Global News Podcast – The Happy Pod: Atomic Bomb Survivors Campaigning for Peace

Published: November 8, 2025
Host: Holly Gibbs (BBC World Service), with Harry Bly and Jacob Evans
Recording location: One Young World 2025, Munich

Episode Overview

In this special edition of the Happy Pod, Holly Gibbs reports from the One Young World summit in Munich, sharing stories of hope and change driven by young innovators, activists, and survivors. The central theme is resilience in the face of tragedy—highlighted by atomic bomb survivors from Nagasaki—and the ripple effect as new generations continue to push for peace, justice, community revival, and equality. The episode features moving testimonies and practical examples of forging positive change worldwide, spanning anti-nuclear activism, police reform, wildfire prevention, political leadership, and women’s football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Atomic Bomb Survivors’ Legacy and Peace Campaign

Segment: [02:49]–[09:09]

Survivors' Testimonies

• Shigemitsu Tanaka (Nagasaki bombing survivor):

  • Powerful denouncement of nuclear weapons:

    "The only aim of nuclear weapons is extinction, and they are evil. That's why they cannot coexist with humans. We shouldn't use them at all. And all the world has to raise their voices to abolish them." ([02:49])

  • Emphasizes collective responsibility as Nobel Peace Prize recipients and honors earlier generations of Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors).
  • Describes deep commitment to kataribe—intergenerational storytelling to ensure the horrors of nuclear war are never forgotten.

• Toru Yamaguchi (Second-generation survivor):

  • Shares personal family history of radiation exposure and the randomness of survival based on circumstances:

    "My mother's house was 700 meters from ground zero. My father's house was 500 meters from ground zero. Neither of them were in their houses at the time. That's the reason I exist now." ([03:24])

  • Stresses the importance of ongoing communication across cultures:

    "It's really important to talk to each other without giving up. Even though there are differences of ethnicity, religion, country and language, that is not a problem." ([03:59])

Young Activists Continue the Work

• Suzuka Nakamura (Third-generation Hibakusha, 25-years-old):
  • Shares her journey from high school peace studies to full-time peace activism and social enterprise.
  • Motivated by hearing survivors’ stories and concern over renewed nuclear rhetoric among world leaders:

    "When I see those leaders talking about using nuclear weapons so easily, I always remember Hibakusha who suffered a lot from nuclear weapons." ([07:39])

  • Stresses the simplicity of her appeal:

    "We do not want to make no more hibakusha. No more wars, no more Hiroshima and no more Nagasaki." ([06:10])

Message to Young People

• Advocacy doesn’t require a rigid definition of peace:

  "If we are all alone, the pressure is so huge and... we cannot do anything. But with friends around you, we can share our thoughts or ideas. Innovation doesn't happen only in one person." ([06:31])

• The trauma of atomic bombings is not just history but a "Continuing Story" ([08:53]).

2. Healing After Violence: Leon Ford’s Story

Segment: [09:09]–[14:20]

• Leon Ford:
  • Paralyzed after being shot by police; now collaborates with law enforcement to build safer communities.
  • Describes the journey from anger to healing, inspired by his grandfather:

    “My grandfather… said, 'Leon, do you want to make a point or do you want to make a difference?'” ([09:53])

  • Developed the “Bridging the Badge” program to build mutual understanding and reconciliation.
  • Shares the importance of direct engagement—meeting the officer who shot him:

    "It was so interesting. He wasn’t who I thought he was and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t who he thought I was." ([11:58])

  • On forgiveness:

    "I forgave him even before we met... For me to be happy, for me to continue to live a life of purpose and joy, I had to forgive." ([12:41])

  • On legacy:

    "I’m grateful… whatever room I roll into, wherever in the world, people could feel the joy." ([13:58])

3. AI and Wildfire Prevention: Franco Rodriguez Vial

Segment: [14:20]–[17:49]

• Franco Rodriguez Vial (Founder, Argentina):
  • Developed a satellite-AI system for real-time wildfire detection spanning 19 countries.
  • Inspired by seeing friends lose homes to wildfires, began building tech solutions at age 16 during the pandemic.
  • Notable achievement:

    “We alerted the fire departments of a fire at 1:40am and NASA didn’t until 9am…” ([16:11])

  • Encourages fellow young change-makers:

    “Life is just one… ask more questions from curiosity and from humility… It’s much easier now with AI and everything to start testing problems, prototypes…” ([17:12])

4. Youth Political Leadership and Representation

Zainab Mohammed (Youngest MN State Senator, USA)

Segment: [19:02]–[22:34]

• Broke ground as the youngest, first Black woman, first immigrant, and first Muslim in the Minnesota Senate at age 25:

