
AntiSocial
Peace talks for the culture wars.
In an era of polarisation, propaganda and pile-ons, AntiSocial offers an alternative: understanding, facts, and respect. Each week, Adam Fleming takes on a topic that's generating conflict on social media, blogs, talk shows and phone-ins and helps you work out what the arguments are really about.
Latest episodes

Mar 3, 2023 • 54min
Body positivity and fat
The word 'fat' has been removed from a new range of Roald Dahl books. It's a sign our conversation about obesity and body image has become increasingly sensitive.Many body positivity activists have reclaimed the word 'fat' while promoting more diversity in the body shapes and sizes we see in our media. But some accuse the movement of denying the health risks associated with being overweight. Is it true we can be healthy at any size? Where did the body positivity movement come from? And should we be worried about the return of size 0 fashion?Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor, Phoebe Keane and Ellie House.
Editor: Emma Rippon

Feb 24, 2023 • 54min
Asylum seekers and the far right
Thousands of asylum seekers are currently housed in hotels around the UK as they wait for their claims to be processed. The government has a huge backlog and are spending millions of pounds a day on the accommodation.Local residents have started to mount protests near the hotels, prompting claims from commentators and counter-protestors that they are 'far right'. What does that term mean? Are these protestors really 'far right'. And to what extent is the extreme right on the rise across the country?Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor, Phoebe Keane, Ellie House and Octavia Woodward.
Editor: Emma Rippon

Feb 17, 2023 • 54min
15-minute Cities and Freedom
How talk of low traffic neighbourhoods and traffic filters became a heated debate about freedom. When Oxfordshire county council announced plans to implement six traffic filters across the city, it caused such controversy that even people in America were posting on social media about the restrictions they might impose. The council said they received death threats due to the misinformation swirling online, often from people outside of Oxford. So why have the discussions online become so heated?

Feb 10, 2023 • 54min
Delilah and cancelling songs
A row over whether it's appropriate for the Tom Jones classic song Delilah to be sung at Welsh Rugby matches because it depicts violence against women. Some claim that domestic violence spikes around rugby matches, making the song even more inappropriate. Others point to the long British and American tradition of songs about murder and question whether a song can provoke domestic abuse. Should we impose modern values on culture from the past? Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor, Phoebe Keane, Ellie House and Octavia Woodward.
Editor: Emma Rippon

Feb 3, 2023 • 54min
Trans women and prisons
The Scottish Prison Service is under fire for sending a trans woman who raped two women to a female prison.That has brought the ongoing battle about whether trans women should be in women's prisons to the top of the social media agenda. Some argue that men's prisons are not safe for trans women. But others say that biological males should never be in women's prisons.Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor, Phoebe Keane and Ellie House
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jan 27, 2023 • 54min
Neurodiversity and autism
What is neurodiversity and how has it changed the way we talk about autism? Is it always helpful for people who are autistic and their families? As video app Tik Tok became more and more popular, so too did the use of #Neurodivergent. Videos using this hashtag have racked up 6.6 billion views. Many people who are autistic use this hashtag when posting positive experiences, to help improve understanding amongst their followers. But some say that social media is fuelling an epidemic of people self-diagnosing and that this is damaging for autistic people. Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor, Phoebe Keane and Ellie House
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jan 20, 2023 • 54min
Brit Awards and gender
The Brit Awards were gender neutral for the second time this year - which meant there was no best male or best female artist award.Over the last week the reaction to the all-male nomination list for Best Artist has been fierce, with many women outraged at the lack of female representation.Is the music industry ready for gender neutrality? Does inclusivity come at the expense of women?Presenter: Victoria Derbyshire
Producers: Lucy Proctor, Phoebe Keane and Ellie House
Editor: Emma Rippon

Jan 13, 2023 • 54min
Harry and Meghan
The revelations in Prince Harry's book Spare have dominated the news and the nation's conversations, with many people taking sides. For some, Harry and Meghan represent a couple who speak their truth and challenge racism, sexism and attitudes towards mental health. For others, they have betrayed their family and are emblematic of a privileged, navel-gazing world view. Why have the Duke and Duchess of Sussex become such symbols?Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Lucy Proctor, Phoebe Keane and Ellie House
Editor: Emma Rippon

Sep 23, 2022 • 54min
Milk and protestors
Direct action against dairies, animal cruelty, and the climate crisis.Animal Rebellion protestors have blockaded dairies, making the case for a “plant-based future”. They say the dairy industry is a key contributor to the climate crisis and is based on cruelty and exploitation. Online, opponents say they want to choose what they eat and that the direct action is counter-productive. Are the claims made by protesters true? And why is milk such a touchy subject in this country?Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Lucy Proctor
Researchers: Ellie House & Octavia Woodward
Production co-ordinator: Jacqui Johnson
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon

Sep 2, 2022 • 54min
'Woke' police
Accusations that the police are spending time dancing the Macarena at Pride parades instead of controlling crime stepped up this week following a report by a think tank. Critics say the police are being political by taking the knee at Black Lives Matter marches and prioritising policing Twitter over policing the streets. Others say community engagement is key and that it’s all about resources. Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Maybin & Lucy Proctor
Researchers: Ellie House & Octavia Woodward
Production co-ordinator: Jacqui Johnson
Music: Oskar Jones
Editor: Emma Rippon