Ways to Change the World with Krishnan Guru-Murthy

“On the television, they were saying we were thieves, that we were raised with no morals”. Growing up Black in 1970s Britain, writer Gary Younge didn’t feel fully accepted - he didn’t even feel British. “Someone would go, “it’s cold today isn’t it, I bet it’s not like this where you come from,” and you’d be like, "I come from just down the road mate!” His latest book, Dispatches from the Diaspora, looks at a lifetime of writing about Black life, spanning a 30-year career, based in Britain and America, that goes from Mandela to Obama and from Stormzy to Black Lives Matter.   He joins Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Ways to Change the World to discuss significant events that have impacted the Black diaspora, his mother’s influence and what he can teach the next generation of journalists. Produced by: Imahn Robertson  

How can the government attract the country’s best minds to work for them? How do we know when a private sector contract is a good one? And what can we learn from NASA about business and efficiency?  Mariana Mazzucato is a professor of Economics at the University College London and an advisor to many governments. In her latest book, ‘The Big Con’, she looks at the relationship between the consulting industry and government, and the way business and governments are run, and plans executed.  She joins Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Ways to Change the World to discuss how economic theory can streamline everything from school lunches to handling a pandemic, and the link between knife crime and the economy.  Produced by Imahn Robertson and Ka Yee Mak  

“We're the only species who have worked out to blow up everything and kill everyone”. In his latest book, The Earth Transformed, Peter Frankopan takes on the entirety of the history of planet earth, and looks at how our lives have been shaped by environmental changes since the dawn of our planet, 4.5 billion years ago, until the present day. He tackles the transformation of the earth, teasing apart the connection between humans and climate, explaining how “we are the product of massive climate change in the past”, and looks ahead to crises anew.  In this episode of Ways to Change the World, Peter Frankopan sits down with Krishnan Guru-Murthy to discuss how humans have impacted the world, the existential threat posed by nuclear war and global superpowers, and what happens “when the music stops”.    Produced by: Imahn Robertson  

He’s the frontman of one of the most iconic bands of the 80s.  Four decades on, Simon Le Bon says that New Wave  legends Duran Duran are still going strong, making new music and announcing that they’re going on tour again.  In today’s episode of Ways to Change the World, Simon Le Bon sits down with Krishnan Guru-Murthy to discuss why the band doesn't make political statements, the state of the music industry, and the secret to Duran Duran’s longevity.  Produced by : Imahn Robertson  

Sebastian Payne is an author and the Director of centre-right think tank Onward, where he explores the bigger problems and challenges facing Britain today.  He recently left his post as Whitehall Editor of the Financial Times, where he spent years navigating the corridors of Parliament, detangling the latest scandals and finding out what politics really means for people up and down the country. His childhood, growing up in Gateshead, influenced him to write one of his books, ‘Broken Heartlands’, and he went on to write ‘The Fall of Boris Johnson’, charting the former PM’s final weeks in office.  In today’s Ways to Change the World, Sebastian Payne sits down with Krishnan Guru-Murthy to discuss Brexit, Boris, and what we can expect from the next general election.  Produced by Imahn Robertson.  

“I’m a nomadic person, I don’t want to stay in one place”. When Baaba writes his music, he takes inspiration from the places he visits. “When I started travelling, I came to London, I bought cassettes, I appreciated different people. And when I got a chance to meet them, we sat down and wrote songs”. But no matter how much Baaba has travelled, and to where, he always brings his music “back home to Podor, Senegal”.  Baaba has released his first solo album in seven years, ‘Being’, which is inspired by working on the soundtrack to Black Panther and the issues facing the world today, including climate change and desertification in African countries. In today’s Ways to Change the World, Baaba sits down with Krishnan Guru-Murthy to discuss the power of music and why we are all politicians in our own way when it comes to helping the world.  Produced by: Imahn Robertson and Alice Wagstaffe Music credits: Wakanda by Ludwig Göransson ft. Baaba Maal - Hollywood Records Yela by Baaba Maal - Island Records Ltd. There Will Be Time (Live in South Africa) by Mumford & Sons and Baaba Maal - Gentlemen of the Road, Island, Glassnote  

