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The Mallen Baker Podcast

The Mallen Baker Podcast

mallenbaker.net/podcast
Mallen Baker has worn many hats, but has always been looking for pragmatic and effective ways to make the world better. He is best known for his work with corporate social responsibility, but also has a sustainable food blog, a digital design and social media business, and a former life in campaigning and politics. In this show, he speaks to successful change makers in all walks of life and finds out what makes them tick, and how you can learn their lessons to help make a positive difference to the world.


The second spike of stupidity | The Mallen Baker Show
Aug 1 • 27 min
In this round-up of the week, European governments are terrified of what seems to be an emerging second wave of covid-19. Americans fight partisan wars over masks and hydroxychloroquine, and the tech companies take another step in the censorship of bad…
Portland Protests, Media Bias and the Russia Report | The Mallen Baker Show
Jul 25 • 29 min
In this round-up of the week, the US media shows shocking partisan bias as America sinks deeper into conflict, the UK is faced with the evidence of Russia’s attempts to do it harm and Britain’s climate campaigners turn against each other.
Chinese or Woke? How do you prefer your censorship? | The Mallen Baker Show
Jul 11 • 28 min
In this round-up of the week, we learned that Data and research are obliterated if they tell us things we don’t want to hear. The world wakes up to how vulnerable it’s made itself to communist China. And leading figures on the left get cancelled for…
The Surge in the South | The Mallen Baker Show
Jul 4 • 27 min
In this round-up of the week, the surge in the south puts the coronavirus back on the US agenda. A backlash grows against Black Lives Matter the organisation, and Facebook refuses to censor political speech while censoring political speech.
Anti-slavery is CANCELLED | The Mallen Baker Show
Jun 27 • 32 min
In this round-up of the week, anti-racism campaigners choose increasingly bizarre targets, battles are won against cancel-culture but mostly the war is being lost, and France’s citizens assembly on climate change comes up with its list of demands.
The Crisis of Confidence | The Mallen Baker Show
Jun 20 • 28 min
In this round-up of the week, we begin to reap what we sowed over the last month as trust in institutions goes through the floor. And people begin to kick back against the narrative that everything is awful and everyone is racist.
EVERYONE is Cancelled | The Mallen Baker Show
Jun 13 • 28 min
In this round-up of the week, campaigners aim to cancel the police for brutality. Others want to cancel long-dead people for slavery. Mostly they end up cancelling each other for having wrong opinions. Let’s discuss.
Why America is REALLY divided and on fire | The Mallen Baker Show
Jun 6 • 29 min
Media frenzy FAILS to bring down Dominic Cummings
May 30 • 28 min
In this round-up of the week, the media tries to take down Brexit architect Dominic Cummings, President Trump declares war on social media companies, and YouTube removes another video for contradicting the covid-19 approved line.
FEAR of ending lockdown | The Mallen Baker Show
May 23 • 25 min
In this round-up of the week, the second wave of infections is notable by its absence, the WHO comes under attack, furious debates break out over how quickly to get back to normal and we see disturbing signs of the silencing of voices critical of then…
Herd immunity the only Covid-19 strategy that works? | The Mallen Baker Show
May 16 • 25 min
Was the LOCKDOWN MODEL wrong?
May 9 • 27 min
In this round-up of the week, as ‘Professor Lockdown’ Neil Ferguson falls from grace the computer model that kept people off the streets comes under fierce attack. The global covid-19 blame game goes up ten notches. And new research challenges our…
Sweden the post-lockdown role model? | The Mallen Baker Show
May 2 • 25 min
In this round-up of the week, the world gets confused about whether Sweden’s relaxed no-lockdown approach to coronavirus is a good example, or a bad example. Track and trace apps for your phone pose the question how much you’re willing to trade your…
Chris Rose - What makes for effective campaigning strategy?
