Happy Birthday USA! Has America Delivered On Its Promise?

Mental Health: Our Forgotten Civil Right

Why does treating mental health as a civil rights cause matter?  In this episode of Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast, host Michael Green explores with guest Jono Wilde the urgent need to rethink how society treats mental health, sharing how decades of neglect and stigma have cost us millions of lives and constant suffering.  Jono, Executive Director at The Good Life Movement, talks about how treating mental health as a civil rights movement is the solution. Imagine if mental health isn't just treated medically but protected as fundamental human rights. Jono shares a bold framework that could revolutionize mental health policy in the U.S. and beyond. It covers everything from anti-discrimination protections to youth education, community funding, innovative research and more.  This episode also offers clear solutions and ideas on how we can all support this movement. Advocating for systemic change isn’t easy, but each one of us can make a difference if we address the issue at the root. Tune in to learn how talking openly, investing wisely, and enacting civil rights legislation can transform mental health care and save lives.  Explore the full Mental Health Civil Rights Bill as part of The Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness Act led by the Good Life Movement: https://goodlifemovement.org/ [https://goodlifemovement.org/] Please follow and rate our show!  Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/ [https://www.socialprogress.org/] Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more.  [https://www.socialprogress.org/social-progress-index] Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now!  [https://www.socialprogress.org/donatenow] Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!  [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/v9WI3lU/newsletter]

Top U.S. States in Quality of Life

Michael Green explores the key factors that influence where people choose to live. From safety to education, and health, discover what truly matters when selecting which U.S. state is better to live in. Discover the top five states in America for quality of life, as ranked by the U.S. Social Progress Map, and learn about the unique strengths and challenges of each. Whether you're considering a move, business opportunities or simply curious about the best places to live, this short clip offers valuable insights and data-driven recommendations. Find how your state, city and neighborhood are performing on social progress at https://www.socialprogress.org/us [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkhEbVg4N01HRkZxVEsxWk9OaTlUbV9mUURFZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttNWV6ZlRCcHBtS0NSVWNMT1I5Z0ZKNjZVY0JNbk1CTmFKdUZQWm1OdDVnd19NTy1MOS1lNTlLdUZtSElhNlgtX2ZrOUNtckpTOVZzeU5tQ09HT3NpTjcxamlTODVaalAyRmctU3otcnhvTkN0SUtpOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialprogress.org%2Fus&v=pg44tyMXHGY] Please follow and rate our show!  Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/ [https://www.socialprogress.org/] Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more.  [https://www.socialprogress.org/social-progress-index] Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now!  [https://www.socialprogress.org/donatenow] Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!  [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/v9WI3lU/newsletter]

Ranking America's Big Cities on Quality of Life

In this series, we explore the best big cities in America for quality of life, not just by income but by real quality indicators of societal wellbeing. Discover which of the biggest cities in the U.S. with a population of more than a million people like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix, offer the best living conditions.  From safety and education to housing and rights, we rank these cities to help you find your ideal home or next business investment. Tune in to see why Chicago takes the top spot and learn more about the surprising differences between big cities and smaller towns. Explore the U.S. Social Progress Map and access social progress data for all states, the 500 largest cities and their 32,000 neighborhoods. Register Now: https://www.socialprogress.org/us [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2dNdU1LVUVUZlhLZTF4VWY1aTFSNzB3Q0p3Z3xBQ3Jtc0trZWl0a3dfT3MwRmxLalZ2RDV2TnFqSUgxNk5udmhCaktQc3pCTVlmT1ZRSGlrQ0pFQ0pvWjNjbjN6Y29FQXNvSFMyWkFXSEU3RVBaeVZjYVVSTFBhcTdLMDJ5N0d4OG1IbUhCMkJzSFBHeXNsekMwbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialprogress.org%2Fus&v=4K8TKkoW5Po]  Please follow and rate our show!  Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/ [https://www.socialprogress.org/] Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more.  [https://www.socialprogress.org/social-progress-index] Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now!  [https://www.socialprogress.org/donatenow] Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!  [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/v9WI3lU/newsletter]

Best Cities to Live In America: Top 5 cities in the U.S

Michael Green explores the best cities to live in America, focusing on what truly matters: safety, education, healthcare, and social wellbeing.  Discover the top five cities in the United States, including Folsom, Newton, Centennial, Pleasanton, and San Ramon. Learn why these cities excel in social progress and what makes them stand out.  Please follow and rate our show!  Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/ [https://www.socialprogress.org/] Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more.  [https://www.socialprogress.org/social-progress-index] Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now!  [https://www.socialprogress.org/donatenow] Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!  [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/v9WI3lU/newsletter]

The Resilience of Pakistan’s Social Progress Amid Crises

How is Pakistan quietly changing from within? With a population of 250 million and positioned at the crossroads of South Asia and the Middle East, Pakistan's social and economic progress significantly influences regional stability and global growth.  Host Michael Green sits down with development economist Sheheryar Khan (University of Bari and Researcher at the Social Progress Imperative) to look beyond traditional economic metrics and assess the true state of social progress in Pakistan.  In the interview, we challenge common narratives about Pakistan and share insights into real progress amid adversity.  Pakistan's current social progress ranking is 142nd out of 171 countries, comparable to Nigeria or Malawi. Its economic resources have yet to fully translate into quality-of-life improvements for its citizens. Over the past 15 years, Pakistan's social progress has grown modestly, about 5 points on the Social Progress Index, but stagnation since 2019 signals ongoing challenges. Michael and Shahreya discuss:  * How Pakistan’s diversity, a strength and a challenge, requires innovative approaches for progress to truly take hold. * The importance of addressing regional disparities between urban centers like Islamabad and rural provinces. * The gap between basic primary school funding and higher education success. * Why local community cohesion keeps daily life remarkably safe despite national security reputations.w * The true state of rights, inclusion and environmental quality in the country.  * How a special income support program, a massive digitalization push, and a solar energy transition are quietly improving nutrition, basic healthcare, and housing. While Pakistan's social progress has been uneven and beset by setbacks, it also possesses deep resilience and immense potential. This episode is perfect for policymakers, development enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the stories behind a nation in transition.  Please follow and rate our show!  Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/ [https://www.socialprogress.org/] Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more.  [https://www.socialprogress.org/social-progress-index] Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now!  [https://www.socialprogress.org/donatenow] Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!  [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/v9WI3lU/newsletter]