Words of Affirmation

This week we’re talking about ‘taxpayers money’ and exploring how such a commonplace phrase leans us towards less public spending and creates a dividing line between who public services are and aren’t for.Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our Patreon.You can find out more about hosts Care Full on our website.This week we talked about:This Mother Jones article on the history of tax and biases of ‘taxpayers’Tax Payers Alliance’s BBC guideCritiques on the language of taxpayers from Richard MurphyResearch from Carnegie UK on public perceptions of the tax systemPatriotic MillionairesThe British Social Attitudes Survey findings on taxMargate residents turning out in opposition to UKIP this monthOur music for the episode is Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth (thanks Bob x).

This week we talk about the language of crisis and ask whether it enables or prevents us from moving towards a fairer economy. Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our Patreon.You can find out more about hosts Care Full on our website.This week we talked about:Adam Tooze on the polycrisis for the Financial Times hereThe use of metaphors when talking about economic crisis here An exploration of crisis, value and hope hereSocial Care Futures work on how to build support to transform social care and the language of crisis hereRethinking EconomicsZohran Mamdani and his treasure huntOur music for the episode is Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth (thanks Bob x). And thank you to Robyn Moffat for supporting the podcast with a professional studio and our best sounding episode yet!

This week we’re joined by Jason Bunting to talk about fairness in the economy and explore what it means for how we live, work and care for each other.*We had a few issues with Ruth’s sound so apologies for some crackling sounds whilst she’s talking. It’s all good stuff she’s saying so we’ve kept it in!*Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our Patreon.You can find out more about hosts Care Full on our website.And about Jason’s work at fairnessfoundation.com.This week we talked about:The Fairness Foundation’s Fair NecessitiesAnd their wider researchThe discourse of fairness around the Welfare Reform BillKemi Badenoch talking about fairnessThe car finance scandalBrute luckIssues of tax justiceSolidarity Economics including this report from the Good Ancestor Movement and Decolonising EconomicsOur music for the episode is Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth (thanks Bob x).

This week we deep dive into the 'benefits system’ and ask what using this language means for our shared understanding of what benefits are and why they exist.Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our Patreon.And, you can find out more about hosts Care Full on our website.This week we talked about:The Beveridge ReportDarren McGarvey on the toxic trope of benefit scroungersThis Yougov poll on how Britons feel about benefit and welfare recipientsThis article on the language of welfare from Liam StanleyJRF’s data on poverty in the UKOECD data on social security spend internationallyThis UBI trial in WalesOur music for the episode is Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth (thanks Bob x).

This week we take on ‘social mobility’ and explore what it means for how we live, work and care for each other. Does a focus on individual mobility obscure structural inequalities? And what would a more collective guide for our economy look like?Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our ⁠Patreon⁠.And, you can find out more about hosts Care Full on ⁠our website⁠.This week we talked about:Rebecca Solnit’s ⁠essay on centrism as bias⁠Sutton Trust’s ⁠overview of social mobility’s past, present and future⁠⁠Jeremy Corbyn’s move from social mobility to social justice⁠⁠Social Mobility Day⁠⁠This article⁠ on the loss of entry level jobs and the role of ChatGPT⁠Ezra Collective at Glastonbury⁠⁠This article⁠ on the closure of the Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust⁠Community Wealth Building in Preston⁠ (“the Preston model”)⁠CLES’s ⁠work on Community Wealth BuildingCitizen Network’s ⁠Neighbourhoods of Care⁠Our music for the episode is ⁠Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth⁠ (thanks Bob x).

This is a preview from our Patreon bonus episode! To listen to the full episode sign up to be a supporter of Words of Affirmation: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1523755After the vote on the Welfare Reform Bill we take a look at the language shaping the terms of the debate. From supporting the most vulnerable to moralising work, what can we learn about the future of our social security system and our economy more widely.Our next full episode will be out next week!

This week we explore our collective obsession with GDP and ask whether we need an alternative or to move away from simplistic stats altogether.Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our ⁠Patreon⁠.And, you can find out more about hosts Care Full on ⁠our website⁠.This week we talked about:Emma Holten’s book ⁠Deficit: How Feminist Economics Can Save Our World⁠Adrienne Buller’s book ⁠Value of a Whale⁠Creativity in capitalism inspired by a ⁠Margate Sounds⁠ eventThis documentary ⁠Can Degrowth Save the World ⁠on the BBC⁠Wellbeing indicators from the ONS⁠⁠Dark Matter Lab’s Cornerstone Indicators⁠Oxfam, JRF and the UN on a world beyond GDP (⁠here⁠, ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠ respectively)Our music for the episode is ⁠Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth⁠ (thanks Bob x).

This week we take on ‘hard-working families’ and explore what it means for how we live, work and care for each other.Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our Patreon.And, you can find out more about hosts Care Full on our website.This week we talked about:This 2005 Guardian article on ‘hardworking families’This Oscar Reyes article on ‘hardworking families’Keir Starmer’s essay ‘The Road Ahead’ featuring 10 principles and the commitment to “always put hard-working families and their priorities first”Rutger Bregman’s book Humankind and in conversation on the Guardian’s Today in FocusDavid Graeber’s book Bullshit JobsSophie Lewis’s book Abolish the FamilyNotes from Below’s Workers Inquiry (including the ‘Under London’ episode)Reading on the Rochdale PioneersEmily Kenway’s work on the Commons of CareOur music for the episode is Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth (thanks Bob x).

This week we take on ‘economic inactivity’ and explore what it means for how we live, work and care for each other.Words of Affirmation is a podcast from Care Full, hosted by Hannah Webster & Ruth Hannan.You can support the podcast to continue by signing up to our Patreon.And, you can find out more about hosts Care Full on our website.This week we talked about:Emma Holten’s book Deficit: How Feminist Economics Can Save Our WorldHelen Hester and Will Stronge’’s book Post-workUBI research Levelling the Mental Health Gradient Amongst Young People led by Northumbria University (co-authored by Hannah)Moya Lothian-McLean and Ash Sarkar discussing feminism on Novara Media’s If I SpeakThe We Are The Economy campaignPatsy Palmer’s InstagramBridget Christie’s comedy series The ChangeOur music for the episode is Bobby Bertoli’s Rebirth (thanks Bob x).

Welcome to Words of Affirmation, the new podcast from Care Full, where we demystify and dismantle the words and phrases propping up our economy. Each week we’ll take on some of the language swirling around the political and economic discourse; exploring where it comes from, what it means and how it’s holding us back from a fairer economy for all of us. From hard working families to economic activity, skilled labour to the benefits system, we’re coming for you!Our first episode lands in May - so subscribe now to be the first to hear it!