Joined by award-winning poet and author Laura Mucha, and UCL sociologist Dr Rachel Benchekroun, they examine love not just as a feeling, but as a social force that shapes our relationships, communities and health.

From attachment theory and friendship to libraries, schools and community spaces, the discussion explores how connection, care and support influence the way we live, and what might be possible if public health took love more seriously.

Guests:

Laura Mucha is an ex-lawyer turned award-winning poet and Author-in-Residence in the Department of Public Health & Primary Care at the University of Cambridge. Her books have been described as ‘stunningly original’ by BookTrust, ‘fantastic’ by the Daily Mail, ‘a must for every school library and classroom’ by The School Librarian and ‘a marvellous feat’ by Richard Curtis. She won Children’s Book of the Year 2024 (Non-Fiction) in The Week Junior Awards and recently broke the Guinness World Record for Largest Multi Venue Poetry Lesson together with over 43,000 young people around the world. Her books Please Find Attached and We Need to Talk About Love explore love and attachment theory by combining academic research and interviews with people in every continent of the world.

Dr Rachel Benchekroun is a Senior Research Fellow at UCL. She is a sociologist and ethnographer, and her research focuses on support networks, friendship, social infrastructure and wellbeing. At UCL's Social Research Institute, she has been researching motherhood and support networks in the context of precarious migration, and recently published a book about this. She has also been working on the NIHR-funded Fair Food Futures UK project, examining how community food organisations shape families' experiences of food insecurity. Now, at the Institute of Health Informatics, Rachel is part of the RAPHAEL project, funded by the EU and Horizon Europe, which aims to improve access to palliative care for heart failure patients. 

In this episode:

• Why love, care and connection matter for health and wellbeing
• Attachment theory and the importance of feeling safe, supported and valued
• The impact of social and structural factors on love and connection
• Love, care and support as acts of resistance in challenging circumstances
• The role of schools, libraries and community spaces in fostering wellbeing
• What a more caring and connected society might look like

Hosts: 

Xand Van Tulleken – Doctor, Writer, and TV Presenter and Professor Rochelle Burgess – Community Health Psychologist and Professor at the UCL Institute for Global Health.

“What has disrupted your thinking?”

Laura: Dropping ​the ​Ball, ​poem written ​by ​Rochelle ​Burgess, Undefeated and Unspoken (books) by Kwame ​Alexander, 

Rachel : Maxinquaye - album by English rapper and producer, Tricky.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand Van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

In this episode, Xand and Rochelle discuss the intricate relationship between geography and global mental health. Alongside guests Parth Sharma and Dr Kelly Rose-Clarke, they explore how factors such as conflict, climate, and social inequalities shape mental health experiences around the world, challenging conventional narratives and highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of mental health support.

This episode raises critical questions about the future of mental health care, the necessity for systemic change, and the role of lived experience in shaping effective interventions. As the conversation unfolds, we invite you to reflect on how global mental health can be disrupted and transformed for the better.

Guests:

Parth Sharma is an abolitionist, anti-colonial scholar whose work is grounded in their intersectional lived experience as a queer, non-binary, disabled, mad person. A cultural worker, filmmaker, and multimedia artist, Parth has worked in journalism, clinical mental health and human rights. Today, Parth is the Deputy Principal Coordinator for the Movement for Global Mental Health, and you can find them disrupting global mental health, interrogating the mental health industrial complex, and actively imagining abolitionist futures.

Dr Kelly Rose-Clarke is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Principal Research Fellow in Global Mental Health here at UCL. Kelly is interested in developing and testing mental health interventions for low-resource settings, with a focus on community-based approaches for children and adolescents. In Nepal, Kelly is leading an 8-year programme to evaluate a school-based talking therapy for adolescents with depression. She has worked as a consultant for UNESCO and conducted research for the World Health Organization to inform global mental health policy and programming.

In this episode:

• The impact of geography and socio-political factors on mental health
• How community-led initiatives can mobilise care during crises
• The intersection of rights and mental health care
• The potential for an abolitionist approach to global mental health
• What global mental health could look like in the coming decades

Hosts: 

Xand van Tulleken – Doctor, Writer, and TV Presenter and Professor Rochelle Burgess – Community Health Psychologist and Professor at the UCL Institute for Global Health.

Resources and mentions:

Discover the new Global Mental Health MSc at UCL: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/global-mental-health-msc
Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation Nepal: https://www.tponepal.org/

“What has disrupted your thinking?”

