Poverty Unpacked podcast

Epizode

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  57. More than a meal - Soul Food Jenny Cornfield 01.06.2026 27min

  Community, not charity. In this episode, we are joined by Jenny Cornfield from Soul Food Edinburgh to talk about how the provision of free, welcoming and nourishing meals offers community and sense of dignity, but is ultimately a sticking plaster for the structural problems of poverty and homelessness. Find out more about this episode and all our other episodes on https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  56. Poverty Unpacked Celebrates - April 2026 19.04.2026 10min

  Celebrating changemakers in poverty! In the second episode of Poverty Unpacked Celebrates, we celebrate the Equals platform, the Taxpayers Against Poverty coalition, the book Impoverished by Joanna Mack, the Common Ground Naturing Writing Prize, and the event 'Algorithms and Empathy'. Links to all celebrations on https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  55. What good can US' fragmented and charity-based welfare do? - Beth DaPonte 22.03.2026 32min

  Fragmented, charity-dependent and increasingly more restrictive - this is the US welfare system. . In this episode, social scientist Beth DaPonte gives an overview of social security in the US, discusses the role of charitable giving to ensure support to those in need, and shares her concerns about old age poverty. . Find out more about this episode and all other episodes on poverty-unpacked.org
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  54. Poverty Unpacked Celebrates - February 2026 02.03.2026 9min

  Celebrating changemakers in poverty! In this first version of Poverty Unpacked Celebrates, we are celebrating changemakers selected for the Big Issue 100 changemakers of 2026, a new immersive event on poverty and an inspiring conversation to mark International Women's Day. Check out full details - as always - on poverty-unpacked.org
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  53. Smart welfare policy rooted in humanity - Esmah Lahlah 18.01.2026 30min

  53. Smart welfare policy rooted in humanity - Esmah Lahlah by Poverty Unpacked
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  52. Softening poverty with trust - Quiet Netherlands 14.12.2025 22min

  Storytelling about poverty, Softening poverty, Strengthening talents and Trust - the ingredients of Quiet's approach to a growing community of people to come together in countering poverty. Listen to our conversation with Ralf and Marieke from Quiet Netherlands about their unique approach and key ingredients for establishing and growing communities. Information about this episode on our website https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  51. Poverty Unpacked - November chat 01.12.2025 11min

  In this episode of Poverty Unpacked chats, hear about new reports on child poverty, how austerity fuelled the far right, how anti-poverty interventions can support agency, and how new housing areas can be made welcome for residents on low incomes. Links to all reports and pieces can be found in the notes to this episode on https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  50. Shame is no place to live - Cody Hochstenbach 31.10.2025 30min

  From the glorification of home ownership to the need for collective action to tackle a collective problem, in this episode we are joined by Cody Hochstenbach to discuss the housing crisis for people on low income in the Netherlands and how to tackle it. Find more information poverty-unpacked.org, episode 50.
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  49. Poverty Unpacked - September chat 01.10.2025 13min

  Time for another Poverty Unpacked chat! This month features new child poverty estimates, pressure on parents due to focus on early childhood, mismatch between policy makers' attitudes and evidence, and EU Anti-Poverty Strategy PLUS what's on in October in the month of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Check out all the links and more on poverty-unpacked.org
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  48. Tackling poverty and disadvantage in schools - Sean Harris 29.08.2025 40min

  How to address poverty in schools? Check out this conversation with journalist and author Sean Harris on small but powerful tweaks to classroom practices as well as big and bold policy change beyond school grounds. More information about this episode and all other episodes on https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  47. Poverty Unpacked - July chat 31.07.2025 31min

  Time for another Poverty Unpacked chat! This month features research on poverty in new housing areas in UK and the role of coloniality in social protection policy in Africa. Plus celebrating six months since publication of The Empathy Fix book! Check out all the links and more on https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  46. What works to reduce child poverty – Global Coalition to End Child Poverty 29.06.2025 33min

  With only five years to go before the goal of ending extreme child poverty, we are off track to achieve this. But there are valuable lessons from countries that have made significant progress to accelerate efforts. In this episode, we discuss what works to reduce child poverty with members of the Global Coalition to End Child Poverty. Find out more on poverty-unpacked.org.
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  45. Poverty Unpacked - May chat 01.06.2025 28min

  Round up of news on poverty from around the world by host Dr Keetie Roelen. From reports on child poverty to a call for submission for monologues on homelessness - listen now. For list of links to all items in this episode, head over to poverty-unpacked.org
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  44. Getting organised to fight poverty 26.04.2025 42min

  Ending poverty requires mass movements. Real change only happens when people come together and stand up against the injustice of poverty. In this episode, we speak with Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis and Noam Sandweiss-Back about their book ‘You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take: Lessons From the Movement to End Poverty’. Find out more on https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  43. Poverty Unpacked - March chat 28.03.2025 18min

  Poverty in the UK is high and on the rise. Announced cuts will send more families into poverty. In this episode, I discuss the latest figures, implications of the announced welfare cuts and importance of redistribution for breaking intergenerational poverty.
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  42. Tackling homelessness without strings attached – Greater Change 23.02.2025 36min

  Homelessness in the UK is on the rise. Can direct financial support to people experiencing homelessness make a difference? In this episode, we speak with Greater Change CEO Jonathan Tan to discuss their novel way of working with frontline service providers to help individuals and generating evidence to affect policy change. Find out more on poverty-unpacked.org
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  41. Poverty Unpacked - January chat 24.01.2025 14min

  Poverty Unpacked chats are back! In January 2025, hear about forthcoming book The Empathy Fix, two new reports on astonishing and infuriating wealth inequality and providing input on the issue of welfare and conditionality.
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  40. Defensive design and hostile architecture - Cara Chellew 19.12.2024 33min

  Have you wondered about those armrests on park benches, or spikes on ledges or in hidden corners? They're examples of defensive design and hostile architecture. In this episode, urban planning expert Cara Chellew explains how hostile design of public spaces affects some of the most vulnerable and makes them less appealing to all. Check out more on https://poverty-unpacked.org
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  39. Crafting for social justice - Sarah Corbett 21.10.2024 51min

  What does crafting have to do with activism? What contribution can gentle protest make to tackling poverty? In this episode, we speak with Sarah Corbett, founder of the Craftivist Collective. We hear how a more quiet and kind form of activism can make change happen, and how it can complement other, more traditional forms of activism. Find out more on the Poverty Unpacked website: https://poverty-unpacked.org/2024/10/19/episode-39-crafting-for-social-justice/ Photo by Robin Prime, credit Craftivist Collective
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  38. Poverty is expensive - Fair by Design 16.09.2024 33min

  When you have less to spend, life costs more. Poverty premiums refer to higher prices that people pay for anything from car insurance to grocery shopping due to having a smaller budget. In this episode, we speak with Maria Booker, Head of Policy at Fair by Design, a campaign that aims to eliminate unfair poverty premiums. Find out more on: https://poverty-unpacked.org