Thank You Democracy Podcast

In Episode 5 of Season 4 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Annie Zaman, journalist, media development specialist, and co-founder of Exile Hub , to explore the evolving landscape of democracy across Asia at a moment of growing pressure, transformation, and resilience during our #GDCAsiaRegionalMonth. Drawing on over two decades of experience supporting independent media and freed...

The Thank You Democracy podcast continues its journey across regions and lived democratic realities in Season 4. In Episode 4 for our #EuropeRegionalMonth, we sat down with  Dr. Justin Lane , CEO and Co‑Founder of  CulturePulse , to explore how artificial intelligence, human behavior, and narrative dynamics are reshaping democratic life across Europe at a moment of rising polarization and declinin...

The Thank You Democracy podcast continues its journey across regions and lived democratic realities in Season 4. In Episode 3 for our #AmericasRegionalMonth, we sat down with  Kyra Buchko , Co‑Executive Director of  PartnersGlobal , to explore what democratic renewal looks like across the Americas at a moment of deep polarization, institutional strain, and shifting global influence. Drawing on dec...

The Thank You Democracy podcast continues its journey across regions and lived realities in Season 4. In Episode 2, we sat down with Cynthia Chigwenya , a political researcher, pracademic, research consultant for Club of Rome , and former African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace for Southern Africa, to unpack what democracy looks like on the ground in Southern Africa. Drawing on her experience acr...

The Thank You Democracy podcast is returning with a new season that takes democracy on the road, across regions, contexts, and lived realities. Season 4 will explore how democracy is experienced today, where it is holding strong, where it is under pressure, and how it continues to evolve around the world. To kick off this season, we sat down with Eric Friedenwald-Fishman , the Creative Director of...

In the twelfth and final episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with  Margaret Satterthwaite  to discuss the personal journey, professional milestones, and global challenges that shape her work as UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. We also explore why judicial independence is essential for democracy, how global democracy backsliding is res...

In the eleventh episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with  Gavin Charles  to discuss how language, storytelling, and strategic communication can shape the way we understand, trust, and sustain democracy. We also examine the power of words to bridge divides, humanize policy, and remind us that democracy is, at its core, a shared conversation. Gavin Charles is the spee...

In the tenth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, the Coordinator of the  Global Democracy Coalition  and moderator of this podcast,  Elisenda Balleste Buxo , reflects on the journey we have shared throughout this season. With no guests, no interview questions, and no agenda, this special episode offers a quiet pause – a moment to make sense of the stories, ideas, and emotions t...

In the ninth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with  Kuda Chitsike  to discuss her career in advancing women’s rights and gender equality, the biggest barriers women face in meaningful democratic participation, what gives her hope in the global fight for gender equality, and her advice to young women aspiring to be leaders in democracy and human rights. Kuda is a...

In the eighth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with  Flávia Pellegrino  to discuss her journey in democracy and civic engagement, her work with  Pacto pela Democracia  and civic movements in Brazil, and how intergenerational dialogue, youth activism, coalition-building, and renewed narratives of hope can sustain democracy amid polarization and disillusionment. Fl...

In the seventh episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with  Mary Marjorie Martin-Chan  to discuss her journey through public service, women’s leadership and representation in politics, youth empowerment and mental health, inclusive governance and representation of marginalized groups, and balancing motherhood with public service. Mary Marjorie Martin-Chan was the City...

In the sixth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Flavia Pansieri to discuss her journey throughout the UN system, her vision of leadership, female representation in politics, the bridge between global multilateralism with local realities, and more. Flavia Pansieri is the former United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and member of GWL Voices ....

In the fifth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast alongside our Coalition Partner Asia Centre , we sat down with Pita Limjaroenrat , to discuss what it means to define democracy after being blocked from power, the emotional cost of public life amid structural resistance, and why hope, purposeful action, and civic courage remain central to democratic renewal, even when institution...

In the fourth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with  Koketso Moeti  to discuss the role of race and belonging in shaping participation, how migration and exclusion test the boundaries of democratic practice, and why centering marginalized voices is essential to the renewal of democracy everywhere. Koketso Moeti is a South African activist and the founder of  aman...

In the third episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Jorim Theuns to discuss transparency, inclusion, and accountability of digital tools, the feeling of true inclusion, and his journey in leading a civic tech initiative.  Jorim Theuns is the CEO and co-founder of Dembrane , a civic tech initiative dedicated to transforming how democratic participation works in eve...

In the second episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Lyudmyla Kozlovska to discuss the personal cost of activism, the shifting landscape of democratic values, and why solidarity, courage, and clear voices matter more than ever. Lyudmyla Kozlovska is the President of  Open Dialogue Foundation , an organization at the forefront of defending democracy, human rights,...

In the first episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Josh Lerner and Diana Dajer to discuss the  Democracy Narratives Campaign , how narrative work shifts public understanding beyond the political sphere, and how to create personal and relevant narratives for young people or marginalized communities. Diana Dajer is a Colombian lawyer, researcher, and the Manager of...

In the final episode of Season 2 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sit down with Danish activist and educator Karim Pedersen, a rare and powerful voice of cross-border solidarity in support of Belarus’s pro-democracy movement. Karim is the only foreigner working in the  Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , where he serves as Head of International Communications. Though he has no Belarusian ro...

In the seventh episode of the Thank You Democracy Podcast,  Asia Centre  sat down with  Saritha Irugalbandara , to discuss youth voter turnout and participation in South Asia and more specifically Sri Lanka, the outcome and implications of youth-led protests and the recent election, and the role of education and social media on political awareness. Saritha Irugalbandara is a queer feminist researc...

In the sixth episode of Season 2 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Vlad Adamescu and Răzvan Petri from  Politica la minut . This episode explores how they’ve built a powerful youth-oriented political platform in Romania, the challenges of political engagement among young people, the risks and rewards of social media, and how to defend democracy in an era of disinformation and po...

In the fifth episode of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Nicolas Albertoni. This episode covers his personal journey into politics and public service, his gratitude for his mentors, the role economic openness and international cooperation plays in strengthening democracy, the state of democracy in Uruguay, and more. Nicolás Albertoni was  Uruguay’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affai...

In the fourth episode of Season 2 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Nadia Tjahja and Camilo Toledo. This episode covers their journeys into the the internet governance and democracy space, the rise of disinformation and political polarization, how to protect against digital violence, and why we need to protect the freedoms promised in democracies. Nadia Tjahja is the coordinator...

In this upcoming episode of the Thank You Democracy Podcast,  Asia Centre  sat down with Chaehyun Kim, to discuss representation and barriers to youth in government, recent political events in South Korea, major youth-led democratic movements, and the existence of  and recommendations in overcoming barrier in youth participation on politics. Chaehyun Kim is an undergraduate in Division of Global K...

In the second episode of Season 2 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we continued our conversation from last week with Mary Yvonne Ododah and Mumbiko King’ori. This episode covers what they think a stronger, more inclusive democracy could look like in Africa, what gives them hope, and what they want the next generation of democracy defenders to know. Mary Yvonne Ododa serves as a Board Member of...

Welcome back to the Thank You Democracy Podcast! In the first episode of Season 2, we sat down with Mary Yvonne Ododah and Mumbiko King’ori in Nairobi, Kenya just prior to the GDC Africa Forum 2025. This episode covers how they first got involved in democracy work, the personal experiences that shaped them and the real pushback they face in shrinking civic spaces across Africa.  Mary Yvonne Ododa...