As the US election approaches, MSNBC notes that the question of “what it means to be a man” is now a defining theme. In this episode, Jess Miles and Karen Lee Ashcraft revisit Karen's concept of 'viral masculinity' — a powerful current of aggrieved manhood fuelling far-right ideologies worldwide. 

They explore the manosphere, the online ecosystem where this resentment takes root, analysing how figures like JD Vance and Andrew Tate tap into youthful discontent and guide it toward political extremism. Ashcraft argues that, much like a public health crisis, the rapid spread of aggrieved masculinity affects society at every level, shaping policies, identities and even environmental stances. 

Offering tools for positive change, Karen discusses her concepts of 'lateral empathy' and 'critical feeling' as an alternative approach to defusing the far-right’s emotional momentum.

Karen Lee Ashcraft is Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado Boulder. She grew up in the lap of evangelical populism, and her research examines how gender interacts with race, class, sexuality, and more to shape organizational and cultural politics.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/wronged-and-dangerous

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/10/29/podcast-viral-masculinity-and-the-far-right-karen-lee-ashcraft-on-gender-in-the-us-election/

Timestamps:

01:19 - Why do we need to consider gender when talking about the rise of populism?

08:26 - How do you get from the manosphere to voting and politics?

15:23 - How do you explain female far right leaders like Giorgia Meloni and Marine Le Pen?

22:08 - Why is it important to envision the feeling of aggrieved manhood?

24:14 - Why do you see aggrieved manhood as a public health problem?

35:49 - What's the problem with feeling and emotion being ignored in many contexts?

40:05 - How do individuals like JD Vance represent this viral masculinity?

48:25 - What is lateral empathy, and why is it an important tool?

56:11 - What are you working on now and what are your plans?

Intro music:

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Generosity, rooted in love, courage and equality, shapes the Moomin ethos, underpinning not just the brand, but the business.

In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Paul Savage and Janne Tienari, co-authors of 'Moomin Management: Redefining Generosity', about what business can learn from Tove Jansson's beloved troll creatures.

They discuss the Moomin principles for businesses around people management, strategic partnerships, digitisation and more, to create organisations that are kinder, curious and more successful.

Paul Savage is Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship at United Arab Emirates University. Janne Tienari is Professor of Management and Organisation at Hanken School of Economics.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/moomin-management

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/10/22/podcast-what-can-business-learn-from-the-moomins/

Timestamps:

01:15 - Who are the Moomins?

01:55 - What's your involvement with the Moomin organisation?

05:38 - Can you explain what the Moomin ecosystem looks like?

09:19 - Did the Moomin characters or the business come first?

10:50 - Can you talk about generosity and the Moomin business?

16:52 - Does the ethos of generosity make things faster?

19:56 - Can you tell us about the emotion, relationality and humour at Moomin?

24:44 - Why are parties so important at Moomin?

27:32 - What first steps can people take to be a bit more Moomin?

30:34 - How would Moomin deal with challenges businesses are currently facing like hybrid working and AI?

35:55 - What's the one thing you want people to take away from the book?

Intro music:

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A compelling discussion on the challenges faced by Black PhD students in academia. Guests William Ackah and Madina Wane, co-editors of 'The Black PhD Experience', offer a nuanced exploration of the lived experiences of Black scholars.

Through personal narratives the book examines systemic barriers, microaggressions, the psychological toll faced by Black students and the strategies they employ to persist.

This episode offers valuable insights for educators, researchers and policymakers seeking to understand and address the urgent need for greater equity and inclusion in higher education.

William Ackah is Senior Lecturer in Black and Community Geographies at Birkbeck, University of London. Madina Wane is a research scientist working in the biomedical sector and the co-founder of the non-profit organisation, Black In Immuno.

Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-black-phd-student-experience

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/10/09/podcast-the-black-phd-experience/

Read the Leading Routes report: https://leadingroutes.org/the-broken-pipeline

Timestamps:

1:06 - What are your stories and how did you come to edit the book?

5:59 - Can you talk about the approach you've taken with the book?

9:24 - In what ways are widening participation efforts in academia performative?

14:26 - How do individual actions align with structural racism to influence the experience?

19:00 - Can you speak about the drain of the PhD experience?

25:40 - How do black scholars support each other? 

35:25 - What fundamental shifts in thinking are needed in higher education to make change possible?

40:17 - Can you talk about the 5 areas for specific action?

49:22 - Can you talk about the fictional last chapter?

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Critical race theory has been problematised and demonised over the years but it has great potential for societal change.

In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Rodney D. Coates, author of 'Critical Race Theory and the Search for Truth', about what critical race theory is and why it has found itself in the crosshairs of white nationalists.

They discuss the truths we often don't hear about the transatlantic slave trade, the discrepancy that was created between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and why we need new dreamers to affect systemic change.

