Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd

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

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

Hello! This week Ed and Geoff sat down with writer, journalist and now Professor of Sociology, Gary Younge. Gary talks about his new book ‘Dispatches from the Diaspora: From Nelson Mandela to Black Lives Matter’, and how his upbringing in a new town - Stevenage - led to a life telling stories from historic moments on both sides of the Atlantic, and what he can teach the next generation of journalists. Plus: Both Ed and Geoff both went viral fungal this week. Did you see?Pre-order a copy of Gary's book here.

Hello! While we generally aim for cheerfulness, it's also ok to be a little angry too. Senator Bernie Sanders is. After a long career of fighting for a more progressive politics, the self-proclaimed democratic socialist has had enough: capitalism isn't working for the average American (or Brit) anymore. Three billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of American society combined, and healthcare, education, and childcare are unaffordable. The establishment has consistently written off his policies as ‘radical’ but Bernie is convinced that what he's fighting for is just common sense. Geoff and Ed sit down with the longest-serving independent politician in US history to talk about baseball, how his policies have influenced the Democrats, and whether Ed has finally met his political meme match.Plus: Which tangy snack has Ed rediscovered?Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders)Buy a copy of It's ok to be angry about capitalism by Bernie Sanders

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

Hello! Climate change litigation has come on a long way since the 2000 blockbuster film Erin Brockovich. There's been a huge rise globally in the number of cases being filed against negligent governments and corporations, but what does this mean for our efforts to tackle the climate crisis? We hear from Catherine Higham, policy fellow at LSE, and Laura Clarke from ClientEarth about the kinds of climate-related cases being thrashed out in court. We then cross the pond to Canada, where 15-year-old climate activist Sophia Mathur has been busy suing the Ontario government. We find out what inspired her to act, and what her hopes for the future are.Plus: Where did Ed go for a *bracing* open water swim this week?GuestsCatherine Higham, Policy Fellow, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE (@CatherineHigha3, @GRI_LSE)Laura Clarke, CEO, ClientEarth (@LauraClarkeCE, @ClientEarth) Sophia Mathur, Climate Activist (@sophiamathur)More infoGlobal Trends in Climate Litigation 2022 (Report, Grantham Research Institute, LSE)Learn more about ClientEarth's workLearn more about Sophia's journey to becoming an activistWhy 2023 will be a watershed year for climate litigation (Article, The Guardian)Sign up to The Wave: the newsletter about climate litigation and justiceLinks to additional cases mentioned can be found on our website

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

Hello! This week we're speaking to comedian, actor and author Cariad Lloyd who's on a crusade to help us become better at talking about death and grief. Although it might not seem like the most cheerful of topics, Cariad believes that there's a lot of hope and optimism in thinking and talking about death. We discuss why the five stages are a load of twaddle, how there is no 'right way' to deal with your grief and what to say (and what not to say!) to someone who's grieving.Plus: Geoff and Ed’s telepathy reaches new levels...for the first time in the pod’s history, they have the same reason to be cheerful!Follow Cariad on Twitter (@ladycariad)Buy a copy of Cariad's book out now You are not alone: A new way to grieveListen to all episodes of Griefcast including the episode with Dr Kathryn MannixCariad mentioned psychotherapist Julia Samuel

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