In this episode, we discussed with Minoru Okusa from NABIDO, a social cooperative that has supported socially withdrawn youths, commonly known as hikikomori for over 13 years, to explore the issue of youth isolation in modern society. He points out that young people withdrawing from society are not simply lazy; rather, they are burned out from perfectionism and the overwhelming pressure to meet expectations. To address this, he advises parents to stop trying to force change and instead leave their children as they are (NABIDO in Korean) which means let me alone, emphasizing that genuine recovery begins when parents acknowledge their own flaws. He also highlights that isolation stems not just from individual psychological factors, but from structural issues like meritocracy, an unstable job market, and a factory-like school system that fuels intense competition. Finally, noting how conversational AI has emerged as a helpful and compassionate tool for counseling, he adds that the ultimate goal of support is not merely getting young people out of their rooms, but helping them reach complete self-acceptance.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Adam Lang. Please subscribe to the podcast through Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible. You may also follow @c4cpodcast.bsky.social on Bluesky. The Conversations4Citizenship Podcast has launched Crossings, a new project website featuring research and educational resources on citizenship and human rights education, while creating opportunities for greater interaction with our listeners. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on our episodes, and we invite you to explore our new membership programme, launching this November! Sign up on the Crossings website below to explore a wider range of resources and podcast episodes.

We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you would like to explore participating in our podcast and submit your blog post to the C4C, do not hesitate to reach out through the engagement menu of Crossings or email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com

If you are curious about Socially Withdrawn youths or Hikikomori and Mr. Minoru Ohkusa, please read his works linked below.

• Qinmin, Jiang. (Director). (2025). JUN AI | The Power of Silence│A Story of Reconciliation [Film]. YouTube.
• Family Transformation Roadmap [In Korean]
• Navido homepage : https://www.navido.kr/ [In Korean]

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This episode of Conversations4Citizenship examined from multiple angles the serious educational and social crisis behind the "Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)" movement led by Indian Gen Z. Having lost deep trust in the system due to incidents such as the NEET medical entrance exam paper leaks, Indian youth transformed the insulting label thrown at them into a proactive symbol for non-violent digital solidarity and the restoration of lost dignity. Dr. Rita Shome pointed out that this desperate cry from the youth should not be reduced to a mere political protest, but rather embraced as powerful feedback directed at society and educational institutions. In particular, it was deeply resonant to emphasize going beyond a culture that evaluates an individual student's worth solely based on grades and certificates, and instead actively fostering "capability-centered learners" who can confront injustice non-violently and communicate healthily with others. Furthermore, it was a valuable conversation that made us realize once again how urgent the task is today to practice cyber ethics within social media spaces and cultivate responsible digital citizens.

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How should universities respond to a crisis they helped to create? In this episode of Conversations4Citizenship, Dr Kamille Beye and Dr Stella Cheong are joined by Professor Tristan McCowan of UCL, author of Universities and Climate Action, for a wide-ranging conversation on higher education and climate justice. Beginning with the historical complicity of universities in ecological breakdown, the discussion moves through their projective, expressive, and constructive roles, the nature of climate change as a wicked problem, and the uneven burdens borne by communities least responsible for the crisis. From there, the conversation turns to interdisciplinary collaboration, the tension between green workforce demands and higher education as a public good, and the challenge of engaging climate denial in everyday life. It closes with inspiring examples from Fiji, Tanzania, and Brazil, and a call to shape the post-2030 agenda together. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and join the global conversation.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Kamille Beye. Please subscribe to the podcast through Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible. You may also follow @c4cpodcast.bsky.social on Bluesky. We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you would like to explore participating in our podcast and submit your blog post to the C4C, do not hesitate to reach out through the online participation form or email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com

If you are curious about Climate Crisis and the Role of University check out his new book, 'Universities and Climate Action' and read his works linked below.

• McCowan. T. (2025).Universities and Climate Action. UCL Press.
• Mccowan, T., & Buckner, E. (2025). Critical Perspectives on Universities and the Sustainable Development Goals. Comparative Education Review, 69(4), 697-702.
• Buckner, E., McCowan, T., Faul, M. V., Welply, O., Jiménez, J., & Denton, F. (2025). Charting the path after 2030: what should higher education’s role be in the future of the sustainable development agenda?. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 1-20.
• Centre for Global Higher Education

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This episode of Conversations4Citizenship features Dr. Magdalena Fellner, an educational researcher exploring the systemic barriers to higher education within the German prison system and internationally. Interviewed by Kamille Beye, Stella Micheong Cheong and Adam Peter Lang, Dr. Fellner refutes the idea that the academic capability to study is an inherent trait, arguing instead that it is socially and institutionally constructed. She critique-analyzes how gatekeepers limit incarcerated individuals to basic skills and vocational training rather than transformational higher education, pointing out that female prisoners face even fewer academic opportunities. Dr. Fellner advocates for a relational, lifelong learning approach supported by robust university-prison partnerships, which dramatically lower recidivism rates. However, she stresses that education is a human right, not a cure-all, and must coexist with fundamental structural support. Finally, she previews her new research examining why highly educated individuals commit white-collar crimes.

If you are curious about the Higher Education Institution-Prison Partnerships, check out her works below.

