Hello! This week we’re talking about climate misinformation and how we tackle it. Mis- and disinformation about the climate crisis is not new: since the 1970s industry players and fossil fuel giants have been denying the reality of climate change in order to sow confusion and polarise public support for taking action. Delay is the new denial, according to Jennie King, who talks to us about some of the arguments used to delay action on climate change. Professor Sander van der Linden tells us about the psychology of misinformation spread and why social media has only turbocharged it. Finally, Sean Buchan talks to us about the grassroots campaign Stop Funding Heat which aims to make climate misinformation unprofitable.Plus: Geoff goes on a gastronomic journey with Ed's latest cooking attempt.GuestsJennie King, Head of Climate Research and Policy, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (@jkingy, @ISDglobal)Professor Sander van der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Cambridge (@Sander_vdLinden)Sean Buchan, Campaign Director, Stop Funding Heat (@seanforachange, @stopfundingheat)More infoWhat is climate mis-/disinformation?Deny, deceive, delay: documenting and responding to climate disinformation at COP26 and beyond Report from the ISDTaxonomy of climate contrarian claims Academic paper: Coan, Boussalis, Cook, NankoDiscourses of Climate Delay Comic by Céline KellerClimate Action Against Disinformation Pre-order a copy of Sander's book Foolproof: Why we fall for misinformation and how to build immunityStop Funding Heat CampaignOther resourcesDeSmog Journalism to clear the 'PR Pollution' clouding the science and solutions to climate changeSkeptical science Website set up by academic Jon Cook to examine the science and arguments of climate scepticismEd and Geoff mentioned:Three policies making life in Paris better for children Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello! New year, new term and this week Ed and Geoff are going back to school. Too little has changed about our education system since the Victorian times, and for too many young people it can seem an outdated and rigid system - geared simply towards passing exams - which is letting them down. We speak to three experts who tell us that it doesn't have to be this way: Dr James Mannion, clinical psychologist Dr Naomi Fisher and to Andy Sprakes, the co-founder of Doncaster's most oversubscribed school, about how they're already doing things differently and why it's beneficial for everyone involved.Plus: want a chance to live out your Geoffocracy dreams? We hear from Suzanne Heywood about a new prize looking for our listeners' policy ideas!GuestsDr James Mannion, Director of Rethinking Education, a teacher training organisation (Visit his website or follow him on Twitter @RethinkingJames)Dr Naomi Fisher, Clinical Psychologist (Follow her on Twitter @naomicfisher or subscribe to her Substack)Andy Sprakes, Chief Academic Officer and Co-founder, XP School in Doncaster (@SprakesA & @XPschool) Suzanne Heywood, Chair of the Heywood Foundation (@HeywoodFndation)More infoDo schools kill creativity? TED Talk, Sir Ken RobinsonThe crisis of the last six months has exposed five damaging myths in education Blog, Peter HymanRethinking Education James Mannion's teacher training organisationHow to Change the World James Mannion's TEDxtalk on 'vertical slice politics'Above all compassion, the story of XP School FilmLearn more about the Heywood Prize and enter here.Contact Reasons to be Cheerful via our website, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Let us know your episode ideas, your comments and feedback!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and happy 2023! Normal service will resume next Monday but in the meantime we’ve got a cracking interview with co-authors Adrienne Buller and Mathew Lawrence for you. Their new book ‘Owning the Future: Power and Property in an Age of Crisis’ is all about ownership. Basically, who owns what in our economy and society, and why it matters. They set out an alternative future for us that’s not dominated by profit making business models, but rather meets the needs of all citizens without destroying the planet. And as we look to the future, Ed reminisces about past mishaps with his coat...Buy Owning the Future: Power and Property in an Age of CrisisCommon Wealth Think TankGuestsAdrienne Buller, Director of Research, Common Wealth Think Tank (@adribuller)Mathew Lawrence, Founder and Director, Common Wealth Think Tank (@dantonshead) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been another calm year for politics: four chancellors, three prime ministers and a lettuce. Through the tumult, we’ve been providing you a steady stream of reasons to be cheerful. Having applied a (not very) rigorous methodology we’ve chosen our ten favourite moments from the year. What’s made it to the top spot?We’d love to hear from you over the holidays with your ideas, guest suggestions or emails. If you want to get in touch with the podcast you can email us at reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or through our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello! We’ve decked the loft with boughs of holly and after two years, Ed and Geoff are finally reunited for some Christmas fun and frolics. Traditional board game proceedings have been temporarily suspended, as we ask some friends of the pod to tell us their reasons to be cheerful. And boy, it’s a real bagamashings. We hear from Jon Ronson, Self Esteem, Davina McCall and Michael Douglas, Ayesha Hazarika, Tom Allen, and many more…Find out which celebs sent us a message from bed, who told Ed he had the weakest handshake in Western Europe, and what Dan the Lifeguard really sounds like.With thanks to all our cracker message senders and listeners in 2022!If you want to get in touch with the podcast you can email us at reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com or through our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello! When we hear about social workers it's usually because something terrible has happened. Social work is rightly subject to scrutiny, but why do