Episodes
-
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, Director for Communities and Public Health for Bristol on the importance of community cohesion; and Chris Gray, 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:
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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
Dyslexia training, in partnership with Made By Dyslexia and Microsoft: https://education.microsoft.com/en-us/learningPath/939a69c9
Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
Missing episodes?
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] 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.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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 [email protected] or at www.cheerfulpodcast.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
- Hello! This week we continue our foray into all things Web 3.0 by taking on NFTs, or Non-Fungible-Tokens. If you’re lost already then don’t worry, so were we, until we spoke to our enlightened guests Anthony Cuthbertson from the Independent, Holly Jean Buck from Buffalo University, and Andrea Baronchelli, from City University and the Turing Institute. We uncover exactly what NFTs are, how they’re currently being used, and what potential they have for wider application across society. We discuss the environmental impact NFTs have, as well as what’s being done to mitigate this in the long run. Plus Geoff comes out of isolation and Ed needs a hobby - beyond cold water swimming of course.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
-
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.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
- Show more
