Ben Yeoh Chats

Why are people having fewer children than they say they want? In this episode, writer and policy thinker Phoebe Arslanagić-Little joins me to discuss the UK fertility crisis and what she calls the “birth gap”: the gap between the number of children people say they want and the number they actually have. We talk about why this is not just about money, but a mix of culture, career timing, housing, childcare, social norms, and the feeling that you need to reach some elusive state of readiness before having children.We also get into maternity pay, paternity leave, grandparents, childcare, state signals, dating apps, and what surprised Phoebe most about becoming a mother. As she puts it, “I don’t really subscribe to any of the theories that say, oh, it’s this one thing. I think it genuinely is like a confluence of factors.” And on the role of government: “I think the state should very openly say there are people who want to have children. We think that’s great. We’d like to help them.”Transcript: https://www.thendobetter.com/investing/2026/3/22/phoebe-arslanagi-little-on-fertility-family-policy-and-the-birth-gapContents:00:00 Fertility Crisis Defined01:25 Overpopulation Narrative Origins03:22 Is the Birth Gap Real04:59 Why People Delay Kids06:41 Culture and Readiness Standards09:51 Policy Levers to Boost Births13:06 Making Birth Less Traumatic15:13 Paternity Leave and Social Engineering22:05 State Neutrality and Universal Benefits27:36 Grandparents and Informal Childcare31:24 Single Parents and China Lessons34:52 Best Family Policy Levers36:33 Childcare Costs and Incentives38:31 Childcare Ratios Debate40:21 Safety Versus Deregulation41:33 Underrated Overrated Round42:20 Food Fears and Animal Welfare45:12 Astrology and Lab Meat47:41 Pubs Alcohol and E Bikes52:18 Dating Apps and Social Mixing58:49 Writing Process and Motherhood01:01:49 Projects Advice and Wrap Up

Salima Saxton on cancer, honesty, estrangement, and creative work in real life. Salima is Ben’s longtime friend, and they talk about her cancer diagnosis and what she calls an unexpected new “year of undoing”, a return to herself rather than a neat reinvention story.“Be the sky, not the weather. The weather passes through.”They discuss why the language of “brave” can feel wrong, why “What can I do?” often misses the mark, and what Salima means by being a “bad patient”.The conversation turns to Salima’s Substack essay “Builder Dad” on estrangement and what outsiders routinely misunderstand.“‘Blood is thicker than water’ is not advice I believe in.” Salima also shares the hardest things to write in memoir: telling the whole truth, including the parts that do not flatter you.The chat then touches on anti-heroine storytelling, friendship breakups, social media’s double edge, and what creative work looks like without romantic routines: write where you can, start small, “plod”, find mentors, and build community.“There’s never a perfect moment. Start with something tiny and plod.”A lighter finish includes an overrated/underrated game (champagne, dressing up, height, hustle culture, social media, coconut oil), Salima’s plan to audition again, and why dark humour matters when things get rough.“A sense of humour is absolutely vital. You either laugh or you crack.” Transcript and video: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2026/2/24/salima-saxton-cancer-bad-patient-honesty-estrangement-and-writing-without-waiting Contents:00:00 30-year friendship,  Himalayas, coconut oil01:23 Cancer diagnosis and a new “year of undoing”03:41 Returning to the 18-year-old self05:07 Illness clarifies relationships, energy is finite07:29 Why “brave” and “What can I do?” can land badly09:02 “Bad patient”: performing “good” on an overstretched NHS ward13:05 Honest female voices, dissonance, anti-heroine truth15:28 “Builder Dad”, estrangement, and searching for father figures17:57 What people get wrong about estrangement and friendship breakups21:29 Hypervigilance and the hidden inner life23:31 The hardest memoir scene: dad’s death and anger at mum26:15 Writing about mum: respect, friction, truth29:44 Childhood contradictions: hippie roots, no heating, love of glamour30:37 No perfect routine: writing around kids, work, real life33:09 Ditch the artist romance: money, time, and the true cost35:00 Tiny wins: one sentence still counts36:49 Bed writing, socks, and self-trickery38:06 Overrated/underrated game41:31 Social media love/hate and quiet communities43:59 2026 as the “year of saying yes”, auditions, dark humour46:37 Advice to creatives: start small, “plod”, mentors, community50:15 Long friendships and gratitude

