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Acts of mass violence are often described as sudden, random and unstoppable. Evidence from behavioural science and policing tells a different story. Join us for a timely and important podcast episode with Ian Cherrington , a former senior UK detective and behavioural analyst, now based in Australia, who has spent decades studying what people do before they carry out an act of violence — and...

Netflix's new show Adolescence has sparked a lot of recent conversation and online discussions because it explores teenage masculinity in raw, sometimes unsettling ways, touching on themes like male insecurity, toxic masculinity, peer pressure, and toxic online influences that mirror real-life dynamics within the Manosphere. From a countering violent extremism lens, it raises the question of defin...

In this episode we chat with one of the world’s leading experts on terrorist psychology, Dr John Horgan. John is a distinguished University Professor of Psychology at Georgia State University where he directs the Violent Extremism Research Group. His research examines terrorist behaviour. His current focus is on school shootings in the US, and the critical disconnect that happens where offenders l...

This podcast episode explores what the term incel means and what defines incel culture and ideology in this emerging form of gender based violent extremism. The Incel community has grown to be deeply ideological, promoting hate and violence against women across social media platforms and is becoming a growing cause of concern across the world. We chat with UK filmmaker and journalist Benjamin Zand...

Across the globe, there are vulnerable children and teenagers being exposed to various channels of information, often quite graphic, unfiltered and some can lead to exploitation. The responsibility for protecting kids, is community wide. It starts with parents and carers and teachers, but everyone has a role to play in keeping children safe from harm online. In this episode we chat with General Ma...

In this episode we chat with Fatina Elabd from Youth off the Streets. Youth Off the Streets provide intervention and support at the local level with a mission to support and empower young people. Homelessness in Australia is a growing problem. Almost 25% of all homeless Australians are young people aged 12-24. Jafar Sartawy is from their Leadership Program. He is an individual with a rich and dive...

Today’s podcast episode is all about communication. In our line of work our referrals are getting younger and parents are struggling with that communication disconnect with their teenagers – who are increasingly retreating online for that sense of belonging or understanding. It’s crucial we continue to communicate with our children – and in their world, so we can understand and know potential warn...

COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on young people found nearly half of the national school population being vulnerable to negative impacts. Misinformation, disinformation, stigmatisation, and extremism were disseminated at a higher rate than ever before. An extreme consequence was vulnerable young people being exposed to or becoming radicalised. Once such susceptible young person and client of the En...

This powerful episode is facilitated by Dr Malcolm Haddon from Multicultural NSW – the project sponsor and lead for CONTINUUM. The core of CONTINUUM is their network of inspiring Storytellers: Australian and New Zealander survivors of terrorism who are committed to telling their stories. Their stories can help transform society. The CONTINUUM vision is for everyone who listens to these stories to...

This episode features Ben James from AAP FactCheck. Ben is a journalist, editor and author with more than a decade of experience working at news organisations. AAP (or Australian Associated Press) FactCheck focuses on investigating claims of political significance and counteracting misinformation shared on social media. Fake videos, news and misinformation is everywhere. Bad actors are constantly...

In this introductory episode we do a deeper dive into the work that we do at ESU and the trends we see in our client base, usually in response to world events. We chat with Dr Kristy Campion from Charles Sturt University on emerging ideologies in Australia and how the focus today is on youth. Young people are increasingly vulnerable to engaging in violent extremism and our own referrals are gettin...