People Fixing the World

Across the world millions of women and girls face discrimination and worse because of their gender. On this edition of People Fixing The World we look at projects designed to change attitudes. In India we visit workshops aimed at recruiting younger men as allies in the fight against sexism and gender inequality. And we speak to the founder of Chalk Back, a street art initiative that encourages women to write sexist remarks they’ve been the target of onto pavements in chalk to highlight the problem of street harassment.Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter: Chhavi Sachdev Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Tom Bigwood Sound mix: Hal Haines

Often described as underwater rainforests and the “lungs of the ocean”, kelp forests line as much as 25% of the world’s coastlines. They provide important shelter and food for fish and other marine life, and are vital for our oceans’ ecosystems. However kelp is under severe threat because of climate change, warming seas and overfishing. We look at projects in California aimed at stemming the decline of kelp including how scientists are growing it in a laboratory to be planted at sea as well as tackling a key cause of kelp degradation - sea urchins.Presenter: Myra Anubi Producer/reporter: Craig Langran Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Tom Bigwood Sound mix: Frank McWeeny

Doctors in Colombia are teaching mothers Kangaroo care for premature babies to enhance survival rates. The skin-to-skin method has spread globally, saving lives and helping babies thrive. Kangaroo care proves to be a cost-effective and emotional approach to nurturing premature infants.

Discover how innovators are reshaping the fashion industry by using old fire hoses to create stylish accessories and introducing yak hair as a sustainable alternative to cashmere. Explore the nomadic life in Mongolia and learn about the challenges of transitioning from traditional to city life. Witness the creative journey of transforming waste materials into luxury fashion items.

From flatpack classrooms in flood-prone Bangladesh to a literacy app in Somaliland, this podcast discusses empowering adults through reading. Explore personal stories like Oliver James, UK's Read Easy program, and the impact of literacy on women's independence and economic opportunities.

We all know about the power of music to change our mood or to make us move. But an increasing body of evidence is showing that music has an amazing ability to help us heal. In this programme we are going to meet people working at the cutting edge of music therapy. We find out about the innovative system that uses music to help people with dementia live at home for longer. We will see how using songs and rhythms is helping people with Parkinson’s move more freely. And in a refugee camp in Uganda we meet the teachers using music to bring people together and overcome trauma.Presenter: Myra Anubi Producer/Reporter: Richard Kenny Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Sound Mix: Frank McWeeny(Image: Salam Music Program in Bidibidi, Uganda)

Transforming the global food system is vital in the fight against climate change. Currently, food production accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the food system also fails to properly nourish billions of people worldwide.In this edition of People Fixing The World we’re looking at high and low tech solutions to transform the ways we produce and consume food to make it greener and more equitable.In London, we visit a startup company making cheese from genetically modified microbes rather than cattle, in a bid to make dairy production better for the planet.And in Philadelphia we look at how planting fruit and nut trees in ‘food forests’ is tackling hunger by providing access to healthy, nutritious food for low-income communities across the city.Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter/producer: Zoe Gelber Series producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Tom Bigwood Sound mix: Frank McWeeny

Explore the use of psilocybin from magic mushrooms in treating treatment-resistant depression, including personal stories of relief. Delve into the science behind the psychedelic effects and the potential risks and benefits. Hear about the journey of a woman named Amanda and her transformative experience with magic mushrooms for mental health. Discuss the legalization and medical use of psilocybin in various countries, highlighting the ongoing debates and future prospects.

Whistleblowers - they're the good guys right? The ones who speak truth to power and have films made about the heroic stands they took? Sometimes. Often the people who speak up in the workplace are ignored or shut down. Worse still they're often bullied or harassed or end up losing their jobs. They're the ones you never hear about.This week we hear about two projects that are encouraging people to speak up about wrongdoing at work and how they're improving people’s work environment, saving time, money and even saving lives.Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter/producer: Claire Bowes Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Penny Murphy Sound Mix: Annie Gardiner

Discover innovative ways to provide education to children worldwide, from offline internet access in Senegal to portable science kits in Africa. Explore a night school in Pakistan for child laborers and the challenges faced by marginalized children. Join the discussion on revolutionizing education and inspiring future scientists and engineers.