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. 5d ago ·  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 share it with a friend, or post a one-line review to help others find us. Thank you! 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 pod website: https://www.savedemocracy.today/ Also on Substack: https://substack.com/@davieskatherine 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. 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

  2. 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 share, to adapt, and move on. Let me know how you go. I have just opened a Chat on our Substack where you're very welcome! https://davieskatherine.substack.com/publish/chat 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 https://www.savedemocracy.today/ Save Democracy is also on Substack https://davieskatherine.substack.com/ 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. 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.

  3. 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. Save Democracy is now on Substack https://davieskatherine.substack.com/ The website for this podcast (with direct links to the pod on major channels) is at https://www.savedemocracy.today/ 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. 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.

  4. 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 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. 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

  5. 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 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. 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.

  6. 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. Visit the Save Democracy website for more info about this podcast, and join our new community. We'll soon be sharing a guide on how to get more engaged in your democracy, beyond the vote. 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. Episode edited by Katherine Davies and Mykhailo Rebrystyi Music from Uppbeat: Niafunke by Arnito

  7. Jun 13 ·  Video

    The global picture of democracy... and its alternative

    The big picture of what is happening in the world re democratic backsliding, and the rise of autocracy. Cathryn Grothe, Senior Analyst from Freedom House, gives a masterful overview, revealing the key trends, what the alternative is to democracy (!) and concrete ways we can engage locally to help support democracy where we live. Note: During the interview, Cathryn refers to the (Save Democracy) podcast episode: "The secret weapon of a modern autocrat", broadcast on May 23, 2026. Cathryn Grothe is a Senior Research Analyst at Freedom House. She is the research manager and co-author of Freedom House’s flagship report, Freedom in the World, which is an annual survey of political rights and civil liberties in 208 countries and territories. Cathryn’s research focuses on the intersection of democracy, technology, and human rights, and her analysis has been published and cited in Al-Jazeera, The Washington Post, Politico, and Just Security, among many. Cathryn holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago. Freedom House Freedom House is a nongovernmental organization founded in 1941, devoted to defending democracy and freedom around the world. From 1973, Freedom House has systematically tracked the most pressing threats to democracy and freedom around the globe through the Freedom in the World reports, which include detailed research on the state of political rights and civil liberties in more than 200 countries and territories. Freedom House also conducts research on issues related to technology and democracy, transnational repression, and the repressive rule of Chinese Communist Party. Their research informs the organization’s advocacy and programming, which includes direct support of activists and human rights defenders around the world. It's HQ is in Washington DC in the United States. 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. This episode of Save Democracy was edited by Katherine Davies and Mykhailo Rebrystyi. Credits Music track from Uppbeat is 'Niafunke' by Arnito. All images are unmodified, apart from text that has been added (solely by Save Democracy) to translate and explain an image. Images with a CC license are so indicated, and the license links are below this list. Screenshots from Freedom House; Viktor Orban by Elekes Andor (CC by-sa 4.0); Donald Trump by CTSP2020 (CC by-sa 4.0); Nicolas Maduro and Vladimir Putin by Kremlin.ru (CC 4.0); Moscow street at night by Evgeniy Isaev (CC 2.0); El Salvador, Nayib Bukele by PresidenciaSV (CC 1.0); El Salvador armed forces on truck by Casa Presidencial El Salvador (CC 1.0); 2024 election El Salvador opposition by La Prensa Grafica (CC 3.0); screenshot from Human Rights Watch article "A 20-Year Sentence for Tweets in Saudi Arabia"; Vladimir Putin by Kremlin.ru (CC 4.0); Moscow protest by Sergey Korneev (CC by-sa 4.0); vigil image by Stephanie Keith; screenshot from the Guardian of article by Shaun Walker - "The murder that killed free media in Russia" with image by Pavel Golovkin/AP; screenshot from CNN of article by Donie O'Sullivan, Curt Devine and Allison Gordon - "China is using the world's largest known online disinformation operation to harass Americans, a CNN review finds"; Special Military Operation banner [in Russian] from Russia's Ministry of Defence (CC 4.0); Visual identity/cover of "Conversations about Important Things" [in Russian] by edu.gov.ru (CC 4.0); Thimpu, Bhutan, image with crowd, by Chandan Chaurasia on Unsplash; Thimpu, Bhutan nestled in green valley, by Passang Tobgay on Unsplash. CC 1.0, CC 2.0, CC 3.0, CC 4.0, CC by-sa 4.0

  8. Jun 6

    How community can change your life and help save your country

    In this episode, I speak to Arsen Yatsenko, a long-time community organiser in Ukraine, and now a fifth year PhD candidate, with research focused on community and local NGOs (in Ukraine), at Poland's Wroclaw University. His journey offers remarkable insights into what it's like to step from relative isolation to engaging in your community, and how it can change your life. Informed by his research* and experiences, he also shares insights into how stronger communities have come to underpin the civil Ukrainian response to the Russian invasion, including the resistance in occupied Ukraine. (*His PhD focus is on how Ukrainian communities have been affected by the war, and examines the reintegration of populations in the regained territories of Ukraine since 2014) 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. Music from Uppbeat: Niafunké by Arnito

See All (14)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Katherine Davies
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Spring Publishing Ltd
  • Show Website
    Save Democracy