The Science Intersection

🎙️ New podcast episode is live

In this episode, I’m joined by Finola from Transform Justice, a UK charity working to make the justice system more humane, transparent, and effective.

We talk about what actually happens in magistrates’ courts where the vast majority of criminal cases begin and end, yet where public understanding and scrutiny are often limited. A big focus of the conversation is CourtWatch, a programme that trains volunteers to observe court hearings and document what they see, shedding light on fairness, accessibility, and whether defendants really understand the process they’re going through.

We also discuss compassionate justice, why punishment alone often fails, and how the “everyday” workings of the justice system can have profound impacts on people’s lives.

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation; Part 2 will be out next week and will focus on court delays, inefficiency, and who is most affected by the current system.

🎧 Listen here:

Inside the Magistrates’ Courts: CourtWatch, Compassion, and the Hidden Justice System (Part 1) - The science intersection In this episode, I’m joined by Finola from Transform Justice, a UK charity working to make the justice system more humane, transparent, and effective.We explore how the criminal justice system actually functions at its “bulk end”  particularl...

Sharing this as it reflects conversations I’ve had on my podcast about food, body image, and the messages we and others tell ourselves about food, especially the ones we’ve learned over time.

In my podcast, we talk openly about the emotional side of eating, shame, and how important compassion becomes around food, especially during the festive season. Conversations like these matter.

Let’s move through this time of year with a little more kindness towards ourselves and each other. 🤍

Listen here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/15630659

a reminder for the upcoming holidays. generational patterns SHALL BE BROKEN✨

“Diet culture is one of the biggest lies we’ve been sold.” — Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has spoken openly about how diet culture, restriction, and shame fuel disordered eating; including binge eating and how damaging it is to treat these struggles as personal failures rather than responses to pressure, control, and unmet needs.

In this episode of the podcast, I speak with Pippa about binge eating, shame, and recovery. What comes through so clearly is that binge eating isn’t about greed or lack of willpower; it’s often about loneliness, restriction, stress, and trying to cope in a culture that moralises food and bodies.

Conversations like these matter because they shift the focus away from blame and towards understanding, compassion, and dignity.

🎧 You can listen to the episode here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/15630659

“With great power comes great responsibility”… which feels slightly dramatic for a podcast host — and yet 😅

I’ve been thinking a lot about podcasting not just as content, but as a medium with real influence. That’s led me to write the first in a short blog series reflecting on responsibility, rhetoric, and how some podcasts (and especially short clips) stage debate more like theatre than conversation.

This first post uses Whatever Podcast as a case study and is very much me thinking out loud and asking questions rather than offering final answers.

If you’re interested, you can read it here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/thesciencintersection/p/podcasting-influence-and-responsibility?r=9e3kk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Podcasting, Influence, and Responsibility: Reflections on the 'Whatever' Podcast The first in a series on what it means to podcast in public

We should start asking why people must earn the right to exist —
the same way we question who “deserves” help, who “deserves” free time, who “deserves” financial security.

Turn the same spotlight we aim at the poor —
to the wealthy who inherit fortunes,
to the executives paid millions for failure,
to the people who profit off multiple properties while others can’t afford a home,
to the industries built on subsidies they never call “handouts.”

Watch how quickly the conversation changes.
Because the outrage isn’t really about the money.
It’s about what we’ve been taught to believe.
That wealth equals virtue.
That struggle equals failure.
That support should be earned, not needed.
Challenge that story — and suddenly everything feels threatening.

For decades, we’ve demanded that struggling people prove their worth —
to work harder,
to “earn their keep,”
to justify their right to exist through productivity.

Meanwhile, those who benefit most from the system are never asked to explain anything.
Their wealth is assumed to be earned,
their success assumed to be deserved,
their comfort treated as natural.

A significant number of wealthy people started life with unconditional support —
inheritance, family stability, financial cushions, opportunities others never see.
But we rarely name it as support, because it fits the story we prefer about success.

UBI doesn’t introduce something new.
It exposes what was always there:
that comfort is acceptable for the wealthy but suspicious for everyone else.

Hold up the double standards.
Question the belief that the right to a stable existence must be justified.
And remember that security — like dignity — is not something we earn; it’s something we owe each other.

And suddenly, the real issue isn’t UBI — it’s our discomfort with unconditional dignity.

To learn more about UBI go to:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/15595441

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/16581463

Imagine being shipwrecked with 100 people… and survival is determined entirely by luck.
Who gets water? Who gets land? Who gets nothing?
It’s a simple thought experiment that raises a surprisingly big question:
What do we really believe people need to deserve a chance to live?

Read the full post here 👇

https://open.substack.com/pub/thesciencintersection/p/thought-experiment-1-who-deserves?r=9e3kk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Thought Experiment #1: Who Deserves to Live? The Island Lottery & Thomas Paine’s Case for Unconditionality

Two health based podcasts out this month about fitness in older age.

As Lynn says in our latest episodes, brisk walking is a powerful form of exercise; it strengthens your heart, lifts your mood, boosts brainpower, and helps maintain balance and independence as we age.

🚶‍♀️ Every step counts; start where you are, move at your own pace, and enjoy it!

⚕️ Always check with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise routine, especially if you have existing health conditions or mobility challenges.

🎧 Tune in to our two-part podcast series on fitness and ageing well, out now!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/18028212

and

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/17988542

That’s how our guest describes the current safeguarding regime of the Church of England.

In this episode of Wayfinders, we dive into why institutions so often deny harm, how that impacts survivors, and what it really takes to move from harm to healing.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation on accountability, justice, and rebuilding trust.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/17832137

🌱 These stats show why Tiny Forests are so important — cooling cities, boosting biodiversity, and helping communities.

But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. The real impact lies in the people who plant, care for, and connect with these forests. 🌍💚

🎙️ Hear their voices and stories in my latest podcast episode — listen here 👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/17793917

Politicians distracted by short-term profit while long-term climate action waits on the sidelines… 🌍💔

If you care about the climate, check out my latest podcast episodes 🎙️

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977

🌍 What if your daily run could change your community?

In the latest episodes of The Science Intersection, I explore the inspiring work of GoodGym — a movement where fitness and volunteering come together. From planting trees 🌱 to supporting neighbours 🏃‍♀️, GoodGym proves that every step can make a difference.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/17793917

and here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/episodes/17754576

💚 If you’d like to support the podcast and help us keep sharing stories that matter, you can donate here:

Monthly support:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393977/support

One off support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rachelm_sciintersection

Together, we can celebrate fitness, community, and sustainability.

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