In this series, guests from across UCL and beyond share their innovative solutions and ideas for addressing societal challenges, discussing topics from a cross-disciplinary perspective and inspiring and encouraging us to think differently about issues of local, national and global concern.

Disruptive Voices from UCL Grand Challenges

Learning 19

UCL Minds

In this series, guests from across UCL and beyond share their innovative solutions and ideas for addressing societal challenges, discussing topics from a cross-disciplinary perspective and inspiring and encouraging us to think differently about issues of local, national and global concern.
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In Episode 1, we speak to two academics from the Faculty of Laws, Dr Myriam Hunter-Henin and Professor Philippe Sands QC, about Democracy and Place. In this episode, we explore the role of international courts in shaping national identities and the role of individuals in the making and breaking of international law. Our guests also discuss how we can deliver justice at a ‘place-based’ level, drawing comparisons between Britain and France, and consider the relationship between politics and law. 

Transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/disruptive-voices-episode-1-democracy-and-place

More info: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/disruptive-voices

Music: Dancing on the Sidewalk by David Szesztay (social media license)

Disruptive Voices - Place and Democracy

In this series, guests from across UCL and beyond share their innovative solutions and ideas for addressing societal challenges, discussing topics from a cross-disciplinary perspective and inspiring and encouraging us to think differently about issues of local, national, and global concern. 
 
In this week’s episode, Professor Rose Luckin (UCL Institute of Education) and Nimmi Patel (TechUK) discuss what AI developments could mean for the future of work in the UK and globally, and how we need to redefine our understanding of good work to harness AI’s potential for positive change.
 
Transcript: hhttps://www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/disruptive-voices-episode-2-ai-and-future-work
 
Music: Dancing on the Sidewalk by David Szesztay (social media license)

Related UCL podcasts the 'Future of Work':
- Coronavirus: The Whole Story - What does the future of work look like? https://bit.ly/2Q6mxzt
- eWorkLife - https://www.eworklife.co.uk/podcast/

Disruptive Voices - AI and the Future of Work

In this episode, we speak to Professor Sophia Psarra (The Bartlett School of Architecture) to discuss how the architecture of parliament buildings across Europe influences the nature of political debates and contributes to shaping national identities. 

More info: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/case-studies/2021/feb/parliament-buildings-architecture-power-accountability-and-democracy-europe 

Music: Dancing on the Sidewalk by David Szesztay (social media license)
 
Find out more about UCL's research and engagement in Europe on our portal, European Voices: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/european-voices/

Disruptive Voices - Parliament Buildings

In Episode 4, we speak to Ayşe Lisa Allison, a PhD Student working with the Plastic Waste Innovation Hub. We explore some of the barriers to environmentally friendly action, and examine the links between behavioural science and design, focusing on biodegradable and compostable packaging and labelling. We also discuss the issue of disposable healthcare items, exploring some of the trade-offs when it comes to health and the environment.

Transcript and more info on https://www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/disruptive-voices

Disruptive Voices - Behaviour and Plastic Waste

In this episode, Onya speaks with Mara Stoll (UCL MSc Prosperity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and theologian Dr. David Dark about how hermeneutics, the art of interpretation, can transform social entrepreneurship. Together, they unpack why understanding our own assumptions and a community’s lived reality is key to avoiding well-intentioned missteps. Discover how applying hermeneutic principles can help founders slow down, listen deeply, and co-create ventures that truly fit the people they are meant to serve.

Date of episode recording: 2025-09-01
Duration: 00:41:27
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Dr Onya Idoko
Guests: Mara Stoll and Dr David Dark
Producer: Manolo Fournier
Podcast owner: Victoria Howard


Slow Down and Listen: Hermeneutics for Social Entrepreneurs

With clear explanations, fun illustrations, and expertly-presented information, Consent (for Kids!) is an empowering introduction to consent, bodily autonomy, and respect for yourself and others.

Consent is like being ruler of your own country…population: YOU.

This is a smart, playful guide to consent and bodily autonomy, packed with bright and energetic illustrations. Readers will learn about boundaries and how to set them; ways to respect themselves and others; what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe; and much more. Along the way, they’ll be encouraged to reflect on (and improve!) their own behavior and to practice consent in their daily lives.

Whether you’re looking for a consent primer to share with a friend or searching for a way to talk to your child about what it means to be in control of their own body and respect others’, look no further! This humorous and insightful book from the co-creator of the viral “Tea Consent” video is the perfect teaching tool, conversation starter, and insightful, empowering resource for educators, kids, and families everywhere. 

