# “We’ve Got to Fight Back” | Katharine Birbalsingh Sounds the Alarms

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-brink-7481910/we-ve-got-to-fight-back-katharine-birbalsingh-sounds-the-alarms
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-brink-7481910/we-ve-got-to-fight-back-katharine-birbalsingh-sounds-the-alarms.md
Podcast: [The Brink](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-brink-7481910)
Published: 2026-04-30T19:08:30+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/the-brink/episodes/69f3a8afad9857928952357c
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/68bb49871af371182ae70db4/e/69f3a8afad9857928952357c/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-brink-7481910/episodes/we-ve-got-to-fight-back-katharine-birbalsingh-sounds-the-alarms
Duration seconds: 2923

## Resource

Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/weve-got-to-fight-back-katharine?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true In this episode of The Brink, Andrew and Jake are joined by Katharine Birbalsingh to discuss education, culture and the pressing crisis facing young people today. Their conversation begins with a fundamental question: what is education truly for? She warns that many in the West underestimate the profound impact schools and wider culture have on younger generations’ attitudes and behaviours. The discussion then shifts to the modern classroom. We explore how schools have become battlegrounds for broader cultural debates, influenced by political activism, ideological sway and evolving curricula. Birbalsingh contends that a shift away from discipline, tradition and moral clarity is having serious consequences for academic standards, behaviour, mental health and social cohesion. From the influence of smartphones and social media to the decline of parental authority and the rise of online radicalisation, it examines why many young people feel anxious, confused and increasingly detached. Birbalsingh stresses that without strong guidance from schools and families, children are vulnerable to harmful influences. Finally, the conversation expands to some of Britain’s most contentious issues, including identity, gender, anti-Semitism and integration. Drawing on her experience leading one of the country’s most talked-about schools, Birbalsingh offers a stark warning: unless parents and society take decisive action, these issues will continue to fester. Don't forget to check out our merch store: https://www.thebrinkmerch.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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