Transforming Society Podcast: Recent Episodes
Bristol University Press
Brought to you by Bristol University Press and Policy Press, in the Transforming Society podcast host Jess Miles speaks to authors about their books in the context of the key social issues of the moment. We get to grips with the story their research tells with a focus on the specific ways in which it changes society for the better.
Racial justice is never far from the headlines, but, although the ideals of the legal system such as fairness and equality seem allied to the struggle, campaigners have been all too often let down by the system.
In this episode Jess Miles and Bharat Malkani, author of ‘Racial Justice and the Limits of the Law’, talk through cases like those of the Colston Four and Shamima Begum, to explore this paradox and establish where change is possible.
Bharat Malkani is Reader in Law at Cardiff University. His research connects human rights with criminal justice, with a particular focus on racism, miscarriages of justice and the death penalty. Follow him on Twitter: @bharatmalkani.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/racial-justice-and-the-limits-of-law
Timestamps:
01:11 - How does the Colston Four case illustrate the relationship, and the paradox, between racial justice and the law?
04:31 - How do six concepts from critical race theory explain the ways the law is limiting when it comes to racial justice?
36:43 - What is anti-racist lawyering and is it possible within the system?
42:16 - There are structural limits everywhere, not just in law. How does EDI relate to this and what should we think about?
46:40 - If we are concluding that the law is too limited to achieve racial justice, what is there to learn and where can change be made?
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, George Miller talks to the author of What are Prisons for?, prison inspector and visiting professor of law at Oxford Hindpal Singh Bhui, about why we lock so many people up.
Prison populations have increased hugely in the past fifty years and vast sums of money are spent to keep over 11.5 million people behind bars, so you might think there is overwhelming evidence that prison ‘works’.
However, hard evidence for this claim is lacking. ‘If we are to understand more about the purpose of prisons,’ Hindpal Singh Bhui argues, ‘we need to look much further and deeper than official statements and dominant narratives.’
Dr Hindpal Singh Bhui OBE is an Inspection Team Leader at HM Inspectorate of Prisons and a Visiting Law Professor at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford.
The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/04/10/podcast-should-we-be-aiming-to-improve-prisons-or-abolish-them/
Timestamps:
1:50 - What was your earliest impressions of prisons?
4:34 - What is your current role?
5:51 - What are prisons for day in and day out?
11:43 - Who gets sent to prison and why they get sent to prison?
16:15 - Do you think that the abolitionist position helps take the debate forward?
20:12 - How do you begin to have a mature debate about change?
24:36 - Are prisons a sort of epiphenomenon on top of deeper, wider social problems?
27:28 - Were there any things that you discovered where you came upon something surprising or enlightening?
30:10 - What is an example that you think is inspiring or points in a positive direction?
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jessie Abrahams' new book reveals the extent of class inequality in schools in the UK.
By telling Jessie's story and that of one of the young people in her research, this episode untangles the role aspiration plays for young people in school and the significance of the different choices that are available to different pupils in different schools.
Jessie puts forward ideas for changes that we can make, despite the limitations of what is a fundamentally unequal system.
Jessie Abrahams is Lecturer in Education and Social Justice in the School of Education at the University of Bristol. Follow her on Twitter: @AbrahamsJJ.
The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/03/20/podcast-class-inequality-and-denied-ambition-in-our-schools/
Resources:
Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/schooling-inequality
Read Jake's story for free: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asset/12446/jacks-story-schooling-inequality-abrahams.pdf
Learn more about the Paired Peers project: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/projects/paired-peers
Explore the Russel Group’s Informed Choices: https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/
Discover the facilitating subjects: https://successatschool.org/advice/subjects/what-are-facilitating-subjects/204
Timestamps:
01:58 – Jessie’s story and how she came to write the book
05:37 – It’s about resources given to schools, not individual teachers
08:24 – Jake’s story
22:04 – Aspiration and the surprising difference between working and middle-class children
30:39 – Blocking and the GSCE/A Level options available at different schools
40:19 – The missed chance to level the playing field during COVID
45:12 – Where can change be made?
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Anna Durnova, one of the guest editors for the Emotions and Society special issue on 'Emotions and the ‘Truths’ of Contentious Politics: Advances in Research on Emotions, Knowledge, and Contemporary Contentious Politics'.
They discuss the weaponisation of truth, the important difference between being told you are safe and feeling you are safe and the need to bring the harnessing of emotions back to democracy.
Read the special issue: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/emsoc/5/3/emsoc.5.issue-3.xml
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Nigel Thrift, author of The Pursuit of Possibility: Redesigning Research Universities, about research universities and what makes them different.
They discuss the importance of free speech at universities, the many threats research universities face and what can be done about these threats to ensure a thriving future for these essential institutions.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-pursuit-of-possibility
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we talk about postracialism and colourblind narratives with Paul Warmington, Visiting Professor at Coventry University, Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths and author of ‘Permanent Racism’.
Britain’s current postracial perspectives are facile so we need to reconceptualise critical race theory from a British standpoint. This means foregrounding the concept of ‘permanent racism’ and decolonising public debate and antiracism itself.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/permanent-racism
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Nick Gibbs, author of ‘The Muscle Trade’, about the rise in the use of image and performance enhancing drugs, why people take them and how they get them.
They talk about how the reasons for people taking these drugs goes beyond sporting skill and physical prowess, the difference between online and offline supply, avenues for future research and ways of reducing the harm caused.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-muscle-trade
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There has been a growing interest in talking about menopause over the last decade, but the impact is still rarely discussed in management and organisation studies, despite having profound implications in this area.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Vanessa Beck and Jo Brewis, co-editors of ‘Menopause Transitions and the Workplace’.
