Save Democracy

Katherine Davies
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Politics

Host Katherine Davies lifts the lid on liberal democracy, why it's important and how we can save it. Katherine interviews inspiring defenders of democracy, in your street and around the world, and asks what individuals can do to help save democracy.

  1. Sep 5 ·  Video

    Authoritarian reach inside your democracy

    The reach of authoritarian states will surprise you. In democracies around the world, HRW research reveals the silencing of citizens by the Chinese state. The fear employed? The threat to friends and family back in China. The how? Getting people inside the diaspora to spy on each other. For our interviewee, it's personal. China Researcher for Human Rights Watch, Yalkun Uluyol, has no idea where his father is. And for Yalkun, it's his profession, documenting testimony around the world. In ~30 minute episode (video version on youtube with images, maps and graphics), find out the extent to which authoritarians will go to silence nationals wherever they are. If you like our podcast, please subscribe to our youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@SaveDemocracypodcast Your click is a huge support and will help others find the podcast. Guest bio Yalkun Uluyol is the China researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW). His research and publications primarily focus on China and a wide range of topics, including international political economy, foreign policy, civil and political rights, religious freedom, forced labor, and transnational repression. Prior to HRW, Yalkun was a researcher investigating Uyghur forced labor and global supply chains at the Forced Labor Lab at Sheffield Hallam University. He was also a co-founder of the project - Uyghur Rights Monitor - leading research on government officials and entities complicit with atrocities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Yalkun holds a bachelor's in economics from Istanbul University and a Ph.D. in International Relations from Koç University. Yalkun speaks Uyghur, Mandarin, English, Turkish, and Arabic. References 1) Human Rights Watch report "We Will Find You - A Global Look at How Governments Repress Nationals Abroad" referenced in interview: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/22/governments-target-nationals-living-abroad 2) HRW News Release, Aug 27, 2026: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/27/china-decade-of-impunity-for-crimes-against-uyghurs 3) SOAS article "Democratic neighbours as a challenge to the autocratic superiority tale": https://blogs.soas.ac.uk/china-institute/2022/04/25/democratic-neighbours-as-a-challenge-to-the-autocratic-superiority-tale/ 4) CFR article "Taiwan's Democracy is Thriving in China's Shadow": https://www.cfr.org/articles/taiwans-democracy-thriving-chinas-shadow Clarification Re: 'about 35% of solar panels are coming from Xinjiang' Xinjiang accounts for about 35% of the world's polysilicon and 32% of global metallurgical grade silicon production, materials essential to the manufacture of solar panels (95%). Crawford A. and Murphy L.T. (2023) "Over-Exposed: Uyghur Region Exposure Assessment for Solar Industry Sourcing," Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Hallam University Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. Credits Image of Uyghur crowd and musicians. Copyright (UNESCO) ICH Protection and Research Centre, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China Satellite image of a political education camp in Hami, Xinjiang. Copyright Shawn Zhang. Image of men seated in rows: Government social media post in April 2017 shows detainees in a political education camp in Lop County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang. Xinjiang Bureau of Justice WeChat Account World map of Uyghur diaspora created by Save Democracy using mapchart.net and data from Uyghur Human Rights Project uhrp.org/report/diaspora Screenshot of HRW article https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/16/australia-chinese-government-menaces-uyghur-diaspora Image of Tara Zhang Yadi, copyright ChineseYouthStand4Tibet Image of the CCP in the Great Hall, Beijing, copyright Mirko Kuzmanovic dreamstime.com Image of umbrellas protest, July 2019 Hong Kong, by Ng Chun Yin, licensed from Shutterstock Screenshot of HRW article https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/21/hong-kong-activists-convicted-for-tiananmen-vigils Image of Jimmy Lai from Doughty Street Chambers article https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/dark-day-anyone-who-believes-truth-freedom-and-justice-jimmy-lais-family-react-his-conviction CFR and SOAS article screenshots, and HRW We Will Find You 2024 report cover, referenced above Graphic of Top 10 Origin States Transnational Repression screenshot from Freedom House https://freedomhouse.org/article/ten-findings-ten-years-data-transnational-repression Music from Uppbeat: Niafunke by Arnito and Unseen by Abstract Aprils

  2. Aug 21 ·  Video

    To Campaign: Passion, grit + relationships

    A non-partisan pressure group wins a tough high stakes campaign in the UK parliament, defending democracy. How did they do it? Alongwith a coalition, and plenty of grit and relationship building, amid many setbacks, they just kept getting back up again, and again and again, fighting for the foundations beneath the feet of the British people. Enjoy an inspiring 30 minutes with a passionate lifelong campaigner, Shaun Roberts. Shaun joined the non partisan pressure group, Unlock Democracy, in 2021, to lead their campaigning, engagement, advocacy and digital work. Shaun has a long track record of developing and delivering successful campaigns in both the political and non-profit sectors, and internationally. Shaun is interviewed by Save Democracy's Host and Creator, Katherine Davies. Enjoying the pod? Please help others find us by subscribing to our YouTube channel or sharing the pod with a friend. The podcast website is at savedemocracy.today Along with Youtube, the Save Democracy podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Substack Partnerships - If you're with a university, foundation, or ethical global company, interested in exploring a podcast partnership with Save Democracy, email Host and Creator, Katherine Davies: katherine@savedemocracy.todayThe podcast is on all major platforms, youtube and substack. Unlock Democracy: https://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/ The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. Music (Uppbeat): Niafunke by Arnito Images A screenshot from The Telegraph: "Either the Electoral Commission reforms or we will abolish it" by Amanda Milling, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, Published 29 Aug 2020 Image identifying some of the organisations that were part of the coalition fighting to restore the independence of the UK's electoral commission, courtesy of Unlock Democracy

