Culture and creativity are not just reflections of society, they’re powerful tools for connection, diplomacy, and intercultural dialogue.
In this episode of Our World, Connected, we explore how art and cultural exchange can drive global cooperation, inspire climate action, embrace youth aspirations, and open new pathways for understanding in an increasingly divided world.
Host Christine Wilson is joined by Ambassador Antonio Patriota, Brazil’s Ambassador to the UK, and one of the country’s most experienced diplomats, for a wide-ranging conversation about the power of cultural exchange in shaping international relations. We discuss Brazil’s renewed environmental leadership, the UK's creative ties with Brazil, and the significance of the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025–26, a year-long celebration of artistic collaboration and cultural diplomacy.
Also featured in the episode is British-Iranian artist Javaad Alipoor, and his work for the UK/Australia British Council season (2021-22). He reflects on the politics of art, the power of international collaboration, and the nuanced role of soft power in global cultural work.
From the UK, to Australia, and onto Brazil, this episode highlights how cultural connections can foster understanding, amplify youth voices, and inspire action across borders.
Listen to the award-winning podcast Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking conversations on culture, communication, and the power of collaboration.
🏆 Winner of Gold for Thought Leadership at the Signal Awards.
Additional Resources:
Next Gen Brazil 2025
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/next-generation-brazil
UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025-26
https://www.britishcouncil.org.br/en/programmes/arts/ukbrseason
The Javaad Alipoor Company
https://www.javaadalipoor.co.uk/
What does cultural heritage have to do with climate change, and how can creativity help communities respond to a crisis that threatens both land and legacy?
In the opening episode of Season 3, host Christine Wilson explores cultural heritage and creativity in the context of climate action. From a local neighbourhood in Cairo, to the cultural policy conference Mondiacult, to the United Nations’ global gathering on climate change (the Conference of the Parties - COP), we’re asking how culture and creativity can build more resilient communities and more sustainable futures.
Christine is joined by Dr. Sally Flint, a writer, researcher, and creative lead of the We Are the Possible programme at the University of Exeter - an international initiative using poetry and storytelling to communicate the climate crisis. Through Sally’s work, we explore the power of the arts to foster emotional connection, shift perspectives, and imagine new possibilities for the planet.
We also hear from May al-Ibrashy, a conservation architect and founder of Megawra, an Egyptian initiative preserving historic Cairo through community-led heritage projects. As the climate crisis reshapes urban life, May shares how heritage conservation can restore not only buildings, but also agency, pride and collective memory.
Together, Sally and May offer a powerful reminder that culture is not just what we stand to lose, it’s also how we find the strength to act.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking conversations on culture, communication, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
Season 1 Episode 5: Climate change and cultural heritage with Dr Scott Orr and Barbra Babweteera Mutambi
Climate change impacts on cultural heritage
https://www.britishcouncil.org/climate-change-impacts-cultural-heritage-0
The British Council Strategic Literature Review: Climate Change Impacts on Cultural Heritage
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Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight
We’re back! Join us over the coming 12 episodes, where we’ll be continuing our global conversations about culture, education and language, asking how creativity, learning, and international exchange can help us meet the challenges of today’s complex and interconnected world.
This season, we’ll be exploring pressing themes of our time, and meeting inspiring people who are making a difference. From how cultural heritage and creative writing are inspiring new approaches to climate action, to how international cultural seasons help build bridges between nations, we’ll hear stories from people working on the ground in Egypt, Brazil, Thailand, the UK and beyond.
Join Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight at the British Council, and her diverse range of guests as they reflect on the power of culture to shape more peaceful and prosperous futures.
If you’re curious about the world in 2025, or simply want to hear fresh perspectives from people shaping culture across continents, follow Our World, Connected, wherever you get your podcasts, and be the first to listen to Season 3.
Additional Resources and Links:
Climate change impacts on cultural heritage | British Council
Soft power at a turning point, a comparative analysis | British Council
Using multilingual practices | Teaching English | British Council
Transnational Education - What We Know | British Council
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Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight
What role can education play in times of war, displacement, and uncertainty? And how can schools and universities provide not just learning, but hope, courage, and resilience for communities in crisis?