They discuss how the menopause can impact work, what support organisations and individuals can offer and the key areas that researchers need to investigate next.
More information about Menopause Transitions and the Workplace edited by Vanessa Beck and Jo Brewis is available at https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/menopause-transitions-and-the-workplace
Useful resources and organisations mentioned in the episode:
Henpicked Menopause in the Workplace https://menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk
MIPO Menopause Information Pack for Organizations https://www.menopauseatwork.org/
Menopause Friendly Accreditation https://menopausefriendly.co.uk/
TUC Education online resources https://www.tuc.org.uk/menopause-work
Chartered Institute for Personnel development menopause resources https://www.cipd.org/uk/topics/menopause/
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Ann-Marie Bathmaker, co-author of The Degree Generation: The Making of Unequal Graduate Lives, talks about the transition to the graduate labour market, examined through the eyes of a cohort of middle-class and working-class young people.
They discuss the changing nature of the graduate labour market, the promise of upward mobility that universities and governments failed to deliver on, how graduate life differs for working-class people when compared with their middle-class counterparts and the changes needed to allow future graduates from all backgrounds to benefit equally from the university experience.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-degree-generation
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Alison Young, author of Unchecked Power, about the growth of governmental power and erosion of checks and balances over the last 4 years.
They discuss the difference between constitution and law, how the ‘will of the people’ is being homogenised all over the world and how a lack of knowledge and understanding about the constitution helps the government get away with bad behaviour.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/unchecked-power
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Olivier De Schutter, Hugh Frazer, Anne-Catherine Guio and Eric Marlier, authors of The Escape From Poverty, about child poverty and intergenerational poverty and things we can do as individuals to make change.
They talk about the evidence in the book, how poverty impacts developed and developing countries differently and programmes that are making a difference.
Despite the fact that tackling child poverty is good for everyone, as the book shows, it can hard to get people to believe that change is possible and not necessarily complicated. What can we do to get them on board?
The Escape from Poverty: Breaking the Vicious Cycles Perpetuating Disadvantage by Olivier De Schutter, Hugh Frazer, Anne-Catherine Guio and Eric Marlier is available to download free via open access from the Policy Press website: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-escape-from-poverty
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Rebecca Megson-Smith speaks to Arve Hansen, Ulrikke Wethal, Sophia Efstathiou and Johannes Volden, editors of the special issue of Consumption and Society called ‘Towards Less Meat-intensive Diets? Exploring Everyday Practices of Meat Consumption, Reduction and Substitution’.
They discuss the pressing need for us to reconsider our relationship with meat, particularly in light of its significant impact on climate change. Whilst our attachment to a meat-centric plate is a relatively modern phenomenon it has quickly taken hold in culture and national identity.
The editors share their insights on the need for policies and procedures to be put in place in order for people to feel plantification is achievable, both financially and in terms of cooking skills. As they discuss, the benefits to personal and global health in making these changes are however sizeable.
Find out more about the special issue: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/consoc/2/2/consoc.2.issue-2.xml
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Meet the hosts of the Transforming Society podcast and discover more about the podcast.
Browse Transforming Society: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Julia Mortimer, Journals Director and Head of Open Access at Bristol University Press.
They discuss recent developments in Open Access, including funder mandates, community-led models and the direction Bristol University Press are heading in. In addition, they offer advice for authors, and potential authors, for navigating this fast-moving publishing landscape.
Find out more about Open Access: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/open-access
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Steve Cooke, author of What Are Animal Rights For?, talks with George Miller about how the field of animal rights evolved – and continues to evolve as advances in the scientific understanding of animals’ lives expand the rights claims made on their behalf.
Philosophy, Steve suggests, has a critical role to play in proposing what a good future for animals might look like, equipping us with the conceptual tools to imagine a world in which animals have many more rights than they do today.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-are-animal-rights-for
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Malcolm Evans, former Chair of the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture and author of Tackling Torture: Prevention in Practice.
They discuss the traps we fall into when talking about torture, including the disturbing normalisation of torture in television and film, why the distinction between torture and inhuman treatment is a sensitive area and what could be done to help prevent torture more effectively.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/tackling-torture
Intro music:
Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jess Miles speaks with Gerry Mitchell and Marcos González Hernando, authors of ‘Uncomfortably off: Why the top 10% of earners should care about inequality’.
Wealth no longer guarantees security. Gerry and Marcos explain why it's time for higher earners to reset their attitudes towards the lives of others and reexamine their relationship with the private sector, public services and the state.
They explore who the top 10% of earners are, why we should care about this relatively affluent group when there are so many people less well off, and deconstruct the beliefs they hold that prevent them from seeing the benefits of more equality.
Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/uncomfortably-off
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Richard Kemp speaks with Ed Atkins, author of 'A Just Energy Transition: Getting Decarbonisation Right in a Time of Crisis', about what is needed for an energy transition to be just.
They discuss the need to ensure decarbonisation doesn't come at the expense of already marginalised communities, the role that green jobs will play and the importance of acknowledging that while an energy transition will change our everyday lives, it has the potential to change them for the better.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/a-just-energy-transition
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks to people from both sides of the Universal Basic Income (UBI) debate from a recent issue of the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice.
Howard Robert Reed and Matthew Thomas Johnson argue that UBI is affordable and feasible, whereas Donald Hirsch believes the necessary funds for UBI could be used to cut poverty in more targeted ways.
They explore the different UBI schemes that have been tested, discuss what an alternative, reformed welfare system may look like, and outline the changes they all agree are needed to improve the lives of people both below, and above, the minimum income standard.
