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This podcast currently has no reviews.
Submit ReviewHello! This week we’re returning to one of our favourite topics covered in our very first episode when Geoff was closer to 40 than 50: universal basic income. Except this time it's not money for everyone - it's just for artists - and it raises some important questions about how we recognise the role that art plays in our economy, society and communities. Last year Ireland announced a three-year pilot in which 2,000 artists will receive 325€ a week. Is removing financial stress the key to unlocking creative freedom? Will it mean a wider group of people can access the arts? And what can we learn from our own history, including Mrs Thatcher’s Enterprise Allowance Scheme. These are all big questions that we put to our guests: Eliza Easton, Noel Kelly and Love Ssega - formerly of Clean Bandit - a musician working across artistic boundaries.
Plus: It’s the big 5-0 for Geoff as he records a message to his future self...
Guests
Eliza Easton, Deputy Director, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (@ElizaEaston)
Noel Kelly, CEO and Director, Visual Artists Ireland (@VisArtsIreland)
Love Ssega, Musician and Artist in Residence, Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall (@LoveSsega)
More information
Learn more about the PEC, led by Nesta
Learn more about Visual Artists for Ireland, including more information about the Basic Income for the Arts Scheme
Watch the film of Love Ssega's 'Where are we now?' performance at the National Gallery
Read about Love Ssega and his residency at the Philharmonia Orchestra
Come to the celebration at 6pm on 8th June at the Royal Festival Hall
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Hello! This week we’re getting our wellies on as we dig deeper into the future of farming. Agriculture accounts for around 10% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and has a role in biodiversity loss and pollution. So how can we change the way we farm and use our land in a way that helps ensure food security, restores nature and provides a livelihood for farmers, all while tackling the climate crisis? It's quite a task but we chew it all over with Lydia Collas from Green Alliance and Minette Batters from the National Farmers’ Union. We’re then heading to Dorset to talk to Jyoti Fernandes about the role of ‘agro-ecology’ to feed ourselves, restore nature, and cool the planet.
Plus: Which unexpected (and highly relevant) radio show was Ed obsessed with as a child?
Guests
Lydia Collas, Policy Analyst, Green Alliance (@LydiaCollas / @GreenAllianceUK)
Minette Batters, President, National Farmers' Union (@Minette_Batters / @NFUtweets)
Jyoti Fernandes, Campaigns and Policy Coordinator, Landworkers’ Alliance & Agroecology Smallholder (@fernandes_jyoti / @LandworkersUK)
More information
Visit the websites of alliance.org.uk/">Green Alliance, the NFU and LWA
to-George-Monbiot-livestock-critique.pdf">Read Jyoti's open letter to George Monbiot
Elms: England greener farming payments detail unveiled (Article, BBC News, January 2023)
What is agroecology? (Explainer, The Soil Association)
Contact Reasons to be Cheerful via our website, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Let us know your episode ideas, your comments and feedback!
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Hello! As our Easter egg to you we’ve recorded a great conversation with two inspiring voices from the climate community. The mood around the climate crisis is mainly one of despair and doom, for understandable reasons, but neither Rebecca Solnit nor Thelma Young Lutunatabua think it needs to be that way. In their new book, they explore how it’s possible to change the climate narrative to one of hope, and why making that shift is more important than you'd think. We have the solutions, we know what we need to do, and most importantly: it’s not too late.
Guests
Rebecca Solnit, Author and Activist (@RebeccaSolnit)
Thelma Young Lutunatabua, Digital Storyteller and Climate Activist (@Thelma_Lutun)
More info
Buy a copy of Not Too Late: Changing the climate story from despair to possibility.
Visit the Not Too Late website or Twitter to learn more about the project.
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Hello! You may not know it, but for decades Britain has enabled the dodgy dealings of the world's criminals, tax dodgers and kleptocrats, says journalist Oliver Bullough. He's been digging deep into Britain’s role as a 'butler to the world' for years, but very little has changed. Estimates suggest that the equivalent of three times the NHS budget is lost to the economy through corruption every year, so why isn’t the government acting? Oliver is joined by Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge to discuss how and why Britain got into the business of dirty money, why we all should care about corruption, and what we can do to change it.
Plus: Has Ed finally got his own back on Geoff following the vegan cheese making incident?
Guests
Oliver Bullough, Journalist and Author of Butler to the World and Moneyland (@OliverBullough)
Dame Margaret Hodge, Labour MP for Barking and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax (@margarethodge)
More information
Buy a copy of Oliver’s book ‘Butler to the World: How Britain became the servant of tycoons, tax dodgers, kleptocrats and criminals
responsibletax.org/">The APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax
Support and learn more about the work of Transparency International (@anticorruption), Global Witness (@Global_Witness), Spotlight on Corruption (@EndCorruptionUK)
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Hello! Have you ever dreamed of running your own bookshop? We are cheerful to report that the book industry is smashing it at the moment, with the number of indie bookshops at their highest level in six years, and book sales above pre-pandemic levels. Ed and Geoff speak to Sian Bayley, news editor at The Bookseller, who tells us about what’s driving this upward trend. We hear from co-founders Rosie May and Sarah Scales of Juno Books in Sheffield about how they made their lockdown dreams a reality. Finally, Aimée Felone, children’s publisher and co-director of Round Table Books in Brixton, tells us about her journey into publishing and what it means to run an inclusive bookshop.
Plus: Buoyed up by his viral musical success, Ed's started learning an instrument...
Guests
Sian Bayley, News Editor, The Bookseller (@sleighbayley / @thebookseller)
Rosie May and Sarah Scales, Co-Founders of Juno Books (@junobookssheff)
Aimée Felone, Managing Director of children’s publisher Knights Of and Co-Director of Round Table Books (@aimeefelone / @roundtablebooks)
More information
BookBar in Finsbury Park, London
Learn more about the work of BookTrust and Lit in Colour
Visit the Bookseller's website - the trade magazine for the publishing industry
Visit Juno Books in Sheffield
Visit Round Table Books in Brixton, London
Find out about Knights Of, Aimée’s publishing company
CLPE Survey of Ethnic Representation in Children's Literature. Read the most recent report here
Books Aimée recommends in the episode
Knights and Bikes by Gabrielle Kent
For Every One by Jason Reynolds
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Windward Family by Alexis Keir
Mind and Me by Sunita Chawdhary
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Hello! Every day, remarkable acts of diplomacy are happening around the world to bring us one step closer to cooperation on our biggest conflicts and challenges. But how much do we really know about what goes on behind closed doors? And what are the ingredients of a successful negotiation? We speak to climate diplomacy legend and friend of the pod, Christiana Figueres, about her leadership on one of the most extraordinary diplomatic feats: the 2015 Paris Agreement. Gabrielle Rifkind, a specialist in conflict resolution, tells us about the importance of finding the ‘human face’ of conflict. Finally, the EU’s former top diplomat Catherine Ashton talks to us about the highs and lows of her time on the job, and why all of us are diplomats without even knowing it.
Plus: We’ve talked sandwiches, we’ve talked toasters. Have a guess at which gadget has Ed bought for himself this week...
Guests
Christiana Figueres, co-founder of Global Optimism and former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC 2010-2016 (@CFigueres / @OutrageOptimism)
Gabrielle Rifkind, Specialist in conflict resolution and Director of the Oxford Process (@OxfordProcess)
Catherine Ashton, Former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and author of And then what? Inside stories of 21st century diplomacy
More information
Buy a copy of Catherine's book
Listen to Outrage and Optimism, Christiana and Tom Rivett-Carnac's podcast
Learn more about the Oxford Process
'We need to rethink how we do diplomacy,' Guardian Article, Catherine Ashton
Learn more about the Paris Agreement, the legally binding treaty on climate change
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Hello! This week Ed and Geoff sat down with writer, journalist and now Professor of Sociology, Gary Younge. Gary talks about his new book ‘Dispatches from the Diaspora: From Nelson Mandela to Black Lives Matter’, and how his upbringing in a new town - Stevenage - led to a life telling stories from historic moments on both sides of the Atlantic, and what he can teach the next generation of journalists.
Plus: Both Ed and Geoff both went viral fungal this week. Did you see?
Pre-order a copy of Gary's book here.