In this bonus episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson reflects on her conversation with Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President at King’s College London and founder of the African Leadership Centre. Drawing on her own experiences of conflict in Nigeria and her career at the UN, ‘Funmi shares why she sees education as central to rebuilding societies — from restoring institutions after war, to forging equitable partnerships that transcend borders.
We also hear from Nigerian activist Wadi Ben-Hirki, who has spent nearly a decade advocating for marginalised girls, and from Dr Koula Charitonos of the Open University, who explores how EdTech can offer opportunities for refugees, but also how it has the potential to exacerbate
inequalities, and most fundamentally, to lose that human aspect of education.
Together, these voices reveal how, even in the face of violence and instability, education can act as a lifeline — shaping futures, strengthening communities, and creating the possibility of lasting peace.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more global stories on culture, connection, and the power of education.
Additional Resources and Links:
Episode 8 Season 1 | Culture and education: Seeds of hope in times of conflict
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/our-world-connected-podcast/culture-education-hope
Teaching for peace - British Council
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/teaching-for-peace
Transnational education: students from conflict-affected regions opting for UK universities
https://www.britishcouncil.org/about/press/students-conflict-affected-regions-opting-uk-universities
International higher education partnerships and the Sustainable Development Goals
International higher education partnerships and the Sustainable Development Goals | British Council
Research in the midst of conflict: New perspectives on peacebuilding in Sudan and Ethiopia
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/research-in-conflict
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What does it mean to tell stories through the spaces we live in? And how can architecture be a source of memory and repair?
In this bonus episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson revisits a powerful conversation with Kabage Karanja, architect, researcher, and co-founder of Nairobi-based design studio Cave_bureau.
A leading voice in rethinking architecture through the lens of ecology, memory, and justice, Kabage shares his reflections on vernacular architecture, the legacy of British colonialism, and the importance of caves as spaces of cultural knowledge. His work, including the groundbreaking UK-Kenya collaboration Geology of Britannic Repair, exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale, asks urgent questions about how we live, what we build, and what we choose to remember.
Christine also draws on insights from other voices featured in Season 2 — including artist Rosie Olang’ Odhiambo and filmmaker Noé Mendelle — to explore how storytelling takes many forms, from exhibitions and documentaries to the natural world around us. Together, these creative practitioners show how the stories we choose to tell can become tools for connection, repair, and collective healing.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking conversations on culture, communication, and the power of storytelling.
Additional Resources & Links:
Digital Cultural Heritage: Imagination, innovation and opportunity
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/digital-cultural-heritage
UK Arts, Culture and Young People: Innovative practice and trends
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/UK-arts-young-people
OFF/TRACK Collective: Imagining New forms of Cultural Production
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/new-cultural-production
Focus on Ukraine – Supporting Decolonisation in Museums
https://arts.britishcouncil.org/resources/focus-ukraine-supporting-decolonisation-museums
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How is technology shaping the way we live, learn, and connect? And what does that mean for young people growing up in a digital-first world?
In this bonus episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson revisits a powerful conversation with Baroness Beeban Kidron, crossbench peer in the House of Lords and founder of the 5Rights Foundation. A leading advocate for children’s digital rights, Beeban reflects on the urgent need to rethink how technology is designed and regulated — and the responsibilities of governments, educators, and tech companies in keeping young people safe online.
Christine also connects Beeban’s insights to other voices from across the series: from linguist David Crystal on how digital culture is reshaping our language, to consultant Larisa Halilovic on how new technologies are impacting on how we communicate — and what we feel we can trust.
Together, these conversations explore a central issue of our time: how digital tools are transforming us all — and how we can harness them for connection, creativity, and positive change.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking conversations on culture, communication, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
Digital Cultural Relations
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/digital-cultural-relations
Why technology needs artists: 40 international perspectives
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/why-technology-needs-artists
Digital Cultural Heritage: Imagination, innovation and opportunity
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/digital-cultural-heritage
Relevant 5Rights Foundation research:
Inquiry finds UK Government must regulate GenAI and close online safety loopholes
New UK data law: what does it mean for children’s privacy?
https://5rightsfoundation.com/new-uk-data-law-what-does-it-mean-for-childrens-privacy/
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Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight
How do we really listen — to each other, and to the world around us?