  “Everyone said we think you should wait and run for city council… but being a hard headed African woman, I said absolutely not and ran.” ([19:28])

• Confronted skepticism due to age, race, and faith but passed key legislation early:

  “My colleague… said, ‘never speak on the Senate floor for the first year...’ I passed my first bill off the floor my third month into session.” ([20:07])

• On Gen Z’s global activism:

  “They’re also interconnected… social media is inspiring young people globally to do better, to do more.” ([21:19])

• To disillusioned young people:

  “We have an opportunity to step up and lead.” ([22:11])

Enrique Collada Sanchez (Young Mayor of El Recuenco, Spain)

Segment: [23:04]–[26:59]

• Revitalized his village, reversed rural decline, and developed projects around natural resources.
• Uses his TikTok following (18,500+ followers) to spotlight rural issues and empower youth:

  “Politics is for everybody, and you just need the passion and the love for your community…” ([24:26])

• Social media’s power:

  “When you are relevant in social media, you kind of are also relevant for politicians.” ([25:24])

• Residents' reactions:

  “…they rediscovered their abilities and the beautiful things we have.” ([26:09])

5. Women’s Football and Fighting for Equality: Georgia Stanway

Segment: [26:59]–[31:09]

• Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich, England Lionesses):
  • Shares the growth and growing pains of women’s professional football.
  • Emphasizes progress in access, body image consideration, and facilities:

    “Men, potentially it’s two different sports. We just have to find the balance of what’s right for a female body… making sure that everything is going in the same direction at the same time…” ([27:30])

  • Urges girls to seek community support and not be afraid to ask for help:

    “Don’t be afraid to ask for things… there’s a really respectful way to be able to ask for help.” ([28:49])

  • On men’s role:

    “Not being afraid to support women’s football. Watch us.” ([29:21])

  • Surreal impact of team victories:

    "When you do win things, it kind of gives you that platform to be able to make change ... we don't need to win to make change, but winning makes it a lot easier." ([29:43])

  • Happiest career moment:

    “Playing on home soil, winning at Wembley in front of 98,000 England fans. That feeling will never leave.” ([30:46])

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Shigemitsu Tanaka:

  “The only aim of nuclear weapons is extinction, and they are evil.” ([02:49])

• Toru Yamaguchi:

  “It's really important to talk to each other without giving up. Even though there are differences ... that is not a problem.” ([03:59])

• Suzuka Nakamura:

  "We do not want to make no more hibakusha. No more wars, no more Hiroshima and no more Nagasaki." ([06:10])
  “Make friends. Because when we want to start making action, if we are all alone, the pressure is so huge ... But with friends around you, we can share our thoughts or ideas.” ([06:31])

• Leon Ford:

  “Do you want to make a point or do you want to make a difference?” ([09:53])
  “If we hold on to grudges, if we let things from our past dictate our future, we’ll never really fulfill our purpose here on this earth.” ([12:41])

• Franco Rodriguez Vial:

  “We alerted the fire departments of a fire at 1:40am and NASA didn’t until 9am…” ([16:11])
  “Life is just one… ask more questions from curiosity and from humility...” ([17:12])

• Zainab Mohammed:

  “We have an opportunity to step up and lead.” ([22:11])

• Enrique Collada Sanchez:

  “Politics is for everybody, and you just need the passion and the love for your community...” ([24:26])

• Georgia Stanway:

  “We just have to stop comparing between men’s sport and women’s sport… find the balance of what’s right for a female body in order for it to be in the best position to perform…” ([27:30])
  “When you do win things, it kind of gives you that platform to be able to make change ... but winning makes it a lot easier.” ([29:43])

Useful Timestamps for Important Segments

• Nagasaki Survivors: [02:49]–[09:09]
• Leon Ford on Forgiveness: [09:09]–[14:20]
• AI for Wildfires: [14:20]–[17:49]
• Zainab Mohammed (Youngest State Senator): [19:02]–[22:34]
• Enrique Collada Sanchez (TikTok Mayor): [23:04]–[26:59]
• Georgia Stanway (Women's Football): [26:59]–[31:09]

Tone and Style

The episode blends emotional depth and optimism, focusing on intergenerational dialogue, personal courage, mutual support, and cross-cultural collaboration. Voices of trauma and hope intermingle with those of innovation and persistence, demonstrating how individuals and communities can rewrite the story after devastating events and persistent inequalities.

This episode is a testament to human resilience, reminding listeners that real change is possible—whether abolishing nuclear weapons, transforming policing, fighting fires with AI, revitalizing rural towns, or leveling the playing field for women in sport. Each story shows the power of taking initiative, building supportive communities, and never giving up—even when the odds seem impossible.