Policy Voices | Seizing the opportunities of the future

A podcast series by Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit.

Building social cohesion. Restoring democratic trust. Bridging divides.

As Europe faces rising polarisation – on politics, climate, technology, and trust in public institutions – decision-makers are under growing pressure to respond with solutions that are effective, inclusive, and forward-looking.

Overcoming polarisation: paths to common ground is a podcast series that cuts through the noise to explore the drivers of division and the pathways to unity. Produced by Debating Europe, part of Friends of Europe, this series brings together a wide range of voices – policymakers, civil society leaders, business innovators – highlighting findings from our latest research project, Voices for Choices.

Each episode focuses on core issues like economic inequality, digital disruption, and climate anxiety, offering actionable insights and policy-relevant perspectives. The aim? To move beyond analysis and spotlight scalable solutions that strengthen democratic resilience and rebuild trust across European societies.

If you’re a policymaker, funder or stakeholder committed to bridging divides and shaping Europe’s future, this podcast is for you.

Listen now. Engage with the voices shaping tomorrow’s common ground.

On this last episode of the series, we reflect on the findings of Voices for Choices 2025 and look towards our next study. 

Host Sabina Șancu spoke with Fabien Curto Millet, Google’s chief economist, about the challenges that AI brings to the future of work and education, and how Europe can prepare to support itself as an aging continent. Discussing healthcare, productivity and lifelong learning, Curto Millet invites us to see AI as a generational opportunity.  

In the second part of the episode, two of the people who made Voices for Choices happen explain some of the trends from the current edition of the study and give insights into the next edition. Alessandra Cardaci, head of programming and operations, and Adam Nyman, director of citizen outreach and engagement, shared their vision for this research spanning multiple European countries. 

You can find out more about Debating Europe‘s insights through their latest report, Voices for Choices.

If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.