The Restart Project Podcast

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A bi-weekly talk show by The Restart Project, plus a monthly documentary series produced by brilliant podcaster Dave Pickering, based on fixing triumphs, heartbreaks and wisdom shared at our community repair events – called Restart Parties – here in London. We go into real depth about good and bad design, obstacles to repair of electronics, emotional aspects of ownership, environmentally irresponsible business models, and the “end of life” of our gadgets. This podcast is for you if you'd like to fix your relationship with electronics. Let’s rethink, restart.

The Restart Project Podcast


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 237 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Restart Project Podcast

    Restart Radio: London gets a new Fixing Factory and repair vouchers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 28:47


    Spring has sprung in London and so have new repair initiatives! Shelini and Fiona tell us about two exciting projects. The post Restart Radio: London gets a new Fixing Factory and repair vouchers appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 100: Trailblazers of repair

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 44:49


    In our 100th episode, we speak to four trailblazers of repair including, Martine Postma, Kyle Wiens, Cristina Ganapini and Mathew Lubari. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 100: Trailblazers of repair appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 99: EKO! is changing lives with low-tech solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 30:54


    Marjolaine Bert tells us about EKO!'s Low-tech & Refugees project and how repair and ingenuity can give vulnerable people life saving solutions. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 99: EKO! is changing lives with low-tech solutions appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 98: It’s official, the UK needs more reuse options

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 39:41


    We dig into two new studies into reuse at waste facilities in the UK. We talk to James Pickstone about Restart's BREW report, and Sarah Ottoway about SUEZ's report into uptake of reuse options at their facilities. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 98: It's official, the UK needs more reuse options appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 97: Beyond the repair manual, with Shannon Mattern

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 31:04


    For our August episode, we spoke to professor and writer, Shannon Mattern about her writing on the history of repair and repair manuals. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 97: Beyond the repair manual, with Shannon Mattern appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 96: It’s time for a Student Repair Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 38:34


    We spoke to Restart's own Pascale and James, and Dr Kersty Hobson from Cardiff University about the Student Repair Revolution project and their learnings and hopes for the future of student repair initiatives. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 96: It's time for a Student Repair Revolution appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 95: There's hope yet for UK waste and repair policy, with Green Alliance

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 39:25


    We spoke to Libby Peake from Green Alliance about how we can get the UK government to act urgently to tackle resource and waste reduction.  The post Restart Podcast Ep. 95: There's hope yet for UK waste and repair policy, with Green Alliance appeared first on The Restart Project.

    The Restart Project Podcast Ep. 94: How to talk about avoiding waste, with Keep Britain Tidy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 34:49


    We spoke to Anna Scott from Keep Britain Tidy about their new report on how to better communicate reuse and repair to the public. The post The Restart Project Podcast Ep. 94: How to talk about avoiding waste, with Keep Britain Tidy appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 93: A 2023 Restart Retrospective

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 25:08


    For our final episode of the season, Ugo and Fiona sat down for a chat about the year that was 2023 and what they foresee in the future. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 93: A 2023 Restart Retrospective appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 92: Taking repair on the road

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 35:38


    We're going on a repair road trip this month as we talk about mobile repair initiatives, the Repair Café Mobile and the Fixy Project. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 92: Taking repair on the road appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 91: Voices of Fixfest UK 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2023 30:59


    Get a snippet of the action at Fixfest UK 2023. We interviewed 8 attendees about the state of repair in the UK and what they hope for the future. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 91: Voices of Fixfest UK 2023 appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Project Ep. 90: Meet TV’s Retro Electro Workshop ‘super fixers’, Rob Howard and Matt Marchant

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 30:37


    We talked to Rob Howard and Matt Marchant from Retro Electro Workshop about making a retro repair show and how to encourage more people to start fixing. The post Restart Project Ep. 90: Meet TV's Retro Electro Workshop ‘super fixers', Rob Howard and Matt Marchant appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 89: What happens to your waste? with Oliver Franklin-Wallis

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 33:59


    We talk to Oliver Franklin-Wallis about his book, Wasteland: The Dirty Truth about What We Throw Away, Where It Goes, and Why It Matters.  The post Restart Podcast Ep. 89: What happens to your waste? with Oliver Franklin-Wallis appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 88: Saving reusable products from the shredder, with West London Waste Authority

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 31:27


    We talk to Emma Beal from West London Waste Authority about how we can promote reuse over recycling, and save working devices from the shredder. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 88: Saving reusable products from the shredder, with West London Waste Authority appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 87: Exploring Brighton’s repair and reuse ecosystem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 38:29


