Season four of the We Society podcast has launched today. Hosted by acclaimed journalist and Academy President Will Hutton, the podcast invites guests from the world of social science to explore the stories behind the news and hear their solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
Will said: “I’m really excited to be hosting the fourth season of the We Society podcast. We’ve had some outstanding guests join us previously to discuss how the social sciences shape the world in which we live, and this season is no different. I’m privileged to speak with some fascinating academics, practitioners and public figures, who find the social sciences just as vital and important as I do.”
The first episode, released today, features Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, discussing the importance of universities to Britain and how to protect them. She said: “If we take the path we’re currently on, you just see the slow diminution of something we used to be really proud of. I think our collective responsibility, nationally, is don’t let that path be the one we take because it’s rather important to us, as a country, in an extremely competitive age that we have a higher education and research system that serves our national needs.”
Other guests on the show this season include Dr Daniel Susskind, Professor Lucie Cluver, Professor Neil Adger and Ann Pettifor discussing big issues ranging from artificial intelligence and child social care to the green economy and climate change and wellbeing.
New episodes will be released every Wednesday and listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the podcast on their preferred platform so they don’t miss an episode. All episodes of the past three seasons, featuring guests including Hillary Clinton, Ai Weiwei, Professor Mariana Mazzuccato, Professor Gary Younge, and Professor Heaven Crawley are available to listen now.