“I was thinking about all my friends who launched a podcast and I thought, “if I had a podcast. I'd just talk to people about death. That's a terrible idea”.” When Cariad Lloyd’s father died of cancer when she was 15, she was angry, “for, probably, 10 years”. But later in life, she found herself wanting to share her experience of grief, and started the award-winning podcast Griefcast.  Cariad has now written a book, ‘You Are Not Alone’, which delves into her own experience of grief, and what she has learned from her hundreds of podcast guests. In today’s Ways to Change the World, Cariad sits down with Krishnan Guru-Murthy to discuss dying, death, grief, and what comes next.  Produced by Imahn Robertson

“I didn't write this book to be hugely sellable, hugely commercial - I wrote it because it’s a story that I felt needed to be told.” Jyoti Patel’s debut novel, ‘The Things That We Lost’ is the story of a British Gujarati mother and son discovering how they fit into the world and learning how to balance the Gujarati and British sides of their identities.  The book earnt Jyoti the Merky Books New Writers Prize 2021, a competition launched by Stormzy and Penguin House UK to discover unpublished and underrepresented writers.  In this episode, Jyoti joins Krishnan to talk about feeling othered, why her book is written in the voice of a young man, and how to ask someone the question, “where are you from?”  Produced by: Imahn Robertson

Frances O’Grady stepped down as the General Secretary of British Trades Union Congress at the end of 2022. She was the first woman to hold the post in TUC’s 154-year history.   She is now a Labour peer in the House of Lords where she is committed to abolishing the unelected chamber.   She joins Krishnan to talk about the history of the trade union movement, why she thinks workers are going on strike and what the government should be doing to support them and support for single parents.   Produced by : Imahn Robertson

Rick Rubin is the legendary music producer who founded Def Jam records, one of the most important hip hop labels of the 80s.    He has won nine Grammy awards and worked with some of the biggest artists of our time, to name but a few: Jay Z, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Strokes, Adele, Run DMZ and Slayer.   He joins Krishnan to talk about his incredible career, as well as the launch of his new book ‘The Creative Act’.      Produced by: Joe Lord Jones and Nina Hodgson   Music Credits:   Superrappin’ - Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, and The Furious Five Label: Enjoy Records  Producer – Bobby Robinson   It's Yours - T La Rock Artists: Jazzy Jay and T La Rock  Label: Def Jam Recordings  Producer Rick Rubin   Feel the Heartbeat - Treacherous Three  Label: Enjoy Records Producer – Bobby Robinson        The Big Beat - Label: Capitol Records Producer – Eddy Offord    The Adults Are Talking - The Strokes Label: RCA AND Cult Records Producer – Rick Rubin   Angel of Death Slayer  Label: Geffen Records – Def Jam Recordings Producer: Rick Rubin   Trouble Funk - Drop The Bomb Label: Sugar Hill Records Producer – Reo Edwards    Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash  Label: Columbia Producer – Bob Johnston   Hurt - Johnny Cash  Label - American & Lost Highway Produced by Rick Rubin   Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys  Label - Def Jam & Columbia Records  Produced by - Rick Rubin,    I Can't Live Without My Radio - LL Cool J  Label - Def Jam/Columbia/CBS  Producer Rick Rubin & Jazzy Jay   RUN DMC - Walk This Way ft. Aerosmith  Label -  Geffen Records Produced by - Rick Rubin & Russell Simmons

ChatbotGPT is a new artificial intelligence programme designed to simulate human conversation and tackle complex questions. It's made by Open AI foundation, a tech-startup co-founded by Elon Musk, and it draws on text taken from a variety of sources on the internet and its creators say it has learned how to answer academic questions, and even sometimes admits when it's wrong. We've done an interview by putting questions to the chatbot, and then generating a voice for it using different software. We asked the Chatbot GPT whether fears about A.I. threatening the human race are well-founded.