Is walking around a fake bathroom really “immersive” theatre, or is a theme park the more honest art form?Ben sits down with Simon Kane, writer and performer whose work spans Shunt’s devised theatre, BBC radio comedy (John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme), and a lockdown project performing Shakespeare chronologically on YouTube. Simon unpacks what “immersive” should actually mean, why a seated audience isn’t a passive audience, and why “fun” is a serious artistic standard.“If you’re making a space from scratch, why make a space that already exists?”We also riff on Richard II as a story of celebrity collapse, the strange distance of voice work compared to stage acting, and how to stay creatively intentional when algorithms would rather you just hit Next.Transcript: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2026/2/14/simon-kane-performing-shakespeare-on-youtube-immersive-theatre-and-why-fun-mattersWe cover:Story-first acting: unlocking Richard II by changing the characterDevised vs scripted: how Shunt builds worlds, and what audio comedy demands insteadThe “immersive” fallacy: when you’re just walking around a setClowning, refusal, and the myth you must always say yesEscaping autoplay: consuming culture on purpose

Join Deena Mousa, a grantmaker at Open Philanthropy and Coefficient Giving, as she dives into the complex economics of valuing human life for effective philanthropy. Discover the 'Coefficient Dollar' and how it's used to navigate funding decisions across health impacts. Deena explores the challenging task of quantifying pain and the potential of AI in global health. She also shares insights on government procurement issues and offers advice on funding strategies, showcasing the intricate balance between altruism and measurable outcomes.

Hannah Ritchie — one of the most lucid and data-driven voices in climate and sustainability — returns to talk about her new book Clearing the Air: 50 Questions and Answers about Climate.Ben and Hannah explore why honesty builds trust in climate science, why the 1.5 °C target is likely out of reach (and why that’s not the end of hope), and China’s paradoxical role as both the world’s largest emitter and clean-tech powerhouse.They dig into how abundance, not austerity, could define the next phase of climate progress; how to manage renewable energy variability and mineral demand; and why “net zero” may need a more realistic framing.Hannah also shares personal reflections — what she’d tell her 16-year-old self, how she balances optimism with realism, and the daily coastal runs that keep her creative and grounded. The conversation closes with a look at smart philanthropy, innovative climate projects, and the habits that sustain hope and curiosity.An hour of evidence, insight, and grounded optimism — a conversation about how to think clearly, act practically, and stay inspired in a warming world.Transcript and notes: www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/10/25/clearing-the-air-hannah-ritchie-on-climate-honesty-hope-and-the-future

Retired police officer Robert Beckley reflects on 40 years of service — from Brixton to Hillsborough and beyond. We discuss crisis response, institutional change, community policing, and why public service and volunteering still matter today.We explore:The misunderstood role of policing: “Policing is about being there in a crisis — when someone needs action, and needs it now.”Rob’s early career in Brixton and how his experiences in Sudan shaped his views on culture and policing.Honest reflections on institutional racism and sexism: “Institutional racism isn’t about bad people — it’s about systems and processes that have disproportionate impacts.”Hillsborough: what really went wrong, the persistence of false narratives, and why “we can never afford complacency in disaster preparedness.”The evolution of crime, the importance of community policing: “Community policing works because people trust officers who know their area and take ownership of local problems.”Rob’s year as High Sheriff of Somerset, his advocacy for volunteering, and the civic glue that holds communities together.Advice for aspiring public servants: “In public service, you may never know the lives you’ve touched — but the impact is real.”This episode provides deep insights into policing, society, and civic responsibility — offering lessons not only for those in public service but for anyone interested in how communities can thrive.Find more episodes, transcripts, and writing at https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/9/14/rob-beckley-insights-from-a-policing-career-hillsborough-amp-civic-service-lessons-podcastEpisode highlights:00:32 – Misunderstandings in Policing01:57 – Early Career in Brixton05:18 – Sudan and Cultural Insights08:51 – Institutional Racism and Sexism18:14 – Hillsborough Disaster33:30 – The Evolution of Crime37:20 – Community Policing51:05 – The Role of High Sheriff54:06 – Volunteering and Civic Society58:16 – Advice for Aspiring Public Servants

Samuel Hughes, editor at Works in Progress, joins me to talk architecture, planning, and how we think about beauty in our cities.“Most buildings in Tokyo are ugly, but the streets are beautiful—urban form matters more than facades.”In this episode we explore:Can we still mass-produce beautiful buildings?Japanese urban design and zoning lessonsHow long buildings should last: UK vs JapanRent control and housing history in BerlinRethinking the greenbelt in BritainDresden’s reconstruction and underrated citiesFuture solutions for housing supply–––Full Contents01:02 Mass Producing Beautiful Buildings01:43 The Decline of Ornament in Architecture04:37 Tokyo’s Urban Design and Zoning10:05 How Long Should Buildings Last? UK vs Japan16:13 Philosophy, Beauty, and Emotions25:53 Public Policy Trade-offs in Practice31:41 Berlin: Rent Control and Urban Planning36:32 Housing in Europe: A Historical Context38:02 Modern Housing Markets and Trends41:50 Rethinking the Greenbelt44:40 Planning Authorities and Their Role50:40 Overrated and Underrated Urban Ideas1:02:03 Dresden: Lessons in Urban Reconstruction1:05:03 The Future of Britain’s Housing Supply1:08:40 Career Advice on Policy and DesignFull transcript, video and links here: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/8/20/samuel-hughes-architecture-beauty-and-the-future-of-cities-podcast

