Language is crucial to understanding societies. It’s crucial to recognising the ecological, social, political, and economic conditions in which we live. We use language to frame problems, formulate solutions, negotiate, and communicate political and economic pitfalls.
Language is interaction that can accelerate action. But language is also performance, and performances can be used to distract from inaction, to avoid action, or postpone it, as much as to accelerate it.
And language is what we focus on in this second series of the language and power podcast.
S6 Episode 1: Human-nature Connectedness, and Positive Discourse Analysis with Ben Clarke
In this episode of the Language and Power podcast, we talk with Ben Clarke from the University of Gothenburg about his research on biophilia - human-nature connectedness - and common ground. Ben explores how communication and discourse play roles in addressing environmental issues and argues for the interconnectedness of democratic processes and ecological problems. We discuss the importance of how nature is represented in discourse, examining how language can foster empathy and better relationships with the environment. Through detailed examples and analysis, Ben discusses the potential impact of framing and metaphors on public perception and behavior towards climate-conscious actions. Finally, we touch upon the upcoming European Systemic Functional Linguistics Congress in Gothenburg, focusing on environmental sustainability and the future of positive discourse analysis.
8 Dec 2025
S5 Episode 7: COP 30, mega-cops, and meaningful participation with Hayley Walker
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Haley Walker from the Department of International Negotiation and Conflict Management, IÉSEG School of Management (Lille). We discuss the outcomes of COP30, held in Brazil, Dr. Walker’s insights into the successes and disappointments of COP30, and the disparity between expectations and actual outcomes. We hear about the differences between the negotiation and implementation facets of COP events, the increasing size of COPs post-Paris, and the challenges and potential solutions for effective participation and meaningful impact. Hayley emphasises the need to shift focus from negotiations to implementation and suggests greater utilisation of virtual participation and regional climate weeks to enhance inclusivity and effectiveness.
3 Nov 2025
S5 Episode 6: Jewish co-resistance to colonial disinformation
In this episode, we speak with Awni Etaywe from Charles Darwin University in Australia about his upcoming publication, 'A CDA/PDA of Jewish Co-Resistance to Colonial Disinformation'. We discuss how disinformation in colonial contexts operates as epistemic and symbolic violence and discuss how Jewish organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace, Breaking the Silence, and the Jewish Council of Australia construct counter-narratives to challenge dominant Zionist framings of the Palestinian struggle. Dr. Etaywe explains his analysis of how alternative Jewish movements are leveraging discourse to foster trans-communal communities of trust and pro-Palestinian moral bonds, and explores the use of linguistic mechanisms such as evaluative couplings and morally charged language to resist colonial disinformation and reframe moral understanding.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
161
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
62
Social presence
0
YouTube
66
Engagement
32
Contact Language & Power Podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Language & Power Podcast?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
