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“We’re here with the arctic on fire.. not because of personal actions but because there are systems at play.. and it's challenging these systems and dismantling them that will be the challenge of your generation. There are four major systems: capitalism, patriarchy, consumerism and the fossil fuel economy”. Welcome to Guftagu’s monthly series on Climate Change and South Asia. In this series, w...

 “There needs to be someone to start to dispel the confusion and dismantle the stigma of what neurodiversity means.” – Sam Crutcher, second-year International Social and Public Policy.     This year, there is one free spot for a new part-time student officer within LSE. Sam Crutcher is advocating for a Neurodiversity Officer, to represent a part of the student body that he believes receives n...

On December 2, Grimshaw hosted an event on The Women of Kashmir with Amina Mahmood Mir, a doctoral researcher at the Centre of Study of Democracy, University of Westminster. She has been trying to understand the Kashmir conflict for the last ten years. Amina has travelled, lived and engaged with young people and scholars in both Indian - and Pakistan-administered Jammu & Kashmir. This event aim...

“What a way to kick off the decade, right?”   Welcome to the final chapter of We Know The End, presented and produced by Judah Abraham-Silas and Luis Campos Ferreira.  In this episode, we look back at 2020 one last time before we go into the new year.   

“Even with the whole world on fire, you’re still up to your antics? Even Satan rests.” In this chapter, we look back at some of the heroes and villains of 2020, and think about the people who made this year better, and the ones who simply added to the chaos.    This is ‘We Know the End’, brought to you by Beaver Sound, and produced by Judah Abraham-Silas and Luis Campos Ferreira.

“Carole Baskin definitely killed her husband.” In this chapter, we pay ode to the stories, told to us through movies, tv or music, that kept us sane and helped us escape the absurdity of 2020.   This is ‘We Know the End’, brought to you by Beaver Sound, and produced by Judah Abraham-Silas and Luis Campos Ferreira.

"The fact that I was the only black woman running, the fact that I was the only Muslim woman running ... I think a lot of people resonated with that." Get ready to hear from one of lse’s boldest and most genuine new voices.... women’s officer Sumaya Osman. Here we discuss the closure of the LSE nursery, lad culture and handling racialized micro-aggressions. Listen to be reminded of the ways LS...

“If you’re a racist, feel free to take a straw and suck your mum.” In this chapter we recall the reignition of the Black Lives Matter movement that erupted after the murder of George Floyd, and consider the impact of conversations that have been long overdue.  This is ‘We Know the End’, brought to you by Beaver Sound, and produced by Judah Abraham-Silas and Luis Campos Ferreira.

“I don’t agree with killing animals for food [...], but unfortunately [banning cattle farming and meat consumption globally] is not practical in the real world.” In this episode of Crossing the Globe, we talk about the ethics and politics of meat consumption with Ricky from South Africa, Paula from Spain and Brazil, and Shruti from India. All three of our guests follow a vegetarian diet for di...

“You know, you got the general sensation that people were collectively losing their minds” In this chapter, we remember Lockdown and take ourselves back to the time when our entire existence seemed defined by the small confines of our homes, amidst what felt like the end of the world.  This is ‘We Know the End’, brought to you by Beaver Sound, and produced by Judah Abraham-Silas and Luis Camp...

On our first Headlines event of the year we welcomed Dr. Luca Tardelli, an Assistant Professorial Lecturer in International Relations at LSE. Dr. Tardelli’s research focuses on international security, military intervention, and US foreign policy. We discussed the aftermath of the US elections and the implications of the result to US foreign policy. Presented and produced by Beatriz Silva. To he...

“It’s like we’ve been given a mystery with no clues, a crime with no suspects, a story with no sense.”    Welcome to the first chapter of We Know The End, presented and produced by Judah Abraham-Silas and Luis Campos Ferreira. Each episode retraces and remembers a defining part of 2020, retold through our experiences, and those of others, in the hope we can find some connection amidst the abs...

“I just don’t want any student to feel the way I felt, isolated or marginalised, and that’s what moves me. I want LGBTQ+ students to, when they look into universities, consider LSE because it will be the best place for LGBTQ+ students. And when I hear that some of our work is actually working, it’s really rewarding.” In this episode, we talk with Thiago Pontes, the LSESU LGBTQ+ officer for the...

