Social Norms Chat

Send us Fan Mail How can governments work towards behavior change, using social norms frameworks? In this season's finale, host Cäcilia Riederer seats with Gwen Dereymaeker and Cameron Cyster, former and current servants at the Western Cape Government. Together, they talk about how government decisions shape everyday life, challenges, good examples and the impact of social norms on health policy. Recommendations by Gwen and Cameron: Nudge - Richard Thaler and Cass SusteinBetter Politics PodcastInside the Manosphere (2026)Social Norms Chat is taking a break after this season where we welcomed amazing guests. During our break, don't hesitate to reach out via LinkedIn and listen to all 22 episodes available! Use along the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit. Follow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Gwen Dereymaeker and Cameron CysterProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabussum Akter

Send us Fan Mail How can collective action be triggered and maintained at scale and how can we use that for change? In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia Riederer seats with Györgyi Galik, from Dark Matter Labs / Governing Together. Together, they talk about innovations at the local level, focusing on citizen participation and its importance. Check Governing Together's summary introduction here. Mentions and Recommendations made by Györgyi: Caroline Lucas Kate CrawfordChris AndersonOlga Kusinskaya (2023) The Politics of Invisibility Public Knowledge about Radiation Health Effects after Chernobyl Holly Buck (2024) A Climate Disinformation Focus Takes Us the Wrong Way More about relationality, one of the main concepts mentioned during this episode:Relationality refers to the underlying web of relationship dynamics, interactions, and exchanges through which governance actually happens. It is not an add-on to institutions or processes. It is the condition within which they operate. At its core, relationality recognises that:people, institutions, and systems are interdependent and entangledoutcomes emerge from patterns of interaction, not only from individuals, intentions, formal decisions, norms, or structuresgovernance is shaped as much by how we relate as by what we decideRelationality might include:Relationships between people and groupsTrust, mistrust, care, conflict, reciprocityFlows and exchangesInformation, resources, power, attention, legitimacyFeedback loopsHow we learn, iterate, and how signals travel, are interpreted, and influence present and future actionCollective sense-makingHow shared understanding is formed, contested, and stabilisedInstitutional arrangementsThe formal and informal rules that shape how interactions happenValue logicsWhat is considered valid, important, or legitimate within a systemEveryday practices and enactmentHow daily practices are implemented and exercised through the design of ‘soft infrastructures’ – tools, processes, and practices that translate intentions and policies into institutional capacityFollow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Györgyi GalikProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail  What is the importance of supporting leadership development?In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia Riederer seats with Caren Wakoli, from Emerging Leaders Foundation. Together, they talk about the role of mentorship, value-driven leadership and TransformNorms, a fellowship programme that is co-hosted with Emerging Leaders. Our Recommendation:TransformNorms Toolkit: in order to use it, download it and open it on a PDF reader in order to fill in the gaps. In case you fill it out and want to send us your final result or ask questions, feel free to reach out on [email protected]'s Recommendation: The Impossible Dream - Man of La ManchaLong Walk to Freedom - Nelson MandelaInvictus (2009)Follow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Caren WakoliProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Dora Ehrlich

Send us Fan Mail  How can we engage boys and men for dialogue and gender norms change?In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia Riederer seats with Harish Sadani, from Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA). Together, they talk about the evolution of masculinity conversations over the years, the importance of addressing social norms and the need for long-term engagement with men and boys to foster change.Our Recommendation:Fraym's Gender Norms Resource Hub - Data EngineHarish's Recommendation: The Mask You Live In, 2015Miss Representation, 2011The Macho Paradox, Jackson KatzTough Guise, 1999Use along the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit. Follow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Harish SadaniProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail  How can we push for digital rights and protect politicians from online violence? What is the role of platforms, governments and civil society?In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia Riederer seats with Paulina Ibarra, from Fundación Multitudes. Together, they talk about work countering violence against politicians and the how the world we currently live in contributes or not for this phoenomena.Our Recommendation:Political Leadership Norms and Women in PoliticsIn case you are interested in finding out more about Political Leadership Norms, how do they affect women in politics and what can be done to tackle negative norms and their impacts or to support new better norms, take a look at the resource above. For legal frameworks all over the world on the specific topic of violence against politicians and public officeholders, check the resource below.Safety in Office - Global Law RepositoryPaulina's Recommendation: The Information Animal - Alicia WanlessUse along the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit. Follow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Paulina IbarraProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Dora Ehrlich

