New Podcast Aims to Bring Britain Together One Conversation at a Time
By Charities Correspondent
A new campaign is helping Britons reconnect, rebuild relationships and talk through differences, as fresh research reveals many people want a less divided society.
The Bridging Divides podcast, launched by the British Red Cross, offers practical advice on how to have open, empathetic conversations — even on the toughest topics.
It comes as a nationwide poll found three quarters of UK adults (75%) believe the country is divided, while 72% say divisions have worsened over the past five years.
But there is a strong appetite for change, with 75% saying a less divided society would have a positive impact locally, and more than a third (34%) believing it would help people feel safer in their communities.
Talking Isn’t Always Easy
The research shows many people struggle to discuss difficult topics — even with those closest to them.
Only half (50%) feel comfortable discussing immigration with a partner, while 49% are comfortable talking about global conflicts and 48% politics.
The numbers drop even further with in-laws, where just 14% feel comfortable discussing immigration, 17% global conflicts and 15% politics.
A New Way to Connect
Hosted by broadcaster Sonali Shah, the podcast brings together experts to explain what happens in our brains when we disagree — and how we can better understand people with different views.
It forms part of a growing Bridging Divides community focused on choosing compassion and staying connected, even in challenging times.
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With more than 150 years of experience supporting people in crisis, the British Red Cross says the initiative will help strengthen relationships and build more resilient communities.
Béatrice Butsana-Sita, CEO at the British Red Cross, said:
“Across the UK, people tell us their communities feel more divided and that can make everyday conversations harder. At the British Red Cross, our teams see how division can weaken relationships and leave communities more vulnerable when crisis strikes.
That’s why we created Bridging Divides, a community of people choosing compassion and unity during challenging times. Our new podcast will share practical tools and insight to help people talk openly and stay connected, even when viewpoints differ. By strengthening understanding, we hope to build a more resilient UK – one conversation at a time.”
Sonali Shah added:
“It’s deeply important to me to try to shift the focus from what divides us to what we have in common – and this feels like absolutely the right time for this kind of podcast.
When we avoid having important discussions because we’re worried they’ll turn divisive, it has a real effect on our relationships, whether that’s with friends, family or people in our community. What we are seeing is people finding it very hard to maintain those important connections, and that’s why I’m so pleased to be a part of Bridging Divides.”
Gabrielle Rifkind, conflict mediator and contributor, said:
“One of the problems we face when discussing divisive topics is that we want everyone to agree with us. It can be hard to manage our differences and respect them, and often it’s hardest to have these conversations with the people closest to us. But when we reflect on our own behaviour, we have the capacity to change things.”
Simple Tips to Bridge the Divide
The podcast also shares practical ways to keep conversations open and respectful:
- Focus on common ground, not differences
- Be curious and listen, rather than trying to “win”
- Ask questions before sharing your own views
- Avoid echo chambers, especially on social media
- Challenge your own assumptions
