Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd

Hello! Is mobilising 3.5% of the population all it takes to achieve political change? As Extinction Rebellion continue their latest action in London, we’re talking about the ideas behind non-violent civil disobedience. We hear from some of those involved in Extinction Rebellion, before spokesperson Zion Lights talks us through their theory of change. Historian Talat Ahmed explains Gandhi’s approach to civil disobedience and how this has inspired movements since. And Serbian activist Srdja Popovic tells us about the principles of effective non-violent strategy that he teaches to campaigners around the world. For information regarding your data privacy, visit

Hello! With around 10% of UK shops currently sitting empty, we’re talking about how communities can lead the revival of our high streets. Are Ed’s make-your-own sandwich shops part of the answer? Our experts aren’t convinced… Professor Cathy Parker tells us about the extent of current problems and why concern about high streets is nothing new. Vidhya Alakeson from Power to Change argues that the future of high streets lies in community businesses. Then ‘Mr Bishy Road’ Johnny Hayes explains the story of turning around Bishopthorpe Road in York.  AND  Hi-fi tycoon and all-round great guy Julian Richer talks about the lessons he’s learned from decades in business, handing Richer Sounds over to its employees & his vision for ethical capitalism. For information regarding your data privacy, visit

Hello! When they go short-term, we go long-term… This week we’re talking about how to represent the needs of future generations in decision-making. Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, tells us about her job and what the rest of the world can learn from it. Then policy wonks Laurie Laybourn-Langton and Andrea Westall discuss the causes of short-termism in politics, its impact on key issues such as the environmental emergency and how to design new institutions to overcome it. AND Legal eagle Lord Falconer is here to chat about what on earth happened in the Supreme Court last week and what the judgement says about Britain’s unwritten constitution. For information regarding your data privacy, visit

Hello! Here’s an episode you’ve been asking us to do for a while: we’re talking about the case for universal childcare. Susanne Garvis explains what we can learn from the childcare utopia of Sweden, where she spends more on pre-school for her puppy than her daughter. Then childcare experts Claire Harding and Jerome de Henau discuss problems with the UK system & how we could achieve universal provision. With benefits from parental employment to child development, it’s a no-brainer… AND Writer Stella Duffy is here to talk about Fun Palaces! First dreamt up in the 1960s, Stella and her team have made the vision of culture for all, and by all, a reality. Turns out it’s not too late to set up your own for the Fun Palaces weekend coming up in October. For information regarding your data privacy, visit

Hello! With an election on the cards, we’re talking about voter registration. The Resolution Foundation’s Laura Gardiner explains the relatively recent phenomenon of low youth turnout and Mete Coban tells us about what his organisation, My Life My Say, is doing about it. Then Danielle Root, voting rights expert at the Centre for American Progress, talks us through the success of new ‘Motor Voter’ laws, which have brought automatic voter registration to a number of US states. AND We have a brand new section for you! Anna Taylor, co-founder of the UK Student Climate Network, is our first ever ‘cheerful person’. She chats about her journey into climate activism, plotting in Camberwell’s Costa and why we should all join the Global Climate Strike later this week. For information regarding your data privacy, visit