In the late 19th century, a French aristocrat came up with the idea of reviving the sporting contests that took place at Olympia in ancient Greece, and so the modern Olympics were born. The games have gone on to become one of the greatest spectacles on earth, but have never been free of controversy.

Our guest in this episode of the podcast is Jules Boykoff, a political scientist at Pacific University, Oregon (and avowed sports fan), who has spent years investigating the impact of the Olympics on athletes, communities and host cities. Jules tells us, ‘Olympians to show their stuff on the global stage and for us to all stand in admiration. But I wrote What Are the Olympics For? to be a book for the critical, thinking sports fan who cares about sports or is interested in the Olympics, but really wants to see what's going on behind the scenes and understand the full complexity of the Olympics. So in the book, I try to celebrate athletes while at the same time critiquing those who make it more difficult for them to succeed.’

Jules Boykoff is a professor of politics and government at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. His writing on the connection between politics and sport have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Nation, the Los Angeles Times and New Left Review. He is also a former professional soccer player who represented the US U-23 men’s national team in international competition. Follow him on Twitter: @JulesBoykoff

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-are-the-olympics-for

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/08/01/podcast-the-olympics-are-political-through-and-through/

Timestamps:

1:31 - When did the Olympics first make an impression on you, and what was that like?

3:08 - What is the contrast between that 8 or 9-year-old you being excited by the Winter Olympics in 1980 and the you who's heading off to Paris?

5:02 - Why does the question of what the Olympics are for matter?

6:54 - How important is it to understand the nature of the IOC?

12:53 - Has politics always been part of sport and the Olympics?

16:18 - Does the Olympics bring genuine, long-lasting benefits for the wider community in the host cities?

19:25 - Would we be going too far to say that the Olympics need cities more than cities need the Olympics?

21:14 - Are things happening that make you feel positive about the possibility of change?

23:59 - Are there ever moments when you just think pulling it off just cannot be done without downsides?

26:44 - Do you see the athletes as being absolutely key to positive changes?

29:29 - What is your favorite piece of Olympic history or trivia or lore?

Intro music:

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Time was when museums were staid, dusty institutions. Those days are long gone. Now the focus is on making visiting a museum a positive, inclusive, meaningful experience for everyone who comes through the door – or visits online. It sounds good in principle, but how to do it in practice?

That question is at the heart of the latest title to join the What Is It For series, 'What are Museums for?' by Jon Sleigh. Jon is an arts and heritage engagement consultant who specialises in connecting audiences with artworks and collections, and in this episode of the podcast, he tells George Miller why he structured the book around conversations with museum professionals about specific exhibits in a wide range of institutions. He also talks about his childhood fascination with a museum tyrannosaurus …

Jon Sleigh is a freelance arts and heritage Learning Curator, working nationally connecting audiences with artworks and collections for their advocacy. Follow him on Twitter: @jon_sleigh

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/what-are-museums-for

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/19/podcast-museums-without-visitors-are-just-elaborate-storage/

Timestamps:

2:18 - What were your first encounters with museums like?

9:45 - In what terms and for what reason did you come back to the world of the museum?

13:11 - If we were in a museum today how might we encounter you?

15:47 - Why is the question of 'who is the museum is for?' so central to addressing the question in your title?

19:53 - How did you decide where to go and who to talk to?

25:14 - How difficult was it to choose the actual objects?

35:29 - What things in your conversations pointed to a bright future for museums?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/

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In this episode, Rebecca Megson-Smith speaks with Jen Shang, co-author of ‘Meaningful Philanthropy: The Person Behind the Giving’, about the high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals behind philanthropic giving.

Having had unparalleled access to some of the world’s most reflective and thoughtful philanthropists, Jen explains how philanthropists experience what they do and the psychological challenges they need to overcome.

Jen Shang is Professor of Philanthropic Psychology and Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. Jen Shang is the world’s only philanthropic psychologist.

Find out more about the book at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/meaningful-philanthropy

The full transcript of the podcast is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2024/07/10/podcast-the-psychology-behind-philanthropy/

Timestamps:

1:24 - How did you get these philanthropists to talk to you?

2:32 - What is meaningful philanthropy?

4:36 - What is identity ceding and why is it important?

10:05 - What is the connection between philanthropy and entrepreneurs?

11:57 - Can philanthropy be meaningless?

14:01 - Why are philanthropists important to study and understand?

21:50 - What impact do you hope your book has?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

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creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Follow the Transforming Society blog to be told when new articles and podcasts publish: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/follow-the-blog/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.