  3. Aug 11 ·  Video

    We the People: AI-assisted

    Be inspired and enjoy some positive news on the defense of democracy, from Stanford Professor James Fishkin. Explore some of the remarkable (and scalable) results from AI-assisted deliberative democracy, and how it can help connect the will of the people to what is done in their name. In just over half an hour, find out what's important to know. Enjoying the pod? Please help others find us by subscribing to our YouTube channel or sharing the pod with a friend. The podcast website is at savedemocracy.today Along with Youtube, the Save Democracy podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Substack Partnerships - If you're with a university, foundation, or ethical global company, interested in exploring a podcast partnership with Save Democracy, email Host and Creator, Katherine Davies: katherine@savedemocracy.today Guest Bio - James S. Fishkin is the author of Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy? (Oxford 2025) as well as Democracy When the People are Thinking (Oxford 2018) and other books. He holds the Janet M. Peck Chair in International Communication at Stanford University where he is Professor of Communication, Professor of Political Science (by courtesy), Senior Fellow of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Director of the Deliberative Democracy Lab (http://stanford.deliberation.edu ). He works on deliberative democracy and his process of “Deliberative Polling” has been used for public consultation in more than 160 projects around the world. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Guggenheim Fellow and a Fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. Music - Niafunke by Arnito (Uppbeat) Image credits Community meeting, West Bengal - White Ribbon Alliance Parliamentarian image, UK - House of Commons Voters lining up to vote - SDI Productions, iStock

  4. Jul 26 ·  Video

    The target is you, me and democracy: AI and disinformation

    Familiar with disinformation? My expert guest, Dr Halyna Padalko, reveals what happens when you add AI. Prepare yourself for what's to come - help innoculate yourself in 30 minutes. We are all vulnerable. Dr Padalko helps us to appreciate the current and future threats. Awareness is key. Halyna also lays out the ways we can use AI to counter the threats, and how, as individuals, we can best prepare ourselves. Consider sharing this episode. Too few people are talking about this. On Save Democracy, we're about freedom without fear. Aware, without the fear. It's why we try to keep episodes to 30 minutes. It's why, with this episode, we address both the threats and the countering strategies. It's good to be forewarned, to prepare, to adapt, to share, and move on. Episode notes Guest bio Halyna Padalko, PhD, is a multidisciplinary researcher specializing in strategic communication, propaganda, information warfare, and the use of AI in these domains. She holds a master's in Global governance from the University of Waterloo and a PhD in Computer science from Kharkiv Aviation Institute. She worked as a Fulbright fellow at MIT's Center for International Studies, where she developed and co-taught an MIT course on AI and propaganda. Dr Padalko is an upcoming research fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School and has held fellowships and residencies at the European Parliament, the NATO Strategic Communications Center of Excellence, the Center for International Governance Innovation, and others. Her research has been published in top-tier computer science and policy-oriented peer-reviewed journals. Dr Padalko is interviewed by the host and creator of the Save Democracy podcast, Katherine Davies. The podcast website is at savedemocracy.today The Save Democracy podcast is on Youtube, and wherever you get your podcasts, including Substack The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. References Ukraine https://www.cigionline.org/publications/lessons-from-ukraines-information-defence-for-democratic-resilience/ More info on AI swarms Abstract of article on AI swarms. (Full article via your institution or paywall) https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adz1697 Moldova https://fpc.org.uk/op-ed-standing-up-to-the-kremlin-lessons-from-moldova-for-defeating-russian-election-interference/ Credits: Music from Uppbeat: Niafunke by Arnito, My Light by Mountaineer, and A New Chapter by Luminbird.

  5. Jul 11 ·  Video

    The state of things - the state of us

    This episode is a quick check-in and reflection from your host and podcast creator Katherine Davies, as in parts of the world, it seems that the clouds over democracy are darkening. Katherine shares briefly some of the lowlights, and her thoughts on one way to navigate the run of bad news. The episode closes on an update about the podcast, and some good news headlines from Ukraine and the UK. The website for this podcast is at savedemocracy.today Save Democracy is on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast. It is also on Substack The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. Credits Music from Uppbeat: Niafunke by Arnito; Paths We Left Behind by all:ambient; and City On Mute by Dan Barton. Images: July 2019 Hong Kong photo by Ng Chun Yin, licensed from Shutterstock. Remaining images by Katherine Davies.

