What happens when our cultural stories fail to tell the truth about where we’ve been and where we’re going?

Independent immigration researcher and campaigner ZOE GARDNER joins me to challenge the dehumanizing narratives surrounding immigration, refugees, and borders. We dive deep into the intersection of policy, power, and the arts to uncover the systemic forces reshaping our global social landscape.

ON THE ITINERARY:

• COLONIAL AMNESIA ON SCREENS: An exploration of why British TV and film’s reluctance to depict colonial history has fueled the ascent of Far-Right influence.
• THE CASTING DILEMMA IN BRITISH TV: A look at “color-blind” casting in period dramas and whether it risks erasing the very history we need to confront.
• THE FAR-RIGHT THREAT: How Nigel Farage and his Reform Party are weaponizing fear for power and profit.
• THE LABOR VACUUM: Why Keir Starmer’s Labor Party is failing by trying to appeal to the Right instead of the Left.
• THE TRUTH ABOUT IMMIGRATION: Understanding the reality of UK immigration today and why it is necessary for the country’s future.
• THE REVOLUTIONARY ACT: Why the struggle for justice is vital even when victory feels impossible – and the role of the artist in that fight.
• RADICAL HOPE: How a plumber-turned-MP is shattering the narrative that we have to choose between “sensible” and “hopeful” politics.

🔒 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: JOAN BAEZ VS. BOB DYLAN

Zoe Gardner returns to discuss a seminal moment in art that helped shape her worldview: the very public disagreement of musicians JOAN BAEZ AND BOB DYLAN over his responsibility (or lack thereof) to help change the world. Does an artist have a moral obligation to take a position when their voice matters so much? 🎸

🔑 UNLOCK AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/zoe-gardner-baez-vs-dylan

🔑 UNLOCK AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zoe-gardner-talks-joan-baez-vs-bob-dylan/id1807437928?i=1000761453682

JOIN THE COMMUNITY!

5AM StoryTalk is reader-supported. Help me keep the coffee brewing by becoming a free or paid subscriber at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/

LINKS

• Donate to Praxis, which supports migrants and refugees, particularly those experiencing destitution. Recommended by Zoe. https://www.praxis.org.uk/?form=FUNULBFMMCZ
• Read Zoe's latest immigration report, which I highly recommend if you want to better understand UK immigration: https://zoegardner.net/assets/time-for-change.pdf
• Read "Independent Thematic Review of portrayal and representation of the UK in BBC content", referenced in this conversation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/documents/thematic-review-of-portrayal-and-representation.pdf
• Listen to "Sen. Fatima Payman on the Price of Defiance in Australian Politics" from 5AM StoryTalk (Sen. Payman is a former refugee turned politician): https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/podcast-fatima-payman-labor-party-australian-politics?utm_source=publication-search

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CREDITS

◼5AM StoryTalk acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.

◼This podcast’s music is by ⁠⁠my dear friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