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RSA Conversations

Latest episodes

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Aug 10, 2023 • 8min

SPARKS: Adrian Hon – A History of the Future

How can we switch our thinking to feel more positive about our collective future? Adrian Hon is Co-founder and CEO at Six to Start, creators of game-like stories and story-like games - including the world's bestselling smartphone fitness game, "Zombies, Run!" which has over ten million players.  Before Adrian became a game designer, he was a neuroscientist and experimental psychologist at Oxford, Cambridge and the University of California San Diego.   This Spark is taken from Adrian’s keynote speech, made during the research and development phase of Unboxed.   Adrian tells us how he approached the research and creation of his book, A New History of the Future in One Hundred Objects.   He asks us to consider how we can use specific words to understand how we might overcome despondency about the future - and become hospitable to new ideas that will benefit everyone.   Disclaimer: This Spark has been created using material recorded online during the pandemic - so the sound quality varies in places, but this shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying the material. Presentation by: Adrian Hon - Co-Founder and CEO - Six to Start | LinkedIn Adrian’s Book: A New History of the Future in 100 Objects by Adrian Hon Produced by: Unboxed - a UK-wide festival of creativity that brought together Arts, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEAM).Brought to you by: The RSA - the royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce. Where world-leading ideas become world-changing actions. Subscribe for new episodes weekly and visit our website to find out more about our Design for Life mission and our global changemaker community - the RSA Fellowship: theRSA.org 
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Apr 5, 2023 • 39min

Henry Dimbleby on our relationship with food

In this farewell episode of Bridges to the Future, Matthew meets with food writer and restaurateur Henry Dimbleby to explore our complex relationship with food and how it shapes our lives, from childhood memories and family traditions to the ways we cook, eat, and share meals with others. Henry Dimbleby is the co-founder of LEON, and the Director of The Sustainable Restaurant Association, which runs some of London's most successful street food markets. His work with DEFRA culminated in the National Food Strategy – a policy proposal widely praised by industry wide figures such as Yotam Ottolenghi and Sir Partha Dasgupta. In 2013 he co-authored The School Food Plan, which set out actions to transform what children eat in schools and how they learn about food.A Tempo & Talker production for the RSA. In this time of global change, strong communities and initiatives that bring people together are more invaluable than ever before. The RSA Fellowship is a global network of problem solvers. We invite you to join our community today to stay connected, inspired and motivated in the months ahead. You can learn more about the Fellowship or start an application by clicking here. 
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Mar 7, 2023 • 32min

Who Owns History?

In this thought-provoking interview series from the RSA, Matthew Taylor, puts a range of leading thinkers on the spot - from writers to business leaders, politicians to journalists - by asking for big ideas to help build effective bridges to our new future. Anthropologist and author, Adam Kuper, explores the intricate relationship between museums and the societies that they represent.Adam joins Matthew to discuss the ways in which museums have become cultural battlegrounds for debates about power, identity, and representation. They explore the ethical dilemmas that arise when museums display the cultural artefacts of others, and how these objects can both inform and misinform our understanding of history.Adam Kuper was most recently Centennial Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and a visiting professor at Boston University. A Fellow of the British Academy and a recipient of the Huxley Medal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Kuper has appeared many times on BBC TV and radio and he has reviewed regularly for the London Review of Books, the Times Literary Supplement, and the Wall Street Journal.A Tempo & Talker production for the RSA. In this time of global change, strong communities and initiatives that bring people together are more invaluable than ever before. The RSA Fellowship is a global network of problem solvers. We invite you to join our community today to stay connected, inspired and motivated in the months ahead. You can learn more about the Fellowship or start an application by clicking here.
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Feb 21, 2023 • 34min

