Something to Declare

Jan 17 2025 13 ep. 13 mins 25
Something to Declare Podcast artwork

How do other cultures handle the universal problems that we face here at home? Something to Declare is here to find the answer. Join Jack Boswell as he explores the roots of global cultural practices and how people are interpreting them today, from Japanese Wabi Sabi philosophy to the Sacred Geography of Andean tribes.

  Society & Culture
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How to Laugh It Off

Jan 17 2025 15 mins  
In this episode, Jack Boswell explores the Irish concept of "Craic"—a unique blend of humour, storytelling, and community that brings joy and resilience to everyday life.Joining Jack is stand-up comedian Cat Anderson, who unpacks the elusive essence of Craic. Is it simply about having fun, or does it hold a deeper significance in Irish culture? She explains how Craic is woven int

How to Rise to the Challenge

Jan 10 2025 14 mins  
Jack Boswell explores the Finnish concept of sisu - a profound inner strength that emerges when we face life’s toughest challenges.Joining him is Emilia Elisabet Lahti, a Finnish behavioural scientist, who delves into the origins of sisu, a cornerstone of Finnish culture. She explains how this powerful quality - described as the “life force in times of adversity” - has helped

How to Tune into Your Surroundings

Jan 03 2025 14 mins  
Jack Boswell explores the Parisian tradition of flânerie, the art of strolling aimlessly through city streets, discovering beauty in the everyday.Joining him is Dr Aimée Boutin, a French literature professor and flânerie expert, who explains its origins in 19th-century Paris and how urban renewal gave rise to this mindful, poetic practice. Aimée shares how the flâneur engages

How to Take a Break

Dec 27 2024 15 mins  
Jack Boswell explores Sweden’s cherished tradition of fika and its lessons on the art of taking a break.Joining him is Anna Brones, author of Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break, who shares how this ritual goes beyond coffee and pastries to create intentional moments of connection and reflection. Anna explains how fika encourages us to pause, savour a sweet treat, and enjoy

How to Treat Others with Reverence

Dec 20 2024 14 mins  
In this episode, Jack Boswell explores the intricate Iranian custom of taarof, a tradition of elaborate etiquette and rituals of deference that reveal how small acts of courtesy can foster deep connections and mutual respect.Joining Jack is Eve Esfandiari-Denney, a poet and PhD candidate in creative writing, who shares how taarof has shaped her identity and family relationships. Fo

How to Appreciate What Matters

Dec 13 2024 15 mins  
In this episode, Jack Boswell explores the sacred connection between indigenous Quechua-speaking communities in the Peruvian Andes and their natural environment, offering a profound perspective on how we value what truly matters.Joining him is Yojana Miraya Oscco, a researcher and member of a Quechua-speaking community, who explains how the mountains, rivers, and land are seen as l

How to Nurture Community

Dec 06 2024 14 mins  
Jack Boswell explores the South African philosophy of Ubuntu, a profound perspective on humanity that emphasises the interconnectedness of all people and the transformative power of community.Joining Jack is Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, a South African-born priest and daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She explains how Ubuntu - the belief that "I am because we are" - is

How to Make Peace With the Past

Nov 29 2024 15 mins  
Jack Boswell delves into saudade, a Portuguese word often described as untranslatable. Saudade captures a complex mix of longing, melancholy, and bittersweet nostalgia - a "pleasant sadness" that simultaneously consoles and aches. Jack unpacks the profound emotional resonance of this concept and how it might help us navigate difficult feelings in our own lives.Jack begins by speaki

How to Read Beyond the Room

Nov 22 2024 15 mins  
Jack Boswell explores the Korean concept of Nunchi - a cultural practice that centres on deeply attuning to one’s surroundings and gauging others' unspoken thoughts and emotions. Through the lens of Nunchi, we learn about how silence and observation can speak louder than words.Joining him is Euny Hong, author of The Power of Nunchi, who shares her own journey with Nunchi and what

How to Build for Our Future

Oct 31 2024 14 mins  
Jack Boswell explores northeast India to uncover the ancient, awe-inspiring tradition of Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges. Joining him is Dr Wilfrid Middleton, a researcher in Living Architecture, who’s been studying these extraordinary structures since 2017. Grown from the aerial roots of the Ficus elastica tree, these resilient bridges are woven over generations, offering the