Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd

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What's Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd about?

A podcast about ideas. Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, and Sony Award-winning radio host Geoff Lloyd talk to smart thinkers from around the world.

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187. RETHINKING INFRASTRUCT...

04.18.2021

Hello! President Biden sparked a major debate when he described spending on social care and childcare as an investment in infrastructure. We’re exploring why the question of what counts as ‘infrastructure’ really matters. US policy expert Julie Kashen talks us ...

Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd episodes:

04.18.2021 187. RETHINKING INFRASTRUCTURE: the case for social investment Hello! President Biden sparked a major debate when he described spending on social care and childcare as an investment in infrastructure. We’re exploring why the question of what counts as ‘infrastructure’ really matters. US policy expert Julie Kashen talks us ...
04.12.2021 186. LEARNING FROM THE WORLD’S HAPPIEST COUNTRY: Reasons to be Finnish Hello! Finland has just been named the world’s happiest country for the fourth year running. To celebrate, we’re going on a virtual Nordic trip to explore the secrets behind their success. We ask Finnish journalist Anu Partanen and authors of ...
04.04.2021 185. WHAT'S THE GIG IDEA?: fair work in the platform economy Hello! In February the Supreme Court ruled against Uber in a major case on the rights of its drivers. Could it prompt a shift in working conditions in the gig economy? Former Uber driver and co-claimant in the recent case ...
03.28.2021 184. REASONS TO BE PLAYFUL: protecting children’s right to play Hello! The ‘right to play’ is recognised by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. How can we make sure all children have the time and space to play? Aled Hanson tells us about his experience of working ...
03.26.2021 183 and a half. Michael Rosen on his recovery from Covid Bonus episode: Our extended conversation with poet and children's author Michael Rosen about his new book 'Many Different Kinds of Love'. We talk about Michael's experience with Covid and why he decided to write about it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy ...
03.22.2021 183. MEETING THE JOE-MENT: could the Biden presidency be transformational? Hello! President Biden’s Covid relief package has been described as the most progressive piece of US legislation in the US for decades. Does it mark the start of a transformational presidency? We speak to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro about the historic ...
03.15.2021 182. OFFICE POLITICS: the future of the workplace Hello! Is remote working here to stay? How do we deal with the new inequalities that creates? Friend of the pod & home working guru Nick Bloom talks us through his research on the future of workplaces. Claire McCartney from ...
03.08.2021 181. PARKS AND REC: green space for all Hello! Parks and green spaces have been more important than ever over the last year but there are deep inequalities in who has access to them. We’re asking why that is and what we can do about it. Kate Ashbrook ...
03.01.2021 180. A NEW BEVERIDGE REPORT: remaking the welfare state Hello! In 1942 William Beveridge published the report that shaped Britain’s welfare state. We’re asking what lessons it offers us nearly 80 years on. Journalist Nicholas Timmins talks us through the history of the original report then LSE’s Tania Burchardt ...
02.26.2021 179 and a half. OUT OF THE ORDINARY: Marc Stears on the politics of everyday life Bonus episode here! It’s our full conversation with Marc Stears about his new book, ‘Out of Ordinary’. We chat about the 1945 government, the dilemmas of big change and how politics can reflect our everyday lives. See acast.com/privacy for privacy ...
02.22.2021 179. GENERATION RENTIER: fixing a broken economic model Hello! What happens when an economy rewards owning things rather than doing things? Author Brett Christophers argues it’s a recipe for soaring inequality and economic stagnation. We chat to Brett about Britain’s “rentier economy” and what to do about it. ...
02.15.2021 178. YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD: a lifelong learning revolution Hello! What happened to the UK’s thriving tradition of adult education? How can we rebuild it for the 21st century? Union learning rep Sue Mann tells us about her experience and the importance of having opportunities to learn throughout life. ...
02.08.2021 177. PB OR NOT PB: participatory budgeting to give citizens control Hello! We're talking about a BIG idea that's transforming how towns, cities and even schools are run across the world. It's called participatory budgeting (PB) and involves letting citizens decide how public money is spent. We ask Shari Davis what ...
02.05.2021 176 and a half. BONUS EPISODE - THE MEN WHO STARE AT OATS: Encouraging middle-aged men to adopt a more climate-friendly, plant-based diet. In partnership with Oatly, Geoff and guest co-host Matt Forde dig into how what we eat and drink impacts the environment. Toni Vernelli from Veganuary sets out the link between our diet and the climate crisis, nursery owner Claire Taylor ...
