Course Correction
This season, Nelufar Hedayat is learning how to listen — to people she disagrees with.
About the series
Challenge yourself to change the world
In the second season of Course Correction, host Nelufar Hedayat is taking on a new challenge: Listening to people she disagrees with. Each episode addresses one polarizing issue, and Nelufar will engage with people whose opinions are very different from her own — and try to keep an open mind.
Guests this season include the “godfather of fake news,” a Swedish doctor who opposes lockdowns, a former head of state and a French lawmaker who thinks it’s an act of feminism to tell women they can’t wear the hijab. Nelufar will challenge her own beliefs with discussions about race and reparations, COVID-19 policy, gender rights and religion, and so much more.
Course Correction season two airs every Wednesday through June 9 — follow and listen wherever you get your podcasts. To see full transcripts, select “listen in browser” for each episode. This season is produced by Doha Debates with production assistance from Foreign Policy.
Season 2
COVID-19: When is the cure worse than the pandemic?
How have different countries have dealt with the pandemic? What is best for society when we do things with shared interests in mind, versus looking out for individual needs? Featured voices include Swedish physician Johnny Ludvigsson, who is against lockdowns, and British economist Noreena Hertz.
Reparations: Can we right historical wrongs?
Can reparations help repair generations of systemic racism? Beginning in the late 1940s, the British government invited Caribbean citizens to immigrate to England to help rebuild the country after World War II. Known as the Windrush generation, the immigrants and their descendants have frequently been denied basic British citizenship rights. We talk to a member of the Windrush generation who wants justice, and then turn to guests from Zimbabwe and the U.S. to discuss reparations in those countries.
Disinformation: How can we beat “fake news”?
Why does it matter that different people have different perceptions of the truth? If you’re trying to run a country, it can make a big difference. In this episode host Nelufar Hedayat speaks with former U.S. Republican Congressman Denver Riggleman, “godfather of fake news” Jestin Coler and Belarusian politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya about disinformation’s effect on politics and leadership.
The Disrupters: Using free speech for good and evil
Social media has made it easier than ever to share ideas around the world and galvanize people into action. Host Nelufar Hedayat looks at the double-edged sword of free speech from the perspective of social media influencer, a free speech lawyer and two tech veterans who say that today’s tech companies wield too much power in determining what kind of speech should be permissible.
Can “cancel culture” go too far?
Social media has made it easier than ever to share ideas around the world and galvanize people into action. Host Nelufar Hedayat looks at the double-edged sword of free speech from the perspective of social media influencer, a free speech lawyer and two tech veterans who say that today’s tech companies wield too much power in determining what kind of speech should be permissible.
How alarmist should we be about climate change?
How do we work together to address climate change when there’s no consensus on the solution? Host Nelufar Hedayat explores multiple solutions to climate change with Per Espen Stoknes, a Norwegian psychologist who specializes in the psychology of economic choices for climate change. She then speaks to Harvard geologist Dr. Daniel Schrag about how the scientific community could improve its messaging. And finally, she talks to former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the political perils of going big when it comes to enacting green laws.
Does French secularism promote freedom or stoke Islamophobia?
In this episode, host Nelufar Hedayat examines France’s Laïcite or “secularism” laws, which discourage religious involvement in public life. First she speaks about experiences wearing the hijab in Western Europe with members of Collectif Les 100 Diplômées, a Belgian group that supports Muslim women. Then French lawmaker Aurore Bergé discusses why she believes that restricting where the hijab can be worn is an act of feminism. Finally, award-winning filmmaker Deeyah Khan talks about her experiences as a prominent Muslim woman, and her frustrations over regulating Muslim attire.
Fear the robots? AI, automation and equity
Host Nelufar Hedayat explores the economic and social considerations around automation and artificial intelligence. She talks to three guests with different views about automation, and looks at its effect on women working in Bangladesh’s garment industry, the social changes necessary to ensure ethical AI use and questions who should be writing the rules governing AI.
Fixing the generational wealth gap
Host Nelufar Hedayat begins this episode with a trip to her old London neighborhood of Hampstead, where she and her younger sister Fatema go apartment hunting and find out just how unattainable home ownership is for younger generations. Next she talks to debt relief advocate Astra Taylor about some of the factors that have created the generational wealth gap. Finally, Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, talks about how to work within government and established systems to create change.
