Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast

In this series, we explore the best big cities in America for quality of life, not just by income but by real quality indicators of societal wellbeing. Discover which of the biggest cities in the U.S. with a population of more than a million people like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix, offer the best living conditions. 

From safety and education to housing and rights, we rank these cities to help you find your ideal home or next business investment. Tune in to see why Chicago takes the top spot and learn more about the surprising differences between big cities and smaller towns.

Explore the U.S. Social Progress Map and access social progress data for all states, the 500 largest cities and their 32,000 neighborhoods. Register Now: https://www.socialprogress.org/us 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

Michael Green explores the best cities to live in America, focusing on what truly matters: safety, education, healthcare, and social wellbeing. 

Discover the top five cities in the United States, including Folsom, Newton, Centennial, Pleasanton, and San Ramon. Learn why these cities excel in social progress and what makes them stand out. 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

How is Pakistan quietly changing from within? With a population of 250 million and positioned at the crossroads of South Asia and the Middle East, Pakistan's social and economic progress significantly influences regional stability and global growth. 

Host Michael Green sits down with development economist Sheheryar Khan (University of Bari and Researcher at the Social Progress Imperative) to look beyond traditional economic metrics and assess the true state of social progress in Pakistan.  In the interview, we challenge common narratives about Pakistan and share insights into real progress amid adversity. 

Pakistan's current social progress ranking is 142nd out of 171 countries, comparable to Nigeria or Malawi. Its economic resources have yet to fully translate into quality-of-life improvements for its citizens. Over the past 15 years, Pakistan's social progress has grown modestly, about 5 points on the Social Progress Index, but stagnation since 2019 signals ongoing challenges.

Michael and Shahreya discuss: 

• How Pakistan’s diversity, a strength and a challenge, requires innovative approaches for progress to truly take hold.
• The importance of addressing regional disparities between urban centers like Islamabad and rural provinces.
• The gap between basic primary school funding and higher education success.
• Why local community cohesion keeps daily life remarkably safe despite national security reputations.w
• The true state of rights, inclusion and environmental quality in the country. 
• How a special income support program, a massive digitalization push, and a solar energy transition are quietly improving nutrition, basic healthcare, and housing.

While Pakistan's social progress has been uneven and beset by setbacks, it also possesses deep resilience and immense potential. This episode is perfect for policymakers, development enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the stories behind a nation in transition. 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

America's 250-year legacy isn't just about survival, it's about how well it delivers on the promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Shockingly, the U.S. earns a failing grade in these core areas, despite its economic greatness. But what does this mean for America's future, and can it turn things around?

Using the Social Progress Index, Michael Green shares new insights on how America has progressed since 1990 to today. He compares America to similarly income-level countries, including some European ones, to highlight areas where the country is struggling and should be doing better.

Michael analyzes all the details, from education to safety and health, to see why the United States' quality of life has been declining since 2011.

Happy Birthday to the USA! We hope that you continue working to deliver your promise: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for everyone.

Explore the U.S. Social Progress Map covering all 50 states, the largest 500 cities and its 32,000 census tracts. https://www.socialprogress.org/us

Do you prefer to have a broad view of the United States? Navigate the results of the Global Social Progress Index. https://www.socialprogress.org/social-progress-index

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

Why is the history of modern Britain failing our children, and how is that space being exploited by extre()mists?

In Part 2 of this episode of Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast, host Michael green welcomes back Anwar Akhtar, Director of Samosa Media, for a powerful conversation on education, "cultural capital," and the fight against radical narratives on both the left and the right.

Anwar breaks down two massive, yet widely ignored, historical milestones that he believes should be taught in every primary and secondary school. Anwar also tackles the pragmatics of the modern "culture fights," explaining why Samosa Media intentionally campaigns to "diversify" rather than "decolonize" the curriculum to build common dialogue instead of institutional gridlock. Finally, they look at the evolution of British policing and why history remains our strongest immunization against extrem()ism.

Don't miss out on Part One! 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

Can culture and history save us from growing societal divisions?

Michael Green invites Anwar Akhtar in this week's episode. This episode is divided into 2 parts. 

Anwar shares his front-line experiences working with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Britain. From analyzing the impact of global events and the rise of Islam(o)-phobia to exploring the historical ties of trade, empire, and migration that shaped cities like Manchester, this conversation challenges how we view integration today.

We also explore the power of diverse representation in the arts and education. Anwar discusses producing the groundbreaking play Dara for the National Theatre, the first Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu history play on its main stage, and explains why diversifying the school curriculum is vital to preventing the alienation of working-class youth.

Don't miss out on Part 2! 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

Buckle up! This is your social progress guide to the 2026 World Cup! 

In this episode, we take you on a journey starting with a quick-fire quiz on our 2026 host nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Michael Green also tackles the big questions:

• Can winning the World Cup give you a social progress boost? 
• Can social progress help you win the World Cup? 
•  Does an uptick in social progress boost the country's chances of winning the World Cup? 
• Is there a true "social progress dividend" for hosting the tournament? We analyze historical data on host nations from 2002 through 2026.

Plus, our biggest reveal yet! We are officially launching the World Cup Social Progress Tournament, a new interactive tool that lets you assess the quality of life and societal well-being in every competing country. Play along now at: socialprogress.org/worldcup

We also use our new interactive tool to analyze one marquee match from every single group! Tune in to find out who the data picks to win:

• Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa
• Group B: Canada vs. Qatar
• Group C: Brazil vs. Morocco
• Group D: United States vs. Australia
• Group E: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Ecuador
• Group F: Netherlands vs. Japan
• Group G: Egypt vs. Iran
• Group H: Saudi Arabia vs. Spain
• Group I: Norway vs. France
• Group J: Argentina vs. Austria
• Group K: Colombia vs. Uzbekistan
• Group L: England vs. Croatia

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

Some companies overlook the power of community engagement. Here’s how Kinross Gold Corporation transforms its global operations into responsible actions that benefit its people and business. 

In this episode of Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast, our special guest, Dominic Channer (Vice President for Community Relations), shares how the company effectively manages relationships with indigenous and local communities across six vastly different regions, from Morocco’s Sahara Desert to Alaska’s remote wilderness. 

Discover how Kinross builds trust through early engagement, formal agreements, and tailored strategies that protect traditional livelihoods like indigenous hunting and water use, all while navigating cultural and geographical complexities. Host Michael Green, CEO of the Social Progress Imperative, also discusses with Dominic the importance of building local partnerships with governments and communities to advance social progress before, during, and after the project ends, ensuring full sustainability. They also talk about responsible mining and how to build long-term positive impact. 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

Is your country’s education system actually setting the next generation up for success? We use the Global Social Progress Index to conduct a rigorous analysis of the education component across the world.

There might be some expected champions, but we also share the shocking outliers. In this episode, Michael Green covers the global education trend, gives a shout-out to countries doing a great job, and discusses the ultimate cost of exclusion for one particular country. 

Who do you think is the leader in education? 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter! 

There's controversy around Nigeria, but today, we want to give a shoutout to the social issues it is solving. Michael Green helps us analyze how the country is performing in water and sanitation, education, environmental quality, safety and Nutrition and Medical Care. He also highlights the biggest threats to Nigeria's future. 

Which country would you like us to analyze next using the Global Social Progress Index? 

Please follow and rate our show! 

Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/

Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. 

Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! 

Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!