The 286 Project

Birth rates are declining, ageing populations around the world are increasing and currently, this shows no signs of stopping. 

One of the world's pre-eminent demographers', Dr Paul Morland has written extensively on this subject, including three books and for various publications. 

We discuss the reasons behind population decline, whether immigration policies can make a difference in a country's demographic decline, how different governments are dealing with this issue, the impact of religion and culture on birthrates, how low birthrates affect a country's economy and the steps required to reverse the world's demographic decline.


On a sidenote, it would really be appreciated if you could subscribe to the channel, as the more the channel grows, the more it can be developed. 


Paul's website: https://www.paulmorland.co.uk/ 

Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 

About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport, and anything else we can think of.

In his new book Death of a Boxer, Pete Carvill explores the psychology of those who choose to fight and what draws them towards this most dangerous of pursuits. 

We discuss the story of Mike Towell, why people choose to box and what boxing does for them.

On a sidenote, it would really be appreciated if you could subscribe to the channel, as the more the channel grows, the more it can be developed.


Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 

About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport, and anything else we can think of.

This episode features our first returning guest, George TheTinMen. 

With nuance and articulate discussion, we discuss many issues concerning men - from whether men's mental health is taken seriously, to men having their own spaces and how men are treated in family court. 


On a sidenote, it would really be appreciated if you could subscribe to the channel, as the more the channel grows, the more it can be developed.


Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 

About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport, and anything else we can think of.

Neil Davenport is a sociology teacher and critic who has recently written a letter of liberty for the Academy of Ideas in the UK, defending pubs and the pub trade. 

I spoke to him about how the purpose of pubs has historically been more than just serving alcoholic beverages - from plotting working-class political movements to becoming a stage for artistic performances and hosting essential meetings.

We also discuss why the number of pubs has dwindled since the late 1950s and what he thinks the future of the pub trade will be in the next few years. 

On a sidenote, it would really be appreciated if you could subscribe to the channel, as the more the channel grows, the more it can be developed.


Neil's Letter of Liberty: https://academyofideas.org.uk/letters-on-liberty-pubs-defending-the-free-house/


Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 

About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport, and anything else we can think of.

From Somebody Up There Likes Me to Rocky series to Raging Bull, cinema has long been fascinated with boxing - both the boxers themselves and the characters that make up the sport.

I spoke to writer and author David Curcio about his latest book Race, Crime and Culture in Boxing Films, which looks at a selection of boxing films over the last century. We discuss his favourite films and how the way cinema has depicted boxing has changed over the years.


David's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smash-Hit-Crime-Culture-Boxing/dp/1956450815/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SWDXQXTM210U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eQ3UzIeidV6Q4F9Lvxiw65p9VUM8dPBvK2DhFLTsXxmvuZh6ikm9DnOtl8shd0xqnm3MxpH-9Qo5rtkrHHt63zkPNrDlD60PLP2EtMHhysn3URcOs62tuNLiMq4K7tcJR8OKkz7zM78W1IL8fCmvT4-a0x9Bw8hCnqcNKQzsy1IAxHGFDC7fSyieZXYAtKUnr87-aAvHqPRHZ1OK72Tqy7EANAZCTR9com4Ujvr4s1M.JM1jjaxD9jZUnYZBBvrWG1O_CxCd9C4k5ycLbj1eRH0&dib_tag=se&keywords=david+curcio&qid=1713717821&s=books&sprefix=david+curcio%2Cstripbooks%2C73&sr=1-1 


Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 

About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport, and anything else we can think of.

Claire Fox is a writer and journalist who in 2020 was invited to sit in the House of Lords as a non-affiliated life peer. She is also the director and founder of the think tank the Academy of Ideas, as well as the Battle of Ideas. 

I spoke to her about the House Of Lords, free speech, the Battle of Ideas and Scotland's hate crime law. 


Academy of Ideas' website: https://academyofideas.org.uk/
Battle of Ideas' website: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/


Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 

About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport, and anything else we can think of.

It is often said that the arts have been 'captured' or that the showcasing of art has elements of being 'woke'. Yet it is not just on stage, screen, in a museum or gallery where the nature of the arts has had a big impact. The administrative side of art and the awarding of grants and bursaries has also gone through profound change over the last few years. 

I spoke to Denise Fahmy who for 15 years, worked for Arts Council England as a Relationship Manager in the North of England. In June last year, an Employment Tribunal found that Denise’s claim of harassment, that she’d experienced at work relating to the protected characteristic of her gender-critical belief, was well-founded. 

Denise discusses this in more depth, plus we talk about how the arts, both in the performance and administrative side, have changed.


Freedom in the Arts' website: https://www.freedominthearts.com/


Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 
About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport....and anything else we can think of.

This year's African Cup of Nations was one of the most interesting football tournaments for many years. From Uganda's lost generation of players in the 1990s to Cameroon's emergence as a force in the African game a few years earlier, the African Cup of Nations has always been a compelling continental tournament. 

I spoke to Ben Jackson about his book, which looks back at the history and wonder of this tournament.


Ben's book: https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/africa-cup-nations


Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 
About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport....and anything else we can think of.

Gary Turner is a 10-time world champion, as well as winning countless European and domestic titles across a wide range of martial arts styles. 

He is also a PhD researcher, looking into traumatic brain injury in combat sports. I spoke to him about how he came to reconcile competing in combat sports with the brain injury that those sports can cause and why he decided to research this area. 



Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project 
About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport....and anything else we can think of.

Lee Spencer is a former Royal Marine who after coming through three tours of Afghanistan, lost his right leg and nearly his life due to an accident on the motorway.

I spoke to him about overcoming adversity and the challenges he has set for himself and overcome.

Lee Spencer's website: https://leespencer.co.uk/about-lee/

Find The 286 Project on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/the286project
About The 286 Project: A podcast talking about art, politics, culture, sport....and anything else we can think of.