What if medicine could protect us against many respiratory viruses at once? In this episode of Ben Yeoh Chats , Ben speaks with Brian Wang , Programme Director at ARIA , the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency. Brian leads ARIA’s Sustained Viral Resilience programme, which is exploring whether we can harness the innate immune system to create a new kind of preventive medicine. Brian explains why most people think about immunity through antibodies, vaccines and the adaptive immune system,...
May 08, 2026•1 hr 5 min
Dan Wang joins Ben Yeoh for a conversation about culture, ambition, and what different societies choose to value. They discuss why Silicon Valley can feel thinner-skinned and less culturally alive than it once did, why London remains rich in artistic life but struggles to build homes, infrastructure, and energy; and why China’s extraordinary physical capacity has come with tighter limits on cultural expression. Along the way, they get into AI hype and real-world harms, censorship, food culture, ...
Apr 21, 2026•1 hr 18 min
Why are people having fewer children than they say they want? In this episode, writer and policy thinker Phoebe Arslanagić-Little joins me to discuss the UK fertility crisis and what she calls the “birth gap” : the gap between the number of children people say they want and the number they actually have. We talk about why this is not just about money, but a mix of culture, career timing, housing, childcare, social norms, and the feeling that you need to reach some elusive state of readiness befo...
Mar 22, 2026•1 hr 5 min
Salima Saxton on cancer, honesty, estrangement, and creative work in real life. Salima is Ben’s longtime friend, and they talk about her cancer diagnosis and what she calls an unexpected new “year of undoing”, a return to herself rather than a neat reinvention story. “Be the sky, not the weather. The weather passes through.” They discuss why the language of “brave” can feel wrong, why “What can I do?” often misses the mark, and what Salima means by being a “bad patient”. The conversation turns t...
Feb 26, 2026•53 min
Is walking around a fake bathroom really “immersive” theatre, or is a theme park the more honest art form? Ben sits down with Simon Kane, writer and performer whose work spans Shunt’s devised theatre, BBC radio comedy (John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme), and a lockdown project performing Shakespeare chronologically on YouTube. Simon unpacks what “immersive” should actually mean, why a seated audience isn’t a passive audience, and why “fun” is a serious artistic standard. “If you’re making a sp...
Feb 14, 2026•1 hr 10 min
How do you put a price tag on a human life? It sounds like a cold question, but for grant makers, it is the necessary calculus of doing good. In this episode, Ben sits down with Deena Mousa (Open Philanthropy, Coefficient Giving) to discuss the difficult frameworks used to allocate finite resources. "Every time you choose whether to take a more dangerous job at a higher wage... you are implicitly putting a price on how much you value a year of your life." We dive into the "Coefficient Dollar," t...
Jan 02, 2026•1 hr 1 min
Hannah Ritchie — one of the most lucid and data-driven voices in climate and sustainability — returns to talk about her new book Clearing the Air: 50 Questions and Answers about Climate. Ben and Hannah explore why honesty builds trust in climate science, why the 1.5 °C target is likely out of reach (and why that’s not the end of hope), and China’s paradoxical role as both the world’s largest emitter and clean-tech powerhouse. They dig into how abundance , not austerity, could define the next pha...
Oct 26, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Retired police officer Robert Beckley reflects on 40 years of service — from Brixton to Hillsborough and beyond. We discuss crisis response, institutional change, community policing, and why public service and volunteering still matter today. We explore: The misunderstood role of policing : “Policing is about being there in a crisis — when someone needs action, and needs it now.” Rob’s early career in Brixton and how his experiences in Sudan shaped his views on culture and policing. Honest refle...
Sep 14, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Samuel Hughes, editor at Works in Progress , joins me to talk architecture, planning, and how we think about beauty in our cities. “Most buildings in Tokyo are ugly, but the streets are beautiful—urban form matters more than facades.” In this episode we explore: Can we still mass-produce beautiful buildings? Japanese urban design and zoning lessons How long buildings should last: UK vs Japan Rent control and housing history in Berlin Rethinking the greenbelt in Britain Dresden’s reconstruction a...