Read the full debate: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/jpsj/31/1/jpsj.31.issue-1.xml
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this final short conversation with Jack McDonald, author of 'What is War for?', we turn to the part played by technology in war. There’s long been a technological aspect to war, not just in the development of ever more deadly weapons, but also in the way civilian technology, such as railway networks and the telegraph, have shaped the conduct of war.
Today, in the era of drones and smartphones, war continues to evolve, posing new ethical questions on the battlefield and beyond.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-war-for
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Robin Sen and Christian Kerr, authors of 'The Future of Children’s Care', speak to Jess Miles about the recent 'once in a generation' MacAlister Review of Childrens Social Care in England.
They discuss the problem of how reviews are commissioned and carried out, omissions in the report and the need for co-production and the need for dissent to stand up for people with less power.
What does the future of children’s rights in the UK look like?
Find out about Christian and Robin’s book here: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-future-of-childrens-care
Listen to The future of children's care podcast at: https://on.soundcloud.com/WqMuc
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
What are state harms? What are the formal and informal ways they are enacted? How can solidarity, denunciation and resistance challenge state harm and what opportunities and openings for change exist?
Federica Rossi and Chris Magill are guest editors of a themed section on state harms in the latest issue of 'Justice, Power and Resistance'. In this episode, they speak to Jess Miles about what state harms are, how they are justified, opportunities for resistance and whether academic research itself should be political.
Read the themed section: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/jpr/6/2/jpr.6.issue-2.xml
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Cybersecurity is about identifying something you want to protect and exercising power in order to preserve it, Tim Stevens says in this, the last of three short conversations about his new book, 'What is Cybersecurity for?'.
In this episode, we focus on cybersecurity’s political dimensions, including interstate competition that could manifest as cyberwarfare, the reasons why the world has not (yet) seen major acts of cyberterrorism, and the ways in which citizens in democracies can get involved in mapping out our cybersecurity future.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-cybersecurity-for
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
So-called tainted donations have become a very real problem for many charities and organizations: when is it wrong to accept a donation because of how the money was made? What if the money was made in the distant past, when different ethical values prevailed? And if a donor uses their money to whitewash a dubious reputation, is that just something they should accept as a small price to pay for the greater good?
In this final conversation with Rhodri Davies, author of What is Philanthropy for?, he explores these and other moral dilemmas that beset the philanthropic landscape of the 21st century.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-philanthropy-for
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Vladimir Putin very deliberately referred to it as a ‘special military operation’, not an act of war.He’s far from unique in refusing to call a war by its name; calling a conflict a war has consequences. And over the course of history, very different types of conflict have had the label applied to, or denied, them.In this, the second of three short conversations, Jack McDonald, the author of 'What is War For?', tells George Miller what’s at stake in calling something a war.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-war-forIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Lucy Easthope and Kandida Purnell, two of the co-editors of 'When This Is Over', about the pandemic and its long lasting impact.They discuss why it was important to have different perspectives and content beyond academic essays, the effect increasingly strict immigration laws had on asylum seekers during the pandemic and whether we've seen the full extent of the emotional toll of the pandemic.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/when-this-is-overIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
While it’s easy to become fixated on cybersecurity’s technological aspects, one of the central ideas in Tim Stevens’ 'What is Cybersecurity for?' is the importance of remembering it’s primarily about and for people.In this, the second of three short conversations, Tim expands on this idea and responds to the question of whether, given the power of Big Tech, individual users’ interest can ever truly be paramount. Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-cybersecurity-forIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
John Bissett is a community worker, activist and author of 'It’s Not Where You Live, It’s How You Live', a ground-breaking and compelling book that takes us deep into the world of a public housing estate in Dublin.Aiming to change perspectives on public housing, John talks about what life is like for the people who live on the estate and how it is shaped by gender and class, not simply deprivation.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/its-not-where-you-live-its-how-you-liveIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In the second of three short conversations with Rhodri Davies, author of 'What is Philanthropy For?', George Miller asks Rhodri about the difference between philanthropy and charity. The tension between them is sometimes characterised as a head versus heart conflict, with philanthropy the more rational and systemic of the two, while charity is more emotional and immediate. But does this distinction bear scrutiny in a world of billionaire philanthropists, each with their own pet projects?Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-philanthropy-forIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Chris Cunneen, author of 'Defund the Police: An International Insurrection', speaks to Rebecca Megson-Smith about the broad need to defund the police.They discuss why defunding is the best route forward instead of further investment and reform, what viable alternatives there might be and what we would need in order to make this vision of society a reality.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/defund-the-policeIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, George Miller speaks to Jack McDonald, author of 'What is War for?', one of the first titles to be published in Bristol University Press’s new What Is It For? series.In the first of three short conversations, Jack explains why he chose to focus on war’s twenty-first century character rather than its ancient origins, and talks about writing the book as the events of the Russo-Ukrainian war unfolded in real time.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-war-forIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, George Miller speaks to Tim Stevens, author of 'What is Cybersecurity for?', one of the first titles to be published in Bristol University Press’s new What Is It For? series.In the first of three short conversations, Tim explains what got him interested in cybersecurity in the first place and why it’s too important to treat it as solely the domain of IT professionals, given how many aspects of our lives it now shapes.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-cybersecurity-forIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
