The notion of self-conscious multiculturalism is not new. In the early 20th century, America declared itself proudly as a "melting pot" although the powerful in that country seemed to decide that its certain communities should be excluded. Multiculturalism: should we think melting pot or mixed salad? David Perry talks to Ed Kessler and Tariq Modood to test the waters... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

No doubt the police have a difficult job and they come under fire from many directions. How well are they doing? Do they still have our consent, do they have legitimacy? Ian Blair and Miriam Shovel join Ed Kessler to discuss policing and the community... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

The audible booing of football fans when players "take the knee" cannot be ignored. Does it bode well for Euro 2021? And what is the impact of increasing cultural, ethnic and religious diversity in the sporting arena in general? Alongside Ed Kessler, Faye Curran and Matt Baker step up to the plate to take aim at the topic... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

Rational pessimism would seem to be a sensible attitude to take to life, but it can easily degenerate into negativity, anxiety or even despair. How should we deal with setbacks and pursue mental well-being? Kitty O'Lone and Ruth Adams join Ed Kessler to offer some advice... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

"Group think" implies lazy, complacent decision making. But what about group thinking? That could imply collaboration, people getting together and coming up with a collective idea that's better than the ideas they each started out with. Neil Mercer and Kitty O'Lone join Ed Kessler to group think it through... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

The Turin Shroud, the staff of Moses...why do some believers make pilgrimages to see and touch religious relics? Do these objects have any agency in the real world, or are they frauds? Mohammed Ahmed and Ilaria Bernocchi join Ed Kessler to re-examine relics... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

We speak of natural leaders, inspirational leaders and even born leaders, but figuring out what leadership entails is complicated, even murky. Stephen Toope and Brenda Hale join Ed Kessler to share their thoughts... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

Imagine a world where nothing exists until it interacts with something else; a world of ghost waves and cats that are both asleep and awake. That's the spooky world of quantum, the hundred year old theory that has practical applications in everyday life yet remains an enigma for most of us. Carlo Rovelli and Richard Staley join Ed Kessler to lift the lid on the box with Schrodinger's cat inside... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

The current local and mayoral elections in England are accompanied by parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales at a time when the UK Union is under strain and liberal democracy seems to be on the retreat worldwide. So will potential voters take it all seriously? David Runciman and Catherine Arnold join Ed Kessler to examine how we vote... Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review

It's something that we all experience, but does it ever get easier? What can we learn from failure, and can we turn it into success? What are some examples we can turn to when we need some encouragement? Xiaodong Lin and Neil Thorogood join Ed Kessler to discuss failure. Like this podcast? Please help us by writing a review