Nouriel Roubini is an economist, a professor in New York, a global economic consultant and an author who, amongst many distinguishing things, was one of those who foresaw the 2008 credit crunch and financial crisis.  His latest work is called ‘Megathreats’, and it details 10 trends that make it more likely than not that we are heading for a global economic crash of stagnant growth, debt crises and high inflation that will cause decades of dystopian suffering and injustice. No wonder they call him Dr. Doom.  In this episode, Nouriel joins Krishnan to talk about climate change, job-displacing artificial intelligence and our future.    Produced by: Imahn Robertson

George Takei is an actor, activist and author, best known for his role of Lieutenant Sulu in Star Trek.    Imprisoned as a child in the United States for being of Japanese origin, he campaigns for gay and immigrant rights. He brings his award-winning broadway musical ‘Allegiance’ to London, which is inspired by his own memories of growing up in a Japanese internment camp.  George joins Krishnan to tell his extraordinary story, from childhood to stardom and his mission to raise awareness about his life. Produced by: Imahn Robertson

Rosie Holt has become famous on Twitter, where she  reinvented herself via satirical videos; A conversative MP and right-wing activist who many mistake for being real.    In this episode Rosie joins Krishnan to discuss life as a social media sensation, women in media and why we should laugh at things that make us angry.    Produced by: Imahn Robertson

Clint Dyer is an actor, writer and director who has turned his pain into power. That power has resulted in numerous ‘firsts’, the first Black British artist to have performed, written and directed a full-scale production at the National Theatre and the first Black man to direct a Shakespeare tragedy at a major British venue. In this episode, Clint joins Krishnan to discuss theatrical traditions, his vision to articulate the Black experience and his new history-making production of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello.  Warning: this podcast contains references to racist language Produced by : Imahn Robertson

Julian Lennon is a singer-songwriter, who rose to fame for the Beatles song Hey Jude, which was written after his parents John and Cynthia Lennon separated. In this episode, Julian joins Krishnan to speak about his seventh album Jude, emotion in songwriting, dealing with depression and the importance of relearning his old material. While Julian has received platinum success for his music, he has also pursued other endeavours. The multi-faceted singer-songwriter discusses his work as a photographer, filmmaker, author and his foundation called The White Feather Foundation.  Produced by Ka Yee Mak

Rob Delaney is a comedian, actor and writer, best known for co-creating the British sitcom Catastrophe, which won him a Bafta for comedy writing.     But during the height of his success, he learnt that his son, Henry, was dying of a brain tumour. He’s written a book about it in which he grapples with the fragility of life, the mysteries of death, and the question of purpose for those left behind.   In this episode, Rob joins Krishnan to talk about his new book, ‘A Heart That Works’ and why he felt it was important to tell his family’s story.   Produced by : Imahn Robertson and Nina Hodgson Photo Credit: Southbank Centre

Orhan Pamuk is a renowned Turkish Nobel Prize winning author. He is one of Turkey’s most acclaimed writers and has been openly critical of laws which curtail freedom of expression, particularly those which make it illegal to criticise Turkish President Recep Erdogan. He joins Krishnan to talk about his new book, ‘Nights of Plague’, why he believes pandemics fuel authoritarianism and how he became an author. Produced by : Joe Lord-Jones

Marina Hyde is a columnist at the Guardian, where she’s worked for over 20 years. She is one of the most admired journalists in the UK and known for her witty analysis of politics and the chaotic times we live in.  She joins to talk about her new book ‘What Just Happened?!’,  an amalgamation of the columns she writes for the Guardian. It spans post-referendum politics in Britain, from David Cameron to Theresa May, to Boris Johnson.  Marina also talks about how she became a journalist, the state of British politics and what’s next in her career.  Produced by Freya Pickford

Gaia Vince is a science and environment journalist and author.  She has written extensively about the impact human life has had on our planet.  In this episode, Gaia joins Krishnan to talk about her new book, Nomad Century, in which she takes a look at how migration could be the solution to the climate crisis. Produced by : Joe Lord-Jones