We take the existence of the all-powerful stock market for granted, but we should engage with it because it affects us as individuals and wider society in very deep ways. Philip Roscoe's new book 'How to Build a Stock Exchange' enables us to do this. In the episode, he speaks to Jess Miles about this darkly comedic secret world, prompting us to demand better.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/how-to-build-a-stock-exchangeIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, George Miller speaks to Rhodri Davies, author of 'What is Philanthropy for?', one of the first titles to be published in Bristol University Press’s new What Is It For? series.In the first of three short conversations, Rhodri explains why he thinks this is a good time to ask questions about the purpose of philanthropy, and its relationship to democracy, inequality and the market. He also talks about why understanding philanthropy’s past can be a useful aid to mapping out its future.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-is-philanthropy-forIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
From the Alcatraz East Crime Museum and Jack the Ripper guided tours to the Phnom Penh killing fields, ‘dark tourism’ is now a multi-million-pound global industry. What is the attraction and where is the line between acceptable and problematic dark tourism drawn?In this episode, Becky Taylor speaks with Adam Lynes, Craig Kelly and James Treadwell, editors of '50 Dark Destinations' about what dark tourism is, why we're drawn to such macabre forms of tourism and the unique aspects the internet has brought to the industry.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/50-dark-destinationsIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Nicholas Gilmour and Tristram Hicks, authors of 'The War on Dirty Money', about why financial investigation needs to be done in parallel with the criminal justice system.They discuss the danger of the 'sophisticated’ money launderer myth, how so many criminals keep the proceeds of their crimes and why asset recovery is so important.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-war-on-dirty-moneyIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Luke Billingham and Keir Irwin-Rogers, authors of 'Against Youth Violence', about a new way of making sense of ‘youth violence’ by putting it in the context of social harm.They discuss the extent of the violence affecting children and young people, how harmful the way it is reported and talked about can be, and how we should be talking to young people about violence.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/against-youth-violenceIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
The Changing Realities project shines a light on what life is really like for households on low incomes, and pushes for urgent and permanent change. 'A Year Like No Other', published by Policy Press, features the stories of those involved in the project. In this episode, Jess Miles speaks to them about their experiences of life on a low-income.They discuss their involvement in the project, what they hope people will take away from reading the book and what we can all do individually to make the necessary changes in our society.Find out more about Changing Realities at: https://changingrealities.org/Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/a-year-like-no-otherIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Mick Cooper, author of ‘Psychology at the Heart of Social Change: Developing a Progressive Vision for Society’, speaks to Richard Kemp about why we need to apply psychology to politics.How do rogue goals hinder our growth? How can we make necessary changes without using blame? What strategies could we implement for a psychology-informed progressive society?Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/psychology-at-the-heart-of-social-changeIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Tim Bodley-Scott and Ersel Oymak, authors of ‘University–Industry Partnerships for Positive Change’, speak to Rebecca Megson-Smith about why robust university–industry partnerships are vital to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create a better world for everyone.They discuss the key concepts at the heart of these partnerships, the concept of the fifth generation university and the practical aspects of how we make this happen and the tools already at our disposal.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/university-industry-partnerships-for-positive-changeIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Sarah Morton and Ailsa Cook, authors of 'How do you know if you’re making a difference?’, speak to Jess Miles about the challenges of tackling complex issues and trying to achieve change in the public services.They discuss why and how public services need to measure and demonstrate impact in different ways and the impact of the cost of living crisis.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/how-do-you-know-if-you-are-making-a-differenceIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Simon Winlow and Steve Hall, co-authors of 'The Death of the Left: Why We Must Begin from the Beginning Again', speak to Richard Kemp about the book and whether there is any hope for the political Left.They discuss the Left's current focus on culture instead of economics, the surface level nature of diversity policies in organisations, and what the Left needs to do in order to thrive again.Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-death-of-the-leftIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this podcast, Chris Ogden, author of 'The Authoritarian Century', speaks to Becky Taylor about China's rise and whether this signals the demise of Western democracy.They discuss the increasing illiberal trend in international affairs, future scenarios for world politics and illuminate points of hope for democracy and human rights.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-authoritarian-centuryIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Angry white masculinity powers right-wing populism around the world, and it’s a death sentence for everyone — men included. In this episode, Karen Lee Ashcraft, scholar, former right-wing populist and author of 'Wronged and Dangerous', speaks to Jess Miles about the rise of populism and the true cost of a world run by manly grievance. They discuss the evolution of toxic masculinity to viral masculinity, women’s involvement in populist and right-wing extremist movements, and what we should do now to mitigate the impact of this phenomenon.Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/wronged-and-dangerousIntro music:Cold by yoitrax | @yoitraxMusic promoted by www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensecreativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
During adolescence, young people are exposed to a range of risks beyond their family homes including sexual and criminal exploitation, peer-on-peer abuse and gang-related violence.
Carlene Firmin, co-author of 'Safeguarding Young People Beyond the Family Home', speaks to Jess Miles about these extra-familial risks and harms and how our social work system was only ever designed to protect children within their homes. She suggests practical steps to allow us to offer safeguarding and wider social work responses to risks beyond families.
The book will be available to read for free via Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence from 13 October.
Find out more about the book: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/safeguarding-young-people-beyond-the-family-home
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Dan McQuillan, author of 'Resisting AI: An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence', about what artificial intelligence really is.
They discuss how artificial intelligence damages society in ways that are not easily fixed and why it needs to be restructured from the ground up, as well as how these fundamental changes to AI can help create a better society for everyone.
Find out more about the book: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/resisting-ai
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Oscar Berglund and Elizabeth A. Koebele, Co-Editors of the Policy & Politics journal, talk to Jess Miles about the latest special issue – ‘Transformational change through public policy’.
They discuss what transformational change is, how public policy academia needs to adapt to bring about this transformational change and their hope to inspire a new generation of scholars by setting out the structure for a research program.
Browse the special issue: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/pp/50/3/pp.50.issue-3.xml
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Multiple crises have led many to conclude that the current economic and political system is broken. The present and future look increasingly precarious.
