• Episode 37: Voice 64 Podcast - How to Break the Cycle of Armed Leadership and Warlordism?
    Nov 18 2025
    Meta Description:

    In Episode 37 of Voice 64, Mathor unpacks South Sudan’s most dangerous pattern — the rise of armed leaders who rule through command but never surrender power. This episode explores how to end warlordism, demilitarize politics, and build a nation led by vision, civil servant leadership not violence.

    Episode Summary:

    In Episode 37: “How to Break the Cycle of Armed Leadership and Warlordism?”, Mathor Wan confronts one of South Sudan’s deepest wounds — the normalization of rule through the gun. From the liberation struggle to the post-independence years, every peace deal seems to recycle the same faces and the same promises. Generals become ministers. Commanders become governors. Power remains hostage to the gun instead of the constitution.

    This episode asks hard questions: Why does every leader rise from a military background? Why do we still equate authority with the ability to command, not to serve? And what would it take to transition from warlord politics to a civic culture rooted in merit, law, and accountability?

    Through gripping storytelling and civic reflection, Mathor Wan challenges listeners to imagine a South Sudan where leadership is earned through trust, not force — where soldiers defend the nation, but civilians define its destiny.

    Key Themes:
    • Militarization of Politics: How the liberation legacy created a political class of commanders.

    • The Myth of the Strongman: Why power rooted in fear undermines national unity.

    • Warlord Economics: How control of guns translates into control of resources.

    • Civilian Empowerment: Building a culture where authority flows from the people, not the barracks.

    • Peace Through Accountability: Reforming institutions to prevent recycled violence and reward civic leadership.

    Call to Action: voice64.com

    🎙️ Listen now on Voice 64 — and ask yourself: Are we building a republic or recycling the rebellion? 💬 Join the conversation using #Voice64 and share your ideas on how South Sudan can transition from commanders to community and civil leadership. 🔔 Subscribe, share, and amplify voices calling for leadership through service — not survival through force.

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    21 mins
  • Episode 36: Voice 64 Podcast - Who Truly Gets to Speak for the People of South Sudan?
    Nov 10 2025
    Meta Description:

    In Episode 36 of Voice 64, Mathor asks a burning question: Who truly represents the people of South Sudan? From political elites to grassroots voices, this episode challenges the illusion of representation and explores what it means to speak for a nation silenced by power.

    Episode Summary:

    In Episode 36: “Who Truly Gets to Speak for the People of South Sudan?”, Mathor takes listeners on a reflective and confrontational journey through South Sudan’s crisis of representation. From Juba’s air-conditioned boardrooms to the dusty villages left without schools or clean water, the question echoes: Who are our real spokespeople? Is it the politicians signing deals abroad? The generals in uniform? The activists in exile? The women selling tea in the market who feed the nation but are never invited to the table?

    Through stories, soundscapes, and sharp commentary, this episode examines how power hijacks people’s voices—and what it would take for South Sudanese citizens, at home and in the diaspora, to reclaim their agency. It’s not just about speaking; it’s about being heard.

    Key Themes:
    • Representation vs. Misrepresentation: Who has the moral right and social legitimacy to speak for the nation?

    • Silencing and Selective Amplification: How power structures elevate certain voices while muting others.

    • Diaspora Dynamics: The role and limitations of South Sudanese voices abroad.

    • Grassroots Leadership: Why the most authentic voices often come from communities, not conferences.

    • Reclaiming Civic Agency: The path toward inclusive dialogue and people-driven governance.

    Call to Action: Visit voice64.com

    🎧 Listen now on Voice 64 and join the conversation: Who speaks for you? 💬 Share your voice using #Voice64 and tell us — if the microphones of South Sudan were in your hands, what truth would you tell? 📢 Subscribe, follow, and amplify real voices that refuse to be silenced.

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    21 mins
  • Episode 38: Voice 64 Podcast - Is South Sudan’s army truly national—or an ethnic militia wearing a national uniform?
    Nov 8 2025
    Meta Description:

    In Episode 38 of Voice 64, Mathor asks the uncomfortable question many fear to voice: Is South Sudan’s army truly national—or an ethnic militia wearing a national uniform? This episode exposes the roots of military fragmentation, loyalty politics, and what it will take to build a truly united defense force.

