In this episode, Professor Rommel Rodriguez of the University of the Philippines shares his work as a writer, unionist, and human rights advocate. He discusses the significant social and economic challenges facing the Philippines, which are intensified by the current Marcos administration's attempts at historical revisionism. Professor Rodriguez explains his unique approach of teaching human rights through literature to foster empathy and historical awareness among students from diverse academic backgrounds. Ultimately, he emphasizes that despite the dangers, there is hope in collective action, student activism, and international solidarity to create a more just future.

In this episode, Dr. Kamille Beye discuss with Dr. Tara Bartlett about the School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) project in Arizona. Dr. Bartlett explains that School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) empowers students by giving them control over a real part of their school’s budget. This hands-on process fosters civic engagement, critical thinking, and collaboration. By proposing and voting on projects that matter to them, students learn their voice is consequential. This model, which started in Arizona, directly connects students with democratic action, building their agency and shaping a more inclusive school culture. School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) moves civic education from theory to practice by engaging students in real-world decision-making. The process teaches essential skills like budgeting, empathy, and civil discourse, while empowering students to tackle social justice issues in their own community. It validates student voices and creates tangible outcomes—from new equipment to policy changes—proving that their participation is a vital part of democracy and creating a lasting impact on their civic identity.

Dr. Shone Surendran recounts his unconventional path from engineering and monastic life to academia, exploring Vygotsky, non-dualism, and insights gained from his experiences in India, particularly concerning marginalized knowledge. His discussion extends to AI ethics, where he critiques the Western-centric biases inherent in algorithms. Surendran advocates for significant philosophical diversity and the decolonization of higher education, pushing for globally interconnected learning perspectives that challenge academic dominance and promote epistemic pluralism to foster more inclusive and relevant learning environments.

*NOTE. This episode was recorded in January, 2025 In this episode of Conversations4Citizenship, Stella Micheong Cheong discusses South Korea's political crisis with Yoosun, Yebin, and Junseo, three college students who participated in protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. They share their motivations for civic engagement, analyze the political crisis, and reflect on democracy's fragility. Despite their concerns about political polarization and systemic flaws, they remain hopeful for constitutional reform and stronger citizenship education to protect democratic values in South Korea.

In this episode of the Conversations4Citizenship podcast, Dr. Tatsushi Arai, a peace and conflict studies professor at Kent State University, discusses his journey and work in conflict resolution, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. He shares insights from his experiences in peacebuilding education and the unique challenges of resolving conflicts in areas with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Dr. Arai emphasizes the importance of integrating local cultural practices into peacebuilding efforts and highlights innovative approaches like storytelling and experiential learning. He also addresses the impact of digital technology on global conflict resolution efforts.

In this episode, Professor Sarah Stitzlein discusses the importance of teaching honesty in democracy, exploring how truth-seeking habits can combat misinformation and political polarization. She advocates for educational approaches that encourage critical thinking, emotional awareness, and collaborative problem-solving, emphasizing honesty as a crucial skill for developing engaged and responsible citizens in a populist Era.

This episode delves into Bangladesh's recent political upheaval, where youth-led protests led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation after 15 years. They explore how youth activism catalyzed change, drawing parallels with global movements and highlighting the role of social media in organizing protests despite government-imposed internet blackouts. The conversation also touches on the diaspora's role in amplifying these events and envisions a hopeful future for Bangladesh as it navigates this new democratic era.

In this thought-provoking podcast, Dr. Felipe Acuña elucidates the deleterious effects of neoliberal education policies in Chile, employing the evocative "bonsai pedagogy" metaphor to illustrate how these policies stifle teacher autonomy and fulfillment. Drawing upon his research on innovative schools, Acuña highlights the potential for resistance and the cultivation of joyful teaching experiences. He cogently argues for conceptualizing education as a fundamental social right and ensuring the wellbeing of educators. Acuña's insights serve as a cautionary tale, urging policymakers to eschew neoliberal approaches that exacerbate educational inequities. The conversation situates these issues within the broader struggle to envision post-neoliberal futures.

In this episode, Parishrut Jassal, a PhD candidate from Panjab University in India, discusses how AI governance can support peacebuilding efforts and contribute to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies. Jassal explains that AI governance frameworks, such as the European Union AI Act, aim to mitigate risks associated with AI misuse and promote responsible AI development aligned with principles of peace and human rights. He highlights the importance of international cooperation and the need for global AI governance that considers cultural differences across nations. Jassal also explores the potential of AI applications in peace education, such as interactive simulations and educational games that foster empathy, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills. While acknowledging the challenges, Jassal expresses hope that by harnessing the power of AI responsibly and ethically, we can create a more peaceful and sustainable world.

