Poverty Unpacked podcast

Reducing child poverty comes down to political will.

In this episode, we hear from Baroness Ruth Lister about why the UK has seen such a dramatic increase in child poverty in the past few decades, how the UK Child Poverty Strategy might help to address it, and what other countries can learn from the UK experience.

Full notes to this episode can be found on poverty-unpacked.org

58. Poverty Unpacked Celebrates - Summer 26 by Poverty Unpacked

Community, not charity.

In this episode, we are joined by Jenny Cornfield from Soul Food Edinburgh to talk about how the provision of free, welcoming and nourishing meals offers community and sense of dignity, but is ultimately a sticking plaster for the structural problems of poverty and homelessness.

Find out more about this episode and all our other episodes on https://poverty-unpacked.org

Celebrating changemakers in poverty!

In the second episode of Poverty Unpacked Celebrates, we celebrate the Equals platform, the Taxpayers Against Poverty coalition, the book Impoverished by Joanna Mack, the Common Ground Naturing Writing Prize, and the event 'Algorithms and Empathy'.

Links to all celebrations on https://poverty-unpacked.org

Fragmented, charity-dependent and increasingly more restrictive - this is the US welfare system.

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In this episode, social scientist Beth DaPonte gives an overview of social security in the US, discusses the role of charitable giving to ensure support to those in need, and shares her concerns about old age poverty.

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Find out more about this episode and all other episodes on poverty-unpacked.org

Celebrating changemakers in poverty!

In this first version of Poverty Unpacked Celebrates, we are celebrating changemakers selected for the Big Issue 100 changemakers of 2026, a new immersive event on poverty and an inspiring conversation to mark International Women's Day.

Check out full details - as always - on poverty-unpacked.org

53. Smart welfare policy rooted in humanity - Esmah Lahlah by Poverty Unpacked

Storytelling about poverty, Softening poverty, Strengthening talents and Trust - the ingredients of Quiet's approach to a growing community of people to come together in countering poverty.

Listen to our conversation with Ralf and Marieke from Quiet Netherlands about their unique approach and key ingredients for establishing and growing communities.

Information about this episode on our website https://poverty-unpacked.org

In this episode of Poverty Unpacked chats, hear about new reports on child poverty, how austerity fuelled the far right, how anti-poverty interventions can support agency, and how new housing areas can be made welcome for residents on low incomes.

Links to all reports and pieces can be found in the notes to this episode on https://poverty-unpacked.org

From the glorification of home ownership to the need for collective action to tackle a collective problem, in this episode we are joined by Cody Hochstenbach to discuss the housing crisis for people on low income in the Netherlands and how to tackle it.

Find more information poverty-unpacked.org, episode 50.