    Episode Summary

    In Episode 38: “Is South Sudan’s army truly national—or an ethnic militia wearing a national uniform?”, Mathor Wan dissects the blurred lines between patriotism and partisanship within South Sudan’s armed forces. Born from liberation movements but fractured by political rivalries and ethnic loyalties, the army has too often become a reflection of the country’s divisions rather than its unity. Soldiers pledge allegiance not to the flag but to commanders. Recruitment, promotions, and deployments mirror tribal networks instead of national interest.

    Through powerful narration and real-world parallels, this episode examines how a nation that once fought for independence now faces the challenge of building a professional army that protects all citizens—without fear or favor. Mathor Wan invites listeners to imagine what a truly national defense force could look like: one rooted in discipline, law, and service rather than bloodline or region.

    Key Themes:
    • Ethnic Militarization: How factional recruitment erodes national cohesion.

    • Politics of Loyalty: The dangers of commanders serving tribes instead of the constitution.

    • Security Sector Reform: The urgent need to depoliticize and professionalize the army.

    • Civil-Military Relations: Why a healthy democracy requires the army to serve the people, not rule them.

    • Nation-Building Through Unity: How transforming the army can heal divisions across society.

    Call to Action:

    voice64.com

    🎧 Tune in now to Voice 64 and join the national conversation: Whose army is it—ours or theirs? 💬 Share your perspective using #Voice64 — What does a truly national army mean to you? 📢 Subscribe, repost, and keep the debate alive.

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    21 mins
  • Episode 35:Voice 64 Podcast - Can We Learn to Disagree on Issues in Public Without Fear?
    Nov 6 2025
    Meta Description:

    “Can We Learn to Disagree on Issues in Public Without Fear?” — Voice 64 dives into South Sudan’s culture of fear, censorship, and the silent costs of suppressing dissent. Mathor explores how societies grow stronger when citizens debate openly, challenge leaders respectfully, and replace fear with civic courage.

    Episode Summary:

    In Episode 35 of Voice 64, Mathor asks a difficult but necessary question: Can South Sudanese disagree on issues in public without fear? Through powerful storytelling, lived experiences, and reflections from the diaspora, this episode exposes how fear has shaped public life—fear of speaking, fear of offending power, fear of being misunderstood, and fear of being labeled “anti-government.”

    Mathor breaks down why disagreement is essential for democracy, development, strong institutions, and community trust. He reveals how fear has become an invisible chain preventing progress, silencing youth, and shrinking civic space.

    This is a call to reclaim the public square — not with violence or insults, but with thoughtfulness, respect, and courage. Because a nation that cannot disagree safely cannot grow.

    Key Themes: 1. The Culture of Fear

    How public silence, intimidation, and political pressure have created a society where people hide their true opinions.

    2. Disagreement as a Democratic Skill

    Understanding that debate, critique, and questioning authority are not acts of rebellion — they are building blocks of accountable governance.

    3. Emotional Safety & Community Trust

    Why citizens must feel safe to express different views without being shamed, punished, or ostracized.

    4. Youth Voices & the Future of Dialogue

    Highlighting why young people, activists, and the diaspora must lead in modeling constructive disagreement.

    5. Tools for Healthy Public Debate

    Respectful listening, curiosity, fact-based arguments, and separating people from ideas.

    Call to Action:

    If today’s episode moved you, challenged you, or opened your eyes, share it with a friend. Start a conversation in your community. Ask a question online without fear.

    Because freedom grows when we use it.

    Subscribe to Voice 64 Podcast on Apple podcasts, podbean, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcast. Share this episode with your community More @ voice64.com

    Let’s build a nation where disagreement is not a threat — but a path to truth.

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    19 mins
  • Episode 34: Voice 64 Podcast - Beyond the Big Men: Can South Sudan Decentralize Power and Still Hold Together?
    Oct 27 2025
    Episode Meta Description:

    Beyond the Big Men: Can South Sudan Decentralize Power and Still Hold Together? In this thought-provoking Voice 64 episode, Mathor Wan examines South Sudan’s chronic over-centralization of authority—where power flows from the presidency downward—and asks whether true federalism could finally bring equity, peace, and accountability. Through history, policy, and lived experience, this episode explores whether devolving power can unite rather than divide the nation.

    Keywords: South Sudan decentralization, federalism, governance reform, state autonomy, Voice 64 podcast, Mathor Wan, democracy in Africa.