Masculinity, feminism and the fight for gender equality
Host Nelufar Hedayat looks at the evolution of masculinity and what — if any — role men have in within the feminist movements. First she hears from British comedian David Baddiel about how he went from being a “lad” comic to someone acutely aware of gender dynamics. For her challenging interview, Nelufar speaks with French writer and activist Pauline Harmange, who argues that modern men have no place in feminism. Finally, she convenes a roundtable of men from across the globe to hear their perspectives on how to change male culture to be more inclusive, and the how men can fight for gender equality. Roundtable guests include Mazin Jamal, Satchit Puranik and Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic.
Palestine, Israel and the courage of dialogue
In this episode, host Nelufar Hedayat examines the power and limitations of dialogue with three people working to create justice and equality in Israel and Palestine. She speaks with rapper Tamer Nafar, a Palestinian who lives in Israel, about how he uses music to call attention to the lives of his fellow Palestinians in Israel. Then she speaks with Hussein Agha, an advisor to Palestinian leaders who has worked in peace negotiations, about the need to translate dialogue into action. Finally she talks to Robi Damelin, an Israeli activist who brings together Palestinians and Israelis through shared grief and empathy.
Refugees and the fight against populism
In the final episode of season two of Course Correction, host Nelufar Hedayat speaks with refugee advocates David Miliband and Melanie Nezer, as well as Gillian Triggs, the assistant high commissioner for protection in the office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Nelufar talks to each of them about what can be done to change hearts, minds and government policies. For the final challenging conversation, she speaks with Boston College political science professor Peter Skerry, who argues that poor leadership has exacerbated the problem.
Introducing season two of Course Correction
Season 1
My Refugee Story: The Toughest Conversation I’ve Ever Had with My Mom
Host Nelufar Hedayat and her family fled Afghanistan as refugees. This is their story.
Cape Town: What Happens When a City Runs Dry?
To better understand global water scarcity, Nelufar lives on 50 liters of water a day.
COVID-19 Will Change the World Forever
This week, we chat with Dr. Parag Khanna and Dr. Jason Hickel about the novel coronavirus.
Sal Khan: Real Lessons on Virtual Learning
Nelufar speaks with Sal Khan about internet inequality and the future of education in a post COVID-19 world.
Marc Lamont Hill: Racism & Refugees
Journalist Marc Lamont Hill talks about the role racism plays in the global refugee crisis.
Shrinking Our Carbon Footprint
Nelufar gets an unpleasant surprise when she finds out the size of her own carbon footprint.
Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein: In Defense of Human Rights
Nelufar talks to veteran diplomat Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein about checking government power.
Kicking Our Plastic Habit
Nelufar tries to live without single-use plastics and learns that just recycling isn’t enough.
Veena Sahajwalla: Turning Trash into Treasure
Meet scientist Veena Sahajwalla. She’s inventing new ways to turn trash into useful items.
Love, Hate and the Power of Listening
Nelufar learns why conflict resolution is more about confronting ourselves than others.
Georgie Badiel: Journey to the Well
As a girl, Georgie Badiel walked three hours for water. Now her foundation builds wells.
This Isn’t a Game: The Fight for Equal Pay in Soccer
Nelufar learns that soccer is more than just a game — it’s a battlefield for equality.
Anand Giridharadas: Speaking Truth to Billionaires
This author says that changing the world starts with challenging capitalist power structures.
Is Globalization Good for Us?
What would it take to live without globalization — and is that even possible?
Standing up to Big Data
Nelufar takes a deep dive into data privacy.
Targeted for Telling the Truth
In a special live episode from the Sundance Film Festival, Nelufar talks to journalist Maria Ressa.
Joy Buolamwini: Artificial Intelligence For All
Artificial intelligence has as much racial and gender bias as the people who create it.
Ending Period Poverty
Nelufar explores why taboos around menstruation still exist and how we can break the silence.
How “Course Correction” Changed My Life
In our final episode of the season, Nelufar talks to her friend and conflict resolution expert Dr. Govinda Clayton.
