How can a group of grandmothers in a town square change your understanding of the place you grew up? Former St Andrews student Patrick Bence-Trower talks to Huw about his experiences creating a documentary on the sociocultural impact of the Francoist penitentiary system, the merits of an ethnokafenological approach to research, and the ways in which his documentary-making experiences allowed him to view his hometown and its occupants in a whole new light.

Please note that there are some imperfections in the quality of the sound recording of this episode, including some fluctuation in volume and occasional background noise. We apologise for this and hope that it doesn’t unduly impact your listening and enjoyment of this fascinating conversation between student and tutor.

The article Huw mentioned on the ethnokafenological approach can be found here: “Reclaiming the Land: Belonging, Landscape, and in Situ Displacement on the Plain of Karditsa (Greece).” History and Anthropology 31, no. 5 (October 19, 2020): 643–68.

Miniatures is the podcast of the ERC-funded ‘Dictatorship as Experience’ project at the University of St Andrews. We show how the big picture in history is best seen through the assemblage of individual and local stories, what the German historian Alf Lüdtke called ‘miniatures’. At Miniatures, we forego a studio model and instead adopt a ‘guerrilla’ approach to podcasting, grabbing interviews on handheld recorders with busy researchers whenever and wherever we can find them: in their offices, at conferences, or at a distance via video chat. 
To learn more about the wider project, visit: https://arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/everyday-dictatorship/

Miniatures Episode 10 – Embracing the Chaos: Documenting the Everyday with Patrick Bence-Trower

In this episode, we discuss Chapter 5 of Cusk’s Outline alongside Chapters 3 to 5 of Taylor’s book, The Ethics of Authenticity. Taylor identifies a tension between the sense of identity which is derived from belonging to a community and contemporary culture’s emphasis on the importance of individual self-creation. We reflect on the ways in which Cusk’s book represents this tension.

Speaker names: 

•	Dr. Scarlett Baron, Associate Professor in the English Department at UCL.
•	Alice Harberd, PhD Student in the Philosophy Department at UCL.

3. The Ethics of Authenticity: Charles Taylor

In this episode, we discuss Chapter 6 of Cusk’s Outline alongside an essay by Murdoch called The Idea of Perfection. In this essay, Murdoch argues that the way we pay attention to the world is ethically significant. We talk about how Cusk’s narrator attends to the world, and what this leads the reader to infer about her character and sense of self. 

Speaker names: 

•	Dr. Scarlett Baron, Associate Professor in the English Department at UCL.
•	Alice Harberd, PhD Student in the Philosophy Department at UCL.


4. The Ethics of Attention: Iris Murdoch

In this episode of Public Health Disrupted, hosts Xand van Tulleken and Rochelle Burgess dive into how we form beliefs, and how they shape our understanding of critical public health issues. From vaccination hesitancy to climate change, the episode explores the psychological mechanisms that lead to entrenched views and the challenges of changing minds. Joining them are Mia Forbes Pirie, a leading international mediator, and Dr. Kris De Meyer, Director of the UCL Climate Action Unit. Together, they share their insights on effective communication strategies that prioritise relationship-building over persuasion, emphasising the importance of empathy and understanding in discussions surrounding contentious topics. 

In this episode: 
- How beliefs are formed and why they can become entrenched. 
- The role of cultural identity in shaping opinions and the fear of social rejection. 
- Practical strategies for engaging with differing viewpoints and fostering meaningful dialogue. 

Public Health Disrupted is produced by UCL Health of the Public and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Transcription link:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/health-of-public/news-and-events/public-health-disrupted/season-5-ep-2-listening-connect-notes-and-transcript

Date of episode recording: 2025-03-10T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00:42:35
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Xand van Tulleken; Rochelle Burgess
Guests: Mia Forbes Pirie; Kris De Meyer
Producer: Fran Goldman (Producer) Annabelle Buckland (Editor)


Season 5 - Listening to connect: how understanding beliefs can transform public health

From smart buildings to robotics, solving sustainability problems to solving skill shortages, can the construction industry effectively harness the power of AI? Prof Priti Parikh is joined by Dr Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu, Dr Andrew Mitchell and Dr Vijay Pawar as they look at the construction sector and how it already is adapting to the use of artificial intelligence – the rate that is happening and the impact it will have now and in the future.