Rebecca Megson-Smith speaks to Stephen McBride about his book ‘Escaping Dystopia: Rebuilding a public domain’ about radical solutions to global issues such as economic catastrophes, inequality, climate change and political failure. Are there means of escape from the near dystopia we find ourselves in?
Find out more about the book on our website: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/escaping-dystopia
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
How can we reimagine society in an era of climate change, pandemic, hunger, poverty, questions of racial, ethnic and gender justice and other pressing global societal challenges?
In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Sue Scott and Siddharth Mallavarapu, two of the co-editors in chief of the new non-profit, Open Access ‘Global Social Challenges Journal’, published by Bristol University Press and available for free on Bristol University Press Digital.
They discuss many aspects of the journal, including the mission, how it speaks to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how they will support researchers in low and middle-income countries.
Read the editorial: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/gsc/view/journals/gscj/1/1/article-p2.xml
Read the launch collection: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/gsc/view/journals/gscj/gscj-overview.xml
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Our rules of democracy are out of date and urgently need to evolve to fit with a changed world. In this episode, Marcial Bragadini Boo, author of 'The Rules of Democracy', explains why it’s time to make democracy better again.
Marcial speaks with Jess Miles about why the current rules of democracy aren't working, what the new rules should be and how these would work in practice, including politicians adhering to the rule of law and what we as individuals need to do.
Find out more about the book on our website: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-rules-of-democracy
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Anna Sergi, author of 'Chasing the Mafia: 'Ndrangheta, Memories and Journeys', speaks with Richard Kemp about the book and her background and proximity to the subject.
They discuss her childhood growing up on the Aspromonte mountain, the long reach of the 'Ndrangheta and the delicate balance of emotional distance when it comes to analysing such an emotive topic.
Find out more about the book at https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/chasing-the-mafia
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Is it possible to provoke positive change within the historically male dominated sciences, without alienating people?
The Women in Supramolecular Chemistry (WISC) network have demonstrated that, yes, it is. What began as a small group of female colleagues meeting regularly to offer one another support in their scientific careers has, in less than three years, grown into an international network. Increasingly recognised within the academy, the WISC network has received support for their work enabling women and other minority groups in STEM to get on with their science, safely, successfully and to the benefit of the wider scientific community.
In this episode, Rebecca Megson-Smith talks with Jennifer Leigh, Jennifer Hiscock, Marion Kieffer and Larissa K.S. von Krbek, four of the authors behind 'Women in Supramolecular Chemistry: Collectively Crafting the Rhythms of Our Work and Lives in STEM', about new ways to challenge the age-old issues of inequality and discrimination within the sciences.
Find out more about the book at https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/women-in-supramolecular-chemistry
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Ivan Kalmar, author of ‘White But Not Quite’, explains illiberal democracy in Central Europe, as seen in the governance of Victor Orban in Hungary.
What role does ‘whiteness’ play in illiberalism, and what are the dynamics of racism by and towards Central Europeans? How do the ideas in the book help us to understand the war in Ukraine? And what possibilities does 'not quiteness' offer?
https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/white-but-not-quite
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Marking ten years of the 'Critical and Radical Social Work' journal, Michael Lavalette, editor since its inception, tells the story of the emergence of the radical social work movement and the Social Work Action Network, and the role the journal has played in this.
He talks about the way in which the journal creates a space for debate and discussion, combining academic research with voices from the frontline and the achievements of radical pioneers, with much of the content available for free.
Critically, Michael addresses the challenges that social work and social workers face and the solutions radical social work has to offer.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode Caroline Gorden and Christopher Birkbeck, authors of the new textbook 'Case Studies of Famous Trials and the Construction of Guilt and Innocence', speak with Jess Miles about the book.
They discuss the social construction of guilt and innocence, people's morbid fascination with violent crime and why a single explanation of a trial verdict is always likely to be insufficient.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Nasar Meer, author of 'The Cruel Optimism of Racial Justice', part of our British Sociological Association 21st Century Standpoints Series, speaks with Rebecca Megson-Smith about his new book.
They discuss issues around race and racial justice, and why we continue to see systemic injustice. Meer spotlights that many, every day, ‘unwitting’ acts of racism continue to occur despite enquiries, investigations, findings and recommendations for change. He shows how it is possible for systemic racist behaviour to remain unchallenged, normalised and unseen, through a complex cocktail of silence about the past, as well as a lack of understanding that ‘equal treatment’ is not the same as ‘treatment as an equal’.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Getting business on board is essential if we want to achieve the United Nations’ goal of building a better future for people and planet by 2030.
In this episode Ian Thomson and Dom Bates, authors of 'Urgent Business: Five Myths Business Needs to Overcome to Save Itself and the Planet', discuss the current way businesses engage with the global goals, the myths that hold businesses back from change, and what individuals within businesses can do to push for progress.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Stewart Lansley, author of ‘The Richer, The Poorer’, discusses why we need to talk about the links between poverty and wealth, the challenges of measuring poverty and the impact of living in an unequal society.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Lambros Fatsis and Melayna Lamb talk about their new book ‘Policing the Pandemic: How Public Health Becomes Public Order’.
They discuss how the pandemic has revealed the damaging relationship between public health and public order and explain why we need to explore our assumptions about policing and what it's for. Aiming to shift our world view, they offer suggestions for practical steps towards abolitionist practices and ways of thinking.