Rodney D. Coates is Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at Miami University. He is a public sociologist engaged in critical race, social justice, social movements, social policy, and practice.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/critical-race-theory-and-the-search-for-truth

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/09/24/podcast-critical-race-theory-and-the-search-for-truth/

Timestamps:

1:04 - What is critical race theory, and why has it ended up in the crosshairs of white nationalists? 

6:45 - How did European nations explain away the transatlantic slave trade and was there a last effect?

13:25 - Were European nations doing slavery differently than we'd seen before?

24:04 - What happened to cause the discrepancy between Haiti and the Dominican Republic?

30:20 - What racist systems of injustice met people who were part of the Great Migration in the US?

34:53 - What's behind the attack on education with regards to critical race theory and what are their goals? 

39:43 - Who benefits from stopping education on critical race theory?

44:57 - How dangerous is the angry black woman trope in society? 

51:08 - How can new dreams, and new dreamers, translate to systemic change?

53:26 - Where can we find you online?

Intro music:

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Despite economic development, modern slavery persists all around the world. The issue is not only one of crime but the regulation of the economy, better welfare, and social protections.

In this episode, Richard Kemp speaks with Sylvia Walby and Karen Shire, authors of 'Trafficking Chains: Modern Slavery in Society', about this growing global issue.

They discuss what trafficking chains are, how the forces of colonialism, capitalism and gender regimes affect modern slavery, and what changes are needed to correct our course.

Sylvia Walby OBE is Professor of Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is Fellow of the British Academy, Fellow the UK Academy of Arts and Social Sciences, and Co-President of International Sociological Association’s TG11 on Violence and Society.

Karen A. Shire is Professor of Comparative Sociology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. She is a Member of the International Max-Planck Research School on the Social and Political Constitution of the Economy, and President of International Sociological Association RC02 Economy and Society.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trafficking-chains

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/09/04/podcast-modern-slavery-in-society/

Timestamps:

01:25 - What is a trafficking chain?

03:57 - Can you explain the main forces of inequality and how they affect one another?

07:01 - Do we need consistency in law worldwide and what damage has this inconsistency already caused?

11:59 - How difficult is it to gain a true picture of trafficking and modern slavery?

14:30 - Can financial figures around trafficking help reach people who are anti-immigration?

17:39 - What results do we see from the different sexual exploitation policies around the world?

23:32 - Will this suffering continue as long as people are individualised and not supported as a group?

26:47 - How does modern slavery shape the nature of our society and what changes are needed to correct our course?

29:08 - Where can people find you online?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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The life of a diplomat may seem far flung and unrelatable but, beyond the cocktails and canapes, there are ideas that can help us understand and work on social issues, such as increasing polarisation, and lessons to help us support ourselves.

In this episode, Leigh Turner, author of 'Lessons in Diplomacy’ and former British ambassador who led posts in Ukraine, Turkey and Austria, talks about the lessons we all can learn from diplomacy.

He divulges anecdotes from his career, looks at how diplomacy is changing and shares tips on how to overcome fear of the other and stay grounded in crisis situations.

Leigh Turner is a former British ambassador who recently retired from the Foreign Office. Multilingual, he held diplomatic posts in Vienna, Moscow and Berlin, served as Ambassador to Ukraine, British Consul-General in Istanbul, Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, and Director of Overseas Territories in the FO. He has also written several political thrillers. Follow him on Twitter: @RLeighTurner

Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/lessons-in-diplomacy

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/08/20/podcast-what-diplomacy-means-in-the-real-world/

Browse the photo gallery: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPJhpovCMttEde2QvKGvYvMqghvXHs7eHCiznVJlD0obfCi3npjDDwtV6QwZhYApw?key=YUFmekRaQldBd2wtT0xOWEFyWFp3eWVZMnpvQWFR

Timestamps:

1:14 - How did you become a diplomat and why did you want to write the book?

3:42 - Can you tell us some stories from your career?

6:21 - What would happen if there wasn't diplomatic immunity?

9:47 - Who did you write the book for?

13:17 - How does the book teach us about how the world works?

20:33 - Is the spreading out of power a good thing?

21:51 - What can diplomacy teach us about overcoming 'fear of the other'?

27:36 - What is your advice for staying grounded and calm during a crisis?

32:46 - What does the future of diplomacy look like?

37:28 - What are your plans for the future?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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In the late 19th century, a French aristocrat came up with the idea of reviving the sporting contests that took place at Olympia in ancient Greece, and so the modern Olympics were born. The games have gone on to become one of the greatest spectacles on earth, but have never been free of controversy.

Our guest in this episode of the podcast is Jules Boykoff, a political scientist at Pacific University, Oregon (and avowed sports fan), who has spent years investigating the impact of the Olympics on athletes, communities and host cities. Jules tells us, ‘Olympians to show their stuff on the global stage and for us to all stand in admiration. But I wrote What Are the Olympics For? to be a book for the critical, thinking sports fan who cares about sports or is interested in the Olympics, but really wants to see what's going on behind the scenes and understand the full complexity of the Olympics. So in the book, I try to celebrate athletes while at the same time critiquing those who make it more difficult for them to succeed.’

