The We Society
AcSS
Beyond the politics, beyond our geography are the intangible connections that hold us together – The We Society.
The We Society podcast is here to tell you about the thousands of ways the Social Sciences can help us understand and enhance this complicated and fascinating human network.
What can we do to fix the NHS? How can we better manage climate change? How do we end the cost of living crisis?
Brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and Leverhulme Trust, this podcast tackles the big questions through a social science lens and 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.
Don’t want to miss an episode? Follow the show on your favourite podcast platform and you can email us on wesociety@acss.org.uk and tell us who we should be speaking to.
The We Society podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.
The We Society podcast is here to tell you about the thousands of ways the Social Sciences can help us understand and enhance this complicated and fascinating human network.
What can we do to fix the NHS? How can we better manage climate change? How do we end the cost of living crisis?
Brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and Leverhulme Trust, this podcast tackles the big questions through a social science lens and 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.
Don’t want to miss an episode? Follow the show on your favourite podcast platform and you can email us on wesociety@acss.org.uk and tell us who we should be speaking to.
The We Society podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences in association with the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 17, 2023 • 3min
S2 Ep9: The We Society Season 3 Trailer
Join host Will Hutton for Season 3 of the We Society which launches in April to hear more ideas that shape the world we live.
From how we can tackle homelessness to rebooting our stagnating economy, the podcast will encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. In this podcast series, you will hear interviews from the top social scientists in our country.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Dec 12, 2022 • 42min
S2 Ep8: Ai Weiwei: You're either protecting humanity or hurting it
Ai Weiwei is a father, an artist, and a dissident who refuses to be silenced. He has exhibited worldwide and has gained a reputation for creating fearless artworks with a humanitarian spirit.
He joins journalist Will Hutton for the final episode of Season 2 of the We Society where they discuss the possible threats to Taiwan from China, his years of exile growing up in North West China with his poet father, and the importance of protecting humanity through art.
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
Dec 5, 2022 • 40min
S2 Ep7: Becky Francis: Education, Education, Education
Becky Francis has dedicated her life to improving education. She is the chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, an independent charity that supports schools, nurseries, and colleges to improve teaching and learning. Before that, she was Director of the UCL Institute of Education at University College London. If anyone knows how the school system in the UK is doing, it’s Becky Francis and she joins Will Hutton in conversation for our penultimate episode of this season.
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
Nov 28, 2022 • 39min
S2 Ep6: Ann Phoenix: It takes a village to raise a child
Ann Phoenix, a psychologist from UCL Institute of Education, shares her expertise on intersectionality and the diverse experiences of young single mothers. She emphasizes how class, ethnicity, and gender shape individual narratives, highlighting that some single parents thrive thanks to robust community support. The discussion challenges prevailing stereotypes and reveals the critical role of social connections in fostering resilience. Additionally, Phoenix calls for systemic changes to promote equality, illustrating how collective hope can drive meaningful social action.
Nov 21, 2022 • 34min
S2 Ep5: Torsten Bell: The UK is a stagnation nation
Torsten Bell is the Chief Executive Officer of the Resolution Foundation, a think-tank whose aim is to improve the lot of the ordinary person in Britain. Never far from the airwaves, Torsten takes the conversation deeper with host Will Hutton as they ponder what makes Britain a ‘stagnation nation’.
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
Nov 14, 2022 • 34min
S2 Ep4: Mike Berners-Lee: Market forces won’t solve climate change
Professor Mike Berners-Lee is an author and a Professor at the Institute for Social Futures at Lancaster University. His work for the past few decades has focused on how to tackle the worsening climate emergency. Mike joins Will Hutton to discuss how there has to be a global shift in our values for us to have a chance of reversing climate change.
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
Nov 7, 2022 • 35min
S2 Ep3: Greg Clark: Cities are our future
Professor Greg Clark is an urbanist and author who has worked with more than 300 cities across the world. He talks to host Will Hutton about how cities are at the front line of the climate change challenge and why they are so important for our future.
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
Oct 31, 2022 • 31min
S2 Ep2: Linda Bauld: We must do better for the next pandemic
In the second episode of season 2 of the We Society podcast, Professor Linda Bauld, public health specialist and advisor to the Scottish Government, joins us to reflect on Britain's response to the Covid pandemic.
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
Oct 31, 2022 • 33min
S2 Ep1: Sir Lawrence Freedman: Military defeat happens gradually then suddenly
Professor Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London joins us to talk about all things Ukraine.
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
Oct 24, 2022 • 4min
S1 Ep9: We Society Season 2 Trailer
The We Society podcast on ideas that shape the world we live in. From countering social inequality to rebooting public services, host Will Hutton and his guests encourage you to think critically and collectively, as part of The We Society. This podcast is brought to you by the Academy of Social Sciences.
Tell us who we should be speaking to, or what questions we should be asking by emailing wesociety@acss.org.uk
