What happens when the people who are supposed to stop and help… don’t?

After being hit by a car at 60km/h while riding his bike, Tom found himself in a situation where he needed help from the people around him. Yet, the witness didn’t stop. Despite this, his positive view of society and the world more broadly wasn’t shaken, and he chooses to view those involved with sympathy and understanding.

In this episode, we talk about what happened, how Tom processed the experience, and why he believes that understanding people and their circumstances is more powerful than judging them.

It’s a conversation about empathy, human behaviour and community — and a reminder that even when people don’t always show up for us, there’s still plenty of good in the world.

What if social media was actually designed to help you make friends?

In this episode, I sit down with the founders of Be Social, an app taking a different approach to social media — one focused on real connection, meeting new people and building genuine friendships.

We chat about why so many of us can have hundreds of followers but still feel lonely, what traditional social media gets wrong about human connection, and how technology could actually help bring people together rather than pull them apart.

Maybe the future of social media isn’t about getting more followers — maybe it’s about getting to know the people around you.

How much are our morals really worth?

We live in a world where money is often treated as the ultimate measure of success — but what happens when making more money comes at the expense of doing what we believe is right?

In this episode, we dive into the uncomfortable tension between money and morality. Why do we value financial success so highly? Would we compromise our principles for the right price? And can you actually live a meaningful life without playing by the rules of a money-driven society?

A conversation about wealth, ambition, ethics, success, and the things we’re willing to sacrifice along the way.

If you had to choose between doing what’s right and making more money… what would you choose?

More matches than ever before, so why are we so lonely?

Dating apps have given us endless options, social media keeps us constantly connected, and yet somehow, loneliness among young people continues to grow.

So what’s going on?

In this episode of My Friend Ron, we explore the strange paradox of modern dating: how can a culture built around connection leave so many of us feeling disconnected?

We unpack dating apps, endless choice, high expectations, commitment, rejection, situationships, and the way modern dating may have changed how we view both ourselves and other people.

Are our dating attitudes making it harder to form meaningful relationships? Have we become too focused on finding the right person rather than building genuine connection? Or is dating simply reflecting a much bigger loneliness problem in society?

Hosted with the incredibly fun and insightful Chioma Agbarakwe.

I started My Friend Ron with one simple idea: that maybe we can only tackle the loneliness epidemic if we understand what's causing it.

But after a whole season of conversations about loneliness, community, culture, relationships, courage and the experiences that shape us, I’ve realised I’ve learned far more than I ever expected.

In this season finale, I’m reflecting on the biggest lessons I’ve taken away from the people I’ve met, the conversations we’ve had, and what it’s taught me about connection, judgement and what it really means to build community.

Because sometimes even the people we think we understand have so much more they can teach us if we just ask the question.

What does your smile say about the world around you?

In this episode, we sit down with Kaseer Shikrani, the man behind Salam Smiles, a not-for-profit working to improve oral health within Muslim communities.

But this conversation goes beyond teeth. We talk about what motivates someone to start an NFP, what it takes to turn an idea into meaningful change, and why looking after a community can be one of the most powerful forms of connection.

We explore the inequalities that can shape something as fundamental as access to dental care, the unique challenges faced by Muslim communities, and what drives people to step up when they see a problem that needs solving.

Because My Friend Ron is all about understanding the things that bring people together — and sometimes, building a stronger community starts with something as simple as helping someone smile.

Is art still relevant or are we wasting our time?

In this episode, we explore what art really is, why humans have always created it, and whether AI changes its value. Is the purpose of art the finished product, or is it the process of creating? Can something generated by an algorithm move us in the same way as something born from human experience?

More importantly, we ask what role creativity plays in human connection. In a world becoming increasingly automated, could creating art—whether it's painting, writing, music, photography, or something else—be one of the ways we build empathy, express ourselves, and connect with others?

This isn't an episode about whether AI is good or bad. It's a conversation about what makes us human, why creativity matters, and why art may become even more important as technology continues to advance.

Hosted with the exceedingly talented artist and founder of Art Nest art club, Molly Lynch.

On the surface, some people seem completely calm. They're composed, grounded, and rarely show signs of stress. But what if that isn't the whole story?

In this episode, we're joined by the calmest person I've ever met, Talha Salahuddin, to unpack the many faces of anxiety. We explore the different ways anxiety can show up, why it's often invisible to the people around us, and how it can affect our relationships, work, and ability to connect with the broader community. We also discuss practical strategies for managing anxiety, supporting others, and challenging the assumptions we make about who does—and doesn't—struggle with it.

Whether you've experienced anxiety yourself or want to better understand someone who has, this conversation is a reminder that you can never truly know what someone is carrying beneath the surface.

As always, My Friend Ron is about building stronger communities and fighting the loneliness epidemic, one conversation at a time.

How do we seize the day and achieve our goals even when the process is uncomfortable?

In this episode, we explore the power of mental fortitude through the experiences of marathon runner and world traveller, Bonnie Burgess. Together, we unpack what resilience looks like in the face of both physical and mental challenges, how to keep moving when every part of you wants to quit, and the incredible places life can take you when you're willing to push beyond your perceived limits.

But resilience isn't just about enduring hardship—it's also about having the courage to connect with others. Bonnie shares how travelling with an open mind, saying yes to new experiences, and embracing discomfort has led to genuine friendships and unforgettable encounters with people from all walks of life. In a time when loneliness is becoming increasingly common, we discuss how curiosity can replace judgment, and how stepping outside your comfort zone is often the first step towards finding community.

Whether you're chasing an ambitious goal, navigating uncertainty, or looking to build deeper connections, this conversation is a reminder that growth—and belonging—often begin where comfort ends.

Talking to new people can feel awkward, intimidating, or downright impossible but it doesn't have to be. In this episode of My Friend Ron, we break down and analyse the art of conversation with the bright, bubbly and utterly articulate real estate agent Eleanor Currie.

Whether you're trying to make new friends, expand your social circle, or simply feel more confident speaking to strangers, you'll learn how to start conversations naturally, keep them flowing, avoid common mistakes, and leave people wanting to talk to you again.

If building stronger communities starts with stronger connections, this episode will give you the tools to take that first step, one conversation at a time.