Scripting a safer future with Malka Older

In our October xChange Paul Skinner interviewed Dr Malka Older, humanitarian, academic and best-selling author of Infomocracy, to explore how we can narrate our way to a safer world.

The discussion covered everything from how no one in real life reacts like they do in disaster movies, to the incredible importance of hearing all voices from all corners of the world and in all languages (not just the ones that we are familiar with).

Malka shared, 'As a disaster researcher...we see again and again in personal experience and in literature that if you have no money but you have both community and organisation you are far better off than the other way around, than having a lot of money and a community where people are very divided and hate each other and no organisation in terms of what to do with the money.'

As wealthy western democracies are being hit by more and more disasters will we be able to come together to rebuild our divided communities to become more resilient? Or will we continue to think that our money and technology will be enough protect us?

Malka discussed why she wrote the award-winning Centenal Cycle science fiction series and how her writing allows her to explore new ways we could structure our lives, our work and our politics. We also learned why she recently took on the role of Executive Director of ⁠Global Voices⁠.

You can watch the full replay below or listen to the podcast version here.