognized for his work on post-Holocaust reconciliation, historical trauma, and dialogue among Germans, Israelis, and Palestinians. He brings descendants of Holocaust victims and perpetrators into conversation and extends these dialogues to include Palestinian narratives. He is the author of Unsettling Empathy: Working with Groups in Conflict (2020), Reconciliation in Global Context (2018), and The Holocaust and Masculinities (2020), and facilitates workshops, field encounters, and critical pedagogy that put dialogue into practice. He is the co-chair of the Consortium of Higher Education Centers for Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies (2020-to date) and the President of the Association for Public Religion and Intellectual Life (2023-to date). In this episode: Yusuf and Efe speak with Prof. Krondorfer about engaging groups affected by historical trauma and conflict, including descendants of Holocaust victims and perpetrators, as well as Germans, Israelis, and Palestinians. They explore intergenerational, transgenerational, historical, and cultural trauma, and how these traumas shape relationships across generations. Krondorfer explains his method of “Unsettling Empathy,” which engages conflicting truths and power dynamics while fostering ethically grounded, emotionally aware dialogue. The discussion covers silenced Palestinian narratives in Germany, Germany’s responsibility toward Israel, and the triangular relationship including Palestinian experiences. Listeners gain insight into how historical wounds, empathy, and self-awareness can transform dialogue, the importance of holding conflicting truths simultaneously, and practical lessons for educators, mediators, and those seeking to bridge deep divides. This episode was recorded July 31, 2025. Links: Prof. Dr. Björn Krondorfer: https://in.nau.edu/martin-springer/staff/about-the-director/ Unsettling Empathy. Working with Groups in Conflict (Bloomsbury, 2020): https://tinyurl.com/mnwdjyhd https://lernen-aus-der-geschichte.de/International/content/12232 Review by Dani Kranz: https://tinyurl.com/mrxtkmpw Disclaimer: Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast team. Technical legal terms are explained in Episode 36 with Prof. Claus Kreß; contested histories are addressed by Prof. Gudrun Krämer in Episode 21.