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28. Ep 28. Ultra Processed People: The Commercial Determinants of Health
57:58||Ep. 28Welcome to 'This Is The North' Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this thought-provoking episode, Alison explores the complex ways big business influences our health with three distinguished experts:Professor Mark Petticrew from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineResearch fellow May van Schalkwyk from the University of EdinburghAssociate Professor Chris van Tulleken from University College London, and author of the number one Sunday Times bestseller, "Ultra Process People"The conversation delves into the commercial determinants of health—how corporations' practices, products and influence shape public health through marketing, lobbying and misinformation campaigns. The experts examine how industries such as alcohol, food, gambling and tobacco prioritise profit over wellbeing, often targeting vulnerable populations while positioning themselves as part of the solution.The discussion reveals how these harmful industries employ sophisticated tactics to influence policy, science and public perception. From funding educational materials in schools to creating "independent" organisations, these industries have systematically worked to shift responsibility onto individuals while protecting their business models that depend on harmful consumption patterns.Episode Timestamps: 01:10 Introduction to Commercial Determinants of Health 03:05 Why the Public Should Care About Commercial Influences 05:20 Ultra-Processing26:10 Conflicts of Interest35:25 The Challenges41:50 Policy Solutions and Regulatory Approaches The panel notes the parallels between tactics used by different industries—from tobacco to food to gambling—showing how they've learned from each other to protect profits at the expense of public health.The conversation concludes with powerful policy recommendations: ending conflicts of interest in regulatory bodies and research, implementing comprehensive marketing restrictions, pursuing legal action against harmful corporations, and developing policy frameworks that address multiple aspects of public health simultaneously.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe now to stay updated on conversations that matter and help shape a brighter, more equitable future.Host: Alison DunnGuests: Professor Mark Petticrew, Research fellow May van Schalkwyk, Associate Professor Chris van TullekenThis podcast is produced by Purpose Made, empowering change through intentional leadership and shared knowledge.
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27. Ep. 27 From Business to Politics: A Conversation with Lord Richard Harrington
36:00||Ep. 27Welcome to 'This Is The North' Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this episode, Alison speaks with Lord Richard Harrington, a distinguished British businessman and politician who was ennobled in 2022 after a successful career spanning four decades. From humble beginnings as the son of a Leeds market stall holder to Oxford scholar, successful entrepreneur, Member of Parliament, and ultimately, a life peer in the House of Lords, Lord Harrington's journey embodies transformation and resilience.The conversation delves into Lord Harrington's pivotal work on refugee resettlement, where he twice served as minister—first implementing David Cameron's pledge to bring 20,000 Syrian refugees to the UK, and later, at Boris Johnson's urgent request, creating the innovative "Homes for Ukraine" scheme that housed 150,000 Ukrainian refugees. Throughout this work, Lord Harrington balanced humanitarian imperatives with practical challenges, creating systems that protected vulnerable people while addressing legitimate security concerns.Most recently, Lord Harrington authored a significant review on foreign direct investment for the UK government, identifying critical barriers to investment including policy inconsistency, bureaucratic delays and insufficient regional devolution. His insights on post-Brexit economic challenges, the crucial role of mayoral authorities in regional development and the urgent need for stable industrial strategy offer a compelling vision for economic transformation in the North and beyond. Episode Timestamps:00:42 Lord Harrington's Early Life and Career03:35 Transition from Business to Politics11:45 First Refugee Resettlement Role with Syrian Refugees13:29 Return to Refugee Work: Creating "Homes for Ukraine"24:42 The Foreign Direct Investment Review33:54 Brexit's Impact39:06 The Role of Regional Mayors42:37 Vision for UK's Investment Climate and Industrial Strategy45:20 Challenges and Barriers to ProgressThis episode serves as a powerful reminder that effective economic transformation requires stability, strategic focus and the courage to make difficult decisions. Lord Harrington's journey from Leeds market to the House of Lords demonstrates how personal experience can inform public policy, while his candid assessment of the UK's investment challenges offers a blueprint for meaningful change. By examining both the human impact of refugee policy and the economic imperatives of investment strategy, this conversation bridges the gap between compassion and pragmatism that lies at the heart of effective governance.