Supporters’ voices are essential to our monthly podcast, We Need to Talk About … whether our subject matter is Brexit, nationalism or, as in our most recent edition, population and climate change. But your ideas and points of view are also essential in setting the agenda for our discussion – and this month, the topic for our conversation has been suggested by Henk de Jonge, a Guardian supporter from Okotoks, in Alberta, Canada.
“Will there be a podcast that delves into polarisation, which to me seems the most destructive trend in today’s society?” Henk wrote, in a thought-provoking email. “US politics seems to swing further left and particularly right with every election. Europe has bucked the trend, but the risk still exists with integration issues driven by mass migration – which won’t stop while climate change takes its toll around the world. Finding common ground seems to become harder and harder.”
I was particularly struck by Henk’s last sentence, which will be the starting point for the next podcast. It reminded me of George Monbiot’s recent essay for the Guardian, How do we get out of this Mess? in which he argues the need for people to come together in order to overcome our current challenges.
In We Need to Talk About … finding common ground, I’ll be bringing together Guardian supporters and journalists to discuss whether society is becoming more divided, why that might be the case, what the impact is, and how we might overcome it. Presuming, of course, that it needs to be overcome: you might believe that a more distinct politics offers voters a better choice and is better for society at large.
I’d like to invite Guardian supporters to send me their points of view on this subject, along with questions for a studio panel I’ll be bringing together to tackle your concerns. Do get in touch if you have thoughts on the impact of Brexit, and the gap between leave and remain voters; concerns about inequality of wealth and how that is affecting social cohesion; questions about divisions between generations and how they can be bridged.
Perhaps you think we need to talk about the role of social media in all this; maybe you have experience of bringing a community together. You might want to discuss the empowering effect of properly recognising and representing different experiences – and consider whether doing so necessarily leads to division.
I’d be keen to hear from those who read George Monbiot’s recent article, or book (reviewed here), or attended his recent Guardian Live event. Have you changed your views on this issue? What persuaded you?
Please do get in touch wherever you are in the world – Henk, for instance, thinks that in the US, the divide feels more extreme. We would like to hear views from a whole spectrum of thought – although please do be respectful of your fellow readers, particularly given our subject matter this month! To get involved, send an email to weneedtotalkabout@theguardian.com, including your question or point of view, and your name and, very importantly, a phone number so we can call you to record your question or point for the panel to address. Alternatively, fill in the form below.
And if you’d like to catch up with the podcast and previous discussions, you can do so at gu.com/talk-about.