Send us Fan Mail  How can we use faith leadership to change social norms? What happens when faith leaders challenge violence? In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia Riederer seats with Uwezo Baghuma Lele, from Tearfund. They talk about faith leaders as potential agents of norms change, evidence of impact in conflict-affected contexts and the challenges of faith-based engagement. And more: with first-hand facilitation stories that can inspire your work too. Our Recommendation:Deep Dive: A Country-Specific Exploration of Evidence Addressing Gender Norms through Programming with Men and Boys in KenyaMore on Uwezo's research workUwezo's Recommendation:  Changing Norms through Actions: The Evolution of Sovereignty by Jennifer M. RamosTransforming MasculinitiesUse along the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit. Follow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Uwezo Baghuma LeleProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan MailHow can we smartly use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools at behavior change initiatives?In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia is joined by Sarah Osman, from Osman Advisory Services. They talk about the recent evolution of technologies, good practices and innovations. Our Recommendation:AI uses in behavior change & social projectsGRIT - Gender Rights in TechSarah's Recommendations:LeLapaCanva's AI data communication toolsLovableFarmer Chat, from Digital GreenUNDP Panama - AI for cocreationJakaranda HealthUse along the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit. Follow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Sarah OsmanProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Dora Ehrlich

Send us Fan Mail How can we build and strengthen capacities in order to promote gender norms change?In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia is joined by Lori Heise, from Prevention Collaborative. They talk about gender norms, violence prevention, and how practitioners can effectively design programs for social change. Our Recommendation:Transforming Gender Norms for Violence Prevention, an accessible and comprehensive course by Prevention Collaborative. In the episode, we also mentioned the article Theory and practice of social norms interventions: eight common pitfalls, by Lori Heise and Ben Cislaghi.Lori's Recommendations:Book: The Bone People, by Keri Hulme. Use along the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit. Follow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Lori HeiseProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail What can be do inside your organization to help you better drive changes in the outside?In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia, Helene Wolf and Anusha Bharadwaj, Co-Executive Directors at Fair Share of Women Leaders talk about feminist leadership and how internal changes in organizations can drive good change for everyone.Our Recommendation:Feminist Project Management offers tools and insights on every step of the project management cycle and how can you implement feminist practices, collective decision making, and feminist ways to understand monitoring and evaluation.Check out the toolkit "Feminist Leaders for Feminist Goals" and the Feminist Leadership Hub from Fair Share.Anusha's and Helene's Recommendations:Book: Seeing Like a Feminist by Nivedita MenonThe Feminist Leadership ProjectPodcast: Guilty FeministPodcast: Lead Like a FeministThe 12-week Feminist Leadership Programme, by We Are Feminist LeadersFollow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Helene Wolf and Anusha BharadwajProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan MailWhat do social and gender norms have to do with online gender-based violence and what can we do to tackle it? In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia and Chioma Agwuegbo, Executive Director at TechHerNG, talk about how important it is and how to tackle techonology facilitated violence.Our Recommendation:Transforming Social Norms ToolkitThis toolkit by TransformNorms is perfect to think about your next social norms intervention, either on your own or as a brainstorming tool with your team. By filling in gaps into a fillable and shareable PDF, you’ll slowly build a theory of change.Check out Kuram: https://kuramng.org/ Chioma's Recommendation:Catching the Tinder PredatorGood Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary WomenFollow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Chioma AgwuegboProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail How can we use Entertainment to drive behavior? And more importantly, how can we measure this impact? In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia and Amy Henderson Riley, Director of Research, Evaluation, and Impact at Population Media Center, Education-Entertainment (EE), Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and monitoring and evaluation. This conversation highlights different evaluation methods and different ways to foster behavior change through entertainment.Our Recommendation:Participatory Research Toolkit for Social Norms Measurement, by UNICEFThis toolkit offers nine participatory tools for qualitatively measuring social norms,emphasizing the importance of engaging participants in sensitive discussions todeepen understanding and inform social and behavioral change interventions.Amy's Research:Narrative Persuasion and Social Norms in Entertainment-Education: Results from a Radio Drama in MozambiqueParticipatory Methods for Entertainment-Education: Analysis of Best PracticesAmy's Recommendation:Papás Por Conveniencia📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms ToolkitFollow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Amy Henderson RileyProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail What comes first—laws or social change? In this episode of Social Norms Chat, host Cäcilia sits down with Julie Thekkudan, South Asia Consultant for Equality Now in South Asia, to explore the powerful and often complex interplay between social norms, legal reform, and justice systems. Julie shares her personal journey into women’s rights advocacy, beginning with childhood observations that sparked a lifelong commitment to equality. Together, they unpack how patriarchal norms, biases in law enforcement, and deep-rooted societal attitudes affect survivors of gender-based violence, and how collaborative regional initiatives like Samaj (South Asian Movement for Accessing Justice) are striving to change that. This conversation shines a light on both the barriers and breakthroughs in advancing gender equality across South Asia, offering inspiration for advocates and policymakers around the world.Our Recommendation:Theory and practice of social norms interventions: eight commonpitfalls - Beniamino Cislaghi and Lori HeiseThe paper highlights eight common pitfalls in social norms interventions, offeringguidance on avoiding these challenges to effectively promote health and behaviorchange in low- and middle-income countries.Julie's Recommendations:Unbelievable – a series exploring the challenges survivors face in seeking justiceThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – a thought-provoking look at gender and power📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms ToolkitFollow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Julie ThekkudanProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum AkterSpecial thanks to Aakansha Saxena and Bryna Subherwal for their support in making this episode happen. 

