In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, Laura May speaks with political neuroscientist and psychologist Dr Leor Zmigrod, author of incredible new book The Ideological Brain. Leor’s groundbreaking research explores what makes our brains susceptible to rigid beliefs, ideological extremism, and group identity—drawing from cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience.

Key Highlights:

• Why This Research? Leor shares what drew her to study ideological extremism, including her initial interest in understanding why some young people in Europe were drawn to join ISIS.

• What She Found From the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test to creative uses for a cup, Leor explains how unconscious cognitive patterns can predict a person’s openness—or vulnerability—to extreme ideologies.

• Intelligence vs. Rigidity Cognitive rigidity is distinct from intelligence. Flexible thinkers are more adaptable and less drawn to simplified worldviews.

• The Role of Culture and Stress Our brains react to environmental stress—and even mild discomfort—by narrowing perception and reducing openness. Scarcity and insecurity can make us more rigid, more tribal, and more susceptible to dehumanising others.

• Emotional Impulsivity and Extremism People drawn to ideological extremism tend to be more emotionally impulsive and reactive—highlighting the importance of emotion regulation and broader psychological support.

• So What? Practical Takeaways Why cognitive flexibility matters—for individuals and societies. How we can better design counter-extremism approaches, and what you can do to cultivate more flexible thinking.

Note from Laura May: due to circumstances beyond our control, a chunk of the recording where we talked about the brain on social media, and about even more findings from Leor's fantastic book, was lost—so I insist you buy a copy of her book!

About the Book

Leor’s new book, The Ideological Brain, takes readers on a journey through the psychology and neuroscience of belief, showing how dogmatic ideologies can shape not just our thinking, but our biology—and why this matters now more than ever.

Where to Find Leor:

• Website: www.leorzmigrod.com

• Twitter/X: @LeorZmigrod

• Instagram: @LeorZmigrod

• Book available at your favourite independent bookstore or online. Find a store using Leor's LinkTree: http://linktr.ee/leorzmigrod

Inside Conflict Transformation with MBBI's Prabha Sankaranarayan

Host Laura May speaks with Prabha Sankaranarayan, president and CEO of Mediators Beyond Borders International, on her journey spanning child advocacy to conflict mediation. Recorded in June 2024 and including discussion of societal conflict in the United States, this episode has become even more relevant today.

The episode starts with an exploration of Prabha's transition from therapy to mediation, her commitment to creating spaces for transformation, and the formation of the Trust Network to build a peace infrastructure in the U.S. Prabha emphasizes the importance of community, ongoing self-awareness, and the global shift towards pluralistic cultures. The conversation concludes with an invitations for listeners to get involved in transformative conflict work.

Useful links:

• mediatorsbeyondborders.org
• thetrustnetwork.net
• Prabha's LinkedIn

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction 01:15 Prabha's Career Journey 10:45 Personal Influences and Family Background 14:16 Activism and Early Influences 19:03 The Importance of Community and Collective Efforts 26:00 Self-Awareness and Continuous Practice 33:18 Building a National Peace Infrastructure 42:02 How to Get Involved

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast we welcome Fleur Ravensbergen, mediator, author, and co-founder of the Dialogue Advisory Group. Fleur shares stories and lessons from her work mediating violent armed conflicts in some of the world’s most challenging regions, including Northern Ireland, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her book Disarmed, newly available in English, provides a rare glimpse into the important work of facilitating dialogue in violent conflict zones.

Highlights:

• Why Fleur decided to write a book about her experiences in peace mediation and the challenges of maintaining confidentiality while telling these stories.
• The story of a surprising act of cooperation during a dialogue in Iraq and how it saved lives, illustrating the hidden impacts of mediation.
• How gender norms can shape the opportunities and challenges of being a mediator
• The differences between facilitating dialogues in violent conflict zones and mediating workplace or political disputes.
• Fleur’s perspective on the current challenges facing the peacebuilding field, including funding issues and shifts in global dynamics.
• Practical and inspiring guidance for those looking to contribute to the field of conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Links:

• Disarmed: From IRA to IS: My Life as a Peace Negotiator by Fleur Ravensbergen is available in English and in Dutch, on Amazon or wherever you buy good books.
• Fleur's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleur-ravensbergen/

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:01:16] Writing Disarmed
• [00:05:34] A moment of generosity during dialogue in Iraq
• [00:16:19] Mediating violent conflict and gender norms
• [00:27:08] Public and political mediations vs armed conflict mediation
• [00:34:21] Is peacebuilding in crisis?
• [00:46:02] Advice for aspiring peacemakers
• [00:53:00] Where to buy Disarmed

This episode offers insights into the often unseen work of peace mediation and the transformative power of dialogue in violent conflict.