Hello! A bonus Cheerful Book Club episode coming at you this week direct from Geoff’s loft. We’re talking to bestselling author Anand Giridharadas about his new book The Persuaders: Winning Hearts and Minds in a Divided Age. 

Progressive movements need to persuade, not simply preach, he says. But what does that look like if it is not ‘persuasion by dilution’? We talk to Anand about what we can learn from the people who are changing minds and building big coalitions to make progressive movements around the world more successful.

Buy Anand’s book

Sign up for his newsletter The.Ink

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Hello! This week we interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to throw you a bit of an RTBC curveball. Not only are Ed and Geoff venturing gingerly into the world of sport, but they're talking about the fastest-growing game in the US, which is now gaining popularity closer to home: pickleball! We talk to hall-of-famer Jennifer Lucore about the history of the sport and to coach Louise Stephens about its future here in the UK. We also chat to players Jessie Danger and Sam Basford about their pickleball careers to date. But will Ed and Geoff agree to get on the court? And what the heck is 'dinking'? 

Plus: Find out what happened when I’m a Celebrity came calling for Ed...and a special preview of a bonus RTBC episode being released later this week.

More info

Find out more information including where your local courts are on Pickleball England

Learn more about the sport in America at USA Pickleball

Read Jennifer's blog

Learn the rules of pickleball 

Guests

Jennifer Lucore, Professional Pickleball Player and Ambassador, Author of the book ‘History of Pickleball’ (Instagram: @jenniferlucore)

Louise Stephens, Coach and Pickleball England Volunteer of the Year (Instagram: @englandpickleball)

Jessie Danger, Top 8 Sponsored Player and Nationals Women’s Doubles Bronze Medallist (Instagram: @jessieedanger)

Sam Basford, Regional Director for Pickleball England and Master Teaching Professional (Instagram: @sambasford.pb)

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Hello! This week we're treating you to a new author episode: a fascinating conversation with Nicola Rollock, Professor of Race and Social Policy at King's College London. Nicola's new book The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival is all about the implicit rules of race and racism that govern our lives and strengthen the status quo. Geoff sits down for a discussion with Nicola all about how she weaves fiction with academic writing, the illusion that racial injustice has been eliminated, and why we need to change our patterns of thinking about race if anything is going to change for the better. 

Buy The Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival

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Hello! The pranksters at RTBC have got a joke about trickle-down economics.…99% of people won't get it...

This week as Liz Truss prepares to exit we’re talking about the economic philosophy that characterised her reign: supply-side or trickle-down economics—and its alternative: so-called middle-out economics.The latter is the idea that investing in the broad middle to help people become more secure and prosperous can lead to more economic growth. But is it really that simple? 

We talk to Professor Sue Himmelweit about the origins of trickle-down, to Nick Hanauer, one of the inventors of the term middle-out, and to Juha Leppänen about Finland's model of economic success.

Plus: Ed reflects on whether the frack got Liz the sack.

Fancy sending in a new theme tune? Email us at [email protected]

Guests

Sue Himmelweit, emeritus professor, the Open University and member, Women's Budget Group (@suehimmelweit)(@womensbudgetgrp)

Nick Hanauer, author, venture capitalist and founder of Civic Ventures (@NickHanauer)

Juha Leppänen, CEO, Demos Helsinki (@juhaleppanen) (@demoshelsinki)

More info

Forget trickle down, what the UK needs is middle-out economics (The Guardian)

A brief history of middle-out economics(Pitchfork Economics)

Is middle-out Biden's new deal(Democracy)

Listen to Nick's weekly podcast, Pitchfork Economics

Read 100 Social Innovations from Finland, Ilkka Taipale

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Hello! After the Second World War, council housing was an important part of the government’s ambitious vision for the welfare state. Over the past 50 years, with a growing emphasis on home ownership, the amount of council housing and its condition has diminished. Where does that leave the state of social housing now? Geoff finds out with architect Peter Barber, who also explains some of the design principles underpinning his award-winning social housing project. We find some reasons to be cheerful with former deputy mayor of Vienna Maria Vassilakou, who tells us how the city has cracked the social housing code. Finally, Martyn Holmes discusses how collaborative or community-led housing could be one solution to the housing crisis.

Plus: Ed has reached new heights of fame as one board game recognises his achievements. Can you guess what it is yet?

Guests

Peter Barber, Director, Peter Barber Architects (@pPeterpeter) (@peterbarber12)

Maria Vassilakou, Former Deputy Mayor of Vienna (Contact Maria through her website: Vienna Solutions)

Martyn Holmes, Founding Member, Bunker Housing Co-operative (@BunkerCoop)

More info

Take a look at some of Peter’s projects on his website

Learn more about the award-winning housing project McGrath Road

Read about Vienna’s model of social housing 

Visit Bunker Housing Cooperative’s Website

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Following Labour’s announcement of a new national wealth fund to invest in green industries, we’re exploring what 'public wealth funds' are and how they offer a way to keep profits in the hands of the people. 

We talk to Professor Karin Thorburn about Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund which has guaranteed that future generations can benefit from its natural resources, even as we transition towards a greener economy. UCL Associate Professor Josh Ryan-Collins makes the wider case for public wealth funds, and how they help governments invest for the future and make sure that returns go back to citizens. Finally, Rayhan Haque from the Community Wealth Fund Alliance tells us how the 40p in your old building society account could be invested in communities for big economic, social and environmental returns.