For our first Evening Conversation of the year we spoke with Ghida Fakhry, an international broadcast journalist with over 20 years experience as a reporter, news anchor, columnist/opinion writer and moderator based in Washington DC. We discussed Ghida's career as a journalist and a woman in the field, how she prepares for interviews and moderating panels in global forums, the state of the US d...

"I didn't realise how easy it is for governments to change structures ... I just hope that when we go back to normal, things will be different." - Tilly Mason. In this episode of Limelight, we're turning our attention towards stories of isolation, and how students at LSE had been coping through the COVID-19 crisis. Compiling interviews we did over the summer, we talked to students about how th...

In our first Expert Insights event of the new academic year, we spoke with Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, a researcher and community organizer with a PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge. Dr. Bondaroff talked to us about his paper “Micronationalism and Performative Sovereignty: the Origins of the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Reef” and discussed the ori...

"The liberal way of the Democratic party is so doomed to failure when you're marketing things to upper-middle class millenials." - Zehra Jafree In our wrap-up for October, we talk about Dolly Parton, the Netflix movie The Devil All the Time, the US Presidential debate, and the London Film Festival.  Welcome to The Last Dam Word from the Review team at The Beaver, a Beaver Sound creation! We’l...

“I think there is a tendency for people at LSE to suffer with their mental health but think they’re not bad enough to seek support, and that’s really not the case. If in any way your mental health is affecting your ability to produce work, it’s worth speaking to someone.” - Ella Marshall, BSc IR and History.  In the final episode of ‘The LSE Starter Pack’, we discuss the help available for stu...

"Things like public transport, getting accustomed to the sheer size of London, I think it took a few months before I started getting used to London.” - Hussain Abbas, Alumnus.  In this episode, we talk to Hussain Abbas about the experience of being an international student at LSE and settling into London. This is 'The LSE Starter Pack' from Beaver Sound. We bring you the real introduction to ...

“From LSE’s point of view, we need to ensure that students feel most supported... so when they come in they don’t feel completely lost.” - Bali Birch-Lee, Education Officer.  As the first week of classes start, we explore learning at LSE. Today we’re talking to Bali Birch-Lee, the university’s new Education Officer, about how intimidating studying can be when you first arrive. With advice on s...

Laura Goddard, the newly elected Community and Welfare Officer, sits down with us to discuss community at LSE. Looking at London life, counselling, and sexual harassment, Laura explains how to craft the life you’d like at LSE.  Contact Laura at su.communitywelfare@lse.ac.uk (mailto:su.communitywelfare@lse.ac.uk) . The Student Advice Centre can be accessed on the LSE website and has an active t...

“There are preconceptions that everyone has the same level of experience and understanding… which is just not true.” - Hannah Brown, second-year BSc Politics student.  In this episode, we talk to Hannah Brown, creator of Pulse Radio’s sex education show, LSEX. Here we have an informative conversation about the realities of student sex, sex work, safety and support at LSE. To hear more from Han...

“Sometimes you might find yourself trying to be different things, different characters and it’s about finding people who your own character matches with. There might be a lot of puzzle pieces that won’t fit but you’ve got to keep trying” - Luis Maria Campos Ferreira, 3rd year Social Policy In this episode, we explore social life at LSE. We speak to Judah and Luis about introductions and meetin...

“We’re not necessarily angry at the university, but there’s just frustration in general that nothing’s really being resolved” - Kanon Tsuda, MSc Human Rights and Politics  This week we’re speaking to Kanon Tsuda, a Master’s student in the Human Rights and Politics program, about her experience completing a master’s degree in quarantine. We talk about how research culture has changed in the las...

"It's so sad to see his anxiety and the vulnerability of a great director like Scorses during lockdown, I felt really sorry for him because he's just itching to start filming something a bit more substantial than his windowsill." Amber Iglesia on Martin Scorsese in Lockdown Culture with Mary Beard. For May we rant about the cinema industry, playlists that got us through exams, and the fantastic...

“I thought it would be really interesting to look into what exactly is a student movement, what exactly does it achieve, why students decide to use occupation as a form of protest.” – Eileen Gbagbo, third-year International Relations student at LSE. In this episode of LSE Limelight, we talk to Eileen Gbagbo about an article she wrote on anti-racist student occupation movements. We talk about th...