Tova Friedman was one of the youngest survivors of the Auschwitz death camp. Her family came from Poland, went through various concentration camps, and ended up in Auschwitz. But remarkably, both her, her mother and father survived. She has written an extraordinary memoir called The Daughter of Auschwitz, together with the journalist Malcolm Brabant.  Tova joins Krishnan with her grandson Aron, who is taking her story to a new generation through the medium of TikTok. Krishnan talks to Tova about what she remembers of her time in Auschwitz, her views on God and what she wants the world to learn from her story. Producers: Freya Pickford and Rachel Evans

Edward Enninful is the editor of British Vogue and European editorial director of Condé Nast. Krishnan talks to him about what it’s like to be a refugee in the UK, having moved to London from Ghana at a young age.  They also discuss Enninful’s new book, ‘A Visible Man’, what he thinks of Liz Truss and how he’s changed Vogue to be representative of all women.  Producer: Freya Pickford 

Dave Stewart is a musician, who rose to fame after forming the iconic British pop duo, Eurythmics, alongside Annie Lennox.  Krishnan talks to him about his latest solo album, Ebony McQueen, which has drawn heavily on the blues he heard growing up in Sunderland, as he tells the story of his life through the songs. Ebony McQueen is a 26 track epic, which will also become a film, featuring a fictional “voodoo queen” who visits a boy very much in need of the blues. Producer: Joe Lord-Jones

Deborah Meaden is a successful businesswoman, entrepreneur and star of the TV show Dragons’ Den. She talks to Krishnan about her worries about the British economy, how Dragons’ den has transformed the world of business and why she has been talking about protecting the environment for decades. Producer: Rachel Evans

Tom Daley is an Olympic Gold Medallist, sports personality, campaigner and knitter. We recently saw him at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games as a flag bearer, bearing the Progress Pride flag with LGBTQ+ athletes across the commonwealth. Krishnan talks to Tom about why he is fighting for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, his views on trans athlete participation and what it’s been like for him being a gay parent in the UK. Warning: contains distressing themes. Sources: BBC Produced by: Rachel Evans

Michael Pollan is one of TIME magazine’s top 50 most influential people in the US, he is a reporter, writer and psychonaut.   His books The Omnivore’s Dilemma and The Botany of Desire questions the way the world thinks about food and he is now doing the same for psychedelics and psychoactive plants. His book How To Change Your Mind and a new Netflix series by the same name explore his belief that Psychedelics are the tool to understanding the mind.   Produced by: Nina Hodgson

Steve Thompson is a former England rugby player and he played in every England match during the 2003  Rugby World Cup.  But today, age 43, Steve remembers nothing about that final. And in 2020 he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia - and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy.  In today’s episode Krishnan talks to him about his diagnosis, the impact it’s had on his mental health and his memoir, ‘Unforgettable’. if you have been affected by any of the issues covered in that report, you can find a range of places to seek help by visiting channel4.com/support Produced by: Joe Lord-Jones and Freya Pickford

General Charles Q Brown Jr. is the chief of staff of the US Air Force.  Krishnan talks to him about how the war in Ukraine has changed the way he thinks about defending the US, why he joined the US Air Force and whether he thinks anything has changed in America since the death of George Floyd. Producer: Freya Pickford Sources: Pacific Air Forces/ Mentorship Moment

Asma Khan is a world-renowned restaurateur and cookbook author who runs London restaurant Darjeeling Express with its kitchen entirely staffed by women.    After two years at her current location in Covent Garden, she has moved on, but she’s struggling to find another place for her restaurant. She blames discrimination in what she called the ‘all white, Mayfair, men only club’ of the hospitality industry.   She joined Krishnan to talk about where her love of cooking real Indian food came from, finding a new home for her restaurant, and writing her recent cookbook for her mother.   Produced by : Nina Hodgson

Lesia Vasylenko is a Ukrainian politician and human rights lawyer. Since the war in Ukraine began, we’ve spoken to her many times on Channel 4 News, but she joins Krishnan to talk about what it was like to have to send her children to another country when the war in Ukraine began. She also discusses her first impression of President Zelenskyy and how she believes this war might end. Produced by : Freya Pickford