The Louder Than Words Podcast

Join Anna Di Ronco, Anna Sergi and Nigel South in conversation about how criminology is helping to reveal the changing nature of policy practice, the definitions of uncivil people, and the growth of environmental and organised crime Anna Di Ronco, Anna Sergi and Nigel South are from the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex.

Join Caroline Bald and Akudo Amadiegwu in conversation with Jules Pretty about the high incidence of brain injury and social silencing, and how to bring people together Caroline Bald and Akudo Amadiegwu are from the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Essex.

Join Caterina Cinel, Luca Citi and Reinhold Scherer in conversation with Jules Pretty about brain-computer interfaces and neural engineering. Caterina Cinel, Luca Citi and Reinhold Scherer are from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at the University of Essex.

Join Kat Hadjimatheou and Renee Luthra in conversation with Jules Pretty about how violence spirals in the home and community, and the impacts on women and migrants. Kat Hadjimatheou and Renee Luthra are from the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex.

Join Anna Sturrock and Tom Cameron in conversation with Jules Pretty about why the blue marine matters, and how seas and coasts can be regenerated. Anna Sturrock and Tom Cameron are from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Essex.

Join Sheena Cruickshank, Laura Cream and Paul Manners in conversation with Jules Pretty about how universities are showing they can improve the lives of people through public engagement. Sheena Cruickshank is from the University of Manchester, Laura Cream is from University College London and Paul Manners is from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. The Louder Than Words podcast is about how ideas improve lives. Professor Jules Pretty created the Louder than Words podcast for conversations on how the world can be made a better place by inquiry, research and public engagement. These are ideas that can inspire individual, collective and policy action. This is the first podcast from the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement at the University of Essex. There are three series a year: autumn, spring and summer. Each episode of Louder Than Words takes a key contemporary issue and gives you a chance to hear from leading researchers, policy makers, thinkers and campaigners plus those directly affected by the issue. The podcast is produced by Marcus Pierpoint and Luke Fitch of the University of Essex’s Media Centre. Producers of series 1-3 were Ali Martin and Martha Dixon.

Join Danielle Tucker and Louise Nash in conversation with Jules Pretty on how the world of work is changing for women, and how women are changing the workplace and organisations. Danielle Tucker and Louise Nash are from the Essex Business School

Join Teeven Soobaroyen and Danson Kimani in conversation with Jules Pretty on how businesses and corporate governance are changing in Africa, and how businesses are creating new models that invest in the society and the public. Teeven Soobaroyen and Danson Kimani are both from the Essex Business School

Dr Danson Kimani and Professor Teerooven Soobaroyen from Essex Business School discuss business and the role of corporate governance in emerging economies. Particularly how different economies are developing their own approaches and how the economic crisis is exposing problems with the existing global system. How can we find new processes, standards and principles to guide companies and fit the changing world. Professor Jules Pretty explores with Dr Kimani and Professor Soobaroyen a wide range of issues from financial inclusion and microfinance to accounting best practices and governance.

Join Ahmed Shaheed and Wayne Martin in conversation with Jules Pretty on the UN Special Rapporteur’s new report on freedom of thought, and how this will shape many fundamental freedoms for belief, religion and culture.

Professor Ahmed Shaheed from the Human Rights Centre and Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and Professor Wayne Martin from the School of Philosophy and Art History join Professor Jules Pretty to discuss the importance of protecting the freedom of thought. They look at the implications of this commitment and potential threats to it across politics, health care, and many other areas.

Join Liam Jarvis and Katy Wheeler, with a contribution from Bruce Hood, in conversation with Jules Pretty on how new thinking on delivery of education and engagement of students is changing the lives of students for the better. Liam Jarvis is from the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies and Katy Wheeler is from the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex, and Bruce Hood is from the University of Bristol.

New thinking about how to learn is changing the lives of students. Professor Jules Pretty talks to Dr Liam Jarvis from the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies and Dr Katy Wheeler from the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex. They will be joined by Professor Bruce Hood from the University of Bristol, who will talk about an immersive happiness course for students.