Tim Mak moved to Ukraine in 2022, a day before war broke out. Tim, a former US investigative correspondent, decided to stay and start up his own reporting at Counter Offensive. He now reports from Kyiv.  On the podcast, Tim discusses the day-to-day life in war-torn Kyiv, focusing on the chronic stress rather than immediate physical danger residents face. He recounts his critical role in documenting human stories from the war front and shares his personal journey, having moved to Ukraine right as the war began. We  touch on the operational challenges and ethical considerations in war reporting, the importance of human interest stories, and how new technology like AI affects journalism. Tim talks about the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict and his hopes for the future of independent journalism.Transcript and link to site: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/7/31/tim-mak-war-reporting-journey-in-ukraine-podcastContents00:25 Life in Kiev During Wartime03:10 Tim's Arrival and Early Experiences in Ukraine04:57 Launching The Counter Offensive05:24 Human Interest Stories and Subscriber Growth09:50 Challenges and Ethics in War Reporting14:14 The Power of Individual Narratives25:42 Independent Journalism and Future Prospects34:55 Geopolitical Reflections and Ukraine's Needs44:34 Final Thoughts and Advice

Françoise Girard is an activist and founder of Feminism Makes Us Smarter. We discuss Francois' journey from studying law in Montreal to becoming a feminist activist in New York. Francois shares experiences from her work with the Open Society Institute and the International Women's Health Coalition, elaborating on the critical role of grassroots feminist movements in effecting societal change. “Taking a feminist, intersectional lens helps us understand the world better. You can see trends before the regular commentators do.”The conversation touches on misconceptions about feminism, the interconnected nature of various justice movements, and the importance of long-term, flexible support from philanthropists. “If you want to track the health of a democracy, look at what’s happening to women’s rights. They’re the early warning system.”Francois also highlights the power of storytelling in activism and reveals her creative process behind her writing. “When we walk out of a play, we’re more in touch with our feelings. That’s how movements grow — through stories and emotion, not just policy.”“Each of us won’t solve it all, but if we all do something — even something small — that’s how things move. That’s what gives me hope.”The discussion concludes with insights into successful campaigns, including the decriminalization of abortion in Ireland, and practical advice for individual contributions to social change.Links and 00:18 Francois' Journey to Activism01:50 Working with International Organizations03:39 Founding Feminism Makes Us Smarter04:54 Understanding Modern Feminism05:41 Intersectionality and Feminism10:35 Theories of Change in Activism22:54 Challenges and Learnings in Feminist Movements31:45 The Role of Art and Opera in Life32:17 The Power of Storytelling36:14 Creative Processes and Writing41:51 Successful Movements and Campaigns49:41 Current Projects and Future Plans54:38 Final Thoughts and Advice

Sumit discusses how his wife dying  reshaped his views on optimism, differentiating between pragmatic optimism and blind faith. He explores how having an optimistic outlook, although seemingly against his scientific training, aligns with good mental health. "Believing in a better tomorrow is not the same as saying that today is great."We touch on the evolutionary logic behind optimism, the impact of agency on perception, and how alternate histories can inform future thinking. Sumit also reflects on the role of optimism during personal grief and provides insights into his writing process and the broader importance of the arts and humanities. The conversation closes with advice for optimism in younger generations and an emphasis on appreciating everyday human interactions."Postcards from your future self can be more helpful than New Year’s resolutions."Transcript and links: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/5/30/sumit-paul-choudhury-optimism-navigating-lifes-challenges-and-uncertainties-podcastContents:00:19 The Moment That Changed Everything01:08 Embracing Optimism02:58 The Psychology of Optimism04:42 Rational Optimism vs. Pessimism09:39 Alternate Histories and Humility13:20 Leadership and Optimism16:03 Techniques for Optimism20:45 Optimism in the Face of Grief23:40 Teaching Optimism to the Younger Generation26:03 Understanding the Climate Problem28:41 Victorian Sewer Systems: An Underrated Marvel29:41 Debating De-growth Ideas32:07 The Importance of Arts and Humanities34:36 Moonshot Ideas38:33 Existential Risks40:21 Personal Creativity and Writing Process45:58 Current Projects and Life Advice