Jules Boykoff is a professor of politics and government at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. His writing on the connection between politics and sport have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Nation, the Los Angeles Times and New Left Review. He is also a former professional soccer player who represented the US U-23 men’s national team in international competition. Follow him on Twitter: @JulesBoykoff

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-are-the-olympics-for

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/08/01/podcast-the-olympics-are-political-through-and-through/

Timestamps:

1:31 - When did the Olympics first make an impression on you, and what was that like?

3:08 - What is the contrast between that 8 or 9-year-old you being excited by the Winter Olympics in 1980 and the you who's heading off to Paris?

5:02 - Why does the question of what the Olympics are for matter?

6:54 - How important is it to understand the nature of the IOC?

12:53 - Has politics always been part of sport and the Olympics?

16:18 - Does the Olympics bring genuine, long-lasting benefits for the wider community in the host cities?

19:25 - Would we be going too far to say that the Olympics need cities more than cities need the Olympics? 

21:14 - Are things happening that make you feel positive about the possibility of change?

23:59 - Are there ever moments when you just think pulling it off just cannot be done without downsides?

26:44 - Do you see the athletes as being absolutely key to positive changes?

29:29 - What is your favorite piece of Olympic history or trivia or lore? 

Intro music:

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Time was when museums were staid, dusty institutions. Those days are long gone. Now the focus is on making visiting a museum a positive, inclusive, meaningful experience for everyone who comes through the door – or visits online. It sounds good in principle, but how to do it in practice? 

That question is at the heart of the latest title to join the What Is It For series, 'What are Museums for?' by Jon Sleigh. Jon is an arts and heritage engagement consultant who specialises in connecting audiences with artworks and collections, and in this episode of the podcast, he tells George Miller why he structured the book around conversations with museum professionals about specific exhibits in a wide range of institutions. He also talks about his childhood fascination with a museum tyrannosaurus …

Jon Sleigh is a freelance arts and heritage Learning Curator, working nationally connecting audiences with artworks and collections for their advocacy. Follow him on Twitter: @jon_sleigh

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-are-museums-for

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/19/podcast-museums-without-visitors-are-just-elaborate-storage/

Timestamps:

2:18 - What were your first encounters with museums like?

9:45 - In what terms and for what reason did you come back to the world of the museum?

13:11 - If we were in a museum today how might we encounter you?

15:47 - Why is the question of 'who is the museum is for?' so central to addressing the question in your title?

19:53 - How did you decide where to go and who to talk to?

25:14 - How difficult was it to choose the actual objects?

35:29 - What things in your conversations pointed to a bright future for museums?

Intro music:

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In this episode, Rebecca Megson-Smith speaks with Jen Shang, co-author of ‘Meaningful Philanthropy: The Person Behind the Giving’, about the high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals behind philanthropic giving.

Having had unparalleled access to some of the world’s most reflective and thoughtful philanthropists, Jen explains how philanthropists experience what they do and the psychological challenges they need to overcome.

Jen Shang is Professor of Philanthropic Psychology and Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. Jen Shang is the world’s only philanthropic psychologist.

Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/meaningful-philanthropy

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/10/podcast-the-psychology-behind-philanthropy/

Timestamps:

1:24 - How did you get these philanthropists to talk to you?

2:32 - What is meaningful philanthropy?

4:36 - What is identity ceding and why is it important?

10:05 - What is the connection between philanthropy and entrepreneurs?

11:57 - Can philanthropy be meaningless?

14:01 - Why are philanthropists important to study and understand?

21:50 - What impact do you hope your book has?

Intro music:

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With the UK General Election on Thursday, Academics Stand Against Poverty have audited the manifestos to establish which parties are most likely to address poverty and enable British society to flourish.

In this episode, Jess Miles speaks with Lee Gregory and Cat Tully about how the audit has been produced and why it matters. They discuss how the manifestos stack up, what all political parties can learn from the audit and what we should all be considering before voting.

Cat Zuzarte Tully leads the School of International Futures (SOIF), a global non-profit transforming futures for current and next generations. SOIF also supports a growing network of Next Generation Foresight Practitioners. Previously, Cat served as Strategy Project Director at the UK Foreign Office and Policy Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. She is on the board of Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) global and in the UK, and has been visiting professor in Malaysia, UK and Russia. 

Lee Gregory is an Associate Professor in Social Policy at the University of Nottingham, School of Sociology and Social Policy and is Chair of Trustees for ASAP UK. He has been involved in previous manifesto audits as an auditor and oversaw the development of the 2024 Audit and associated blog series.  

Find out more about the audit at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asap-manifesto-audit-2024

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/01/podcast-scoring-the-general-election-promises-on-poverty/

Timestamps:

0:01:09 - Audit and Academic Stand Against Poverty

0:07:31 - Improving well-being and opportunities 

0:15:32 - Assessing political Parties' fiscal policies

0:22:35 - Petition for Future Generations 

0:30:05 - Future plans for ASAP UK

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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