Mar 22 • 89 min
Chris Rose is a hugely experienced environmental campaigner, and was a leading figure in the iconic Shell Brent Spar campaign with Greenpeace. He now runs his own business helping campaigns to be more effective, and he recently produced a detailed report…
BBC Climate Bias? | The Mallen Baker Show
Jan 4 • 24 min
In this round-up of the week, the BBC plays host to a climate change scrap between Matt Ridley, Kevin Anderson and Greta Thunberg. And the second in line to the throne Prince William launches an ‘earthshot prize’ to tackle climate change. But is it the…
Climate Change ‘Not as bad as it once looked’
Dec 27, 2019 • 17 min
In this round-up of the week, one of the most pessimistic self-described ‘alarmists’ David Wallace-Wells, concludes that the worst case scenario that fuelled his famous ‘the uninhabitable earth’ arguments is now unlikely to happen.
Are bees going extinct?
Dec 17, 2019 • 18 min
According to reports, we’re facing the beepocalypse. Pollinators are dying out, and the result will be much of our food will disappear with bee extinction. If true, it’s seriously worrying. But is it true? Let’s have a look.
Richard Walker – The plain-speaking approach to sustainable business
Sep 10, 2019 • 46 min
In this episode, I talk to Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland Foods. Richard has become one of the most recognisable faces of sustainable business in the UK, leading campaigns on palm oil, plastics and even debating Brexit on BBC Question Time.
Amy Clarke – Investing in impact
Sep 3, 2019 • 52 min
In this episode, I talk to Amy Clarke, co-founder and chief impact officer at Tribe Impact Capital, the award-winning wealth management firm and B Corp. Before her current role, Amy has been senior vice president for international CSR at Bank of America,…
Anna Cain – Boxing clever for the youngsters failed by the system
Jul 16, 2019 • 45 min
In this episode, I talk to Anna Cain, chief executive of the Boxing Academy, a unique and groundbreaking school for the most hard-to-reach young people, realised through the discipline and ethos of boxing.
Giles Gibbons – Doing good with business and food
Jul 9, 2019 • 49 min
In this episode, I talk to Giles Gibbons, founder and chief executive of Good Business, as well as founder of the sustainable restaurant association. Giles has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable business for well over two decades, and has a…
Brendan May – Challenging businesses to change for good
Jun 25, 2019 • 59 min
In this episode, I talk to Brendan May, chairman and founder of Robertsbridge, the sustainability strategy agency. Brendan was formerly chief executive of the Marine Stewardship Council, and then managing director of Planet 2050, Weber Shandwick’s global…
In dialogue with Roger Hallam, Extinction Rebellion co-founder
Jun 18, 2019 • 92 min
This episode is a rather different type of discussion to the usual ones I have on this podcast. Many of you will know that I do commentary videos on YouTube, and on some of those I have been strongly critical of the Extinction Rebellion group, and…
Anna Dixon – What works for an ageing population
Jun 4, 2019 • 50 min
In this episode, I talk to Anna Dixon, chief executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, the charity working to create a society where everyone enjoys a good later life.
Peter Grant – Understanding effective philanthropy
May 21, 2019 • 56 min
In this episode, I talk to Dr Peter Grant, director of charities MSC programme at Cass business school and author of various books on the theory and history of philanthropy. Peter is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in public and charitable funding.…
Becky Willan – Challenging brands to embrace a positive purpose
May 14, 2019 • 54 min
In this episode, I talk to Becky Willan, managing director and co-founder of Given London, the brand agency with a focus on purpose and positive impact. Becky was formerly an environmental manager with the Body Shop, and since then has become a widely…
Tim Smit - Inspiring the self-belief of others
May 7, 2019 • 52 min
In this episode, I talk to Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project and executive chairman of Eden Project International. The Eden Project transformed a sterile pit into a fabulous enclosed garden with rainforest and Mediterranean environments.
David Grayson - Working carers and how to support them
Apr 30, 2019 • 58 min
In this episode, I welcome back David Grayson, author, speaker and Emeritus Professor of Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management. He is the author of the book ‘Take Care: How to be a great employer for working carers’, and it’s that…
Alison Ward - Tackling issues from cocoa to cotton
Apr 16, 2019 • 42 min
In this episode, I talk to Alison Ward. Alison is the chief executive of Cotton Connect, a social enterprise with a mission to transform the cotton industry for good, and former head of sustainability with Cadbury.
