Hope in Polarized Times

You can do things differently, and just because it hasn't been done before, doesn't mean it can't be done," says Democratic Innovator Hall of Fame recipient Kate Chaney.In this episode, we talk with Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Curtin Kate Chaney about the importance of crowd wisdom and optimism in challenging traditional political paradigms. Through intimate conversations with voters- often sitting around the kitchen tables of their own homes to understand their priorities and values- she’s reshaping how we think of democracy and creating a more compassionate politics.This episode was recorded at the Athens Democracy Forum in September 2023, where Kate was named a ‘Democratic Innovator of the 21st Century’ by the Apolitical Foundation and the Democracy and Culture Foundation. Read our “Leaders or Latercomers” report about the barriers politicians face in implementing democratic innovations on our website.Reach us on X (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWStReach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

Politicians and people must come together to solve the biggest issues of our time. But how do we facilitate productive relationships in an environment of cynicism, distrust and polarization?In this episode, we talk with Secretary of Citizen Participation in Nuevo León (Mexico) Ximena Peredo about strategies to mainstream participation and creating public policy. As a former activist and columnist, she’s passionate about bridging the gap between citizens and government through innovative initiatives such as participatory budgeting in schools, a network of peace agents, and community mediation centers.This episode was recorded at the Athens Democracy Forum in September 2023, where Ximena was named as one of the ‘Democratic Innovators of the 21st Century’ by the Apolitical Foundation and the Democracy & Culture Foundation.Check out our Democratic Innovators of the 21st Century list to find out who else was recognized!Reach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

"We live today in the falling apart of what I would call consumer democracy."In this episode, New Citizenship Project co-founder and Citizens author Jon Alexander talks with our CEO Lisa Witter about the need to switch from a consumer story to citizens story in politics. He gives examples of what citizen-led governance looks like around the world and calls on politicians to work on trusting people.Since recording this podcast, we've hired Jon as a consultant on our Democratic Innovation work.Jon's book recommendations: Together by Ece Temelkuran, Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Marie Brown, and Citizen's Britain by Paddy AshdownReach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

* Khadija Patel has become Journalist in Residence at the International Fund for Public Interest Media since this episode was produced. She is referred to as Head of Programmes in this audio.  "What I want all politicians to assert is the value of news media, even when it is at their own personal expense.” In this episode, Khadija Patel,  the International Press Institute's Chairperson and International Fund for Public Interest Media's Journalist in Residence, discusses the dynamic between politicians and the media and what each side can do to better the relationship. Khadija is a well-known investigative reporter, one of the co-founders of the Daily Vox, and former editor in chief of South Africa’s well-known Mail and Guardian. Khadija's Book Recommendation: What Happened to You?, Oprah Winfrey and Dr Bruce PerryReach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

"Small is no longer beautiful".  That's the message from Bring Back Our Girls and Transparency International co-founder Dr Obiageli "Oby" Esekwesili this International Women's Day.  "We need think about how we go for broke."Dr Oby’s career is so varied and impressive that it’s hard to explain in a few lines.She served as Nigeria’s Minister of Education and Minister of Solid Minerals, was appointed World Bank’s vice president for Africa and ran for president.She also founded the political leadership incubator School of Politics Policy and Governance and the #FixPolitics initiative, in addition to sitting on the board of Women Political Leaders.Dr Oby's Book Recommendation: The Good State by AC GraylingReach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

This guest impressed us so much that we gave her a job! French-Tunisian revolutionary, politician and social entrepreneur Omezzine Khelifa was part of the 2011 revolution, ran for office and then served as an advisor to two ministers in her country's early post-revolution governments.She started working for us as Executive Director of our flagship Apolitical Academy Global program in January. In this episode recorded long before her employment with us, Omezzine gets candid about what her and her colleagues could have done better during Tunisia's transition to democracy. She says many post-revolution leaders lacked humility and employed a top-down approach, despite their protestor roots. After growing frustrated with how new leaders were treating young people, Omezzine set up social impact organization Mobdiun to bring innovation to public policy with a mission to inspire youth-led change in Tunisia.  This episode was produced at the 2022 Athens Democracy Forum in partnership with the Democracy and Culture Foundation.Omezzine's book recommendation: In Tempo di Guerra, Conchita De GregorioReach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

Political polarization is one of the defining narratives of our time and fewer topics create stronger feelings of hopelessness. In this episode,  Alison Goldsworthy—co-author of "Poles Apart: Why People Turn Against Each Other, and How to Bring Them Together"—delves into some of the science behind polarization and gives tips for making progress in polarized environments. She proves we CAN find hope, even in the face of daily social divisions. Alison's reading recommendations: Hungary, anti-Semitism and my lost Jewish ancestors by Kate Malby.UK government helped sanctioned Putin ally sue British journalist by Jim Fitzpatrick. Reach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

Former Senegalese Prime Minister Aminata Touré talks about what she thinks will help more women get into politics around the world, including quotas, better familial support and alliances between women leaders. Senegal has a relatively high proportion of women in parliament—44 per cent as of December 2022, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Ms Touré—who has often been called Senegal’s “Iron Lady”—was her country's second female prime minister.Ms Touré's book recommendation: Conversations with Myself, Nelson Mandela.  Reach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

Turkish journalist and author Ece Temelkuran has seen the worst of people. That hasn't stopped her from believing in humanity. In this episode of A Political Hope, Ece talks about a language of progress, why she avoids the concept of political hope and how politicians can use radical love in their work. She also discusses why she chooses to have faith in humanity, no matter how many times people let her down. This episode was produced at the 2022 Athens Democracy Forum in Partnership with the Democracy and Culture Foundation. We mention two of Ece's books in this episode: Together, and How to Lose a Country. Ece's book recommendation: The Years, by Annie ErnauxReach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

We'll be back sharing political hope from 10 Jan, 2023. Thank you so much for listening and daring to hope!Reach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via [email protected]. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt