Policy Voices | What could bring people together ?
A podcast by Debating Europe, the citizen engagement unit of Friends of Europe
3 October 2025
Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground
Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground is a podcast series that cuts through the noise to explore the drivers of division and the pathways to unity. Produced by Debating Europe, part of Friends of Europe, this series brings together a wide range of voices – policymakers, civil society leaders, business innovators – highlighting findings from our latest research project, Voices for Choices.
Each episode focuses on core issues like economic inequality, digital disruption, and climate anxiety, offering actionable insights and policy-relevant perspectives. The aim? To move beyond analysis and spotlight scalable solutions that strengthen democratic resilience and rebuild trust across European societies.
If you’re a policymaker, funder, or stakeholder committed to bridging divides and shaping Europe’s future, this is the podcast for you.
Listen now. Engage with the voices shaping tomorrow’s common ground.
What could bring people together ?
In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu spoke with Thomas Coombes, founder of Hope Based Communications (also known as “The Hope Guy”) about the way that hope can be a useful strategy to stay afloat in difficult times and forge ahead with a clear plan.
In the second part of the episode, Jakub Skrzywanek, artistic director at the National Stary Theatre in Krakow and 2025 European Young Leader (EYL), talks about how art in general – and theatre in particular – can help us envision alternative futures.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.