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. In this series social science calls on aspects of business, education, economics, geopolitics, healthcare, human geography and more, exploring their impact on society and the social policy they can inspire. The We Society is for those interested in how social science impacts their world, and how evidence backed research can improve it.
The We Society is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.
The views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Academy.
Growing Up Digital: Exploring the Risks and Benefits of Social Media with Octavia Field Reid
Using social media has become an ordinary part of growing up for many children and young people. And whilst it can help children learn, stay connected with friends and foster creativity, the risks to their wellbeing are stark, with governments left racing to find policy solutions. Is a social media ban the answer?
In the latest episode of the We Society podcast, host Will Hutton is joined by Octavia Field-Reid, Associate Director at the Ada Lovelace Institute, to discuss the Institute’s latest research, in partnership with the Nuffield Foundation, on how young people aged 14-24 experience and feel about growing up with digital technology. In a We Society podcast first, we are also joined by two of the participants who took part in the research to share their own insights into growing up in an online world, what they gained from taking part and whether they think a social media ban is the right way forward.
Listen to our playlists
Join Will Hutton and guests in the We Society podcast to explore how social science insights are providing vital evidence and knowledge across a range of themes, from AI and climate change, to crime and justice and democracy.
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Discover how work, innovation and economic growth are evolving in response to new technologies and changing labour markets. These conversations explore the policies and ideas that could create greater opportunity, productivity and prosperity for everyone.
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In this playlist join Will Hutton and a variety of guests as they explore how artificial intelligence and data are reshaping society, from public services and healthcare to work, privacy and democracy. Discover the opportunities, risks and ethical questions that come with living in an increasingly AI-driven world.
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In this playlist, explore how social science insights are providing vital evidence and knowledge which assist the police to understand and address crimes including homicide, human trafficking, domestic abuse, hate crime and more. Join Will Hutton to hear expert insights on the tools, skills and knowledge from social science which support the police in their investigations and help to shape our justice system.
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In this playlist, explore how climate change, cities and population trends are shaping the future of our communities. Join host of the We Society podcast, Will Hutton and a range of guests as they discuss practical ideas and evidence on creating more sustainable, resilient and inclusive places for future generations
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In this playlist join host Will Hutton and a variety of guests from the world of social science as they explore how trust in institutions, political leadership and democracy is changing in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Hear expert perspectives on misinformation, global politics and the ideas that can help strengthen democratic societies.
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In this playlist, explore the many factors that influence our health and wellbeing, from mental health and healthcare innovation to child development and disability. Join Will Hutton and guests to learn more about how research and policy can help build healthier, fairer and more inclusive societies.
The We Society would like your help
Will and the We Society team are proud to have created eleven thought-provoking seasons of The We Society.
But now we want your ideas to help us shape Season 12 and beyond. What topics should we be covering? Who do you want to hear from? What one thing would you change about the show?
Will and the team would be incredibly grateful if you could take five minutes to take a short survey and help them bring the very best in engaging conversations and research-led insights to your ears.
“Only found this thanks to a suggestion from the ‘great algorithm in the sky’ well cloud, all the episodes I’ve listened to are informative, entertaining and generally positive, making listening to them a really enjoyable experience. Really good stuff.”
Apple podcast listener
“Intelligent, informative, and entertaining conversation about subjects that should be of interest to all who live in a society, which is everyone.”