Parth: Book - The Revolution Will Not Be Funded by INCITE! and Revolutionary Suicide by Huey P. Newton

Kelly: Art - landscapes of East Yorkshire by David Hockney

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Want to be part of a live recording of Public Health Disrupted?
On 30 June 2026, the podcast will be recorded in front of a live audience for the first time at UCL's Bloomsbury Studio. Learn more and get your ticket: https://bloomsburytheatre.com/event/2026/06/public-health-disrupted 

Alcohol consumption among young people has fallen sharply over the past two decades, but the reasons behind this change are complex. Is it greater awareness of alcohol harms, economic pressure, changing social lives, or wider shifts in how young people experience risk and wellbeing?

Joining Xand and Rochelle are Millie Gooch, founder of the Sober Girl Society, and Dr Melissa Oldham from the Department of Behavioural Science and Health at UCL. Together, they unpack what the data tells us, what sobriety and “drinking less” look like in everyday social life, and why community, policy and support systems matter if this trend is to lead to better health outcomes in the long term.

In this episode:

• Why alcohol consumption among young people has fallen in recent decades
• How social media, economic pressure and changing social norms are reshaping drinking culture
• The role of community in helping people navigate social life without alcohol
• Why supportive systems are essential for public health
• How policy, regulation and marketing influence our relationship with alcohol

Hosts: 

Xand van Tulleken – Doctor, Writer, and TV Presenter and Rochelle Burgess – Professor of Global Mental Health and Social Justice at the UCL Institute for Global Health.

Resources and mentions:

Alcohol Change UK

Sober Girl Society 

“What has disrupted your thinking?”

Millie: Song - Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen

Melissa: Book- Wintering by Katherine May

Production Credits:

Public Health Disrupted is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Want to be part of a live recording of Public Health Disrupted?
On 30 June 2026, the podcast will be recorded in front of a live audience for the first time at UCL's Bloomsbury Studio. Learn more and get your ticket.

Joined by Rachel Colles, a professional performer and ‘Elderflower’ with Hearts and Minds, and Dr Carrie Ryan, a lecturer in Creative Health at UCL, the discussion explores how playfulness can disrupt conventional narratives surrounding ageing.

Rochelle, Rachel, and Carrie challenge the societal tendency to associate play solely with childhood, revealing how embracing play in later life can foster joy, creativity, and meaningful connections. They share insights from their experiences, including engaging with people living with dementia and the profound impact of playful interactions (and bingo!) in care settings. 

The conversation highlights the importance of validating emotions, and how play serves as a vital public health intervention, encouraging a shift in perspective on ageing. This episode also touches on the significance of fostering genuine connections, ultimately advocating for a more playful approach to public health.

Host: Rochelle Burgess – Community Health Psychologist and Professor at the UCL Institute for Global Health

With special thanks to our guests:

• Rachel Colles - Professional Performer and Elderflower, Hearts and Minds
• Dr Carrie Ryan - Lecturer in Creative Health, UCL Department of Arts and Sciences

Resources and mentions:

• ‘Extravagant Acts for Mature People' by Phoebe Davies (as mentioned at the end of this episode by Dr Carrie Ryan!)

In this episode, Xand van Tulleken and Rochelle Burgess explore how reducing the working week could transform not just our work-life balance but public health more broadly.

They’re joined by:

• Joe Ryle – Campaign Director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, advocating for a shorter working week with no loss of pay
• Professor Anna Cox – Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at UCL and Head of the eWork Research Group, whose work explores how technology impacts productivity and wellbeing

In this episode:

• How overworking is driving burnout, stress, and poor health outcomes
• What flexible and remote working has taught us post-COVID
• The role of digital technology in balancing work and life
• Why a shorter week could be good for the environment and the economy
• Whether AI might finally deliver on the long-promised work-life revolution

This episode also asks a deeper question: what would it take to truly shift our culture away from valuing busyness and burnout, and toward health, connection, and rest?

Resources and mentions:

• Four Day Week Campaign
• Bullsh*t Jobs by David Graeber
• Black Mirror episodes on the future of work and technology

Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is produced by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative and UCL Health of the Public.

Read the full show notes and transcript.

The conversation explores how public health policies can sometimes be perceived as overreaching, despite the evidence suggesting that the public largely supports such initiatives. Our guests unpack the historical context of the term "nanny state," its implications, and the ongoing debate about the role of government in promoting health while respecting personal autonomy.