Plus: Ed is ready to jump into ribbon-cutting action as Britain’s oldest lido is opening to the public! We speak to the team behind the restoration and re-opening of Cleveland Pools, Bath.

Keep submitting your theme music to [email protected]

More info

Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund

UCL IIPP Report on Public Wealth Funds

Learn more about the Community Wealth Fund

Local Trust as a founding member of the Community Wealth Fund Alliance

Read about the Dormant Assets Scheme 

Stay up to date with news on Cleveland Pools’ reopening on their website or sign up to their newsletter

Guests

Karin Thorburn, Professor of Finance, Norwegian School of Economics (@karinsthorburn) (@NHHnor)

Josh Ryan-Collins, Associate Professor in Economics and Finance, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (@jryancollins) (@IIPP_UCL)

Rayhan Haque, Campaigns Manager, Community Wealth Fund Alliance (@RayhanHaqueUK) (@CommWealthFund)

Alice Le Page, Learning and Community Engagement Trustee, Cleveland Pools (@aslepage) (@Clevelandpools)

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Hello! Why is it that women live longer, but spend more of their lives in poor health? We explore why women’s pain is often dismissed and why it can take many years to receive a diagnosis with Dr Larisa Corda. We then delve deep into the history of medical misogyny with Dr Elinor Cleghorn and finally we find some reasons to be cheerful with the creator of podcast series 28-ish days later, India Rakusen.

Plus: We’re joined by TV royalty! Maracas at the ready- Dan McGrath, composer of the Strictly Come Dancing theme music, joins us to talk about how you can create a winning theme for the RTBC refresh.

Submit your contributions here: [email protected]

Guests

Dr Larisa Corda, obstetrician and gynaecologist, fertility expert on This Morning and women’s health activist  (@drlarisacorda)

Dr Elinor Cleghorn, feminist cultural historian and author of Unwell Women: A journey through medicine and myth in a man-made world (@elinorcleghorn)

India Rakusen, journalist, documentary producer and presenter (@IndiaRakusen)

Dan McGrath, music producer (@danthesoundman)

More info

Listen to our episode on health inequalities with Professor Sir Michael Marmot

Read the Women’s Health Strategy

Order Elinor’s book Unwell Women

Listen to India’s podcast 28-ish days later on BBC Sounds

Visit Endometriosis UK for support. Their helpline can be reached on 0808 808 2227

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Hello! It's a big week at Reasons to be Cheerful HQ as we're back in Geoff's loft to record a very special 5th anniversary episode with a very special guest. We're talking to the brilliant and hilarious Guardian columnist Marina Hyde about her way with words, fielding the phones on the Sun's showbiz desk in the 90s and what she thinks about the alternative world of chaos with Ed Miliband. 

In Marina's new book What Just Happened?! Dispatches from Turbulent Times you can relive the bin fire of the last six years with a collection of some of her finest columns. It's out on 6th October.

Plus: Could you be the winner of the Reasons to be Cheerful Song Contest?

Send us your submissions on [email protected]

Pre-order What Just Happened?!

Follow Marina on Twitter

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Hello! This week Geoff's exploring how individuals have taken on the big dogs to seek justice. We talk to three guests who have faced up to their employers, multinational corporations and even governments to challenge unfair treatment and inspire change for the better. But can an eventual victory ever outweigh the personal toll? And how can we make sure justice is accessible to all? 

We talk to Sophia Moreau, who challenged her employer over unequal pay and then led a campaign to end student maternity discrimination. We'll also speak to Jason Evans who is seeking justice for the victims and families of those affected by the contaminated blood scandal in the 1970s and 1980s. And finally we'll be hearing from a law firm that's taken collective action for over 200,000 victims in Brazil affected by the Mariana Dam collapse in 2015. Alicia Alinia will be with us to discuss what a recent legal ruling means for the future of corporate behaviour. 

Guests

Sophia Moreau, Campaigner and Employment Tribunal Mentor, Pregnant then Screwed (@MsSMoreau) (@PregnantScrewed)

Jason Evans, Founder, Factor 8 (@JasonEvansF8) (@Factor8Campaign) and 2021 runner-up Sheila McKechnie Foundation Campaigner Awards

Alicia Alinia, Partner and COO, Pogust Goodhead (@AliciaAlinia)

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Hello! Ed is absent due to the period of national mourning, so Geoff takes the reins with a conversation recorded before last week's news. We talk to three inspiring guests about the commons. But what are the commons, how do they reduce inequality and why can we be optimistic about them today? We speak to Guy Standing, Professorial Research Associate at SOAS and author of the Blue Commons about how reviving the commons is a key component of progressive politics and could reduce social insecurity. We then look at the commons in action with Jenny Barlow, Estate Manger of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, who tells us about how a community buy-out in Scotland will lead to large-scale nature restoration and bring economic opportunities to the community. Finally, Abigail Woodman, Chair of the East London Waterworks Park talks to us about reviving former common land by creating free wild swimming pools for all, and why this has made her feel more hopeful for the future.

Guests

Guy Standing, Professorial Research Associate, SOAS (@SOAS)

Jenny Barlow, Estate Manager, Tarras Valley Nature Reserve (@TarrasValleyNR) (@LangholmOnline)

Abi Woodman, Chair, East London Waterworks Park (@ELWaterworks)

More info

Buy Guy Standing's book The Blue Commons: Rescuing the Economy of the Sea

Find out more about the Langholm Moor Community Buy-out

Find out more about the East London Waterworks Park

Donate to the ELWP Crowdfunder

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