Spotify listener
Available to listen now
Available episodes are listed below
All season 11 episodes are listed below
- S11 Ep1: Social policy solutions to the UK’s inequality crisis with Helen Miller and Sir Richard Blundell
- S11 Ep2: Placing the Right Kind of Attention on Women’s Health with Professor Sophie Harman
- S11 Ep4: The crisis of constant crisis with Danny Dorling
- S11 Ep3: Why Britain should back more innovators with Saul Klein
- S11 Ep5: Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine: what does social science tell us? with Michael Kofman
- S11 Ep6: How can we fix the special needs system in England’s schools? with Alice Reeves
- S11 Ep7: The USA 250 years after Independence with Adam Smith
- S11 Ep8: Searching for a good life: Data analysis and Google with Simon Rogers
All season 10 episodes are listed below:
- S10 Ep1: 'I’m not psychic, just very lucky!' With Professor Richard Wiseman
- S10 Ep2: What does it mean to be grown up today? with Bobby Duffy and Carey Oppenheim
- S10 Ep3: Using virtual reality to build a more inclusive NHS with Stephani Hatch
- S10 Ep4: How happy is the world in 2026? With Jan-Emmanuel De Neve
- S10 Ep5: AI and the Future of Public Services with Imogen Parker
- S10 Ep6: Climate action: small human acts can make a big difference with Tim Lenton
- S10 Ep7: Whoever holds our data holds the power with Carissa Véliz
- S10 Ep8: Harnessing Creative Destruction with Philippe Aghion
All season 9 episodes listed below:
- S9 Ep1: Emergency planning is more about tea than being James Bond with Lucy Easthope
- S9 Ep2: Saving the 86 bus and designing better cities for the old and young with Tine Buffell and Julia King
- S9 Ep3: Our love affair with travel with journalist Simon Calder
- S9 Ep4: Inoculating the mind: protecting against misinformation with Sander van der Linden
- S9 Ep5: Evidence for change: rethinking child poverty policy with Alex Beer
- S9 Ep6: Can language convict a criminal? with Tim Grant
- S9 Ep7: Investing in the Early Years: Can policy catch up with evidence?
- S9 Ep8: US and China: behind the rhetoric with Rana Mitter
All season 8 episodes listed below:
- S8 Ep1: How to get work working for everyone with Gavin Kelly
- S8 Ep2: Morality in UK prisons with Alison Liebling
- S8 Ep3: Population, Data & Destiny with Andy Tatem
- S8 Ep4: Taking entrepreneurship beyond business with Eleanor Shaw
- S8 Ep5: Care or Incarceration? How some of the UK’s most vulnerable children are being failed with Lisa Harker
- S8 Ep6: Borders, Brexit, and Fault Lines with Katy Hayward
- S8 Ep7: The Social Life of Pain with Tom Shakespeare
- S8 Ep8: Solving the Productivity Puzzle with Ed Balls, Anna Stansbury and Dan Turner
All season 7 episodes listed below:
- S7 Ep1: The future of liberal democracy with Anand Menon
- S7 Ep2: Anxiety, Artificial Intelligence and work with Anthony Elliott
- S7 Ep3: Making a responsible budget with Sir Robert Chote
- S7 Ep4: Should the 9 to 5 be a thing of the past? with Clare Kelliher and Brendan Burchell
- S7 Ep5: Tracking and stopping domestic abuse with Jane Monckton-Smith
- S7 Ep6: Improving social mobility through education and language with Lee Elliot Major
- S7 Ep7: Keep Calm and Chill with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
All season 6 episodes listed below:
- S6 Ep1: Election 24 special with Will Hutton
- S6 Ep2: Separating emotion from Brexit with Professor Sarah Hall
- S6 Ep3: How to make housing fair with Vicky Spratt and Auriol Miller
- S6 Ep4: The hidden army of young carers with Saul Becker
- S6 Ep5: Improving adult education with Anna Vignoles
- S6 Ep6: Why the war on drugs has failed with Alex Stevens
- S6 Ep7: Stopping hate crime with Matthew Williams and Neil Chakraborti
All Season 5 episodes listed below:
- S5 Ep1: Should governments care about wellbeing? with Professor Lord Richard Layard
- S5 Ep2: How society disables us with Professor Anna Lawson and Dr Shani Dhanda