How leading change makers seize opportunities
Apr 9, 2019 • 31 min
This episode is a little different to what we’ve done so far. We’re at episode number 29, and bearing in mind we launched the first three episodes all at once, that brings us just about to the half year point since the podcast was launched. It seemed like…
Mike Clasper – Sustainability at the heart of good management
Apr 2, 2019 • 62 min
In this episode, I talk to Mike Clasper. Mike is the chairman of Coats Group plc. He was formerly chief executive of the airports company BAA, and was chairman of HMRC. He was awarded a CBE in 1995 for services to the environment arising from his time at…
Stephanie Davies-Arai – Seeking the truth without fear
Mar 26, 2019 • 52 min
In this episode, I talk to Stephanie Davies-Arai. Stephanie is the founder of Transgender Trend, a parent effectiveness trainer and the author of the book ‘communicating with kids’. She was shortlisted for the John Maddox prize, which recognises…
Caroline Casey – The magic of possibility
Mar 19, 2019 • 53 min
In this episode, I talk to Caroline Casey. Caroline is a social entrepreneur, international speaker and leading authority on diversity and inclusion.
Jonathon Porritt – Calling time on unsustainable wealth creation
Mar 12, 2019 • 49 min
In this episode, I talk to Jonathon Porritt, co-founder of Forum for the Future. Jonathon has been one of the most respected faces of the environmental movement for nearly forty years. He was formerly chairman of the government’s Sustainable Development…
Katie Buchanan – Do a few things really well
Mar 5, 2019 • 59 min
In this episode, I talk to Katie Buchanan, the head of sustainability for Virgin Media. Katie is responsible for Virgin Media’s growing reputation for creative and innovative approaches to sustainability. She has also created a powerful partnership with…
John O’Brien – Helping people maximise their potential for good
Feb 26, 2019 • 61 min
Welcome to episode #23 of the Mallen Baker podcast, where I talk to successful change makers about what works and what doesn’t in making a lasting and positive impact in the world. To keep up to date with new episodes, please subscribe to the podcast. If…
Ron Bailey – Successful campaigns against powerful opponents
Feb 19, 2019 • 52 min
In this episode, I talk to Ron Bailey. This is a special one for me. Ron is a campaigning genius who has been possibly the most effective parliamentary campaigner of our time. In his early years, Ron was one of the founding forces of the family squatting…
Jennie Galbraith – A force for change in the world of tobacco
Feb 12, 2019 • 47 min
In this episode, I talk to Jennie Galbraith who is the group head of sustainability for British American Tobacco. Jennie is also Vice Chair and one of the founding forces behind the Institute for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, the recently…
Lord Boateng – Be prepared to be a disrupter
Feb 5, 2019 • 59 min
In this episode, I talk to Lord Boateng who, as Paul Boateng, was a cabinet minister in the Blair Government as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Paul also served as the British High Commissioner to South Africa from 2005 to 2009 and entered the House of…
Paul Polman - Leadership with purpose
Jan 29, 2019 • 55 min
In this episode, I talk to Paul Polman who, until just a few weeks ago, was the chief executive of Unilever. For the last decade, Paul has been one of the highest profile champions for sustainable business worldwide.
Beccy Speight – why ancient woodland matters for the future
Jan 22, 2019 • 48 min
In this episode, I talk to Beccy Speight, the chief executive of the Woodland Trust. Beccy is an energetic champion for practical environmental change. She is an articulate campaigner and an inspiring leader, drawing from her years of business experience…
Claire Fox – Robust debate and Generation Snowflake
Jan 15, 2019 • 47 min
In this episode, I talk to Claire Fox, Director of the Academy of Ideas and author of the book ‘I find that offensive’. Claire is a panellist on Radio 4’s The Moral Maze, and is regularly on a variety of news programmes commenting on culture, education,…
Michael Kelly - Turning risk into opportunity
Jan 8, 2019 • 58 min
In this, the first episode of 2019, I talk to Mike Kelly, chairman of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and former head of CSR for KPMG. Mike is a seasoned campaigner from the pioneering years of corporate responsibility. He was instrumental in the creation of…
Be a more effective change maker in 2019
Dec 18, 2018 • 27 min
This is a different kind of episode, as we finish off 2018 with a quick look back to some things that changed my thinking over the last year, and then we’re going to talk about how you can approach planning the impact you’re going to make in 2019.
