March 17, 2026
Episode 179: The Human Library: Creating Space for Conversations Across Differences with Ronni Abergel
Today on The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld sits down with Ronni Abergel, Founder and Director of The Human Library Organization in Copenhagen. What began as a response to youth violence in Denmark eventually grew into a global movement designed to challenge stereotypes and bring people together through dialogue.
Ronni shares the remarkable origin story of the Human Library – from organizing anti-violence campaigns as a young activist to the realization that when people actually meet someone they fear or misunderstand, their perceptions often change. Today, the Human Library invites people to “borrow” human books – individuals with lived experiences often shaped by labels, stereotypes, or stigma – and engage in honest, respectful conversation.
Through these conversations, people often uncover their own unconscious biases and discover how much they gain by engaging rather than avoiding difficult topics. Ronni also shares how even small shifts in understanding can dramatically improve relationships at work, build trust across teams, and reduce the isolation that comes from unspoken assumptions. Tune in to learn how genuine connection and conversation can strengthen your team. 🔗 Learn more about The Human Library
The Human Library: Creating Space for Conversations Across Differences with Ronni Abergel
Guest Bio
Journalist, Social change activist and Secretary General of the Human Library Organization.
Ronni Abergel is a Danish journalist from the University of Southern Denmark and a multi award winning social change activist.
After a friend was stabbed in 1993 at the age of 20 he became the founder of the Danish Stop The Violence Movement and mobilized more than 30.000 youths in a national peer group education campaign to reduce youth violence. In 2000 he became the creator of the Human Library and later the founder of the Human Library Organization.
He is a profound and recognized inspirational speaker from the World 50 in NY to Tedx events around Europe and speaking at international conferences and summits around the world. Including the US, UK, Japan, India, Canada, Columbia, France, Germany and South Korea.
Since the sudden loss of his wife, artist Zoé Kofod in 2013, he is a widower and a single father of two. Ronni lives with his children in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he was himself raised by a single mother with two children and working two jobs.
Throughout his life, he has also lived a year in Egypt and spent a year as an exchange student in Connecticut/US.
Since 2000, Ronni Abergel has been leading the work of the HLO to develop, extend and embed the Human Library in communities around the world.
He has since introduced the Human Library Reading Garden (2020), the Human Library online bookshelf (2022), the Human Library Reading Hall (2014), the Human Library Book Café (2018) and the Human Library´s Bazaar Under the Bridge (2024).
In 2025 he celebrated 25 years of publishing people as open books to readers.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronni-abergel/
Key Takeaways
00:00 Welcome to the Future of Teamwork Podcast
00:02 Meet Ronni Abergel, Founder of The Human Library
00:36 From Violence Prevention to Human Connection
02:45 Understanding the Roots of Conflict and Fear
04:42 How Stereotypes Escalate Conflict
06:38 The Origin of the Human Library Concept
08:12 Why One Conversation Can Change Everything
10:53 Creating Space for Questions We’re Told Not to Ask
12:41 Why Judging Is Human—and “Unjudging” Is the Work
14:17 Fear, Survival Instincts, and Modern Society
17:27 How Media and Technology Amplify Division
21:06 Why Human Connection Can’t Be Replaced by AI
23:10 The Cost of Disconnection in Modern Life
25:31 The Power of Curiosity and Courage in Conversation
31:49 What Happens Inside a Human Library Experience
33:14 Exploring Bias and Expanding Perspective
35:10 How Judgment Limits Our Own World
37:46 Curiosity vs. Avoidance in Everyday Interactions
39:40 Bringing the Human Library Into Organizations
41:08 Psychological Safety and the Risk of Sharing at Work
42:12 Navigating Grief, Empathy, and Difficult Conversations
44:23 The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Hard Conversations
46:13 What the Next Generation Expects From Work
47:25 Building Trust Through Honest Dialogue
48:20 From Conflict to Connection: A Personal Story
51:17 Why Trust Is the Foundation of Teamwork
53:47 Leadership, Validation, and Creating Safe Spaces
54:41 No Conversation Off Limits
55:04 Where to Find The Human Library
55:39 Closing
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