Better Human Podcast

I am delighted to share a full chapter from the audio edition of my new book, Emergency State, read by me.  If you want to listen to the full audio book, you can download it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emergency-State-Freedoms-Pandemic-Matters/dp/B0B1MV62XS/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1665417631&sr=8-1 Some reviews of the book: 'Superb... authoritative, thoughtful and terrifying in equal measure' - The Secret Barrister 'A riveting account of how our democracy was put under threat during the Pandemic and why we must never let the Emergency State - all-powerful but ignorant and corrupt - take over again' ― Lady Hale, former President of the UK Supreme Court 'A book that needed to be written - and nobody could have done it better' ― Joshua Rozenberg

Today I am joined by lawyer and commentator David Allen Green to discuss the governments problematic Bill of Rights Bill, which is intended to replace the Human Rights Act

Barrister Harriet Johnson talks about her important new book on violence against women. For more see www.better humanpodcast.com

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the world, with daily reports and videos of atrocities. But can international law help? What are the laws of war, war crimes and crimes against humanity? And will anyone ever be prosecuted? I am joined by Tatyana Eatwell, barrister and joint head of the international practice team at Doughty Street Chambers. More at www.betterhumanpodcast.com

Where do human rights come from? In this special musical episode, I speak to Tom Blackmore, grandson of David Maxwell-Fyfe, the Nuremberg Trials prosecutor and founding figure in the modern human rights movement. As Europe again is at war, a timely reminder of how a previous generation saw human rights as the answer. For more see www.betterhumanpodcast.com

A bill is going through parliament which will make significant changes to judicial review - the means by which individuals can challenge unlawful decisions by public authorities. What is at stake and what will it mean for rights protection? I am joined by Kamla Adiseshiah and Pragna Patel. For more see www.betterhumanpodcast.com

This week, for Holocaust Memorial Day, I speak to the daughter of a Holocaust Survivor and the grandson of a senior Nazi and hear how they have come together to educate about the Holocaust. For more information www.betterhumanpodcast.com

The law of joint enterprise murder has been described as a dragnet because it can criminalise people on the very periphery of a crime. This week I am joined by Jan Cunliffe and John Crilly, two people who's life experiences have led them to campaigning against what they see as an unjust law. For more information and to support the podcast go to www.betterhumanpodcast.com 

The government wants to reform the Human Rights Act. In this episode - record before the proposals were announced - Francesca Klug, Kirsty Brimelow QC, Dimitrios Giannoulopoulos and I discuss why our human rights law is important. Thank you to Goldsmiths Law for allowing me to record this live event.

The Windrush scandal is one of the most important and shocking in recent years, as British citizens were treated as if their citizenship never existed, losing livelihoods and sometimes, as you will hear in this episode, their very humanity. In this episode I speak to Ramya Jaidev co-founder of advocacy group Windrush Lives, and Anthony Williams, one of the victims of the scandal. For more resources go to www.betterhumanpodcast.com

Christine Burns has been one of the UK’s most successful campaigners for trans rights in recent decades. How did she play such an influential role in persuading governments and the courts to protect the rights of trans people? How did her personal trans journey impact on her advocacy? This conversation is not to be missed. You can go to www.betterhumanpodcast.com for show notes.

The Better Human Podcast is back after a break, and who better to return with than the indomitable Felicity Gerry QC. This is a conversation which ranges from joint enterprise to Shamima Begum to the role of the trouble-making lawyer. More details at www.betterhumanpodcast.com

We are increasingly used to the internet serving us the things it thinks we need. But what is the risk for our privacy if our data is being harvested and used to 'personalise' the experience? In the final episode of the mini-series we are joined by Dr Elif Kuskonmaz of the University of Portsmouth. This podcast is part of a mini-series co-hosted with Susie Alegre, international human rights barrister, Associate at Doughty Street Chambers and Research Fellow at the University of Roehampton

This week we speak to Lorna Woods, Professor of Internet Law at Essex University, about how algorithms on the internet are 'personalising' the content we see and how this impacts on the rights to privacy and freedom of expression.  This podcast is part of a mini-series co-hosted with Susie Alegre, international human rights barrister, Associate at Doughty Street Chambers and Research Fellow at the University of Roehampton

Albie Sachs is one of the world's most important living human rights jurists and freedom fighter. This fascinating interview between Adam Wagner and Albie Sachs was organised by JW3 supported by the Genesis Philanthropy Fund and is posted here with permission and thanks. Show notes at  www.betterhumanpodcast.com - and please don't forget to leave a review if you enjoy this! 

Can a computer judge a creative writing competition? Do automatically curated newsfeeds help or hinder free expression? How does creativity interact with rights protections? A fascinating and timely discussion with Brendan de Caires of Pen Canada, hosted by barristers Adam Wagner and Susie Alegre. Show notes at www.betterhumanpodcast.com

Shamima Begum left for Syria to join ISIS when she was a child. Now, aged 21, the Supreme Court has confirmed she cannot return to appeal against the Home Secretary's decision to deprive her of her citizenship. Her case is complex and difficult, as is clear from this fascinating discussion with Sarah St. Vincent, Executive Director of Rights & Security International. You can read show notes at www.betterhumanpodcast.com

In the near future people will need proof of a COVID-19 vaccination before entering certain countries. Even more controversially, some countries are already preventing people accessing everyday services without it. To examine the ethical and human rights implications I am joined by Judith Bueno de Mesquita and Professor Wayne Martin, both of Essex University. For show notes please visit www.betterhumanpodcast.com

This podcast is part of a mini-series co-hosted with Susie Alegre, international human rights barrister, Associate at Doughty Street Chambers and Research Fellow at the University of Roehampton This week we discuss freedom of opinion and how it interacts with freedom of speech. Our guest is Evelyn Aswad, a professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, an expert in the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of opinion. She is also on the Facebook Oversight Board and speaks on this podcast in a personal capacity We are grateful to the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media for a grant through their Spotlight on AI and Freedom of Expression (#SAIFE) project to support this series. For more details see www.betterhumanpodcast.com

This week's guest is the “Maven of Persuasion”, Dr Emma L Briant,  Associate Researcher at Bard College with an extensive background as a professor in information operations, propaganda and human rights. Dr Briant is one of the key researchers who uncovered the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018. This podcast is the second in a mini-series co-hosted with Susie Alegre, international human rights barrister, Associate at Doughty Street Chambers and Research Fellow at the University of Roehampton looking at the often overlooked aspects of freedom of expression in the online space, the rights of the receiver – the right to form and hold opinions and the right to receive information.  We are grateful to the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media for a grant through their Spotlight on AI and Freedom of Expression (#SAIFE) project to support this series. For more details see www.betterhumanpodcast.com