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe now to stay updated on conversations that matter and help shape a brighter, more equitable future.Host: Alison DunnGuest: Lord Richard HarringtonThis podcast is produced by Purpose Made, empowering change through intentional leadership and shared knowledge.26. Ep 26. Breaking Free from Good Girl Conditioning: A Conversation with Michelle Minnikin
36:21||Ep. 26Welcome to 'This is The North' podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this compelling episode, I speak with Michelle Minnikin, psychologist and author of 'Good Girl Deprogramming', about the systemic conditioning affecting women in modern society. Michelle brings both professional expertise as an organisational psychologist and personal insight through her late-diagnosis ADHD journey to illuminate the complex mechanisms of gender-based conditioning.Through her fascinating research—drawing parallels between 1950s prisoner of war brainwashing techniques and contemporary patriarchal systems—Michelle reveals how deeply embedded conditioning shapes women's behaviours and choices. She shares how her ADHD diagnosis at age 42 sparked a journey of discovery, leading to groundbreaking work on understanding and dismantling 'Good Girl Conditioning'.The conversation examines critical systemic issues, from workplace dynamics to online harassment, whilst exploring how conditioning manifests in everything from language choices to professional relationships. Michelle challenges current narratives around gender roles, advocating for conscious resistance to conditioning whilst acknowledging the real risks women face when pushing back against established norms.Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction00:31 Meet Michelle Minnikin: psychologist and author01:11 The inspiration behind Good Girl Deprogramming 02:32 Understanding Good Girl conditioning05:13 The patriarchy and its impact06:00 Manifestations of Good Girl Conditioning08:55 Challenges and pushbacks13:05 The role of men in addressing gender issues17:42 Impact on young women and future generations23:00 Reclaiming power and challenging systems30:50 Final thoughts and future projectsThis episode serves as both an awakening and a call to action in addressing systemic gender conditioning. Through Michelle's insights, we explore how seemingly separate issues—from workplace behaviour to social media interactions—connect to create and perpetuate cycles of gender-based oppression. Her vision for change, including practical steps for individual and collective action, offers hope for a more equitable future.Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of online harassment, sexual violence and gender-based discrimination.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe now to stay updated and help shape a brighter, more equitable future.Host: Alison DunnGuest: Michelle MinnikinProducer: Peter BellResources:'Good Girl Deprogramming' by Michelle Minnikin (2023)The demise of DEI signals the demise of human decencyThis podcast is produced by Purpose Made, empowering change through intentional leadership and shared knowledge.25. Ep 25. Feeding Hope: From Food Insecurity to Systemic Change with Professor Greta Defeyter OBE
45:11||Ep. 25Welcome to ‘This Is The North’ Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this powerful episode, Alison speaks with Professor Greta Defeyter OBE, Director of the Healthy Living Lab at Northumbria University, about the devastating impact of food insecurity. With one in five children living in food-insecure households, Professor Defeyter brings both academic expertise and personal insight to this urgent conversation.Through her remarkable journey—from returning to rural Suffolk in the mid-80s as a single mother with just 16 pence and a pair of hiking boots to a leading academic researcher and recent recipient of an OBE for her services —Greta illuminates the complex web of challenges facing food-insecure families. She shares how a chance encounter with a child stuffing toast into his pockets at a school breakfast club transformed her research focus, leading to groundbreaking work on food insecurity and school feeding programmes.The conversation delves deep into systemic issues, from the normalisation of breakfast clubs and food banks to the barriers preventing eligible families from accessing free school meals. Professor Defeyter challenges current approaches, advocating