Storyland: why books matter in divided times

What happens when a story crosses a border? Can it also help us move beyond our own boundaries?In the first episode of season four of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with Elif Shafak about belonging, memory and the power of literature in divided times. Elif recalls on how, as a solitary child moving across cultures, she found both freedom and friendship in a place called “Storyland”. As now as an adult reflecting on a polarised world,  she reflects on how stories can take us beyond ourselves, challenge divisions between “us” and “them”, and act as an “antidote to apathy”.We also hear from Deepa Bhasthi, writer and translator of Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp, winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize. Deepa explores translation as a creative act and asks what is lost when distinctive voices and ways of seeing the world are “smoothed” for English-speaking readers.Together, Elif and Deepa make the case for stories as a form of connection across languages, cultures and borders. In a world of polarisation and information overload, they ask how literature can keep us curious, compassionate and open to lives different from our own.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication and the power of collaboration in a changing world.🏆 Winner of Gold for Thought Leadership at the 2025 Signal Awards.Additional Resources:Elif Shafak websitehttps://www.elifsafak.com.tr/homeTake 10 to Read campaignhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/take-10-global-record-attemptOur work in literaturehttps://arts.britishcouncil.org/what-we-do/literature

Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, is back for season four. Join host Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight, as she meets experts and changemakers from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues of our time. Hear big ideas and personal stories about what connects us: from stories across borders to AI and the changing nature of soft power.Follow Our World, Connected to be the first to hear the new season.

In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London and Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Together, they explore why we need a new way of thinking about economic growth, one that places creativity, culture and the common good at the heart of prosperity. They discuss the role of governments in shaping innovation, why arts and culture should be seen as essential public infrastructure, the role of imagination, and how new measures of success could help build more sustainable, inclusive economies.We also hear from Ojoma Ochai, Managing Director and CEO of CC Hub Group and co-founder of the Creative Economy Practice at CC Hub in Nigeria. Reflecting on nearly two decades working across technology, innovation and the creative industries, Ojoma shares how Nigeria's creative economy has become a powerful source of opportunity, identity and global influence, and why creativity and digital transformation are increasingly inseparable.This episode explores how culture can drive both social and economic innovation, strengthen communities (not just the top 1% earners), and help shape economies that create lasting public value. It asks what prosperity should practically really mean in the 21st century, and why culture is crucial if we are to place Public Value at the centre of defining the future we build together.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.Further resources:Mariana Mazzucato, author of the “The Common Good Economy: A New Compass”https://marianamazzucato.com/ The Missing Foundation: Culture’s place within and beyond the SDGshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/missing-foundation-report Our work in the creative economyhttps://arts.britishcouncil.org/what-we-do/creative-economy 

Did you know that 12 August is International Youth Day? But what happens the day after is just as important, so how can we ensure that it’s both a short-term celebration and a catalyst for lasting change?In this special episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson revisits conversations from season 3, including previously unheard audio,  with six inspiring young people. They work across a range of fields, including climate action, health, disability rights, youth policy, culture and filmmaking.A selection of our guests from the past season - Amanda da Cruz Costa, Bukky Adebowale, Saja Mohammed Alkadhimi, Juhi Adhikari, Caitlin Askin and Marko Pešikan  - reflect on how their identities and communities have shaped their work, the barriers young people continue to face, and the importance of having a genuine and authentic voice in decisions affecting their lives.Marking International Youth Day and its theme, ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’, the episode asks what meaningful youth leadership looks like and what governments, institutions and other generations must do to continue to support and engage when the global spotlight moves on.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.Further resources:Next Generation research serieshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/research-series/next-generation Global Perceptions research serieshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/research-series/global-perceptions International Youth Day 2026https://social.desa.un.org/issues/youth/events/international-youth-day-2026 

What can football teach us about connection, community and diplomacy in an interconnected world?In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with Dr. Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff about football’s role as a tool for soft power, exploring how major tournaments such as the FIFA Men’s World Cup shape international relationships and global perceptions.We also hear from Nomonde Mashabane, a coach and educator from the Soweto township of Johannesburg, South Africa. Her experiences with the British Council and Premier League’s Premier Skills programme demonstrate how football can build confidence, develop personal and social skills, and strengthen communities.Together, their stories reveal the links between grassroots football and the global spectacle of the World Cup, showing how the game can bring people together across cultures, communities and borders.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.Further resources:Premier Skills Programme https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/schools/premier-skillsSport, cultural relations and peacebuildinghttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/cultural-relations-sport-peacebuilding Lindsay Sarah Krasnoffhttps://www.lindsaysarahkrasnoff.com/ 

What skills will young people need to thrive in a greener, more inclusive digital future?In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with William Mutero, Director of the Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa at Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Rwanda, about how digital transformation and climate action are reshaping societies and opportunities around the world. Together, they explore the growing connection between digital and green skills, the importance of inclusive innovation, and why Africa is central to conversations about the future of technology and sustainability.We also hear from Amanda Costa, Youth Advisor for the British Council’s Climate Skills programme and founder of Instituto Perifa Sustentável in Brazil. Amanda reflects on how her experiences in education, climate activism, and community leadership have shaped her understanding of sustainability, technology, and social justice, and why local knowledge and youth voices matter in building more resilient futures.This episode explores how education, collaboration and representation can help ensure digital futures are more sustainable, inclusive and human-centred.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.Further resources:Youth Connect Live: building an inclusive climate futurehttps://www.britishcouncil.org/education/non-formal-education/youth-connect/live/youth-connect-live-building-inclusive-climate Afretec Network https://engineering.cmu.edu/afretec/directory/bios/mutero-william.html Climate Connection Hive report Skills for an Inclusive Transition: Youth realities and green opportunity pathways https://www.britishcouncil.org/climate-connection/get-involved/hive-campaign

