In the , 天堂视频’s Dr Ksenia Chmutina and , of the University of Florida, welcome another clutch of experts to try and understand how tragic events around the world – such as coronavirus – are handled.
Episodes include debates on how we make sense of disasters as they unfold around us.
Drs Chmutina and von Medling also look at how events such as coronavirus can expose cracks and amplify systemic failures in our society as well as devastate the lives of marginalised populations.
The series can be found on with follow up information, links and debates on
Previous series have examined narratives that shape disasters and our perceptions of disasters, disasters myths, the experiences of disasters by various systemically oppressed populations such as LQBTQI+, people with disabilities, children and many others.
At the root of the podcast is the idea that disasters are not natural.
Examples of this can be found in the following episodes:
- : People email their voice clips to explain whether disasters are natural – and why
- : Jason and Ksenia discussed in which how the misnomer ‘natural disasters’ is used in academic literature – and why this is an issue
Dr Chmutina said: “The way we talk about disasters is really important because what is often simply a lack of careful and consistent language actually fuels a cycle of misinformation.
“This is why we are so passionate about campaign that highlights why disasters are socially constructed.
“And we are so glad to see the campaign grow, with major organisations such as UNDRR now promoting this message.
“Our podcast helps us spreading this message further.
"In the first two seasons, and now in season three, we talk with guests from all around the world about the ways disasters are portrait – or could and should be portrait - and the consequences of this on different groups of society.”
Drs Chmutina and von Medling have recently discussed their podcast and other work that they do on popular hosted by Prof Scott Knowles (Drexel University).
ENDS