Aug 20, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Tim Mak moved to Ukraine in 2022, a day before war broke out. Tim, a former US investigative correspondent, decided to stay and start up his own reporting at Counter Offensive . He now reports from Kyiv. On the podcast, Tim discusses the day-to-day life in war-torn Kyiv, focusing on the chronic stress rather than immediate physical danger residents face. He recounts his critical role in documenting human stories from the war front and shares his personal journey, having moved to Ukraine right as...
Jul 31, 2025•48 min
Françoise Girard is an activist and founder of Feminism Makes Us Smarter. We discuss Francois' journey from studying law in Montreal to becoming a feminist activist in New York. Francois shares experiences from her work with the Open Society Institute and the International Women's Health Coalition, elaborating on the critical role of grassroots feminist movements in effecting societal change. “Taking a feminist, intersectional lens helps us understand the world better. You can see trends before ...
Jul 13, 2025•57 min
Sumit discusses how his wife dying reshaped his views on optimism, differentiating between pragmatic optimism and blind faith. He explores how having an optimistic outlook, although seemingly against his scientific training, aligns with good mental health. " Believing in a better tomorrow is not the same as saying that today is great. " We touch on the evolutionary logic behind optimism, the impact of agency on perception, and how alternate histories can inform future thinking. Sumit also reflec...
May 30, 2025•49 min
Samir Varma is a physicist, investor, and author of the book: The Science of Free Will, How Determinism Affects Everything from the Future of AI to Traffic to God to Bees.' We discuss AI consciousness, the theoretical versus practical aspects of free will, and how determinism informs our understanding of human behaviour, moral philosophy, and even financial markets. “Even though there is no free will in theory, because the laws of physics are deterministic… we don’t know what we’re going to do u...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 26 min
Mary-Ann Ochota is a broadcaster, anthropologist, and writer known for her work on Time Team and books on archaeology and the British landscape. “ Archaeology is ultimately about people – the stories of people in the past and how they lived their lives. ” Mary-Ann discusses her visits to Chernobyl, British henges and the Australian Simpson Desert; exploring themes of resilience and environmental recovery. “ One of the big misconceptions is that archaeology is just about digging things up. ” She ...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Political philosopher Rebecca Lowe discusses her views on freedom, equality, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Currently writing a book titled 'Freedom in Utopia,' Rebecca delves into philosophical debates concerning obligations to extinct animals, the ethics of eating meat, and the future potential of lab-grown meat. On questioning norms and making choices: “Think hard about what the norms are that you follow unthinkingly. There are many ways to live a good life, and it’s f...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Daisy Christodoulou is an acclaimed author in the field of education. Daisy has also written a book on video assisted refereeing (VAR) in football . We discuss being a football fan, VAR's impact on the sport, and the controversial decision-making processes involved. We speak about how VAR might have improved other sports but has mixed results in football. We suggest what technology should spring to football and sport. We debate on how this potentially reflects the limits of rationality in human ...
Jan 12, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Peter Gray is a psychologist and author of Free to Learn. For many years, he has been studying the importance of play. Gray discusses his perspective on the ideal education system, which he believes should be a bottom-up movement rather than a top-down imposition. He emphasizes the importance of self-directed education where children have the freedom to follow their curiosity and interests. Gray explains how traditional schooling stifles curiosity and playfulness, and traces the historical roots...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Julia Garayo Willemyns is a startup founder and co-director of the think tank UK Day One, which focuses on advancing UK policy for long-term growth and progress. Transcript and links here: https://www.thendobetter.com/investing/2024/10/18/julia-garayo-willemyns-policy-ideas-progress-growth-ai-talent-podcast Julia shares her thoughts on overlooked policies that could significantly benefit the UK, such as addressing lead poisoning in old housing stocks to improve public health, intelligence, and p...
Oct 18, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Julian Gough is an award-winning writer and musician. We explore the breadth of his creative journey, from crafting the 'End Poem' in Minecraft to writing children's books and rock band experiences. Transcript and links here: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2024/9/20/julian-gough-minecraft-end-poem-evolution-of-the-universe-being-creative-podcast We discuss his latest project 'The Egg and the Rock,' which investigates the universe's evolutionary complexity, paralleling biological evolution, an...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Ruth Chang is a prominent philosopher known for her work in decision theory, practical reason, and moral philosophy. She is currently a professor at the University of Oxford, holding the Chair of Jurisprudence. She is well known for her theory of "hard choices," where she argues that many choices are not determined by objective reasons but instead involve values that are incommensurable. Transcript and links here: www.thendobetter.com/arts/2024/8/2/ruth-chang-making-hard-choices-philosophy-agenc...
