The Convex Conversation

Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies / economist Paul Johnson explores the state of Britain’s economy and explains what’s needed for recovery and vital economic growth.

Paul – who writes a column for The Times newspaper – says the absolute priority is for inflation, currently at a 40-year high, to come down and be under control, and explains how trade-offs are essential.

He's a regular on programmes like Today on BBC Radio 4 and made front page headlines when he predicted Liz Truss’s economic pledges as she fought to become Prime Minister would crash the public finances, which they did in her Autumn mini budget.

Light Artist Chris Levine takes us behind the scenes on his sittings at Buckingham Palace to create the first holographic portraits of The Queen and explains how Her Majesty embraced his innovative and complex techniques.

‘Lightness of Being’ - which captures the Queen with her eyes closed wearing the Diadem she wore to her Coronation – and ‘Equanimity’ hang in London’s National Portrait Gallery.

Meditation informs Chris’s work - the Queen told him gardening at Balmoral was hers. He talks about being the wild card for the shoot; how he was allowed to choose what Her Majesty wore and their private audiences afterwards to look through the work.

He also reveals the Dalai Lama chuckled a lot as he posed for a rare portrait to mark his 80th birthday; recounts talking holograms with David Bowie in a chance conversation as the rock icon left the dry cleaners and hints at an upcoming major light project at Stonehenge.

Hazel Findlay has been climbing for 27 of her 33 years. She tells Helen how tackling the most difficult, vertical, steep rocks is what motivates her most and shares her joy of sleeping in a makeshift hammock hanging from a sheer rock face.

On a recent expedition to Greenland, Hazel made two ‘first ascents’, climbing massive walls that no one has ever conquered, and explains how much harder it is to stay focussed in sub-zero temperatures and snow storms, with painful bare hands and frozen feet.

Inspired by the mental & psychological challenges of her very physical sport, Hazel has set up a coaching business - Strong Mind - to help other athletes overcome their fears and limitations – lessons she says are valuable for life in general.

More people have been to space than have been Yeoman Warders at The Tower of London - a role created by King Henry V11 after the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. 

Former Royal Marine Commando Andy Merry talks about the Yeoman Warders’ role in modern day history, giving us a behind the scenes look at guarding Her Majesty The Queen as she lay in state; their involvement in the proclamation of King Charles 111, and in the upcoming Coronation. 

In our first podcast of 2023, Mindset Coach Kamran Bedi talks about how to deal with the overwhelming feelings many people have as a new year dawns, and how to achieve a positive mindset and live more in the present.

Kamran – author of The Anxiety Antidote & Your Mind is Your Home – tells Helen that now is a good time to take a look at our minds and shares positive tips on how to start.

He also reflects on the struggles he had with his own mental health in his twenties when there wasn’t as much help available and reveals the tools he uses to live a happy, content life.  

Entrepreneur and pioneer Margo Marrone reveals how she grew her business from a shop in London’s Kings Road 20 years ago - at a time when there was a lot of scepticism about ‘organic’ - into a global brand with a presence in more than 40 countries.

Margo – a pharmacist, homeopath, yogi and shaman - has dedicated her life to healing and finding natural ways to promote wellness of the mind, body and skin. 

Her passion started as a young child growing up in Iran, inspired by the vibrant bazaars and remedies her mum and grandmother used. She qualified first as a pharmacist before exploring the world of homeopathy and the science behind a more natural approach.

Sam Zeller shares the story behind lifting the first ever World Cup for Physical Disability Rugby League for England, beating New Zealand 42-10 in a tough game to become champions.

Sam - a 23-year-old claims adjuster at Convex - says the England team's focus is now on getting more exposure for the game to ensure more people are able to play.

The England side is made up of players with cerebral palsy, brain injuries, missing limbs and so on, but Sam - who was born without a right hand - says the split makes the team special. He talks about training under former England full-back Shaun Briscoe, the commitment of Australian comedian/player Adam Hills to the sport and the pride his parents felt watching the game. 

Consultant anaesthetist Dr Manish Raval of Moorfield’s Eye Hospital reflects on 11 years volunteering for Orbis, travelling to places like Peru, Zambia and Mongolia to work on surgeries on board their state-of-the-art Flying Eye Hospital and in the community.

Manish explains that 1.1 billion people have some sight loss yet 90% is avoidable. Orbis - a non profit organisation - empowers local medics in developing countries with the skills and resources to fight blindness on their own, teaching surgeries and techniques.

Manish specialises in paediatric anaesthesia and takes us round the world with examples of the charity's work.

In Ethiopia Orbis is heavily involved in eradicating trachoma – a bacterial infection which is the leading preventable cause of blindness. In Bangladesh volunteers teach cataract procedures and in Vietnam, where diabetes is a big problem, diabetic retinopathy surgery.

It’s Friday night at St Columba’s Church in London’s Knightsbridge. Helen joins Haircuts4Homeless founder Stewart Roberts at work and chats to some of those who turn up for a free cut and warm meal.

Stewart started offering homeless people haircuts eight years ago. He now has 600 volunteers who have given more than 40,000 cuts all over the UK and Ireland, and the charity is proud that Game of Thrones star Lena Headey is an ambassador.

Hear Me, See Me - a beautiful book of black and white portraits of Haircuts4Homeless guests shot by Jack Eames – is on sale to help raise funds so the work can continue. Stewart says: “It might be ‘just a haircut’ but it’s the kindness shown that makes a homeless person know people care.”

Portraits by Jack Eames

As COP27 approaches, Callum Roberts - Professor of Marine Conservation at the University of Exeter - talks about the Convex Seascape Survey, an ambitious five-year scientific research programme to fathom out how the ocean could be a vital asset in slowing planetary warming.

The seabed is the ultimate sink for carbon emissions but has been overlooked and undervalued because of insufficient and inconclusive data.

Working with BLUE Marine Foundation, scientists will gather and analyse accurate data to quantify how healthy seascapes thriving with life can absorb carbon, in a project which has never been more critical.