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Hello! While we generally aim for cheerfulness, it's also ok to be a little angry too. Senator Bernie Sanders is. After a long career of fighting for a more progressive politics, the self-proclaimed democratic socialist has had enough: capitalism isn't working for the average American (or Brit) anymore. Three billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of American society combined, and healthcare, education, and childcare are unaffordable. The establishment has consistently written off his policies as ‘radical’ but Bernie is convinced that what he's fighting for is just common sense. Geoff and Ed sit down with the longest-serving independent politician in US history to talk about baseball, how his policies have influenced the Democrats, and whether Ed has finally met his political meme match.
Plus: Which tangy snack has Ed rediscovered?
Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders)
Buy a copy of It's ok to be angry about capitalism by Bernie Sanders
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Hello! As you wearily stood in a queue for a flight that was four hours delayed, having been hit with a hefty fee for a bag that you swore would fit under the seat, have you ever wondered if there was a better way to travel? Well, you’re not alone! 2022 was a bumper year for international train travel, as people took to the rails to see Europe and beyond. While long-distance train travel is better for the environment, it is often expensive and buying tickets can be fiddly. We speak to rail royalty Mark Smith, better known as the Man in Seat 61, who tells us why this is changing. Journalist and author Monisha Rajesh inspires us with tales of her travels around the world by train and finally we talk to Jody Bauer from Eurail, the company that sells Interrail passes, about its 50th anniversary and why it has revolutionised rail travel around Europe.
Plus: Has Ed hired the assistance of a food stylist?
Guests
Mark Smith, founder of the Man in Seat 61 website (Twitter: @seatsixtyone / Instagram: @seatsixtyone)
Monisha Rajesh, Journalist and Author (Twitter: @monisha_rajesh / Instagram: @monisha_rajesh)
Jody Bauer, Research Analyst, Eurail (Instagram: @eurail / @interraileu)
More information
To plan an international train journey visit the Man in Seat Sixty-One
Visit Monisha's website and buy her books Around India in 80 Trains and Around the World in 80 Trains
Visit 33 countries with one pass. Buy an Interrail or Eurail pass and get inspiration for your next trip here
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Hello! Climate change litigation has come on a long way since the 2000 blockbuster film Erin Brockovich. There's been a huge rise globally in the number of cases being filed against negligent governments and corporations, but what does this mean for our efforts to tackle the climate crisis? We hear from Catherine Higham, policy fellow at LSE, and Laura Clarke from ClientEarth about the kinds of climate-related cases being thrashed out in court. We then cross the pond to Canada, where 15-year-old climate activist Sophia Mathur has been busy suing the Ontario government. We find out what inspired her to act, and what her hopes for the future are.
Plus: Where did Ed go for a *bracing* open water swim this week?
Guests
Catherine Higham, Policy Fellow, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE (@CatherineHigha3, @GRI_LSE)
Laura Clarke, CEO, ClientEarth (@LauraClarkeCE, @ClientEarth)
Sophia Mathur, Climate Activist (@sophiamathur)
More info
Global Trends in Climate Litigation 2022 (Report, Grantham Research Institute, LSE)
Learn more about ClientEarth's work
Learn more about Sophia's journey to becoming an activist
Why 2023 will be a watershed year for climate litigation (Article, The Guardian)
wave.net/">Sign up to The Wave: the newsletter about climate litigation and justice
Links to additional cases mentioned can be found on our website
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Hello! Nepo-babies are a new-fangled term but the issue of social mobility goes much deeper…in this episode Ed and Geoff explore why the same kind of people often seem to make it to the top. Why does your starting point in life still strongly determine where you’ll end up? We find out why it matters and if there’s anything we can do to change it. We’re speaking to social mobility tsar Alan Milburn, social entrepreneur Joe Seddon who helps state school pupils get into top Universities and to comedian Josie Long about how to open up the creative industries to more people.
Plus: Can Geoff persuade Ed to woo Justine with a ChatGPT Valentine's poem?
Guests
Alan Milburn, Chair, Social Mobility Foundation (@alanmilburn1958 & @SocialMobilityF)
Joe Seddon, Founder & CEO, Zero Gravity (@whatjoedid & @zerogravity)
Josie Long, Comedian & Co-Founder, Arts Emergency (@JosieLong & @artsemergency)
More info
Read the is-a-nepotism-baby.html">New York Magazine article on nepo babies in Hollywood
Read Vice's article about why American nepo babies have nothing on the British
Learn more about the Social Mobility Foundation and apply to their Aspiring Professionals Programme
Sign up to Zero Gravity as a sixth form student to get mentoring, or as a university student to become a mentor
Read Zero Gravity's Gap Zero min-FINAL.pdf">Report on the network advantage
Learn more about emergency.org/">Arts Emergency, emergency.org/young-people">get support as a young person, emergency.org/donate">donate or emergency.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor">become a mentor
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Hello! This week we're speaking to comedian, actor and author Cariad Lloyd who's on a crusade to help us become better at talking about death and grief. Although it might not seem like the most cheerful of topics, Cariad believes that there's a lot of hope and optimism in thinking and talking about death. We discuss why the five stages are a load of twaddle, how there is no 'right way' to deal with your grief and what to say (and what not to say!) to someone who's grieving.
Plus: Geoff and Ed’s telepathy reaches new levels...for the first time in the pod’s history, they have the same reason to be cheerful!
Follow Cariad on Twitter (@ladycariad)
Buy a copy of Cariad's book out now You are not alone: A new way to grieve
Listen to all episodes of Griefcast including the episode with Dr Kathryn Mannix
Cariad mentioned psychotherapist Julia Samuel
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Hello! This week on Reasons to be Cheerful Ed and Geoff are Going Out Out and talking about the night-time economy: generally everything that happens between 6pm and 6am. At the end of 2022, iconic Manchester venue ‘Night & Day’ was threatened with closure over a noise complaint. We talk about why this example represents a wider crisis in city nightlife and how it is possible to protect it, both for a good night’s sleep and for better workers’ rights. We chat to Dr Alessio Kolioulis about the history of the night-time economy, to Sacha Lord about why Manchester’s nightlife is the keystone of its cultural identity and to Clare Lynch, long-time resident of Soho, who tells us about the changes happening there and how to preserve the area’s character. And where does Bez from the Happy Mondays keep his bees?
Plus: Find out which TV chef has given a professional review of Ed’s soup…
Guests
Dr Alessio Kolioulis, Lecturer teaching urban economic development at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL (@AleKolioulis)
Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester (@Sacha_Lord)
Clare Lynch, Audio producer and Soho Resident (@clarelynchred)
More info
Night & Day: Manchester venue’s noise breach appeal hearing postponed
Brussels famous nightclub Fuse allowed to reopen
Working Nights: Municipal strategies for nocturnal workers
It’s official - Germany declares its nightclubs are now cultural institutions
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Hello! This week we’re talking about ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence language model that’s taken the world by storm. But is the hype justified? And what can it do beyond writing poems about your favourite podcast? We speak to Rory Cellan-Jones, whose dog is also an internet sensation, about what ChatGPT is and whether it’s been trained on a pro-Ed dataset, to Dr Kate Devlin about what it means for education and whether we can trust AI, and finally to Andrew Strait about some of the ethical concerns surrounding ChatGPT. Can AI really make society better and fairer?
Plus: Where is Ed off to next on his culinary journey?
Guests
Rory Cellan-Jones, Former Technology Correspondent, BBC (@ruskin147 and check out the hashtag #SophiefromRomania to keep up to date with the latest doggie developments)
Dr Kate Devlin, Reader in Artificial Intelligence and Society, Department of Digital Humanities at King’s College London (@drkatedevlin & @kingsdh)
Andrew Strait, Associate Director, Ada Lovelace Institute (@agstrait & @AdaLovelaceInst)
More info
Subscribe to Rory’s Substack on health and technology
Department of Digital Humanities, King’s College London
Visit the Ada Lovelace Institute’s Website
UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems
Stephen Hawking warns artificial intelligence could end mankind by Rory Cellan-Jones
OpenAI underpaid 200 Kenyans to perfect ChatGPT then sacked them
Human-like programs abuse our empathy by Professor Emily Bender
ChatGPT used by mental health tech app in AI experiment
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Hello! This week we’re talking about climate misinformation and how we tackle it. Mis- and disinformation about the climate crisis is not new: since the 1970s industry players and fossil fuel giants have been denying the reality of climate change in order to sow confusion and polarise public support for taking action. Delay is the new denial, according to Jennie King, who talks to us about some of the arguments used to delay action on climate change. Professor Sander van der Linden tells us about the psychology of misinformation spread and why social media has only turbocharged it. Finally, Sean Buchan talks to us about the grassroots campaign Stop Funding Heat which aims to make climate misinformation unprofitable.
