Rethinking Attitudes to Drugs & Addiction with Mark Sweeney

Season 1 Recap: Lessons, Challenges & Plans for 2025

Join me, your host Lily, for a solo chatty episode where I dive into my learnings from building this podcast. I cover the realities of what is going on behind the scenes, the challenges I've faced and some of the themes that came up across episodes from different guests. I also share some of my plans for 2025!

Rethinking Attitudes to Drugs & Addiction with Mark Sweeney

On this week's episode we dive deep into the world of addiction, harm reduction, and attitudes to drugs with Mark Sweeney, an experienced pharmacist, independent prescriber, and PhD researcher at Imperial College London Department of Brain Sciences. Mark’s groundbreaking work explores how psychedelic therapy could transform addiction treatment, offering hope and healing to those in need. With years of clinical practice and personal passion, Mark also advocates for evidence-based policies and harm reduction strategies, volunteering with drug checking organisations like The Loop to make drug use safer and more informed. From the staggering societal impact of alcohol to the untapped potential of psychedelics, Mark unpacks addiction as a complex interplay of biology, behaviour, and social systems—proving it’s not as black-and-white as it seems.

Founder of Clue & Mother of 'FemTech' on Reimagining Women’s Health

In this eye-opening conversation, Ida Tin shares her remarkable journey from motorcycling around the world to founding Clue, one of the world's biggest period tracking apps - with other 10 million users in 190 countries. Ida is also known as the 'Mother of the term. They also discuss: * The power of connecting in with your menstrual cycle * The balance between data, metrics and intuition * What MEN need to know and why it’s important * The pervasive stigma surrounding periods and women's health * Global perspectives on period stigma, the historical roots of female suppression * The interconnectedness of women's health, planetary health and economy. * The challenges faced in the FemTech space and the need for individuals to PARTICIPATE actively in creating a more equal society * Reflections on legacy * Redefining success

How To Have Constructive Conversations with People You Disagree With w/ Dr Tania Israel

Just in time for the upcoming US election, we could not be more excited to welcome Dr. Tania Israel, a Professor of Counselling Psychology and award-winning author of books Beyond Your Bubble and Facing the Fracture.  Dr. Israel, who teaches at UC Santa Barbara, brings her expertise in navigating political and personal divides to offer powerful, practical tools we can all use to connect—even with those whose views might differ from our own. From her acclaimed TEDx talks to insights featured on the TODAY Show, New York Times, and NPR, Tania’s work teaches us how to cultivate empathy, foster understanding, and navigate even the most challenging discussions. In this inspiring, optimistic, and incredibly practical conversation, Dr. Israel shares top tips for turning tough conversations with people you disagree with into moments of connection or constructive outcomes. Get ready to learn strategies you can bring into your own life, from managing conflict to finding common ground and understanding perspectives that might initially seem worlds apart. This episode is packed with insights that will leave you feeling equipped, hopeful, and ready to face the divides around you. Podcast: Tania's Podcast [https://taniaisrael.com/podcast-ready-to-be-strong/] TedX Talks: How to Win a Political Argument | Dr. Tania Israel | TEDxSanLuisObispo [https://www.ted.com/talks/tania_israel_how_to_win_a_political_argument_dr_tania_israel_tedxsanluisobispo?subtitle=en] What Halibut Fajitas Taught Me About Bridging the Political Divide | Tania Israel | TEDxUCSB [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaXvnEn8lQU] Books Beyond Your Bubble book [https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Your-Bubble-Strategies-Conversations/dp/1433833557/] Facing the Fracture book [https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Fracture-Navigate-Challenges-Divided/dp/B0CZ7L4T73/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Q0RP09XIZ1ZY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9GAd1cjNYPeUvHEgI74VAv4X50-76x4vmE5Agqp_cKu-B8yHtADxAHJbx9qbk70e4dFV2XA-OJAvz-RZG7bvbCWAR_EtWk4J7VC_mF1G50598zoM8nhia-km7bViERWr8tVdGcZQgWDJ-WFxLTNf-b-WYyrzbgCqI0T0h6BwRMrzckS65uhtsp1HpyQwRN8ucuAiBCWH3_iGPqgoBHH1FxrgVKP93bRsZa9-F6BhNtU.ebhSotKva59VIJZaGNjLVWGuPdOBRFEG134CGUsm9oY&dib_tag=se&keywords=facing+the+fracture&qid=1730566732&sprefix=facing+the+fractur%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1] Other resources The political flow chart [https://taniaisrael.com/dialogue-flowchart/] Tania's Website [https://taniaisrael.com/about/] Join the Listen First Project! [https://www.listenfirstproject.org/pledge]

How to Navigate The Evolving Social Media Landscape w/ Digital Rights Lawyer Nana Nwachukwu

In this eye-opening and thought-provoking episode, Lily sits down with Nana Nwachukwu, a digital rights expert and affiliate at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, to unpack the hidden world of social media algorithms. From shadow banning to echo chambers, they break down the complex relationship between profit-driven tech companies and our online experiences. It's a human conversation about how we can reclaim our digital wellbeing and rebuild real-world connections in an increasingly online world. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just someone who scrolls through social media, this episode offers practical insights and a refreshing perspective on finding balance in the digital age. Note: all views are myself and Nana's own. Chapters:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction to Lab Coats and Yoga Mats 02:18 - Shadow Banning & Algorithm Control: Who's Really Deciding What You See? 04:41 - Meet Nana: From Law to Digital Rights Advocacy 09:08 - How Social Media Platforms Hide Content 11:33 - The Profit Paradox: Can We Trust Companies to Put Users First and What Can We Do? 15:46 - The Echo Chamber Effect: Why Having Full Control Isn't the Answer 20:08 - Digital Footprints: What Do They Really Know About Us? 24:44 - The Dark Side of Algorithms: When AI Meets Human Vulnerability 31:39 - Case Study: Diet Culture & Digital Harm 36:25 - The Transparency Problem: Why We Need Better Tech Laws 40:43 - Practical Steps: Protecting Yourself Online Without Going Off-Grid 43:10 - The Loneliness Factor: Why We're All So Obsessed with Being Online 47:30 - Building Real Communities in a Digital World 49:47 - Final Thoughts: The Simple Joy of Saying Hello and Touching Grass 52:01 - Host's Reflection: Finding Balance in Our Digital Lives