The Edit

What is a book that changed your life? A question we ask all of our Change Makers guests, to which some answer ‘all of them’, like Gavin Esler, who says there is a lesson to be learned in the pages of every book. Others share one that stands out in their childhood memories, or helped them to find the path they’re now on. We’ve compiled their answers in this article to provide you with some seriously good must-reads this World Book Day:

We are proud to mark International Women’s Day 2022 by celebrating the achievements and promoting the calls to action of past Change Makers podcast guests. They are all committed, in their own ways, to the IWD theme for 2022 – #BreakTheBias – and shared their stories with podcast host Michael Hayman about how they are doing just that through their inspiring work.

Change Makers is proud to celebrate Black History Month, and the richness of black heritage and culture that has contributed to shaping our world today. Join us as we reflect on some of our guests’ inspiring stories and achievements, and the change they hope to bring for our generation and those in the future. 

This week, we are thrilled to be celebrating the 100th episode of the Change Makers podcast.

In recognition of Second Hand September, we look back on lessons shared by Change Makers who are working hard to bring good and necessary change within the fashion industry – not just for September, but for the months and years to come.

One of the things I love about the conversations is challenging my own pre-conceived perceptions. To paraphrase, interviews are like a box of chocolates; you never know how you’re going to feel about who you meet or what you might learn from them.

We all need to enjoy what gives us the human touch: the emotion, the passion and the feeling and that allows us to relish the moment. This is actually what Richard Curtis means by love, actually.

Wimbledon, the Euros, The Olympics, and a bruising Lions series – it’s been a superb summer of sports. But these events have also shown that winning is more than a gold medal. The perfect time to reflect on what it really means to win, listen back to conversations on mental health, having a happy mindset and reaching your goals.

The annual One Young World Summit, which began yesterday in Munich, convenes the brightest young talent from every country and sector, working to accelerate social impact. Delegates from around the world are counselled by influential political, business and humanitarian leaders, including some of our brilliant Change Makers guests from the past year.

Change Makers host Michael Hayman explains the ethos of the podcast, what his guests all have in common and why questions are as important as answers.

Richard Curtis is the man behind many of our most-loved romcoms, from Four Weddings and a Funeral to Notting Hill, Love Actually and Mamma Mia – he has enthralled the nation with his tales of love and life for over three decades. He spoke to Change Makers’ host Michael Hayman about the power individuals have to instigate change and why business must be a force for good.

The new Change Makers podcast track was created by Beatie Wolfe, the brilliantly talented and innovative ‘musical weirdo and visionary’ who is breaking boundaries with every new project

Change Makers caught up with founder and curator, Joe Galliano and actor Mark Gatiss, to understand how we can start to paint a picture of Queer Britain and understand its place in the history books

An exploration of profit with purpose from the worlds of advertising, insurance and grocery with the MD of Iceland, the CEO of Legal & General Group and the founder of Good Loop.

The much-loved children's laureate talks through some of his inspirations, his advice to would-be writers and why children's books are so important

Blossoming professional cookware brand based on non-toxic titanium

As sparkling as ever with its first still wine

Timeless luxury furniture, inspired by nature and handcrafted in Britain

Telling tales of iconic collaborations, subversive styles and sophisticated designs

A food supplement to support gut health and general wellbeing

Time and technology are enabling the renowned Chelsea jeweller and silversmith Theo Fennell to thrive during the global crises

At its simplest, food is the global unifier – we all need it. But the way we grow, commodify, transport, eat and respect our food needs to change. Restaurants, too, must take up their responsibilities, says Asma Khan.

2020 proved one thing, that we cannot survive without technology. We’ve just got to ensure that it is used for the greater good, says Michael Hayman.

Lockdown takes so many things away from us. Our freedom, our daily habits, our friends, our family and in some cases, our work. But in the place of these dear and essential things, we have found small opportunities. With life slowing down, many of us have found a new opportunity, and indeed joy, in reading a good book. 

When we talk about businesses changing for the better, often we hear the phrase “diversity and inclusion” as an area for improvement. And yet the issues of discrimination and equal opportunity in business are broad, it’s impossible to capture the struggle of so many different people and communities with one sweeping phrase. 

We often turn to economists to make sense of the present and predict the future. But they don’t all sing from the same hymn sheet. Each one takes the facts before them and adds their experience, their insight and their understanding to create their own vision of how things could be. Some offer reassurance, some issue warnings. All offer a view.

A social entrepreneur, banker and economist, Professor Muhammad Yunus, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his creation of the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concept of microfinance – he has since helped millions of people out of poverty. 

They say “music be the food of love” – well one thing is certain, music has become the food of lockdown too.

When you’re facing an uncertain future, many would argue that the events of the past can offer some guidance, inspiration and indeed, comfort. So, who better to talk to as we battle through the Covid-19 crisis, than three esteemed historians and writers?