In this episode, Matthew talks to Professor Dick Hobbs. Dick entered academic work late having worked as an office boy, labourer, dustman and schoolteacher. He trained as a sociologist at the LSE and the University of Surrey before working at the Universities of Oxford and Durham, where he held Chairs in both Sociology and Law. Dick is an urban ethnographer specialising in the sociology of London, organised and professional crime, the night-time economy, violence, drug markets and research methodology. Dick talks about his new book 'The Business' which is released on 22nd July - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-business/dick-hobbs/9781789464146

In this episode, Matthew talks to Alicia Denby, Alicia is a Sociologist and PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University, specialising in the research fields of intimacy, gender, modern dating practices and singlehood. Her current research looks at Love Island and its portrayal of gender and some of the problematic themes that arise in the show.
You can read more about Alicia's research here - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2021.641216/full

In this episode, Matthew talks to Dr Paul O' Connor. Paul is a Lecturer in Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Exeter, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Sociology at Lingnan University. His research is focussed on religion, ethnicity, and the sociology of skateboarding. He received his PhD from the University of Queensland and has lived and taught in Hong Kong and Prague.

He is author of the book ‘Islam in Hong Kong’ (2102) and ‘Skateboarding and Religion’ (2020). His research on skateboarding has looked at helmet use, network capital, secular pilgrimage, middle aged skateboarders, the hybridity of skateparks, and women skateboarders in Hong Kong.

You can find out more about Paul and his work below -

Email - [email protected]

Blog - https://everydayhybridity.tumblr.com/

Skateboarding and Religion Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skateboardingreligion/

Uni Profile - https://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/sociology/staff/poconnor/

The Book - https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030248567

Free article on the topic - http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2019/12/18/can-skateboarding-religion-sociological-perspective/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/peejayohhsee

In this episode, a group of lower 6th form Sociology students from Cokethorpe school in Oxfordshire debate whether social class, gender or ethnicity cause the largest inequalities. Many thanks to Sophia May, Caitlyn Alford, Lily Todeschini, Issy Stagg, Annabelle Vallance, Edith Wannell, Heidi Robertson and to their teacher, Louise Bowden for submitting the entry.

If you would like to send an entry for the show then please email [email protected]

In this episode, Matthew talks to Dr William Kerr from The university of Derby. Will is a lecturer in Sociology and Criminology and specialises in nationalism, social evolutionary theories, social theory and social change. Will talks about how his research applies Darwinian concepts towards understanding cultural, social and institutional change. The discussion also considers the difference between nationalism and patriotism.

In this episode, Matthew talks to the journalist, writer, broadcaster and researcher - Julie Bindel. Julie writes regularly for The Guardian newspaper, the New Statesman, The Sunday Telegraph and Standpoint magazines, and appears regularly on the BBC and Sky News. Julie's focus in on issues such as rape, domestic violence, sexually motivated murder, prostitution and stalking. In this episode, Julie talks about two of her publications in the form of 'The pimping of prostitution' and her upcoming book 'Feminism for women'.

You can follow Julie on twitter here - https://twitter.com/bindelj

Or read more on her website here - https://www.thejuliebindel.com/

If you are interested then please do get in touch on: The [email protected]

In this episode, Matthew talks to Dr Simone Kolysh. Dr Kolysh's research looks at Sex & Gender, Sexualities, Race & Ethnicity, and Urban Sociology. Dr Kolysh is past chair of the Sociologists’ LGBTQ Caucus, member of the Sociologists for Trans Justice, and chair of the Committee on Gender Equity for the Eastern Sociological Society. In this episode, Dr Kolysh discusses the issue of catcalling in their book - Everyday Violence: The Public Harassment of Women and LGBTQ People.

To learn more you can visit - https://www.simonekolysh.com/

In this student takeover episode, Abby Reyes discusses - Is meritocracy a flawed and harmful ideal? Abby has just completed her A-levels at Sydenham School and is going on to study Sociology at university. You can also follow Abby's Sociology blog here - https://sociologywithabby.blogspot.com/

In this episode, Matthew talks to Dr Gemma Ahearne - an educator in Criminology at the University of Liverpool. Gemma values lived experience and different ways of producing knowledge. Gemma is an active researcher and teacher who has almost 20 year experience of the sex industry. You can contact Gemma on her blog, via her staff profile here -

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/sociology-social-policy-and-criminology/staff/gemma-ahearne/ via

Or on twitter here - @princessjack