Send us Fan Mail What happens when funders truly trust communities—and build long-term, flexible support around their leadership?In Episode 10 of Social Norms Chat, Cäcilia Riederer speaks with Jama Jack, Senior Communications Officer at Girls First Fund, about rethinking philanthropy and power in the fight for gender justice. From her early activism (at Lend a Hand Society) in the Gambia to her current work supporting community-based organizations to end child marriage, Jama shares how movements grow, how funding can help or hinder progress, and why self-care is critical to sustainable change.This episode explores, among other things, how funders can support deep social norms change by reimagining their own roles.Recommended or mentioned in this episode:- Black Sisters, Speak Out (1996)- International Children's Broadcasting DayFollow Jama Jack on LinkedIn.📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms ToolkitFollow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Jama JackProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Social Norms Chat, Cäcilia speaks with Georgia Arnold, former Executive Director of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and founder of the GA-Agency. Georgia has spent decades using the power of storytelling to challenge social norms, particularly around HIV, gender, and sexuality.She shares how groundbreaking shows like Shuga—MTV’s scripted drama tackling topics from HIV prevention to gender-based violence—have not only entertained millions across Africa but measurably shifted behaviors and perceptions. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that storytelling isn’t just about representation—it’s about shifting mindsets and shaping futures.🔗 Georgia’s Mentions:Meeting MandelaMTV Shuga MasharikiThe Tipping Point by Malcolm GladwellPurple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieAdolescence on Netflix📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms ToolkitFollow us on LinkedIn - and message us if you have questions, suggestions or comments!Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Georgia ArnoldProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Social Norms Chat, Cäcilia sits down with Amisa Rashid, founder of the Nivishe Foundation, a grassroots organization working to make mental health care accessible, dignified, and culturally sensitive in Kenya—particularly for marginalized communities.Amisa shares the powerful story behind Nivishe’s founding, rooted in her personal experiences growing up in the Nubian community in Kibra. She discusses how lack of identification documents and systemic marginalization compound mental health challenges, and how Nivishe has stepped in to fill critical gaps through community-based, inclusive support.We explore the impact of the Nivishe Mental Health Fellowship, which decentralizes mental health advocacy by training young leaders to address issues within their own communities, using culturally relevant approaches. Amisa explains how social norms—especially religious interpretations of mental health—have shaped access to care, and how Nivishe strategically works in communities to shift perceptions and reduce stigma.From launching Kenya’s first youth-focused mental health comic book to preparing the first mental health policy brief for Nairobi County, Amisa discusses Nivishe's multi-layered approach to driving long-term change.Amisa reminds us that changing social norms takes time—and deep love for the work. It’s not about quick wins, but sustained impact over generations.🔗 Amisa's RecommendationsAmisa Rashid on LinkedInSocial Norms Chat📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms ToolkitFollow us on LinkedInExecutive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Amisa RashidProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail How can we engage adolescents in conversations about gender, power, and social change—and support them in becoming agents of change in their communities?In Episode 7 of Social Norms Chat, Cäcilia Riederer speaks with Nayana Chowdhury, CEO of Breakthrough India, about how the organization has built large-scale programs to shift harmful gender norms among adolescents. Drawing from Breakthrough’s flagship initiative Taaron Ki Toli, Nayana shares lessons from working with youth, communities, and schools across India to create long-term, norm-shifting change.Whether you're working on youth engagement, gender justice, or community-led programming, this conversation offers inspiration and practical ideas for doing the work sustainably—and with heart.📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms Toolkit Program mentioned: Taaron Ki Toli – Breakthrough India Follow Nayana on LinkedIn Read more about Nayana’s journey as a TransformNorms FellowRecommended by Nayana 🎥 Stree (2018): Watch the trailer 📱 Man Who Has It All – Satirical Facebook Page 🎧 Keeping It Feminist, a podcast by Breakthrough TrustExecutive producer and host: Cäcilia Riederer Special guest: Nayana Chowdhury Producer and writer: Dora Ehrlich Editor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail How can media support long-term social norms change?In Episode 6 of Social Norms Chat, Cäcilia Riederer is joined by Anna Bwana, Country Director of BBC Media Action Tanzania, to explore how storytelling, mass media, and digital platforms can challenge harmful norms and promote positive change. Drawing on years of experience with media initiatives like Niambie, Anna shares what it takes to build trust, adapt to evolving contexts, and keep young people at the center of social impact work.Whether you're building campaigns, supporting media development, or trying to shift narratives in your own community, this conversation offers grounded insights into what works—and what to watch out for.References and projects we mentioned:NiambieWomen