'The Bridge Podcast’ is back this term with brand new episodes. This time, our Impartial Chairs and student hosts, Tara Constantine and Lea Hofer, take the mic to unpack it all – is the national service actually any good for young people? Could giving up meat really build a better world? And what do we do with traditional masculinity...celebrate it, or call it out?
The Bridge: a Disagreeing Well podcast from UCL, is the first podcast of it’s kind across the Higher Education Sector, exploring what it means to engage in meaningful disagreement. Produced by the Students’ Union and UCL, The Bridge equips you with tools and techniques to navigate challenging conversations.
The final three episodes of Season One - launched today - bring together guests from across activism, research, science, academia, policy, and lived experience, sitting alongside our student hosts to prove that everyone has something valuable to bring to the table when it comes to disagreeing well.
Each episode is supported by UCL’s resident expert mediator, Dr. Melanie Garson, who shapes the conversations to mirror real-life dialogue by guiding guests to actively listen, reflect, and find common ground, while leaving less important differences on the table.
Now Streaming: The Final Three Episodes
Should traditional masculine norms and behaviours be celebrated or demonised? With Richard Reeves and Dr. Niobe Way
Is there really a “crisis of masculinity,” or have we simply been asking the wrong questions? UCL student host Tara Constantine leads this compelling and nuanced discussion with two experts, each with a distinct perspective. Richard Reeves argues for reclaiming traditional masculine values like protection and risk-taking, while Dr. Niobe Way calls for moving beyond gendered labels entirely. With Dr. Garson mediating, the episode becomes a masterclass in productive disagreement - and a timely reflection on how boys and men can truly thrive today.
Is it right to eat meat in a prosperous society? With Juliet Gellatley and Nick Zangwill
In a world where half of Gen Z plan to go meat-free by 2025, this episode jumps into one of the most personal ethical debates of our time. Lea Hofer sits down with vegan activist Juliet Gellatley makes the case for plant-based living as a moral imperative, while philosopher Nick Zangwill counters with a provocative claim... that it may, in fact, be our duty to eat meat. Guided by Dr. Garson, this conversation unpacks the line between deeply held ethics and personal habits, and shows how even the fiercest debates can lead to shared understanding.
Is national service good for young people? With Manoj Harjani and Christos Tsoukalis
As global tensions rise, the question of national service feels more urgent than ever. UCL student host Tara Constantine facilitates the conversation between two guests who share first-hand experience of conscription, but disagree on the extent to which it benefits young people: Manoj Harjani sees it as vital to civic unity; Christos Tsoukalis questions its relevance in a changing world. Under Dr. Garson’s guidance, the discussion mirrors real-life conversation where guests summarise each other’s views before responding, finding shared goals like building civic duty even amid disagreement.
What's next?
- Stream all six episodes of Season One of The Bridge: a Disagreeing Well podcast from UCL via UCL Podcasts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
- Discover more about the Impartial Chairs Programme, a sector leading skills development programme run by Students’ Union UCL to create resilient and reflective student leaders.