Nick Cave hates giving interviews. It’s the first thing he mentions in his new book, “Faith, Hope & Carnage”, which comprises a series of conversations between Cave and the writer Seán O’Hagan.  So it’s with some trepidation that Krishnan Guru-Murthy sits down with the post punk legend, to discuss the book, along with Cave’s attending the coronation, the tragic death of his son, his attitudes towards free speech and political correctness, and his journey to find - and define - happiness. With thanks to  the London Review Bookshop, where this interview was filmed.  Produced by Alice Wagstaffe.  

When Suzanne Simard discovered that trees could communicate through underground networks of fungi in 1997, her work was largely dismissed.But today, as a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia, her work is recognised as pioneering within the scientific community. In her book ‘Finding Mother Tree’, she explores how forests have ‘hub trees’ that play an important role in plant communication.In today’s episode of Ways to Change the World, Suzanne looks back at her work, and explains to Krishnan Guru-Murthy how it could help protect forests from climate change. Produced by Imahn Robertson and Annie La Vespa.

In 2017, Azeem Rafiq’s world collapsed around him. He lost his baby son, and shortly after, the career that he had worked his entire life for, after he blew the whistle on racism and bullying at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Azeem found himself at the centre of a long-running scandal which unlocked a long process which is now international.    In the years that followed, Rafiq’s grief, his battle with the club, and numerous allegations of poor behaviour against himself, saw him reach the lowest of lows - struggling for money, often staying in bed for days at a time.    Fast forward to 2023, Azeem has written a new book, “It’s Not Banter, It’s Racism: What Cricket’s Dirty Secret Reveals About Our Society”, and is looking ahead to a brighter future; hoping to get back into the game that he has devoted his life too, and campaigning for meaningful change in sport.    In today’s episode of Ways to Change the World, Azeem looks back at several years of pain and growth, and tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy about his hopes for the future.     Produced by Freya Pickford, Imahn Robertson and Alice Wagstaffe.   Warning: this episode includes offensive language.   

He is an actor who would be hard to typecast, but Eddie Marsan always plays the villain. “I think it has a lot to do with my upbringing”, he says, “there was a lot of violence, criminality and a lot of toxic masculinity.”  “I remember being afraid of white working class men. When you see Danny Dyer, Ray Winstone… they have an appeal to them, and I've never been able to do that. And it's because of my experience growing up within the white working class; there was always an element of fear.” Today on Ways to Change the World, Eddie Marsan joins Krishnan Guru-Murthy to discuss his chaotic upbringing, lessons in Buddhist teachings, and how actors from privileged backgrounds can find success despite being “mediocre”.  Produced by Imahn Robertson  Warning: This episode contains offensive language

“I don't think you can expect someone to change their life by putting them in a room and locking the door.” Michael Balogun might not believe that prison “helps” people to turn their life around, but it was undoubtedly his experience serving time that led him to where he is today - a star of the West End, currently appearing in a version of the Lehman Trilogy at the National Theatre.  But there’s more to Balogun than a zero to hero story; his is one of extraordinary resilience, the power of manifestation, and a chance encounter with someone who saw his potential that changed everything.  Michael Balogun joins Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Ways to Change the World to discuss how he turned his life around through acting, and why the power of your thoughts matter. Produced by: Imahn Robertson