
How Might We
East London’s home for big ideas.
How Might We is the podcast where we design solutions to solve pressing challenges facing East London today.
Hosted by Patrick Scally this podcast brings together people looking to make things & change things for the better here in East London. So, every week Patrick & a specialist guest create actionable steps to big problems facing the world they're directly experiencing using design thinking frameworks.
Our neighbourhood is changing fast, our thinking needs to progress just as quickly.
Latest episodes

Aug 28, 2024 • 1h 7min
E54: How might we survive the apocalypse w/Gee Sinha
Gee Sinha is the Founder of ReSpace, a social enterprise that takes beloved derelict buildings and brings them back to life for use by local people. They do this by reusing wasted resources and building shared community wealth. They make use of the things other people throw away. For past projects, they have made good use of second-hand furniture, leftover building materials, surplus food, and unwanted instruments.
This conversation covers the topic of surviving the apocalypse, acknowledging the long-drawn-out nature of societal collapse and the interconnectedness of global systems. The discussion delves into the behaviours and conditions that allow for the existence of a privileged few and the need for a shift in mindset and social structures.
Follow Gee Sinha here
Find out more about Respace here
Chapters
00:00 The Hive: A Versatile Environment
06:04 Breaking Down Isolated Systems
27:57 Interconnectedness and the Challenges of Surviving the Apocalypse
32:32 Behaviours and Conditions that Allow for the Existence of a Privileged Few
36:06 Shifting Mindset and Social Structures for a More Equitable Future
37:05 The Limitations of Politics and Power Dynamics
38:35 The Idolisation of Figures in Society
41:33 The Importance of Open Conversations and Community Connections
49:56 The Need for Systemic Change

Aug 14, 2024 • 1h 15min
E53: Why we'd be better off working wild w/ Sara Turnbull & Jeannette Pritchard
Jeannette Pearce & Sara Turnbull are widely regarded as successful social and serial entrepreneurs. Together they are work activists and wild advocates. As speakers and writers they are valued for their ability to cut through to the core of complex problems, inspire change and be human, frank and provocative in a kind and caring way. As sustainable business leaders and authors of Better Off Working Wild they are widely recognised for their award winning work in:
> Creating sustainable, successful places and organisations
> Driving inclusive, resilient caring work culture
> Growing high impact social purpose organisations
Explore more at Better Off Edits here
Purchase Better Off Working Wild here
Follow Sara here
Follow Jeannette here
Chapters
00:00 Working Wild as a Rebellion
07:47 The Impact of COVID-19 on Working Wild
15:16 The Core Issues: Broken Work vs. Working Wild
31:24 Tools for Shifting Towards a Working Wild Mindset
35:17 Tools for Working Wild
57:14 Creating a Better Work Culture
59:59 Redefining Wealth
01:03:32 The Impact of Technology on Work
01:08:09 Reevaluating Governance Structures

Jul 31, 2024 • 59min
E52: Rethinking Economic Measures: Beyond GDP w/Chris Paddock
Chris Paddock has spent the last 20 years advising local government on the economy of places. He has developed strategies for cities including Brighton, Oxford and Bristol as well as many London Boroughs and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He has worked for developers and investors challenging them to think differently about value, whilst advocating for deeper community engagement and a broader consideration of what economic success looks like. Chris is a Director of consultants PRD and is a founder of the London Doughnut Economy Coalition CIC.
Chapters
00:00 Rethinking Economic Measures
04:02 Flaws in Current Value Frameworks
14:46 Misalignment with Societal Values
23:32 Shifting Economic Strategies
31:30 Donut Economics in London
43:10 Can the Public Sector Deliver New Economic Models?
53:28 Closing remarks on UK Election (pre-result news)
59:10 podcast sound 2.wav

Jul 16, 2024 • 57min
E51: Harnessing The Revolutionary Nature of Women's Football to Drive Gender Equality w/Amy Drucquer
Amy Drucquer is the Founder of award winning platform, recently turned creative studio This Fan Girl. A lifelong Leicester City fan, Amy has spent the last eight years exploring the world of football fandom, and how this connects with feminism and wider societal issues.
On this episode Amy talks about the challenges of growing women's football and the importance of listening to the needs of female fans. She emphasises the fight and revolutionary nature of women's football and the need to protect its unique qualities. We talk about the growth of women's football, the importance of building a community, the need for more support and investment, and the cultural shifts that are happening.
Find out more about This Fan Girl
Follow This Fan Girl Instagram
Follow Amy on Twitter
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:58 Amy's Earliest Memory of Football
07:42 The Inspiration Behind This Fan Girl
14:47 The Fight and Revolution of Women's Football
24:15 Research, Insights, and Listening to Women
28:51 The Global Platform of Women's Football
31:06 Building a Community and Overcoming Challenges
35:06 The Role of Creativity in Driving Change
36:59 Investment and Opportunities at the Grassroots Level
41:09 The Influence of Changing Social and Cultural Norms
45:22 Collaborating with Diverse Creators for Authenticity
52:27 The Need for Research and Innovation in Women's Football

Jul 2, 2024 • 58min
E50: How Might We Improve Democracy in London w/Antonia Jennings
Antonia is Chief Executive Officer at the Centre for London. She joined in September 2023, from the Centre for Local Economic Strategies. Prior to joining the team, Antonia worked in numerous charities, think tanks and campaigning organisations promoting new economic thinking. She has expertise across progressive local economic development, deepening democracy and sustainable economics. Antonia holds a Master’s degree with distinction in Politics and Communications, and a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She is Chair of the board of Rethinking Economics.
Our conversation delves into the state of democracy in London, highlighting the need for improvement and the central issues that contribute to its shortcomings. The discussion also touches on the potential for change and the vision for a more inclusive and empowered London. It touches on the barriers to accessing arts and culture for marginalised communities and the potential for devolution and better use of public assets to support the cultural economy.
Follow Antonia on X
Find out more about Centre for London
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Reflection on Centre for London Event
02:32 Approach to Interviewing Political Leaders and Issue of Partisanship
09:27 State of Democracy in London and Challenges
12:24 Vision for Devolution and Upgraded Governance in London
29:40 Countering the Anti-London Bias: Communicating Contributions and Needs
33:11 Improving Living Standards Across the UK
34:24 The Impact of Austerity Measures
37:35 The Role of Arts and Culture in London's Success
39:14 Supporting the Creative Industries
40:57 Addressing Barriers to Accessing Arts and Culture
44:42 Devolution and Public Assets for the Cultural Economy
50:41 A Personal Anecdote: Meeting Brian Eno

Jun 4, 2024 • 33min
E49: BONUS Ross Gillan Fixed The 'How Might We' Brand
Today's guest is Ross Gillan, the creative behind the new brand for How Might We. With over 8 years experience working in fashion and beauty, Ross's work has focused on modernising and elevating brands assets, and understanding we translate strategic vision into directional experience.
The conversation revolves around the process of creating a brand identity and the challenges that come with it. We discuss how to approach initial conversations with clients, especially when redesigning an established brand. Ross emphasise the importance of understanding the target audience and the desired look and feel of the brand. We also talk about the role of transparency and community in branding, particularly in relation to Gen Z. The conversation touches on the creative process, managing client expectations, and the future of branding.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
2:31 Approaching Initial Conversations with Clients
09:08 Challenges of Working with Existing Brands
15:40 The Importance of Transparency and Community in Branding
27:18 The Collaborative Process of Creating a Brand Identity

May 8, 2024 • 59min
E48: How to Prevent Creative Entrepreneur Burnout w/Siobhan Mears
Siobhan Mears is a Business Strategist and Mentor specialising in Operations and CEO Mindset. Having honed her skills in global corporations, Siobhan understands the inner workings of successful businesses and the mindset of effective CEOs.
She is passionate about helping female founders create more impact, save time and money without compromising a thriving business and their quality of life.
Siobhan founded The Mears Collective in 2018 whilst on maternity leave building a team of experts on tech, systems and processes to support her clients in gaining back more valuable time and growing their businesses with greater ease.
🔹 Find out more about the Mears Collective
🔹 Follow Siobhan on Linkedin
🔹 Follow The Mears Collective on Instagram
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Problem Statement
06:14 Challenges of Balancing Growth and Personal Well-being
35:33 The Importance of Representation and Funding for Female Founders
53:18 The Power of Silence and Deep Work

Apr 10, 2024 • 59min
E47: Transporting digital fashion from niche, to mainstream w/Karinna Grant
Summary
Fashion is dead, long live digital fashion! In this conversation, Karinna Grant discusses various aspects of the digital fashion industry.
➡️ the challenges and opportunities for new companies entering the space
➡️ the potential impact of virtual try-on and the role of privacy in the digital fashion space.
➡️ the psychological aspects of pushing boundaries, and the potential for shared ownership and funding models to support emerging designers.
🔹 Connect with Karinna Grant on her website
🔹 Connect with Karinna Grant on Linkedin

Apr 3, 2024 • 60min
E46: How Might We inspire and empower more young people to discover and pursue their passions w/Emmanuel Lawal
Emmanuel Lawal, known as the self-proclaimed 'Heartbreak Poet,' stands as the founder and CEO of the forward-thinking technology brand committed to revolutionising the online publishing industry, titled intotheopen. By day, he serves as a board member for the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), while by night, he assumes the role of an entrepreneur. With creativity ingrained in every aspect of his being, Emmanuel is the proud owner of STORYBOOK, a creative enterprise and blogging platform dedicated to sharing captivating stories from his unique perspective.
At the youthful age of 21, Emmanuel finds himself at the dawn of his journey. Nevertheless, armed with a clear vision and unwavering determination, he propels forward on the path of capturing his dreams with unbridled enthusiasm.
🔹 Find out more about the ELEVATE Youth Board here
🔹 Follow Emmanuel on Instagram here
🔹 Read StoryBook here

6 snips
Mar 27, 2024 • 1h 13min
E45: How Might We Create a Just Climate Transition? w/Jacob Heitland
Jacob Heitland, Director of Climate Action at Newham Council, champions equitable futures for both people and the planet. He discusses the crucial link between climate action and social justice, stressing the need for inclusive approaches that uplift marginalized communities. Jacob critiques the individualistic narrative of environmentalism and advocates for community engagement. He also highlights the significance of trust and collaboration in climate initiatives, as well as the importance of adapting to change while fostering hope for future generations.