In this year-end edition of the Better Politics Podcast, Lisa Witter is joined by colleagues Kimberly McArthur and Suki Capobianco for a candid reflection on a pivotal year for politics globally, and for the Better Politics Foundation.

Together they unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping the field of political leadership innovation, from representation and trust to systems change. The conversation dives into the launch of the Better Politics Index, why empowering underrepresented voices is essential for healthier democracies, and the importance of meaningful, long-term support for political leaders.

At its core, this episode is about people: the power of human connection to drive change, and the urgency of mobilizing resources to fuel political innovation. A thoughtful close to the year, and a hopeful look at what’s ahead for better politics.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Report: Mere Mortals - The State of Politicians' Mental Wellbeing
2. Political Leadership Impact Path
3. Better Politics Index
4. Political Leadership Entrepreneur Network (PLEN)
5. Safety in Office: 21st Century Skills for Political Leaders

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We speak with global extremism expert and author Cynthia Miller-Idriss about the rising tide of political violence, the gendered roots of radicalisation, and why misogyny has become one of the most powerful accelerants of extremism.

Drawing on her career studying far-right movements, online recruitment and youth vulnerability, Cynthia unpacks how algorithms shape belief, how violence is becoming culturally normalised, why young men feel unseen, and what this means for democracy.

Together they explore how threats, harassment and attacks are driving good people — especially women — out of politics, amplifying the urgency of safeguarding leaders’ mental wellbeing.

The Better Politics Foundation published a groundbreaking study on the mental health of politicians and its implications for reform.

This podcast offers hopeful pathways — from community-based prevention tools to cultural and policy shifts that can disrupt extremism and renew leadership — making this one of our most timely conversations yet.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and visit our website to stay up to date with our latest news. Subscribe to the Better (Political) Leadership Substack and sign up to our bi-weekly briefing for insights and inspiration on how to build better politics.

In this episode of Better Politics, we sit down with Shoukei Matsumoto — a Pure Land Buddhist monk, philosopher, entrepreneur, and author of A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind — for a rare conversation recorded live in Berlin.

From Doraemon to DeepSea prompts, to Buddhist interbeing to AI as a mirror for our humanness, Shoukei guides us through what it means to lead, live, and make sense of a world where biological and non-biological intelligence now coexist.

This is a conversation about humility, ego, ancestors, trust, and the future of human leadership in the age of AI — and why becoming “more human” might be the real path forward.

Enjoy the episode!

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and visit our website to stay up to date with our latest news. Subscribe to the Better (Political) Leadership Substack and sign up to our bi-weekly briefing for insights and inspiration on how to build better politics.