• Fellner, M. (2025). Universities as elite allies. Disclosing global patterns of inequality in tertiary education across time. In Wimmer, C. & Rieder, T. (Eds.), Global Inequalities. Leiden: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004733626_011
• Fellner, M. & Dreisinger, B. (forthcoming). Education Not Incarceration Across Borders: Prison, University and Education Behind Bars. Special Issue, Tertiary Education and Management. https://link.springer.com/collections/afjgeefhde
• This meta-study of the United States shows that individuals who participated in educational programmes were 43% less likely to reoffend than those who did not, and that every dollar spent on correctional education saves taxpayers five dollars in reincarceration costs. See Davis, Lois M., Jennifer L. Steele, Robert Bozick, Malcolm V. Williams, Susan Turner, Jeremy N. V. Miles, Jessica Saunders, and Paul S. Steinberg. How Effective Is Correctional Education, and Where Do We Go From Here? The Results of a Comprehensive Evaluation. RAND Corporation. 2014.

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This episode brings together three Nepali changemakers, public speaker Aadarsha Bikram Singh, lawyer Tanuja Pandey, and peacebuilding researcher, Dr. Nar Bahadur Saud, to unpack the historic September 2025 Gen Z movement that toppled Nepal's government. They explain how decades of corruption, forced out-migration, and a sudden social media ban pushed young people into the streets, fueled by the viral #NepoBaby and #NepoKids hashtags borrowed from Indonesia's earlier uprising. The conversation honors the 76 lives lost on September 9, traces the remarkably swift transition to a peaceful 2026 election, and introduces a parliament now full of young faces including a 36-year-old Prime Minister. But the guests are refreshingly honest about the uncertainty ahead: creeping populism, weak institutional memory, and the temptation to dismantle without rebuilding. Their closing advice for global youth movements is unforgettable — unite before you ignite, collaborate across generations, read history, and let love walk beside the rage.

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Welcome back to Conversations4Citizenship as we kick off Season 5 with our brand-new theme: "The New World Order". To get things started, hosts Stella and Kamille sit down with Ken Katayama, a Digital Policy Evangelist from Japan, for an eye-opening chat about our hyper-connected lives. Throughout the episode, they unpack the hidden dangers of the AI "black box" and explore what data sovereignty truly means when tech giants silently gather our most intimate details. Furthermore, the conversation seamlessly shifts to tackle the ethical implications of mass surveillance, highlighting the stark differences in global privacy laws—from Europe's strict GDPR to the fragmented rules in the US and developing nations. Ultimately, Ken leaves us with a powerful reminder that while technology will inevitably advance, keeping humans at the center and building genuine trust are the true keys to navigating our digital future. Tune in to discover why simply clicking "I Agree" is no longer enough to protect yourself!

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In this Conversations4Citizenship Season 4 reflection, co-host Dr. Kamille Beye examines the profound global and educational disruptions of 2025. She highlights how cuts to USAID and university diversity funding emphasize the fragility of educational access, alongside global challenges like ongoing conflicts, the Syrian revolution, and the disruptive rise of AI. Amidst these shifting landscapes, Dr. Beye recaps Season 4's impactful episodes, which explored South Korean youth activism, philosophical diversity, school participatory budgeting, labor rights, higher education access, and the significance of memory sites. Acknowledging the heavy toll of political upheaval, misinformation, and climate change throughout the year, Beye draws inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reminding listeners to balance finite disappointment with infinite hope. She concludes by urging global citizens to remain deeply engaged, advocate for justice, and carry resilience forward as they navigate the uncertain headwinds of 2026.

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In this enlightening episode, Dr. Stella Micheong Cheong and her co-hosts welcome Dr. Karina Korostelina, Director of the Sustainable Peace Lab at George Mason University, to discuss the profound impact of collective memory on conflict and reconciliation. Korostelina argues that physical locations such as monuments and museums, are not merely static records of the past but active political tools that shape national identity and future conflict dynamics. She introduces concepts from her new book, Memory Sites and Conflict Dynamics, explaining how these sites often 'ascribe' negative traits to perceived enemies or 'enhance' a group's own narrative at the expense of others. Furthermore, the conversation challenges the traditional liberal peace model, advocating instead for a local turn that prioritizes community resilience and agonistic history—acknowledging multiple, coexisting interpretations of the same events. Ultimately, Dr. Korostelina emphasizes that education is key to disrupting monolithic narratives and fostering lasting peace.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Stella Micheong Cheong. Please subscribe to the podcast through Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible. You may also follow @c4cpodcast.bsky.social on Bluesky. We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you would like to explore participating in our podcast and submit your blog post to the C4C, do not hesitate to reach out through the online participation form or email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com

If you are curious about Memory Sites and Conflict Dynamics, check out her new book, 'Memory Sites and Conflict DynamicsCollective Memory, Identity, and Power' and visit the Sustainable Peace Lab's website linked below.

• Korostelina, K. V. (2025). Memory Sites and Conflict Dynamics: Collective Memory, Identity, and Power. Routledge.
• Korostelina, K. V., Gopin, M., Helsing, J. W., & Özerdem, A. (Eds.). (2024). Identity and religion in peace processes: Mechanisms, strategies and tactics. Taylor & Francis.
• The Sustainable Peace Lab

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