Join Tracey Loughran and Kate Mahoney in conversation with Jules Pretty on how public history is being used to understand the health, well-being and lived experiences of young women, how the development of a new toolkit called “Bodies, Hearts and Minds” is helping. Tracey Loughran is from the Department of History at the University of Essex, and Kate Mahoney is from Healthwatch Essex @KateFMahoney @bodyselffamily @Uni_of_Essex @HWEssex

Professor Tracey Loughran from the Department of History at the University of Essex and Kate Mahoney from Healthwatch Essex discuss how they have used public history to better understand women's experiences of their health during the course of their lives. They've used this work to develop the 'Bodies, Hearts and Minds' toolkit that supports the wellbeing of young people, helps them understand the past and encourages them to reflect on their own feelings and identity. The toolkit is being used by schools and other organisations working with young people. @KateFMahoney @bodyselffamily @Uni_of_Essex @HWEssex

Join Melissa Tyler, Phil Hancock and Tom Carradine in conversation with Jules Pretty on the future for creative work and performance in the aftermath of COVID-19, drawing together lessons we have learnt and likely long-term impacts. Melissa Tyler and Phil Hancock are from the Essex Business School, and Tom Carradine from Carradine’s Cockney Sing-along.

What is the future for creative work and performance in the aftermath of COVID-19? What lessons have we learnt and what is the long-term impact? Professor Melissa Tyler and Professor Philip Hancock from Essex Business School speak to Professor Jules Pretty and Tom Carradine from Carradine's Cockney Singalong talks about his experiences during lockdown and beyond.

Join Ruth Lowry and Paul Freeman in conversation with Jules Pretty on how difficult it is to stay active and healthy, and about how to support individuals and communities to live healthier through crafts, nature contact, drumming and gardening. Ruth Lowry and Paul Freeman are from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences at the University of Essex

As lifestyles change how do we stay active and stay healthy. What interventions can change behaviour, improve the environment and offer access to activities which can promote our wellbeing? Dr Ruth Lowry and Dr Paul Freeman from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences talk about supporting individuals and communities to live healthier more active lives from crafts and nature to drumming and gardening.

Join Gina Reinhardt and Gillian Sandstrom, with a contribution from author Anna Jones, in conversation with Jules Pretty about Gina Reinhardt is from the Department of Government at the University of Essex, Gillian Sandstrom from the University of Sussex, and Anna Jones is the author of Divide.

Louder Than Words looks at how kindness can transform lives. We speak to Professor Gina Reinhardt from the Department of Government at the University of Essex, Dr Gillian Sandstrom from the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, and journalist and broadcaster Anna Jones author of Divide.

Hidden histories and lost voices are now being heard. The latest episode of Louder Than Words looks at Black History through lenses of plays and literature. Contributors to this episode are: Dr Jak Peake, Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Professor Jeremy Krikler, Department of History Dr Holly Maples, East 15 Acting School Further reading Read blog about on Theatre, Literature and Education by Dr Jak Peake Read blog on creating theatre about Black History by Professor Jeremy Krikler and Dr holly Maples

Theatre and drama can be entertainment, but they can also unstick difficult social problems by promoting empathy, encouraging us to see life from different perspectives and nurturing links between people. The latest Louder Than Words looks at how theatre can bring insights, bring people together and unlocks issues. Theatre writers and creators Professor Liz Kuti and Annecy Lax, from the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre talk to Professor Jules Pretty. They suggest that telling stories, expressing ideas through performance and watching performances in the theatre, online and on television is in many ways as natural as breathing and an essential part of being human. At the same time theatre and drama offers space to transform people. Annecy says: “The kind of theatre I work in can have a really transformational effect on people. I’ve been in the room where that has happened and been involved in projects where theatre has had a huge benefit on people’s lives.”

What is the impact of our perception of our own body? How does it impact our wellbeing? How does our understanding of our body differ across cultures and change over time? Psychology researcher Dr Helge Gilmeister and art historian Dr Matt Lodder join Professor Jules Pretty.

Louder than Words looks at the experience of indigenous people around the world from the reclaiming of cultural identities, activism and the struggle for rights to the challenges indigenous communities still face. Professor Jules Pretty speaks to Professor Colin Samson and Dr Carlos Gigoux Gramegna from the Department of Sociology plus Dr Julian Burger, Visiting Professor at the Human Rights Centre. He will also be joined by explorer and President of Survival International Robin Hanbury-Tenison. Professor Samson and Dr Gigoux Gramegna said: "Understanding the relationships between indigenous peoples and their lands has been at the heart of our research. Having worked, visited and lived with indigenous groups in subarctic North America, the Southern Cone of South America, the Asia-Pacific region, and southern Africa the common factor linking the peoples we know, whether they be farmers, hunters or pastoralists is a resilient attachment to the natural environments which they call home."

