Speaker

Myriam François

Author, broadcaster, podcast host

"Creating a sense of co-existence and community is about forging a shared identity which all members of society can identify with and I think this will necessarily begin with quite a profound reform of education."

Dr Myriam François is a trailblazing journalist, filmmaker and writer currently working at Al-Jazeera. Myriam’s writing is featured widely in the British press, including the Guardian, TIME, Foreign Policy, the Telegraph, CNN online and Middle East Eye, among others. In 2019, Myriam started the We Need to Talk About Whiteness Podcast to pioneer conversations around structural whiteness in the UK.

https://www.myriamfrancois.com/

"Creating a sense of co-existence and community is about forging a shared identity which all members of society can identify with and I think this will necessarily begin with quite a profound reform of education."

Dr Myriam François is a trailblazing journalist, filmmaker and writer currently working at Al-Jazeera. Myriam’s writing is featured widely in the British press, including the Guardian, TIME, Foreign Policy, the Telegraph, CNN online and Middle East Eye, among others. In 2019, Myriam started the We Need to Talk About Whiteness Podcast to pioneer conversations around structural whiteness in the UK.

More Videos

Silhouette of a woman against a backdrop of glowing blue lights, creating a dreamy and atmospheric effect.

Myriam Francois,Anthony Gottlieb,Linda Woodhead,Julian Baggini

Reason and the Gods

What do secular and religious worldviews share?

A vibrant, colorful artwork depicting multiple women in traditional attire, with intricate patterns and symbols, including hands and eyes, set against a dark background.

Myriam Francois

Ideology and the East

We overstate the importance of religion in terrorist acts.

A panel discussion featuring a woman speaking passionately, surrounded by military personnel in uniform, highlighting a conversation on leadership or teamwork.

Myriam Francois,Rowan Pelling,Emma Sulkowicz,Isabel Hilton

Dreams of Equality

What does mainstream feminism promise?

A hand draws a masked figure holding a rifle, while a gun's shadow looms behind, symbolizing violence or conflict in art.

David Aaronovitch,Stephen Sackur,Brian Klug,Myriam Francois

Je Suis Charlie?

Is our belief in freedom a fantasy?

A Union Jack-themed mug filled with tea receives a pour of milk, accompanied by cookies on a wooden surface.

Myriam Francois

Decolonising Britain

Creating post-colonial identity | Myriam Francois

A vibrant illustration featuring a diverse group of illustrated characters in various poses, celebrating together against a bright yellow background.

Myriam Francois,Güneş Taylor,James Tartaglia,Freya India

The essential philosophy of fun

Have we lost out on the best part of life?

A red heart shape secured with metallic chains, set against a pink background, symbolizing restriction or entrapment of emotions.

Rana Mitter,Myriam Francois,Zoe Strimpel,Louise Perry

Forbidden Fruit

Sex and taboo in the modern age

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, depicted from the side with its torch raised against a bright coral background.

Raymond Tallis,Mary Ann Sieghart,Myriam Francois,Kehinde Andrews

Values of the West

Do we need a new set of ideals?

256.The rise and fall of identity politics

Myriam Francois,Thangam Debbonaire,Roger Hearing,James Schneider

The rise and fall of identity politics

Identity, billionaires, and the future of the Left

A man in restraints stands before a guillotine, while ominous figures in the background suggest a crowd of onlookers witnessing the execution.

Isabel Hilton,Myriam Francois,Harriet Wistrich,David Livingstone Smith

Justice in jeopardy

Innocence and guilt in the modern world

A deer stands at the boundary between a lush green forest and a barren, dry landscape with dead trees, highlighting environmental contrast.

Natalie Bennett,Henry Gee,David Pearce,Myriam Francois

Extinction and Renewal

Are we facing the Sixth Great Mass Extinction?

Isabel Hilton,Toby Young,Roger Bolton,Myriam Francois

Tolerance and outrage

Have we become an increasingly intolerant society?

A vintage illustration of a romantic couple gazing into each other's eyes, set against a vibrant, abstract background. The man's tuxedo contrasts with the woman's elegant attire.

Myriam Francois,Maya Oppenheim,Steven Bonnell,Isabel Millar,Sophie Scott-Brown

The morality of sex

Should monogamy fall from its moral highground?

Hilary Lawson,Mark Salter,Peter Atkins,Myriam Francois

New gods and lost rituals

Should religion play a role in modern life?

A vibrant flower blooms inside a cracked cage, surrounded by colorful, cracked soil and illuminated by soft light, symbolizing resilience and hope amidst confinement.

Joanna Kavenna,Myriam Francois,Jack Symes,Jolyon Maugham

Creativity and freedom

Should there be limits on creative freedom?

Rowan Pelling,Sean Curran,Myriam Francois,Ella Whelan

Bad boys

Is danger integral to desire?

Silhouettes of diverse human profiles in varying skin tones, arranged from light to dark, representing unity and diversity.

Myriam Francois

What I've learned about whiteness

Moving towards a fairer society

A stark, illustrated scene of a ruined urban landscape at sunset, featuring crumbling buildings, debris, and silhouettes of figures amidst the destruction.

Myriam Francois,Sophie Scott-Brown,Uriel Abulof

Truth, Gaza and Reportage

Truth in conflict

A chaotic scene of silhouetted figures wielding weapons amidst a fiery orange backdrop, suggesting a moment of unrest or conflict.

Isabel Hilton,Paul Dolan,Myriam Francois,Ella Whelan

Overcoming tribal division

Is our society too divisive?

An abstract design featuring stylized waves in shades of blue with a red female gender symbol overlaying the scene.

Rana Mitter,Peter Tatchell,Myriam Francois,Sonia Poulton,Ruth Michaelson

The final wave

Free speech and feminism

Abstract imagery featuring numerous distorted silhouettes in black and white, creating a surreal, kaleidoscopic effect. The figures appear to merge and repeat, enhancing the illusion of depth.

Myriam Francois

How to think about whiteness

Overcoming the taboo

A vibrant, glowing heart shape made of swirling pink and blue flames, surrounded by wisps of smoke.

Simon May,Barry C. Smith,Myriam Francois,Jenny Kleeman

Happily ever after

Romantic love isn't the only love

A silhouette of a crowd holding banners and signs, set against a red backdrop, depicting a protest or demonstration scene.

Mark Salter,Myriam Francois,Kehinde Andrews,Calvin Robinson

Sins of the past, visions of the future

How our construction of race impacts the future

A pair of elegantly crossed legs in red high heels, resting on a white armchair against a neutral background.

Myriam Francois,Stephanie Hare,Shazia Mirza,Emma Sayle

Promiscuity and power

A path to empowerment?