Shows
People vs Inequality PodcastS6 Ep1 Bridging research and practice to save democracy: being brave & stepping into the unknownWelcome to the People vs Inequality Podcast! In a time of crisis and fast change, this podcast is a space to reflect and learn with changemakers on how to tackle inequality. In this season we dive into the question of how academics and practitioners can better collaborate at this time of great need. As more and more countries are facing democratic backlash, both activists and academics are under attack. They are also in a unique position to defend civic space and human rights - especially if they come together. What can we learn from those working across t...
2025-12-1137 min
People vs Inequality PodcastSPECIAL: Worldmaking (or how we get more feminist narratives for a caring economy)Join us for a special episode in which we explore the role of arts and imagination in changing the script towards a more just and caring economy. It is increasingly recognized that narratives play a key role in how we understand and navigate the world, ánd in how decisions are taken that affect us all. As our economies favor the few and are increasingly unsustainable: How can we challenge the dominant narratives that hold us back (such as "economic growth is THE way")? How can we build and amplify alternatives that work for women and all living species? What a...
2025-09-0349 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS5 Ep4: Solidarity in times of autocratizationAs democracy and civic space are under attack in many places across the globe we explore what solidarity means when basic rights are quickly eroded. In this final episode of the 'Let's talk about solidarity' series* we dive into what solidarity can look like when autocrats and anti-rights groups gain power, and some groups are hit harder or earlier than others? We do this with another two amazing guests, Akshita Siddula, community organizer and leadership coach from Baltimore, US, and Rafael Barrio de Mendoza Zavallos, researcher and Cambridge Phd candidate from Lima, Peru. What can we...
2025-06-2439 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS5 Ep3: Solidarity in times of genocideWhat does solidarity mean to people facing occupation, war, genocide even? And what can we learn from the past 1,5 years when it comes to standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine, and people being oppressed across the globe? No easy questions, but we are exploring them in this episode with three amazing women. Rana al Qawasmi is a Palestinian nutritionist and public health specialist, Lyla Adwan-Kamara is a Palestinian-Irish disability rights activist and leader, and Michaela Rafferty is an Irish youth worker and activist with a longstanding solidarity bond with Palestine. The three of them will r...
2025-06-0942 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS5 Ep.2: Solidarity in times of climate breakdownIn a time of great injustice and a burning planet: what can we do to strengthen or reimagine solidarity? From grassroots action in post-apartheid South Africa, to India’s, Brazil’s and global movements for land rights, fossil fuel phaseout and climate just alternatives: what can we learn on what works and what doesn’t?In this episode we hear from three wonderful climate justice activists and thinkers exploring this question. Najma Mohamed, Maduresh Kumar and Amanda Segnini bring a wealth of experience from different parts of the globe. They reflect on what it means when you move f...
2025-05-2242 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS5 Ep1: Let's talk about solidarityJoin 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 is 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...
2025-05-0934 min
People vs Inequality PodcastLIVE RECORDING: Finding agency and bridging worlds in challenging times.In a time of crisis and conflict, how can we find agency and work together across spaces in ways that contribute to a more just, caring and equal world? Join us for our very first LIVE recording, straight from the Politics of Inequality Conference at the London School of Economics in London, where we speak with the amazing Lyla Adwan-Kamara and Dr. Philippa Mullins. Two people bringing unique personal and professional perspectives to these questions, with a level of depth and care that we wish everyone to hear. Lyla is a Ghana-based Palestinian-Irish me...
2025-02-1030 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS. 4 Ep. 4: Another philanthropy is possible - funding movements for food justiceWe are excited to present to you the long overdue final episode of our season on Food Justice! And trust us, it is worth the wait :) Our current global food system is highly unequal and unsustainable and, compounded by conflict and climate change, hunger has risen sharply over the past years. We have heard in previous episodes how farmers, communities and movements are building sustainable alternatives like agroecology. What can funders do to address the broken food system and truly support those on the frontline to create systemic change? Join us for this episode to learn more f...
2025-01-2434 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS.4 Ep.3 Transforming the politics of knowledge for food justiceIt's been a while but we are back with another exiting episode on Food Justice! Whose knowledge is considered when taking decisions? How to transform the politics of knowledge and the narratives that drive growing inequalities and unsustainable food systems? Join us for this episode to learn more!Whilst the world continues to grapple with the reality of yet another food price crisis and growing hunger, we speak to those on the frontline to find out why the food system keeps failing and what we can do about it. In previous episodes we spoke to farmers on...
2024-01-1833 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS.4 Ep. 2: Challenging corporate power in the food systemWhilst the world is trying to grapple with the reality of yet another food price crisis and growing hunger, we speak to those on the frontline to find out why the food system keeps failing and what we can do about it. In today’s episode we dive into the role of large multinational companies in the food system and what citizens and campaigners can do to shift power in favour of people and planet. We speak to Nina Holland, who is a researcher and campaigner on food and agriculture at Corporate Europe Observatory. Her mott...
2023-05-2327 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS.4 Ep. 1: Farmers uniting for a more just and sustainable food systemWhilst the world is trying to grapple with the reality of yet another food price crisis and growing hunger, we speak to those on the frontline to find out why the food system keeps failing and what we can do about it. We kick off this new series on Food Justice with those who are growing the food that is on our plates: farmers. This episode features not one but two leaders of La Via Campesina – the worlds’ biggest movement of peasants, indigenous peoples and rural workers. Anuka De Silva is a young peasant leader of the Sri L...
2023-04-2032 min
People vs Inequality PodcastA Conversation on Intersectional Movement Building (Webinar Recording)We recently held a powerful conversation on intersectional and interconnected movement-building in collaboration with the Fight Inequality Alliance. It was our very first live podcast recording that many of you attended. This is your chance to catch up if you missed it or listen again, as there was much to reflect on!This conversation featured an amazing panel of activists and movement leaders including Njoki Njehu (FIA), Tasneem Essop (CAN I’nal), Emilia Reyes (Campaign of Campaigns) and was hosted by Nadia Fabela (FIA) and Barbara van Paassen (host People vs Inequality podcast)Together we explored: Ho...
2022-09-081h 27
People vs Inequality PodcastAnnouncement live event on intersectional movement building & more!A short message from us at the People vs Inequality Podcast to share with you an exciting event and live podcast recording we are hosting on the 25th of August.Together with the Fight Inequality Alliance we invite you to join: A conversation on intersectional movement-building. How are the climate and inequality movement coming together? What are challenges and opportunities to bring these important voices together at a time of great need?Sign up now! https://fightinequality.org/intersectional-movement-building We also invite you to share your feedback on our podcast to he...
2022-08-1701 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS3 Ep 4: Veggies for Good: A chance encounter sustains lives in a Time of Covid“Sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith.” Our fourth and last episode on emergent agency is a story of a family-initiated spontaneous response to the hardships the pandemic and lockdowns brought upon urban-poor mothers. Veggies for Good is a social enterprise that started from a basketball court sale, then moved online, directly linking farmers to urban consumers and providing livelihoods to urban-poor women. We speak to Ditsi Carolino, a filmmaker turned social entrepreneur that was driven to action when she met Dorina, who would walk six hours a day to get food to feed her family duri...
2022-05-3035 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS3 Ep 3: We The People: Youth led accountability in a Time of CovidAccountability is one of those words often used but too little practised. How to make it practical and deliver for people, especially in times of crisis and lockdown when it is literally about life and death? In the third episode of the Emergent Agency series, we speak to Narayan Adhikari. Narayan is the co-founder and lead for the Nepal Accountability Lab, and is passionate about getting citizens voices heard. We hear how this young organization, and their civic action teams, were able to adapt and respond effectively during the pandemic; how they supported stranded migrants and communities that...
2022-05-1226 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS3 Ep 2b: How social movements saved lives and rights in a Time of Covid (An English summary of Episode 2 on Emergent Agency)In this short summary episode we hear how social movements in Argentina saved lives during the pandemic and how women from poor neighbourhoods are organizing for their rights. We speak to Francisco Longa, and reflect on the work of Dina Sanchez whom we heard from in the Spanish Episode Two of this series. So for all you English speaking listeners, this is your chance to hear her story and more! From the personal to the political – we talk about how women and informal workers were particularly affected and what life in poor neighbourhoods looks like during a pandemic. We di...
2022-05-0517 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS3 Ep 2: Movimientos Sociales en tiempo de Covid - salvando vidas y derechosEn un momento histórico de crisis y cambios rápidos, este podcast es un espacio para reflexionar y aprender con los agentes de cambio, sobre cómo abordar la desigualdad y la injusticia. Este es el primer episodio en español, y forma parte de una serie especial llamada ‘agencia emergente en tiempo de Covid’. Después de dos años de pandemia queremos entender como los movimientos sociales, comunidades y otros actores han respondido a circunstancias cambiantes y difíciles. En este episodio tenemos alguien que ha hecho un trabajo impactante con los movimientos sociales en Argentina. Nos lleva a...
2022-05-0433 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS3 Ep 1: Invisible Women - The leadership of widows in a Time of Covid In this first episode of our special series on Emergent Agency in a Time of Covid we dive into the story of Roseline Orwa. Roseline is an award-winning advocate for widows. She is the founder of the Rona Foundation, supporting and championing the rights of widows across Kenya. We hear how widows, who have long faced discrimination and abuse in rural Kenya, were affected during the pandemic. How did they respond and adapt to challenging and fast changing circumstances, in which their urgent basic needs and rights were at risk? From sending food on overloaded buses and mentoring yo...
2022-04-2734 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS2 Ep 5: Climate justice NOW - what's next for the movements?In this fifth and final episode of the series on climate justice, we look back on what we have heard and discuss what’s next for climate justice movements.We are joined by not one, but two, climate justice power houses and ask them where we are at and what action is most needed today. Tasneem Essop is the director of CAN I’nal, one of the biggest global climate networks, building coalitions with over 1500 organizations. She started out as an anti-apartheid activist and served as Provincial Minister in South Africa. Farhana Yamin is a renowned environmental lawyer that...