What does it really mean to reset a relationship between nations?In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson is joined by Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin, to discuss the complex and deeply intertwined relationship between the UK and Ireland. Drawing on her own life and work across Ireland, the UK and beyond, Jane reflects on how history, imperial legacy and mobility continue to shape identities and relationships across these islands. Exploring difficult conversations about the past and the challenges brought about by Brexit, as well as celebrating educational and cultural links and looking to a more hopeful future, she explores how these connections can be nurtured.We also hear a personal perspective from Bukky Adebowale, Policy Education Officer at the Irish Network Against Racism. Bukky shares how her educational and cultural experiences in Ireland and later in the UK shaped her understanding of her Irish and Yoruba identity, sense of belonging and connections. Her story highlights how education, culture and relationships can help people bridge histories, communities and borders.This episode questions whether national relationships can ever be reset through diplomacy alone, and how culture, education and people-to-people connections can help imagine a more open, empathetic future.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world.Further resources:Erasmus+ https://www.britishcouncil.org/erasmusplus Higher Education Mobility UK and Irelandhttps://www.britishcouncil.ie/higher-education-mobility-researchProfessor Jane Ohlmeyerhttps://www.janeohlmeyer.ie/

What does it really mean for a city to be a “city of culture”? And what role can culture play in shaping more peaceful and connected societies?In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, about how cultural programmes can transform the way cities see themselves and connect with the wider world. Drawing on Bradford’s story, Shanaz reflects on the power of culture to bring communities together, create space for dialogue about identity and history, and build lasting international partnerships rooted in creativity and exchange.We also hear personal perspectives from Caitlin Askin, an administrator and museum guide at the Museum of Free Derry, and Marko Pešikan, a filmmaker and teacher from Sarajevo, who both took part in the Here We Stand project. Marko created this film with his co-creator, Hanan Alić. “For us, this project was a really meaningful experience because it reminded us that peace is not something distant or theoretical. It’s something very human. Through the film, we tried to show that even when the world feels chaotic, there are still places inside of us where calm exists. Being part of telling that story made the whole process feel very real and it showed us how a simple idea can grow into something that people can actually connect with,” said Marko. Through their experiences, they explore how storytelling, film and artistic collaboration can help young people make sense of conflict, express their identities, and connect with others across borders. Their stories highlight the role of culture not only in reflecting lived experience, but in fostering empathy, resilience and a sense of shared humanity.This episode asks how cities can use culture not just to celebrate who they are, but to engage with difficult histories, strengthen connections across divides, and contribute to a more peaceful and inclusive future.Links: https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/role-artistic-expressions-positive-peacehttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/cities-everyday-endotic-cultural-relationshttps://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/eurovision2023https://www.britishcouncil.rs/en/programmes/education/different-memories-shared-futures-towards-inclusive-memorialisation 

What can cultural relations organisations be doing now, and in the future, to support people in the midst of the conflict in the Middle East?In this special mini-episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with Zahid Mahmood, the British Council’s Director in Libya, about the role of cultural relations in times of conflict. Drawing on his experience working across the Middle East and North Africa, Zahid reflects on building trust in conflict-affected regions, the long-term impact of youth and cultural programmes, and why soft power and diplomacy remain vital even in moments of escalating geopolitical tension.Further resourcesl021_young_arab_voice_from_voice_to_encounter_final_v2_web.pdfhttps://www.britishcouncil.ly/enhttps://www.britishcouncil.org/partner/international-development/approach/regions/middle-east-north-africa

What does diplomacy look like in an era defined by conflict, mistrust and geopolitical rivalry? In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson speaks with Laurie Bristow, former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan, Russia and Azerbaijan, about the evolving role of diplomacy in a more volatile and transactional world. Drawing on more than three decades at the heart of British foreign and national security policy, Laurie reflects on the end of the Cold War, the invasion of Iraq, the fall of Kabul in 2021, and what these moments reveal about power, perception and policy. From ‘cognitive warfare’ and disinformation, to the limits of military intervention, he examines how misunderstanding, resentment and short-term thinking can shape global events, exploring how diplomacy must adapt in response.We also hear a personal perspective from Noor Al-Naser, Iraqi peacebuilding specialist and Scottish Peace Platform Manager at Beyond Borders. Noor shares how a bombing in Baghdad during her teenage years led her into diplomacy and UN work in mine action, counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism. Her experience bridges frontline humanitarian efforts and grassroots peacebuilding, highlighting the importance of trust, cultural understanding and sustained local engagement in building more stable societies.This episode asks what responsible international engagement means today, and whether diplomacy still has the patience and imagination to shape a more peaceful future.Listen to Our World, Connected, the award-winning podcast from the British Council, exploring culture, communication, and the power of collaboration in a changing world. 🏆 Winner of Gold for Thought Leadership at the 2025 Signal Awards.Additional Resources: UK cultural diplomacy in Europe 1989-2025https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/UK-cultural-diplomacy-Europe Afghanistan: the inside story of the withdrawalhttps://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/afghanistan-inside-story-of-the-withdrawal Global Perceptions 2025https://www.britishcouncil.org/global-perceptions-2025