Compassion in Politics

Former Chancellor Ken Clarke & Baroness Shami Chakrabarti talk with presenter Gavin Esler about the culture of contemporary politics, the need for action on wealth inequality, & the actions that can be taken to build a more respectful & honest politics. Across the Benches is produced by Compassion In Politics in partnership with The Real Agenda Network 

In the latest edition of Across the Benches, Co-Director Jennifer Nadel interviews Labour MP Rupa Huq and the former Health Secretary Matt Hancock. They talk about the need for new institutions to encourage cross-party working, their worries about the toxicity of online debate, and their desires to improve the culture of politics.

Across the Benches is the new podcast from Compassion in Politics which brings together two MPs from different parties to discuss the values they have in common. In this first episode Labour's Jess Phillips and Conservative MP Maria Miller share what brought them into politics, the culture of parliamentary life, and the progress towards gender equality. The show is hosted by award-winning broadcaster Gavin Esler.

Can education be compassionate? Kathryn Waddington, reader in psychology at the University of Westminster, joins us to discuss her new book - Towards the Compassionate University - which examines what a compassionate university looks like and how we can bring more compassion into education. This podcast series is produced by Compassion in Politics, working to bring more compassion into public life and distributed by The Real Agenda Network www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Former Mayor of Sheffield Magid Magid and Jackie Weaver - of Handforth Parish Council fame - join us to discuss local politics, the power of communities, upcoming elections, and the culture of political life. This podcast series is produced by Compassion in Politics, working to bring more compassion into public life and distributed by The Real Agenda Network www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Award-winning journalist, author, & TV presenter Gavin Esler joins us to discuss his new book: How Britain Ends - and whether or not far-right nationalism could lead to the break-up of the UK. We also talk about how we can change the divisive culture of politics (and the media) & the prospects for the Biden presidency. Produced by Compassion in Politics, which works to bring more compassion into public life, distributed by The Real Agenda Network www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Orwell Prize winning author, musician, and TV presenter Darren McGarvey aka 'Loki' joins us to discuss class, the origins of and attempts to solve poverty, and the problem of tribalism in politics - plus much more. This podcast is produced by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life and is distributed by The Real Agenda Network of podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Dr Nina Ansary, a visiting Fellow at the LSE, UN Women Champion for Innovation, and the author of two ground-breaking books on feminism and female equity, talks about overcoming divisions, the global history of the feminist movement, and the power of cultural myths and stories. This podcast is produced by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life and is distributed by The Real Agenda Network of podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Debbie Abrahams MP tells us what life is like inside parliament, how we can transform politics with compassion, and what listeners can do to change politics for good. This podcast is produced from Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life and is distributed by The Real Agenda Network of podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Award-winning film director Deeyah Khan talks about why she spent months of her life talking to white supremacists, Islamic extremists, and anti-abortionists, plus she gives some incredible insights into what drives them and what could reduce the levels of polarisation. This podcast is produced by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life and is distributed by The Real Agenda Network of podcasts for political change. www.compassioninpolitics.com  www.realagenda.org

Alex Evans, founder of the Collective Psychology Project & author of The Myth Gap, joins us to discuss the role psychology can play in building a new politics, overcoming social divisions, & helping us all through this difficult and uncertain time. This podcast is produced from Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Baroness Ruth Hunt former CEO of Stonewall, editor of The Book of Queer Prophets, and co-founder of Deeds and Words talks about values, politics, and cultural change with Matt Hawkins, co founder of Compassion In Politics. What Matters? is a podcast from Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Professor Guy Standing tells us why the time has come for the government to introduce a basic income for UK citizens, what that would look like, and what the trials of basic incomes across the world have taught us. What Matters? is a podcast from Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Neal Lawson, political commentator & Executive Director of the think-tank Compass, joins us to discuss how we can build back better after Covid, his lessons from working to create progressive alliances in politics, & his view on how political movements are undergoing transformations. What Matters is a podcast from Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Prof Paul Gilbert, clinical psychologist, talks about his pioneering research into compassion focused therapy: where does it come from, how do we cultivate it, what can do to our brains and what does it offer society? This special bonus episode of the podcast from Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life is produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Founder of Southall Black Sisters, Pragna Patel addresses systemic sexism & racism within the UK legal system. Pragna talks to Jennifer Nadel about her mission to bring legal rights to migrant women fleeing domestic abuse, & sheds light on some of the historical echoes surrounding recent protests. What Matters is political think tank Compassion and Politics' new podcast. Each week a new interviewee discusses why the work they devote their life to matters to them. What Matters is produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Oxford professor Danny Dorling tells us what his new book, Slowdown, is all about, why he thinks there were huge shifts taking place to our economy before Covid, and the lessons we can learn from Europe about how to create a fairer society. The Beyond Covid podcast series is created by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Dr Kristin Neff, professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas, talks to us about self-compassion and how to generate it, what psychologists think about Donald Trump, and her recommendations for anyone feeling down & dejected because of the lockdown. The Beyond Covid podcast series is created by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for progressive change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Physician, comedian & Private Eye columnist Dr Phil Hammond talks about preventing future outbreaks by improving animal welfare and offers his outlook as a doctor on the political response to Covid-19. Plus he tells us about a twitter faux pas he made and what he's been struggling with over lockdown. The Beyond Covid podcast series is created by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, and is produced by Kitty Horlick for the political podcast channel The Real Agenda Network. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

The philosopher AC Grayling joins us to talk about what the Covid crisis is teaching us about what it means to be human. He also gives his views on the government's response and tells us the major political reform that he believes is needed in the UK. The Beyond Covid podcast series is created by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for political change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Today we are joined by Professor Michael West of the King's Fund: the think tank devoted to improving health and care in the UK. Michael talks about his research on effective leadership styles and how these can be used to change politics for good. Plus he shares with us the thing he is struggling with most during the lockdown and he is go-to comfort for dealing with it. The Beyond Covid podcast series is created by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for political change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Anthropologist & TV presenter Alice Roberts talks to Jennifer & Matt  about what we can learn from historical pandemics about the changes they bring to society and what we can do now to prepare for a better future. She also shares with us her strategies for coping with the lock-down - including the sweet treats she relies on. The Beyond Covid podcast series is created by Compassion in Politics, the think tank that works to bring more compassion into public life, produced by Kitty Horlick & Alex Wilks for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for political change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org

Caroline Lucas MP talks about how to use the lessons we're learning from the current crisis to tackle climate change & build a more equal country. Hosted by member of the Nobel Peace Prize winning campaign team for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, Matt Hawkins and former ITV News editor, Jennifer Nadel, this episode is the first in a new series exploring ideas that would enable the UK to build back better after the Covid-19 crisis. Caroline discusses fresh evidence which shows the public may be more receptive to crisis measures to tackle climate change than politicians realise & how to use the community power we've seen in response to Covid-19 to unleash a new more democratic politics in the future. She also reveals her guilty comfort for dealing with lockdown. The Beyond Covid podcast series is created by Compassion in Politics, Matt and Jen's think tank which works to bring more compassion into public life, and is produced by Kitty Horlick for The Real Agenda Network, podcasts for political change. www.compassioninpolitics.com www.realagenda.org