for auto-enrolment systems and questioning why £88 million in unused free school meal allowances vanish from school systems annually. The discussion reveals how seemingly simple solutions, such as providing water fountains in schools or allowing meal allowances to roll over, face bureaucratic hurdles that disproportionately impact the most vulnerable students.Episode Timestamps:00:42 Defining Food Insecurity02:18 Professor Defeyter's Personal Journey04:32 The Evolution of Breakfast Clubs06:08 Impact of Food Insecurity on Child Development13:02 Barriers to Access27:48 Affordable Food Hubs and Alternative Solutions32:35 Policy Recommendations40:34 Auto-enrolment and Future SolutionsThis episode serves as a powerful call to action in how we address food insecurity. Through Professor Defeyter's insights, we see how seemingly separate issues—from school food standards to data sharing between government departments—connect to create and perpetuate cycles of food poverty. Her vision for change, including auto-enrolment for benefits and reimagining school food systems, offers hope for a more equitable future.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe now to stay updated and help shape a brighter, more equitable future.Host: Alison Dunn Guest: Professor Greta Defeyter OBEProducer: Peter Bell🔗 Key PublicationsThis podcast is produced by Purpose Made, empowering change through intentional leadership and shared knowledge.24. Ep 24. Business, Legacy, and Innovation: A Conversation with Charlie Hoult
46:00||Ep. 24Welcome to ‘This Is The North’ Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this compelling episode, Alison delves into the heart of Northern entrepreneurship with Charlie Hoult, a visionary fourth-generation businessman whose family legacy has helped shape the North East's business landscape. As the driving force behind Hoults Yard Business Centre, Charlie embodies the transformative spirit of modern entrepreneurship while honouring the rich industrial heritage of his family's century-old enterprise, which began with Maling's Pottery.Through intimate conversation, Charlie unveils the delicate balance of preserving family legacy while embracing innovation and change. His journey from traditional industry to creating a dynamic business hub reflects the broader evolution of the North's economy. The discussion explores how Hoults Yard has adapted to modern workplace demands, pioneering hybrid work solutions and fostering a vibrant community of entrepreneurs. Charlie's involvement with the National Innovation Centre for Data demonstrates his commitment to positioning the North East at the forefront of technological advancement.This episode transcends typical business discourse by examining the intersection of family values, entrepreneurial spirit, and regional development. Charlie's insights into community-building offer a blueprint for sustainable economic growth in the North. His story exemplifies how traditional business wisdom, when combined with forward-thinking innovation, can create lasting positive change in our communities and challenge the systemic barriers facing Northern development.Episode Timestamps:00:30 Meet Charlie Hoult01:06 The Legacy of Hoults Yard10:12 Adapting Through Crises11:27 Charlie's Diverse Career Path15:06 Entrepreneurial Insights and Challenges19:28 Risk-Taking and Business Planning21:43 Balancing Family and Risk22:17 Generational Change and Entrepreneurship23:31 Political Aspirations and Community Impact26:37 Tech Innovation and Regional Development35:15 Conscious Capitalism and Networking40:34 Future of the North East45:04 Final ThoughtsThis episode serves as a masterclass in modern entrepreneurship, demonstrating how traditional business values can evolve to meet contemporary challenges while maintaining their core purpose. Charlie's story reminds us that true business success isn't just measured in profits but in the lasting impact we create in our communities and the opportunities we create for future generations.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe now to stay updated and help shape a brighter, more equitable future.Host: Alison Dunn Guest: Charlie HoultProducer: Peter BellThis podcast is produced by Purpose Made, empowering change through intentional leadership and shared knowledge.23. Ep 23. Gambling with Lives: James Grimes on Addiction, Advocacy, and Systemic Reform
