Better Politics Podcast

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Crowd Wisdom and Optimism in Reshaping Democratic Processes Mar 04, 2024

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 info@apolitical.foundation. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

Reach us on Twitter (@apoliticalfound), LinkedIn (Apolitical Foundation), Instagram (@apoliticalfoundation) and Facebook (@apoliticalfoundation) or email via info@apolitical.foundation. Sign up to our weekly briefing for inspiration to help you build better politics: bit.ly/3NlIWSt

Founding a Ministry of Citizen Participation Nov 30, 2023

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!

Embracing the Power of the Citizen Story May 02, 2023

"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 Ashdown

How Politicians Can Help Improve the Media Apr 03, 2023

* 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 Perry

"Do Big": Dr Oby's International Women's Day Call to Action Mar 08, 2023

"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 Grayling

Humility and Listening in Politics and Revolution Feb 21, 2023

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 Gregorio

Hope in Polarized Times Feb 06, 2023

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.

The Path for Women Politicians Jan 24, 2023

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.

Choosing Faith in Humanity Jan 10, 2023

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 Ernaux

Happy Holidays! We're Taking A Break. Dec 15, 2022

We'll be back sharing political hope from 10 Jan, 2023. Thank you so much for listening and daring to hope!

How to Get Activists Into Politics Dec 13, 2022

How do we get more passionate activists into political power? In this episode, we talk to movement builders Colombe Cahen-Salvador and Andrea Venzon about barriers to political office, what they look for in a future politician and what will happen if activists on the street continue to feel unrepresented in the halls of power.
Colombe and Andrea are co-founders of pan-European political party Volt Europa and, more recently, global movement and party in the making Atlas.
This episode was produced at the 2022 Athens Democracy Forum in partnership with the Democracy and Culture Foundation.
Andrea's book recommendation: Atomic Habits, by James Clear
Colombe's book recommendation: Invisible Women, by Caroline Criado Perez

The Path to "Accidental" Prime Minister Dec 08, 2022

How does a golfer from a non-political family end up prime minister? Former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb shares his unusual political path, including joining a party for the first time at 36 and becoming prime minister by "accident". He says we must find a way to be kinder to politicians and tells us why he's an internal optimist.
This interview was originally used for our A Political Path written interview series, which you can find in our weekly briefings. We liked it so much that we decided to bring a longer version to our podcast audience.

Why We Should Care About Politicians' Mental Wellbeing Nov 29, 2022

A politician’s mental wellbeing is as important as a pilot’s. So, why do we pay so little attention to the wellbeing of our leaders? In this episode, Dr Victoria Hasson and Dr Ashley Weinberg talk about why and how we should give politicians the support they need to serve people well, and why politicians' job creates barriers to accessing support.

Dr Ashley Weinberg is an occupational psychologist, who has been studying the psychology of politicians for 30 years. Dr Victoria Hasson is a political wellbeing trainer and the founder of the Silent MP.

Dr Hasson’s Book Recommendation: The Life of an MP: Everything You Really Need to Know About Politics by Jess Phillips

Dr Weinberg’s Book Recommendation: Why We Get the Wrong Politicians by Isabel Hardman

Hot book tip: Dr Weinberg edited Psychology of Democracy: Of the People, By the People, For the People, which was released last year.

What Good Climate Politicians Look Like Nov 15, 2022

We're finding hope in climate politics. Yes, that is possible!
Ramona Liberoff, now Executive Director of the World Resource Institute’s Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy, explores innovations, solutions and political possibility in this episode released during COP 27.
Ramona is an Apolitical Foundation Global Advisor and started her job at the Worlde Resources Institute after recording this interview. We are so grateful to her for her time and her precise observations.

Ramona’s book recommendations:
- Exponential by Azeem Azhar
- Africa is Not a Country: Breaking Stereotypes of Modern Africa by Dipo Faloyin
- California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric—and What It Means for America's Power Grid by Katherine Blunt
- The Unknowers: How Strategic Ignorance Rules the World by Linsey McGoey

Our book recommendation:
- Another World is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination

Lessons From a Nascent Democracy Nov 03, 2022

Former Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa talks about his unusual journey to politics, the need for prepared politicians and the importance of picking the right team. He also calls on young people to claim their place in politics and has some advice for protestors on the streets around the world.

Mr Jomaa was a different kind of politician. He left his aerospace career to serve Tunisia in the years after the Arab Spring and was appointed prime minister during a political crisis in 2014. He and his caretaker government were charged with organizing the first free and fair elections since 1956.

Note: In this episode, Bek says Mr Jomaa was chosen to be prime minister in 2014. He was actually chosen in December 2013 but started serving as prime minister in 2014.

Mr Jomaa’s Book Recommendation: Kalila and Dimna or the Fables of Bidpai

Giving You A Political Hope Oct 31, 2022

Welcome to A Political Hope! In this introductory episode, Apolitical Foundation CEO Lisa Witter and Communications Manager Rebekah Ison talk about the importance of political hope, where they find it and what's to come in this season.
Episode reading list: Psychology of Politicians by Dr Ashley Weinberg, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson.

Trailer: A Political Hope Oct 29, 2022

In need of some political hope? We're here to chat about the possibility of politics and the politics of possibility. Welcome to A Political Hope, the podcast exploring how we get the courageous, trusted and ethical politicians we need for the 21st century.

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