This dialogical interview with Norman Longworth offers a rich, reflective account of his lifelong contribution to conceptualising and developing learning cities. Through a conversational format, the discussion explores the origins of lifelong learning policies in Europe, the foundations of learning cities, and their relevance in addressing contemporary global challenges such as sustainability, equity, and social cohesion. The dialogue format allows a dynamic co-construction of insights, where the interviewer and interviewee engage in mutual inquiry into the social mission of adult learning, the transformative potential of lifelong learning, and the role of local governance in fostering learning communities (Longworth, 2006). With personal anecdotes, critical reflections, and poetic expression - including his recent poem, “Learn or Die” written during the COVID-19 pandemic- the conversation illuminates how values-driven education and learning can serve as pathways to democratic resilience and planetary Die”, written dresponsibility. Longworth’s vision of learning cities- as interconnected, value-oriented ecosystems- invites researchers, educators, and policymakers into a global conversation on lifelong learning as a foundation for a just and sustainable future (Longworth, 1999: UNESCO, 2013).