Further reading: Ida B. Wells, Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells Angelina Grimké, ‘Appeal to the Christian Women of the South’ Elsa Goveia, ‘The West Indian Slave Laws of the Eighteenth Century’ Sylvia Wynter, ‘No Humans Involved: An Open Letter to my Colleagues’ Lola Olufemi, Feminism Interrupted Adam Elliot Cooper, Black Resistance to British Policing Cradle Community - Brick by Brick: How We Build a World Without Prisons Koshka Duff (editor), Abolishing the Police Angela Y Davis, Gine Dent, Erika R. Meiners and Beth E. Ritchie, Abolition. Feminism. Now Mariame Kaba, We Do This ‘Til we Free Us: Abolitionist Organising and Transformative Justice Annanya Bhattacharjee, ‘Whose Safety? Women of Color and the Violence of Law Enforcement’
Organisations and Projects: Inquest: https://www.inquest.org.uk/ Netpol: https://netpol.org/ JENGbA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association): https://jointenterprise.co/ London Campaign Against Police and State Violence: https://lcapsv.net/ Northern Police Monitoring Project: http://npolicemonitor.co.uk/ Sisters Uncut: https://www.sistersuncut.org/ United Families and Friends Campaign: https://uffcampaign.org/ Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression: https://www.capcr-stl.org/ Critical Resistance: http://criticalresistance.org/ INCITE!: https://incite-national.org/ Creative Interventions: https://www.creative-interventions.org/ Abolitionist Futures: https://abolitionistfutures.com/ The Audre Lorde Project: https://alp.org/ Project NIA: https://project-nia.org/
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Alison Shaw, Chief Executive of Bristol University Press, talks about 25 years of publishing with a purpose to mark the end of the Press' anniversary celebration year.
Alison speaks to Jess Miles about the past, present and future of the press and its mission to address global social challenges, support positive social change and to be a top tier University Press recognised for the quality of its contribution.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Carl Rhodes, author of 'Woke Capitalism: How Corporate Morality is Sabotaging Democracy', about the dangerous consequences of businesses being ‘woke’.
Carl reveals that, through woke capitalism, the people who benefit most from inequality are setting the agenda, with serious implications for democracy.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Rebecca Megson-Smith speaks with Tara Lamont, author of 'Making Research Matter: Steps to Impact for Health and Care Researchers', about why it's so hard to make research matter in today's world and how to try and overcome this difficulty.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Chris Pierson, author of 'The Next Welfare State?', about current policy, the mistakes of the past, and ways in which the welfare state should be transformed in order to ensure collective wellbeing.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Rebecca Megson-Smith talks to Maria Gallo, author of 'The Alumni Way: Building Lifelong Value from Your University Investment'.
They discuss the potential our alumni identities and networks offer and why we should move away from the student as consumer, graduate as financial donor way of thinking.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
'This Separated isle', edited by Paul Sng, is a new portrait photography book that shows how different people navigate the tensions of an increasingly divided British society.
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles explores the issues raised in the book, including racism, resilience and identity, with Paul, Kristie De Garis, whose portrait and story appears in the book, and photographer Amara Eno, whose work is featured.
They discuss why they got involved with the project, whether there are still spaces of hope and what they hope people will take away from the book.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Carol Rivas and Ikuko Tomomatsu, two of the guest editors of a special issue of 'Evidence & Policy': ‘The many faces of disability in evidence for policy and practice: embracing complexity’.
They discuss the problems with current representations of disability, recent examples of policy that has failed disabled people and the changes that could be made so people with disabilities can be better supported and allowed to participate in policy making.
You can read the editorial of this special issue for free: https://doi.org/10.1332/174426421X16147909420727
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode, Rebecca Megson-Smith talks to Eben Kirksey, American anthropologist and Associate Professor at Alfred Deakin Institute in Melbourne, Australia.
Rebecca and Eben discuss his latest book 'The Mutant Project: Inside the Global Race to Genetically Modify Humans', the work of Dr. Jiankui He, who created the first genetically modified babies, and the moral dilemmas this work has since raised, with a particular focus on the values behind gene-editing and the implications for society.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
With 11 million people in prisons across the world, a vitally important question is how do we move the prison experience from survival to growth?
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Kirstine Szifris, author of ‘Philosophy Behind Bars’, about whether philosophical thinking can be a way to encourage and enable growth and development in prison. They discuss the potential of philosophical discussions to help prisoners desist from crime once released, as well as how prisons could be reformed in other areas.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Rebecca Megson-Smith talks to Ann Oakley, Professor and founder-director of the Social Science Research Unit at the UCL Institute of Education and best known for her work on sex and gender, housework, childbirth and feminist social science.
Rebecca and Ann talk about Ann's latest book 'Forgotten Wives: How Women Get Written Out of History' and how married women’s achievements are actively ‘disremembered’. The stories of Charlotte Shaw, Mary Booth, Jeannette Tawney and Janet Beveridge show how modern social policy has been shaped by their role in the work that is usually wholly attributed to their famous husbands.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
The moment people fail to access justice is so often the moment that their lives take a turn for the worse, and cuts to legal aid over the decades have dramatically increased the instances of this happening.
In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Jon Robins and Daniel Newman, authors of 'Justice in a Time of Austerity: Stories From a System in Crisis', about the decimation of legal aid, the failings of our justice system, and how this has entrenched poverty and social inequality in our society.
You can find out more about these issues from the Justice Alliance (https://justiceallianceuk.wordpress.com/), The Justice Gap (https://www.thejusticegap.com/) and in their book 'Justice in a Time of Austerity' which can be found on our website: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/justice-in-a-time-of-austerity.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Raven Bowen, author of 'Work, Money and Duality' and CEO of National Ugly Mugs, about sex work, duality and why we need to listen to sex workers to understand sex work and create effective policy.
