ROME — Intessere—which means “to weave” in Italian and includes the word essere, meaning “to be”—is the name of a new podcast series by the Bahá’ís of Italy that sets out to explore certain social challenges through the simple yet demanding act of conversation.
The name was chosen for its dual meaning, signifying the act of bringing together diverse perspectives while also pointing to the fundamental exploration of human identity that underpins the initiative.
Each episode invites civil society actors, journalists, and other media practitioners to engage in the kind of profound, constructive conversations essential to social cohesion. The series represents one dimension of the Office’s broader contribution to what it describes as the evolution of public discourse in Italy—efforts aimed not simply at advocating for particular positions, but at elevating the quality of conversation itself around society’s most pressing challenges.
The series explores pressing themes including identity, education, equality, social integration, and the role of media—topics chosen because they are “deeply interconnected and essential for understanding how our society can become more cohesive and united,” said Celine Gherardini, a member of the country’s Bahá’í Office of External Affairs, in a conversation with the Bahá’í World News Service.
The series grew from years of effort by the Office of External Affairs to contribute to the discourse on societal harmony, recognizing a need to treat complex issues with nuance.
“Podcasts, unlike scrolling feeds, allow for deeper, more thoughtful dialogue, creating a space where people can explore reality with trust and hope,” said Ms. Gherardini.
The series’ inaugural episode turned attention toward journalism itself. Claudio Paravati, Director of Confronti magazine, acknowledged that public confidence in news is fragile, yet insisted the craft remains indispensable. “Both good journalism and good governance represent the essential challenges of our time,” he remarked, while outlining a style of professionalism that respects diversity of perspectives, searches for unheard voices, and resists the lure of sensationalism. Hopeful narratives, he argued, are not naïve; they are the necessary scaffolding for action.
In another episode, Mani Ndongbou Bertrand Honoré, President of the Italian Coordination of Diasporas for International Cooperation, explored how to move away from mindsets that view people of diverse backgrounds as passive beneficiaries of social programs to seeing them as contributors of social progress. He highlighted three essential values: mutual recognition beyond stereotypes, shared responsibility for community well-being, and equitable access to participation. The conversation examined how inclusive spaces, particularly at the grassroots, where everyone can contribute toward the common good recast differences from being a source of division to one of strength.
In her comments to the News Service, Cristin Cappelletti—host of the series and a member of Italy’s Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly—said that the podcast and other efforts of the Office of External Affairs stem from “the recognition that lasting social transformation requires addressing not just symptoms but the underlying spiritual principles that guide human affairs.”
Ms. Cappelletti explained how spiritual principles can elevate public discourse: “The Office has observed that exploring spiritual concepts—such as the inherent nobility of every human being, the recognition of each person’s moral capacities, and freedom from prejudice—helps foster a conversation that transcends partisan affiliations.”
When such concepts are placed at the heart of conversations, she noted, “a new sense of identity can take shape, one rooted in the oneness of humanity.”
“The podcast emerges at a particularly significant moment for our society,” said Ms. Cappelletti. Over the last two decades, the Office has engaged with numerous social actors, and through this engagement has noted that certain significant social changes have prompted fundamental questions about national identity and social cohesion.
“By weaving together stories and insights, the podcast invites listeners to move beyond passive observation and engage with social reality in a way that highlights potential rather than obstacles, opportunities rather than limitations.”
Celine Gherardini, Italy Bahá’í Office of External Affairs
“One of the themes the Office has been exploring is that of reconciliation,” Ms. Cappelletti further explained.
The Office’s experience has shown that meaningful dialogue requires more than just bringing different perspectives together—it demands the creation of an atmosphere where participants can build on each other’s insights toward a collective understanding and focus themselves on common aspirations. This consultative approach shapes both the podcast’s format and its larger purpose.
Ms. Gherardini explained, “By weaving together stories and insights, the podcast invites listeners to move beyond passive observation and engage with social reality in a way that highlights potential rather than obstacles, opportunities rather than limitations.”
She added: “The goal is to foster a sense of shared purpose, where people feel empowered to participate in shaping a more cohesive and hopeful society.”
Future episodes will probe the equality of women and men and the part that religion can play in social progress. In a media landscape quick to label and divide, Intessere proposes that identity is less a boundary than a meeting place, by which a more cohesive society can be nurtured.