Show Notes
A politician’s mental wellbeing is as important as a pilot’s. So, why do we pay so little attention to the wellbeing of our leaders? In this episode, Dr Victoria Hasson and Dr Ashley Weinberg talk about why and how we should give politicians the support they need to serve people well, and why politicians' job creates barriers to accessing support. Dr Ashley Weinberg is an occupational psychologist, who has been studying the psychology of politicians for 30 years. Dr Victoria Hasson is a polit...
More from Better Politics Podcast
How is AI fundamentally changing democracy? In this episode of the Better Politics Podcast, host Lisa Witter is joined by Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders, authors of Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship, where they examine the ways that AI is transforming every aspect of democracy, for better and worse. Bruce is a public interest technologist and lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School who has advised governments and civil society organizations...
Annie Lööf entered Swedish politics young. At 23 she was elected to parliament, and at 28 she became the youngest party leader in modern Swedish history when she took over the Centre Party. Over more than a decade in leadership, she helped reposition the party, navigated coalition negotiations in a fragmented political landscape, and became known for her firm defense of liberal democracy. In this episode, host Lisa Witter speaks with Annie about how she first got involved in politics—st...
Mu Sochua spent most of her life organizing for democracy in Cambodia, both inside and outside the country. She served as a member of parliament and as minister for women’s and veterans affairs before leaving the government over corruption and later joining the political opposition. After her party was dissolved, she was banned from politics and sentenced to 47 years in prison. She now lives in exile in the United States. In this episode, Mu talks about what it means to continue political wor...
In this episode, Lisa Witter is joined by Jo Swinson, former UK Member of Parliament and leader of the Liberal Democrats. They explore Jo's journey into politics, beginning with her early interest in activism inspired by the Body Shop's commitment to social issues. Jo reflects on her experiences as the youngest MP and the challenges she faced in a male-dominated environment, particularly during her leadership amidst the Brexit turmoil. The discussion delves into the complexities o...
In the first episode of the Better Politics Podcast of 2026, host Lisa Witter is joined by Damian Boeselager, a German Member of the European Parliament and the co-founder of Volt Europa, the first pan-European political party. With a background in philosophy and economics, Damian began his career in strategy consulting and social impact work before an unexpected turn during his graduate studies in public policy drew him into politics. Confronted with a changing political climate in 2016 and ...