Beyond the Noise: Disinformation, Division & Democracy

A Workshop to Reclaim Connection, Sharpen Your Thinking, and Strengthen Democracy

You feel it every day: the division, the distrust, the feeling that we’re being pulled apart. It’s exhausting. But it’s not inevitable. Join us for a practical, collaborative workshop to understand the disinformation crisis and, more importantly, discover what you can do about it.

This is one of two workshops, on consecutive days, at Star & Shadow presented by Talk Shop & Thinking Box: a collaboration over more than 10 years promoting respectful discussion about big issues around the country.

We are living in an age of information, yet we’ve never felt more in the dark. Deliberate falsehoods inflame divisions between neighbours, and erode the very foundations of our democracy. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, cynical, or powerless.

This isn’t another lecture on the problems. “Beyond the Noise” is an interactive workshop designed to move you from passive concern to active, confident engagement. Guided by Paul, a seasoned facilitator of over 200 community dialogues, you won’t just learn about the issues—you’ll join a committed community to practice the skills needed to navigate them. This is a space to think together, challenge constructively, and emerge with a concrete toolkit to counteract division and strengthen the truth, starting in your own life.

Your Facilitator: Paul Thistlethwaite is a facilitator with over 20 years of experience of running community workshops, Paul has mastered the art of creating spaces where people with differing views can discuss respectfully and even find common ground. His approach is rooted in critical thinking and a deep belief in collective wisdom. In this workshop, he acts as your guide, creating a rich, interactive environment where you learn as much from each other as you do from him.