- S5 Ep3: We can't let our high streets fail with Dr Ed Jones
- S5 Ep4: Is geography destiny? with Professor Rosie McEachan
- S5 Ep5: Protecting local councils with Professor Andy Pike
- S5 Ep6: Exposing the underbelly of Britain with Dr Ella Cockbain
- S5 Ep7: A life of public service with Lord Chris Patten
All Season 4 episodes listed below:
- S4 Ep1: Do we value universities enough in Britain? with Vivienne Stern
- S4 Ep2: Will Artificial Intelligence see us lose our jobs? with Daniel Susskind
- S4 Ep3: Reframing the climate crisis narrative with Neil Adger
- S4 Ep4: Cancelling the Global South's debt with Ann Pettifor
- S4 Ep5: The case for public consumption with Sir Andrew Dilnot
- S4 Ep6: Food for thought with Minette Batters
- S4 Ep7: Helping children in a time of crisis with Lucie Cluver
- S4 Ep8: Levelling up isn't a pick n mix with Andy Haldane
- S4 Ep9: The We Society Season 5 trailer
All Season 3 episodes listed below:
- S3 Ep1: Can migration drive development? With Professor Heaven Crawley
- S3 Ep2: Housing for living, not investment with Polly Neate
- S3 Ep3: Can sport change the wellbeing of the nation? With Professor Louise Mansfield
- S3 Ep4: Artificial Intelligence and the next Industrial Revolution with Professor Nicholas Crafts
- S3 Ep5: The history of racism with Kenan Malik
- S3 Ep6: What does the future hold? With Ian McEwan
- S3 Ep7: Summer recap with Hillary Clinton, Ai Weiwei and Gary Younge
All Season 2 episodes listed below:
- S2 Ep1: Sir Lawrence Freedman: Military defeat happens gradually then suddenly
- S2 Ep2: Linda Bauld: We must do better for the next pandemic
- S2 Ep3: Greg Clark: Cities are our future
- S2 Ep4: Mike Berners-Lee: Market forces won’t solve climate change
- S2 Ep5: Torsten Bell: The UK is a stagnation nation
- S2 Ep6: Ann Phoenix: It takes a village to raise a child
- S2 Ep7: Becky Francis: Education, Education, Education
- S2 Ep8: Ai Weiwei: You're either protecting humanity or hurting it
All Season 1 episodes listed below:
- S1 Ep1: Sir Cary Cooper: It's Not About Bean Bags, Ping Pong and Sushi At Your Desk
- S1 Ep8: The We Society Season 1 Recap
- S1 Ep2: Hillary Clinton: They're Stoking People's Fears Rather Than Providing Hope
- S1 Ep3: Sir Ian Diamond: Every Citizen In The Country Should Have A Voice In Our Data
- S1 Ep4: Kate Pickett: We Are Connected To Each Other In Important Ways
- S1 Ep5: Gary Younge: You Have to Take A Stand For What's Right
- S1 Ep6: Mariana Mazzucato: Going To The Moon and Back
- S1 Ep7: Michael Bradshaw: You Can't Build a Plan Around Armageddon
“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…”
Apple podcast listener
“My favourite podcast right now. I’m enjoying learning about the role of the social sciences. I studied Sociology at university in the late 80’s. I don’t think that I was ever told what it was really for or encouraged to turn my studies into a career. If only I could do it over! This will have to do. And it will do quite well. Thank you.”
Apple podcast listener
US and China: behind the rhetoric with Rana Mitter
Investing in the Early Years: Can policy catch up with evidence? with Eleanor Ireland
Can language convict a criminal? with Tim Grant
Evidence for change: rethinking child poverty policy with Alex Beer
Inoculating the mind: protecting against misinformation with Sander van der Linden
Our Love Affair with Travel with journalist Simon Calder
Saving the 86 bus & designing better cities for the old & young with Tine Buffel & Julia King
Emergency planning is more about tea than being James Bond with Lucy Easthope
“A refreshing listen. Really interesting – great conversations with people who consider all sides and perspectives to situations. Always relevant subjects.”
Apple podcast listener
“A really great listen and find. Would recommend highly.”
Apple podcast listener
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The We Society podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.