Guests:

• Adam Briggs, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation. Adam now works in the NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme.
• Professor James Wilson, Professor of Philosophy at UCL.

In this episode:

• The origins and evolution of the "nanny state" rhetoric and its impact on public health discourse.
• Insights into public opinion on government intervention in health-related issues, including obesity and smoking.
• The importance of framing public health initiatives in a way that resonates with communities and policymakers alike.
• How a shift towards prevention can be achieved through approaches that embed health considerations across all areas of government.

This conversation invites us all to reconsider the narratives surrounding public health policies and the responsibilities of both the state and communities in fostering a healthier society.

Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is produced by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative and UCL Health of the Public.

Read the full show notes and transcript.

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. 

As Rochelle makes her return to the podcast following maternity leave, we’re excited to present the very first episode of Season 5: a fascinating examination and celebration of the power of movement to foster connection and belonging.

This episode will be of particular interest to runners and fans of group or community exercising, or simply those interested in the intersection of public health and community engagement.

Xand van Tulleken and Professor Rochelle Burgess delve into the transformative world of community fitness events, particularly the ground-breaking success of Parkrun. They explore how grassroots initiatives are reshaping not only individual lives but entire communities by breaking down barriers to exercise and fostering social connections.

Joining them are Dr. Flaminia Ronca, leading expert in exercise neuroscience, and Chrissie Wellington OBE, a four-time world Ironman champion and former global head of health and wellbeing for Parkrun. 

In this episode:

• the profound impact of community fitness on mental and emotional wellbeing
• the science behind exercise and brain health
• inspiring stories of how Parkrun has created inclusive spaces for all.

Public Health Disrupted, hosted by Professor Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

In this month’s episode, our experts Professor Jamie Brown and Hazel Cheeseman discuss the increasing political and public support for a smoke-free generation, proposed legislative changes, and their potential impact on smoking rates and improving the health of the public in the UK.

This episode offers valuable insights into the future of tobacco control in the UK for policymakers, public health professionals, and the public.

In this month’s episode, our experts James Cheshire (Professor of Geographic Information and Cartography, UCL Geography) and Sam Nichols (Water Quality App Manager, Surfers Against Sewage), analyse the causes, health effects, and innovative mapping techniques used to combat sewage contamination.

Listen to understand what action is required from policymakers and the public to address sewage pollution and ensure our waterways are safe and clean for future generations.

Dr Adam Rutherford, bestselling author, broadcaster and lecturer in genetics and society at UCL, shares his wealth of knowledge on the evolution of genetics, and the common misconceptions that persist in the field. Adam delves into the historical context of genetics and its entanglement with eugenics, reminding us of the ethical considerations that must accompany scientific advancement.

Prof George Davey Smith, a clinical epidemiologist and director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, discusses the impact of genetics on the health of the public. He highlights the potential of genetic data to revolutionise healthcare and offers a critical perspective on the consumer genetics market. 

Read full show notes

In this month’s episode, our experts explore the pressing issue of children's mental health in the UK. With one in five young individuals facing probable mental health disorders, the urgency for effective support systems is undeniable.

Joining the conversation are Kate Silverton, renowned broadcaster turned qualified child therapist, and Professor Nicola Walshe, a proponent of climate change and sustainability education. Together, they dissect the challenges faced by schools and parents in supporting children's mental health and the innovative ways to foster well-being through nature and the arts.

Kate Silverton shares her insights on the variability of mental health support in schools and the critical need for standardised, professionally trained mental health professionals on-site. She emphasises the importance of understanding the neuroscience behind children's behaviour and offers a sneak peak of some of the practical, science-backed strategies found in her latest book, ‘There’s still no such thing as naughty: parenting for the primary years’.

Professor Nicola Walshe discusses her work with the UCL Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education, highlighting the transformative power of combining arts with nature to improve children's mental and emotional well-being. She presents compelling evidence from the Eco-Capabilities project, illustrating how such practices not only benefit the students but also reinvigorate teachers' passion for their profession.

This episode is an impassioned call to disrupt the status quo of public health and education systems, advocating for a holistic approach that prioritises emotional well-being and connection to nature as the foundation for learning and growth.

Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is produced by UCL Health of the Public, and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode, hosts Dr Xand van Tulleken and Dr Rochelle Burgess delve into the complex world of humanitarian crises and the transformative role of technology in emergency responses.