Plus: Geoff goes on a gastronomic journey with Ed's latest cooking attempt.
Guests
Jennie King, Head of Climate Research and Policy, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (@jkingy, @ISDglobal)
Professor Sander van der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Cambridge (@Sander_vdLinden)
Sean Buchan, Campaign Director, Stop Funding Heat (@seanforachange, @stopfundingheat)
More info
What is climate mis-/disinformation?
Deny, deceive, delay: documenting and responding to climate disinformation at COP26 and beyond Report from the ISD
Taxonomy of climate contrarian claims Academic paper: Coan, Boussalis, Cook, Nanko
Discourses of Climate Delay Comic by Céline Keller
Climate Action Against Disinformation
Pre-order a copy of Sander's book Foolproof: Why we fall for misinformation and how to build immunity
Other resources
DeSmog Journalism to clear the 'PR Pollution' clouding the science and solutions to climate change
Skeptical science Website set up by academic Jon Cook to examine the science and arguments of climate scepticism
Ed and Geoff mentioned:
city-policies-making-life-in-paris-better-for-children.html">Three policies making life in Paris better for children
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Hello! New year, new term and this week Ed and Geoff are going back to school. Too little has changed about our education system since the Victorian times, and for too many young people it can seem an outdated and rigid system - geared simply towards passing exams - which is letting them down. We speak to three experts who tell us that it doesn't have to be this way: Dr James Mannion, clinical psychologist Dr Naomi Fisher and to Andy Sprakes, the co-founder of Doncaster's most oversubscribed school, about how they're already doing things differently and why it's beneficial for everyone involved.
Plus: want a chance to live out your Geoffocracy dreams? We hear from Suzanne Heywood about a new prize looking for our listeners' policy ideas!
Guests
Dr James Mannion, Director of Rethinking Education, a teacher training organisation (Visit his website or follow him on Twitter @RethinkingJames)
Dr Naomi Fisher, Clinical Psychologist (Follow her on Twitter @naomicfisher or subscribe to her Substack)
Andy Sprakes, Chief Academic Officer and Co-founder, XP School in Doncaster (@SprakesA & @XPschool)
Suzanne Heywood, Chair of the Heywood Foundation (@HeywoodFndation)
More info
Do schools kill creativity? TED Talk, Sir Ken Robinson
The crisis of the last six months has exposed five damaging myths in education Blog, Peter Hyman
ed.org">Rethinking Education James Mannion's teacher training organisation
How to Change the World James Mannion's TEDxtalk on 'vertical slice politics'
Above all compassion, the story of XP School Film
Learn more about the Heywood Prize and enter here.
Contact Reasons to be Cheerful via our website, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Let us know your episode ideas, your comments and feedback!
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Hello and happy 2023! Normal service will resume next Monday but in the meantime we’ve got a cracking interview with co-authors Adrienne Buller and Mathew Lawrence for you. Their new book ‘Owning the Future: Power and Property in an Age of Crisis’ is all about ownership. Basically, who owns what in our economy and society, and why it matters. They set out an alternative future for us that’s not dominated by profit making business models, but rather meets the needs of all citizens without destroying the planet.
And as we look to the future, Ed reminisces about past mishaps with his coat...
Buy Owning the Future: Power and Property in an Age of Crisis
wealth.co.uk/">Common Wealth Think Tank
Guests
Adrienne Buller, Director of Research, Common Wealth Think Tank (@adribuller)
Mathew Lawrence, Founder and Director, Common Wealth Think Tank (@dantonshead)
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It’s been another calm year for politics: four chancellors, three prime ministers and a lettuce. Through the tumult, we’ve been providing you a steady stream of reasons to be cheerful. Having applied a (not very) rigorous methodology we’ve chosen our ten favourite moments from the year. What’s made it to the top spot?
We’d love to hear from you over the holidays with your ideas, guest suggestions or emails. If you want to get in touch with the podcast you can email us at reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or through our website.
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Hello! We’ve decked the loft with boughs of holly and after two years, Ed and Geoff are finally reunited for some Christmas fun and frolics. Traditional board game proceedings have been temporarily suspended, as we ask some friends of the pod to tell us their reasons to be cheerful. And boy, it’s a real bagamashings. We hear from Jon Ronson, Self Esteem, Davina McCall and Michael Douglas, Ayesha Hazarika, Tom Allen, and many more…
Find out which celebs sent us a message from bed, who told Ed he had the weakest handshake in Western Europe, and what Dan the Lifeguard really sounds like.
With thanks to all our cracker message senders and listeners in 2022!
If you want to get in touch with the podcast you can email us at reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or through our website.
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Hello! When we hear about social workers it's usually because something terrible has happened. Social work is rightly subject to scrutiny, but why do we never hear about any of the good stuff? Despite operating in an under-resourced and bureaucratic system, social workers are helping individuals and families facing some of the toughest life circumstances, in the hope of creating a fairer and more prosperous society. We talk to Ruth Allen about the profession, to Ryan Wise who's trying to remove day-to-day barriers that social workers might face, and to Lisa Hackett about why we need to shift public perceptions of social workers and the job they do.
Guests
Ruth Allen, CEO, British Association of Social Workers (@ruthallenonline) (@BASW_UK)
Ryan Wise, Co-founder, Crescendo (@ryanwise18)
Lisa Hackett, Chief Social Worker, Frontline (@FrontlineSW)
More info
Learn more about the British Association of Social Workers' 80:20 Campaign
If you're a social worker, take BASW's annual survey of social workers
Read more about the 15% solutions approach that Ryan discusses
Understand more about Crescendo
Find out information about Frontline, England's largest social work charity
The campaign to get care experience designated a protected characteristic
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Hello! This week Ed and Geoff are on location to chat with two big brains who have been part of two important commissions about the state of the UK economy. What are the deep roots of the economic crisis facing our country? And what's the solution?
The UK is suffering from a 'toxic combination' of high inequality and stagnating growth. We look at some of the long-term issues that mean the cost of living crisis is hitting Britain particularly hard, why we need a new economic strategy and what it would involve. And what does Geoff's hairdresser have to do with it all?
Guests
Carys Roberts, Executive Director, IPPR (@carysroberts) (@IPPR)
Torsten Bell, CEO, Resolution Foundation (@TorstenBell) (@resfoundation)
More info
Read the final report (2018) from IPPR's Commission on Economic Justice
Read 'Stagnation Nation' (2022) the interim report from the Economy 2030 Inquiry
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Hello! This week we're talking about disability activism: its past, present and future. Disabled people are routinely excluded from society, despite making up 15% of the population. How has disability activism shifted people's attitudes and perceptions? And how can we transform our society so it's fairer for everyone? To find out we speak to disability justice activist Anna Landre about why it's not possible to legislate prejudice out of existence, we also talk to Christoph Keller about his new memoir and to Ruth Malkin about the People's History Museum's new exhibition celebrating the history of disability activism.
Transcripts of all the interviews are available on our website.
Guests
Anna Landre, Disability Justice Activist and Research Fellow, UCL (@annalandre)
Christoph Keller, Novelist, editor and playwright. Author of ‘Every Cripple a Superhero’
Ruth Malkin, Community Co-Curator, People's History Museum (@PHMMcr)
More info
UCL's Global Disability Innovation Hub
The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List 2022
Buy Christoph's book 'Every Cripple A Superhero'
Islam Alijaj's Twitter (Swiss politician)
Visit the People's History Museum's Exhibition: Nothing About Us Without Us (until October 2023)
Get online support and advice from Scope
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Hello! Ed's just come back from COP27 where he was roving with his mic. He spoke to some experts on how we shift to zero carbon power and break our dependency on fossil fuels. We talk to Kingsmill Bond about why the transition to renewables makes economic sense. Tzeporah Berman tells us about the potential of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to constrain supply. And Mohamed Adow tells us why the continent of Africa could lead the way in becoming a renewable energy superpower, and what that means for its development.