The spy in your pocket

In this thought-provoking interview series from the RSA, Matthew Taylor, puts a range of leading thinkers on the spot - from writers to business leaders, politicians to journalists - by asking for big ideas to help build effective bridges to our new future. Installed without you even noticing, once on your phone it can record your calls, copy your messages, steal your photos - even secretly film you. But what exactly is 'Pegasus', and is it really a threat to our democracy and our human rights? Matthew is joined by investigative journalists Laurent Richard and Sandrine Rigaud to find out more.  Laurent Richard is the founder and director of Forbidden Stories, a consortium of journalists that was awarded the 2019 European Press Prize and the 2021 George Polk award for its work continuing the investigations of threatened reporters.Sandrine Rigaud is an award-winning investigative journalist, and the editor-in-chief of Forbidden Stories.A Tempo & Talker production for the RSA. In this time of global change, strong communities and initiatives that bring people together are more invaluable than ever before. The RSA Fellowship is a global network of problem solvers. We invite you to join our community today to stay connected, inspired and motivated in the months ahead. You can learn more about the Fellowship or start an application by clicking here. 
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Feb 7, 2023 • 32min

Management consultancy under the spotlight

In this thought-provoking interview series from the RSA, Matthew Taylor, puts a range of leading thinkers on the spot - from writers to business leaders, politicians to journalists - by asking for big ideas to help build effective bridges to our new future. McKinsey & Co is one of the biggest names in the global consulting business. Established in 1926, it employs 30,000 people, has offices in more than 130 locations and earns billions of dollars in fees. But what exactly does the company do? And how much power does it have in shaping the way corporations and governments are run? Matthew is joined by two New York Times investigative reporters, Walt Bogdanich and Michael Forsythe, whose latest book, When McKinsey Comes to Town, shines a spotlight on the influential firm. Walt Bogdanich is an investigative reporter for The New YorkTimes. He has been awarded three Pulitzer Prizes for his investigative journalism. He previously produced stories for “60 Minutes,” ABC News and TheWall Street Journal in New York and Washington. He has a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University. He lives in Port Washington, NY.Michael Forsythe is an investigative reporter for The New York Times. At Bloomberg was part of a team that won the George Polk Award in 2013. Mr. Forsythe is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He has a B.A. in international economics from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Harvard University. He lives in New York City.Michael and Walt's book, 'When McKinsey Comes to Town,' is available now. A Tempo & Talker production for the RSA. In this time of global change, strong communities and initiatives that bring people together are more invaluable than ever before. The RSA Fellowship is a global network of problem solvers. We invite you to join our community today to stay connected, inspired and motivated in the months ahead. You can learn more about the Fellowship or start an application by clicking here. 
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10 snips
Jan 31, 2023 • 37min

Regeneration rising S1E7: The Re-generation

In this series we’ve heard from key thinkers on what they are doing to nurture regenerative systems – locally, regionally and globally – and to create thriving futures for all life on this planet. In this final episode of the series, Josie and Daniel are joined by Paul Hawken, one of the environmental movement’s leading voices, to hear his perspectives on why now is the time for collaborative action and how we can all be part of the re-generation.Paul Hawken is a pioneering architect of corporate reform with respect to ecological practices. He is a well-respected author, economist, and activist, and the Founder of Project Drawdown, a non-profit dedicated to researching when and how global warming can be reversed. He has written eight best-selling books, including the hugely influential The Ecology of Commerce. His most recent book is Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation.Explore links and resources, and find out more at  https://www.thersa.org/oceania/regeneration-rising-podcast  Join the Re-generation: https://www.thersa.org/regenerative-futures
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Jan 24, 2023 • 38min

What are austerity measures really about?

In this thought-provoking interview series from the RSA, Matthew Taylor, puts a range of leading thinkers on the spot - from writers to business leaders, politicians to journalists - by asking for big ideas to help build effective bridges to our new future. In the wake of the crisis of 2008, austerity measures were implemented across the western world to stop financial catastrophe. But what impact have these long-lasting and controversial polices had on workers and communities?  Clara E. Mattei, an assistant professor of economics, believes they have been devastating, and that there's an ulterior motive for governments to implement such damaging policies. Clara joins Matthews to explain why and reveal what she believes are austerity's dark intellectual origins.Clara E. Mattei is assistant professor of economics at the New School for Social Research in New York City. Her latest book is 'The Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way to Fascism'. A Tempo & Talker production for the RSA. In this time of global change, strong communities and initiatives that bring people together are more invaluable than ever before. The RSA Fellowship is a global network of problem solvers. We invite you to join our community today to stay connected, inspired and motivated in the months ahead. You can learn more about the Fellowship or start an application by clicking here.
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Jan 17, 2023 • 38min

