Bridging worlds: dialogue, diplomacy and the soft power of culture

How can culture and creativity be 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.🏆 Gold Winner for Thought Leadership at the 2025 Signal Awards.Additional Resources: Next Gen Brazil 2025https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/next-generation-brazilUK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025-26https://www.britishcouncil.org.br/en/programmes/arts/ukbrseasonThe Javaad Alipoor Companyhttps://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 Mutambihttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/our-world-connected-podcast/climate-change-cultural-heritage-protecting-past-futureClimate change impacts on cultural heritagehttps://www.britishcouncil.org/climate-change-impacts-cultural-heritage-0The British Council Strategic Literature Review: Climate Change Impacts on Cultural Heritagehttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/british-council-strategic-literature-review-climate-change-impacts-cultural Follow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribeTwitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish 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 CouncilSoft power at a turning point, a comparative analysis | British CouncilUsing multilingual practices | Teaching English | British CouncilTransnational Education - What We Know | British CouncilFollow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter - https://twitter.com/InsightBritish 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 exacerbateinequalities, 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 conflicthttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/our-world-connected-podcast/culture-education-hope Teaching for peace - British Councilhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/teaching-for-peaceTransnational education: students from conflict-affected regions opting for UK universitieshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/about/press/students-conflict-affected-regions-opting-uk-universities International higher education partnerships and the Sustainable Development GoalsInternational higher education partnerships and the Sustainable Development Goals | British CouncilResearch in the midst of conflict: New perspectives on peacebuilding in Sudan and Ethiopiahttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/research-in-conflict Follow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter - https://twitter.com/InsightBritish Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight

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 opportunityhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/digital-cultural-heritageUK Arts, Culture and Young People: Innovative practice and trendshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/UK-arts-young-peopleOFF/TRACK Collective: Imagining New forms of Cultural Productionhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/new-cultural-productionFocus on Ukraine – Supporting Decolonisation in Museumshttps://arts.britishcouncil.org/resources/focus-ukraine-supporting-decolonisation-museumsFollow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter - https://twitter.com/InsightBritish Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight

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-relationsWhy technology needs artists: 40 international perspectiveshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/why-technology-needs-artists Digital Cultural Heritage: Imagination, innovation and opportunityhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/digital-cultural-heritage Relevant 5Rights Foundation research:Inquiry finds UK Government must regulate GenAI and close online safety loopholeshttps://5rightsfoundation.com/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/ Follow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter - https://twitter.com/InsightBritish 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 Councilhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/deep-listening-transformative-experienceDeep listening as an approach to tackle polarisationhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/deep-listening-approach-tackle-polarisationCrossing Divides with Deep Listening for BBC100https://www.bbc.com/news/world-61984236Follow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish Website – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight

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 Follow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight

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 Foundationhttps://www.instagram.com/wadibenhirkifoundation/EDGE Programmehttps://www.britishcouncil.org/english-assessment/english-programmes/english-language-empowerment/english-digital-girls-educationSchools Connect report: Status of Gender Responsive Inclusive School Practiceshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/status-gender-responsive-inclusive-school-practices-ethiopian-primary-schools-focusSchools Connect report: Creating more inclusive schoolinghttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/creating-more-inclusive-schooling Schools Connect report: Barriers to girls’ education – A synthesis of British Council research in Africahttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/schools-connect-barriers-girls-education Follow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight

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 Artshttps://arts.britishcouncil.org/UK at the Venice Biennalehttps://venicebiennale.britishcouncil.org/cave_bureauhttps://www.cave.co.ke/Follow British Council Research and Insight:Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight