In this episode of the Conflict Tipping podcast, Laura May speaks with conflict scholar Joshua Akintayo, whose research explores how communities in Nigeria are rebuilding peace amid violent extremism. Josh’s work examines what “local peace” actually means—through both traditional mediation practices and deeply taboo issues that shape conflict and recovery. As a bonus, you'll hear some local Nigerian birds in the background.

Why Study Violent Extremism? Josh shares what first drew him to study terrorism and radicalisation in Nigeria, from early research into suicide bombings to the government’s uneven de-radicalisation programmes.

Taboos and Silence Sexual violence against men and boys remains one of the most silenced issues in Nigerian society. Josh discusses what it’s like to research a topic that’s both legally and culturally taboo, and how those taboos affect survivors’ access to help.

Sex Trafficking and Power Drawing on his earlier fieldwork, Josh reveals how conflict, poverty, and patriarchy combine in a hidden economy of sex trafficking involving men and boys—and how masculinity itself can be weaponised in war.

What’s the “Local” in Local Peace? Josh introduces Sulhu, a traditional Islamic-cultural approach to mediation and reconciliation in northern Nigeria. Through Sulhu, communities emphasise forgiveness, respect, and the authority of local leaders—offering an alternative to Western models of peacebuilding.

Top-Down vs. Ground-Up Peace How government “rehabilitation” programmes for extremists differ from community-led processes—and what this contrast tells us about who truly owns peace.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshua-akintayo-a50074229

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JuIHLfEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

ResearchGate: Joshua Akintayo on ResearchGate

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