Guests
Kingsmill Bond, Energy Strategist, Rocky Mountain Institute (@KingsmillBond) (@RockyMtnInst)
Tzeporah Berman, Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (@tzeporah) (@fossiltreaty)
Mohamed Adow, Director, Power Shift Africa (@mohadow) (@PowerShftAfrica)
More info
Read about past and current peaks in fossil fuel demand (RMI)
Visit Kingsmill Bond's website to read about the drivers of change for the transition to renewables and the myths of the incumbency
Listen to Kingsmill on the Volts Podcast
Learn more about the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
Access the Global Registry of Fossil Fuels (Carbon Tracker; Global Energy Monitor)
Visit Power Shift Africa's Website
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Hello! This week as world leaders- and Ed -gather in Sharm El-Sheikh for COP27 we’re covering a tricky topic: what’s our role as individuals in tackling the climate crisis? When we feel like governments and businesses aren’t doing their bit to keep 1.5C alive, is it normal for us to feel disillusioned about the power that’s in our hands?
Our guests say that action on climate isn't all on us, but that it won't happen without us either. We speak to Alyssa Gilbert from the Grantham Institute for Climate Change about the enabling role of government and why we need to shout about the actions we’re taking. We also talk to Mike Thompson from the Climate Change Committee and to Tom Bailey, who is recommending shifts he thinks we can take to make a difference.
Plus: Geoff has a new look and reveals his Autumnal beverage of choice
More info
Imperial's 9 things you can do about climate change
CCC's 2022 Report on Climate Offsetting
CCC's 2020 Report on the Sixth Carbon Budget
Sign up and Take the Jump for 1, 3 or 6 months
Listen to 'Holding out for a Zero,' an RTBC episode from July
Guests
Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Policy and Translation at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London (@AlyssaRGilbert) (@Grantham_IC)
Mike Thompson, Chief Economist and Director of Analysis, Climate Change Committee (@Mike_Thommo) (@theCCCuk)
Tom Bailey, Co-founder, Take the Jump (@taketheJUMPnow)
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Hello! A bonus Cheerful Book Club episode coming at you this week direct from Geoff’s loft. We’re talking to bestselling author Anand Giridharadas about his new book The Persuaders: Winning Hearts and Minds in a Divided Age.
Progressive movements need to persuade, not simply preach, he says. But what does that look like if it is not ‘persuasion by dilution’? We talk to Anand about what we can learn from the people who are changing minds and building big coalitions to make progressive movements around the world more successful.
Sign up for his newsletter The.Ink
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Hello! This week we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to throw you a bit of an RTBC curveball. Not only are Ed and Geoff venturing gingerly into the world of sport, but they're talking about the fastest-growing game in the US, which is now gaining popularity closer to home: pickleball! We talk to hall-of-famer Jennifer Lucore about the history of the sport and to coach Louise Stephens about its future here in the UK. We also chat to players Jessie Danger and Sam Basford about their pickleball careers to date. But will Ed and Geoff agree to get on the court? And what the heck is 'dinking'?
Plus: Find out what happened when I’m a Celebrity came calling for Ed...and a special preview of a bonus RTBC episode being released later this week.
More info
Find out more information including where your local courts are on Pickleball England
Learn more about the sport in America at USA Pickleball
Guests
Jennifer Lucore, Professional Pickleball Player and Ambassador, Author of the book ‘History of Pickleball’ (Instagram: @jenniferlucore)
Louise Stephens, Coach and Pickleball England Volunteer of the Year (Instagram: @englandpickleball)
Jessie Danger, Top 8 Sponsored Player and Nationals Women’s Doubles Bronze Medallist (Instagram: @jessieedanger)
Sam Basford, Regional Director for Pickleball England and Master Teaching Professional (Instagram: @sambasford.pb)
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Hello! This week we're treating you to a new author episode: a fascinating conversation with Nicola Rollock, Professor of Race and Social Policy at King's College London. Nicola's new book The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival is all about the implicit rules of race and racism that govern our lives and strengthen the status quo. Geoff sits down for a discussion with Nicola all about how she weaves fiction with academic writing, the illusion that racial injustice has been eliminated, and why we need to change our patterns of thinking about race if anything is going to change for the better.
Buy The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival
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Hello! The pranksters at RTBC have got a joke about trickle-down economics.…99% of people won't get it...
This week as Liz Truss prepares to exit we’re talking about the economic philosophy that characterised her reign: supply-side or trickle-down economics—and its alternative: so-called middle-out economics.The latter is the idea that investing in the broad middle to help people become more secure and prosperous can lead to more economic growth. But is it really that simple?
We talk to Professor Sue Himmelweit about the origins of trickle-down, to Nick Hanauer, one of the inventors of the term middle-out, and to Juha Leppänen about Finland's model of economic success.
Plus: Ed reflects on whether the frack got Liz the sack.
Fancy sending in a new theme tune? Email us at reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com
Guests
Sue Himmelweit, emeritus professor, the Open University and member, Women's Budget Group (@suehimmelweit)(@womensbudgetgrp)
Nick Hanauer, author, venture capitalist and founder of Civic Ventures (@NickHanauer)
Juha Leppänen, CEO, Demos Helsinki (@juhaleppanen) (@demoshelsinki)
More info
Forget trickle down, what the UK needs is middle-out economics (The Guardian)
A brief history of middle-out economics(Pitchfork Economics)
Is middle-out Biden's new deal(Democracy)
Listen to Nick's weekly podcast, Pitchfork Economics
Read 100 Social Innovations from Finland, Ilkka Taipale
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Hello! After the Second World War, council housing was an important part of the government’s ambitious vision for the welfare state. Over the past 50 years, with a growing emphasis on home ownership, the amount of council housing and its condition has diminished. Where does that leave the state of social housing now? Geoff finds out with architect Peter Barber, who also explains some of the design principles underpinning his award-winning social housing project. We find some reasons to be cheerful with former deputy mayor of Vienna Maria Vassilakou, who tells us how the city has cracked the social housing code. Finally, Martyn Holmes discusses how collaborative or community-led housing could be one solution to the housing crisis.
Plus: Ed has reached new heights of fame as one board game recognises his achievements. Can you guess what it is yet?
Guests
Peter Barber, Director, Peter Barber Architects (@pPeterpeter) (@peterbarber12)
Maria Vassilakou, Former Deputy Mayor of Vienna (Contact Maria through her website: solutions.com/">Vienna Solutions)
Martyn Holmes, Founding Member, Bunker Housing Co-operative (@BunkerCoop)
More info
Take a look at some of Peter’s projects on his website
Learn more about the award-winning housing project McGrath Road
Read about Vienna’s model of social housing
Visit Bunker Housing Cooperative’s Website
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Following Labour’s announcement of a new national wealth fund to invest in green industries, we’re exploring what 'public wealth funds' are and how they offer a way to keep profits in the hands of the people.
We talk to Professor Karin Thorburn about Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund which has guaranteed that future generations can benefit from its natural resources, even as we transition towards a greener economy. UCL Associate Professor Josh Ryan-Collins makes the wider case for public wealth funds, and how they help governments invest for the future and make sure that returns go back to citizens. Finally, Rayhan Haque from the Community Wealth Fund Alliance tells us how the 40p in your old building society account could be invested in communities for big economic, social and environmental returns.
Plus: Ed is ready to jump into ribbon-cutting action as Britain’s oldest lido is opening to the public! We speak to the team behind the restoration and re-opening of Cleveland Pools, Bath.
Keep submitting your theme music to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com
More info
Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund
UCL IIPP Report on Public Wealth Funds
Learn more about the Community Wealth Fund
Local Trust as a founding member of the Community Wealth Fund Alliance
Read about the Dormant Assets Scheme
Stay up to date with news on Cleveland Pools’ reopening on their website or sign up to their newsletter
Guests
Karin Thorburn, Professor of Finance, Norwegian School of Economics (@karinsthorburn) (@NHHnor)
Josh Ryan-Collins, Associate Professor in Economics and Finance, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (@jryancollins) (@IIPP_UCL)
Rayhan Haque, Campaigns Manager, Community Wealth Fund Alliance (@RayhanHaqueUK) (@CommWealthFund)
Alice Le Page, Learning and Community Engagement Trustee, Cleveland Pools (@aslepage) (@Clevelandpools)
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Hello! Why is it that women live longer, but spend more of their lives in poor health? We explore why women’s pain is often dismissed and why it can take many years to receive a diagnosis with Dr Larisa Corda. We then delve deep into the history of medical misogyny with Dr Elinor Cleghorn and finally we find some reasons to be cheerful with the creator of podcast series 28-ish days later, India Rakusen.
Plus: We’re joined by TV royalty! Maracas at the ready- Dan McGrath, composer of the Strictly Come Dancing theme music, joins us to talk about how you can create a winning theme for the RTBC refresh.