In this final episode of season two, host Christine Wilson explores the practice of deep listening — a powerful communication method rooted in empathy, openness, and the desire to understand across divides.
Christine is joined by journalist, media executive and author Emily Kasriel, who developed the Deep Listening methodology. Drawing on her work from across news, conflict resolution and academia, Emily’s new book Deep Listening: Transform Your Relationships with Family, Friends, and Foes offers a practical guide to navigating disagreement and building connection in a noisy, polarised world.
We also hear from Hawraa Ghandour, an English teacher, educational trainer and founder of Media Literacy Lebanon. Hawraa took part in the BBC and British Council’s Crossing Divides deep listening project in Lebanon, an experience that continues to shape her work with students and communities, using media and dialogue to foster understanding.
Together, Emily and Hawraa reflect on the challenges of truly hearing another’s perspectives, and how slowing down, staying curious, and practising empathy, can create the space we need to leave aside our assumptions and bring about positive change.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking conversations on culture, communication, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
Deep Listening: A Transformative Experience - By Tiba Khalifa, 90 Youth Voices Participant, British Council
https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/deep-listening-transformative-experience
Deep listening as an approach to tackle polarisation
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/deep-listening-approach-tackle-polarisation
Crossing Divides with Deep Listening for BBC100
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-61984236
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What does the future hold for the English language? And how is technology transforming the way we speak, write and connect across borders?
In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson explores how digital culture is reshaping the English language, from the rise of internet slang to the impact of AI, social media, and globalisation on how we communicate.
Christine is joined by renowned linguist and author David Crystal, one of the world’s leading experts on the English language. With more than 100 books to his name – including the landmark Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language – David reflects on how English has evolved over centuries, and what its future might look like in an increasingly digital world.
We also hear from César Bizetto, an English teacher, teacher trainer, and academic director based in São Paulo. With over 20 years of classroom experience, César shares how English language instruction has changed in Brazil, and why he believes teaching English is about more than grammar, it’s about opening doors.
Together, David and César explore how English is shifting across contexts, continents, and generations, and what that means for education, culture, and connection.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more global stories on culture, connection, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
The Future of English research programme: https://www.britishcouncil.org/future-of-english
The Future of English: in conversation with David Crystal (March 2025)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64HRT797Lsc
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When girls are educated, communities thrive – but how do we make that a global reality in the digital age?
In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson explores the urgent issue of girls’ education in a rapidly changing world – where access to schooling, digital literacy, and life skills can transform futures and communities.
Christine speaks with Wadi Ben-Hirki, a Nigerian activist and founder of the Wadi Ben-Hirki Foundation, who has spent nearly a decade advocating for marginalised girls across Nigeria. From addressing early marriage to supporting school re-entry, Wadi shares how her youth-led organisation empowers young women through education, equality, and opportunity.
We also hear from Diana, an EDGE trainer working under a pseudonym in Myanmar, who was inspired by her mother to pursue a career in education. Through the British Council’s English and Digital for Girls’ Education programme (EDGE), Diana teaches English, life skills and digital literacy to girls from displaced and marginalised communities – helping them rebuild confidence and resilience in the face of conflict and multiple crises.
Together, Wadi and Diana reflect on the power of education to reshape not only individual lives, but entire societies, and what it takes to make that vision a reality.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more global stories on culture, connection, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
The Wadi Ben-Hirki Foundation
https://www.instagram.com/wadibenhirkifoundation/
EDGE Programme
Schools Connect report: Status of Gender Responsive Inclusive School Practices
Schools Connect report: Creating more inclusive schooling
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/creating-more-inclusive-schooling
Schools Connect report: Barriers to girls’ education – A synthesis of British Council research in Africa
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/schools-connect-barriers-girls-education
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Can art be a tool for repair? And what happens when exhibitions themselves move across borders?
In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson dives into the relationship between art, architecture, and place — and how both disciplines are being used to challenge colonial narratives, spark dialogue, and imagine alternative futures.
Christine is joined by writer, artist and curator Rosie Olang’ Odhiambo, who speaks about her collaborative, cross-disciplinary practice and her recent exhibition, In Transit: Under Another Sky, which she co-curated with E.N. Mirembe. First shown in Kampala and Nairobi, and soon opening at the Africa Centre in London, the exhibition weaves together sound, image, and text to explore transience, marginal identities, and shifting geographies.