NUM is a UK-wide charity working with sex workers to do research, design and deliver safety tools and to provide support services to people in adult industries. Find out more here: https://nationaluglymugs.org/
More information about Raven's book, 'Work, Money and Duality: Trading Sex as a Side Hustle' on the Policy Press website: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/work-money-and-duality
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In the current political landscape it appears that, after decades of progress, democracy is decaying and we’re seeing an authoritarian resurgence across the world.
In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Natasha Lindstaedt, author of 'Democratic Decay and Authoritarian Resurgence', about what has caused this breakdown of democracy, the impact COVID-19 is likely to have on a global scale and ways we can try and curb the threats to remaining democratic systems.
Find out more about the book on the Bristol University Press website: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/understanding-democratic-decay
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Acclaimed activist and scholar Gill Hague talks with Jess Miles about the inspiring and powerful story of the women’s liberation movement and the domestic violence movement in particular, as told in her book, 'History and Memories of the Domestic Violence Movement: We’ve Come Further Than You Think'.
As an insider, a participant in the social movements and campaigning struggles Gill shows how much activists and organisers today can learn from this important history.
Find out more about the book on the Policy Press website: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/history-and-memories-of-the-domestic-violence-movement
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Fear has played a significant role in our experience of the pandemic. So often ignored and downplayed, how should we be engaging with this emotion and thinking about it in the context of policy and politics?
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks with Matt Flinders, co-editor of the latest themed issue of 'Global Discourse', about the role of fear in politics and public policy.
A free preview of the Global Discourse themed issue - Understanding the Politics of Fear: COVID-19, Crises and Democracy - is available here: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/journals/global-discourse/preview
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Conversation around charities has become increasingly negative over recent decades. Stephen Cook and Tania Mason, authors of 'What Have Charities Ever Done for Us?', rebalance the debate by showing the breadth and depth of the contribution charities make.
Find out more about the book on the Policy Press website: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-have-charities-ever-done-for-us
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, brought to you by Bristol University Press and Policy Press, Jess Miles speaks to Janice Morphet about how we see the devolved governments differently because of the pandemic and how central government is using both COVID and Brexit to attempt to recentralise power.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
The COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter movement and renewed action against climate change all highlight the increasing gulf between narrowly based dominant political ideologies and popular demands for social justice, global health, environmentalism and human rights. Jess Miles speaks to Peter Beresford about his new book - Participatory Ideology, why we need to change the way we look at ideology and how more of us can be included in its creation.
More about the book here: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/participatory-ideology
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast we speak to Terri Givens, author of 'Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides'.
At this crucial moment, as Biden and Harris step into power, Terri explains how radical empathy, achieved through connection and vulnerability, is the path to a point of truth and reconciliation.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast we spoke to criminologist Mike Hough, Emeritus Professor in the School of Law at Birkbeck, University of London, about his book 'Good Policing' published by Policy Press.
We spoke about what the principles and practices of good policing are and how - for policing to work better - it needs to be based on legitimacy and trust.
Mike switches the focus from why we break laws to why we obey laws and gives us a new way of thinking about policing and crime. What is it about the relationship between us and the police that makes us inclined to comply or not?
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | https://soundcloud.com/yoitrax Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Philippa Grand, Publisher for International Development and Research Methods & Practices at Bristol University Press, and author Helen Kara, an independent researcher and specialist in research methods and ethics, talk about the author-editor relationship, what it means for publishing and how getting it right can really help to make an impact.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | https://soundcloud.com/yoitrax Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast, Jess Miles speaks to Hannah Bows from Durham University and Bianca Fileborn from the University of Melbourne, guest editors of a special issue of the Journal of Gender-Based violence on Space, Place and Gender-Based Violence.
They discuss a range of topics around violence in public and private spaces, including the impact of lockdown on gender-based-violence, digital violence and how space can be transformative.
The special issue of the Journal of Gender-Based Violence is available here (https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tpp/jgbv/2020/00000004/00000003), including the editorial from Hannah and Bridget which is free to read here (https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/tpp/jgbv/2020/00000004/00000003/art00001).
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | https://soundcloud.com/yoitrax Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this two-part episode of the Transforming Society podcast we're talking to Rob Kitchin and Alistair Fraser, authors of 'Slow Computing'. Having looked at the current state of the digital world in part one, in this second part we look at practical ways in which we can create more balanced digital lives both individually and collectively.
More information is available at https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/slow-computing
Download the coda to the book - Slow Computing During a Pandemic - for free, here: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asset/8868/kitchin-slow-computing-coda.pdf
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this two-part episode of the Transforming Society podcast we're talking to Rob Kitchin and Alistair Fraser, authors of 'Slow Computing: Why We Need Balanced Digital Lives'. In this first part we discuss the consequences of digital technologies, focussing on time acceleration and data extraction. In part two we'll talk about what we can do about it.
More information is available at https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/slow-computing
Download the coda to the book - Slow Computing During a Pandemic - for free, here: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asset/8868/kitchin-slow-computing-coda.pdf
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Pat Thomson, author of 'School Scandals: Blowing the whistle on the corruption of our education system', talks about the corruption of the UK education system, and the impact of this on democracy and children's lives.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Keith Dowding talks through the arguments in his book, 'It's the Government, Stupid', including looking at individualism, choice, and how governments have passed blame and responsibility onto citizens during COVID-19.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Stephen Muers, who has held a wide range of senior policy-making roles and is currently Head of Strategy at Big Society Capital, talks about the impact of culture and values on policy making. How can we change things so we can do a better job of taking these into account?