we never hear about any of the good stuff? Despite operating in an under-resourced and bureaucratic system, social workers are helping individuals and families facing some of the toughest life circumstances, in the hope of creating a fairer and more prosperous society. We talk to Ruth Allen about the profession, to Ryan Wise who's trying to remove day-to-day barriers that social workers might face, and to Lisa Hackett about why we need to shift public perceptions of social workers and the job they do.GuestsRuth Allen, CEO, British Association of Social Workers (@ruthallenonline) (@BASW_UK)Ryan Wise, Co-founder, Crescendo (@ryanwise18)Lisa Hackett, Chief Social Worker, Frontline (@FrontlineSW)More info Learn more about the British Association of Social Workers' 80:20 CampaignIf you're a social worker, take BASW's annual survey of social workersRead more about the 15% solutions approach that Ryan discussesUnderstand more about CrescendoFind out information about Frontline, England's largest social work charityThe campaign to get care experience designated a protected characteristic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello! This week Ed and Geoff are on location to chat with two big brains who have been part of two important commissions about the state of the UK economy. What are the deep roots of the economic crisis facing our country? And what's the solution? The UK is suffering from a 'toxic combination' of high inequality and stagnating growth. We look at some of the long-term issues that mean the cost of living crisis is hitting Britain particularly hard, why we need a new economic strategy and what it would involve. And what does Geoff's hairdresser have to do with it all?GuestsCarys Roberts, Executive Director, IPPR (@carysroberts) (@IPPR)Torsten Bell, CEO, Resolution Foundation (@TorstenBell) (@resfoundation)More infoRead the final report (2018) from IPPR's Commission on Economic JusticeRead 'Stagnation Nation' (2022) the interim report from the Economy 2030 Inquiry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello! This week we're talking about disability activism: its past, present and future. Disabled people are routinely excluded from society, despite making up 15% of the population. How has disability activism shifted people's attitudes and perceptions? And how can we transform our society so it's fairer for everyone? To find out we speak to disability justice activist Anna Landre about why it's not possible to legislate prejudice out of existence, we also talk to Christoph Keller about his new memoir and to Ruth Malkin about the People's History Museum's new exhibition celebrating the history of disability activism.Transcripts of all the interviews are available on our website.GuestsAnna Landre, Disability Justice Activist and Research Fellow, UCL (@annalandre)Christoph Keller, Novelist, editor and playwright. Author of ‘Every Cripple a Superhero’ Ruth Malkin, Community Co-Curator, People's History Museum (@PHMMcr)More infoVisit Anna's websiteUCL's Global Disability Innovation HubThe Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List 2022Buy Christoph's book 'Every Cripple A Superhero'Islam Alijaj's Twitter (Swiss politician)Visit the People's History Museum's Exhibition: Nothing About Us Without Us (until October 2023)Get online support and advice from Scope Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello! Ed's just come back from COP27 where he was roving with his mic. He spoke to some experts on how we shift to zero carbon power and break our dependency on fossil fuels. We talk to Kingsmill Bond about why the transition to renewables makes economic sense. Tzeporah Berman tells us about the potential of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to constrain supply. And Mohamed Adow tells us why the continent of Africa could lead the way in becoming a renewable energy superpower, and what that means for its development.GuestsKingsmill Bond, Energy Strategist, Rocky Mountain Institute (@KingsmillBond) (@RockyMtnInst)Tzeporah Berman, Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (@tzeporah) (@fossiltreaty)Mohamed Adow, Director, Power Shift Africa (@mohadow) (@PowerShftAfrica)More infoRead about past and current peaks in fossil fuel demand (RMI)Visit Kingsmill Bond's website to read about the drivers of change for the transition to renewables and the myths of the incumbencyListen to Kingsmill on the Volts PodcastLearn more about the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation TreatyAccess the Global Registry of Fossil Fuels (Carbon Tracker; Global Energy Monitor)Watch Tzeporah's TED TalkVisit Power Shift Africa's Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello! This week as world leaders- and Ed -gather in Sharm El-Sheikh for COP27 we’re covering a tricky topic: what’s our role as individuals in tackling the climate crisis? When we feel like governments and businesses aren’t doing their bit to keep 1.5C alive, is it normal for us to feel disillusioned about the power that’s in our hands? Our guests say that action on climate isn't all on us, but that it won't happen without us either. We speak to Alyssa Gilbert from the Grantham Institute for Climate Change about the enabling role of government and why we need to shout about the actions we’re taking. We also talk to Mike Thompson from the Climate Change Committee and to Tom Bailey, who is recommending shifts he thinks we can take to make a difference. Plus: Geoff has a new look and reveals his Autumnal beverage of choice  More infoImperial's 9 things you can do about climate change  CCC's 2022 Report on Climate Offsetting CCC's 2020 Report on the Sixth Carbon BudgetSign up and Take the Jump for 1, 3 or 6 months Listen to 'Holding out for a Zero,' an RTBC episode from July  GuestsAlyssa Gilbert, Director of Policy and Translation at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London (@AlyssaRGilbert) (@Grantham_IC) Mike Thompson, Chief Economist and Director of Analysis, Climate Change Committee (@Mike_Thommo) (@theCCCuk) Tom Bailey, Co-founder, Take the Jump (@taketheJUMPnow) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.