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Insights – the Understanding Society podcast

by Understanding Society

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Latest episodes

Gene research with Understanding Society

September 28, 2026 · 15 min

In the first of our new season of podcasts, we’re looking at research using Understanding Society’s biological data which examined how some genes work differently in different people. Our guests are Leo Schalkwyk, an emeritus professor in…
Food banks and mental health

July 13, 2026 · 28 min

In our last episode before the summer break, we’re looking at the effect food banks have on the mental health of the people who use them. Our guests are Muhammad Waqas, an Assistant Professor in Economics at the University of Bradford, and…
Health warnings and lifestyles

June 22, 2026 · 22 min

In this episode, we’re looking at how we change our lifestyles – or not – when we face a health issue such as diabetes or a heart problem. Our guests are Zoey Verdun, a researcher at Imperial College London, and Claire Levy from the…
Our digital lives and our wellbeing

November 26, 2025 · 33 min

This episode looks at our increasingly digital lives and how they affect our wellbeing. Our guests this time are Dr. Daniel Wheatley, Reader in the Department of Management at the University of Birmingham, and Abigail Coxon, principal…
Breathing unequal air in the UK

October 15, 2025 · 24 min

In this episode, host Chris Coates looks at air pollution and in particular how common is it for immigrant populations to live in more polluted areas. His guests are Tobias Rüttenauer, Assistant Professor in Quantitative Social Sciences…

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Pets and life satisfaction

September 8, 2025 · 25 min

In this first episode of our new season, host Chris Coates looks at the link between pets and life satisfaction, and how it’s possible to put a monetary value on the benefit of having a cat or dog. His guests are Adelina Gschwandtner, a…
Studying for a PhD at ISER

July 23, 2025 · 9 min

In this episode we’re looking at the some of the people who use the data we gather. Chris talks to Cara Booker, a senior research fellow at the Institute for Social and Economic Research where Understanding Society is based, about studying…
Families and benefit cuts

May 20, 2025 · 32 min

In this episode, we discuss how families are affected by benefit cuts and fluctuating incomes, with Gabriele Mari, assistant professor in the School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Sara Ogilvie…
The housing crisis

March 19, 2025 · 29 min

The housing crisis – a simple question of too much demand and not enough supply, or is there more to it? With Rory Coulter, Associate Professor in Human Geography at University College London, and Kevin Garvey, Head of Member Relations at…
Arts and wellbeing

February 17, 2025 · 34 min

What is the relationship between the arts and our mental health? Are they good for our mental health, or are happier people more likely to engage in the arts? The guests for this episode are Hei Wan (Karen) Mak, a senior research fellow in…
Education and gender roles

January 27, 2025 · 34 min

Do education levels affect gender roles in UK households? Do men with degrees do more childcare and housework? With guests: Barbara Okun, Professor of Demography in the Sociology Department and Demography Division at the Hebrew University…
Our future care needs

January 15, 2025 · 23 min

In our first episode of 2025, we look at the future care needs of an aging population in the UK, with Taha Bokhari and Abby Jitendra from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, who have written a report about what our ageing population means for…

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About the show

Understanding Society is one of the largest household panel studies in the world. We follow thousands of households from across the UK to find out about people's real experiences of living and working in the UK today. Understanding Society asks questions about family life, education, employment, health, finances, social and political attitudes and wellbeing. The data from the Study is used by university researchers, government departments, charities and think tanks to better understand how the UK population is changing - and what stays the same over time. Our podcast series takes a look at some of the issues raised by the Understanding Society survey. The podcasts feature researchers who use the data and guest contributors who work in relevant areas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.