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Jess Miles speaks to Yunis Alam, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Bradford and author of 'Race, Taste, Class and Cars'. They talk about Bradford, taste, culture and how we create and modify our identity through cars.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Helen Kara, author of a number of Policy Press books, including the forthcoming second edition of Creative Research Methods, talks about the impact of lockdown and how the current situation might affect research in the future.
Intro music: Surreal by Unwritten Stories | https://soundcloud.com/unwritten-stories Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Harris Beider and Kusminder Chahal talk about their new book, 'The Other America: White Working Class Perspectives on Race, Identity and Change', covering the impact of the murder of George Floyd, white privilege, Trump's election and possibilities for building cross-racial coalitions.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Jess Miles speaks with Erik Andersson, author of ‘Reconstructing the Global Political Economy’, about the impact of COVID-19 and how we interpret it, having hope, what we value, avoiding more austerity and what lessons we should be learning.
Intro music: Surreal by Unwritten Stories | https://soundcloud.com/unwritten-stories Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Dr Martin Glynn, criminologist, academic, data storyteller and creative director of Algorhythm Data Storytelling Lab, explores the emotions that young men like Omar experience when faced with bullying and ongoing masculine challenges and the consequences of knife crime.
Jess Miles speaks to Lisa Mckenzie, author of 'Getting By: Estates, Class and Culture in Austerity Britain' about the impact of lockdown on working class people and what lessons we have learned and should be learning.
Intro music: Surreal by Unwritten Stories | https://soundcloud.com/unwritten-stories Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In this 'Lessons from Lockdown' Transforming Society podcast Jess Miles speaks to Martin Glynn, criminologist, on lessons government should be learning at this time around crime and race. This episode was recorded before the current events in the US.
Intro music: Surreal by Unwritten Stories | https://soundcloud.com/unwritten-stories Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
In the first in this podcast mini-series, Sam Royston, author of ‘Broken Benefits: What's Gone Wrong with Welfare Reform’, talks about the impact of COVID-19 on families.
He highlights what Government should be doing right now, including making sure effective local welfare assistance schemes are in place, and addressing problems with the Universal Credit waiting period and digital exclusion.
Intro music: Surreal by Unwritten Stories | https://soundcloud.com/unwritten-stories Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
Ligia Teixeira, co-editor of 'Using Evidence to End Homelessness', talks with Jess Miles from Bristol University Press about the book, homelessness and COVID-19, and the importance of a 'what works' approach to create a society in which any experience of homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Dr Martin Glynn, criminologist, academic, data storyteller and creative director of Algorhythm Data Storytelling Lab looks at race, COVID-19 and the ongoing struggle for ‘racial recognition’ within parts of the British society. He is the author of the forthcoming 'Black art and the criminological imagination', out in 2021.
In this episode of the Transforming Society Podcast, Helen Davis, Commissioning Editor for Law at Bristol University Press, speaks to Joshua Rozenberg about his new book. They speak about the role of judges in society and how the book helps to demystify the law. Ultimately they come back to the key question that's also the title of the book, are judges enemies of the people?
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Fran Amery, Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Bath talks about her book, 'Beyond Pro-Life and Pro-Choice: The Changing Politics of Abortion in Britain'. Fran addresses the questions we need to ask around abortion provision in Britain, and shows that it's much more complicated than a simple distinction between pro-life and pro-choice.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Malcolm Payne talks with Jess Miles about his new book, How To Use Social Work Theory in Practice which shows students and newly qualified practitioners how to work with the main theories and practice techniques and pinpoint their strengths and limitations.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode Jess Miles speaks, via Skype, to Mary Holmes and Åsa Wettergren, co-editors of the Emotions and Society journal. They talk about how the journal came about and the importance of the sociology of emotions to our understanding of society.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
In this episode of the Transforming Society podcast we speak to Sam Wren-Lewis, author of The Happiness Problem: Expecting Better in an Uncertain World.
In his book, Sam argues that the way we're thinking about happiness in modern societies is wrong. We're not seeing the bigger picture because we're so focused on control and distracted by our to-do lists.
It's time to stop going to war with reality and accept and understand our vulnerability. Talking through examples of capitalism, climate change, social inequality and democratic disagreement we uncover ways in which we may be able to make real, progressive social change.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Zoe Young, author of 'Women's Work: How Mothers Manage Flexible Working in Careers and Family Life', speaks to Jess Miles about work-life balance being an unattainable dream and how choice is an illusion for professional mothers. They discuss how policy and organisation change can make flexible working arrangements 'work' for women and families, and for society more broadly.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Based on the book, Life in the Debt Trap, this mini series of podcasts looks at what the day-to-day struggle is like for families in problem debt and how debt can bring people to dark places from which it's hard to escape. This episode explores Amara's story, her dreams, and how fragile these are when you're childhood is overshadowed by debt.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Based on the book, Life in the Debt Trap, this mini series of podcasts looks at what the day-to-day struggle is like for families in problem debt and how debt can bring people to dark places from which it's hard to escape. This is Alex's story, which is about debt, and loss, and the way in which life can spiral out of control.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Based on the book, Life in the Debt Trap, this mini-series of podcasts looks at what life is like for families stuck in problem debt, why they fall into debt and why it's hard to escape. This story is Stella's, about debt and isolation, and the impact that debt has across the whole family.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Mary Mellor, author of Money, part of our British Sociological Association 21st Century Standpoints Series, talks with Jessica Miles from Bristol University Press about her book and the many myths about money.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
David Morgan, author of Snobbery, part of our British Sociological Association 21st Century Standpoints Series, talking about what snobbery is and why it has more series effects on society than we think.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Victor Seidler, author of Making Sense of Brexit, talks with Jessica Miles from Bristol University Press about his book and the future of Brexit.
Intro music: Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US