Stay ConnectedAn occasional series revisiting conversations and ideas from Reasons to be Cheerful (2017-2024), formerly hosted by ex-Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, and Sony Award-winning radio presenter Geoff Lloyd.
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Copyright: © Cheerful
Hello! This week we've looked up from our phones to look down at the generation of children addicted to theirs. In the wild west of the internet, children aren't as safe as you may hope and it's not just from adult content. Our guests this week Baroness Beeban Kidron, founder of 5Rights Foundation, and Dr Richard Graham, a Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist, explain why treating children as adults on their technology is such a worry and what we can do about it.
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Comedian John Robins is banning online comments, issuing chip licenses, alcohol pricing and funding to cure minor ailments
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Hello! This week we discuss the issue of "boys jobs" and "girls jobs" and how men being under-represented in care roles and women being under-represented in the sciences is a self-fulfilling prophecy taught from an early age. We're joined by scientist Nia John, Carole Easton of the Young Women’s Trust and Australian gender equality supremo Libby Lyons to discuss the proactive ways we can achieve workplace equality and stop the "leaky pipe" of lost talent.
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Broadcaster Lauren Laverne gets has a gym alternative that would help us keep clean, wants more glitter, access to nature and DOGS.
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Hello! Could providing more services free at the point of access (like the NHS and education) relieve need and tackle inequality? Our guests Henrietta Moore and Jonathan Portes think so and we hear from academic Oded Cats on how one idea — free local transport — has worked elsewhere.
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Comedian Stuart Goldsmith wants to paint the town pink, artist salaries, Japanese plane boarding and mental health lessons in school
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Hello. We started our Festival tour at ‘How The Light Gets In’ at Hay-on-Wye, joined by Doughnut Economics author Kate Raworth. Listen to a fascinating discussion about how we think about economic success, going beyond economic growth to the environment, care, fairness and everything else that matters!
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Comedian Rachel Parris wants legislation for women's toilets, some Internet downtime, jigsaws, and a buddy system for grown-ups.
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Hello! This week we went on an outing to speak to Lord David Willetts about the Resolution Foundation's new report into how to tackle the crisis in wealth, housing and life chances facing the younger generation and how to build political support for these ideas.
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Comedian sisters Flo & Joan recommend a service industry national service, school band for everyone and deanonymising social media.
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Hello. There is a quiet crisis in our justice system: barristers striking, courts creaking, defendants being denied a fair hearing and victims being callously disregarded. It's high time to talk about what has caused it and what we do to fix it? We have best-selling (anonymous) author, The Secret Barrister, and Penelope Gibbs from Transform Justice to give answers.
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Comedian Alfie Brown joins us, advocating for Philosopy and slower motorways
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Hello. This week we are talking about over-consumption of meat which is bad for climate change, animal welfare and our health. Our guests Clare Oxborrow and Sam Calvert tell us what needs to change plus pioneering farmer Illtud Dunsford on whether lab-grown meat is an answer.
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Comedian Steve Bugeja brings his ideas including normal life politicians, BA in Crime and quantitative easing for the people
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Hello. We’re on the road again—this time in Sheffield at the Festival of Debate. We’re asking what’s to be done about our universities? Our guests Jo Grady, Joshua Forstenzer and Mark Leach want to rescue the public purpose of Universities from the tyranny of the market’s high fees, casualised staff, distorted assessments of research and teaching, and frustrated students.
Plus we're joined by comedian Rob Rouse, and our announcer - voice of Reasons to be Cheerful, Gayle Lofthouse.
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Hello! Sometimes a relationship doesn't work (no, this isn't about Ed and Geoff) and divorce is the only option, but current rules mean that blame has to be thrown around to make it happen, even if that is the last thing the couple (or their children) need. Ayesha Vardag, Nigel Shepherd and Chris Sherwood join us to discuss the case for "no-fault" divorce
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Comedian Catherine Bohart wants some clarification on the word "partner", free toilets and nationalised dogs
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Hello! An extra treat this week for you all. Do pirates deserve to be remembered as fondly as the Levellers? We spoke to Sam Conniff Allende about his new book Be More Pirate, which reexamines the myths and legends around pirates and how we can apply the pirate principles of breaking and rewriting the rules to the modern world. From cooperatives to equal marriage, storytelling to insurance, the truth is quite surprising.
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