This expert interview with Prof. Arne Carlsen, former director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, and founding figure of the Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), offers critical understanding of the evolution, the challenges, and global expansion as models for fostering inclusive and sustainable lifelong learning societies. The conversation reflects on over a decade of key developments in the field of lifelong learning from a local and global perspective. Prof. Carlsen discusses the early conceptual work and institutional processes that led to the creation of the GNLC, highlighting the role of municipalities and local actors in implementing lifelong learning strategies. The conversation explores major policy milestones, the challenges of linking policy to practice, and the contribution of learning cities to advancing inclusion, sustainability, and community resilience. Emphasising the interdisciplinarity of learning city research, Carlsen advocates for closer collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to ensure that lifelong learning strategies are contextually grounded and socially transformative. The interview provides valuable insights for those engaged in shaping learning societies through both local innovation and international cooperation.