Peace Corps, Blood Diamonds, & Growing Rice in Sierra Leone with Betsy Small

Betsy Small, and her memoir, Before Before

Today we'll introduce you to Betsy Small, and we'll take you on Betsy's moving saga in Sierra Leone, exploring the tribulations and elations of her Peace Corps experience in the West African country, as told in her book, Before Before: A Story of Discovery and Loss in Sierra Leone. Betsy shares the depth of her struggles, and the deep belonging and bond that grew in her over the course of her three years as a volunteer, while we also learn of the ravages and rebuilding that took place in the country after Betsy's departure. She has already received several awards and recognitions for the book, and she is doing an audiobook version as well. Thanks to Andrew Janssen for production assistance on this program and to Jim Giddings of WUML radio in Lowell, MA, for connecting me up with Betsy Small.

Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Jewish

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Spirit in Action

Episode Number

SIA-000831

First Air Date

Full Spirit in Action interview with Betsy Small
Peace Corps, Blood Diamonds, & Growing Rice in Sierra Leone with Betsy Small
Betsy Small
Peace Corps
Sierra Leone
Tikkun Olam
Blood Diamonds
Revolutionary United Front
Besty
Before Before
Tokpombu
Creating Friendships for Peace
Jim Giddings

Broadcast Date(s)

Guest:

Betsy Small

Comments

Alusine (not verified) Thu, 06/18/2026 - 15:02
As a Dierra Leonea zI have come to realized that ones story sometimes make more sense when told by a neutral minded person. Before Before captures the Before and after realities of life in Sierra Leone in ways that an indiginous person wouldn't have.

Lucretia Humphrey (not verified) Thu, 06/18/2026 - 12:58
I loved the beautiful way Betsy shared her Peace Corps experience and how it took her decades to process it and then to analyze it in the interview. Her fluency, metaphors and insights helped me put words to feelings I have had all these years from also having served in Sierra Leone. This was an utter treat to share it with my book club in Montana. Thank you for having this thorough interview!!

Michelle (not verified) Wed, 06/17/2026 - 09:42
Betsy is the real deal! I witnessed her in action so many years ago when she was a volunteer in Salone. Some how she was able to capture all the “feels” perfectly; beautifully in her book. Wonderful, wonderful read! Made me understand and appreciate the complexity of living, working and loving Sierra Leone even more. I’m sure applicable to so many other overseas assignments, but Betsy truly “takes you there”.

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