The Ackerman Center Podcast

Ep. 89 Remembering to Prevent: Dr. Marco González on Holocaust Memory, Human Rights, and Education

In this episode, we have the honor of speaking with Dr. Marco González- a historian, researcher, and advocate for historical memory whose professional career has been dedicated to the study of the Holocaust, genocides, and mass human rights violations. Originally from Guatemala, Marco currently serves as the Director of Yahad-In Unum, an international organization founded by French Catholic priest Father Patrick Desbois. Through its documentation of the mass executions carried out in Eastern Europe during the Second World War- commonly known as the Holocaust by Bullets—the organization has transformed our understanding of the Holocaust. Over more than twenty years of work, Marco has participated in field investigations across numerous countries in Eastern Europe, helping locate thousands of mass graves and collecting more than 8,000 eyewitness testimonies from the mass shootings of Jewish and Romani communities. His work has been essential in recovering stories that remained silent for decades and in deepening our understanding of the social dynamics that made one of the greatest crimes in modern history possible. In addition to his investigative work, Marco has led important educational initiatives aimed at preventing hatred, racism, antisemitism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination. Among his many accomplishments is the creation and development of the Guatemala Holocaust Museum, a pioneering institution in Central America that seeks to connect the lessons of the Holocaust with the contemporary challenges facing the region while promoting a culture of remembrance, tolerance, and human rights. In this conversation, we explore the importance of historical memory, the role of education in preventing violence, the challenges of documenting mass crimes decades after they occurred, and the connections between the experiences of Europe, Latin America, and other regions marked by genocide, armed conflict, and human rights violations.

Ep. 88 Memory, Human Rights, and International Justice: A Conversation with José Antonio Guevara Bermúdez

In this episode of Voces en Español, we have the great pleasure of speaking with José Antonio Guevara Bermúdez, one of Mexico’s leading experts in international human rights law, international justice, and the fight against impunity. A graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana and holder of a doctorate in Fundamental Rights from the Carlos III University of Madrid, José Antonio has dedicated more than two decades to advancing human rights through academia, civil society, international organizations, and public service. He has held senior positions within Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights, and various international human rights protection mechanisms. Currently, he serves as Academic Director of the Museum of Memory and Tolerance in Mexico City and teaches at the Autonomous University of Tlaxcala. His work focuses on international crimes, transitional justice, historical memory, and accountability for serious human rights violations. In this conversation, we explore the role of memory in the pursuit of justice, the importance of human rights education, contemporary challenges facing democratic societies, and the findings of a recent international investigation into human rights violations committed under the state of emergency regime in El Salvador. Together, we reflect on the enduring relevance of memory, accountability, and international justice in an increasingly complex world.

Ep. 87 From Surveillance to Genocide: The Criminal Police and the Persecution of Sinti and Roma

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Cantrell-Sutor speaks with historian Verena Meier about the persecution of Sinti and Roma under Nazi rule and the central role of the criminal police in implementing discriminatory policies, deportations, and genocide. Drawing on extensive archival research, Meier examines how systems of surveillance, data collection, and racial classification enabled persecution at the local level while granting significant power to individual police officials. The conversation also explores overlooked histories of resistance, the experiences of Sinti and Roma women who challenged Nazi authorities on behalf of their families, and the ethical responsibilities of researchers working with survivor and descendant communities. Together, they reflect on the enduring importance of studying bureaucracy, persecution, and memory in Holocaust history.

Ep. 86 Holocaust Memory in a Global Age: A Conversation with Tali Nates

In this episode, Dr. Mehak Burza speaks with Tali Nates, founder and director of the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre in South Africa about Holocaust remembrance, genocide education, and role of museums in confronting difficult histories. Drawing from her work across the African continent, Tali reflects on how Holocaust memory is evolving as we move further from the survivor generation, the growing engagement with genocide education in Africa, and challenges of teaching histories such as the Holocaust and apartheid alongside one another.

Ep. 85 In Conversation with Knut Walter

In this episode we speak with historian Knut Walter, a specialist in the political and social history of Central America. Throughout the interview, Walter offers an in-depth interpretation of violence in the region, arguing that it is not a recent phenomenon exclusively linked to the civil wars of the 20th century, but rather a long-standing historical reality rooted in the structural weaknesses of the State and in social and institutional dynamics. Using a comparative perspective across countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua, the historian analyzes how political and social violence intertwines with state action- or the absence of it- highlighting the role of the State both as an organizer of violence and as an entity incapable of guaranteeing justice and effective security. The conversation also addresses the impact of the Cold War, dictatorships, and democratization processes in shaping contemporary violence. Walter argues that these processes did not create violence, but rather intensified and reorganized it, while later institutional reforms- particularly within judicial systems- failed to respond to social demands or contain the rise in criminality. The episode concludes with a reflection on the current challenges facing the region, including drug trafficking, gang violence, and migration, as well as the continuing role of institutions such as the military and police. Overall, this interview offers a critical and long-term perspective that invites listeners to rethink simplified narratives about violence in Central America and to consider its deeper historical roots.