Jack Boswell explores northeast India to uncover the ancient, awe-inspiring tradition of Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges.

Joining him is Dr Wilfrid Middleton, a researcher in Living Architecture, who’s been studying these extraordinary structures since 2017. Grown from the aerial roots of the Ficus elastica tree, these resilient bridges are woven over generations, offering the community not just a passage across rivers but a deeper connection to nature and protection of their land, withstanding monsoon rains and landslides.

Wilfrid explains how these living bridges grow under the hands of villagers, shaped over decades by careful guidance and community collaboration. They thrive and strengthen over time, adapting to the changing landscape around them. The bridges serve both as a literal and symbolic bridge across generations, uniting people in a shared effort that will serve future villagers long after the builders have gone.

Jack also speaks with Morningstar Khongthaw, founder of the Living Bridge Foundation, who passionately describes his mission to preserve and nurture these bridges for future generations. Morningstar reflects on the responsibility he feels to educate younger villagers in the art of building and maintaining the root bridges - a skill passed down through stories, hands-on practice, and the patient guidance of elders. For him, these living bridges embody a philosophy of life that values endurance, harmony with nature, and a vision that stretches far beyond one lifetime.

This episode invites listeners to rethink modern building practices and embrace the wisdom embedded in Meghalaya’s living bridges. These remarkable structures offer a model of regenerative design, resilience, and community spirit, reminding us of the powerful legacy that thoughtful, patient care can create. In an age of rapid construction, the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya show us that sometimes, the best way forward is to take the long view.

Host: Jack Boswell Producer: Emma Crampton Senior Producer: Harry Stott Executive Producer: Sandra Ferrari Production Coordinator: James Cox Audio Supervisor: Tom Biddle Sound Editor: Alan Leer

A Message Heard production for BBC Radio 4

Jack Boswell explores the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi and how it challenges our pursuit of perfection by embracing the beauty of imperfection and transience.

Joining him is Dr Takeshi Morisato, a lecturer in non-Western philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, who introduces the basics of Wabi Sabi - an art of acceptance that finds beauty in life’s flaws and incompleteness. Takeshi explains that Wabi Sabi offers a different perspective from the Western pursuit of happiness and perfection, instead teaching us to acknowledge life’s challenges without trying to erase them. Through this philosophy, we’re encouraged to see each experience, good or bad, as valuable in its own right.

Later in the episode, Jack speaks with Bonnie Kemske, a ceramic artist and Japanese tea ceremony practitioner, who delves into the practice of Kintsugi - the art of mending broken pottery with gold. Bonnie explains how Kintsugi embodies Wabi Sabi’s message - broken things aren’t simply discarded but are repaired in a way that highlights their unique history and resilience. Kintsugi invites us to honour what we’ve endured, as the cracks in a pot are like marks from our own experiences, showing strength in their repaired beauty.

Through personal stories, Bonnie shares how the concepts of Wabi Sabi and Kintsugi can help us find meaning in pain and celebrate our resilience. She reflects on her journey through loss, relating how the practice of Kintsugi helped her accept grief as a part of her own history rather than a flaw to erase.

This episode invites listeners to find beauty in everyday moments and to embrace imperfections - both in the world around us and within ourselves - as a source of strength and comfort. Wabi Sabi offers a way to be more present and accepting, giving us the freedom to see our lives as ever-evolving works in progress.

Host: Jack Boswell Producers: Leo Danczak & Emma Crampton Senior Producer: Harry Stott Executive Producer: Sandra Ferrari Production Coordinator: James Cox Audio Supervisor: Tom Biddle Sound Editor: Alan Leer

A Message Heard production for BBC Radio 4

In this episode, Jack Boswell delves into the rich cultural traditions of Mexico's "Day of the Dead" and how it offers a unique, profound perspective on our relationship with death.

Joining him is Carlos Alberto Sanchez, a Mexican philosophy professor, who explains this annual festival - a joyful celebration of life and remembrance. He shares how families honour their deceased loved ones by creating ofrendas, or altars, decorated with favourite items, food, and music of the departed, inviting their spirits back to visit. The festival is rooted in the belief that death is a natural part of life, and while the body may perish, the spirit lives on.

Paola Feregrino, Director of London’s Day of the Dead Festival, also joins Jack, reflecting on how this vibrant tradition has found a welcoming audience in the UK and why it resonates with so many, especially as it opens up conversations about a topic we often avoid - death.

This episode celebrates the beauty of life, memory, and how we can find connection and comfort in honouring those we've lost.

Something to Declare takes you around the world to explore how ancient wisdom from other cultures can help us understand and maybe even improve our own lives.

Something to Declare is a Message Heard Media production for BBC Radio 4.