    Episode Summary:

    For decades, South Sudan’s politics have revolved around “the big men”—those at the top who command loyalty, wealth, and weapons. But can a country built on hierarchy learn to trust its peripheries?

    In this episode, we unpacks the promise and peril of decentralization in South Sudan. He traces the legacy of power concentration from liberation movements to post-independence governments and asks what a truly people-centered system might look like.

    Through stories of neglected counties, frustrated youth, and local administrators without real authority, Mathor Wan challenges listeners to imagine a South Sudan where leadership is earned locally and accountability flows upward from the people—not downward from the palace.

    Show Notes:

    00:00 – 03:00 | Opening Reflections Setting the stage: why the “big-man” culture defines governance across Africa—and how South Sudan inherited it.

    03:00 – 10:00 | A Capital Too Powerful Exploring how Juba became the center of everything—from decisions to development—and what that means for distant states like Upper Nile, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Eastern Equatoria.

    10:00 – 18:00 | Federalism or Fragmentation? Unpacking myths: does decentralization risk disunity, or could it be the foundation of lasting peace?

    18:00 – 27:00 | The Local Power Dilemma Stories from local administrators and citizens who feel voiceless under central command structures.

    27:00 – 33:00 | Lessons from Other African Models What South Sudan can learn from Kenya’s devolution, Nigeria’s federalism, and Ethiopia’s regional autonomy—successes and cautionary tales.

    33:00 – 35:00 | Closing Reflections — “Power to the People” Mathor Wan’s final call: building a system where every county matters, every citizen counts, and governance starts at the grassroots.

    Key Themes:
    • The “big man” political culture and its costs

    • Decentralization vs. national unity

    • The economics of power concentration

    • Local governance, service delivery, and participation

    • Lessons from African federal systems

    Call to Action:

    If you believe that power should serve people—not control them—share this episode. Visit Voice64.com for more details. Join the Voice 64 community on Facebook, X, and YouTube to continue the conversation on what a decentralized democracy could look like for South Sudan.

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    18 mins
  • Episode 33: Voice 64 Podcast - Tea Stall Talk: Decentralization: Promise or Illusion?
    Oct 13 2025
    Episode Meta Description:

    Decentralization: Promise or Illusion? Voice 64 brings Tea Stall Talk with Mama Tereza, Gor, and Hon. Akot to the mic for a heated and humorous conversation about power, resources, and responsibility. From Juba’s corridors to county councils, they unpack what it really means to move power closer to the people—or just closer to new elites.

    Episode Summary:

    In this spirited Voice 64 roundtable, Mama Tereza moderates a fiery debate between Gor, the sharp-tongued citizen activist, and Hon. Akot, the ever-defensive government loyalist. Together they explore decentralization—a policy often praised but rarely practiced in South Sudan.

    The discussion dives into whether decentralization has truly empowered local communities or merely reshuffled corruption. Gor argues that “the same people in Juba now have cousins in the counties,” while Hon. Akot insists that government reform takes time and patience. Mama Tereza keeps them in check, asking the hard questions ordinary citizens whisper: Who really holds the power, and who benefits when authority moves from national to local hands?

    With wit, tension, and truth, the trio examines how real decentralization could strengthen education, healthcare, and accountability—but only if citizens remain vigilant. By the end, listeners are challenged to see decentralization not as an administrative word, but as a citizen’s demand for dignity, inclusion, and shared prosperity.

    Show Notes:

    Hosts:

    • Mama Tereza—The voice of reason and the people.

    • Gor—The unapologetic truth-teller from the grassroots.

    • Hon. Akot—The seasoned politician defending government policy.

    Memorable Quotes:

    “Power doesn’t decentralize itself—you have to pull it down.” – Gor “You can’t plant a government today and expect shade tomorrow.” – Hon. Akot “Decentralization without accountability is just corruption with a new address.” – Mama Tereza

    Tone: Satirical | Informative | Civic-minded

    Listen on: voice64.com Follow the Conversation: Facebook | X (Twitter) | YouTube | Spotify

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    19 mins
  • Episode 32: Voice 64 Podcast - Do We Diaspora Matter in the Nation-Building Conversation?
    Oct 6 2025

    Episode Description:

    Do diaspora voices truly shape South Sudan’s future? Explore exile, nation-building, and bridging ideas between home and abroad on Voice 64 podcast

    Episode Summary:

    Across oceans and time zones, millions of South Sudanese in the diaspora carry not only memories of home but also blueprints for its rebirth. Yet the question lingers: Do we really matter in the nation-building conversation?