We also hear from Kabage Karanja, an architect and co-founder of Nairobi’s cave_bureau. Speaking from the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, Kabage reflects on using caves as sites of cultural memory and of decolonial storytelling and his bold vision for architecture as a force of geological repair.
Together, Rosie and Kabage explore what it means to tell stories of place, migration, and resistance — and how visual arts and architecture can both reflect and reshape the world we live in.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking discussions on culture, connection, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
British Council Arts
https://arts.britishcouncil.org/
UK at the Venice Biennale
https://venicebiennale.britishcouncil.org/
cave_bureau
https://www.cave.co.ke/
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What are the benefits — and the ethical challenges — of relying on EdTech in crisis environments? Can technology offer true educational equality when access is still uneven?
For many children around the world, the start of the learning day is marked not by the opening of a classroom door, but of a laptop. As education increasingly moves online, technology has become both a bridge and a barrier — especially for young learners living through conflict.
In this episode of Our World, Connected, we explore the transformative role of educational technology in some of the world's most challenging environments. With millions of children living in conflict zones today—almost double the number from just a few decades ago—access to education has taken on new urgency and new forms. Host Christine Wilson speaks with Dr. Koula Charitonos, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University, to unpack the promises, limitations, and ethical complexities of EdTech, particularly for learners facing extraordinary hardships.
We also hear from Olga Pavlenko, a senior teacher and teacher trainer based in Kyiv, Ukraine, who shares her first-hand experiences teaching through a full-scale invasion — and how technology became her students' lifeline to learning. Together, Olga and Koula unpack the realities of digital education in conflict zones and refugee camps, from resilience and connection to the risks of surveillance and digital colonialism.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking discussions on culture, connection, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
English and Empowerment
https://www.britishcouncil.org/english-assessment/english-programmes/english-language-empowerment
Supporting schools and teachers teaching refugee children
Understanding Ukrainian young people’s current concerns, needs, and hopes: Looking ahead to a future rebuilding of Ukraine
https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/concerns-needs-hopes-ukraine
Understanding the effectiveness of professional development opportunities for teachers delivered remotely
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/learning/the-open-sanctuary-hub
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How do we protect young people in a digital-first world? And who’s responsible for protecting kids online?
From social media to AI, technology is evolving faster than policy, and young people are at the center of this digital revolution. While the internet offers incredible opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection, it also exposes children to risks that we are still learning to navigate. So how can we ensure young people develop the digital skills they need, whilst staying safe online?
In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson delves into the complexities of growing up in an era of screen ubiquity. She is joined by Baroness Beeban Kidron, a leading advocate for children’s digital rights, crossbench peer in the House of Lords, and founder of the 5Rights Foundation. Together, they explore the urgent need for digital regulation, the responsibilities of governments and tech companies, and the impact of online platforms on young people’s well-being.
We also hear from 17-year-old Nicole Valeria Ruiz Valencia, a data engineering and AI student from Colombia. Nicole shares how coding transformed her perspective on the world, empowering her to solve real-world problems. But she also reflects on the dangers of the digital sphere and the importance of awareness in navigating online spaces safely.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking discussions on culture, connection, and the power of education.
Additional Resources & Links:
Digital cultural relations: a pathway to trust? https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/digital-cultural-relations-pathway-trust
Skills for inclusive digital participation: https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/non-formal-education/current-programmes/skills-inclusive-digital-participation
5Rights Foundation: https://5rightsfoundation.com/about-us/
What is the Colombia Programme? - https://mintic.gov.co/colombiaprograma/847/w3-propertyvalue-916000.html
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How do international education and research shape global relationships? And why do countries invest in knowledge diplomacy?
From pioneering scientific collaborations to cross-border academic partnerships, the exchange of knowledge has long been a bridge between nations. But beyond the benefits for students and universities, how does knowledge diplomacy serve national interests, foster trust, and enhance global influence?
In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson explores how international higher education, research, and innovation contribute to diplomacy and soft power. How do universities balance national and global interests? And what role do researchers play in shaping how nations are perceived on the world stage?
