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Reasons Revisited
More power to you: how we can all help to make a change
As this chapter of Reasons to be Cheerful almost draws to a close we wanted to leave you feeling motivated and inspired to take action on the things you care most about, from climate change to inequality. Feeling disempowered and frustrated with the state of the world? Our three guests are here to tell you why doing your bit can be joyful, fun and might just restore your faith in humanity a little bit! We hear from Froi Legaspi from Citizens UK who tells us about his journey into community organising, from Emily Bolton who's working with Grimsby Football Club to build a more optimistic future for the town, and to Dan McCallum, who back in 1998 started an energy co-op in Wales that's now the biggest rooftop solar co-op in the UK.
Plus: Keep sending us your messages of what you've learnt from the pod since 2017! We'd love to hear from you at reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com
Guests
Froi Legaspi, Senior Organiser, Citizens UK (@FroilanLegaspi / @CitizensUK)
Emily Bolton, Founder, Our Future (@EmilyJBolton_ / @OurFutureGY)
Dan McCallum, Co-Founder & Manager, Awel Aman Tawe (@AwelAmanTawe)
More information
Check out the work of Citizens UK including their local chapters
Read more about the work of Our Future and of Awel Aman Tawe
Want to set up your own project? Go to Community Energy England, Wales & Scotland
Dan also mentioned Energy4All
Learn more about the work of We're Right Here, the campaign for a Community Power Act and of Locality
UCL's Policy Lab is undertaking a new project called Ordinary Hope, find out more here
More episodes
View all episodes
LABOUR'S FIRST MOVES: Keir Starmer Gives Away Power
12:52|In its first King's Speech, the Labour government said that "greater devolution of decision making is at the heart of a modern dynamic economy and is a key driver of economic growth."Historically, why has the UK been so insistent on hoarding power centrally? And what's the potential in Westminster giving away power?With Tony Travers (LSE), Sarah Longlands (IPPR North) and Neil McInroy (The Centre for Local Economic Strategies)
LABOUR'S FIRST MOVES: Rachel Reeves' National Wealth Fund
13:48|Ed has departed for government, and Geoff is left as custodian of the archive. As the Labour government makes its first raft of announcements and appointments, we delve into our back catalogue to find the ideas which might have influenced them. In this episode, we look at Rachel Reeves' announcement of the National Wealth Fund. What are public wealth funds? What different forms can they take? What are the potential benefits to our country?We revisit our episode Investment for the People from October 2022. First, we get the beginner's guide from UCL Associate Professor Josh Ryan-Collins. Then we hear from Professor Karin Thorburn about Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, which (due to specific historical circumstances) is very different to the one proposed for the UK, but illustrates how a public wealth fund could transform the way we finance Government spending. More infoNorway’s Sovereign Wealth FundUCL IIPP Report on Public Wealth FundsGuestsJosh Ryan-Collins, Associate Professor in Economics and Finance, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (@jryancollins) (@IIPP_UCL)Karin Thorburn, Professor of Finance, Norwegian School of Economics (@karinsthorburn) (@NHHnor)
28. ED & GEOFF HAVE LEFT THE CHATTEROO
36:51||Season 2, Ep. 28The day is upon us. Maybe. In the words of the late Teddy Kennedy (uncle of Robert F. Junior, and real-life inspiration for Kendall Roy):"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."Thank you for keeping us cheerful.Email our sporadically monitored inbox: chat@cheerfulpodcast.comFull text of Ted Kennedy's 1980 Democratic National Concession address: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedy1980dnc.htm
TOMORROW: THE CHATTEROO STOPS HERE
00:12|We're giving you an extra 24 hours to don a black armband and stock up on Kleenex, as the Chatteroo approaches its final destination.
27. CHATTEROO #25 - Cicada Ardor
30:09||Season 2, Ep. 27From Highland Park, Illinois, we're joined by our cicada correspondent, who's keeping watch for the first dual emergence in 221 years. Plus, we find out more about this phenomenon with entomologist Professor Dave Bilton.Bigger than the beetles - more about Dave: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/david-biltonEmerge in the Chatteroo inbox: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com
26. CHATTEROO #24 - with Lauren Child
33:44||Season 2, Ep. 26Lauren Child (former Children's Laureate/creator of Charlie & Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort) joins the Chatteroo.Buy Lauren's new Clarice Bean book, 'Smile': https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/smile-lauren-child/7462273?ean=9780008285548
25. CHATTEROO #23 WILL HUTTON - This Time No Mistakes
27:54||Season 2, Ep. 25Political economist and writer, Will Hutton joins the Chatteroo to talk about his new book, 'This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain', and its parallels with his mid-90s bestseller, 'The State We're In'.Buy Will's book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/this-time-no-mistakes-9781804549407/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com
24. CHATTEROO #22
34:28||Season 2, Ep. 24Vegetarian escalope at the Paris Olympics, energy nerds, The Boring Phone, Mid TV and your correspondence.Join the Chatteroo! Email us with thoughts, questions and any fodder: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com
23. CHATTEROO #21 England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight
42:12||Season 2, Ep. 23Just in time for St George's Day, former Mili-gang members Marc Stears & Tom Baldwin join the Chatteroo to talk about their excellent new book 'England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight'Treat yourself to a copy - you deserve it! https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/england-9781526646231/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com