“I felt like [London] was kind of a home away from home. I was expecting to have to 2 or 3 months left and that’s the hardest thing. I felt like there wasn’t enough closure.” As we face a global pandemic, Crossing the Globe is exploring the stories of LSE’s international students. In their journeys from London to Home, we discuss the impact of Covid-19 on student health, wellbeing, and studies....

As we face a global pandemic, Crossing the Globe is exploring the stories of LSE’s international students. In their journeys from London to Home, we discuss the impact of Covid-19 on student health, wellbeing, and studies.  In this episode, we’re talking to Safuoa Berady, a first-year International Relations student who flew back to Morocco following LSE’s closure. Safuoa shares with us what ad...

“I guess it would’ve been so nice just to have the sunny LSE campus that we have during exam period, where everyone’s stressed but we’re all together and we all go sit in a park and complain and then we go back to work. ” - Emma Guitera In this episode, we talk to Emma Guitera, a third-year studying International Relations, about engaging with LSE’s virtual campus with a big time zone differenc...

"Her and Ken are just friends but she clearly has feelings for him. I'm invested." - Zehra Jafree on her discovery of Barbie's  Youtube channel. For April we rant about 'Too Hot to Handle', a world of streaming beyond Netflix, and fantastic British dramas! Our wonderful presenters are Zehra Jafree, Amber Iglesia, Molly Horner. Welcome to The Last Dam Word from the Review team at The Beaver, a B...

As we face a global pandemic, Crossing the Globe is exploring the stories of LSE’s international students. In their journeys from London to Home, we discuss the impact of Covid-19 on student health, wellbeing, and studies. In this episode, we’re talking to Gabby Sng, a second-year undergrad student who flew back to Singapore following LSE’s closure. She tells us of her day-to-day experience of ...

“There is a whole underworld of amazing individuals and amazing ideas happening. So I hope this gives people a moment to think, how do I make the most of the creativity here?”- Percy Fagent, Chair of the Creative Network at LSE. In this episode of LSE Limelight, we talk to Percy Fagent about creativity at LSE. We discuss how anyone is welcome in the creative societies and we unearth the hidden ...

“There are a lot of things you can do to make your mental health better throughout quarantine, but you don't have to be doing all of them. In a time of national and personal crisis productivity is not goal number one.” – Will Banks, co-organiser of Freedom of Mind LSE. In this episode of LSE Limelight, we talk to Will Banks about mental health in LSE's virtual campus. We discuss the potentially...

"I want to learn all the dances, and I just can't throw it back, and oh it's terrible, I hate myself, but also it's the only solace I have in quarantine land." - Zehra Jafree ranting about Tik Tok. For March we talk about how we've been loving Tiger King, The National Theatre streaming shows and more! Our wonderful presenters are Zehra Jafree, Amber Iglesia, Molly Horner. Welcome to The Last Da...

“Our slogan this year was ‘behnchara ke baghair no guzara’, which means ‘nothing without sisterhood’, and I feel that in the depth of my soul, because of the sisterhood, community, and collective love I felt for these women … we all pushed through, we held each others’ hands, and we still marched.” This week, we talked to Mahnoor Omer, an organiser for Aurat March (Women’s March) in Islamabad a...

This week we’re speaking about LGBT experiences around the globe and how it compares to London. We talk to Michal Piatkowski about LGBT free zones and it’s ideological implications, Christina Ivey about structural homophobia and its effects on Jamaica’s local economy, and Andrés Gomez about class, catholicism, and club culture. “So I kinda had built [London] up as this idyllic queer paradise in...

"There are much more hidden codifications of the city, where we aren't even aware of what light is doing." - Dr Don Slater, LSE Professor at the Department of Sociology.  In this episode of Hidden Bridges, we discuss with Dr Don Slater the implications of light in codifying the areas we live in. By exploring the ways in which cities are visually defined, he emphasises the hidden influence light...

“There are pre-existing mechanisms where people can give feedback if they have concerns about their roles. I think that's the proper way of dealing with these issues rather than insinuations and allegations.” – Dame Minouche Shafik, Director of LSE. In this episode of LSE Limelight, we talk to Director Shafik about the LSE in a new decade by examining the three pillars of the 2030 Shape the Wor...