Submit your contributions here: reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com
Guests
Dr Larisa Corda, obstetrician and gynaecologist, fertility expert on This Morning and women’s health activist (@drlarisacorda)
Dr Elinor Cleghorn, feminist cultural historian and author of Unwell Women: A journey through medicine and myth in a man-made world (@elinorcleghorn)
India Rakusen, journalist, documentary producer and presenter (@IndiaRakusen)
Dan McGrath, music producer (@danthesoundman)
More info
Listen to our episode on health inequalities with Professor Sir Michael Marmot
Read the Women’s Health Strategy
Order Elinor’s book Unwell Women
Listen to India’s podcast 28-ish days later on BBC Sounds
uk.org/">Visit Endometriosis UK for support. Their helpline can be reached on 0808 808 2227
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Hello! It's a big week at Reasons to be Cheerful HQ as we're back in Geoff's loft to record a very special 5th anniversary episode with a very special guest. We're talking to the brilliant and hilarious Guardian columnist Marina Hyde about her way with words, fielding the phones on the Sun's showbiz desk in the 90s and what she thinks about the alternative world of chaos with Ed Miliband.
In Marina's new book What Just Happened?! Dispatches from Turbulent Times you can relive the bin fire of the last six years with a collection of some of her finest columns. It's out on 6th October.
Plus: Could you be the winner of the Reasons to be Cheerful Song Contest?
Send us your submissions on reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com
Pre-order What Just Happened?!
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Hello! This week Geoff's exploring how individuals have taken on the big dogs to seek justice. We talk to three guests who have faced up to their employers, multinational corporations and even governments to challenge unfair treatment and inspire change for the better. But can an eventual victory ever outweigh the personal toll? And how can we make sure justice is accessible to all?
We talk to Sophia Moreau, who challenged her employer over unequal pay and then led a campaign to end student maternity discrimination. We'll also speak to Jason Evans who is seeking justice for the victims and families of those affected by the contaminated blood scandal in the 1970s and 1980s. And finally we'll be hearing from a law firm that's taken collective action for over 200,000 victims in Brazil affected by the Mariana Dam collapse in 2015. Alicia Alinia will be with us to discuss what a recent legal ruling means for the future of corporate behaviour.
Guests
Sophia Moreau, Campaigner and Employment Tribunal Mentor, Pregnant then Screwed (@MsSMoreau) (@PregnantScrewed)
Jason Evans, Founder, Factor 8 (@JasonEvansF8) (@Factor8Campaign) and 2021 runner-up Sheila McKechnie Foundation Campaigner Awards
Alicia Alinia, Partner and COO, Pogust Goodhead (@AliciaAlinia)
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Hello! Ed is absent due to the period of national mourning, so Geoff takes the reins with a conversation recorded before last week's news. We talk to three inspiring guests about the commons. But what are the commons, how do they reduce inequality and why can we be optimistic about them today? We speak to Guy Standing, Professorial Research Associate at SOAS and author of the Blue Commons about how reviving the commons is a key component of progressive politics and could reduce social insecurity. We then look at the commons in action with Jenny Barlow, Estate Manger of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, who tells us about how a community buy-out in Scotland will lead to large-scale nature restoration and bring economic opportunities to the community. Finally, Abigail Woodman, Chair of the East London Waterworks Park talks to us about reviving former common land by creating free wild swimming pools for all, and why this has made her feel more hopeful for the future.
Guests
Guy Standing, Professorial Research Associate, SOAS (@SOAS)
Jenny Barlow, Estate Manager, Tarras Valley Nature Reserve (@TarrasValleyNR) (@LangholmOnline)
Abi Woodman, Chair, East London Waterworks Park (@ELWaterworks)
More info
Buy Guy Standing's book The Blue Commons: Rescuing the Economy of the Sea
Find out more about the Langholm Moor Community Buy-out
Find out more about the East London Waterworks Park
Donate to the ELWP Crowdfunder
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Hello! This week we’re back to school and learning all about character education. But what is it and why is it relevant beyond the classroom too? One of the leading authorities on the topic (the Jubilee Centre) defines character education as all explicit and implicit educational activities that help young people to develop positive personal strengths or ‘virtues’. We explore what ‘good character’ means, the impact of adverse life experiences, and whether character is the key to a fairer and more compassionate society.
We speak to Bec Tigue, Head of School at the University of Birmingham School; Alex Hanratty, co-founder of ReconnectEd; and author and podcaster Bruce Daisley, who questions our typical understanding of resilience.
Plus: Has Ed finally outfoxed the fox?
Our guests
Bec Tigue, Head of School, University of Birmingham School (@UoBSCharacter)(@JubileeCentre1)
Alex Hanratty, Co-founder, ReconnectEd (@ReconnectEduc)
Bruce Daisley, Author and podcaster (@brucedaisley)
The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues
Learn more about the Jubilee Centre’s Framework for Character Education in Schools
Alex’s social enterprise ReconnectEd, helping young people at risk of exclusion
Timpson Review of School Exclusion (2019)
Buy Bruce’s book Fortitude: Unlocking the Secrets of Inner Strength
Find out more about Bruce’s work at his website Eat Sleep Work Repeat
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Hello! Normal service has resumed on Reasons to be Cheerful following our summer break, and this week we're talking all about the charity sector. But what the heck is it? Ed and Geoff try to find out by talking to Daniel King, Professor of Organisation Studies at Nottingham Trent University. We also talk to Mita Desai, CEO of the Young Trustees Movement about why the sector needs to be more diverse at board level, and to Sarah Woodcock, CEO and Founder of the Kids Network about her journey to set up a charity.
Plus: Ed revives his Wordle obsession.
Our guests:
Learn more about the Young Trustees Movement
Become a mentor volunteer at the Kids Network
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Hello! For the final episode in our Existential Cheerful Summer series we’re talking to Oliver Burkeman: author, journalist and self-proclaimed ‘reformed productivity geek’ for the Guardian. We talk to him about his new book Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It which is all about why it’s empowering for us to confront our ‘finitude,’ i.e. the limited amount of time we are on this planet for. Why are we obsessed with getting everything done? Why is our modern ‘task-oriented’ relationship with time so unhelpful? And what can we learn from Rob Stewart’s love of model railways?
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Hello! This week's summer episode is all about music and our powerful relationship to it. Ed is a latecomer to music's joys, but critic, journalist and interviewer Jude Rogers has been a life-long devotee. Jude's new memoir The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives traces the pivotal moments of her life soundtracked by twelve songs. Along the way she asks psychologists, neuroscientists and sociologists why music has such an influence on our lives. Jude joined us to discuss why music activates memories, fuels self-expression and connects us to other people.
Read Jude's writing for the Guardian
Follow Jude on Twitter
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Hello! In the second of our summer episodes we're talking to environmental activist, author and journalist George Monbiot. Farming is the most environmentally damaging industry in the whole world, and great swathes of the Earth's surface are given over to the production of our food, particularly through grazing and feeding livestock. In his new book Regenesis: Feeding the world without devouring our planet George explores how we can develop healthier, cheaper and less damaging versions of familiar and accepted foods through the 'counter-agricultural revolution.' What is the secret to delivering radical change? And why might a pancake hold the solution to our problems?
Buy Regenesis here
Read George's columns for the Guardian here
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Hello! To kick off our season of Existential Cheerful Summer interviews we’re talking to Professor Brian Cox ahead of his UK tour ‘Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey’. Ed and Geoff chat to Brian about the big questions: black holes, how we came to be here, what it means to be human, and what we can become. What does the climate crisis mean if we’re the only civilisation in a galaxy of 400 billion stars? To bring things down to earth, Brian tells us about his music career, car parks and his pivotal role in soundtracking 1997.
Buy tickets to Brian's Tour: Horizons: A 21st Century Space Odyssey
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Hello! This week we're revisiting the issue of plastic pollution, something we explored for the first time in 2018. Plastic pollution affects everyone, but not equally. While progress is being made on the international stage with the recent agreement of a UN resolution to end plastic pollution, there's still a long way to go. We talk to Zaynab Sadan from WWF South Africa about how ambitious a future global treaty will be, to Jill Farrell from Zero Waste Scotland about their Deposit Return Scheme, and to Rachel Edwards from Surfers Against Sewage Port Talbot about how the issue is being tackled locally, and whether that's enough.
Plus: We find out why Ed is moderately outraged after an encounter at a Sam Fender gig.
Learn more about the UN's recent resolution to end plastic pollution
Information on Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme
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Hello! Come to escape the oppressive heat, stay for chaos with Ed!
