Bridging Divides with Sonali Shah – Details, episodes & analysis

Jake Puddle, Director of Research at British Future and co-author of The State of Us report unpacks what “division” really means, what it looks like in our everyday lives, how it feels, and why it can be so hard to navigate. 

Drawing on one of the most in-depth studies of community strength and cohesion in the UK, Jake shares what’s really going on beneath the surface and why there’s more reason for hope than we might think.

If you’d like to see all of the tips and actions Jake shared in this episode, head to our website: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/bridging-divides/podcast/episode-1  

Glossary of terms from the episode 

Associational life

Activities and encounters that people share outside of work and family life. They can be formal or informal; examples include sports teams, book clubs, volunteering and casual socialising. Associational life is a crucial part of building a healthy, trusted and connected society.  

Social contact theory 

A social science and psychology theory, which shows the positive impact of creating shared spaces so people can interact with members of the community from outside their usual social group. This results in more cross-community understanding, trust and can reduce prejudice and bias, replacing it with positive connection.  

Echo chambers

An environment, often online or on social media, where a person will only hear opinions and information that reflect and reinforce their own beliefs. Echo chambers make it difficult to come across and understand different viewpoints. In Episode two, our expert Olaf Borghi shares more information about confirmation bias and tips on how to spot and reduce echo chambers.  

PIN Model 

A conflict resolution framework that helps us think about Positions, Interests and Needs. Learn more about the PIN Model and how to put it into practice.

Zero sum thinking 

This is the idea that ‘someone else’s gain is my loss’.

Bridging Divides is a podcast from the British Red Cross, hosted by Sonali Shah, exploring why we feel so divided and what we can actually do about it. Across the series, Sonali speaks to leading thinkers and practitioners to unpack what’s shaping division in our society, from national debates to the conversations happening in our own homes.

For more info visit www.bridgingdivides.org.uk

Find us on social media: 

Instagram: @britishredcross - https://www.instagram.com/britishredcross

Facebook: @British Red Cross - https://www.facebook.com/BritishRedCross

LinkedIn: @British Red Cross - https://www.linkedin.com/company/british-red-cross

TikTok: @britishredcross - British Red Cross (@britishredcross) | TikTok

X: @BritishRedCross - https://x.com/BritishRedCross

Sonali’s Instagram: @sonalishah

Jake Puddle:

LinkedIn: Jake Puddle | LinkedIn

Bluesky: @jakepuddle.bsky.social 

X: @britishfuture

The State of Us report: https://www.britishfuture.org/publication/the-state-of-us-report/

Bridging Divides is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Coming soon from the British Red Cross, Bridging Divides, a new podcast hosted by Sonali Shah.

At a time when it can feel like we’re more divided than ever, this series explores why and what we can actually do about it.

Bridging Divides is about more than understanding the problem. It’s about giving you practical ways to navigate disagreement, listen more openly, and build stronger connections in everyday life.

Think of it as a toolkit with ideas and actions you can start using today.

Bridging Divides. Coming soon on Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For more info visit www.bridgingdivides.org.uk

Find us on social media: 

Instagram: @britishredcross - https://www.instagram.com/britishredcross

Facebook: @British Red Cross - https://www.facebook.com/BritishRedCross

LinkedIn: @British Red Cross - https://www.linkedin.com/company/british-red-cross

TikTok: @britishredcross - British Red Cross (@britishredcross) | TikTok

X: @BritishRedCross - https://x.com/BritishRedCross

Sonali’s Instagram: @sonalishah

In this episode, we’re asking a simple but powerful question: why do we believe what we believe? To help us dissect how beliefs form and why they can be so hard to shift, we’re joined by Olaf Borghi, a researcher at Royal Holloway, University of London, who studies the psychology behind beliefs and political attitudes.

Together, we explore how our minds respond to new information, the role of bias and identity in shaping our views, and why staying curious - rather than combative - can change the way we approach disagreement. 

If you’d like to see all of the tips and actions Olaf shared in this episode, head to our website: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/bridging-divides/podcast/episode-2 

Glossary of terms from the episode 

Confirmation bias 

The tendency to search for, interpret, and favour information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs. It might involve ignoring evidence that doesn’t fit, interpreting ambiguous information as confirmation of our belief, or finding it much easier to remember information that supports what we think.  

Conspiracy theory

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines this as "the belief that an event or situation is the result of a secret plan made by powerful people."

Bridging Divides is a podcast from the British Red Cross, hosted by Sonali Shah, exploring why we feel so divided and what we can actually do about it. Across the series, Sonali speaks to leading thinkers and practitioners to unpack what’s shaping division in our society, from national debates to the conversations happening in our own homes.

For more info visit www.bridgingdivides.org.uk

Find us on social media: 

Instagram: @britishredcross - https://www.instagram.com/britishredcross

Facebook: @British Red Cross - https://www.facebook.com/BritishRedCross

LinkedIn: @British Red Cross - https://www.linkedin.com/company/british-red-cross

TikTok: @britishredcross - British Red Cross (@britishredcross) | TikTok

X: @BritishRedCross - https://x.com/BritishRedCross

Sonali’s Instagram: @sonalishah

Find Olaf Borghi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olaf-borghi-864276280/

Bluesky: @olafborghi.com

Instagram: @olafborghi 

Bridging Divides is produced by Bird Lime Media.

In this episode we explore how to navigate difficult conversations and have more constructive interactions around divisive issues - whether with friends, family, or even strangers online. Why do disagreements escalate so quickly? Is it possible to truly listen without agreeing? And can better conversations help bridge deep divides? 

Joining us to unpack these questions is Gabrielle Rifkind, a group analyst, psychotherapist, international conflict resolution specialist, and author of How to Agree to Disagree: From Conflict to Connection. Gabrielle shares practical tools to help us listen more deeply, communicate with clarity and compassion, and move beyond the idea that every conflict must have a winner and a loser.

If you’d like to see all of the tips and actions Gabrielle shared in this episode, head to our website: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/bridging-divides/podcast/episode-3 

Glossary of terms from the episode 

Boundaries

Parameters that both people agree on and help a conversation flow safely. This might be the length of a conversation, the ability to walk away, or a topic you don’t want to cover.

Bridging Divides is a podcast from the British Red Cross, hosted by Sonali Shah, exploring why we feel so divided and what we can actually do about it. Across the series, Sonali speaks to leading thinkers and practitioners to unpack what’s shaping division in our society, from national debates to the conversations happening in our own homes.

For more info visit www.bridgingdivides.org.uk

Find us on social media: 

Instagram: @britishredcross - https://www.instagram.com/britishredcross

Facebook: @British Red Cross - https://www.facebook.com/BritishRedCross

LinkedIn: @British Red Cross - https://www.linkedin.com/company/british-red-cross

TikTok: @britishredcross - British Red Cross (@britishredcross) | TikTok

X: @BritishRedCross - https://x.com/BritishRedCross

Sonali’s Instagram: @sonalishah

Find out more about Gabrielle Rifkind here.

Bridging Divides is produced by Bird Lime Media.