With the expertise of Professor Maria Kett, an anthropologist with a rich background in disability-inclusive humanitarian aid, and Sarah Spencer, an AI technical consultant navigating the challenging intersection of AI, national security, and public policy, this episode explores the intricate relationship between technology and humanitarian action.

From AI’s potential for predicting and containing epidemics, to the potential pitfalls of humanitarian surveillance, our guests discuss how technology is reshaping the humanitarian landscape. They challenge us to consider the ethical implications of data security, consent, and the agency of vulnerable populations whose lives are increasingly datafied.

GUESTS

Maria Kett - Professor of Humanitarianism and Social Inclusion
An anthropologist by training, Maria has extensive expertise in disability-inclusive humanitarian responses. Maria has undertaken research in countries across Africa and Asia, leading on a number of research programmes on disability and international development and is author of over 140 publications. Maria also leads on the humanitarian-focused work for the Global Disability Innovation Hub. She regularly serves as a consultant for numerous bilateral and multilateral donors, including the UK FCDO, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations. Maria is the Programme Director for the new UCL MSc Humanitarian Policy and Practice.

Sarah Spencer - Technical Advisor, UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH)
Sarah Spencer is a multi-domain expert working at the intersection of technology, global security, and public policy. She advises governments and civil society on how to navigate the challenges and opportunities offered by advanced technologies and is a regular commentator on the politics of technology, AI, and technology for good. She is passionate about unlocking the power of technology to support justice movements and assist the most vulnerable. For more than 20 years, Sarah has supported communities affected by war, disasters, and instability. 

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

"It's about building knowledge with communities and allowing people to ask questions without negative labelling."

Why are vaccination rates declining, and how can we rebuild trust? 

Vaccine rates are falling in the UK, and it's time we turn the tide. In this Public Health Disrupted episode, Xand and Rochelle dig into the reasons behind declining immunisation with child health experts Helen Bedford and Ranj Singh. From NHS changes to misinformation shared online, this episode uncovers key drivers of vaccine hesitancy, from misinformation proliferating online to barriers in accessing immunisation services. 

Together, our experts offer solutions like bringing vaccines to communities, improving communication by providing people with opportunities to ask questions, removing practical barriers, and increasing the perception of vaccinations as a social norm. Listen for an insightful take on improving vaccine uptake through empathy, facts and accessibility.

Read full show notes 

Access transcript

How does racism impact people’s health? And how big is this problem? 

We're three years on from George Floyd's murder, which launched a wave of global protests under the banner never again. This, of course, has not been the case. We're also three years since the COVID pandemic began, which really highlighted the long-standing racial health inequalities in the UK and beyond.

In this month’s episode, Dr Halima Begum (CEO of ActionAid UK) and Delan Devakumar (Professor of Global Child Health) discuss the systemic challenges faced by people of colour, and the complex relationship between racism, health equity, and efforts for social justice.

Read full show notes

“We’re more valuable to our communities post-menopause as leaders than as breeders.”

How does our society value menopausal women? The lack of public awareness around this natural phase in a women’s life has resulted in the menopause being associated with a lot of shame, and a whole bunch of negative misconceptions.

In this thought-provoking episode, Joyce Harper (Professor of Reproductive Science at the UCL Institute for Women’s Health) and Rachel Lankester (author of Magnificent Midlife) challenge the prevailing negative narrative surrounding the menopause by debunking common myths, and revealing the surprising beneficial rewards that await women post-menopause. Plus, what can we learn from the whales?

GUESTS

Joyce Harper

When Joyce isn’t open-water swimming she can be found debunking myths around women’s reproductive health on her own podcast Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This?, or in any number of her other roles which include: Head of the Reproductive Science and Society Group, founder of Reproductive Health at Work and International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration, and co-founder of the UK Fertility Education Initiative. Joyce has worked in the fields of fertility, genetics, reproductive health and women’s health for over 30 years. Joyce is committed to shining the spotlight on three key stages of women’s health: the menstrual cycle, the fertile years and the menopause. Her latest book, Your Fertile Years, was published in 2021.

Rachel Lankester

Rachel Lankester is an author, podcaster, and editor of the online magazine The Mutton Club for women over 40. Following her own experience of the menopause, Rachel founded Magnificent Midlife: a hub of community and support for women over 40. Rachel's ‘midlife reinvention’ came after a long and varied career in finance, journalism and PR which took her all over the world, and she now works to help support women navigating the often ‘messy middle’ of life. Rachel’s written a book called Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond and also hosts the Magnificent Midlife Podcast, inspiring women to not just survive, but thrive.