This weekend we're convening a cabinet of chaos live from King's Place in London.
We'll be joined by David Runciman, Faiza Shaheen, David Gauke and Rosie Carter to make sense of the insanity of the last few weeks, and to ask how we got here, and how it all affects the future.
We also have special guest Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, with us for a freewheeling conversation
Buy tickets here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/reasons-to-be-cheerful-live/
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Hello! This week we're talking about the Climate Change Committee's recent progress report on the UK government's Net Zero targets. While they say the UK is doing well at setting targets, what about delivery? Where do we need to improve? And why are workers' rights, delivering zero carbon jobs and public engagement so crucial in our work to reduce emissions? We talk to Mike Thompson, director of analysis and chief economist at the Climate Change Committee, Mika Minio-Paluello, policy officer for industry and climate at the TUC, and Jacob Ainscough, senior research associate at Lancaster University.
Plus: Enjoy Ed and Geoff's speculation about Boris Johnson’s fate, 24 hours before (spoilers!) he resigns.
Buy tickets for Ed Miliband's Cabinet of Chaos
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Hello! This week we're talking about museums and the role they have in shaping social and political issues. Many in the museum community agree that our museums are not neutral, but what does that mean when it comes to addressing issues such as climate change, colonialism and corporate influence? We talk to Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, Professor Laura Van Broekhoven, Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum and Professor of Museum Studies, Ethics and Material Culture at the University of Oxford and Dr Chris Garrard, Co-Director of campaign group Culture Unstained.
Plus: Geoff delves into the archives and quizzes Ed on 250 episodes of RTBC history. How well does he do?
Show notes:
Buy tickets to our live show here
returns.html">Book a ticket to see Dippy
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Hello! Fungi are everywhere, but most of us have never given them much of a second thought. From mushrooms to moulds, they may have the power to help with some of our trickiest problems. We talk to Merlin Sheldrake about why ignoring fungi is dangerous and what we can learn from them. Dr David Erritzoe from Imperial College discusses the potential therapeutic applications of psilocybin on depression and Fern Freud tells us about her passion for foraging for mushrooms on her doorstep.
Plus: Life is too short to stuff a mushroom it seems, as Ed stuffs peppers instead.
Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life: How fungi make our worlds, change our minds and shape our futures
Check out the work of Imperial’s Centre for Psychedelic Research
Go on a foraging walk with Foraged by Fern
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Hello! This week we’re talking about women in prison. Women make up a tiny proportion of the prison population - less than 5% - and yet their imprisonment can wreak lasting and far-reaching damage. Addressing the needs of this minority could have a significant positive impact, say Kate Paradine, CEO of Women in Prison, Paula Harriott, Head of Prisoner Engagement at the Prison Reform Trust and Mel Evans from No Births Behind Bars.
Plus: Ed’s gearing up for a festival special.
Buy tickets for our live show here on 17th July here
Paula’s podcast the Secret Life of Prisons
No Births Behind Bars, sign the petition
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Hello! This week we’re revisiting a topic we’ve examined before: the role of the ultra-wealthy in our society. The Patriotic Millionaires movement recently lobbied in Davos for governments around the world to tax them more. We talk to Gemma McGough from Patriotic Millionaires about why it’s important for the rich to speak up, to Stephanie Brobbey about how wealthy people can become ‘good ancestors’, and to Derek Bardowell about taking funders and philanthropists on an educational journey to see the light about systemic change.
Plus: Ed admits the real reason he likes cycling to work and Geoff’s personalised number plate secret is finally outed.
Buy tickets for the live show on 17th July here
Listen to our 2017 episode ‘Who wants to tax a millionaire’
Listen to our 2019 episode ‘For richer, for super richer: taxing the ultra wealthy’
Why Philanthropy Isn’t The Answer (with Anand Giridharadas), Pitchfork Economics Podcast
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Hello, as part of Cheerful Book Club we're welcoming our first ever Pulitzer Prize winner onto the show. Andrea Elliott talks about her new book Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in New York City. Almost a decade in the making, the book follows a young girl, Dasani, as she grows up without a home in New York City. We talk to Andrea about what it's like to win a Pulitzer, the role of the journalist, Obama and her reasons for hope and optimism.
Plus: Ed has crossed the pond and we hear about an improbable new sport for Geoff to turn his hand to.
Buy tickets for our live show here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/reasons-to-be-cheerful-live/
Andrea's book, Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in New York City https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/144/1447200/invisible-child/9781529151169.html
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Hello! This week we’re talking about the accessibility of public land and the Right to Roam campaign. Only 8% of land in England is accessible to the general public and one-third of land is still owned by the aristocracy. We talk to Nick Hayes about the history of this archaic system and the Right to Roam Campaign; Nadia Shaikh about barriers to accessing nature and the countryside for people of colour; and Jon Moses about how we get to a future where more of our land is accessible to all.
Plus: Ed and Geoff bring kleptomaniac seagulls and fugitive flamingos to justice and why the aubergine revolution is now in motion
Right to Roam Campaign: https://www.righttoroam.org.uk/
Kinder in Colour: https://kinderincolour.land/
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Hello! This week we’re talking about health inequalities. The evidence has long been clear that your life circumstances determine how long and how healthy your life will be. Over the last decade, life expectancy has stalled and the pandemic has amplified existing inequalities. In the face of this bleak prognosis, we look for optimism with the leading academic on the topic Professor. Sir Michael Marmot, who tells us about the social factors that determine health; Christina Gray, Member of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and Director for Communities and Public Health for Bristol on the importance of community cohesion; and Chris Thomas, Principal Research Fellow at IPPR about the links between health and economic prosperity.
Plus: Geoff talks Star Wars and Ed tells us about his run-in with the Chancellor.
Show notes:
Buy tickets for the live show on 17th July here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/reasons-to-be-cheerful-live/
Ed's speech in the Commons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjtXbwi-2Qg
Fair Society, Healthy Lives (The Marmot Review, 2010): https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review
Marmot Review 10 Years On (2020): https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/marmot-review-10-years-on
Build Back Fairer: The COVID-19 Marmot Review (2021): https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/build-back-fairer-the-covid-19-marmot-review
Ambition Lawrence Weston: https://www.ambitionlw.org/
IPPR: Introducing the Commission on Health and Prosperity (2022): https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/health-and-prosperity
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Hello! This week we’re talking about dyslexia—how we need to improve its recognition in our society and understand the contribution people with dyslexia can make. At least 1 in 10 people in the UK are estimated to have dyslexia and are still facing barriers to inclusion in the classroom, the workplace and society more broadly. We speak to Andy Cook from the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, Kate Griggs from Made by Dyslexia and Rob Jennings from the Dyscalculia Network about the power of dyslexic thinking, celebrating neurodiversity and how it’s not just about facing challenges with spelling.
Plus: Ed has been interacting with rogue birdlife again and we hear about Geoff’s time moonlighting as an estate agent.
Links from the episode
The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity: https://www.helenarkell.org.uk/
Dyscalculia Network: https://www.dyscalculianetwork.com/
Made by Dyslexia: https://www.madebydyslexia.org/
Kate's TEDx talk: The Creative Brilliance of Dyslexia | Kate Griggs | TEDxBrighton
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we’re looking at the government's proposal to sell off broadcaster Channel 4. Started in the 80s with a remit to commission unique and original programming from independent production companies, Channel 4 has been informing and entertaining us for decades. To find out why the government would want to privatise Channel 4 now, and how it will impact both audiences and production companies, we’re joined by Guardian Media Editor, Jim Waterson, Former Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4 and now President of Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, Dorothy Byrne, and founder of True Vision production company, Brian Woods.
Plus, Geoff is home alone ...
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we’re looking at the huge cost of childcare, an often ignored part of the cost of living crisis. New research has found that almost two thirds of families are paying more, or the same, for their childcare as they do their rent or mortgage, with one in four parents saying they had to cut down on food, heat and clothing to afford childcare. To find out how this compares to other countries and discuss what can be done to help parents, we’re talking to friend of the pod and researcher Christine Berry, Dr Kate Hardy from the University of Leeds, and Joeli Brearly, who founded the charity Pregnant Then Screwed.
Plus, Ed’s Make Your Own Sandwich shop gets a reinvention
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Hello! America has seen a wave of recent union victories by Amazon and Starbucks workers, and this week we’re looking at why they’ve succeeded where many others have failed, and what UK unions can learn. We’re joined by Starbucks organiser Casey Moore, Director of CLASS, Ellie Mae O’Hagan and General Secretary of Prospect Union, Mike Clancy.
