Shows
Rapid ResponseAfter devastating aid cuts, Mercy Corps keeps fighting, with Tjada D’Oyen McKennaFor an organization built around responding to crises around the globe, Mercy Corps now finds itself at the center of its own trauma. Following the Trump administration’s aid cuts, two-thirds of Mercy Corps’ US-funded programs have been rescinded. CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna joins Rapid Response to share how she’s leading her team amid immense pressure—scrambling to find new ways to help those in need, even as she resorts to layoffs to keep the business afloat. McKenna reveals what she’s hearing from her team of aid workers on the ground in Gaza, and why she isn’t runnin...
2025-09-2331 min
Masters of ScaleAfter devastating aid cuts, Mercy Corps keeps fighting, with Tjada D’Oyen McKennaFor an organization built around responding to crises around the globe, Mercy Corps now finds itself at the center of its own trauma. Following the Trump administration’s aid cuts, two-thirds of Mercy Corps’ US-funded programs have been rescinded. CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna joins Rapid Response to share how she’s leading her team amid immense pressure—scrambling to find new ways to help those in need, even as she resorts to layoffs to keep the business afloat. McKenna reveals what she’s hearing from her team of aid workers on the ground in Gaza, and why she isn’t runnin...
2025-09-2331 min
KQED's ForumStarvation in Gaza Persists Despite Increased Aid DeliveriesThe latest reporting from Gaza describes a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions. Children are starving; families face impossible choices between food and safety. Hospitals cannot function and medical staff are too weak to help patients. We talk to aid workers and journalists reporting from both sides of Israel’s near-total blockade of supplies going into Gaza about what they’re witnessing and what it will take to save lives.
Guests:
Bel Trew, chief international correspondent, The Independent
Youmna ElSayed, Gaza correspondent reporting from Egypt, Al Jazeera
Tjada D'Oyen McKenn...
2025-08-0755 min
Global Dispatches -- World News That MattersFamine in Gaza — A Political and Humanitarian Tipping Point?“The worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip.” That was the conclusion of a July 29 report by the leading global authority on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The report found that more than one in three people in Gaza (39 percent) are now going days at a time without eating. More than 500,000 people—nearly a quarter of the population—are enduring famine-like conditions. Malnutrition rates are skyrocketing, and deaths from acute malnutrition are mounting. This is the direct result of Israel’s policy of preventing sufficient food from enter...
2025-08-0724 min
Meet the PressMeet the Press NOW — August 1President Donald Trump fires the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after baselessly questioning the integrity of the July jobs report. Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D'Oyen McKenna discusses the hunger crisis in Gaza, as U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visit the region. NBC News’ Peter Nicholas reports on the White House’s plans to build a ballroom. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2025-08-0149 minGlobal Dispatches -- World News That MattersA Top NGO Official Explains the Difficult Dynamics of Getting Aid into Gaza and SyriaTjada D'Oyen McKenna is a veteran humanitarian official who now leads Mercy Corps, a major international NGO that provides relief in disaster zones, including Gaza and Syria. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, I have periodically checked in with her to discuss the challenges of meeting the needs of Gazans trapped and displaced by the conflict. Over a year later, the dynamics of getting aid into Gaza have largely remained unchanged—there are still significant bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the Israeli government, which controls the flow of aid. Moreover, there is no meaningful so-called "de-confliction me...
2024-12-2420 min
Humanitarian Fault LinesTjada D’Oyen McKenna, Mercy CorpsJamie speaks with Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna. Mercy Corps is an INGO with a worldwide presence and with a global team of 6,000 humanitarians working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises brought about conflict and climate disaster. They discuss the troubling situations in Gaza and Lebanon. Jamie asks Tjada about operating in the conflict zone and how they keep staff safe. He asks about how the group is working with Israel given reporting that restrictions are being placed on aid. The two also talk about the crises in Haiti and Sudan. Jamie asks Tjad...
2024-11-0441 minGlobal Dispatches -- World News That MattersCan a Famine Be Averted in Gaza?The UN has not declared a famine in gaza--not yet at least. But the World Food Program has said there are "pockets of famine" in Gaza. In December, the UN released its most comprehensive assessment of food security in Gaza and estimated that over half a million people are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity inside Gaza. For comparison's sake, in the entire rest of the world there are an estimated 129,000 people facing similarly catastrophic levels of food insecurity. My guest today, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna is the CEO of Mercy Corps, a large international humanitarian NGO th...
