Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd

3/26/2023

Reading Revival: why the bookshop is back

Season 1, Ep. 289
Hello! Have you ever dreamed of running your own bookshop? We are cheerful to report that the book industry is smashing it at the moment, with the number of indie bookshops at their highest level in six years, and book sales above pre-pandemic levels. Ed and Geoff speak to Sian Bayley, news editor at The Bookseller, who tells us about what’s driving this upward trend. We hear from co-founders Rosie May and Sarah Scales of Juno Books in Sheffield about how they made their lockdown dreams a reality. Finally, Aimée Felone, children’s publisher and co-director of Round Table Books in Brixton, tells us about her journey into publishing and what it means to run an inclusive bookshop.Plus: Buoyed up by his viral musical success, Ed's started learning an instrument...GuestsSian Bayley, News Editor, The Bookseller (@sleighbayley / @thebookseller)Rosie May and Sarah Scales, Co-Founders of Juno Books (@junobookssheff)Aimée Felone, Managing Director of children’s publisher Knights Of and Co-Director of Round Table Books (@aimeefelone / @roundtablebooks)More informationBookBar in Finsbury Park, LondonLearn more about the work of BookTrust and Lit in ColourVisit the Bookseller's website - the trade magazine for the publishing industryVisit Juno Books in Sheffield Visit Round Table Books in Brixton, LondonFind out about Knights Of, Aimée’s publishing companyCLPE Survey of Ethnic Representation in Children's Literature. Read the most recent report hereBooks Aimée recommends in the episodeKnights and Bikes by Gabrielle KentFor Every One by Jason ReynoldsSmall Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson Windward Family by Alexis KeirMind and Me by Sunita Chawdhary
3/20/2023

Bridging the divides: the world of modern diplomacy

Season 1, Ep. 288
Hello! Every day, remarkable acts of diplomacy are happening around the world to bring us one step closer to cooperation on our biggest conflicts and challenges. But how much do we really know about what goes on behind closed doors? And what are the ingredients of a successful negotiation? We speak to climate diplomacy legend and friend of the pod, Christiana Figueres, about her leadership on one of the most extraordinary diplomatic feats: the 2015 Paris Agreement. Gabrielle Rifkind, a specialist in conflict resolution, tells us about the importance of finding the ‘human face’ of conflict. Finally, the EU’s former top diplomat Catherine Ashton talks to us about the highs and lows of her time on the job, and why all of us are diplomats without even knowing it.Plus: We’ve talked sandwiches, we’ve talked toasters. Have a guess at which gadget has Ed bought for himself this week...GuestsChristiana Figueres, co-founder of Global Optimism and former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC 2010-2016 (@CFigueres / @OutrageOptimism) Gabrielle Rifkind, Specialist in conflict resolution and Director of the Oxford Process (@OxfordProcess)Catherine Ashton, Former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and author of And then what? Inside stories of 21st century diplomacy More informationBuy a copy of Catherine's bookListen to Outrage and Optimism, Christiana and Tom Rivett-Carnac's podcastLearn more about the Oxford Process'We need to rethink how we do diplomacy,' Guardian Article, Catherine AshtonLearn more about the Paris Agreement, the legally binding treaty on climate change
2/27/2023

Full steam ahead: the resurgence of international train travel

Season 1, Ep. 285
Hello! As you wearily stood in a queue for a flight that was four hours delayed, having been hit with a hefty fee for a bag that you swore would fit under the seat, have you ever wondered if there was a better way to travel? Well, you’re not alone! 2022 was a bumper year for international train travel, as people took to the rails to see Europe and beyond. While long-distance train travel is better for the environment, it is often expensive and buying tickets can be fiddly. We speak to rail royalty Mark Smith, better known as the Man in Seat 61, who tells us why this is changing. Journalist and author Monisha Rajesh inspires us with tales of her travels around the world by train and finally we talk to Jody Bauer from Eurail, the company that sells Interrail passes, about its 50th anniversary and why it has revolutionised rail travel around Europe.Plus: Has Ed hired the assistance of a food stylist?GuestsMark Smith, founder of the Man in Seat 61 website (Twitter: @seatsixtyone / Instagram: @seatsixtyone)Monisha Rajesh, Journalist and Author (Twitter: @monisha_rajesh / Instagram: @monisha_rajesh)Jody Bauer, Research Analyst, Eurail (Instagram: @eurail / @interraileu)More informationTo plan an international train journey visit the Man in Seat Sixty-OneVisit Monisha's website and buy her books Around India in 80 Trains and Around the World in 80 TrainsVisit 33 countries with one pass. Buy an Interrail or Eurail pass and get inspiration for your next trip here
2/13/2023

Beyond the nepo baby: the deep drivers of social mobility

Season 1, Ep. 283
Hello! Nepo-babies are a new-fangled term but the issue of social mobility goes much deeper…in this episode Ed and Geoff explore why the same kind of people often seem to make it to the top. Why does your starting point in life still strongly determine where you’ll end up? We find out why it matters and if there’s anything we can do to change it. We’re speaking to social mobility tsar Alan Milburn, social entrepreneur Joe Seddon who helps state school pupils get into top Universities and to comedian Josie Long about how to open up the creative industries to more people.Plus: Can Geoff persuade Ed to woo Justine with a ChatGPT Valentine's poem?GuestsAlan Milburn, Chair, Social Mobility Foundation (@alanmilburn1958 & @SocialMobilityF) Joe Seddon, Founder & CEO, Zero Gravity (@whatjoedid & @zerogravity)Josie Long, Comedian & Co-Founder, Arts Emergency (@JosieLong & @artsemergency)More infoRead the New York Magazine article on nepo babies in HollywoodRead Vice's article about why American nepo babies have nothing on the BritishLearn more about the Social Mobility Foundation and apply to their Aspiring Professionals Programme Sign up to Zero Gravity as a sixth form student to get mentoring, or as a university student to become a mentorRead Zero Gravity's Gap Zero Report on the network advantageLearn more about Arts Emergency, get support as a young person, donate or become a mentor
1/30/2023

Should you fight for your right to party?

Season 1, Ep. 281
Hello! This week on Reasons to be Cheerful Ed and Geoff are Going Out Out and talking about the night-time economy: generally everything that happens between 6pm and 6am. At the end of 2022, iconic Manchester venue ‘Night & Day’ was threatened with closure over a noise complaint. We talk about why this example represents a wider crisis in city nightlife and how it is possible to protect it, both for a good night’s sleep and for better workers’ rights. We chat to Dr Alessio Kolioulis about the history of the night-time economy, to Sacha Lord about why Manchester’s nightlife is the keystone of its cultural identity and to Clare Lynch, long-time resident of Soho, who tells us about the changes happening there and how to preserve the area’s character. And where does Bez from the Happy Mondays keep his bees?Plus: Find out which TV chef has given a professional review of Ed’s soup…GuestsDr Alessio Kolioulis, Lecturer teaching urban economic development at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL (@AleKolioulis)Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester (@Sacha_Lord)Clare Lynch, Audio producer and Soho Resident (@clarelynchred)More infoNight & Day: Manchester venue’s noise breach appeal hearing postponedBrussels famous nightclub Fuse allowed to reopenWorking Nights: Municipal strategies for nocturnal workersIt’s official - Germany declares its nightclubs are now cultural institutionsListen to Soho Radio