Can Hope Survive Conflict? How to Face Fear, Division, and Despair Without Giving In with Oded Adomi Leshem

In this episode of The Gaslight Effect Podcast, Dr. Robin Stern continues the limited series Conversations at the Edge—a space for staying grounded, curious, and connected when conversations move into charged, uncertain, or deeply divided territory. Inspired by Robin's ongoing dialogue with her dear friend Lynn Redleaf, the series is rooted in dignity, respect, and a commitment to resisting manipulation while making room for complexity and humanity.

Robin is joined by Dr. Oded Adomi Leshem, a senior researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a leading voice in the emerging field of hope research. Oded's work asks a deceptively simple question: What is hope—and does it actually create tangible change, or is it just a comforting idea? Drawing from psychology and philosophy, and grounded in the realities of intractable conflict, he shares insights from his book Hope Amidst Conflict, which examines how hope operates when it is most challenged—and how it can be strengthened in ways that support ethical engagement, social change, and peacebuilding.

Oded also shares the personal path that led him here: from documentary filmmaking and witnessing war up close, to a humanitarian initiative helping sick Palestinian children access medical care—where one conversation with a woman from Gaza sparked his lifelong curiosity about why hope sometimes burns brightest in the hardest circumstances.

Together, Robin and Oded explore a powerful framework for understanding hope as a two-dimensional construct: the expectation that change is possible, and the wish—the desire and commitment that makes change worth pursuing. They discuss why societies can lose not only belief in peace, but the desire for it, how leaders and public rhetoric can erode "peace as a worthy goal," and why peace advocacy often fails when it becomes too technical and forgets to speak to the heart. They also name the real risks of hope—its burden, its vulnerability to disappointment, and its mental effort—while offering a grounded reminder that real hope doesn't deny reality; it faces it honestly and still chooses a future worth working toward.

This is a bracing and deeply human conversation about what it takes to carry hope when the world feels heavy, divided, and uncertain.

To check out this and other episodes, head over to robinstern.com.

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Dr. Robin Stern's Social Media Links:

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Dr. Robin Stern's Books:

The Gaslight Effect

The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide

Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders

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