Research and practice in health and social care needs patients to be meaningfully involved in gathering evidence and making the decisions that impact their lives. This approach improves decision making and delivers better outcomes. Professor Jules Pretty speaks to Senior Research Officer Tracey Johns, Research Officer Sally Burrows and Professor Peter Beresford from the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Essex. As Sally and Tracey say: "Our work is about brokering conversations between everyone who has an interest in health and social care, especially those with the greatest needs and vulnerabilities. We listen to people in the streets, in cafes and in community centres. We listen to people through their trusted intermediaries." You can read more about their work in their blog at: www.essex.ac.uk/blog Peter adds that COVID-19 has not helped patient involvement: "Among the many massive consequences of COVID-19 is its highlighting of the fragility of public and patient involvement in health and social care research. When we most needed the crucial evidence that comes from inclusive involvement, it wasn’t being collected." Again read more at: www.essex.ac.uk/blog

Baby and child development are the focus of the latest episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast. Professor Jules Pretty looks at the work of the Babylab at the University of Essex, how it helps us understand the development of children and reflects on the impact of nature on children throughout their development. He speaks to Dr Maria Filippetti and Dr Silvia Rigato from the Department of Psychology and Dr Jo Barton from the School of Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences. They discuss how babies learn, the importance of fun, the impact of parental attitudes, the value of nature and offer advice and insights to listeners stemming from their research.

Professor Jules Pretty investigates the double crisis facing our seas - the climate crisis and the threat to biodiversity. He speaks to Dr Michelle Taylor and Dr Natalie Hicks from the School of Life Sciences at Essex and Essex graduate Simon Walmsley, Head of the WWF-UK Marine Programme. He also chats with writer and BBC presenter Tom Heap about his new book 39 Ways to Save the Planet and how we can all take action.

How important is nature to us? How has our relationship with nature changed over time? What does the future hold? Through the lenses of birds and trees, The Louder Than Words podcast investigates how we talk and feel about the natural world at this time of environmental crisis. Professor Jules Pretty is joined in conversation by: Professor Sean Nixon, from the Department of Sociology, writer of Passions for Birds: Science, Sentiment and Sport to be published by McGill-Queen's University Press. The book explores the shifting relations with wild birds within Britain and the wider Atlantic world from the first decades of the twentieth century to the late 1970s. Dr James Canton, from the Department of Literature Film and Theatre Studies (LiFTS), His most recent book is The Oak Papers, a meditation on the human need for connection with nature which reflects on the relationship with an ancient oak tree.

In the latest episode of the Louder than Words Podcast, Professor Jules Pretty journalist Martha Dixon look at surveillance and the impact on our modern lives. Academics from the University of Essex explain how they are contributing to the debate; helping people understand their rights and also trying to work alongside innovators to explain the implications of their technology. Contributors include: Emmanuelle Andrews - Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty Professor Pete Fussey – Department of Sociology, University of Essex Dr Daragh Murray – Human Rights Centre and School of Law, University of Essex

In the latest episode of the Louder than Words Podcast, Professor Jules Pretty journalist Martha Dixon look at sustainability – in what we eat – and how we use our land. Academics from the University of Essex show us how they’re helping farmers meet our needs while saving the planet. Contributors include: Professor Christine Raines, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex Archie Ruggles-Brise, Spains Hall Estate, Essex Dr Tom Cameron, Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex Dr Patricia Lopez, Senior Research Officer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex Kenny Brown, Research Technician, Univesity of Essex

How can we better prepare for disasters and how can we improve our response? Professor Jules Pretty from the University of Essex and journalist Martha Dixon speak to experts from the University of Essex and the organisations at the frontline of disaster response. Contributors: Professor Kelum Jayasinghe, Essex Business School, University of Essex Dr Alex Quiroz Flores, Department of Government, University of Essex Professor John Preston, Department of Sociology, University of Essex Anoja Seneviratne, Director (Mitigation Research & Development) Disaster Management Centre

Listen to the latest episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast to discover the story of inventor and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi. Essex historians are now helping uncover new materials in the Marconi archive and finding new ways to engage the community in their discoveries. Professor Jules Pretty from the University of Essex and journalist Martha Dixon speak to historians and archivists about why this project is breaking new ground for archives and setting an example for others to follow. Contributors: Richard Anderson - Archive and Collections Lead at Essex Record Office Martin Astell - Essex Record Office Manager Lewis Smith - Research student Alan Pamphilon - Former Marconi engineer and local historian