  6. Jul 4 ·  Video

    Protect Your Media - Lessons from Hungary

    Why quality independent media matters and is essential to a functioning democracy. What can we do to support it? And the lessons for the world from what happened in Hungary, where a propaganda machine was created inside the European Union. Jamie Wiseman, IPI's Senior Europe Advocacy Officer joins Host and Creator Katherine Davies. Jamie is a media freedom advocate at the International Press Institute (IPI), a global media freedom organisation based in Vienna. As Senior Europe Advocacy Officer, he heads IPI’s Europe advocacy team and coordinates the organisation’s EU policy work in Brussels. He is specialised in topics such as media capture, impunity for attacks on the press, and spyware attacks on journalists. A former newspaper journalist in the UK, where he grew up, he now helps IPI’s global network of journalists defending media freedom and independent journalism wherever they are threatened. The International Press Institute (IPI) is a global media freedom organisation which defends independent journalism and press freedom. It is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists who share a common dedication to quality, independent journalism. The organisation's mission is to defend media freedom and the free flow of news wherever they are threatened. https://ipi.media/ The Save Democracy podcast website is at savedemocracy.today The podcast is on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. Credits Music from Uppbeat: 'Niafunke' by Arnito Photography in order of appearance (all unmodified) Vigil image by Stephanie Keith; IPI screenshot; Viktor Orban by Elekes Andor (CC by-sa 4.0); Linked in_IPI screenshot_imprisoned Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko. Three prominent Mexican journalists (killed) - Margarito Martínez, Lourdes Maldonado and Luis Enrique Ramírez_MexicoNewsDaily_Presidencia de la Republica_Twitter; Shireen Abu Akleh_Al Jazeera Media Network (CC4.0); Ruhollah Zam_Pen International; Martinez Zogo_Handout_IPI; Dom Phillips_Marcos Correa (CC2.0); Giorgos Karaivaz_Media Freedom Rapid Response; Anna Politkovskaya_Freedom House. Gaza images 1 and 2: Emad El Byed_Unsplash; Gaza image 3: Mohammed Ibrahim_Unsplash. Map of Freedom of the Press Worldwide 2026: Reporters Without Borders rsf.org Factsheet on the European Media Freedom Act from the European Commission CC 2.0, CC 4.0, CC by-sa 4.0

  7. Jun 27 ·  Video

    A deeper lens on saving democracy and how to engage

    Explore democracy with a renowned philosophy professor (western and eastern) Professor Jay Garfield, interviewed by Save Democracy podcast host, Katherine Davies. Why trust and solidarity matter, how fear is used to divide us, the importance of getting out of the way of one’s 'self', and much else! It is a rich thirty minutes you might find yourself listening to more than once! Jay L. Garfield is Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Philosophy and Buddhist Studies, emeritus, at Smith College, Visiting Professor of Buddhist philosophy at Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of Philosophy at Melbourne University. Professor Garfield’s research addresses topics in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, the history of modern Indian philosophy, epistemology, ethics, the nature of normativity, and topics in Buddhist philosophy, particularly Indo-Tibetan Madhyamaka and Yogācāra. He is the author or editor of over 30 books and over 200 articles, chapters, and reviews. The Save Democracy podcast website is at savedemocracy.today The podcast is on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. Credits: Shantideva image: from a 19th century painting and in the public domain according to Wikipedia where the source site is earlytibet.com. Buddhaghosa image: Britannica Editors. "Buddhaghosa". Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Jan. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Buddhaghosa. Accessed 26 June 2026. Music from Uppbeat is Niafunke by Arnito.

  8. Jun 20 ·  Video

    Defend against the fear of joblessness

    A driver of democratic decline is job insecurity. And the impact of AI... is a whole new level of insecurity! One way to help address it - at least in part - is to provide (where possible) access to continuous learning and training. In this, Denmark is a world leader. Host Katherine Davies speaks to Danish think tank DEA's CEO, Stina Vrang Elias, who speaks with deep experience about the lessons of the Danish model, how it works, its effectiveness and challenges. Stina Vrang Elias is CEO of the Danish think tank DEA, which she established in 2010. She works at the intersection of education, research, and public policy, focusing on analysis and knowledge to inform debate and decision-making across the Danish school and education system. DEA is an independent non-profit think tank focused on research, innovation and education, based in Copenhagen. This podcast is in English. The website for Save Democracy is at savedemocracy.today The podcast is available on youtube and wherever you get your podcasts. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, legal or political advice. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. Always consult with a qualified professional or local officials for specific advice tailored to your situation. The views and opinions expressed by the guest in this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host or the production company. Links to external resources, as well as any screenshots, audio clips, music clips, or images included in this episode, are provided for reference and illustrative purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this podcast or its content by the original creators, copyright holders, or associated entities. Episode edited by Katherine Davies and Mykhailo Rebrystyi Music from Uppbeat: Niafunke by Arnito

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Host Katherine Davies lifts the lid on liberal democracy, why it's important and how we can save it. Katherine interviews inspiring defenders of democracy, in your street and around the world, and asks what individuals can do to help save democracy.

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  • Creator
    Katherine Davies
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Spring Publishing Ltd
  • Show Website
    Save Democracy