    In this episode of Voice 64, Mathor Wan explores the tension between exiled ideas and on-the-ground realities. From remittances and return programs to civic participation and cultural reinvention, we unpack how diaspora communities can become partners—not spectators—in rebuilding a wounded nation.

    Through honest dialogue, reflections from both sides, and stories of innovation, we examine whether the diaspora’s distance is a weakness—or a strength in disguise.

    Show Notes:

    Key Themes

    • The evolving role of the South Sudanese diaspora in shaping governance, policy, and public opinion

    • Financial remittances vs. civic remittances: how ideas and accountability travel across borders

    • The emotional and identity gap between “home” and “abroad”

    • Lessons from other diaspora-driven nation-building efforts in Africa

    • How Voice 64 connects exiled voices with grassroots realities through media, dialogue, and storytelling

    Segments:

    1. Opening Reflection: “Home is not just a place—it’s a conversation.”

    2. Voices from Abroad: Personal stories of hope, frustration, and longing.

    3. The Ground Reality: What locals think of diaspora involvement in politics and development.

    4. Bridging the Divide: What true partnership between diaspora and homeland could look like.

    5. Closing Thoughts: “A bridge is only useful when people walk across it.”

    Takeaway Message: Nation-building is not bound by borders. Every call, every remittance, every shared idea is a building block toward a future where home is more than geography—it’s collaboration.

    Join Voice 64:

    Join the conversation. Share your story at voice64.com Listen, follow, and subscribe to Voice 64 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows. Follow on Facebook @Voice 64 & X 64voice for more dialogues that connect the diaspora and the homeland.

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    21 mins
  • Episode 31: Voice 64 - Tea Stall Talk - Is Dr. Riek Machar’s trial real justice—or a political purge?
    Oct 1 2025

    Is Dr. Riek Machar’s trial real justice—or a political purge? In this satirical Voice 64 episode, Mama Tereza, Gor, and Hon. Akot debate South Sudan’s courtroom drama, media blackout, and international backlash. A sharp, funny, and fearless take on power, politics, and persecution.

    Episode Summary

    In this satirical episode of Voice 64, Mama Tereza, Gor, and Hon. Akot tackle one of South Sudan’s most pressing questions:Is the trial and persecution of Dr. Riek Machar politically motivated?

    With biting humor and unfiltered commentary, the trio walks listeners through the charges against Machar, the government’s narrative, and why most South Sudanese—and the international community—see it as a purge against opposition by the so-called government of Salva Kiir.

    From media blackouts and scapegoating to international condemnation and the hypocrisy of “rule of law by gun,” this episode exposes how justice has been turned into political theatre. Expect courtroom satire, sharp analysis, and Mama Tereza’s fearless tongue that refuses to whisper when truth is at stake.

    Key Takeaway: When justice becomes a weapon, it loses its name. South Sudan’s future depends on reclaiming the law for the people—not the powerful.

    Show Notes.

    Episode Title: Is the Trial of Dr. Riek Machar Politically Motivated? Series: Voice 64 Podcast – Satire & Truth in a Silenced Nation

    What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
    • Courtroom Comedy vs. Real Justice—a satirical take on the trial where Machar is “guilty” of breathing too loudly.

    • Media Blackout—Why only state-run SSTV was allowed in, while independent journalists were locked out.

    • Public Perception—why ordinary South Sudanese see this as scapegoating, not accountability.

    • Global Reactions—how the UN, Amnesty International, and donors view the trial as a purge against opposition.

    • Bigger Question—What happens when opposition is silenced, dissent is jailed, and justice is politicized.

    Why It Matters.

    This episode dives into the heart of South Sudan’s governance crisis: the abuse of justice as a political weapon. It’s both a warning and a wake-up call to citizens, the diaspora, and the global community that fairness—not fear—is the true foundation of peace.

    Keywords: South Sudan politics, Riek Machar trial, Salva Kiir government, political purge South Sudan, opposition persecution, South Sudan satire podcast, Voice 64 podcast

    Call to Action

    Whether you’re in Juba, Nairobi, Sydney, or Minnesota—your voice matters. Listen, share, and join the conversation at voice64.com.

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    25 mins