38:05||Ep. 23Welcome to ‘This Is The North’ Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this compelling episode, Alison speaks with James Grimes, Head of Prevention at Gambling with Lives, about the devastating and often-overlooked crisis of gambling addiction. This epidemic has claimed countless lives and continues to disproportionately harm communities in the North of England.James shares his deeply personal journey, charting a path from despair to redemption, and exposes how a seemingly innocuous pastime can spiral into a life-altering compulsion. Together, they unpack the societal and systemic forces that allow gambling harms to persist—from the legacy of the 2005 Gambling Act to the alarming rise of youth gambling. They also highlight the powerful work of Gambling with Lives, a charity founded by bereaved families advocating for reform and offering support to those affected.This episode dives into the ethical and social dimensions of gambling-related harms, drawing parallels to Big Tobacco and spotlighting the urgent need for systemic change. Through initiatives like The Big Step campaign and grassroots recovery programmes, James and Alison reveal a hopeful path forward—a way to reclaim lives and challenge an industry that profits from vulnerability.This isn’t just a conversation about addiction; it’s a wake-up call. It’s a rallying cry for communities, leaders, and policymakers to confront entrenched systems, rethink the way we address gambling harms, and fight for a future where no one is left behind.Episode Timestamps:00:42 The Impact of the 2005 Gambling Act02:18 Gambling’s Effect on Youth and Families04:32 Comparing Gambling to Big Tobacco: Parallels and Differences05:29 The Role of Personal Responsibility vs Industry Accountability06:08 Gambling-Related Suicides: The Hidden Epidemic13:02 James Grimes’ Journey to Recovery27:48 The Big Step Campaign: Advocacy in Action32:35 Support Systems and Recovery ResourcesThis episode serves as a powerful reminder that real change requires collective action—from grassroots campaigns to bold regulatory reform. James’ story reminds us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, recovery and hope are possible. By amplifying voices like his, Alison Dunn challenges us to confront entrenched norms, spark systemic reform, and imagine a future where no life is sacrificed to preventable harm.Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe now to stay updated on conversations that matter and help shape a brighter, more equitable future.Host: Alison DunnGuest: James GrimesProducer: Peter BellThis podcast is produced by Purpose Made, empowering change through intentional leadership and shared knowledge.22. Ep 22. Exploring Worlds Through Words: A Conversation with Anne Cleeves
33:51||Ep. 22Welcome to ‘This Is The North’ Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with the brilliant Ann Cleeves, best known for her globally acclaimed crime fiction. Our conversation covered her journey from an avid library-goer to an award-winning author, and her commitment to the communities she writes about. Ann’s work captures not only the suspense of crime and mystery but also the underlying social issues, empathy, and resilience found in real life. We delved into Ann’s early life, the variety of jobs that shaped her perspective, and her pathway to publication. She shared insights into the importance of authentic settings, drawing on her love for the North East and how it plays a pivotal role in her stories. Ann’s novels, like Raven Black, and her recent bestseller, The Dark Wives, explore complex characters and themes that resonate far beyond the page, touching on real societal issues.One highlight of our discussion was the Reading for Wellbeing Project, an initiative close to Ann’s heart, which emphasises the mental health and wellbeing benefits of reading for pleasure. We discussed how this project is bringing comfort, community, and mental health support to people through books and shared reading experiences. Ann also shared her thoughts on the challenges libraries face today and the critical need for public funding to keep these invaluable resources alive for future generations.This conversation with Ann reminded me of the power of storytelling to build connections, honour community roots, and advocate for change. Her stories are more than mysteries; they are reflections of the voices and places that shape us, and they serve as a call to remember the social and educational spaces—like libraries—that nurture and inspire us all.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:22 – Ann's Early Life and Inspirations03:10 – The Journey to Becoming a Published Author05:18 – Challenges in the Publishing Industry08:09 – The Dark Wives09:58 – Impact of Social Issues on Writing12:02 – Vera: A Global Phenomenon14:46 – Adapting Books to Screen17:07 – The Inspiration Behind Raven Black17:58 – The Essence of Crime Writing20:54 – Challenges Facing Libraries Today26:06 – Reading for Wellbeing Project32:57 – Upcoming Works and Final ThoughtsEnjoyed the conversation? Subscribe and join us in building a brighter, more inclusive future.Alison Dunn (Host)Ann Cleeves (Guest)Peter Bell (Producer)This podcast is proudly produced by Purpose Made, committed to driving societal change through shared knowledge and transformative conversations.