Thinking Allowed

Sarah Kerr, LSE researcher studying wealth concentration and its political effects. Ryan Davey, Cardiff lecturer exploring the emotional and coercive sides of personal debt. They discuss ethnographic methods, stigma and enforcement in debt, predatory credit and bailiff campaigns, the politics and measurement of wealth, inheritance attitudes, and why wealth has been under-studied.

Sarah Lonsdale, a journalism lecturer who studies women’s outdoor pioneers, and Carl Morris, a social psychologist and endurance runner, discuss mountaineering and ultra running. They explore early women reclaiming wild spaces, the rise of trail and ultra events, the culture and history of endurance communities, and how commercialization and class shape these sports today.

Imogen Tyler, a sociology professor studying stigma, poverty and feminist theory. Les Back, a cultural sociologist focused on listening, theory and social change. They debate why big, overarching theory seems to be waning. They explore which classic thinkers still matter, how feminist and global perspectives reshape the canon, and what new grand themes—like environment, nationalism and digital life—demand attention.

Matt Houlbrook, cultural historian of London who writes about race, class and urban change. Sharon Cornelissen, sociologist and housing expert who studies Detroit decline and housing policy. They discuss a 1920s London libel case that reveals early gentrification pressures. They contrast that with Brightmoor, Detroit, showing how depopulation, tax foreclosure and lack of investment can stall or reverse neighborhood revival.

Kate Gooch, a criminology professor who studies violence and hierarchies in young offender institutions, and Kate Herity, an ethnographer of prison soundscapes, explore prison life through violence and listening. They discuss how sound signals safety or threat. They describe daily routines, coping with constant noise, shifting power on the wings, and how environment and design shape harm and survival.

Alex Pryor, a politics lecturer who walked Westminster with staff and MPs to map belonging. James Fletcher, a mobility researcher who studies how people with dementia navigate buses and trams. They discuss go-along creative methods, how environments shape navigation and identity, politics of getting lost in Parliament, and how cities and digital changes affect everyday travel.

Swarnavel Eswaran, filmmaker and professor of Indian cinema; Kirsty Sinclair Dootson, historian of art studying colour and empire. They trace Kodak Krishnan’s role bringing and rationing Eastman stock in India. They explore how colour film stocks, industry politics and costs shaped Bollywood palettes, skin-tone representation, and the geopolitics of cinematic colour.

In this insightful conversation, Chris Pearson, an Environmental History Professor and author, discusses how dogs transitioned from working companions to cherished pets, shaped by historical changes. Mariam Motamedi Fraser, an Honorary Research Fellow, challenges the idea that our bond with dogs is entirely natural, exploring societal implications and 'dog politics.' Together, they unravel the complex evolution of dogs in urban settings, the rise of pedigree culture, and advocate for a deeper understanding of canine well-being and individuality.

Laurie Taylor speaks with Simon Jarrett, a Research Fellow at Birkbeck, who dives deep into the history of learning disabilities. He sheds light on societal attitudes from the 1700s to today, revealing how language and stigma have evolved. Joined by Magdalena Mikulak, they discuss the troubling implications of labeling behaviors that challenge societal norms. Together, they highlight the intersection of intelligence, race, and marginalization, emphasizing the need for better understanding and integration of individuals with learning disabilities.

Louise Ryan, a Professor of Sociology, and Bronwen Walter, Emerita Professor of Irish Diaspora Studies, delve into the rich history of Irish nurses within the NHS, recounting their vital roles and personal stories amid cultural challenges. They discuss the impact of anti-Irish racism and explore how Irish migration has shaped identity and solidarity among immigrant groups in the UK. The conversation highlights the legacy of the Irish diaspora, focusing on their contributions and the evolving perceptions of their cultural identity over time.