Listen to the latest episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast to discover the story of the Warner Textile Archive and how Essex historians are helping unlock the potential of the archive for designers and bringing it to life for the public. Find out more about Louder than Words Professor Jules Pretty from the University of Essex and journalist Martha Dixon speak to historians and archivists plus top designers who love using Warner textiles. Warner and Sons once provided the luxury fabrics which decorated palaces and featured at royal weddings. The Warner Textile Archive is now the largest publicly owned collection from a luxury textile manufacturer in the UK. The Archive is housed in the original Warner & Sons mill in Braintree that was refurbished in 2004 to hold the significant collection. The collection comprises over 100,000 items, including designs on paper, hand woven textiles, printed textiles, business records, photographs and manufacturing equipment. At its height, Warner & Sons were producing fabric for royal weddings and funerals, and decorating palaces. The family business pioneered several textile manufacturing techniques that have never again been replicated. Contributors: Dr Alix Green, from the Department of History at Essex, is overseeing a project to digitise the Warner Textile Archive. PhD student Samantha Woodward has helped the Warner Textile Archive to develop a framework for further research into core parts of the collection and looked at ways to engage with users in the future. Robert Rose is Museum Manager of the Warner Textile Archive. Sophie Jemma is Archivist at the Warner Textile Archive. Cassie Nicholas is an Interior Designer and Winner of the BBC Interior Design Masters programme who has used Warner Textiles. Adam Sykes, owner of heritage fabrics specialist Claremont which continues to use Warner Textile designs in its ranges.

The latest episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast looks at the impact of brain injury. How do we find out more about the problems survivors face? What needs to change in the way we support them to live their lives? In the UK 700,000 people end up at A&E every year with a head injury, according to NHS figures and around a million people are now living with some sort of brain injury. Survivors include injured sportspeople, or road accident victims. There are also survivors who've been through things like severe infections or strokes. Novel research at the University of Essex is leading to a big shift in policy to help survivors, while also developing technological solutions to help with everyday tasks. They will be speaking to: Dr Andrew Bateman (4:29) from the School of Health and Social Care at Essex is project lead for COURAGE Network which brings together people affected by and living with, neurological conditions, with the research community. The innovative project is initially funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Caroline Bald (8:01), from the School of Health and Social Care at Essex, is looking to improve training in the UK so social workers see that understanding brain injury is an integral part of their work. Chloe Hayward (11:33), Executive Director of the UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum. The Forum aims to promote a better understanding of all aspects of acquired brain injury. Dr Anirban Chowdhury (15:16), Lecturer in Neural Engineering and Robotics at Essex, is developing a brain-computer interface to control an exoskeleton to support movement, just through the power of thought. Stella Kerins (18:29), Head of Brain Injury Care Services at Headway Essex. the charity supports people with acquired brain injury and their families so that they feel supported and so that they can live their lives to their optimum.

The latest episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast shines a light on inequality. What happens to people who end up at the wrong end of an unequal society and how do we help them? Professor Jules Pretty and Martha Dixon will look at research taking the long view and find out how history can help us break cycles of poverty and deprivation. They will also look at simple solutions which seek to narrow the gap. They will be joined by: Professor Pam Cox, Head of the Department of Sociology at Essex. She contrasts the experiences of young people now emerging from the criminal justice system with those in similar positions in the past. She also raises questions about social justice and inequality in other areas. Professor Lucy Noakes, from the Department of History at Essex. She talks about how the Second World War exposed inequalities and contrasts it with attitudes and political solutions emerging in the aftermath of COVID-19. How do we build back better, if we don’t really understand the past? Dr Alexandra Cox, from the Department of Sociology at Essex, talks about her research on how children are criminalised and how inequality is so ingrained within the youth justice system. Tom Brown, from the Green Light Trust in Suffolk, discusses its work with people who are marginalised and the trust's efforts to deal with inequality by providing access to nature and green space. Stephen Whitehead, from the Centre for Justice Innovation, talks about research on racial inequality with the University of Essex and highlights how young people need to be steered away from the criminal justice system to improve their life chances.