Aug 02, 2024•54 min
Hansong Li is a political theorist and historian of political, economic, and legal thought. We discussed a breadth of topics ranging from the Tangut language, Eastern philosophy, development economics, to modern political ideologies and cultural expressions. Hansong’s insights shed light on historical contexts while drawing connections to contemporary issues. The conversation delves into broader philosophical and economic themes, comparing past and present political thoughts and examining the ef...
Jun 14, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Rasheed Griffith discusses the factors impeding progress in the Caribbean and shares his optimism for the region. He identifies the decline in public sector quality since the 1960s as a major obstacle. Transcript and links here. Griffith suggests that reforming the public sector could significantly advance the Caribbean by attracting international talent and improving policy implementation. He also discusses the historical impact of British technocracy in the Caribbean, proposing that adopting a...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 10 min
A conversation with Henry Oliver, author of 'A Second Act', exploring the concept of late bloomers. Transcript here. Oliver elaborates on societal pressures, hidden talents, and how these impact individual successes at various life stages, advocating for a broader recognition of potential beyond conventional timelines. The dialogue includes themes such as the significance of networks, the role of luck, and the historical context of late blooming, challenging prevailing notions of talent and achi...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Alyssa Gilbert, the director of the Center for Climate Change Innovation at the Grantham Institute, talks about the current gaps in climate technology investments. She discusses her research into areas that are currently underfunded, including transport and energy. She also covers the importance of energy efficiency, especially in relation to the built environment. Alyssa emphasizes the necessity of various models in the fight against climate change, including private sector initiatives, philant...
Mar 01, 2024•48 min
Garrett Graff, a writer and historian who specializes in 'near history', discusses his book, 'UFO', about the US government's search for alien life. He touches upon how we often misunderstand UFO sightings, suggesting they could be due to a mix of physical anomalies and governmental or adversary secret flight technologies. Graff also shares his belief in the possibility of alien civilizations, arguing probabilities suggest the existence of life outside Earth. He then relates UFO conspiracies to ...
Feb 14, 2024•55 min
In this in-depth conversation, data scientist and researcher Hannah Ritchie delves into key insights from her new book 'Not The End of The World', which challenges the pervasive idea that human society is doomed due to environmental degradation. She explores various environmental problems, including climate change and plastic pollution, and emphasizes the potential for progress in tackling these critical issues. Hannah also discusses the essential role of technology and outlines the importance o...
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Hana Loftus is a co-founder of HAT Projects. HAT are award winning architects, planners and enablers for the built environment. Projects include: London’s Science Museum Smith Centre, transformation of Trinity Works (a disused church), Ely Museum, Jerwood gallery and Jaywick Sands’ Sunspot. As well as practising planning and design, she writes on the subject and plays a great fiddle and violin. Transcript and Video here: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2024/1/10/hana-loftus-architecture-regene...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 29 min
Lucy Easthope is a professor, lecturer and leading authority on emergency planning and recovering from disaster. Lucy has advised on major disasters over the last decades including the 2004 tsunami, 9/11, the Salisbury poisonings, Grenfell, and the Covid pandemic and most recently the war in Ukraine. She challenges others to think differently about what comes next after tragic events, and how to plan for future ones. Her book When the Dust Settles is both memoir of her life in disaster recovery ...
Dec 10, 2023•1 hr 22 min
Nina Gené is CEO of Jasmine Social Investments. Nina leads Jasmine’s investment strategy and diligence process, guiding the team to identify and support the next generation of great social entrepreneurs. Jasmine funds high-performing social ventures and outstanding social entrepreneurs who are solving a basic need of the very poor. Ben and Nina discuss what venture philanthropy means and the Jasmine strategy on philanthropy. We delve into the investment process that Jasmine uses. How Nina identi...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Pen Vogler is a food historian. Her latest book i s Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain . Her previous books include work on food in the life and works of Dickens and Jane Austen - Dinner with Dickens: and Dinner with Mr Darcy. In the podcast, Ben and Pen discuss various aspects of British culture and history we can learn from the British relationship with food. The discussion delves into several fascinating topics surrounding the transition from hunting-gathering societies...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 24 min
