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Radical with Amol Rajan

Radical with Amol Rajan

Podcast | United Kingdom | Centre
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Amol Rajan speaks with pioneers and innovators about radical ideas reshaping how we live, work, and govern—from BBC Radio 4 and Sounds.

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Discussions from Radical with Amol Rajan

Politics

Rights for the Unborn: How Should We Protect Future Generations? (Sophie Howe)

Politicians are always making decisions that impact future generations, but how often do they really consider whether they are making life better, or worse, for people who haven’t been born yet? Rarely, thinks Sophie Howe, but she is part of a movement aiming to change that. She was the first future generations commissioner for Wales - at the time, the first role of its kind anywhere in the world - and her job was to make sure that decisions taken by the Welsh government would benefit its peo...

United Kingdom
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Society

Disaster Prepping: Should We All Stock Up? (Mike Chappell, prepper)

Prepper Mike Chappell is ready for disaster to hit the UK, and he believes everyone else should be prepared too. Mike is worried that blackouts, food supply disruption, and extreme weather could seriously disrupt normal life, potentially leaving people to fend for themselves for weeks or months at a time. He believes those threats are growing and thinks everyone should have enough supplies to last them at least two weeks - a message he spreads on his YouTube channel, UK Urban Prepper. The UK ...

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Environment

Human Composting: A New Way To Deal With Death? (Kristoffer Hughes)

Former mortuary technician Kristoffer Hughes wants to bring terramation - or human composting - to the UK. He believes it's a more natural and hopeful way for our bodies to be disposed of, and a more environmentally friendly alternative to burial and cremation. Kristoffer tells Gabriel Gatehouse about the "epiphany" he had when he first witnessed the practice in the USA, his own experience of being 'buried alive' in a terramation facility, and what human compost can actually be used for. The ...

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Politics

What Should The Minimum Age For Drugs Be? (Your Radical Questions with Neil Woods)

Neil Woods is a former undercover police officer who used to infiltrate drug gangs, but he now believes drugs should be legalised and the market regulated by government. He's a board member of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), which campaigns for drug policy reform around the world. In the main episode Neil explained why he thinks prohibition of illicit drugs has failed and outlined his plan for the government to source and supply drugs like cannabis, cocaine and heroin through p...

Global
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Politics

Legalisation: Has The War On Drugs Failed? (Neil Woods, ex-police officer)

As an undercover police officer Neil Woods' job was to infiltrate drug gangs and put their leaders behind bars, but he says his work gradually convinced him that he was doing more harm than good. Since leaving the force he has become one of the UK's foremost campaigners for drug policy reform. Neil tells this week's host, Jenny Kleeman, why he believes the war on drugs has failed, and sets out his alternative vision for legalising and regulating the use of cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other ...

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Society

Are Politicians Too Focused on Older Generations? (Your Radical Questions with Professor Sarah Harper)

Sarah Harper is Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford and one of the world's leading experts on demographic change. She challenges the widespread belief that ageing populations are primarily a social and economic burden, arguing instead that longer lives represent one of humanity's greatest achievements and an opportunity to rethink how society is organised. In the last episode, Sarah explained why many of the pressures associated with ageing societies stem from institutions th...

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Society

Redefining Retirement: Is Our Ageing Population an Untapped Asset? (Professor Sarah Harper)

This week, James Marriott talks to Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford and one of the world's leading experts on demographic change. She challenges the increasingly common narrative that ageing populations represent an inevitable economic and social burden, arguing instead that longer lives should be seen as an achievement that requires us to rethink the way society is organised. As birth rates fall and life expectancy increases, governments across the world fac...

Global
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Environment

Will British Farming Pay the Price for Rewilding? (Your Radical Questions with Derek Gow)

Derek Gow is a farmer, conservationist, author and leading rewilding advocate who has become one of the UK's most vocal champions of large-scale species reintroductions. In this special Q&A, he tackles some of your most challenging and provocative questions. In the main episode, Derek explained why he breeds native British species and argued that rewilding is a vital tool in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises. In this follow-up discussion, listeners ask whether turning farmland in...

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Geopolitics

Is Britain's Military Still Fit For Purpose? (Your Radical Questions with Brendan Simms)

Brendan Simms is Professor of the History of International Relations at the University of Cambridge and the author of The Return of the Great Powers. He challenges the widespread belief that Britain is in terminal decline, arguing that the UK remains one of the world’s four true Great Powers. In the main episode, Brendan explained why Britain’s resources, global reach, reputation and resilience still give it significant international influence. He also argued that great power politics has ret...

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Geopolitics

Influence After Empire: Is Britain Still a Great Power? (Professor Brendan Simms)

Is Great Britain really still great? Is it in decline, or has the UK underestimated its own status in the world? In his latest book The Return of the Great Powers, Brendan Smith, Professor of the History of International Relations at the University of Cambridge, challenges one of the most deeply rooted current assumptions in British public life and argues that the UK is still a significant player on the world stage. While much of the national conversation focuses on economic stagnation, geopo...

Global
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Environment

Britain's Lost Species: Should We Resurrect Our Extinct Wildlife? (Derek Gow)

This week, John Burn-Murdoch speaks with Derek Gow, the British farmer, conservationist, author and rewilding pioneer who has become one of the UK's most outspoken advocates for large-scale species reintroductions. From his farm in Devon, Derek breeds native British animals, including species that have been absent from the UK for centuries. His goal is to demonstrate what is possible when conservation ambition matches the scale of the ecological challenges we face. A passionate supporter of r...

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Politics

Should Politicians Have to Pass Competence Tests? (Your Radical Questions with David Runciman)

David Runciman, podcaster and former politics Professor, answers Your Radical Questions. In the main episode, David argued that lowering the voting age to six is a true expression of universal suffrage and could help reinvigorate our stagnant democracy. Now, our listeners challenge him on whether kids would just vote how their parents tell them, and whether there’s any evidence or precedent to support his radical proposal. Plus, should knowledge and competence be rewarded in our democratic sy...

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