When nature is under stress, words are no longer just tools of communication; they become catalysts. Stories can stir empathy, and the right words can shape the world we want to protect. What happens when we stop telling the stories that put us to sleep and start telling those that wake us up? Hosted by Sangeeta Waldron, author of What Will Your Legacy Be? – Conversations With Global Change Makers About The Climate Crisis, this episode features guests Emily Buchanan (Send Flowers) and Olivia Sprinkel (To Hear The Trees Speak). Together they dive into climate grief, the art of listening to nature, and how words can shift heart, spark action, and keep hope alive.

A special episode discussing 26 Bridges, and 26’s upcoming appearances at The Bloomsbury Festival – the 26 Bridges Auction on Thursday 16 October, and our annual Wordstock Festival on Saturday 18 October. Featuring Sam Gray, Stuart Delves, Jo Lilford, and Joni Brown.

3 writers, 2 plays, 1 book. What binds them altogether is writing about deeply personal stories - surviving Covid, fathers separated from sons, when dementia strikes. That’s when the weight of every word matters. Barra, Katherine and Alastair find a common ground in the search for language that does justice to their experiences.

When we write, we write in, from, about a place. Often the place itself, its atmosphere, becomes almost a character in the story. In this episode we hear from four writers for whom place is always an essential element of writing, whether a novel on Paris, or one set in the Home Counties, or the places on a twinned towns tour of Europe, or James Joyce’s Dublin. John Simmons from 26 conducts the conversation with his guests Vikki Heywood, Rob Self-Pierson and Mike Gogan.

This episode of “Why Words Matter” explores the importance of words in music – whether libretti, song texts, or the language we use to instruct and analyse. Hosted by writer and opera producer Max Parfitt, the episode features two writers and two musicians: playwright (and more recently libretto translator) Siofra Dromgoole; neuroscientist and lyricist Anjali Bhat; conductor, orchestrator, and cellist Orlando Jopling; and jazz and contemporary pianist John-Paul Muir.

What comes first, the music or the text? And can one exist without the other?

This episode of "Why Words Matter" explores how crucial words are in education, particularly within universities. Hosted by Paul and Carolyn Gentle from Invisible Grail (a company that works with universities on leadership development), the episode features three guests from different educational backgrounds: Ben Calvert (Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Wales), Andy Mycock (an academic from University of Leeds who also does stand-up comedy), and Julia Webb-Harvey (a PhD student and 26 board member). The central message is that words are essentially "the tools of the trade" in universities - they must be chosen with great care because wrong words get noticed and can have serious unintended consequences.

Sophie Gordon, 26’s Chair, hosts this episode with guests panellists - Danny Wright, Creative Director at Campaign Against Living Miserably. Danny has worked as a copywriter and creative director in the charity sector for over 15 years.Kaye Brennan of the Wildlife Trusts, who we also know from several 26 projects, including 26 Trees and 26 Wild. And Nina Kelly, from Reframing Race, will be joining us to discuss how we can have better conversations about race and racism.

In this episode our guests reflect on the relationship between words and art. Andy Hayes talks to Dr. Tilly Scantlebury educator at the National Gallery and singer, songwriter, and musician; poet and artist Therese Kieran; and printmaker Jason Hicklin.

Martin Clarkson hosts a panel in conversation about storytelling - with screenwriter Rob Williams, West End associate producer Hannah Johnson and business storyteller Robert Tennant.

Welcome to ‘Why Words Matter’, a regular programme about the central, but often neglected, role of words in our lives. It’s brought to you by writers’ organisation 26 and is produced by Bloomsbury Institute.