Dame Julia Cleverdon – connecting the unconnected
Dec 11, 2018 • 59 min
In this episode, I talk to Dame Julia Cleverdon, a passionate and practical campaigner, listed by the Times as one of the 50 most influential women in Britain.
Vicky Pryce - Economics as a vehicle for change
Dec 4, 2018 • 54 min
In this episode, I talk to Vicky Pryce, economist and commentator and previously Director General for Economics at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Andy Wales - Making change that sticks
Nov 27, 2018 • 41 min
In this episode, I talk to Andy Wales, the Chief Digital Impact & Sustainability Officer for BT, and formerly the Corporate Affairs Director for SABMiller Europe.
Ravinol Chambers – Storytelling with purpose
Nov 20, 2018 • 70 min
In this episode, I talk to Ravinol Chambers, the founder of Be Inspired Films - a multi award-winning video production company that helps individuals and organisations working as a force for good across business and society to bring their stories to life.
Your personal purpose – why and how to create one
Nov 13, 2018 • 31 min
In this episode, I talk about the value of having a personal purpose – what it is, and how you can go about creating one.
Rob Cameron – Tackling the big emerging issues
Nov 6, 2018 • 49 min
In this episode, I talk to Rob Cameron, the chief executive of the consultancy and think tank Sustainability.
Joost Oorthuizen – how to push positive impact to scale
Oct 30, 2018 • 53 min
In this episode, I talk to Joost Oorthuizen, the chief executive of IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative.
Trewin Restorick – focusing on what works for environmental change
Oct 23, 2018 • 47 min
In this episode, I talk to Trewin Restorick, the founder of environmental communications charity Hubbub UK, which aims to create real practical change with positive messages and creative ideas.
David Goodhart – the new values divide that led to Brexit and Trump
Oct 16, 2018 • 50 min
In this episode, I talk to David Goodhart, author of the hugely influential book ‘The Road to Somewhere – The new tribes shaping British politics’. It is described by many as the book that explains the new post-Brexit and Trump world, and challenges us to…
John May - Unleashing the power of young people
Oct 9, 2018 • 53 min
In this episode, I talk to John May, the secretary general of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. He describes himself as a campaigner, storyteller, teacher, youth worker, independent diplomat, writer, broadcaster, urban cyclist, avid parkrunner,…
Taking risks to tackle human rights with Chris Harrop of Marshalls
Oct 2, 2018 • 53 min
In this episode, I talk to Chris Harrop, the group marketing director and the head of sustainability for Marshalls plc. We talk about the dramatic pivotal moment when he knew he had to take a lead in tackling child labour in Indian sandstone – and the…
Solitaire Townsend - positivity and its power to change the world
Sep 25, 2018 • 63 min
Solitaire Townsend is an entrepreneur, sustainability expert and author of ‘The Happy Hero - How to change your life by changing the world’. She co-founded the change agency Futerra in 2001, one of the first sustainability agencies in the UK, through…
David Grayson - Why businesses need to go ‘All In’
Sep 25, 2018 • 50 min
David is an immensely thoughtful commentator on the state of socially responsible business, amongst other things. We have a great deep dive into the current state of business leadership, and work our way through some of the key insights that came out of…
Mike Barry of Marks & Spencer - the ambition to sell sustainably
Sep 25, 2018 • 53 min
Mike Barry is the Director of Plan A and Sustainable Business for Marks and Spencer. He is known throughout the responsible business community as a key figure who has helped Marks and Spencer become world-renowned for its root-and-branch approach to…
Introduction to the podcast
Sep 21, 2018 • 5 min
A short introduction to the change maker podcast, how it’s going to work and what you can expect in the first three episodes.
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