2024-01-2928 min
HER With Amena Brown126: Navigating Non-profit Work for Women of Color (featuring Tjada D’Oyen McKenna)Many women of color have experienced the double-edged sword of being first and/or only. This week, listen in on an enlightening conversation with CEO of Mercy Corps and the only African American woman at the help of a major international aid and development organization, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna. Tjada and I talk about snacks (obviously!), tips for women of color working in the nonprofit space, and how to support forgotten causes. To get transcripts, links, and details from each episode, check out the show notes. To continue your support of the podcast and my work, be...
2023-10-1046 min
First Move with Julia ChatterleyFeatured interview: Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D'Oyen McKennaFood prices around the world have been driven higher due to multiple factors, including the extreme weather, the aftermath of the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. The UN says more than 120 million people have been pushed into hunger since 2019. The humanitarian aid corporation Mercy Corps operates in over 40 countries distributing cash, food, water and other essentials. Joining the show to discuss is Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D'Oyen McKenna. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
2023-08-0849 min
Masters of ScaleRapid Response: Compassion in the face of crisis, w/Mercy Corps CEO Tjada McKennaHow do you stay focused and committed to putting out a fire while new fires ignite elsewhere? Mercy Corps CEO, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna returns to Rapid Response to discuss the expansive relief effort in Turkey and Syria since the earthquake, leading a grieving team, and how the org’s support strategy in Ukraine must pivot as the country enters its second year of war. Tjada also shares insights about the greater role businesses can play in societal improvement, and why altruism doesn’t mean sacrificing scale.Support Mercy Corps’ relief effort in Syria: https://www.mercycorps.org/dona...
2023-03-0921 minRapid ResponseCompassion in the face of crisis, w/Mercy Corps CEO Tjada McKennaHow do you stay focused and committed to putting out a fire while new fires ignite elsewhere? Mercy Corps CEO, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna returns to Rapid Response to discuss the expansive relief effort in Turkey and Syria since the earthquake, leading a grieving team, and how the org’s support strategy in Ukraine must pivot as the country enters its second year of war. Tjada also shares insights about the greater role businesses can play in societal improvement, and why altruism doesn’t mean sacrificing scale.Support Mercy Corps’ relief effort in Syria: https://www.mercycorps.org/dona...
2023-03-0921 min
The Business of Fashion PodcastConflict, Climate and Today’s Global Hunger CrisisTjada D’Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, shares insights on growing global food insecurity and deepening inequality.At the end of 2022, one in 10 children worldwide were dealing with malnourishment, the result of the worst hunger crisis the world has faced in a generation. It’s an effect of the ricocheting of the triple threat of climate change, geopolitical conflict and Covid-19 through the global economy. Though there’s little chance of resolving these issues imminently, community-sourced efforts can play a large role in combating the devastation they bring to people around the world....
2023-02-1717 minThe Business of Fashion PodcastThe Fight for Ukraine: Where It Stands and Why It MattersCNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward spoke at BoF VOICES 2022 about victory and grief in the crisis, and what the international community must do to stand with the Ukrainian people.Background:Russia’s invasion of Ukraine transformed grain fields into battlefields, levelled whole cities and triggered a global food and energy crisis. Even as Ukraine has pushed back Russian forces, there appears to be no end in sight to the conflict. After weeks and months of occupation Ukrainian cities liberated from Russian troops have experienced “jubilation” while “victory looks very grim and very...
2022-12-1622 minThe Business of Fashion PodcastThe Best of VOICESTim Blanks sits down with Ziad Ahmed, chief executive of JUV Consulting and Stephanie Simon, the former head of community at Clubhouse to reflect on VOICES.BackgroundThe first three sessions at BoF VOICES 2022 tackled issues inside the fashion industry and far beyond. Speakers explored the climate crisis and accusations of corporate greenwashing; the potential of artificial intelligence and the associated ethical implications; the war in Ukraine and growing economic uncertainty and inequality across the globe and Gen-Z’s rising anger over these issues and how to start to fix them....