“We are [also] focusing on refugees and asylum seekers in detention centres in the UK, and we are doing this because this is an issue that so many people don’t know much about. The UK is the only country that has indefinite detention, no other European countries have this.” – Lauren Darwent, President of LSESU STAR. In this episode of LSE Limelight, we talk to Lauren Darwent about the upcoming ...

"Rupert Everett was the first guest to ever say shag on the show - I know scandalising Radio 4 listeners!" - Molly Horner on her exploration of the Desert Island Discs Archive. For February we rave about Parasite, dive back into the Desert Island Discs archives, and discuss what's on in the theatre! Our wonderful presenters are Zehra Jafree, Amber Iglesia, Molly Horner. Welcome to The Last Dam ...

“The fact that there is solidarity coming from across the globe is extremely important... Our stories are not confined to this little bubble we are in. People are listening to what is happening.” - Mariyah Salim This week, we talked to Mariyah Salim, a researcher and humans rights activist, about the NRC and CAA in India. We discussed the political climate in India and the efforts to organise i...

We spoke to Dr Hugo Slim, head of policy at the ICRC, about war, humanitarian action and ICRC. Dr Henry Radice chairs the discussion.  This is Grimshaw Speaker, a partnership between the Grimshaw Club and Beaver Sound. We bring you conversations with exceptional individuals, discussing the issues of our times. For more from The Beaver click here (https://beaveronline.co.uk/) and from the Grimsh...

This week we’re speaking about hybrid languages. We hear thoughts from Rhydian Rolant Cleaver about navigating the precarities of Welsh, from Melissa Au on the ties between class and Cantonese, and from Hussain Abbas on the changing cultural production and consumption of Urdu. “Speaking welsh really gives you an insight into a really amazing world of culture, literature, and language that other...

“I think a lot of the RIght is guilty of fetishisation of freedom. I would very much call myself a proponent of freedom but I think vast swathes of people weaponise it disingenuously in order to make out that they are the victims of some great oppression when somebody suggests that they should state their pronouns." – Jason Reed, freelanced writer and a second-year Sociology student. In this ep...

“We are the people who will be truly affected by global heating and truly affected if we don’t change things now. A New Blue Deal is a matter of survival.” – Grace Chapman, President of LSESU Marine Society. In this episode of LSE Limelight, we talk to Grace and Julie, the President and Social and PR Officer of the LSESU Marine Society. We talk about the launch of their new initiative, the Blue...

"The purpose is to try to engage as many students as possible in environmental issues through producing their own content ... preparing them for a ... life acknowledging how much the climate crisis will impact their life." - Isabella Pojuner, founding-editor of Earthrise Journal. This week we're speaking to Isabella Pojuner the founding-editor of Earthrise Journal the first student-led environm...

“[Formerly colonised nations] are left increasingly vulnerable and increasingly exploited because of their vulnerability, which has largely occurred from earlier forms of exploitation through colonialism.” - Dr Oscar Webber, LSE Teaching Fellow at the Department of International History. In this first episode of Hidden Bridges, we discuss with Dr Oscar Webber the influence of colonialism in exa...

"When I was reading my Hobbes I realised that the only way I was going to hold onto these [film] ideas was if I wrote them down. And now it's a 10-minute short film" - Sebastian Mullen, writer and co-director of the new short film 'Call Me When You Get This'. This week we're speaking to Sebastian Mullen about the short film he wrote and co-directed, 'Call Me When You Get This'. We talk about ho...

Welcome to The Last Dam Word from the Review team at The Beaver, a Beaver Sound creation! We'll be coming to you at the end of each month to chat about the good, the bad and ugly of arts and culture. For January we rave about 1917, debate short stories vs novels, and discuss who's been snubbed from award season! Our presenters are Zehra Jafree, Amber Iglesia, Molly Horner. Edited and produced b...

"What I do every day, and counselling in itself is deeply political because people bring in their everyday experiences. They talk about violence, structural inequalities, and other things that are very political." - Fatima Hussain On this episode, we talk with Fatima Hussain, an Islamabad-based psychotherapist, about mental health within South Asian communities. We talk about the stigma around ...