5. Sophy Roberts on why stories matter more than ever

What happens when exploration is no longer about discovering new places, but about understanding them? In this episode of The Future of Exploration, journalist and author Sophy Roberts explores storytelling as a powerful form of exploration, driven by curiosity, empathy and the desire to connect. Drawing on her research-led journeys from Siberia to the Congo, Sophy reflects on slow travel, oral history, memory and wonder. She shares how storytelling can reveal deeper truths about people and place – allowing space for complexity, ambiguity and questions without easy answers. In contrast to the search for definitive conclusions, Sophy makes the case for a different kind of exploration, one that begins with a feeling or  question.She challenges the idea that discovery must always lead to clarity and shows uswhystorytelling remains essential for understanding the world and staying connected to each other within it.