Welcome to UCL Podcasts, featuring our teams of experts and researchers across UCL addressing some of the most complex problems of our time.

Hear our latest episodes from Generation One the climate podcast and The Bridge, A Disagreeing Well Podcast from UCL and Students’ Union UCL which tackles the hotly debated issues of our time  whenever and wherever you like, absolutely free!

Latest Episodes

#1 of Philosophically Speaking

“What’s Wrong with Capitalism?” with Chiara Cordelli

Chiara Cordelli (Chicago) explores why existing critiques of capitalism fall short — and offers her own alternative, which focuses on the imperative to democratize investment. Read the paper at https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/what-is-the-wrong-of-capitalism/CD320C659A33C006C6562D363FD5D954

Season 4, #19: Sanju Pal: Turning Pain into Change: The Endometriosis Campaign That Made Legal History

Sanju is a passionate Endo Warrior whose life's work is underpinned by social justice. She is founder of the education charity RISE (Rural India School Enterprise) which she managed whilst working full time as a management consultant at Accenture for a decade. This led to her winning the UK Asian Women of Achievement Award and being profiled in ‘Inspirational Women in Business’ by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Her Late Majesty the Queen recognised Sanju alongside global changemakers at the ‘Youth, Education and the Commonwealth’ reception at Buckingham Palace. Sanju has been invited to 10 Downing Street and received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award. Her life changed in 2018 when Accenture sacked her whilst she was recovering from surgery for endometriosis. Since then she has been fighting for justice.  On 19 January 2026, Sanju won a landmark high court case setting legal precedent for endometriosis to be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010 in the UK but Accenture have appealed. She campaigns for the fair treatment of women with gynaecological conditions in the workplace. Sanju is a member of the global Teach for All community, the diverse voices of which she promotes on her podcast ‘Something for the Soul’ to inspire anyone, at any age, to be a social innovator. She writes poetry and plays violin in the West London Sinfonia. https://www.rise-online.co.uk/ https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/761186  https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/accenture-disability-discrimination-endometriosis/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanju-pal-64b96166/  Instagram: @sanjusticeuk @sanjuthinks  This episode may be particularly valuable for anyone living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, PMOS, PMDD, fibroids, menopause-related symptoms or other gynaecological conditions, as well as employers, managers and HR professionals who want to create healthier and more inclusive workplaces. In this episode, Professor Joyce Harper speaks with Sanju Pal about the realities of living with endometriosis. They explore why so many women struggle to be heard when seeking healthcare support and the consequences of delayed diagnosis and misunderstanding.  The conversation also examines the relationship between women's health and employment, including the adjustments and support that can help people remain in work while managing chronic health conditions. Whether you are affected by endometriosis yourself, know someone who is, work in healthcare or are interested in improving workplace support for women's health, this is an important and thought-provoking discussion. And there are ways you can help – sign the petition, support the crowd funding, write to your MP and join the movement. Links above. Education of employers is also key as without understanding, how can you support women? We do not expect every line manager to understand women’s health but we do advocate for women’s health ambassadors in every company who can support women.

When the old maps no longer work | Research for the Real World

Political movements are crossing borders and challenging established ideas about power and participation. Researchers take us inside political movements in the US and Europe before turning to the classroom to ask how people can learn to navigate disagreement, uncertainty and change. Upcoming episodes: The role of Christian women in right-wing American politics - Dr Katie Gaddini A Polish Brexit and populism in Europe - Dr Roch Dunin-Wasowicz and Max Midgen How schools and teachers can help young citizens navigate social and political division - Hans Svennevig More Research for the Real World episodes: https://uclioe.info/rftrw More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

Season 4, #18: Dr Sarah Lensen: Trying to conceive – the truth about IVF add-ons

Dr Sarah Lensen is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health at the University of Melbourne. She has a background and interest in women's health, particularly infertility and IVF. Dr Lensen is particularly interested in improving evidence-based healthcare of women. She has been involved in a number of large clinical trials evaluating infertility treatment options, including intrauterine insemination and endometrial scratching for IVF, and she has a keen interest in clinical trial and research methodology. She is the lead researcher behind the Evidence-based IVF website, making scientific evidence about IVF options accessible to IVF patients and is Co-lead of the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group, and has published many systematic reviews and meta-analyses. She also leads the (In)fertility Research Panel, supporting the involvement of patients and people with lived experience of infertility and IVF in research. Her current research aims to understand why unproven treatments options are used in reproductive medicine, and to develop evidence-based resources to assist decision making.  https://www.unimelb.edu.au/ivf  Instagram: @evidence_based_ivf  Sarah explains the principles of evidence-based medicine, the role of randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews, and why high-quality evidence matters when making fertility treatment decisions.  Together Joyce and Sarah explore some of the most widely used IVF add-ons, including PGT-A and embryo glue, discussing what the evidence shows, how these treatments are marketed, and the challenges patients face when navigating often complex and conflicting information. They also discuss the growing influence of social media on fertility knowledge and misinformation, and why helping patients make informed, evidence-based choices has never been more important. A fascinating conversation about science, hope, uncertainty, and the future of fertility care.  Date of episode recording: 2026-08-19 Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper Guests: Dr Sarah Lensen Producer: Joyce Harper Podcast Owner: Joyce Harper  

Before learning went mobile | Academia et al

In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El-Khateeb talks to Professor Norbert Pachler about shaping the beginnings of mobile learning in a time when most phones still had small screens and physical buttons. He reflects on bringing international researchers from different disciplines together to understand how mobile technologies were changing society, culture and education. Professor Pachler also shares advice for early career academics on finding collaborators, contributing to professional communities and developing ideas that can grow over time. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/aug/learning-went-mobile-academia-et-al More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcast UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

Hosts

Dr Simon Chin-Yee

Dr Simon Chin-Yee

Host of UCL Generation One: The Climate Podcast
Professor Mark Maslin

Professor Mark Maslin

Host of UCL Generation One: The Climate Podcast
Diego Lacheze-Beer

Diego Lacheze-Beer

Host of The Bridge: a Disagreeing Well podcast
Dr Melanie Garson

Dr Melanie Garson

Host of The Bridge: a Disagreeing Well podcast