Talking📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms ToolkitFollow Anna Bwana on LinkedinGot feedback or ideas? Email us at [email protected] Website: transformnorms.com LinkedIn: TransformNormsExecutive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Anna Bwana Producer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail What are the most common misconceptions about how social norms and behaviors interact—and how can they mislead even well-intentioned change-makers?In Episode 5 of Social Norms Chat, Cäcilia Riederer and Dr. Sohail Agha bust five big myths that often show up in the world of social and behavior change. From the myth of a one-way relationship between norms and behaviors to the oversimplification of how change happens, this episode is a reality check for anyone working to shift harmful norms or design effective interventions.Whether you're designing a program, evaluating outcomes, or trying to make sense of social change in your own community, these five takeaways are essential tools for thinking clearly—and acting effectively.📖 Use alongside the Transforming Social Norms ToolkitPost we mentioned:Involving Fathers in Children's NutritionGot feedback or ideas? Email us at [email protected]: transformnorms.com LinkedIn: TransformNormsExecutive producer and host: Cäcilia Riederer Special guest: Dr. Sohail Agha Producer and writer: Dora Ehrlich Editor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail How do we identify social norms in a community before designing interventions? In Social Norms Chat’s fourth episode, Cäcilia Riederer and Dr. Sohail Agha dive into the role of formative research in mapping social norms. They unpack how to make sure to ask the right questions and how to design a doable but helpful formative research.Projects and articles we mentioned:Change Starts at Home: Baseline report of a trial to prevent intimate partner violence among married couples in NepalThe Social Norms Exploration ToolResources for measuring social norms: a practical guide for programme implementersDownload our Transforming Social Norms Toolkit: bit.ly/transformnormsguideCheck out Sohail’s insights on his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohail-agha/If you have any question, feedback or insights please feel free to email us at [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformnormsWebsite: https://transformnorms.com/Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Dr. Sohail AghaProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail What are reference groups, both in theory and in practice? In Social Norms Chat’s third episode, Sohail Agha and Cäcilia Riederer go through the ideas of role models, champions and reference groups. Download our Toolkit: bit.ly/transformnormsguide Projects and articles we mentioned: Prevention Collaborative - BandeberehoFemale genital cutting in the Gambia: a case for TostanDynamics of change in the practice of female genital cutting in Senegambia: Testing predictions of social convention theoryIf you want to read more about Reference Groups, check out:Participatory Research Toolkit for Social Norms Measurement, UNFPA and UNICEF: https://www.unfpa.org/resources/participatory-research-toolkit-social-norms-measurementCheck out Sohail’s insights on his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohail-agha/ If you have any question, feedback or insights please feel free to email us at [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformnorms Website: https://transformnorms.com/ Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Dr. Sohail AghaProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail What are social norms, where do they come from, and why do we follow them even when they go against our personal beliefs? In Social Norms Chat’s second episode, Sohail Agha and Cäcilia Riederer go through the concept and the theory behind it. Download our Toolkit: bit.ly/transformnormsguide If you want to read more about Social Norms, check out:The Social Norms Atlas: Understanding global social norms and related concepts - Social Norms Learning Collaborative. Available here: https://www.alignplatform.org/resources/social-norms-atlas-understanding-global-social-norms-and-related-concepts Social Norms - by Lori Heise and Karima Manji. Available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/597f335640f0b61e48000023/Social-Norms_RP.pdf Using social norms theory for health promotion in low-income countries - by Beniamino Cislaghi and Lori Heise. Available here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29579194/ TransformNorms’ resources list: https://bit.ly/transformnormsresources Check out Sohail’s insights on his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohail-agha/ If you have any question, feedback or insights please feel free to email us at [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformnorms Website: https://transformnorms.com/ Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Dr. Sohail AghaProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

Send us Fan Mail What are behaviors and why are they so important for social norms change? In Social Norms Chat’s very first episode, Sohail Agha and Cäcilia Riederer go through the concept of behavior and the theory behind it. Download our Toolkit: bit.ly/transformnormsguide The resources mentioned in the episode are: Fogg Model https://behaviormodel.org/ Saleema Program https://www.unicef.org/sudan/saleema-initiative If you have any question, feedback or insights please feel free to email us at [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformnorms Website: https://transformnorms.com/ Executive producer and host: Cäcilia RiedererSpecial guest: Dr. Sohail AghaProducer and writer: Dora EhrlichEditor: Tabusum Akter

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