In this episode of Conversations4Citizenship, two students, Jayden Carmona and Subham Barua from UC Riverside discuss the pro-Palestinian protests on US college campuses. They explore the motivations behind the protests, the role of social media in shaping narratives, and the potential impact on the upcoming presidential election. Both students emphasize the importance of aligning academic work with the real issues faced by those affected by the conflict and highlight the need for increased political engagement among young people. The episode concludes with a call to action for students to vote and use their academic platforms to advocate for meaningful change.

In this episode of Conversations4Citizenship, Dr. Nicole Brown addresses innovative approaches to qualitative research, particularly Photovoice. Dr. Brown discusses the philosophical and theoretical foundations of Photovoice, emphasizing its roots in feminist theory, empowerment, critical consciousness, and documentary photography. She explains how Photovoice can be used as a method or framework for research, enabling participants to communicate their experiences through photographs. Dr. Brown also shares her insights on the role of the researcher as a facilitator, the importance of understanding positionality, and the challenges of navigating power dynamics in participatory research. She highlights the growing acceptance of creative methods in research and the importance of rigorous justification for their use. Dr. Brown offers advice for early career researchers interested in using innovative methods like Photovoice, stressing the need for foundational understanding and the value of embracing failure and experimentation in the research process. The conversation also touches on the potential of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) in qualitative research and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Brown emphasizes the importance of empowering marginalized voices and utilizing creative methodologies to enhance research impact.

In this episode of Conversations4Citizenship, Dr. Arzhia Habibi discusses her research on global citizenship education (GCE) in Chinese higher education. Dr. Habibi's work, conducted remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, explores how GCE is expressed through classroom practices and philosophical underpinnings in China. She emphasizes the importance of culturally rooted approaches and the nuanced, sophisticated practices that challenge Western narratives. Dr. Habibi also highlights the use of arts-based research methods, including watercolour paintings, to enrich her remote ethnographic study and provide deeper insights into the educational practices observed.

In this episode, Dr. Patricia Leavy discusses her pioneering work in arts-based research methods. She explains how her lifelong passion for the arts led her to develop innovative approaches like using fiction and poetry to represent research findings in more accessible and engaging ways. Dr. Leavy argues that traditional academic publishing reaches very few people, and that the arts can help communicate important ideas to broader audiences. She believes interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for addressing complex societal issues. While arts-based research still faces some skepticism and barriers in academia, Patricia sees growing acceptance and argues that all research methods have their strengths and limitations. Ultimately, she believes scholars have an obligation to share their work in ways that can make a real-world impact.

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Henry Giroux discusses the challenges facing education in an increasingly polarized political aspect. He argues that the pandemic has intensified the focus on instrumental rationality and the politics of disposability, undermining the civic and democratic role of education. Henry also emphasizes the need for educators to foster a "pedagogy of resistance" that empowers students to challenge oppression, reclaim imagination, and build a more just future.

In the season three premiere of the #conversations4citizenship podcast, Prof. Keith Barton and Prof. Li-Ching Ho explain why they treat social and civic education as a single concept in their book, rather than addressing them separately. They also introduce the concept of "critical harmony," which emphasizes the importance of relationships, values diversity, embraces conflict, and seeks balance in power dynamics. Throughout the episode, Keith and Li-Ching discuss the relevance of justice and harmony in various global contexts, acknowledging that interpretations and applications may differ based on geopolitical and geographical factors. They stress the importance of preparing young people to live together justly in a diverse world and highlight the role of education in fostering critical harmony. Here is a brief biographical note from Professors Keith Barton and Li-Ching Ho: * Keith C. Barton is Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana University. A former elementary teacher, his work emphasizes history education and civic participation in the United States and internationally. He is co-author, with Linda Levstik, of Doing History: Investigating with Children in Elementary and Middle Schools (2023) and Teaching History for the Common Good (2004). He is the recipient of the 2023 Career Research Award from the National Council for the Social Studies. **Li-Ching Ho is Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research, conducted primarily in East and Southeast Asia, focuses on global civic education, issues of diversity in social studies education, and climate change education. In particular, her work has been centered on how concepts such as justice, harmony, meritocracy, civility, and democratic deliberation are addressed in different national education systems. She is a co-editor of The Palgrave Handbook of Global Citizenship and Education (2018).

In this episode, SangA Back, a primary school teacher, shared her experiences and challenges in global citizenship education during an interview. She discussed the importance of empowering students to become global citizens and the challenges faced in South Korea, such as a lack of teacher interest and the perception that global citizenship issues only pertain to developing countries. She also shared her experiences in Peru and Argentina, where she was involved in developing global citizenship education materials for Korean students abroad.