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.
Season 7 of the We Society podcast out now
In the first episode of the season, host, Will Hutton, is joined by Professor Anand Menon, Director UK in a Changing Europe, for a wide-ranging discussion including the state of international relations 80 years after World War II, evolving voting patterns among British ethnic minorities and the importance of social science and social scientists to understanding contemporary political and social challenges.
Available to listen now
Season 7 episodes released to date:
All season 6 episodes listed below:
- S6 Ep7: Stopping hate crime with Matthew Williams and Neil Chakraborti
- S6 Ep6: Why the war on drugs has failed with Alex Stevens
- S6 Ep5: Improving adult education with Anna Vignoles
- S6 Ep4: The hidden army of young carers with Saul Becker
- S6 Ep3: How to make housing fair with Vicky Spratt and Auriol Miller
- S6 Ep2: Separating emotion from Brexit with Professor Sarah Hall
- S6 Ep1: Election 24 special with Will Hutton
All Season 5 episodes listed below:
- S5 Ep7: A life of public service with Lord Chris Patten
- 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…”
Apple podcast listener
“A really great listen and find. Would recommend highly.”
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
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more.
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
Professor Heaven Crawley: Can migration drive development?
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more.
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
Polly Neate: Housing for living, not investment
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more.
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
Professor Louise Mansfield: Can sport change the wellbeing of the nation?
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more.
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
Professor Nicholas Crafts: Artificial Intelligence & the next Industrial Revolution
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more.
PGlmcmFtZSB0aXRsZT0iS2VuYW4gTWFsaWs6IFRoZSBoaXN0b3J5IG9mIHJhY2lzbSB8IFRoZSBXZSBTb2NpZXR5IiB3aWR0aD0iNjQwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjM2MCIgc3JjPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLW5vY29va2llLmNvbS9lbWJlZC8taGs2Y1hHZUs0UT9mZWF0dXJlPW9lbWJlZCIgZnJhbWVib3JkZXI9IjAiIGFsbG93PSJhY2NlbGVyb21ldGVyOyBhdXRvcGxheTsgY2xpcGJvYXJkLXdyaXRlOyBlbmNyeXB0ZWQtbWVkaWE7IGd5cm9zY29wZTsgcGljdHVyZS1pbi1waWN0dXJlOyB3ZWItc2hhcmUiIHJlZmVycmVycG9saWN5PSJzdHJpY3Qtb3JpZ2luLXdoZW4tY3Jvc3Mtb3JpZ2luIiBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW4+PC9pZnJhbWU+
Kenan Malik: The history of racism
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more.
PGlmcmFtZSB0aXRsZT0iSWFuIE1jRXdhbjogV2hhdCBkb2VzIHRoZSBmdXR1cmUgaG9sZD8gfCBUaGUgV2UgU29jaWV0eSIgd2lkdGg9IjY0MCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzNjAiIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS1ub2Nvb2tpZS5jb20vZW1iZWQvdjNUd0pkUDFubnc/ZmVhdHVyZT1vZW1iZWQiIGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyPSIwIiBhbGxvdz0iYWNjZWxlcm9tZXRlcjsgYXV0b3BsYXk7IGNsaXBib2FyZC13cml0ZTsgZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhOyBneXJvc2NvcGU7IHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZTsgd2ViLXNoYXJlIiByZWZlcnJlcnBvbGljeT0ic3RyaWN0LW9yaWdpbi13aGVuLWNyb3NzLW9yaWdpbiIgYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==
Ian McEwan: What does the future hold?
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more.
PGlmcmFtZSB0aXRsZT0iQmVzdCBvZiB0aGUgV2UgU29jaWV0eSB3aXRoIEhpbGxhcnkgQ2xpbnRvbiwgQWkgV2Vpd2VpIGFuZCBHYXJ5IFlvdW5nZSB8IFRoZSBXZSBTb2NpZXR5IiB3aWR0aD0iNjQwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjM2MCIgc3JjPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLW5vY29va2llLmNvbS9lbWJlZC9oMnpzVVJianVQVT9mZWF0dXJlPW9lbWJlZCIgZnJhbWVib3JkZXI9IjAiIGFsbG93PSJhY2NlbGVyb21ldGVyOyBhdXRvcGxheTsgY2xpcGJvYXJkLXdyaXRlOyBlbmNyeXB0ZWQtbWVkaWE7IGd5cm9zY29wZTsgcGljdHVyZS1pbi1waWN0dXJlOyB3ZWItc2hhcmUiIHJlZmVycmVycG9saWN5PSJzdHJpY3Qtb3JpZ2luLXdoZW4tY3Jvc3Mtb3JpZ2luIiBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW4+PC9pZnJhbWU+