Ways to Change the World with Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Michael Pollan is one of TIME magazine’s top 50 most influential people in the US, he is a reporter, writer and psychonaut.   His books The Omnivore’s Dilemma and The Botany of Desire questions the way the world thinks about food and he is now doing the same for psychedelics and psychoactive plants. His book How To Change Your Mind and a new Netflix series by the same name explore his belief that Psychedelics are the tool to understanding the mind.   Produced by: Nina Hodgson

Steve Thompson is a former England rugby player and he played in every England match during the 2003  Rugby World Cup.  But today, age 43, Steve remembers nothing about that final. And in 2020 he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia - and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy.  In today’s episode Krishnan talks to him about his diagnosis, the impact it’s had on his mental health and his memoir, ‘Unforgettable’. if you have been affected by any of the issues covered in that report, you can find a range of places to seek help by visiting channel4.com/support Produced by: Joe Lord-Jones and Freya Pickford

General Charles Q Brown Jr. is the chief of staff of the US Air Force.  Krishnan talks to him about how the war in Ukraine has changed the way he thinks about defending the US, why he joined the US Air Force and whether he thinks anything has changed in America since the death of George Floyd. Producer: Freya Pickford Sources: Pacific Air Forces/ Mentorship Moment

Asma Khan is a world-renowned restaurateur and cookbook author who runs London restaurant Darjeeling Express with its kitchen entirely staffed by women.    After two years at her current location in Covent Garden, she has moved on, but she’s struggling to find another place for her restaurant. She blames discrimination in what she called the ‘all white, Mayfair, men only club’ of the hospitality industry.   She joined Krishnan to talk about where her love of cooking real Indian food came from, finding a new home for her restaurant, and writing her recent cookbook for her mother.   Produced by : Nina Hodgson

Lesia Vasylenko is a Ukrainian politician and human rights lawyer. Since the war in Ukraine began, we’ve spoken to her many times on Channel 4 News, but she joins Krishnan to talk about what it was like to have to send her children to another country when the war in Ukraine began. She also discusses her first impression of President Zelenskyy and how she believes this war might end. Produced by : Freya Pickford

Leila Mottley has only just turned 20 and she is already a New York Times Bestseller and the youngest person to make Oprah Winfrey’s book club. Her first book, which she started writing one month before her 17th birthday, has received rave reviews from critics. She joins Krishnan to talk about all the themes her novel, Nightcrawling, takes in; racism, sexism, poverty, injustice, police abuse of power. Produced by : Nina Hodgson

Justin Welby has been the Archbishop of Canterbury since 2013. Before he began training for ministry in 1989, Archbishop Justin worked in the oil industry for 11 years. His new book, The Power of Reconciliation encourages peacebuilding at all levels, turning the abstract idea of reconciliation into something that can be done throughout life. Krishnan joined the Archbishop at Lambeth Palace to talk about what reconciliation is, and how we can use it to approach wars, culture wars and personal conflicts as well as what the role of church is in a time of war.  Produced by: Freya Pickford and Rachel Evans

Our guest this week is Lethal Bizzle. He’s a rapper and entrepreneur with Ghanaian heritage, who originally hails from Walthamstow.  He’s one of the founding fathers of Grime who got into a very public spat with David Cameron when he was prime minister about whether the music genre glorified violence. He talks to Krishnan about how he started out in music, crypto and his new album, ‘Lethal B Vs Lethal Bizzle’. Produced by : Freya Pickford

Geoff Norcott is a writer, activist and comedian. As a rare right-winger, Geoff is a unique voice in British comedy operating outside the usual comedic commentary on social issues and politics.  Geoff talks to Krishnan about how politics doesn’t have to be all about ‘punching up’, why he’s had enough of ‘the culture war’ and his thoughts on the importance of having class diversity in the media.  Produced by: Rachel Evans

Denzel Curry is an American rapper and artist. He is brutally honest in his music about very personal topics such as his own mental health and his approach to policing and racism in America. Krishnan talks to Denzel about how he’s overcome trauma, his attitudes towards police brutality and why he thinks the music industry needs to become more collaborative.  Warning: This episode contains very strong language and very adult themes  Produced by: Rachel Evans