02.01.2021 176. WHO BUILDS WINDMILLS OFF THE SEA SHORE: lessons from Denmark on offshore wind Hello! We lead the world on offshore wind power, but not on offshore wind jobs. How can we make sure the green transition delivers good quality work in the UK? Union organiser Hazel Nolan explains the risks of getting things ...
01.25.2021 175. LIVE LONG AND PROSPER: learning from the world’s longevity hotspots Hello! ‘Blue Zones’ are parts of the world where people live much longer and healthier than average. What’s their secret? We ask journalist Dan Buettner, who came up with the idea after researching longevity hotspots across the globe. Thea Parikos ...
01.18.2021 174. ACCOUNT(ABILITY) SUSPENDED: who governs online speech? Hello! With President Trump now banned from many of the world’s largest tech platforms, we’re exploring who should decide what is acceptable online speech. Do tech CEOs have too much power over the public conversation? Yaël Eisenstat explains how her ...
01.11.2021 173. TIME CONTROL: a flexible working future Hello! In the last year we've seen huge, unplanned changes in how lots of people go about their jobs. We’re asking what it means for the future of flexible working. Jane Van Zyl from Working Families talks about how to ...
01.04.2021 172. BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND: Dale Vince on green energy, vegan football & sky diamonds Happy New Year! This week we're talking to green energy supremo and founder of Ecotricity, Dale Vince. Dale chats about his extraordinary journey from a single wind turbine in Stroud to building the world’s first vegan football club. AND his ...
12.28.2020 171. THE REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL 2020 CHART SHOW Hello! It’s the end of December, which can only mean one thing: time to unveil our favourite episodes of the year. We’ve listened back, tallied up the scores and meticulously whittled it down to the top 10. What’s made it ...
12.21.2020 170. WE WISH YOU A-M-A* CHRISTMAS (*Ask Me Anything with Ed and Geoff) Hello! We've got the mince pies out and put our Christmas jumpers on for our first ever AMA (Ask Me Anything). We answer your questions on everything from Christmas dinner to how we first met. And Geoff finally reveals the ...
12.14.2020 169. WESTMINSTER DOESN’T KNOW BEST: time to give power away Hello! We’re asking the big questions about where power lies in Britain. Why is government so centralised? Why are we so regionally unequal? Are the two linked? Local government guru Tony Travers talks us through the history. Then Sarah Longlands ...
12.07.2020 168. BEYOND THE LEAN MEAN GOVERNING MACHINE: reimagining the state Hello! This week we’re talking about rethinking the role of the state. How can we shift power to both frontline workers and citizens? Sue Goss explains why we should ditch the machine metaphors and think about government as a gardener. ...
11.30.2020 167. YOU’VE BEEN FRAMED: shaping the political conversation Hello! We all love a good story. This week we’re talking about ‘framing’ - how the stories and metaphors we use shape how people understand politics, the economy and our society. Framing experts Dora Meade and Nicky Hawkins discuss what ...
11.23.2020 166. TO B(CORP) OR NOT TO B: a different way of doing business Hello! A growing movement of businesses argues we need to rethink their role in society. At the forefront of this are BCorps - a new type of business putting purpose alongside profit. We chat to Paul Lindley, founder of Ella’s ...
11.16.2020 165. SHAKE IT LIKE A POLARISED PICTURE: bridging political divides Hello! We hear a lot about political polarisation, but is it actually worse than the past? And what can we do about it? Journalist Monica Guzman talks about bridging divides in her own family and her work with Braver Angels ...
11.09.2020 164. DUMP DONALD, SAVE THE WORLD: the road to COP26 Hello! Biden’s victory is a huge moment for climate politics. But with just 12 months until COP26 in Glasgow next year, we’re asking how to ensure the vital climate summit is a success. We chat to architect of the Paris ...
11.02.2020 163. DATA, MINE: taking back control from Big Tech Hello! We hear a lot about the problems of the data economy. How can we take back control? Philosopher Carissa Veliz explains why governments need to step in to protect our privacy. Then Jack Hardinges from the Open Data Institute ...
10.26.2020 162. HOW MOVEMENTS CHANGE THE WORLD Hello! This year’s Black Lives Matter protests are thought to be the biggest in US history and across the world mass movements are on the rise. But how do these movements shift the national conversation? What works in driving political ...
10.18.2020 161. SWEET STREAMS AREN’T MADE OF THIS: what about the musicians? Hello! Music streaming has made it easier than ever to listen to our favourite artists, but too many musicians earn next to nothing from it. We chat to Naomi Pohl from the Musicians’ Union and Tom Gray from the Broken ...
10.11.2020 160. SQUAD SAVE AMERICA: from Ilhan Omar to the Sunrise Movement Hello! This week we have two VERY inspiring conversations about US politics. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar - one of the ‘squad’ of young progressive Democrats - talks about her life, her politics and how she approaches the crises facing America today. ...
10.04.2020 159. CTRL ALT-LABOUR: organising in the modern workplace Hello! What’s the future of workplace organising? This week’s guests are full of ideas. Alex Marshall talks about organising couriers in the gig economy. Michelle Miller explains how Coworker is providing a platform for workers in the US. And New ...
