Course Correction
This season, Nelufar Hedayat takes you on a journey with refugees across the world.
About the series
Challenge yourself to change the world
The UN estimates that there are 84 million forcibly displaced people around the world, and nearly 27 million of those are considered refugees. These numbers are the highest they have ever been. For season three of Course Correction, we’re partnering with UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, to illuminate all aspects of the refugee experience.
Over the course of six episodes, we’ll follow refugees and other forcibly displaced persons from the moment they leave their homes to their eventual resettlement or return, detailing arduous journeys that can sometimes last years or even decades. We’ll examine the challenges that stateless people face, the work being done to assist them, and the ways in which the global community can provide further support and solutions.
Host Nelufar Hedayat brings her personal perspective to the series, having fled the conflict in Afghanistan with her family in the late 1980s. She interviews fellow refugees as well as those providing refugee aid and advocacy — including global champions and UNHCR Ambassadors Cate Blanchett and Mahira Khan.
Course Correction season three airs every Tuesday through April 26. 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 and UNHCR with production assistance from Foreign Policy.
Season 3
Part VI: Finding acceptance
In the final installment of our six-part series about the refugee experience, host Nelufar Hedayat talks to weightlifter, nurse and refugee Cyrille Tchatchet. Note: This episode discusses suicide.
Part V: The path to permanence
More than 85 percent of refugees and asylum-seekers are hosted in developing countries, many of which neighbor the countries being fled. In this episode, host Nelufar Hedayat looks at the role that local communities can play in hosting refugees. Nelufar speaks with Rodaan Al Galidi, who talks about his experiences fleeing Iraq to start a new life in the Netherlands. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and acclaimed Pakistani actor Mahira Khan tells Nelufar about her experiences meeting Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Bonus: Malala Yousafzai Town Hall
This week, a bonus episode: A town-hall-style discussion with Malala Yousafzai on the future of women’s and girls’ education in Afghanistan and other conflict areas. In the six months since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, many schools and universities have closed their doors to young women, and promises to reopen have gone unfulfilled. Education and equality advocate Malala Yousafzai joined students and Afghan refugees for a global town hall conversation at Qatar’s National Library, moderated by Doha Debates correspondent Nelufar Hedayat, on March 28, 2022.
Part IV: Pursuing education
Jennifer Roberts, a senior education officer with UNHCR, talks to host Nelufar Hedayat about the 10 million refugee children worldwide who lack access to education, what it takes to educate displaced people and how some host countries are working to meet the challenge. Next, Nelufar speaks with Dr. Saleema Rehman, an Afghan refugee who received her medical degree in Pakistan. Dr. Rehman talks about what it was like to attend school as a refugee and the pride she has now that she’s able to give back to her community. Finally, Nelufar speaks with Academy Award-winning actor Cate Blanchett about her experiences as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador advocating for refugees. Blanchett explains that educating refugee children and young adults provides opportunities to be leaders in rebuilding their homelands while also benefiting their host countries.
Part III: Healing the mind
In Part III of our season on refugees, we look at the mental-health toll of living as a refugee or an internally displaced person. Host Nelufar Hedayat speaks with an internally displaced Afghan woman about trying to care for herself and her children while living in a shipping container. She also examines different ways that refugees define and experience the trauma of conflict, and she shares stories from aid workers who help displaced persons process their experiences.
Part II: Healing the body
On this episode, we’re focusing on bodily harm. What kinds of injuries do displaced people suffer, and what does it take to tend to those injuries — not just the ones that can be seen, but the invisible ones that might take longer to heal? Featuring a first-hand account from an internally displaced Afghan dealing with a long-term foot injury.
Part I: Escaping conflict
In the premiere episode of our season chronicling the refugee experience, we’ll take a closer look at the moment of displacement and its immediate aftermath. Hear from experts on what causes displacement, and what resources refugees and internally displaced persons have once they decide it’s no longer safe to remain at home. This episode features the story of Mohammed Anwar, a Rohingya refugee who nearly lost his life on a fishing boat while fleeing violence in home country of Myanmar.
Course Correction S3 Trailer
The UN estimates that there are 84 million forcibly displaced people around the world, and nearly 27 million of those are considered refugees. These numbers are the highest they have ever been. For season 3 of Course Correction, we’re partnering with UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, to illuminate all aspects of the refugee experience. The season will follow refugees and other forcibly displaced persons from the moment they leave their homes to their eventual resettlement or return, detailing arduous journeys that can sometimes last years or even decades.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is Globalization Good for Us?
What would it take to live without globalization — and is that even possible?
Anand Giridharadas: Speaking Truth to Billionaires
This author says that changing the world starts with challenging capitalist power structures.
Shrinking Our Carbon Footprint
Nelufar gets an unpleasant surprise when she finds out the size of her own carbon footprint.
Marc Lamont Hill: Racism & Refugees
Journalist Marc Lamont Hill talks about the role racism plays in the global refugee crisis.
COVID-19 Will Change the World Forever
This week, we chat with Dr. Parag Khanna and Dr. Jason Hickel about the novel coronavirus.
Love, Hate and the Power of Listening
Nelufar learns why conflict resolution is more about confronting ourselves than others.
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.
Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein: In Defense of Human Rights
Nelufar talks to veteran diplomat Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein about checking government power.
Standing up to Big Data
Nelufar takes a deep dive into data privacy.
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.
Targeted for Telling the Truth
In a special live episode from the Sundance Film Festival, Nelufar talks to journalist Maria Ressa.
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.