    We take a deep-dive into the Brighton repair and reuse ecosystem, speaking to Brighton Repair Café and Tech-Takeback. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 87: Exploring Brighton's repair and reuse ecosystem appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 86: Why repairers need hope, not guilt, with Katie Treggiden

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 29:44


    This month we talked to author and communicator, Katie Treggiden about her recent book, Broken, and how makers can become more sustainable.  The post Restart Podcast Ep. 86: Why repairers need hope, not guilt, with Katie Treggiden appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 85: The local businesses giving your stuff a ‘second life’

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 35:52


    We mark Repair Week by spotlighting Saras Fix and Zen's Electronics Workshop, just two of the businesses that you can find in London Repairs. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 85: The local businesses giving your stuff a ‘second life' appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 84: Repairmongers, remakeries, and repair hubs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 37:52


    Join us for a panel on high street repair! We hope that hearing about their approaches will inspire you to spread repair in your local area. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 84: Repairmongers, remakeries, and repair hubs appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 83: Meet the students Fixing Things for the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 24:48


    In January, we spoke to a teacher and students from the Rudolf Steiner School in Munich about their student-led repair cafe. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 83: Meet the students Fixing Things for the Future appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 82: No need for new toys, we have Team Repair

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 27:32


    At Christmas, we have toys on the mind. Team Repair tell us about their gadget fixing subscription - a perfect gift for any child.  The post Restart Podcast Ep. 82: No need for new toys, we have Team Repair appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 81: Launching the new Fixing Factory

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 26:33


    This month, we have an update from Shelini Kotecha and Dermot Jones about Fixing Factories and what's coming up following the Camden launch. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 81: Launching the new Fixing Factory appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 80: Voices of Fixfest 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 25:46


    In this episode, we spoke to 7 Fixfest 2022 attendees about where repair is now and where they hope to see it in the future. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 80: Voices of Fixfest 2022 appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 79: eSpares wants you to clean your filters

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 30:55


    This month, we had a handy conversation with some friends from our sponsor eSpares to answer listeners' questions about household repair. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 79: eSpares wants you to clean your filters appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 78: Meet our new(ish) Co-Director, Fiona Dear

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 26:07


    To wrap up our summer season, we're giving listeners a proper introduction to Restart's new(ish) Co-Director, Fiona Dear. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 78: Meet our new(ish) Co-Director, Fiona Dear appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 77: Reflecting on our first 10 years

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 49:10


    We're celebrating 10 years of Restart! This episode is an auditory snapshot of Restart, hearing from volunteers, friends, and the team. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 77: Reflecting on our first 10 years appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 76: Funky phones and durable design, with Ben Wood

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 31:59


    We talked to Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight and Founder of the Mobile Phone Museum about historic phone design, repairability and consumer trends. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 76: Funky phones and durable design, with Ben Wood appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio: Introducing Fixing Factories

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 28:46


    On this episode of Restart Radio, Ugo Vallauri is joined by Fiona Dear and Shelini Kotecha to talk about the launch of Fixing Factories. The post Restart Radio: Introducing Fixing Factories appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 75: The law and repair: it’s complicated, with Aaron Perzanowski

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 41:56


    This month, we welcome back Aaron Perzanowski to the show to talk about his new book, The Right to Repair: Reclaiming the Things We Own. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 75: The law and repair: it's complicated, with Aaron Perzanowski appeared first on The Restart Project.

    complicated repair restart aaron perzanowski
    Restart Podcast Ep. 74: Why digital access is a right, with Ready Tech Go

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 31:11


    We spoke to Nikos Souslous, Co-Founder of Ready Tech Go about the importance of digital access, their impact and how RTG is going to evolve. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 74: Why digital access is a right, with Ready Tech Go appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 73: Repair Café Aotearoa New Zealand

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 31:01


    Four months after its launch on Repair Day 2021, we spoke to four people involved in the repair network, Repair Café Aotearoa New Zealand. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 73: Repair Café Aotearoa New Zealand appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 72: Maintaining your bike and your community, with Jenni Gwiazdowski

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 38:34


    As 2022 gets on the road, we spoke to Jenni Gwiazdowski, from London Bike Kitchen about bike repair and inclusion in cycling. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 72: Maintaining your bike and your community, with Jenni Gwiazdowski appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 71: Fixing at Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 34:02


    We spoke to Mathew Lubari, a repairer from the Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement. Lubari is the founder and a team leader at CC4D, an environmental initiative promoting repair skills. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 71: Fixing at Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio: Reflecting on a challenging but successful 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 19:20


    As 2021 draws to a close, Janet and Ugo reflected on this precarious but successful year. Despite challenges, we have a lot to celebrate. The post Restart Radio: Reflecting on a challenging but successful 2021 appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 70: An epic journey through climate history with Alice Bell