09.27.2020 158. THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL: the dark side of meritocracy Hello! We often hear about the idea of meritocracy. But philosopher Michael Sandel thinks it isn’t such a good thing. His new book ’The Tyranny of Merit’ argues the rhetoric of meritocracy is fuelling polarisation and the rise of far ...
09.20.2020 157. WHY DID IT TAKE A PANDEMIC?: valuing the everyday economy Hello! How can we ensure essential workers are at the heart of policymaking? Here’s an idea that could change our way of doing things: it’s called the everyday or foundational economy. Care assistant Chika and GMB social care lead Kelly ...
09.13.2020 156. BOND BABY BOND: guaranteeing an inheritance for all Hello! What if everyone was given a bit of wealth as they hit adulthood? That’s the idea behind Child Trust Funds - established back in the 2000s and coming to fruition for the first cohort of 18 year olds this ...
09.06.2020 155. WHO RUN THE WORLD: Julia Gillard on women in politics Hello! We're back with a bang from our summer hols. Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard joins us from down under to chat about women in politics. She's co-written a fab new book looking at the experiences of women politicians ...
08.30.2020 154. LIVING BETTER: a conversation with Alastair Campbell Hello! In our latest extended chat we’re speaking to Alastair Campbell about his new book ‘Living Better’. Alastair talks about his experience of depression, the impact it has had on his life and work, and how he has learned to ...
08.23.2020 153. MY NAME IS WHY: a conversation with Lemn Sissay Hello! Another summer conversation for you. It’s our extended chat with poet and writer Lemn Sissay about 'My Name is Why' - his powerful memoir about growing up in the care system. Lemn talks about his 30 year battle to ...
08.16.2020 152. ABOLISH SILICON VALLEY: a conversation with Wendy Liu Hello! Here’s the second of our summer conversations. We speak to former tech insider turned critic Wendy Liu about her new book, Abolish Silicon Valley. Wendy chats about failing in love with tech as a teenager, her experience in the ...
08.09.2020 151. SEX, POWER, MONEY: a conversation with Sara Pascoe Hello! We’re doing something a bit different over the next few weeks and giving you extended conversations with some fab guests. This week: comedian and writer Sara Pascoe on her book Sex, Power, Money. Sara chats about the complexity around ...
08.02.2020 150. 150 NOT OUT: so what have we learned? Hello! We’ve done it! Reasons to be Cheerful has hit the big the 1-5-0. Reunited at a safe distance in Ed’s garden, we thought it was time for a bit of self-indulgence… We chat about what we’ve learned, pick out ...
07.26.2020 149. WE BUILT THIS CITY ON BIKES AND STROLLS Hello! In the last few months towns and cities around the world have experimented with closing roads, expanding pavements and pop-up cycle lanes. Does this offer a vision of a better way of using space on our streets? Greater Manchester ...
07.19.2020 148. CUTTING ZUCK’S BUCKS: can an ad boycott change Facebook? Hello! It’s a story that brings together Mark Zuckerberg, Nick Clegg and the biggest civil rights groups in the US... This week we’re talking about the incredible success of the Stop Hate for Profit Facebook ad boycott. Jessica González, one ...
07.12.2020 147. CHILDCARE MATTERS: learning lessons from lockdown Hello! In recent months, many working parents have had to juggle looking after kids at home with their usual jobs. Research shows this has had a disproportionate impact on working mothers. We talk to researcher Christine Berry and Lucie Stephens ...
07.05.2020 146. NO ONE SHOULD GO HUNGRY: tackling the scandal of food poverty Hello! Even before lockdown began, millions of people in the UK regularly struggled to afford to eat and the current crisis has only made this worse. This week we're talking about Britain’s hunger problem. Food bank manager Jon Taylor explains ...
06.28.2020 145. THE SHOW MUST GO ON: why we need to save the arts Hello! With 70% British theatres on the brink of collapse and hundreds of thousands of arts jobs at risk, we’re talking about the need to save our arts and culture sector. Playwright James Graham sets out the threat to theatres ...
06.21.2020 144. WE ARE OUR HISTORY: time to understand our past Hello! The recent Black Lives Matter protests have led to renewed calls to rethink our understanding of British history. We’re talking about how to address the widespread lack of knowledge of black British history, as well as how the legacies ...
06.14.2020 143. NO WORKER LEFT BEHIND: planning a just transition Hello! How can we support workers in high carbon sectors as we transition to a net zero economy? Phil Asquith tells us about the legendary Lucas Plan in the 1970s, when Phil and his colleagues came up with alternative ideas ...
06.07.2020 142. BLACK LIVES MATTER After George Floyd's murder, Black Lives Matter protests are again taking place around the world against police violence and systemic racism. We're asking what we can all do to make this a moment of real change. Barrister and former Deputy ...
06.04.2020 141 and a half. ORDER ORDER: in conversation with John Bercow Bonus episode here! It’s a longer conversation with former Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow. We chat to John about life as Speaker, the evolution of his politics & what he’s planning to do next. See acast.com/privacy for ...

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