ReGeneration Rising S1E6: Coming Home to Place

In this special  series, we explore how regenerative practice is helping people in place collectively re-design their communities, cities and economies and create a thriving home for all on our planet. In this sixth episode, Josie and Daniel discuss the importance of place with two leading voices in regenerative development -- Pamela Mang and Jenny Andersson. We are living through a period of seemingly insurmountable challenges – from the climate crisis to global disparities of health and wealth. How can we grapple with such complex and wicked problems – collectively or as individuals? Regenerative development practitioners Pamela Mang and Jenny Andersson argue that to do so we must start in our own homes – with the places and spaces around us.  Pamela Mang is the founder of Regenesis Group with 30 years’ consulting experience with businesses, governmental agencies and community groups specializing in living systems thinking and educational and human development processes. She is a faculty member for The Regenerative Practitioner – a programme which has supported hundreds of people around the world to build their experience of regenerative development. Jenny Andersson is the founder of The Really Regenerative Centre. She works as a strategist, facilitator and educator, supporting organisations and communities to create visions for the future they want – together – and to find the energy, will and approaches to sustain long-term change.Explore links and resources, and find out more at  https://www.thersa.org/oceania/regeneration-rising-podcast  Join the Re-generation: https://www.thersa.org/regenerative-futures
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Jan 10, 2023 • 30min

How to be a 'good' drinker

In this thought-provoking interview series from the RSA, Matthew Taylor, puts a range of leading thinkers on the spot - from writers to business leaders, politicians to journalists - by asking for big ideas to help build effective bridges to our new future. Adrian Chiles once put away 100 units of alcohol a week. The recommended amount is 14. But Adrian never considered himself an alcoholic, just someone who enjoyed drinking a bit too much. But after a warning from his doctor, and now well in to his 50s, Adrian decided it was time to address his relationship with the booze. But he didn't want to stop drinking entirely. Instead, he decided to embark on a journey to become a 'good' drinker, one who can enjoy alcohol in moderation. The writer and broadcaster joins Matthew to reveal how it changed who he is and the way he lives his life. Adrian Chiles is a writer, journalist and broadcaster. His new book is The Good Drinker. A Tempo & Talker production for the RSA. In this time of global change, strong communities and initiatives that bring people together are more invaluable than ever before. The RSA Fellowship is a global network of problem solvers. We invite you to join our community today to stay connected, inspired and motivated in the months ahead. You can learn more about the Fellowship or start an application by clicking here.
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Jan 3, 2023 • 37min

ReGeneration Rising S1E5: Beyond Business as Usual

In this special “Bridges to the Future” series, we explore how regenerative practice is helping people in place collectively re-design their communities, cities and economies and create a thriving home for all on our planet. In this fifth episode, Josie and Daniel discuss the role companies can play in shaping our future with John Elkington and Louise Kjellerup Roper from Volans Ventures.The last decade has seen a shift in the discussion around corporate social responsibility and the role businesses can play in tackling the world’s challenges. In this episode, we ask our guests, John Elkington and Louise Kjellerup Roper whether the businesses of today are doing enough to build a better tomorrow and what a regenerative approach to business could look like.  John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable capitalism. His book Cannibals with Forks in 1997 popularised his ‘Triple Bottom Line’ concept, and laid the foundations for sustainable business strategy. His 20th book was published in 2020 - Green Swans: The Coming Boom in Regenerative Capitalism.   Louise Kjellerup Roper is the CEO of Volans. She started her career with ‘cutting-edge’ software companies, before focusing on the role of business for good. Today, as well as being responsible for the work of Volans, she is a guest lecturer at both Cranfield University and the University of Exeter and part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100 network.Explore links and resources, and find out more at  https://www.thersa.org/oceania/regeneration-rising-podcast  Join the Re-generation: https://www.thersa.org/regenerative-futures

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