Plus, Geoff celebrates his birthday!
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Happy Easter! To celebrate, we have a special episode on the magic of the wildlife on our doorstep. 83% of us live in urban areas and are surrounded by myriad known and not-so-well known wildlife wonders including birds, insects, hedgehogs and yes, foxes and rats.
But our furry and flying city-dwellers are vital to our ecosystems, and there are untold joys and benefits of paying more attention to them, so says author of Wild City, Florence Wilkinson and the one and only David Lindo, also known as the Urban Birder, who joined Ed and Geoff this week.
Find out why foxes are causing Ed a headache and birds are staying away from Geoff’s garden.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of Newsround, and finding out how the way our children get their news has changed over the years. To celebrate the milestone, we’re joined by Newsround Editor Lewis James, and to hear more about other ways kids access current affairs, we’re joined by Anna Bassi, Editorial Director of The Week Junior, and founder of Picture News, Kate Harrison.
PLUS we have a very special dispatch from our local correspondent, Gene (Geoff’s son).
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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This week we’re going behind the headlines on the so-called Great Resignation - which has seen record numbers of job vacancies advertised as people leave and move roles.
Has Covid really revolutionised the world of work? And who is benefiting from the changes?
To find out, we’re joined by Joe Fuller from Harvard Business School, David Zentler-Munro from the University of Essex, and Abigail Adams-Prassl from the University of Oxford.
Plus Geoff is back (sat down) at a gig.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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This week we’re giving Ed another reason to talk about his swimming, and diving into our rivers. Rivers are such an important part of our landscape, ecosystems and communities. They provide two thirds of our water supplies and support a vast array of wildlife, but are in bad shape. Only 14% of our rivers pass the bar for ecological health, and farming, water industry and the climate crisis are all making things worse.
To find out more and hear what’s being done to protect and preserve our rivers, we’re joined by Alastair Chisholm from the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management, Christine Colvin from the Rivers Trust and Alec Taylor from WWF.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week Ed and Geoff are off to the pictures, as they find out how cinemas have survived covid, and why they’re still so important to our communities and culture. To usher them through the episode they’re joined by Phil Clapp, CEO of trade body the UK Cinema Association, Kevin Markwick, who runs 2 independent cinemas successfully, and star of stage and screen, Fiona Shaw.
Plus Ed and Geoff share their earliest cinema memories.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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This week we’re looking at energy storage, and the technologies being developed to improve how we store and use renewable energy. Clean energy storage is vital to decarbonising the economy, so to get to grips with it we have Jillian Ambrose, energy correspondent at the Guardian, Simon Skillings from E3G, and Nina Skorupska from The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean technologies.
Plus, Ed’s been bothering people on public transport (again).
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we’re joined by podcasting royalty, as David Runciman, host of Talking Politics, joins Ed and Geoff for his victory lap. After 6 years, David and co-host Helen Thompson are hanging up their headphones on one of the smartest political podcast of our time. Ed and Geoff find out why they’re stopping in the middle of arguably one of the most important political moments of a generation, who David’s favourite interview was, and why his love for audio means this is far from the last we’ll hear from him.
Plus, Geoff can’t get unstuck.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we're looking at the legislation passing through parliament which would have British Sign Language recognised as an official language in the UK. Eighty-seven thousand people in the UK say BSL is their preferred language, but they are discriminated against in everyday life, from using essential services to speaking to doctors, their local council or at work.
To find out how this Bill could help make the UK more accessible to BSL users, we're joined by David Buxton, Chair of the British Deaf Association, Ben Fletcher, who was the first deafblind candidate for MP, and Chloe Smith MP, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work.
Plus Ed reveals his missed opportunity is Silicon Valley.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
A full transcript of this episode is available on our website, and the interviews will be uploaded to our YouTube channel this week.
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Hello! This week we’re talking about the crisis of fuel poverty as people are hit by rocketing energy bills.
Torsten Bell from the Resolution Foundation sets the incoming energy bill rises in context, Adam Scorer from National Energy Action tells us how people are facing the crisis up and down the country, and Dr Elizabeth Blakelock shares some interesting solutions which have been trialled to help those most in need.
Plus Geoff drops a Wordle brag on Ed.
And here's the link to Gabrielle Shammash's article about UK Politics as breifly mentioned in the episode https://www.theindy.org/article/2578
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we're discussing the impacts of the climate crisis on our mental health, and how we can support ourselves and each other in response.
From the trauma of the effects of extreme weather events like floods and droughts, to worrying about climate change in our every day lives, there’s a growing body of evidence which shows more and more of us are struggling.
To help us understand why we feel the way we do, and what we can do to help, we’re joined by Dr Emma Lawrence from Climate Cares, Imperial College London, who’s contributed toward research in this area, psychotherapist Steffi Bednarek, and Sacha Wright, from Force of Nature, who’s helping young people manage their wellbeing and create positive change.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we’re looking at the role of Magistrates in our justice system. Little is widely known about the volunteer system which presides over 90% of criminal cases, and as the government launches a campaign to get 4,000 new magistrates to apply, we find out how what more can be done to raise awareness and increase diversity. We’re joined by chair of the Young Magistrates Network, Luke Rigg, criminal lawyer Raj Chada and Penelope Gibbs, founder of Transform Justice.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we're looking at the circular economy, a system that could transform our lives and contribute mightily towards reducing carbon emissions. In the UK, per person we produce the second highest amount of electronic waste by throwing away our unwanted phones and laptops.
In a circular economy, we reduce usage of materials, reuse them and recycle. To help us understand the circular economy we're joined by Patrick Shroeder from Chatham House, Susan Evans from the Green Alliance, and Malena Sell from Sitra, the innovation company helping Finland towards its goal of eliminating waste by 2050. Plus, Ed's got a new thermometer and Geoff's becoming a social butterfly.
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Hello! This week we’re joined by the wonderful Jon Ronson for a special episode. The acclaimed journalist, documentary maker and author, talks to Ed and Geoff about his new podcast series ‘Things Fell Apart’, which explores the extraordinary human stories behind the origins of what have become known as the culture wars. Ed gets into the kitchen, and Geoff develops an unlikely crush.
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
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Hello! This week we head for the peatlands, get in the sea, and go in search of UK's lost rainforests to explore ecosystems beyond the trees. Could restoring these habitats play a significant part in achieving net-zero? And what else needs to be done to tackle the UK's nature crisis?
Joining us are Kate Jennings (with a canine cameo), Guy Shrubsole and Richard Unsworth.
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Happy New Year! To start 2022, Ed and Geoff talk to one of the UK’s most acclaimed and prolific scriptwriters, Jack Thorne (Help, Kiri, His Dark Materials, The End of History, This Is England.) Jack is a co-founder of Underlying Health Condition - a pressure group campaigning for proper inclusion and representation of disabled people in the entertainment industry. Jack talks about his own experience of disability, his career, his politics, and he gives Geoff a break from being Ed’s personal TV recommendation service.
Read Underlying Health Condition’s report: underlying-health-condition-report-tv.pdf">https://underlyinghealthcondition.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/finalised-underlying-health-condition-report-tv.pdf
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In the fourth and final episode about how progressive victories were won, we're taking a look at the introduction of the national minimum wage. It feels unthinkable now that there shouldn't be a minimum rate that workers are paid, but it wasn't too long ago that hourly rates of £1 or £1.50 were commonplace. The road to a national minimum wage was long and winding but campaigning, persuasive leadership, new academic thinking all helped to create something that's become part of the fabric of working life in the UK.
To help us understand the history of the labour market, what pre-minimum wage Britain was like, and who the key players were in the fight we're joined by historian Sheila Blackburn, Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Liverpool. We're also honoured to be joined by Margaret Beckett MP who served as Secretary of State for Trade & Industry under Tony Blair from 1997 and also by Gavin Kelly, Chair of the Living Wage Commission who joins us to talk about where the minimum and living wage conversation goes from here.
Plus, Geoff asks Ed for advice on some split loyalties between his wife, and the dry cleaner.
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In the latest episode of our series about progressive advances, we're taking a look at the history of the fight for race equality in the UK. It is one that goes back centuries but we want to explore what progress has really been made in modern times and what have been the drivers--the combination of activism, movements, law and cultural change both in the UK and abroad.