Christine is joined by Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President of International, Engagement and Service at King’s College London, and founding Director of the African Leadership Centre. With a career dedicated to peace, leadership, and global collaboration, ‘Funmi shares her insights on the intersection of education and international cooperation, the importance of public-facing research, and the future of inclusive and impactful partnerships.
We also hear from hydrologist and environmental engineer Saumya Srivastava, a current British Council Women in STEM Postdoctoral Fellow at Imperial College London. Saumya shares her journey from India to the UK, her work in water system modelling, and how international academic mobility has shaped her confidence, collaborations, and perspective on knowledge diplomacy.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking discussions on culture, connection, and the power of education.
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Additional Resources & Links:
Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight
How does film shape global narratives and foster understanding? And how can filmmakers navigate the challenges of representation?
Whether it’s an iconic sci-fi opening that transports us to a galaxy far, far away or a documentary that reshapes the way we see the world, storytelling through film has an unparalleled power to connect diverse people across borders and cultures.
In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson explores the role of film as a tool for cultural exchange, national identity, and social change. Can film help amplify the voices of so-called ‘marginalised communities’? What are the poetics of film-making?
Christine is joined by Noé Mendelle, a documentary filmmaker and founder of the Scottish Documentary Institute. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Noé has dedicated her career to telling untold stories and mentoring emerging filmmakers through initiatives like the Stories documentary workshop, a collaboration with the British Council. Together, they discuss the power of documentary filmmaking, the intersection of truth and storytelling, and the impact of film on cultural relations.
We also hear from queer rights activist and storyteller Bisi Alimi, founder of Vengiance Productions. Bisi talks about why he’s made it his mission to bring authentic queer African stories to our screens and the challenges of securing funding for underrepresented voices in the industry.
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking discussions on culture, connection, and the power of art.
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Additional Resources & Links:
Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight
This week, we examine what it means to think long-term and act as ‘good ancestors’ for future generations. How do the choices we make today shape the world of tomorrow? And how can governments, businesses, and individuals take responsibility for ensuring a sustainable and equitable future?
Host Christine Wilson is joined by Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, to discuss the groundbreaking Well-being of Future Generations Act and how Wales is pioneering future-focused policymaking. That is, a way of thinking, governing and taking decisions that meets people's needs ‘in the here and now’, without causing long-term irreversible damage. Together, they explore the balance between sustainability and economic growth, the role of international collaboration, and what it truly means to be globally responsible.
We also hear from Sarah Reay, Climate Change Manager at ICAEW and Director at the UK Youth Climate Coalition, who highlights the passion young people have for sustainability and the challenges they face in influencing policy.
As global discussions on sustainability gain momentum, how can the UK lead by example? What impact could a Future Generations Act have if expanded across the country? And how can we ensure that young voices are not just heard, but truly influence the policies of the future?
Listen to Our World, Connected for more thought-provoking conversations on culture, connection, and empowerment.
Further Reading:
Global Perceptions Survey 2023
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
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In this episode of Our World, Connected, we explore the concept of soft power—what it is, how it differs from hard power, and why it’s crucial in today’s interconnected yet fractured world. From the staggering reach of K-pop to the global legacy of the Olympics, soft power shapes perceptions, builds trust, and strengthens both high level international relationships, as well as everyday community interactions.
Joining host Christine Wilson is Professor J.P. Singh, Distinguished University Professor at George Mason University and an expert in international diplomacy, trade, and cultural influence. Together, they unpack the mechanics of soft power, the ways nations wield it, and its evolving role in geopolitics: focusing on values of attraction and reciprocity, rather than coercion and dominance.
We also hear from Bill Morris, international event specialist and former director of culture, education, and ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics, who shares firsthand insights on how large-scale events serve as catalysts for national identity, social cohesion, and cross-cultural dialogue.
With growing global tensions, rising nationalism, and the rapid evolution of digital communication, soft power is more relevant than ever. It holds the space for finding commonalities across geo-political borders, whilst at the same time celebrating our cultural and artistic diversity. What does the future hold for soft power in an era of AI, misinformation, and shifting alliances? And how can the UK’s new Soft Power Council harness culture, creativity, and diplomacy for national and global benefit?
Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more thought-provoking discussions on culture, connection, and global influence.
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“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” The words of Oscar Wilde set the stage for this episode, where we are examining the power of the theatre to inspire and connect across borders.
