The We Society Podcast
Tackling the big questions through a social science lens, the We Society Podcast brings you some of the best ideas to shape the way we live.
Join acclaimed journalist and Academy president Will Hutton, as he 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.
S5 Ep6: Exposing the underbelly of Britain with Dr Ella Cockbain
Dr Ella Cockbain is Associate Professor at UCL’s Department of Security and Crime Science, where she leads the research group on human trafficking and exploitation. In recognition of her impactful work she received the 2023 Philip Leverhulme Prize, along with 29 other exceptional researchers.
In the latest episode of the We Society podcast, she joins our host, Will Hutton, for a wide-ranging discussion about these complex issues.
Available to listen now
Season 5 is currently underway, more episodes will be added as they become available:
- S5 Ep6: Exposing the underbelly of Britain with Dr Ella Cockbain
- S5 Ep5: Protecting local councils with Professor Andy Pike
- S5 Ep4: Is geography destiny? with Professor Rosie McEachan
- S5 Ep3: We can't let our high streets fail with Dr Ed Jones
- S5 Ep2: How society disables us with Professor Anna Lawson and Dr Shani Dhanda
- S5 Ep1: Should governments care about wellbeing? with Professor Lord Richard Layard
All Season 4 episodes listed below:
- S4 Ep9: The We Society Season 5 trailer
- S4 Ep8: Levelling up isn't a pick n mix with Andy Haldane
- S4 Ep7: Helping children in a time of crisis with Lucie Cluver
- S4 Ep6: Food for thought with Minette Batters
- S4 Ep5: The case for public consumption with Sir Andrew Dilnot
- S4 Ep4: Cancelling the Global South's debt with Ann Pettifor
- S4 Ep3: Reframing the climate crisis narrative with Neil Adger
- S4 Ep2: Will Artificial Intelligence see us lose our jobs? with Daniel Susskind
- S4 Ep1: Do we value universities enough in Britain? with Vivienne Stern
All Season 3 episodes listed below:
- S3 Ep7: Summer recap with Hillary Clinton, Ai Weiwei and Gary Younge
- S3 Ep6: What does the future hold? With Ian McEwan
- S3 Ep5: The history of racism with Kenan Malik
- S3 Ep4: Artificial Intelligence and the next Industrial Revolution with Professor Nicholas Crafts
- S3 Ep3: Can sport change the wellbeing of the nation? With Professor Louise Mansfield
- S3 Ep2: Housing for living, not investment with Polly Neate
- S3 Ep1: Can migration drive development? With Professor Heaven Crawley
All Season 2 episodes listed below:
- S2 Ep8: Ai Weiwei: You're either protecting humanity or hurting it
- S2 Ep7: Becky Francis: Education, Education, Education
- S2 Ep6: Ann Phoenix: It takes a village to raise a child
- S2 Ep5: Torsten Bell: The UK is a stagnation nation
- S2 Ep4: Mike Berners-Lee: Market forces won’t solve climate change
- S2 Ep3: Greg Clark: Cities are our future
- S2 Ep2: Linda Bauld: We must do better for the next pandemic
- S2 Ep1: Sir Lawrence Freedman: Military defeat happens gradually then suddenly
All Season 1 episodes listed below:
- S1 Ep8: The We Society Season 1 Recap
- S1 Ep7: Michael Bradshaw: You Can't Build a Plan Around Armageddon
- S1 Ep6: Mariana Mazzucato: Going To The Moon and Back
- S1 Ep5: Gary Younge: You Have to Take A Stand For What's Right
- S1 Ep4: Kate Pickett: We Are Connected To Each Other In Important Ways
- S1 Ep3: Sir Ian Diamond: Every Citizen In The Country Should Have A Voice In Our Data
- S1 Ep2: Hillary Clinton: They're Stoking People's Fears Rather Than Providing Hope
- S1 Ep1: Sir Cary Cooper: It's Not About Bean Bags, Ping Pong and Sushi At Your Desk
“Quickly became one of my favourite podcasts! I love learning about why we humans behave the way we do and love listening to smart people tell me why. This ticks all those boxes and more…”
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Professor Heaven Crawley: Can migration drive development?
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Polly Neate: Housing for living, not investment
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Professor Louise Mansfield: Can sport change the wellbeing of the nation?
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Professor Nicholas Crafts: Artificial Intelligence & the next Industrial Revolution
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Kenan Malik: The history of racism
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Ian McEwan: What does the future hold?
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