• Download the new BSI standard menstruation and menopause workplace framework here: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/standards/understanding-menopause-and-menstrual-health/

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

What does the average British person think about sex? For over 40 years the Natsal surveys have been recording sexual data, capturing striking changes in our behaviour and sexual lifestyles across the decades. They have been pivotal in the population measurement of the social, behavioural and biological aspects of sexual health. Its evidence has underpinned public health policy, practice and research for over 25 years.

So, how do you get someone to open up about something that’s so deeply personal and sensitive? Who decides what questions need to be asked and how much can we rely on the reported data? As a co-lead at Natsal, Prof Cath Mercer shares insights into the methodology and the survey’s broadening remit while Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter presents his argument for disrupting public health messaging.

GUESTS

Professor Cath Mercer is Professor of Sexual Health Science at UCL and co-lead of UCL’s Centre for Population Research in Sexual Health and HIV. A statistician and demographer by training, Cath is recognised internationally as an expert in developing and employing robust methods that advance the study of sexual behaviour - one of the most socially-sensitive areas of scientific inquiry. For more than 20 years, Cath has played a key role in delivering Britain’s National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal), one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys on sexual health in the world. She is now co-leading the fourth Natsal. Cath also champions myth-busting and promoting the public conversation around sex, including - rather nerve-wrackingly - through stand-up comedy sets for UCL’s Bright Club and her TEDx talk ‘Let's talk about (real) sex’.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter is Emeritus Professor of Statistics in the Centre for Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge. He was previously Chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, which aimed to improve the way that statistical evidence is used by health professionals, patients, lawyers and judges, media and policy-makers.  He was very busy over the Covid crisis.  He presented the BBC4 documentaries “Tails you Win: the Science of Chance”, the award-winning “Climate Change by Numbers”.  His bestselling book, The Art of Statistics, was published in March 2019, and Covid by Numbers came out in September 2021.  His career highlights include appearing on Desert Island Discs in 2022, and in 2011 coming 7th in an episode of BBC1’s Winter Wipeout.

Find out more about the NatSal Surveys on their website https://www.natsal.ac.uk/

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

In our fast-paced world, convenience is king where food is concerned and many of us are now fuelling our bodies with an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra-Processed Food. In today’s episode, we’re taking a closer look at this industrially processed food (which is designed and marketed to be addictive), and asking the question: do we really know what it's doing to our bodies?

Our guests, Chris van Tulleken (infectious diseases doctor, TV Presenter and writer) and Christina Adane (social campaigner, Bite Back campaign) explore why exercise and willpower can't save us, and how ultra-processed food is affecting our bodies, our health, our weight, and the planet. 

You can find out more about this topic in Chris’ newly released book, Ultra Processed People from all good booksellers like this one https://thebookery.org.uk/product/ultra-processed-people/

Chris van Tulleken is an infectious diseases doctor at UCLH, and one of the BBC’s leading science presenters having worked on many flagship Health & Science programmes. His research focuses on how corporations affect human health especially in the context of child nutrition and he works with UNICEF and The World Health Organisation on this area. Chris co-presents CBBC’s Operation Ouch! alongside his twin brother Xand van Tulleken. Chris’ recently released book Ultra-Processed People explores the world of ultra-processed food and the affect it’s having on the health of the public.

Christina Adane is a social campaigner who led the Bite Back campaign to extend free school meals into the holidays during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Passionate about tackling food injustice and the climate crisis, her work has been recognised by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who welcomed Christina as a guest on their podcast, and by the BBC, who named her in their most inspiring 100 women of 2020. In 2021, she won the Diana Legacy Award for her efforts with Bite Back in fighting for a fairer food system.

Discover more about Bite Back and its campaigns for a fairer food system at https://www.biteback2030.com/

Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative, find her on Instagram: @decibelle_creative and here: https://www.decibellecreative.com 

“The way to get economic growth in a sustainable way is to improve the income of the bottom 60% of the population.”

