WonderLabs with Chris Richardson

Lesley Groom and Chris Sparrow have had fruitful careers in sociology and social work. They’ve spent much of their time in Greater Manchester, North West England—the part of the world in which I was born, and a part of the world that’s close to my heart.

In this episode, we talk about a community space they helped to set up in 1981, and how that space evolved organically over time. We also discuss our lost tradition of radicalism and culture of risk, the shifting aspirations of the working class, the intentional limits of the state education system, and the power of social media in promoting both narcissism and social change.

Lesley cites many books and studies throughout the conversation, including:

“Family and Kinship in East London”, a 1957 sociological study

“Adult Education and Community Action: Popular Social Movements” by Tom Lovett, Chris Clarke, and Avila Kilmurray

“Goliath: Britain's Dangerous Places” by Beatrix Campbell

“One No, Many Yeses” by Paul Kingsnorth

Enjoy!

Helen Halliday, AKA Helen the Food Coach, is a registered nutritional therapist working remotely with clients through the coronavirus pandemic. Helen helps people to define and achieve health goals relating to diet, sleep, and exercise.

In this episode we talk about what a nutritional therapist is and isn’t, how to separate sage advice from snake oil, and how to define and stay motivated to achieve your health goals. We also discuss the Healthy Trinity of diet, sleep, and exercise, and the power that mindfulness has to augment them all. Simple suggestions for the Healthy Trinity are included below.

To find out more, request a copy of Helen’s health goal tracker, or attempt a selection of tasty recipes, head over to http://helenthefoodcoach.co.uk/.

Enjoy!

The Healthy Trinity: Sleep, Diet, and Exercise.

Sleep: Avoid technology, avoid alcohol before bed, and get as many hours as you need.

Diet: Balance protein, fat, and carbs, with some micronutrients for good measure.

Exercise: Get a mix of cardio, strength, and stretching into your weekly routine.

Bonus: Begin a short five-minute morning meditation practice.

Liliane Laborde-Edozien is a US-born French-Italian-Nigerian-Brazilian filmmaker and photographer whose work explores resilience, love, and collective memory. Her documentaries have picked up awards in the US and have been screened in major cities on four continents. 

In this episode, we talk about her first three documentaries—defining love beyond language, escaping poverty and gang violence through sports, and collective memory within Brazil’s African diaspora. We also discuss the censorship of artistic expression, recognising our shared humanity, and Alan Watts’ beloved story of the Chinese farmer. 

Liliane’s two recommended films are Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” (1941) and John Carpenter’s “They Live” (1988)—two classics that Liliane argues are relevant meditations on corporate media and consumer culture. The book we discuss on maintaining an open heart is Michael Singer’s “The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself”.

For a selection of Liliane’s work, including photography, films, and gallery curation, head over to LilianeLabordeEdozien.com.

Enjoy!

Rebecca Samuels is a cognitive behavioural therapist working remotely with patients through the coronavirus pandemic. She has spent time working in mental health at music festivals, prisons, and as part of the response team following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. 

In this episode, we cover the basics of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the evolution of mental health treatment approaches, and how Rebecca brings her wide-reaching experience into her practice. We also discuss the false dichotomy of body and mind, how things have changed since the pandemic, and a likely upcoming trial involving psychedelic therapy.

For headline-free coronavirus updates, head over to Information is Beautiful. For more on the body and mind, pick up a copy of “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk. If you're in the UK and would like to find your local psychological therapies service, you can enter your postcode on the NHS website.

Enjoy!

T. Fitzgerald is label head at For The Record, a UK-based collective of producers and DJs. The label creates immersive, hypnotic and transcendent music from the minimal end of house and techno for clubs and home listening.

In this episode we talk about the journey from playing in basements to pressing your first vinyl, the relative value of physical and digital media, and defining music based on the experience it creates. We also discuss the interplay of music and art, how the scene is adapting to lockdown measures, and the impact this is likely to have on the future of clubbing and music production.

T. Fitzgerald’s first EP, A Formal Introduction, is available from the usual online record stores: 

• Juno (UK): bit.ly/WAFTR001-Juno
• Deejay (DE): bit.ly/WAFTR001-Deejay
• Decks (DE): bit.ly/WAFTR001-Decks
• Technique (JP): bit.ly/WAFTR001-Technique

For more tracks, mixes, guest mixes, and radio shows, plug in your headphones and check out For The Record’s SoundCloud. 

Enjoy!

Duncan Fraser is the lead data scientist at Habitat Energy, where he develops machine learning algorithms for battery dispatch and optimisation in the UK and Australia. Ultimately, Duncan aims to apply principles from data science to solve useful problems in climate change.

In this episode we cover the fundamentals of data science, its applications in energy storage, and the benefits of data-led decision-making. We also discuss the current state of battery technology, creating the right incentives in power markets, and, ultimately, how data science could help to prevent the looming environmental apocalypse.

To find out more about Habitat Energy, visit habitat.energy. To catch Duncan in a former life as a deranged Simon Amstell fan, hear Simon read Duncan’s love letter... live on stage.

Enjoy!

Duncan Fraser is the lead data scientist at Habitat Energy, where he develops machine learning algorithms for battery dispatch and optimisation in the UK and Australia. Ultimately, Duncan aims to apply principles from data science to solve useful problems in climate change.

In this episode we cover the fundamentals of data science, its applications in energy storage, and the benefits of data-led decision-making. We also discuss the current state of battery technology, creating the right incentives in power markets, and, ultimately, how data science could help to prevent the looming environmental apocalypse.

To find out more about Habitat Energy, visit habitat.energy. To catch Duncan in a former life as a deranged Simon Amstell fan, hear Simon read Duncan’s love letter... live on stage.

Enjoy!

Charlotte Knight and Lloyd Preston-Allen currently spend their working days in architecture and property development. They have a strong joint interest in building community through design, which has engendered a rural coliving project tentatively called COLIVE-19.

In this episode we talk about how space captured their imaginations, the constraints imposed by formal education, and the relative value of aesthetic and function. We also discuss examples of good and bad cities, integrating culture with nature, and the future of urban living in a post-pandemic world—including their plans with COLIVE-19.

To dive deeper into the world of conscious urban planning, grab a copy of Jane Jacobs’ “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”. To find out more about COLIVE-19, watch this space.

This episode's intro music is a clip from Phara Oh (Original Mix) by Dole & Kom, out now on 3000 Grad Records.

Enjoy!

Imran Ahmed is the founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). The Center tackles identity-based hate, misinformation, extremism, fake news, trolling, and how these things can polarise societies and undermine democracy.

In this episode we talk about some of the Center’s recent successes, the power and risks of deplatforming bad actors, and the social media platforms as a public square. We also discuss the role of big tech platforms in content moderation, erosion of our trust in institutions, and the need for us all to take responsibility with the content we choose to share.

To find out more about the Center for Countering Digital Hate, including their Stop Funding Fake News campaign, visit counterhate.co.uk.

Enjoy!

Hello and welcome back to WonderLabs! We are back in London and expanding the show beyond science and technology—to the places and minds where ideas are born, nurtured and shared. Before we get into Season 3, check out this introduction to find out what's in store.