Thinking Allowed

Discover the fascinating global history of sugar and its human costs, from luxury good to transatlantic slavery and the obesity pandemic. Also, learn about the bittersweet nature of sugar consumption and its morally ambivalent presence in family life.

Laurie Taylor talks to philosopher Susan Neiman about the concept of 'woke' and its attack on progressive values. Huw Davies discusses the British 'war on woke' as an ideological campaign mobilizing reactionary tropes in mainstream British politics.

Jennifer Carlson, Professor of Sociology, discusses her study of gun sellers in the US. She explores how conservative sellers reacted to a surge in gun buyers, including women and sexual minorities. Andrew Nahum, historian, joins to discuss the impact of guns on progress throughout history. They examine the paradox of gun ownership and the satisfaction of creating weapons.

An exploration of human relationships with water through the lens of anthropology and politics. From ancient beliefs in water serpent deities to the current environmental crisis, the podcast discusses the need to turn back the tide of ecological disaster. It also highlights water poverty in western societies and the importance of indigenous protests and artistic depictions. The United Nations' approach to water issues and the concept of developing a kinship-based relationship with rivers are also discussed.

Exploring the potential of boxing and kickboxing to transform lives, this podcast discusses the benefits and limitations of these sports. It examines the role of boxing in tackling social issues and the identity formation in a kickboxing gym. The podcast also delves into the hypermasculinity and vulnerability present in boxing and kickboxing, as well as the impact of gentrification on gyms. Additionally, it explores the potential of these sports to bring about positive change among vulnerable groups and marginalized individuals.

Daniel Evans, Research Assistant at Cardiff University, discusses the rise of the lower middle class, now a significant political force. Nicola Bishop, Senior Teaching Fellow at Loughborough University, explores the cultural impact of white-collar workers in British popular culture. Topics include the evolution of the petty bourgeoisie, portrayal in Victorian sitcoms, emasculation in media, and cultural values.

HIGH FINANCE: Laurie Taylor talks to Brett Christophers, Professor in the Department of Human Geography at Uppsala University, Sweden, whose latest book argues that banks have taken a backseat since the global financial crisis . Today, our new economic masters are asset managers who don’t just own financial assets, they also own the roads we drive on; the pipes that supply our drinking water; the farmland that provides our food; energy systems for electricity and heat; hospitals, schools, and even the homes in which many of us live—these all now swell asset managers’ bulging investment portfolios. They’re joined by Megan Tobias Neely, Assistant Professor in the Department of Organization at Copenhagen Business School and author of a study which takes us behind the designer suits and helicopter commutes to provide a glimpse of the lives and times of the mainly white men who dominate the hedge fund industry where about 10,000 firms manage $4 trillion in assets and the average earnings are $1.4 mm a year - which can rise to several billion. Producer: Jayne Egerton

FASHION RE-IMAGINED: Laurie Taylor talks to Angela McRobbie, Emeritus Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London about the working lives of independent designers in London, Berlin and Milan, at a time when fashion is under the spotlight due to concerns about the environment and exploitation in the industry. How might we create a more equitable and inclusive fashion future? Also, Kat Jungnickel, Reader in Sociology at Goldsmiths, uncovers the lesser-known clothing inventions which enabled women to access the male preserve of sports, move in new ways and expand female mobility and freedom.Producer: Jayne Egerton

Digital intimacy - Laurie Taylor asks how the algorithms embedded in digital technologies are transforming our relationships. He's joined by Anthony Elliott, Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of South Australia and author of a new book which suggests that that machine intelligence is changing the nature of human bonds, from sexual partners to friendship and therapy. Also, Carolina Bandinelli, Associate Professor in Media and Creative Industries at the University of Warwick, discusses her study of Tinder, and other dating apps, and the surprising finding that sex and love are not at the core of how people use them.Producer: Jayne Egerton

PRISON ABOLITION: Laurie Taylor talks to Tommie Shelby, Caldwell Titcomb Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, about a new study which considers the case for ending imprisonment. Mass incarceration and its devastating impact on black communities have been widely condemned as neoslavery or “the new Jim Crow.” Can the practice of imprisonment be reformed, or does justice require it to be ended altogether? They’re joined by Clare McGlynn, Professor of Law at Durham University, who questions 'anti carceral' approaches from a feminist perspective – do they serve the interests of survivors of male violence against women and girls?Producer: Jayne Egerton