Real voices

Gabriele Mari highlights how child poverty in the UK is rising, driven by restrictive benefits policies, despite strong evidence that adequate support can reduce poverty and improve wellbeing.…Read more

In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Alex Blower about how the education system often fails working-class boys. …Read more

Cordelia Freeman, author of 'Magic Misoprostol', discusses how misoprostol’s transformation from an ulcer drug into a life-saving abortion pill highlights the vital role of acompañantes in reshaping reproductive healthcare and access in restrictive environments.…Read more

José Marichal, author of 'You Must Become an Algorithmic Problem', examines how algorithmic personalisation lulls us into predictable, familiar choices that erode exploration and, over time, threaten the foundations of liberal democracy.…Read more

Michael Salter discusses how survivors of child sexual abuse material remain among the internet’s most neglected victims, enduring lifelong violations while tech companies and governments prioritize digital freedom over their safety and justice.…Read more

Jacqueline Broadhead, author of 'Welcoming Cities', suggests that despite widespread pessimism, research and city-level initiatives show that most UK communities remain welcoming and cohesive, offering grounds for optimism about integration and belonging.…Read more

Anne Gray, author of 'Radical Approaches to the Care Crisis', argues that Britain’s care crisis demands a well-funded, community-based, not-for-profit system that values paid carers, supports unpaid caregivers, and fosters collective responsibility for compassionate, reliable care.…Read more

Devran Gülel argues that visa regimes act as structural gatekeepers in academia, disproportionately limiting the mobility of Global South scholars, marginalizing their knowledge, and perpetuating global hierarchies under the pretense of meritocracy.…Read more

Carolyn Snell and Lucie Middlemiss, authors of 'Just Climate Futures', argue that while Net Zero policies are vital for tackling climate change, they must be shaped around everyday realities and social inequalities to ensure they enhance rather than diminish people’s lives.…Read more

Nathan Kerrigan, co-author of 'Liquid Racism', reflects on how the Southport attack sparked a resurgence of racism, driven by insecurity and exploited by far-right populism.…Read more