Rebecca Kuang is the bestselling novelist whose books explore some of the most fraught debates of our time, interrogating racism in publishing, cultural appropriation, tokenism and diversity politics. 

Her novel Yellowface in particular struck a nerve, highlighting the pressures and hypocrisies of the modern literary world, from social media mobbing and cancel culture to the uncomfortable questions about who gets to tell which stories.

On this episode of Ways to Change the World, she speaks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy why America’s higher education is broken and why AI is not a threat to literature. 

Chris McCausland is perhaps now best known as the first blind contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and the show's 2024 champion.

His famous waltz with dancer Diane Buswell even won a Bafta as the most memorable moment in TV.

He first started losing sight as a young boy due to a genetic condition, and was fully blind in his early twenties. But he has never let disability define him.

In his latest autobiography, Keep Laughing, Chris details the journey of a boy from Liverpool who goes on to win the hearts of the nation.

On this episode of Ways to Change the World, he talks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy about why it was important for him to take part in Strictly Come Dancing, the frustrations and identity challenges he faced as he grappled with losing sight, and how he continues to challenge perceptions.

Sanna Marin became Finland’s prime minister at just 34 - the youngest serving national leader at the time. She was raised by her mother and her mother’s female partner in modest circumstances, and was the first in her family to complete high school and attend university.

Since her rise to power, Marin has become known for her outspoken commitment to climate action, social justice and democratic values.

In her memoir Hope in Action, Marin shares a journey marked by resilience and hope, as well as a vision for a new kind of leadership.

On this episode of Ways to Change the World, Marin speaks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy about the European leadership, why she left politics and how to embrace womanhood.

Cory Doctorow has spent decades helping to shape the way we think about the modern internet. He is a campaigner against monopolies, surveillance and digital rights. His new book Enshitification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It analyses how the internet giants have captured us and become not quite as good as we had thought they were. On this episode of Ways to Change the World, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Cory about the broken systems we are living in and what we can do to try and make things better.

Strong language warning.

Jan Ravens is one of the UK’s most celebrated  impressionists and comedians. She first discovered comedy at Cambridge University’s Footlights society, where she made history as the first female president. Now she is best known for her work on the hit BBC show Dead Ringers, where her impressions of figures like Theresa May, Liz Truss, Margaret Thatcher and others have become iconic.

In this episode of Ways to Change the World, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Jan about the meaning of satire and the importance of a good laugh.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, is calling on Unilever to “free” the ice cream brand after years of clashes over its social mission and stance on issues like Gaza.

In this episode of Ways to Change the World, Ben tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy why he believes business has become the strongest force in society - and why it must care about more than profit. Unilever maintains that it’s working to create “a fairer, more socially inclusive world”.

David Shrigley is one of Britain’s most original and celebrated contemporary artists. Known for his deadpan drawings, iconic sculptures and ambitious installations, David Shrigley’s work blends absurd humour with sharp observations on everyday life. 

On this episode of Ways to Change the World, Krishnan Guru-Murthy joins David at his latest show, Exhibition of Old Rope, in central London to discuss art, politics and Donald Trump.

Founding member of Pussy Riot and one of the most high-profile political activists in Russia imprisoned by Vladimir Putin's government - in this Ways to Change the World Podcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy speaks to Masha Alyokhina.

She became internationally known after the group's protest performance in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in 2012, which led to her arrest and two years in prison. Since her release, Masha has continued to challenge Putin's regime and fight for freedom of expression through her art, writing and activism. And her new book, Political Girl, is an account of protest, prison and her thoughts about Russia today.

Lynsey Addario is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American photojournalist who has spent two decades covering conflicts and humanitarian crises across the globe. Travelling to the frontlines of some of the world’s most dangerous countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Ukraine.

She has a string of alarming personal stories to go with it. She has been detained by the Libyan army, forced to go through an X-ray scanner three times by Israeli forces who knew she was pregnant at the time. 

She once said, “I realise with every assignment I do, there is a chance I might not come home.”

On this episode of Ways to Change the War, Addario speaks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy about her life as a conflict journalist, wife and mother, as well as her latest feature documentary Love+War.

Jimmy Wales is the co-founder of Wikipedia - the free digital encyclopedia that just about everyone in the Western world goes to if they need to quickly know anything.

It has been going for almost 25 years, determinedly democratic, non-profit and user-run, but increasingly under attack by right-wing influencers, Republican politicians and Elon Musk for being biased and with an overly-progressive ideology. And now AI models like ChatGPT are parking their tanks firmly on Wikipedia's lawn, claiming to be the real fount of all knowledge. Wikipedia calls them "conversational chatbots".

On this episode of Ways to Change the World, Jimmy Wales speaks to Krishnan Guru-Murthy about the “crisis of trust”, AI and why Wikipedia will continue to lead the way.