The science intersection

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Liana, author of Men Ignored , specialist in domestic abuse and former Metropolitan Police officer. We discuss male victims of domestic abuse, why their experiences are often missed or minimised, and how gender stereotypes can shape the way we think about victims and perpetrators. Liana also talks about victim-blaming, barriers to disclosure, and why...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Science Intersection , I speak with David Shukman, former BBC science editor and author of The Response , about what climate change means for everyday life and how people, communities and governments can respond. David talks about his years reporting on science, climate and environment, the stories that changed how he understood climate change, and why the c...

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of my conversation with Professor Michael Sanders and Julia Ellingwood, we look at what evidence can show us that good intentions, professional experience and common sense might miss. We discuss why it is not enough to ask whether a policy or intervention works we also need to know how much it works, for whom, and whether it offers value for money. Michael and Julia talk...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Science Intersection , I’m joined by Professor Michael Sanders and Julia Ellingwood for a conversation about evidence-based policy — what it means, why it matters, and why good ideas do not always translate neatly into better outcomes. Michael is Professor of Public Policy at King’s College London. His work focuses on evidence, behavioural change, and how re...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to ask, “Where is the evidence?” In this episode of The Science Intersection , I’m joined by Helen Pearson, award-winning science journalist, editor at Nature , and author of Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works . We talk about how evidence-based thinking transformed medicine and began influencing other fields, including education, social po...

Send us Fan Mail In part two of my conversation with Robert Mahoney, founder of TVP Solutions, we look at what violence prevention can mean in practice. Robert explains why top-down intervention can sometimes backfire, and why people need a different “landing spot” built around identity, purpose and community. We discuss care teams, information sharing, and how schools and local services can notic...

Send us Fan Mail What if violence prevention is not only about responding to danger, but about noticing struggle earlier? In this first part of my conversation with Robert Mahoney, founder of TVTP Solutions, we talk about behavioural threat assessment, the pathway to violence, and why prevention can’t just mean cameras, metal detectors, locked doors and emergency drills. Robert explains why some i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Science Intersection , I speak with Daniel Hodges, founder of Pieces of Me , an organisation working to eliminate stigma around disability, physical difference and chronic illness. Daniel shares his own experiences of being born with multiple disabilities, including blindness and chronic pain, and how those experiences shaped his work in disability advocacy,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Science Intersection , I speak with Ian Fillingham, who helped found Rhythms of Resistance and was involved with Reclaim the Streets . We discuss the origins of Rhythms of Resistance, the role of samba and carnival-style protest, and the wider history of anti-globalisation and environmental direct action. Ian reflects on actions in Prague, Reclaim the Street...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Phil Wiles and Matteo Menapace about how games can be used in science communication, education and public engagement. We discuss how tabletop games can help people understand complex systems  from hospitals and medical research to coding, disease spread and climate change. We also talk about why games can make abstract problems feel more tangible, how...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan from Social Shortcuts to talk about what actually helps people build better social lives. We discuss why so many people feel isolated even when they live in busy cities, how Meetup and events can help people make new connections, and what often gets in the way of turning conversations into real friendships. Ryan shares his views on small talk, v...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Wills Taube , who has been living with long Covid since 2022 and went on to set up Long Covid Solidarity , a peer support project connecting people affected by the condition. Emma talks about what it was like to become disabled after Covid, the confusion of not having a clear diagnosis at first, and how speaking to someone else with long Covid h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Julia , founder of VirWave , to talk about “emotional regulation technology” and how wellbeing tools can feel more accessible when they’re designed for different learning styles.  We discuss how VirWave began (from a plush robot prototype to an app), why the platform focuses on visual, customisable breathwork (including a box-breathing style you...

Send us Fan Mail With thanks to Michael Dodd this episode’s guest.  This week is a short interlude episode due to a scheduling change: something practical and a bit different. Next week we’ll be back with our usual format. Communication is a wellbeing issue. When we’re put on the spot at work, in healthcare settings, in community conversations, or in public life our nervous system can shift into f...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when debt, housing insecurity, and benefit delays become a health issue? In this episode of The Science Intersection , I’m joined by Louise, Head of Business and Fundraising at Citizens Advice Barnet, to explore the real-world connection between welfare systems and wellbeing. From Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to council tax debt, no-fault e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Eugene Manley, founder of the STEM & Cancer Health Equity Foundation, for a powerful conversation about representation, health equity, and the structural barriers that continue to shape cancer outcomes. Drawing from his experience growing up in inner-city Detroit and navigating academia as a first-generation scholar, Dr. Manley shares why h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Science Intersection, we continue our conversation with Russell, exploring whether innovative literacy and learning approaches can be successfully replicated across education systems. The Science Intersection explores ideas at the intersection of research, lived experience and innovation. While many approaches discussed are promising, aspects remain subject...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Russell Van Brocklen, a New York State-funded dyslexia researcher whose own educational journey challenges traditional assumptions about learning ability. Russell struggled to read and write until law school, where he unexpectedly discovered that his dyslexia gave him a unique cognitive advantage. This experience led him to develop teaching methods th...

Send us Fan Mail In the second part of this interview, we continue our conversation with Courtwatch about what volunteers observe when they sit in on magistrates’ courts across England and Wales. This episode focuses on court efficiency and delays not in the abstract, but as they are experienced in real hearings. We discuss the kinds of delays court watchers see most often, where time and resource...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Finola from Transform Justice , a UK charity working to make the justice system more humane, transparent, and effective. We explore how the criminal justice system actually functions at its “bulk end”  particularly in magistrates’ courts, where around 95% of criminal cases begin and end, yet where public scrutiny and understanding are often limited....

Send us Fan Mail Cities were never meant to be lifeless landscapes of concrete, steel, and heat. In this episode, we speak with the founder of Leaf Island, an award-winning urban planning initiative that’s transforming rooftops, walls, and underused spaces into thriving green ecosystems. Drawing on decades of environmental restoration experience, our guest explains how lightweight, plant-based inf...

Send us Fan Mail With thanks to Diana Colleen who joins me in this episode , she is a novelist, essayist, and psychedelic facilitator whose work explores transformation, responsibility, and social change. We discuss her latest novel, They Could Be Saviours , which brings together three challenging themes: extreme wealth, climate change, and psychedelic-assisted insight. Rather than offering easy a...

Send us Fan Mail In this first reflective episode, I step back from the usual guest format to explain why I’m including reflection episodes in this series. I come from a science background, and something I’ve always cared about is not just what we know, but how we know it. Even within the biological sciences, different questions require different methods, types of evidence, and levels of analysis...

Send us Fan Mail This is a bonus episode that sits slightly outside the usual theme of the podcast. It’s an interview I recorded that doesn’t neatly fit with my core topics, but I’m including it because it’s genuinely useful especially at this time of year. The conversation focuses how to question and listen to connect with family stories across generations, which feels particularly relevant if yo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lynn shares stories from her work with clients: moments of resilience, humour, and connection that remind us what it means to support one another through life’s challenges. I’ll also be doing a solo episode soon to talk about what’s coming up for the podcast and a few reflections as we head towards next year. There won’t be any new guests until January 2026, but t...