How does the cost-of-living crisis affect the health of the public? What impact does financial stress have on our physical and mental wellbeing? This episode aims to reshape the narrative and create a clearer understanding of the growing economic and health problems affecting millions of people living in the UK.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot (Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity) and Jack Monroe (award-winning food writer, TV presenter, and campaigner) explain why there are health inequalities in our society and how the cost-of-living crisis disproportionally affects people on lower incomes. They outline the challenges faced by those living in poverty and what changes are required to safeguard our future against this mounting humanitarian crisis.

GUESTS

Professor Sir Michael Marmot is Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health. Michael has worked on health inequalities for nearly 50 years. He chaired the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, several WHO Regional Commissions, and has led influential reviews and reports on tackling health inequality for governments in the UK. He is the Advisor to the WHO director-general, on social determinants of health, and supports a network of local authorities in England, working in-depth to develop a 'Marmot' approach. Most recently Michael was conferred Companion of Honour in the New Year’s Honours list 2022, for services to public health.

Jack Monroe is an award-winning food writer, TV presenter, and a campaigner against hunger and poverty in the UK. She is author of the bestselling cookbooks: Good Food For Bad Days, Tin Can Cook, Vegan (ish), Cooking on a Bootstrap and A Girl Called Jack. She was awarded the Fortnum and Mason Judges' Choice Award in 2013 and the OFM Best Food Personality Readers' Award in 2018. She has given evidence to parliamentary inquiries and consulted on the School Food Plan and National Food Strategy. Jack has also developed a new price index, The Vimes Boots index, to measure the cost of basic foodstuffs and inflation as it affects those on the lowest incomes.

Follow Jack Monroe on Twitter @BootstrapCook and Instagram @jack_monroe

Read The Business of Health Equity: The Marmot Review for Industry report here.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

What is meant by the obesity crisis and where does the power lie to address the social determinants and intricacies that impact it? With a growing epidemic of chronic illness, is there a need to reframe public health’s approach to tackling obesity? 

In this episode, multi-award-winning content creator and body image/self-love advocate, Stephanie Yeboah, and international researcher and anthropologist, Dr Aaron Parkhurst, seek to answer these questions and discuss how the body positivity movement can be used to influence societal change.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Social media is a huge part of our lives, but growing fears are fuelling debate that it is bad for children and young people. What should the conversation around social media be and what questions should we be asking?

Exploring the binary complexities of social media, Dr Chris Bagley and Ella Gregory bring a fresh perspective to the general media narrative around social media and its effect on young people’s mental health. Are we asking the right questions without being hindered by our own bias? Why are we struggling to make online safe? What are the real dangers? 

They discuss the lack of quantifiable research, exploitation, and how open and balanced conversations is key to navigating the confusing land of social media.

GUESTS:
Dr Chris Bagley is an Educational Psychologist and a lecturer, tutor, and doctorate research supervisor at the UCL Institute of Education. He also works for South Gloucestershire Council. His core motivation is to co-develop psychologically healthy education systems alongside young people, families, professionals and creative thinkers. He is the author of ‘How Technology Is Changing Society and Manipulating Our Children’ (2019), an article published in Psychreg. He is also the Director of Research at States of Mind, an organisation that provides young people with the psychological skills, knowledge and self-awareness that are required for them to thrive in the world. He works with an innovative team of practitioners dedicated to gaining young people's insights about education and placing their voices at the centre of reform.

Ella Gregory is the Social Development Lead at States of Mind. Ella has personal experience with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and as a result, is dedicated to reforming approaches towards mental health. She believes that transforming how we talk about and view our minds and feelings can influence the rest of our lives by helping us to connect, solve problems and thrive. In her role as Social Development lead at States of Mind, Ella co-created an online wellbeing curriculum and has assisted in its implementation in schools and housing groups. She is interested in the intersections of wellbeing, spirituality, religion and nature and spends much of her time in community growing spaces. 

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Death is not infinitely deferrable, yet the successes of traditional modern Western medicine in increasing life expectancy have hugely impacted the human psyche of immortality. Where can people go to understand death, where is the narrative? Can we prioritise public health in a way that is reflective of social values? And how do we overcome the barriers of power to remove inequalities and prioritise human suffering?

In this episode, Dr Libby Sallnow and Dr Afsan Bhadelia help unpack the philosophical and intricate topic of death and dying. Their recent report on the value of death, which delves into the unbalanced and contradictory picture of dying, helps frame this meaningful discussion around death and its complex systems.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Interior and external environments affect our health and wellbeing in ways that we are only now beginning to truly understand: from the impact of the urban spaces that are fundamentally unhealthy due to air pollution and noise, to acknowledging the changes that colour, daylight, mess and a good night’s sleep can have on our mood and happiness. But what is the solution; and what changes should be made to improve the overall health of the public?