Consent (For Kids!) by Rachel Brian read by Rachel Brian

A top expert in personal branding shows introverts how to leverage their unique strengths to get ahead    

To build a career, you need a personal brand to showcase your distinct skills, experience, and expertise. Building that brand can feel daunting—particularly for introverts. Conventional wisdom holds that introverts should fake extroversion in order to succeed, advice that can be terrifying for anyone who finds social interaction exhausting. Personal branding expert and introvert Goldie Chan says it doesn’t have to be this way.   

Chan empowers introverts to create memorable and recognizable personal brands without feeling the pressure to become someone else. With examples from everyday introverts to introvert celebrities like Taylor Swift and LeVar Burton, Chan shows how introversion can be a superpower when building a personal brand. She shares strategies for goal setting, navigating in-person networking events, building online and offline communities, partnering effectively with extroverts, and sustaining energy for the long run.   

This book is essential reading for any introvert looking to level up a career or community without sacrificing authenticity.    

Personal Branding for Introverts by Goldie Chan read by Ferdelle Capistrano

This is the wild story of how Donald Trump capitalized on the Democrats’ growing disconnect with male voters — told through the explosive culture war battles playing out in sports.
 
Democrats don’t have a Trump problem. They have a man problem. And Trump was just the guy to exploit it. Young men see the Democratic Party as anti-men, run by weak, low-testosterone beta males. And here’s the truth: Trump won with balls. And he won’t be the last Republican to do it. The 2024 red tsunami was led by men fed up with woke nonsense. Unless Democrats change fast, it’s only going to get worse for them.

This book breaks down how Trump used sports as his secret weapon to rack up votes. From the Lia Thomas controversy to Bud Light’s downfall, ESPN’s woke meltdown to his own assassination attempt—where he proved once again he’s a fighter—Trump seized these opportunities and played the game like a winner. And America’s men took notice.

Clay Travis doesn’t hold back. As the founder of Outkick, the co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, and one of the most influential voices in sports and conservative media, he’s interviewed Trump more than ten times—including on Air Force One. Now, he’s bringing the unfiltered truth about why men turned on the Democrats—and why they’re never coming back.

Balls by Clay Travis read by Clay Travis

A definitive new history of the world’s most watched sporting event—just in time for the 2026 tournament​

Since 1930, the World Cup has become a truly global obsession. It is the most watched sporting event on the planet, and 211 teams competed to make it into the 2022 tournament. From its inception, it has also been a vehicle for far more than soccer. A tool for self-mythologizing and influence-peddling, The World Cup has played a crucial role in nation-building, and continues to, as countries negotiate their positions in a globalized world. 
 
The Power and the Glory is a comprehensive history of the matches and goals, the tales of scandal and triumph, the haggling and skulduggery of the bidding process, and the political and cultural tides behind every tournament. Jonathan Wilson details not merely what happened but why, based on fresh interviews and meticulous research. The book is as much about the legends of the sport, from Pelé to Messi, as it is about the nations that made them, from Mussolini’s Italy to partitioned Germany to controversy-ridden Qatar. 
 
Brimming with politics, heart, and drama, on and off the pitch, The Power and the Glory is the definitive story of the greatest cultural event of our time.

The Power and the Glory by Jonathan Wilson read by Paul Thornley

In this episode, host Ethne James Souch is joined by Professor Sara Mole, Noël Caliste, and Dr Sinead Murphy to explore how UCL is fostering inclusion and equity through intersectional initiatives focused on protected characteristics, mental health, and institutional change. This conversation highlights the work of Grand Challenges-funded projects such as Safer Space Conversations and Heads Together, designed to address the experiences of staff and students related to gender, LGBTQ+ identity, disability, and mental health. The episode also touches on frameworks like Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter and discusses how lived experience and co-production are shaping more thoughtful, resilient approaches to equity at UCL.

 Date of episode recording: 2025-08-05
 Duration: 00:27:55
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Ethne James Souch
 Guests: Sara Mole; Noel Caliste; Sinead Murphy
 Producer: Annabelle Buckland
 Podcast owner: Ethne James Souch; Daisy Harvey; Siobhan Morris; Annabelle Buckland

Intersectionality at UCL: Lived Experience and Institutional Change

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2010 - 2021). Our excellence extends across all academic disciplines, from one of the world's foremost centres for research and teaching in the biological sciences to world-renowned centres for architecture (UCL Bartlett), education (UCL IOE) and fine art (UCL Slade School).

UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 13,000 staff and 43,000 students from 150 different countries. Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion and the first to welcome women on equal terms with men.

UCL Minds brings together UCL’s knowledge, insights, and ideas through events, activities, and digital content open to everyone. Find out what’s on UCL Minds: www.ucl.ac.uk/minds