The Conversation Weekly

The Conversation

A show for curious minds, from The Conversation. Each week, host Gemma Ware speaks to an academic expert about a topic in the news to understand how we got here.

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288 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes288

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Feb 12, 2024 · 22 min
Deepfakes and disinformation swirl ahead of Indonesian election
Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, goes to the polls on February 14 to elect a new president. It’s one of the largest elections to take place since an explosion of generative AI tools became available that can manipulate video and audio – and a number of deepfake videos have gone viral during the campaign. In this episode, we look at what Indonesia’s experience is revealing about the disinformation battleground ahead in 2024, when an estimated four billion voters will be eligible to vote in an election. Featuring F.X. Lilik Dwi Mardjianto, a journalism researcher at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara in Inodnesia and Nuurrianti Jalli, assistant professor of Professional Practice, School of Media and Strategic Communications, Oklahoma State University in the US. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with assistance from Katie Flood. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits available here. A transcript will be available shortly. Sign up to a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading and listening: Indonesia’s presidential election may go to run-off, despite what the polls say Fake Biden robocall to New Hampshire voters highlights how easy it is to make deepfakes − and how hard it is to defend against AI-generated disinformation Disinformation is often blamed for swaying elections – the research says something else
Feb 8, 2024 · 19 min
Environments can shape the differences between cultures
In some cultures, people are frugal while in others they tend to be generous. Some cultures favour meticulous planning while others favour living in the moment. Theories abound about how and why differences like these between cultures emerge and, increasingly, researchers are looking to the environments people live in for answers. In this episode, Mend Mariwany explores what role ecological factors, including the climate, play in shaping cultural norms and behaviour. Featuring Michael Varnum, associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University in the US. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written by Mend Mariwany, and produced by Mend Mariwany and Meher Batia with assistance from Katie Flood. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Full credits available here. A transcript will be available shortly. Sign up to a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading and listening: Nearly 20% of the cultural differences between societies boil down to ecological factors – new research Why rice growers in China are more sexually liberal than wheat growers How culture informs people’s emotional reaction to music – podcast
Feb 1, 2024 · 21 min
The complicated journey toward a list of all life on Earth
In our chaotic, rapidly changing modern world, many of us have come to rely on science for objectivity and to provide sense of order. So it may be disconcerting to learn that there is no single, definitive list of all life on Earth. And there never has been. In this episode, we take you inside the world of taxonomy, where competing lists, rogue taxonomists and recent accusations of anarchy have revealed the messy struggle to classify the world around us. Featuring Stephen Garnett, professor of conservation and sustainable livelihoods at Charles Darwin University in Australia, and Signe Dean, science and technology editor for The Conversation in Australia. This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Full credits available here. A transcript will be available shortly. Sign up to a free daily newsletter from The Conversation and to The Conversation's Science Wrap newsletter. Further reading: We need a single list of all life on Earth – and most taxonomists now agree on how to start How a scientific spat over how to name species turned into a big plus for nature What makes a good bird name? Thousands of undiscovered mammal species may be hidden in plain sight, new research finds
Jan 25, 2024 · 19 min
Descendants of Holocaust survivors explain why they are replicating Auschwitz tattoos on their own bodies
Nearly eight decades on from the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27 1945, the number of concentration camp prisoners forcibly tattooed, remains, for many, the symbol of the Holocaust. The Nazis murdered six million Jews, one million of whom died at Auschwitz. Today, there are ever fewer survivors still alive to bear witness to this genocide. In this episode, brought to us by Dale Berning Sawa, we find out what motivates some descendants of Holocaust survivors to replicate the Auschwitz tattoo of their parent or grandparent on their own bodies, and hear about the reactions they’ve had. Featuring Alice Bloch, professor of sociology at the University of Manchester, Orly Weintraub Gilad and David Rubin. This episode was written by Dale Berning Sawa and produced by Mend Mariwany, with assistance from Gemma Ware and Katie Flood. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Full credits available here. A transcript will be available shortly. Sign up to a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading: Descendants of Holocaust survivors explain why they are replicating Auschwitz tattoos on their own bodies Holocaust Memorial Day shouldn’t be about ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’ – unsung, ordinary people made the biggest difference Auschwitz: Women used different survival and sabotage strategies than men at Nazi death camp
Jan 18, 2024 · 23 min
Women lifestyle influencers are changing the face of the far right
When you think about the far right, you probably picture groups of young, white men carrying images of swastikas or torches. But the face of the far right is changing, at least on social media. In this episode, we hear about new research into a cohort of women influencers pushing far right ideology on mainstream platforms like Instagram and YouTube. The Conversation's Avery Anapol speak to Eviane Leidig, a postdoctoral research fellow at Tilburg University in the Netherlands who focuses on far right ideology, gender and the internet. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany with production assistance from Katie Flood. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Full credits available here. A transcript is also available. Sign up to a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading: Far-right ‘tradwives’ see feminism as evil. Their lifestyles push back against ‘the lie of equality’ Jan. 6 was an example of networked incitement − a media and disinformation expert explains the danger of political violence orchestrated over social media
Jan 11, 2024 · 21 min
Interoception: the sixth sense we use to read hidden signals from our body
At every moment, your body’s internal organs are sending signals to your brain. You’ll be mostly unaware of them, but sometimes they cut through: for example when you’re hungry, or when you need to go to the bathroom. Our ability to tap into these hidden signals is called interoception – sometimes known as a sixth sense. In this episode, we speak to a cognitive neuroscientist and expert on interoception about how new research on this connection between our minds and bodies could lead to breakthroughs in mental and physical healthcare. Featuring Sarah Garfinkel, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London in the UK, and Vivian Lam, associate health and biomedicine editor at The Conversation in the US. This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood with production assistance from Mend Mariwany. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Full credits available here. A transcript is now available. Sign up to a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading and listening: Do you eat with your eyes, your gut or your brain? A neuroscientist explains how to listen to your hunger during the holidays How signals from your body could be making you anxious Monkeys can sense their own heartbeats, an ability tied to mental health, consciousness and memory in humans
Jan 4, 2024 · 22 min
Wolves return to Europe: what to do about them is a people problem
Wolves are making a comeback across Europe. As their populations grow, 65,000 livestock are killed each year by wolves. Now, moves are underway to change the protection status of the wolf in the European Union. In this episode we speak to a social scientist researching the best ways for humans and wolves to coexist. Featuring Hanna Pettersson, a postdoctoral research associate at the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity at the University of York in the UK and Jack Marley, environment and energy editor at The Conversation in the UK. This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood with production assistance from Mend Mariwany. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The executive producer is Gemma Ware. Full credits available here. A transcript will be available shortly. Sign up to Imagine, a newsletter from The Conversation in which researchers imagine a world where climate action is the norm. Further reading and listening: Wolf protection in Europe has become deeply political – Spain’s experience tells us why Wolves are returning to European farmland – but they’re not motivated by a taste for sheep Europe has a wolf problem, and a late Norwegian philosopher had the solution Wolf restoration in Colorado shows how humans are rethinking their relationships with wild animals
Dec 21, 2023 · 17 min
Social media drains our brains and impacts our decision making
Ever found yourself scrolling through social media late at night and accidentally buying something you regretted? In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we talk to an advertising expert about research into how social media can overload ours brains and make us buy products we don’t need or want. Featuring Matthew Pittman, a professor of advertising at the University of Tennessee in the US, and Kate Kilpatrick from The Conversation in the US. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany with production assistance from Katie Flood and our intern Jusneel Mahal. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The executive producer is Gemma Ware.Full credits available here. A transcript is now available. Further reading and listening: Too many digital distractions are eroding our ability to read deeply, and here’s how we can become aware of what’s happening — podcast How social media can distort and misinform when communicating science Mounting research documents the harmful effects of social media use on mental health, including body image and development of eating disorders
Dec 18, 2023 · 21 min
Israel-Gaza war on campus part 2: a chilling effect on academic freedom
Across parts of academia, concerns are mounting that the Israel-Gaza war is having a chilling effect on academic freedom. In the second of two episodes exploring how the war is affecting life at universities, we speak to an Israeli legal scholar, now based in the UK, about the pressures that academics and students are facing to rein in their views about the war. Featuring Neve Gordon, professor of international law and human rights, Queen Mary University of London in the UK. This episode was written by Gemma Ware and produced by Mend Mariwany. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits available here. A transcript is now available. Further reading and listening: American universities in the spotlight over reaction to Israel-Gaza war – podcast Israel-Gaza: what the term genocide means under international law – podcast Defending space for free discussion, empathy and tolerance on campus is a challenge during Israel-Hamas war Why university presidents find it hard to punish advocating genocide − college free speech codes are both more and less protective than the First Amendment
Dec 14, 2023 · 24 min
Israel-Gaza war on campus part 1: American universities in the spotlight
Tensions have been running high at many universities around the world since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza. In the first of two episodes exploring how the war is affecting life at universities, we explore what's been happening at one American public college campus. Featuring David Mednicoff, chair of the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies and an associate professor of Middle Eastern studies and public policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Naomi Schalit, senior politics and society editor at The Conversation in the US. This episode was written by Gemma Ware and produced by Mend Mariwany. Sound design is by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits available here. A transcript is now available. Further reading and listening: Defending space for free discussion, empathy and tolerance on campus is a challenge during Israel-Hamas war Why university presidents find it hard to punish advocating genocide − college free speech codes are both more and less protective than the First Amendment Israel-Gaza: what the term genocide means under international law – podcast
Dec 11, 2023 · 21 min
Kenya at 60: the patriotic choral music used to present one version of history
Kenya is marking 60 years since its independence from British colonial rule on December 12, 1963. Each year, the country celebrates the occasion with a national holiday, Jamhuri Day. And for much of the past 60 years, patriotic choral music has been a regular feature of those celebrations. In this episode, we explore how much one song can tell you about the politics of a new nation – and who controls what gets remembered and what gets forgotten. Featuring Doseline Kiguru, a research associate in cultural and literary production in Africa at the University of Bristol in the UK, plus Julius Maina, East Africa editor at The Conversation based in Nairobi. This episode was produced by Katie Flood and Mend Mariwany. It was written by Gemma Ware, who is the executive producer of the show. Full credits for this episode are available here. A full transcript is now available. Further reading: Kenya at 60: the shameful truth about British colonial abuse and how it was covered up Humiliation and violence in Kenya’s colonial days – when old men were called ‘boy’ and Africans were publicly beaten Kenya’s ‘patriotic’ choral music has been used to embed a skewed version of history
Dec 7, 2023 · 25 min
Why unprecedented drought in the Amazon is so dangerous for the planet
As world leaders and their climate negotiators gathered at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in early December, on the other side of the world, Brazil was experiencing an unprecedented drought in the Amazon. Scientists fear it could release of billions of additional tons of carbon into the atmosphere. In this episode, we speak to an ecologist who has spent 45 years living and studying in the Amazon about the causes of the drought, why it’s so dangerous for the planet and what can be done to protect the rainforest. Featuring Philip Fearnside, ecologist and professor at the National Institute of Amazonian Research in Brazil. This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood with production assistance from Mend Mariwany. Gemma Ware is the executive producer of the show. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is also available. Further reading: Amazon region hit by trio of droughts in grim snapshot of the century to come Deforestation jeopardises agribusiness and food security in Brazil and worldwide Climate tipping points are nearer than you think – our new report warns of catastrophic risk UN’s ‘global stocktake’ on climate offers a sobering emissions reckoning − but there are also signs of progress
Nov 30, 2023 · 26 min
Genocide: the history of the term and what it means under international law
In the weeks since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the Israeli bombardment and ground assault on Gaza, both sides have traded accusations of genocide. Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostage, while Israel’s subsequent aerial and ground attack on Gaza have killed more than 15,000 Palestinians and displaced millions. In this episode we speak to an expert on genocide about the history of the term and what’s needed to prove it under today’s international legal definition. Featuring Alexander Hinton, distinguished professor of anthropology and director for the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University Newark in the US. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany with production assistance from Katie Flood. Gemma Ware is the executive producer of the show. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is also available. Further reading: Both Israel and Palestinian supporters accuse the other side of genocide – here’s what the term actually means Gaza’s next tragedy: Disease risk spreads amid overcrowded shelters, dirty water and breakdown of basic sanitation Hamas isn’t the first military group to hide behind civilians as a way to wage war
Nov 23, 2023 · 26 min
Brandalism: the environmental activists using spoof adverts to critique rampant consumerism
Amid the flurry of billboards promoting cut price deals in the run up to Black Friday, some activists have slipped in the odd spoof advert. By subverting public advertising space, they’re risking legal action to try and make serious points about the excesses of consumer culture and the perilous state of the environment. In this episode, we find out about the subvertising movement and its links to a wider conversation about mass consumerism and the environment. Featuring Eleftheria Lekakis, a senior lecturer in media and communication at the University of Sussex in the UK. This episode was written, produced and sound designed by Eloise Stevens, with production assistance from Mend Mariwany and Katie Flood. Gemma Ware is the executive producer of the show.. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is now available. Further reading: Why artists installed 600 fake adverts at COP21 Artists are not at the negotiating table at COP26 but art is everywhere. What can they accomplish through their work?
Nov 16, 2023 · 26 min
Antibiotic resistance: microbiologists turn to new technologies in the hunt for solutions
The rise of drug-resistant infections is one of the biggest global threats to health, food security and development. Antibiotic-resistant superbugs were estimated to kill 1.27 million people in 2019, and the UN projects that drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050. In this episode, we hear from a microbiologist at a hospital in Nigeria working on the frontlines against antibiotic resistance, and find out about the new scientific techniques, including artificial intelligence, being deployed to find new potential antibiotics. Featuring Nubwa Medugu, a clinical microbiologist at Nile University of Nigeria and André O. Hudson, dean of the College of Science and professor of biochemistry at Rochester Institute of Technology in the US. This episode was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware with assistance from Katie Flood. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer of the show. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is also available. Further reading: Will we still have antibiotics in 50 years? We asked 7 global experts Resistance to antibiotics in northern Nigeria: what bacteria are prevalent, and which drugs work against them Antibiotic resistance is at a crisis point – government support for academia and Big Pharma to find new drugs could help defeat superbugs More reading from our series on The dangers of antibiotic resistance
Nov 9, 2023 · 21 min
After Morocco's earthquake, artisans in Marrakech’s old medina face an uncertain future
Two months after the earthquake, we hear why Marrakech and its medina are so important to Islamic heritage – and why some researchers are worried that the expertise of the city's traditional artisans could being overlooked in the reconstruction. Featuring Abbey Stockstill, assistant professor of art history at Southern Methodist University in the US; Nour Eddine Nachaoune, professor of heritage at Université Mohammed V in Rabat; and Kalpana Jain, senior religion and ethics editor and director of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative at The Conversation in the US. This episode was written and produced by Gemma Ware and Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany, who also recorded the English voiceover in this episode. Eloise Stevens does our sound design, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer of the show. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript is now available. Further reading: Marrakech artisans – who have helped rebuild the Moroccan city before – are among those hit hard in the earthquake’s devastation Tinmel – Morocco’s medieval shrine and mosque – is one of the historic casualties of the earthquake What caused Morocco’s earthquake? A geologist studying the Atlas mountains explains
Nov 2, 2023 · 24 min
The wildfires that led to mass extinction. A warning from California's Ice Age history
In recent years, Californians have had to deal with some deadly and destructive wildfires. But in fact, this part of the western United States has been shaped by fire for millennia. And in this episode we hear about new research from California into a decades-old mystery about the extinction of large animals at the end of the Ice Age, which is providing some worrying lessons from history about the way humans, fire and ecosystems interact. Featuring Emily Lindsey, associate curator at La Brea Tar Pits and adjunct faculty at University of California, Los Angeles, and Stacy Morford, environment and climate editor at The Conversation in the US. This episode was produced and written by Katie Flood Gemma Ware. The executive producer was Gemma Ware. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available soon. Sign up for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading: A changing climate, growing human populations and widespread fires contributed to the last major extinction event − can we prevent another? ‘Zombie fires’ in the Arctic: Canada’s extreme wildfire season offers a glimpse of new risks in a warmer, drier future What 2,500 years of wildfire evidence and the extreme fire seasons of 1910 and 2020 tell us about the future of fire in the West
Oct 26, 2023 · 26 min
When domicide razed my city: a view from Homs in Syria
Homs was once the centre of the Syrian revolution. Today, 12 years on, much of the city remains scarred and deserted after years of siege and heavy bombardment. In this episode we speak to an architect from Homs about what the deliberate destruction of homes and neighbourhoods, known as domicide, does to people displaced by conflict – and his perspective on the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Featuring Ammar Azzouz, research fellow in geography and the environment at the University of Oxford in the UK. This episode was produced and written by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. The executive producer was Gemma Ware. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available soon. Sign up for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading: ‘My home city was destroyed by war but I will not lose hope’ – how modern warfare turns neighbourhoods into battlefields How Syrian architects can start to rebuild – even in the devastation of war Ongoing coverage from The Conversation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Oct 24, 2023 · 31 min
Don't Call Me Resilient: why are brown and Black people supporting the far right?
We’re bringing you an extra episode this week to share an interview from Don’t Call Me Resilient, another podcast from The Conversation. Hosted by Vinita Srivastava at The Conversation in Canada, Don’t Call Me Resilient is your weekly dose of news and current events through a sharply-focused anti-racist lens. In this episode which we're running in full, Vinita talks to Daniel Martinez HoSang, a professor of ethnicity, race and migration and American studies at Yale University about why brown and Black people are being drawn to far-right politics in the United States. It originally aired in early October 2023. You can listen to or follow Don’t Call Me Resilient on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Further reading: Republicans are trying to build a multiracial right – will it work? All episodes of Don't Call Me Resilient
Oct 19, 2023 · 21 min
Quantum dots: Louis Brus on the discovery that won him the Nobel prize
Imagine a particle so small that it’s the same relative size to a soccer ball as that football is to the planet Earth. That’s the size of a quantum dot – a type of nanocrystal that changes colour depending on its size, and was once thought impossible to actually make. Now, three scientists who helped discover and synthesise these quantum dots have been awarded the 2023 Nobel prize in chemistry. In this week’s episode we speak to Louis Brus, one of these new Nobel laureates, and an emeritus professor of chemistry at Columbia University in New York, about his work on quantum dots and what winning the accolade means. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was produced and written by Gemma Ware and Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. The executive producer was Gemma Ware. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Full credits for this episode are available here. A transcript will be available soon. Sign up for a free daily newsletter from The Conversation. Further reading: Quantum dots − a new Nobel laureate describes the development of these nanoparticles from basic research to industry application Nobel prize in chemistry awarded for ‘quantum dot’ technology that gave us today’s high definition TVs Full coverage of the 2023 Nobel prizes Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, in prison for speaking up against human rights violations, has been a voice for women for almost two decades Jon Fosse: Nobel prize in literature winner is a playwright who puts outsiders centre stage