Award winning expert in all things interior design, Michelle Ogundehin, and experienced architect, planner and professor of urban design, Matthew Carmona, seek to explore the avenues towards a healthier environment, bringing a higher quality of life. Whether it’s the promotion of wellbeing in new developments, shifting mindsets towards adaptable spaces over bigger spaces, or thinking about improving and not moving, Michelle and Matthew delve into their considerable research to share their thoughts on this episode.

Guests:
Michelle Ogundehin is a writer, author, TV presenter, a trustee of the Design Museum, and visiting professor at the Manchester School of Architecture. Her work as editor-in-chief of British ELLE Decoration saw her collect numerous accolades. She is internationally renowned for her authority on interiors, colours and styles, and her new book ‘Happy Inside’ is out now, promoting the link between the home and wellbeing. You can find out more at: https://michelleogundehin.com/ 

Prof Matthew Carmona is Professor of Planning and Urban Design at the Bartlett School of Planning, where his research has focussed on urban design, the governance of design quality, and the design and management of public spaces. He is an advisor to governments in the UK and abroad. He is chair of the Place Alliance, which advocates for the importance of high quality built environment. You can find out more at: https://matthew-carmona.com/about/ 

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Grammy-award winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre joins chair of the UK’s largest COVID-19 social study and UCL's Professor Daisy Fancourt to talk about the power of community. They explore how people bound by common experiences can improve their health through non-clinical methods, looking at how singing and music can form a part of that process, and the wider implications that has on the health of the public.

Episode Description

“Every single person feels part of something larger than themselves.”

Communities are vital for a functioning society, but in an ever-changing world, has the concept of what ‘community’ means evolved into something new? Can virtual choirs really help with regulating emotions and coping with stress in the same way that singing live in a room full of people could? And is social prescribing of arts through linked support services the answer?

Grammy-award winning composer Eric Whitacre, and associate professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at UCL Dr Daisy Fancourt, seek to answer these questions and more, from studying the social factors on health such as loneliness and isolation, to how singing can help regulate emotions and cope with stress, and the physiological benefits that belonging to a community can bring.

Dr Fancourt’s research focuses on the effects of social factors on health, including loneliness, social isolation, community assets, art, cultural engagement, and social prescribing. She leads the team running the UK’s largest COVID-19 social study into the psychological and social impact of the virus. She also established and chairs the International Arts Help Early Career Research network, the UK March network, and is a consultant to the World Health Organization. You can find her on Twitter @Daisy_Fancourt.

Nevada-born Eric Whitacre is a multiple award-winning composer, conductor and graduate of New York’s prestigious Juilliard School of Music, whose work is recognised worldwide. Eric also established groundbreaking virtual choirs that have united singers from more than 145 countries. He has been the artist in residence at Los Angeles Master Chorale and University of Cambridge. You can find Eric on Twitter @EricWhitacre and at: https://ericwhitacre.com

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Author, chair of WHO Council on economics, and UCL Professor Mariana Mazzucato joins renegade economist, creator of the “Doughnut” model of social and planetary boundaries, and Oxford Senior Associate Kate Raworth to share their considerable expertise on the relationship between public health and the economy; and why taking a mission-oriented approach will improve the overall health of the public.

Episode Description

“The fundamental relationship that must come in is humanity to the rest of nature.”

Would it be such a radical change to flip on its head the idea of improving the overall health of the public to prop up the economy? Redefining the idea of prosperity in the 21st Century and the balance between human wellbeing and economics are among the topics discussed by our guests: two leading thinkers in the field of innovative economics and its relationship with public health.

Together, Professor Mariana Mazzucato and renegade economist Kate Raworth tackle the topic of taking a mission-oriented approach to improving the health of the public. From redefining what prosperity looks like in a modern world, to how active a role the government should have in defining health innovation policy, and everything in between. 

The Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, Prof Mariana Mazzucato leads the way in the economics of innovation and public value. Her breadth of work in the field has seen her author three highly acclaimed books on the subject, she was named one of the three most important thinkers about innovation and one of the 50 most creative people in business. You can find her on Twitter @MazzucatoM and at: https://marianamazzucato.com

Kate Raworth has taught at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute, she is a professor of practice at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and authored the internationally best-selling book Doughnut Economies: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist, which has been translated into more than 20 languages. You can find her on Twitter @KateRaworth and find out more about Doughnut Economics at: https://doughnuteconomics.org

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by Annabelle Buckland at Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative.