Date of episode recording: 2025-04-10T00:00:00Z
Duration: 34:31
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Prof. Priti Parikh
Guests: Dr Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu; Dr Andrew Mitchell; Dr Vijay Pawar
Producer: Adam Batstone; Chizoba Onyiuke


The Bartlett Review - The AI Blueprint for the Construction Industry

As summer kicks-off, UCL Generation One dives into the intersection of sport and sustainability – exploring how sport contributes to climate change, and how the climate crisis is already affecting how and where we play. 

Mark and Simon are joined by Sofie Junge Pedersen, professional footballer and climate campaigner (Inter Milan, Denmark national team) and Dan Hall (Sustainability Engagement Officer at UCL, Communications Manager for Football For Future). Dan and Sofie discuss the role of grassroots initiatives and player-led advocacy in promoting climate consciousness in the beautiful game. 

We also hear from Dr Russell Seymour, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sport Business from Loughborough University, and the Chair of the British Association for Sustainable Sport. Russ breaks down the impact of climate change on sport, and the necessity for stronger government and organisational regulation to tackle climate change. 

From grassroots campaigns to global initiatives, tune in to hear what clubs, venues, and fans can do to build a more sustainable future for the sports we love. 

Link to Action FC actionfc.org/aramno-campaign

Transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/ucl-generation-one-climate-podcast 

Date of episode recording: 12 and 23 May 2025 

Duration: 49:51 
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests: 
Dan Hall (UCL Sustainability, Football For Future) 
Sofie Junge Pederson (Inter Milan, Denmark national team) 
Dr Russell Seymour (Loughborough University, British Association for Sustainable Sport) 
Producers:  
Adam Batstone 
Caitlin Mullin

Season 5, Episode 7 - From sidelines to solutions: Tackling emissions in sport

Delve into the world of Rashid Johnson through insights from the artist, commentary from Guggenheim curators, and select poetry.

Symbolism

Toni Morrison: The Bluest Eye

The US-led international order is under strain from without and within. Authoritarian powers such as Russia and China are challenging the core tenets of global cooperation and conflict management. Rising states of the Global South like India, Brazil, and South Africa demand reformed multilateralism in the institutions of global governance, and the US and its Western allies face a domestic surge of right-wing populism that seeks to reverse the eighty-year-old open and interdependent system of international relations. At stake is democracy, a core tenet of American political life and foreign policy. 

 

To discuss and consider these issues, in May 2025, the LSE Phelan US Centre held the conference: International relations and Democracy in a Multipolar World. The conference brought together scholars and experts to examine how important these democratic discourses and practices are in the broader context of challenges to the US-led international order and the domestic contestation over the future direction of US foreign policy. 

 

The conference was convened by Phelan US Centre Affiliates Dr Rohan Mukherjee and Dr Luca Tardelli of LSE’s International Relations Department, and by Theresa Squatrito also of LSE’s Department of International Relations and Mathias Koenig-Archibugi of LSE’s Department of Government. 

 

In this episode of The Ballpark, we speak to Rohan Mukherjee and Theresa Squatrito about the main themes and takeaways from the conference. We also talked to three of the conference participants, Agnes Yu (LSE Department of Government), Farsan Ghassim (University of Oxford), and Tim Murithi (University of Cape Town), about their thoughts on the future of democracy and global governance. 

  

This episode of The Ballpark was produced by Chris Gilson and Luke Digweed.   

 

LSE: The Ballpark | International relations and Democracy in a Multipolar World

Andrea Liguori, Kate Zanzucchi, Starr Figura, and Marcia Bartholme on the catalogue and Diebenkorn's printmaking practice.

The Richard Diebenkorn Catalogue Raisonné of Prints

St Andrews is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world, founded in 1413.

Miniatures Episode 10 – Embracing the Chaos: Documenting the Everyday with Patrick Bence-Trower

University of St Andrews

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