This week's guests are historian and activist Patrick Vernon, Sunder Katwala director of the think tank British Future and Diane Abbott ---we hear her story of being the first black woman to be elected to Parliament.
Plus, Ed and Geoff discuss hair salon etiquette.
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In the second of our episodes about how progressive victories were won, we're looking at gender equality and why the Nordic nations seem to be so far ahead of most of the world. What is it about the culture, society, and politics of the region? What role did women's movements play? And is there something in the water/snow, or can it inspire us to do better?
To help us understand the history and policy of the region, we're joined by Mari Teigen - a research professor at the Institute for Social Research in Oslo. Kristín Ástgeirsdóttir, a former member of Parliament and member of the famous Red Stocking Movement joins us from Iceland, and we're joined by Dr Alison Parken lecturer at Cardiff University Business School and an independent research consultant to understand how the UK can learn from the Nordics—- and how Wales already is.
Plus, Geoff quizzes Ed for some advice on a sensitive matter
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We're doing a little shimmy, into the past. In the first part of our mini-history series on how progressive victories were won, we're looking at the NHS. How did this complex institution, that's beloved in the UK and revered around the world, manage to even get off the ground? Who were the key players? How did they win over opposition (and why was some of that from doctors)? And what role did the crisis of world war play in shifting hearts and minds?
To help us unpick the past we're joined by historians and experts on policy Sally Sheard from the University of Liverpool and Nick Timmins, author of The Five Giants, A biography of the Welfare State, then to help understand where the NHS goes from here is Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation.
Plus, find out about Ed's latest sartorial swimming accessory as we welcome him back to earth from planet Cop and spare a thought for Geoff as he very publicly misjudges his choice of outfit.
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Hello! Libraries are about far more than borrowing books. We’re exploring how libraries around the world serve their communities and are adapting to changing needs. Sociologist Eric Klinenberg explains why libraries help build social solidarity and should be a priority for government investment. Marie Østergård tells us about libraries in the Danish city of Aarhus, home of the world-renowned Dokk1. And Isobel Hunter from Library Connected gives us reasons to be cheerful from the UK, despite more than a decade of cuts.
Plus poet Henry Normal on his new tour, The Escape Plan.
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Hello! We know the UK’s population is getting older, but what should that mean for our towns, villages and cities? We’re talking about ‘age-friendly communities’ — places where people of all ages can live healthy and active lives. Natalie Turner from the Centre for Ageing Better explains the idea. Paul McGarry from Greater Manchester Ageing Hub tells us how the city region has lead the way on putting it into practice. And Anne Berit Rafoss gives us the view from Norway.
Featuring special guest co-host, Sara Barron!
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Hello! Millions of homes across Britain need retrofitting with insulation and low carbon heating to meet our climate goals. We chat to Josh Emden from IPPR about the many benefits of a national retrofit programme and how government can make it happen. Then Aneaka Kellay from Carbon Coop explains how they’re piloting a people-powered approach to retrofitting homes in Manchester.
AND we chat to writer and director Matt Woodhead about Who Cares — his fantastic play about young carers, currently on tour around the country.
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Hello! We’re chatting to incredibly prolific historian Adam Tooze about his new book ‘Shutdown: How Covid Shook the World’s Economy’. We talk to Adam about the response to Covid around the world and what it means for everything from the rise of China to the future of the Green New Deal.
PLUS Fiona McIntyre on her mission to open up the wonders of dolphin spotting on the coast of Aberdeen.
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Hello! Advances in technology are enabling new ways to monitor and manage people at work. How can we ensure workers don’t lose out from the rise of ‘algorithmic management’? Future of work expert Beth Gutelius tells us about a Californian law cracking down on issues in the warehouse industry. Then Anna Thomas from the Institute for the Future of Work and Mary Towers from the TUC talk us through the scale of the problem in the UK and what do to about it.
AND we chat to Tim Burgess about the new book inspired by his wildly popular Twitter Listening Parties.
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Hello! This week we’re getting our heads around the mind-boggling world of digital currencies. The Guardian’s UK tech editor Alex Hern answers our questions about Bitcoin — from how it actually works to its extraordinarily high energy use. Josh Ryan-Collins from UCL tells us why the Bank of England is exploring introducing its own digital currency. And Rachel Statham from IPPR explains why the discussion about the future of money shouldn’t ignore the role of cash.
AND we chat to Ray Hopkinson from environmental charity Hubbub about an exciting new bike library being trialled London.
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Hello! We spend lots of time exploring great ideas around the world but this week we’re looking closer to home. It’s Reasons to be Welsh! First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford tells us about where the Welsh Government is leading the way on innovative ideas from tackling the climate crisis to inequality, the importance of devolution in making it happen AND his love of cheese. Then we catch up with Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Sophie Howe about how she’s pushing for long-term thinking across Wales.
And parkrun volunteer Sam Rose tells us about the return of parkrun events after more than a year apart.
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Hello! It’s our 200th episode! We’re talking about the groundbreaking Environmental Justice Commission, which has just published an ambitious plan for putting fairness at the heart of tackling the climate crisis. Caroline Lucas and Hilary Benn, two of the co-chairs of the commission, talk us through some of the key ideas. Then Paul Nowak from the TUC explains why it is vital to put the interests and voice of workers at the centre of the transition.
AND to celebrate reaching the big 200 we’re joined by voice of Reasons to be Cheerful, Gayle Lofthouse!
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Hello! How can we properly switch off from work in an era of phones, email and remote working? We’re exploring the ‘right to disconnect’ — the idea that people should have a right to disengage from messages and calls outside of their working hours. Professor Anna Cox explains the importance of work-life boundaries. Andrew Pakes from the Prospect Union tells us what a right to disconnect could look like. And Caroline Sauvajol-Rialland talks us through what we can learn from France.
Plus writer and youth worker Ciaran Thapar on his new book, ‘Cut Short: Youth Violence, Loss and Hope in the City’.
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Hello! How can we ensure everyone has access to the essentials for a decent life? A coalition of campaigners argue we need a new ‘Social Guarantee’ based on three pillars: living wage jobs, universal public services, and fixing our safety net with a living income. We talk through the idea and how to make it happen with Social Guarantee expert Maeve Cohen who tells us about the thinking behind the concept, leader of Camden Council Georgia Gould who is piloting new universal services and the New Economics Foundation’s Sarah Arnold who talks through the idea of a living income.
Plus Mary Portas tells us about the rise of the Kindness Economy and gives her expert opinion on Ed’s sandwich shop proposal.
Ed’s book ‘Go Big’ is out now in hardback, ebook and audiobook: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1119347/go-big/9781847926241.html
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Hello! For the final week of our Go Big podcast book tour, we’re talking to incredible people successfully campaigning for change around the world. Ali Abdi and Elbashir Idris talk about the campaign for the first Halal Nando’s in Cardiff and the amazing community activism fighting for social justice that it inspired. Fast food worker and union activist Adriana Alvarez tells us about the remarkable successes of the Fight for $15 in the US. Jane Thewlis talks us through her work in the UK on the global fossil fuel divestment movement. And writer Paul Engler explains why he believes political and social movements can help drive the change we need.
‘Go Big’ is out now in hardback, ebook and audiobook, narrated by Ed and with a bonus conversation between Ed and Geoff: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1119347/go-big/9781847926241.html
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Hello! It’s the third episode of our podcast book tour, exploring ideas from Ed’s new book ‘Go Big’. We're revisiting citizens’ assemblies and the role they could play in repairing our democracy. Experts Graham Smith, Archon Fung and Becky Willis talk us through what citizens’ assemblies are, where they’re being used, and how they fit into the wider need for participation and deliberation in politics.
Plus Mike Tipton answers all of Ed’s questions on cold water swimming!
‘Go Big’ is out now in hardback, ebook and audiobook, narrated by Ed and with a bonus conversation between Ed and Geoff: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1119347/go-big/9781847926241.html
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Hello! From New Zealand to Finland, countries are experimenting with alternatives to using gross domestic product (GDP) as the primary measure of national success. For our second special episode on ideas from Ed’s book Go Big, we’re asking: could changing what we measure help to transform the economy? Katherine Trebeck from the Wellbeing Economy Alliance talks us through the recent developments. We catch up with economist Kate Raworth about how her idea of Doughnut Economics is taking the world by storm. And Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz tells us about using health and wellbeing as the measure of local success.
Go Big is out now in hardback, ebook and audiobook, narrated by Ed and with a bonus conversation between Ed and Geoff: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1119347/go-big/9781847926241.html
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