Featuring clips from interviews with Prof Paul Ekins, Dominique Palmer, Laura Lexx, Dr Matt Winning, Tinuke Awe and Clo Abe, Dr Carol Rivas, Sir Keir Starmer, Prof Dame Hazel Genn, Dr Harold Offeh and Prof Helen Chatterjee.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. This episode was edited by Cerys Bradley.

In this month’s episode, we speak to widely exhibited artist Dr Harold Offeh and UCL Professor of Biology Professor Helen Chatterjee, to explore what arts and creativity have to do with public health, and how they can help tackle health inequalities.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. This episode was edited by Cerys Bradley.

The coronavirus pandemic, and the wider governmental and societal response, have brought health inequalities into sharp focus. There is growing evidence of bi-directional links between law and health. Social and economic problems with a legal dimension can exacerbate or create ill health, and conversely, ill health can create legal problems. By promoting greater integration of health and legal services, we can have a real impact on the health of the public, and build a healthy future for all.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. This episode was edited by Cerys Bradley.

This month, we speak to the co-founders of Five X More, and UCL academic Dr Carol Rivas, to explore the role of discrimination and structural disadvantage in the health inequalities experienced by different marginalised groups in the UK, and the incredible work they are doing to change this. 

Black women in the UK have a fourfold* higher risk of dying in pregnancy in comparison to white women. Our first guests, Five X More co-founders Tinuke and Clo, join us to discuss the action they are taking to address this disparity. Five X More is a grassroots campaign dedicated to supporting mothers and empowering black women to make informed choices and advocate for themselves throughout their pregnancies and after childbirth. The campaign is committed to calling on the government and healthcare workers to change the shocking statistics. 

Our second guest, Dr Carol Rivas, is an associate professor in social policy and programme evaluation at the UCL Institute of Education’s Social Research Institute. Carol tells us more about her work on so-called hidden disabilities, their intersection with race, ethnicity and migrant status, and on developing tools that empower the voices of marginalised groups

*When the campaign started, this number was five times more (MBRRACE 2018 & 2019).

Laughter is good for your health - a good laugh can reduce stress. It can also be used as a tool to reduce the stigma of people discussing issues or raise the profile of topics to improve the health of the public. 

In this episode, Laura and Matt discuss their personal experiences of using comedy to address serious topics including mental health, infertility and climate change in their stand-up shows. Both comedians have created a space in the world of comedy to talk about public health issues, but what about the other way around? Is there space for comedy in public health?

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. This episode was edited by Cerys Bradley.

This month, hosts Xand and Rochelle are joined by Dominique Palmer - dedicated climate activist, organiser within the UK Student Climate Network and one of Forbes 100 Top UK Environmentalists - and Prof Paul Ekins OBE - Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy and Director of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources - to explore how the climate is disrupting public health.

Tackling climate change can improve our health, not only through reducing the risks of heatwaves, extreme weather events and poor air quality, but through the mitigation and adaptation strategies we use, bringing benefits for climate, the economy and health.

The effects of the climate crisis are already being felt today, and future projections highlight a devastating risk to the health of the public. Could tackling climate change be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century, helping us to address inequalities and racism, strengthen the economy and promote global health? 

If there’s a question you’d like our hosts or guests to answer, please email us at healthofpublic@ucl.ac.uk. 

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. This episode was edited by Cerys Bradley.

This podcast is about public health, but more importantly, it’s about the systems that need disrupting to make public health better. In each episode, we’ll be challenging the status quo of this field, asking what needs to change, and why and how can we get there. Each month we’ll be joined by activists, scholars, artists, comedians and industry professionals to offer perspectives from the UCL community and beyond. 

We’re calling this podcast Public Health Disrupted because that’s exactly what we want to do. We are going to be breaking down disciplinary, sectoral and geographic boundaries to really understand the diverse and complex issues impacting our health. Issues as complex as structural racism and as broad as the role of tech in public health.

If there’s a question you’d like our hosts or guests to answer, please email us at healthofpublic@ucl.ac.uk.

New episodes will be made available via Spotify, Apple Podcast and Transistor.

Production Credits:
Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public.