Green exercise and nature therapy have been hitting the news lately. Increasingly you’ll see them referred to in public health policy in the UK. The healing power of nature isn’t new - the ancient Greeks had over 400 temples for outdoor healing. But, in our increasingly busy, urbanised lives do we really understand the value of nature? How can we show that nature is a good and effective therapy for all sorts of people in all kinds of contexts? Can it and will it replace some uses of pharmaceutical drugs? In the latest episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast, Jules Pretty and Martha Dixon will explore how University of Essex academics are providing the evidence to help in the better use of what we might call the natural health service. They will also speak to people putting these insights into action and transforming lives. They will be joined by: Nick Cooper from the Department of Psychology discussing how research on outdoor activities such as angling has led to a European-wide initiative to support mental health. Jo Barton from the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences at Essex talking about how Government policy on nature therapy can help young people from an early age and prevent problems in the future. Jo Roberts from the Wilderness Foundation explaining how the charity takes troubled youngsters and takes them out into nature. Matt King, from independent health and wellbeing charity Trust Links, describing how Trust Links uses gardening and the outdoors to support people in their journey to recovery and wellbeing.

In the third episode of the Louder Than Words Podcast we’re looking at changing attitudes to mental health and how that is having an impact on healthcare, education and support for young people. Professor Jules Pretty and Martha Dixon investigate how policies are shifting and talk to experts involved in those changes which are influencing how we treat and prevent mental health problems. Contributors include: Mental health nursing student Hannah Brock (1:39) is learning about new perspectives on supporting patients. Professor Wayne Martin (4:30) from the Essex Autonomy Project is helping frontline professionals understand how to ensure they respect the rights of people they are caring for. Thomas Currid (8:14), senior lecturer in the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Essex, is introduing new approaches to teaching students about autonomy and social treatments. Srivati (10:32) from the Breathing Spaces in Schools project is helping young people understand the value of mindfulness. Dr Caroline Barratt (12:58) from the School of Health and Social Care at Essex is pioneering a more contemplative approach to teaching and learning. Professor Chris Nicholson (18:10) from the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies at Essex wants care workers to receive better training to cope with the complex situations they face. The Louder Than Words Podcast is created by the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement at the University of Essex and produced by CommsConsult.

In our second episode Professor Jules Pretty and journalist Martha Dixon, take you on a journey to discover why we need to learn from our past in uncovering the global impact of migration on our people and our land. Our speakers have direct experience of migration and the impact it has had on their lives. We discuss why this is such an important issue and why we need to learn from the past to look forward. Contributors Roma Tearne (1:28) arrived on a boat from Sri Lanka more than fifty years ago. Her parents were Tamil and Sinhalese, caught in a conflict between the two ethnic groups. Roma is an award winning artist and novelist. Susan Oliver (5:08) looks at past migration through literature. This provides valuable insights into trying to understand the current impact of migration and the longer view. Ahmed Shaheed (10:37) and (16:37) is a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and a migrant from the Maldives forced to leave after a coup. He discusses how conflict creates more displaced people, the effects of climate change that force people to travel and why he still has hope about the future. Jonathan Lichtensein (12:04) is professor of drama at the University of Essex has recently published a book, The Berlin Shadow, about his father’s experience of escaping the Holocaust. Shownotes at: www.essex.ac.uk/blog

The time for action is now. In our very first episode Professor Jules Pretty and journalist Martha Dixon, talk to some of the world’s leading climate experts about their work to fight climate change and to those who use this research to influence policy and engage the public. Andri Snaer Magnason (1:35) is a writer and poet and climate change is his passion. He uses his writing to get climate change on the agenda and storytelling to make sense out of complex climate data. Dr Michelle Taylor (6:12) and Professor Graham Underwood (8:33) from the University of Essex discuss how their research contributes to policies that aim to reduce climate change. At an international policy level Tanya Steele (11:27), CEO of the UK’s World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF), emphasises the importance of science in making decisions and generating new ideas. Environmentalist and company director Simon Lyster (15:12) brings another dimension – the role that business plays in the drive towards a healthy natural environment. Finally we talk to young activist Hattie (20:54) who as a WWF Youth Ambassador is passionate about the natural environment and preserving it for future generations. Full show notes including transcription available at: https://www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2021/04/28/the-louder-than-words-podcast-climate-change Feedback welcome at: louderthanwords@essex.ac.uk

Louder than Words is the new podcast encouraging difficult discussions, offering a platform to people making a difference and explaining how you can take action on issues you care about. In each episode Professor Jules Pretty and journalist Martha Dixon will look at a key global issue and give you a chance to hear from leading researchers, policy makers, thinkers and campaigners plus those directly affected by the issue. We’ll be launching the first episode on Thursday 29 April 2021, but we thought we'd give you a taste of what you'll find. Louder Than Words is being brought to you by the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement at the University of Essex and CommsConsult. Upcoming episodes will cover climate change, mental health, migration, inequality and nature as therapy.