Our World, Connected

In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on the extraordinary moment of collaboration betweenLiverpool and Ukraine when they hosted Eurovision in 2023. What does this experience teach us about the power of being united through arts and culture? And what is the value – to communities, cities, and countries - in hosting cultural mega-events like Eurovision?  Join our host Christine Wilson and guest David Watson, Executive Director of Audiences and Media at National Museums Liverpool, as they rewind to the electrifying atmosphere of last year's contest and its impact on local communities in Liverpool.We’ll also hear from Kyiv, Ukraine, where Tetyana Filevska, Creative Director of the Ukrainian Institute, tells us what it was like to see her home country being represented in Liverpool for Eurovision 2023. Dive deeper: Culture, place and partnership: the cultural relations of Eurovision 2023 -https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/eurovision2023 Hear more from David on his podcast, Before The Applause - https://www.beforetheapplausepod.com   Learn more about Tetyana’s work at the Ukrainian Institute - https://ui.org.ua/en/   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

Though progress has been made, there is still a long road ahead to gender equality. Join us as we explore existing and emerging barriers and opportunities for women’s empowerment, from deeply rooted social norms to new frontiers in technology. In the studio, our host Christine Wilson explores the multifaceted dimensions of gender equality with Naila Kabeer, Professor of Gender and Development at the London School of Economics. Our expert on-the-ground, Dharini Priscilla, reports from Sri Lanka, where digital technology creates new opportunities as well as new dangers for women's well-being and empowerment. Together, Christine, Naila, and Dharini confront the pressing issues and promising developments driving the agenda for gender equality worldwide. Dive deeper: Next Generation: What we know on women and girls - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/next-generation-women-girls  Dharini’s report on the gendered dimensions of Sri Lankan media - https://www.irex.org/MEND_Gender_in_Sri_Lanka_Media_English.pdf   Naila discussing a gender-responsive age-sensitive social protection strategy with the UNICEF Innocenti Centre - https://tinyurl.com/236y724h  Naila’s latest book ‘Renegotiating Patriarchy: Gender, Agency and the Bangladesh Paradox’ (LSE Press) will be published later in 2024.  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 

Culture is fundamental to who we are as human beings. Yet it is missing from global efforts to resolve the most pressing human issues of our time. Discover why recognising the importance of culture can open the door to a more equitable, sustainable, and connected world – and hear about priorities for action.  Our host, Christine Wilson, is joined in the studio by Professor Alexandra Xanthaki, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. We also travel to Brazil, where Pedro Affonso Ivo Franco tells us about his work as an International Consultant for Culture, Creativity and Development and how, amid the vibrant rhythms of Maracatu, culture creates new opportunities for communities.  In this first episode of ‘Our World, Connected’, Christine, Alexandra and Pedro discuss topics such as locally-led development, cultural and human rights, and whether culture deserves its own Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Dive deeper: The Missing Foundation: Culture’s place within and beyond the SDGs – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/missing-foundation-report  Pedro’s essay on the Cambinda Estrela Cultural Centre and Maracatu - https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ch4ig_essays_ivofranco_1_web.pdf   Alexandra’s role as the UN Special Rapporteur and latest reports -https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-cultural-rights   Follow British Council Research and Insight: Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe  Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish   Explore our insights: Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight

Our World, Connected is a brand-new podcast from the British Council, placing you at the heart of the biggest global conversations about culture, connection, and empowerment. Join host Christine Wilson, Director of British Council Research and Insight, and a diverse lineup of world-renowned experts and thinkers as they examine the most pressing issues of our time - and uncover the human stories behind them. Each episode will explore the transformative power of arts, culture, language, and education in the face of global challenges like peacebuilding, sustainable development, climate change, and the growth of AI.