2022-03-1643 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS2 Ep 4: Art and civil disobedience - our last resort for climate justice?In 2015, 1500 activists blocked a brown coal mine in West Germany. It was the start of one of the most radical and effective European movements using peaceful civil disobedience and direct action for climate justice. Last year the art exhibition ‘People Powered Movement vs Shell’ showed decades of resistance to the injustices of an oil giant. Chihiro Geuzenbroek is a Bolivian-Dutch activist, artist and filmmaker, who played an important part in both events - and many more in a decade of climate movement building. We ask her why it is so important to take a radical approach and how citizen’s dire...
2022-02-2435 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS2 Ep 3: Indigenous Peoples defending their rights and the planetHow can we get urgent climate action that is also just? In this episode we hear from long standing Indigenous defender Victoria Tauli-Corpuz on why we need to put indigenous perspectives central in tackling climate change and what that means for climate justice.From mobilizing her own community in the Philippines against destructive dams and dictatorship to serving as a UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, her mission has not changed: to bring Indigenous voices and knowledge into decision-making. How to combine insider and outsider roles to get tangible results? And how to make sure...
2022-02-0935 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS2 Ep 2: Lawyers and citizens taking on big oil for a just transitionIn this second episode of our climate justice series, we explore what the growing strategic litigation movement can mean for climate justice. We speak to Tessa Khan, a leading environmental and human rights lawyer who played an important role in winning landmark court cases, won the 2018 Climate Breakthrough Award and recently set up a new NGO called Uplift. We hear about her decision to focus her fight on a just and fossil fuel-free UK. How is she taking one of the most powerful industries in the world and why does she think we will win? And how to come...
2022-02-0236 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS2 Ep 1: Youth climate activism in the footsteps of Wangari MaathaiHow can we get urgent climate action that is also just? This is the question we explore in Series Two of the People vs Inequality podcast, learning from the stories of change-makers that are turning the tide for climate justice.We are kicking off with one of the most inspiring climate activists of today. Elizabeth Wathuti shows that youth climate activism is not new, as she planted her first tree at age 7 and turned anger into action by founding the Green Generation Initiative in 2015. Inspired by the late environmentalist and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai she shows wh...
2022-01-2540 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS1. Ep 4: Women’s economic justice in times of crisis: reflecting forwardIn this fourth and last episode of Series One we try to answer the question this all started with: Women’s economic justice - how can we make Covid-19 the game changer we so desperately need? What are some of the lessons and the opportunities or pockets of hope to build upon? We reflect back on the stories of Elizabeth, Emilia and Anuradha in the first three episodes and explore new insights and strategies to use this ‘portal’ for real change. We do this together with yet another three amazing women: Naila Kabeer, Professor of Gender and Development at the Lo...
2021-11-1745 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS1. Ep 3: Women’s funds reclaim philanthropy for systemic changeAs the pandemic hit, many social change actors tried to figure out how to best support those most affected. In this episode we speak to a funder, and not just any funder! Meet Anuradha Rajan, Executive Director of the South Asia Women Foundation India. India’s only women’s fund supports local movement building for women’s and trans people’s rights across the country. Over the past 1.5 years they took a real deep dive into how women were responding to the crisis and how to best support them. What did they learn and how has that shifted t...
2021-10-2738 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS.1 Ep 2: Feminists uniting to shift global economic powerFeminists from the Global South are coming together to shift power and transform the global economy. In this episode we speak to global campaigner and ‘technical activist’ Emilia Reyes, who is not afraid to address the fundamental imbalances in global decision-making and economic policies. Why is this so important from a women’s rights perspective? What challenges and opportunities does she see in getting governments and the United Nations to address tax avoidance, debt and austerity? And why did the pandemic compel her to start the Campaign of Campaigns? We are reminded of the need to look at the bigger...
2021-10-2032 min
People vs Inequality PodcastS1. Ep 1: Domestic workers organizing for a caring economyDid you know domestic workers, most of them women and many migrants, were among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 crisis? The lack of protection and people ignoring their plight meant they lost more jobs and work hours than any other sector. But they are organizing and standing up for their rights and a caring economy - something that could benefit all of us. How to push for structural change when you are struggling to survive? What can others do and what can we learn from that as we take on inequality? We explore this and more in...
2021-10-1229 min
People vs Inequality PodcastEpisode ZeroWelcome to the People vs Inequality Podcast. In this introduction episode host Barbara van Paassen explains the ideas behind the podcast. Join us on our journey to reflect and learn with changemakers on how to fight inequality. In this time of crisis and fast change we explore new strategies and insights to turn the tide and shift power for a more just and equal world.Sign up to follow our journey and get in touch if you have ideas and questions we should explore!Email: peoplevsinequality@gmail.comTwitter: @pplvsinequality
2021-09-2904 min