Episode notes
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.…
Podcast
Our World, Connected
British Council · Society & Culture · English
Our World, Connected is the award-winning podcast from the British Council. Host Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight, explores how culture, language, and education are shaping our lives and our shared future. She speaks to experts and changemakers around the world to discover what con
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22 Oct 2025 · 38 min
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…
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S3 · E1 · 24 Sep 2025 · 34 min
Culture as climate action: creativity, community and change
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…
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17 Sep 2025 · 2 min
Season 3 - Trailer
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…
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10 Sep 2025 · 14 min
Teaching hope: conflict, courage and community
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…
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3 Sep 2025 · 15 min
Living stories: art, space and memory
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…
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S2 · E12 · 18 Jun 2025 · 33 min
Connecting through dialogue: deep listening in divided times
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…
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S2 · E11 · 4 Jun 2025 · 50 min
Changing words, changing worlds: English in an age of transformation
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…
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S2 · E2 · 21 May 2025 · 34 min
Power in knowledge: How girls’ education helps communities thrive
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…
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S2 · E9 · 7 May 2025 · 36 min
Exhibitions in motion: what happens when art travels
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…
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S2 · E8 · 23 Apr 2025 · 33 min
Classrooms in crisis: the role of education technology in conflict
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…
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