In this episode, we’re specifically looking at the concept of identity, in particular national identity and national culture, and how this is played out on stage, by examining the role of national theatre and telling a nation's story both at home and in the wider world.
Host Christine Wilson is joined in the studio by Jackie Wylie. Jackie has been the Artistic Director and Chief Executive at the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) since 2017. We also travel to Argentina where we hear from Rubén Otero, who is a naval veteran of the South Atlantic conflict between the UK and Argentina. Rubén participated in the play, Minefield, which brought together veterans from both sides to explore the conflict and its impact.
In the conversation, both Christine and Jackie speak about the origins of NTS from its early days in a newly devolved Scotland, and how it has evolved to articulate the diverse experiences of Scots from across the country, as well as represent Scotland on the world stage. They talk about the magic of the collective experience for the audience, and how the artform continues to adapt to engage theatregoers in our fast paced world.
Rubén illustrates the power of drama in his telling of the story of making the play Minefield, in particular the experience of sharing the stage with men who were once seen as enemies.
This episode invites you to be part of the conversation and consider how we can better connect with each other, whatever the context.
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Welcome to the new series of Our World, Connected. We’re starting our second season by looking at the idea of ‘connection’. And we hope that the fact you are listening to this podcast is because you are interested in connecting with the wider world. And what’s the most fundamental form of connection? Communication.
In this episode, we’re looking specifically at communication during conflict. We’re investigating how both traditional and newer media platforms can help and hinder people in understanding their communities and contexts, as well as how arts and creativity can bring people together, promote dialogue, support conflict resolution and ultimately foster peace.
Host Christine Wilson is joined in the studio by Larisa Halilovic. Larisa is a consultant, and is currently the Team Leader for the UK-Government funded programme Western Balkans Media for Change. We also travel to Sri Lanka’s capital city Colombo, to hear from Sandev Handy, a senior curator at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka. Throughout 2024, he has been working with an EU-funded programme, implemented by the British Council, called Supporting Effective Dispute Resolution (SEDR).
In their conversation, Christine and Larisa talk in depth about issues such as communicating through different languages, managing community tensions, and the art of storytelling in sensitive situations. They also touch on the impact of new technologies, such as AI, on communications, particularly the impact on the trust readers and listeners have in what they see and hear.
Sandev shares his experiences, and a powerful memory from a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA, where he noticed how a painting had spontaneously prompted a conversation about history and slavery. He recounts what he learnt when it came to using the arts to enable discussion around challenging issues in Sri Lanka, such as land rights, as it emerged from a period of conflict.
This episode invites you to be part of the conversation and to consider how we can better connect with each other, whatever the context.
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Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight
Season 2 of Our World, Connected is here! Over 12 episodes, we’ll be building on the discussions we had in season 1, with a new collection of conversations and stories exploring our complex and interconnected world. Topics will include considering the role of local and independent media in supporting societies dealing with conflict, the potential of theatre, film and art to build bridges across borders, and how researchers and scientists are establishing intercultural connections through their work. And what do we mean when we talk about soft power?
Join Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight at the British Council, and her fascinating guests from countries including Brazil, India, Libya, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and the UK.
If you’re a global citizen, or you’re just curious about the world in 2025, make sure to follow Our World, Connected wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to listen to the new season.
What is needed to enable individuals and communities to have control over their lives and futures? In this mini episode of Our World, Connected, Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight at the British Council, explores the theme of empowerment by reflecting on insights shared by a wide range of speakers from Season 1.
The episode investigates three critical pathways to empowerment: access to education, the use of technology, and intergenerational cooperation. From the transformative power of education and youth participation, to the nature of technology as both a tool for empowerment and a potential source of inequality, Christine and her guests examine the opportunities and challenges ahead.
This is the final instalment of the 3-part mini-series we’re putting together as we prepare for Season 2 of Our World, Connected, coming in January 2025.
Episodes Featured:
Culture and Education: Seeds of Hope in Times of Conflict
How to ensure gender equality for the next generation?
The power of language in difficult times
What does AI mean for equality and inclusion?
Youth skills in a rapidly changing world
Are young people disengaged? The real story behind youth participation.
The British Council in an evolving world: reflections on 90 years of building connections
Follow British Council Research and Insight:
Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe
Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish