New season out now: Let's Talk About Solidarity

 

It has been a long time coming, this new People vs Inequality Podcast Season on solidarity. It started with a conversation in January 2022, when Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity from around the world gathered in London for a leadership summit. We looked at the state of the world, and felt the urgent need to do things differently, to rebuild or reimagine solidarity at a time in which crises seemed to be compounding. Fast forward to today and this feeling has only become stronger, as people working for a more just and equal world navigate between despair, resistance and active hope. Again, solidarity is key to keep us going, to feel the support from others and simply human, or to make sure the work truly serves the needs and voices of those most at risk. 

So join us for a new season of the People vs Inequality podcast on one of the biggest themes when it comes to changemaking and tackling inequalities: solidarity. Is solidarity in crisis or booming? What do we actually mean when we say solidarity? How can we unpack, critique, rebuild or reimagine solidarity in these times of great need? One step: creating the space to talk about it, to share our doubts, fears, frustrations, hopes, learning and more. This is what a group of Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity did over the past two years, resulting in a collection of community reflections and this podcast.

Split into four episodes, this new session will showcase a diversity of perspectives on solidarity and diving into some key questions that people are trying to grapple during an increasingly challenging context:
● Within a context of multi-crises affecting people, rights and planet, with some hit so much
harder than others, how can we offer, practice and receive solidarity in ways that are caring,
just, and helpful?
● What are questions, dilemmas and lessons emerging in solidarity spaces at this time?
● What needs, obstacles and opportunities might be there, and what would help us, as
individuals, community, or other, in fostering and practicing solidarity?


To explore these questions, guests will unpack what solidarity means at this crucial moment in time
where society is facing unprecedented challenges, either referring to the lack of it, or the need to
build or rebuild, especially in times of climate crisis, growing inequalities, conflicts, genocides and
democratic backsliding.

The inspiration for this brand new fifth season comes from two year-long conversations on solidarity
that tried to unpack what this topic means within the Atlantic Fellows community, led by Barbara Van
Paassen, alongside Amanda Segnini, a Climate Justice Activist and Campaigner and Ruby Hembrom,
an Indigenous cultural practitioner, documentarian, writer and publisher, and joined by many other
fellows along the way.


Throughout the Solidarity Incubation Lab journey as part of the LSE Atlantic Fellows for Social and
Economic Equity, the Atlantic Fellows have seen the power of conversations about solidarity as a
way of learning, sharing, critically reflecting and even practising solidarity by building relations and
understanding each other’s needs.


With the goal of fostering and sharing a dialogue about this topic with other communities, each
episode for this new season of People Vs Inequality Podcast will feature guests from different fields
and backgrounds in conversation with Barbara, Amanda and Ruby. 

In this first episode you hear what we did, why it felt so valuable and what we found along the way.  Amanda, Barbara and Ruby talk about what brought them to this space, what solidarity means to them and what they learned in this time together – amidst so much violence and injustice in the world. Of course they also share their hope in moving forward practicing solidarity and simply being human.

In need of some inspiration? Please grab a coffee or tea and listen in on the conversation!

Resources:

  • Publication with community reflections on solidarity 

  • “Let’s talk about solidarity” blogpost Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity


 

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