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 37:28


    This month we talked to author and activist, Alice Bell about her recent book, Our Biggest Experiment: An Epic History of the Climate Crisis. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 70: An epic journey through climate history with Alice Bell appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 69: Exploring our consumption emissions with Professor John Barrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 45:29


    In celebration of Repair Day 2021, we held a webinar Q&A exploring consumption emissions, featuring Professor John Barrett. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 69: Exploring our consumption emissions with Professor John Barrett appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio Republished: Mark Phillips photographs ‘essential’ repair

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 29:00


    We revisit an episode with photographer, Mark Phillips whose exhibition, 'Repair is essential' is showing in London until 17th October! The post Restart Radio Republished: Mark Phillips photographs ‘essential' repair appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 68: Inequalities in UK craft and making, with Dr Karen Patel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 31:34


    This month we spoke to Dr Karen Patel about her work on Craft Expertise, a project researching inequalities in the craft sector. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 68: Inequalities in UK craft and making, with Dr Karen Patel appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 67: Reflecting on repair during the pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 39:38


    We're revisiting some of our past episodes to reflect on how the repair community has been impacted by the events of the pandemic.  The post Restart Podcast Ep. 67: Reflecting on repair during the pandemic appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio: A small ask

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 1:54


    We're on our summer break from radio this month but we would really appreciate if you can take the time to fill in our listener survey. The post Restart Radio: A small ask appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 66: Ancient cob building, part of a low-tech future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 29:29


    In our final episode of the summer season, we talk to Kate Edwards about building with cob and why it is a really sustainable way forward. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 66: Ancient cob building, part of a low-tech future appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio: Our 2021 Summer Reading List

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 29:26


    Despite what the British weather says, summer has come around again and with it comes Restart's summer reading list! The post Restart Radio: Our 2021 Summer Reading List appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 65: Saving memories and exposing ‘branded’ repair with Jessa Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 41:38


    We talk to Jessa Jones, founder of iPad Rehab about teaching herself logicboard repair, her fight against 'branded' repair, and R2R in the US. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 65: Saving memories and exposing ‘branded' repair with Jessa Jones appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio: Borrowing boom at Library of Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 29:36


    As businesses and community spaces are able to pick up operations again, we talk to Alys Penfold, Borrower Support Lead at Library of Things. The post Restart Radio: Borrowing boom at Library of Things appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 64: Regenerative farming and rural tinkering with Farmerama

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 46:08


    We talk to Abby Rose and Jo Barratt from Farmerama - a podcast that aims to share the voices and experiences of regenerative farming. The post Restart Podcast Ep. 64: Regenerative farming and rural tinkering with Farmerama appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio Republished: When “intellectual property” is lethal

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 34:07


    Revisiting our conversation with Loubani and Garapick on medical repair and reuse, we learn when intellectual property can be lethal. And we don't just mean for vaccines. The post Restart Radio Republished: When “intellectual property” is lethal appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 63: Badvertising – when ads promote fossil fuels and overconsumption

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021 29:13


    Robbie Gillet from Possible talks to us about the Badvertising campaign, which seeks to stop harmful adverts contributing to the climate crisis.  The post Restart Podcast Ep. 63: Badvertising – when ads promote fossil fuels and overconsumption appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio Republished: Greenland’s election and Kvanefjeld mine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2021 27:58


    Following Greenland's election, we're revisiting our interview with Autogena and Portway about their documentary, ‘Kuannersuit/Kvanefjeld'. The post Restart Radio Republished: Greenland's election and Kvanefjeld mine appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 62: How 3D printing can help us repair

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 36:49


    Bas Flipsen and Julieta Bolaños Arriola from TU Delft tell us how 3D printing can be adapted to help solve the electronic waste crisis.  The post Restart Podcast Ep. 62: How 3D printing can help us repair appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio: Reusing laptops for digital inclusion with Mer-IT and Hackney Fixers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 29:08


    As schools reopen across the country, we revisit the vital work of laptop reuse projects and talk to Mer-IT and Hackney Fixers. The post Restart Radio: Reusing laptops for digital inclusion with Mer-IT and Hackney Fixers appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Podcast Ep. 61: Introducing the French Repairability Index

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 29:44


    We discuss opportunities and limits of the new French Repairability together with experts involved in its development and in the European Right to Repair campaign The post Restart Podcast Ep. 61: Introducing the French Repairability Index appeared first on The Restart Project.

    Restart Radio: How manufacturers game the system through voluntary agreements

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 29:54


    On February's episode, we discuss game consoles, printers, and the virtually useless voluntary agreements for their manufacturers. The post Restart Radio: How manufacturers game the system through voluntary agreements appeared first on The Restart Project.

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