2022-12-0227 min
Agenda DialoguesCOP27: 7 leaders on innovating for climate changeIn this special compilation episode timed to the COP 27 Climate Summit in Egypt, CEOs and government leaders share surprising and innovative approaches to scaling climate action. Featured in this episode: Rania Al-Mashat, the Egyptian minister for international cooperation; Patrick Decker, CEO, Xylem; George Oliver, CEO and chairman of Johnson Controls; Barbara Humpton, CEO, Siemens Corporation; Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, CEO, Mercy Corps; Mohammad Jafaar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kuwaiti Danish Dairy Company; Eric Rondolat, CEO, Signify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-11-1229 min
Meet The LeaderCOP27: 7 leaders on innovating for climate changeIn this special compilation episode timed to the COP 27 Climate Summit in Egypt, CEOs and government leaders share surprising and innovative approaches to scaling climate action. Featured in this episode: Rania Al-Mashat, the Egyptian minister for international cooperation; Patrick Decker, CEO, Xylem; George Oliver, CEO and chairman of Johnson Controls; Barbara Humpton, CEO, Siemens Corporation; Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, CEO, Mercy Corps; Mohammad Jafaar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kuwaiti Danish Dairy Company; Eric Rondolat, CEO, Signify. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2022-11-1229 min
Lessons from LeadersLessons from Leaders: Featured Guest Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, President and CEO of Mercy CorpsThis week, the Lessons from Leaders guest is Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, the President and CEO of Mercy Corps. We are honored to have her as our guest so shortly after her recent trip to Somalia.One of my favorite moments from this episode is the deep conversation with Tjada talking about courage (at 27 minutes if you want to jump right to it.)When I asked her what courage has to do with being a leader, she said: "There is a personal courage all leaders have because they are willing to say 'Hold me accountable' wh...
2022-09-2635 min
First Move with Julia ChatterleyFeature interview: Schwab Chief Global Strategist Jeffrey ClineAs today's episode begins we're waiting on a major development in the US government's classified document probe against former President Donald Trump. The Justice Department has until noon ET today to unseal parts of the affidavit used to justify its raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. Global investors are also playing a waiting game, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell set to deliver his highly anticipated address in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The speech could offer new insight into the Fed's Central policies as it battles high inflation. Prior to Powell's speech we interview Charles Schwab Chief Global Strategist Jeffrey Cline.
Also...
2022-08-2647 min
Outspoken with Shana CosgroveFor the Back of the Room: Christie Getman, Country Director for Nepal at Mercy Corps.Send us a textDiscovery, Immersion, and Breaking the Mold.In this episode of The Outspoken Podcast, host Shana Cosgrove talks to Christie Getman, Country Director for Nepal at Mercy Corps. Christie describes how she landed on her path of international work, explaining her desire for a unique career. She also discusses the value of athletics and how she met her husband through a running club. Shana and Christie dive into the technical side of the work of Mercy Corps, illuminating the ways in which the mechanisms of foreign aid have evolved. Lastly, listen to the end to...
2022-06-281h 07Masters of ScaleRapid Response: On the ground in Ukraine w/Mercy Corps’ Tjada D'Oyen McKennaTjada D'Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, an NGO on the front lines of the Ukrainian crisis, provides an inside look on how they’re helping address the needs of refugees. Mercy Corps began scenario planning well in advance of Russia’s aggression, and they’re now deploying food, cash, and social services to those in need. She also cautions about potential negative impacts elsewhere, as troubles in Ukraine pull resources from other struggling populations.Learn more about Mercy Corps: https://www.mercycorps.orgRead a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.comSubsc...
2022-03-1027 minRapid ResponseOn the ground in Ukraine, w/Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D'Oyen McKennaTjada D'Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, an NGO on the front lines of the Ukrainian crisis, provides an inside look on how they’re helping address the needs of refugees. Mercy Corps began scenario planning well in advance of Russia’s aggression, and they’re now deploying food, cash, and social services to those in need. She also cautions about potential negative impacts elsewhere, as troubles in Ukraine pull resources from other struggling populations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2022-03-1027 min