In the second episode of Global Health Talks: On the Brighter Side, we are joined by Laia Serrano Biosca, founder and CEO of BarcelonActua—a powerful community of more than 13,000 people committed to taking action and supporting vulnerable populations across Barcelona.

We explore how BarcelonActua grew from a simple idea into a thriving organization that brings together citizens and volunteers to support refugees, immigrants, and others in need—through everything from meeting basic needs like food and shelter to providing education, scholarships, and long-term integration support.

Laia shares her journey of building and leading a purpose-driven organization for over 15 years, reflecting on how embracing growth sometimes requires difficult decisions and change. Throughout the conversation, we reflect on empathy as a skill that should be cultivated from an early age, and how volunteering can challenge prejudice by reminding us that vulnerability is something we all share.

We also touch on the contrast between the negativity often amplified in the media and the quieter reality that most people genuinely want to do good—and how collective action can bring that truth to light.

To learn more about BarcelonActua and many ways of getting involved, visit: https://barcelonaactua.org/. And if you’re not in Barcelona, consider exploring local volunteering initiatives in your own city—step outside your bubble, show up, and see what happens.

Laia Serrano Biosca is the founder and CEO of BarcelonActua, a community-driven organization dedicated to inspiring people to take action and create positive change. With over 15 years of experience leading the initiative, she has built a network of thousands of volunteers working together to support vulnerable groups—particularly refugees and immigrants—through integration, education, and meaningful human connection.

Check out her profile for her stories of success that happens when everyone is given an equal chance - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laia-serrano-biosca-b374b4a/.

Nika Stastny is a global health PhD student, creator and the host of Global Health Talks. Her PhD focuses on developing diagnostic and prognostic devices in limited-resource settings. Through conversations with experts across disciplines, she explores the ideas, experiences, and human stories shaping the future of global health.

In the very first episode of Global Health Talks, we are joined by Dr. Tamara Giles-Vernick to explore why it's important to study infectious diseases through history, human lens and wider contexts to better understand the present.

Tamara Giles Vernick shares with us her path into the field and reflects on how well-intentioned volunteering projects can sometimes do more harm than good. We talk about the Sonar Cities project, which works to protect communities in times of crisis, and why mobilizing those who have already lived through emergencies may be one of the most powerful ways to support vulnerable populations.

We also reflect on gratitude, career paths, and what younger generations are doing differently to shape a more thoughtful future in global health.

If you want to learn more about the Sonar-cities project: https://sonar-cities.eu/tag/sonar-cities-sv/?lang=sv.

Dr. Tamara Giles Vernick is a researcher at the Institut Pasteur and head of its first Social Sciences Unit. Her work sits at the intersection of medical anthropology, history, and global health, focusing on how cultural, social, and historical contexts shape infectious disease transmission and response—particularly in African settings. She is also the coordinator of the Sonar Cities project, a European initiative working to strengthen urban resilience and ensure that vulnerable populations are included in crisis preparedness and response.

Nika Stastny is a global health PhD student, creator and the host of Global Health Talks. Her PhD focuses on developing diagnostic and prognostic devices in limited-resource settings. Through conversations with experts across disciplines, she explores the ideas, experiences, and human stories shaping the future of global health.