Changemaker podcast series shines a light on UWE Bristol's champions and catalysts for change

UWE Bristol’s new Changemaker podcast series shines a light on champions and catalysts for change - the people who work, study or are associated with UWE Bristol who are collaborating to solve global challenges through outstanding learning, research and a culture of enterprise.

The aim of this series is to hear stories from students, staff and alumni who are making a positive impact on society and working towards a better future.

During each of the five episodes listeners will hear conversations between two people connected by their work to be changemakers, creating solutions to challenges such as pushing technology to the limit to develop a prosthetic knee for a gold medal-winning Paralympian, helping the 1 in 5 people in the UK who are suffering from incontinence, and a pioneering project that looks at the impact of racism on the mental health and wellbeing of schoolchildren.

The podcast also features inspirational changemakers who are making a stand against all forms of discrimination, harassment and inappropriate behaviour, and how working towards creating a more sustainable energy mix in the home is contributing to a net zero future.

The series kicks off with its first episode called ‘ “How can you help me to win again?” Developing a new prosthetic knee joint for a paralympic champion’, featuring Appolinaire Etoundi and Andy Lewis in conversation. When BRL roboticist Appo met Para triathlete Andy at a swimming pool, he promised Andy he’d help him develop the knee joint for his prosthetic leg – but only if he won a medal at the next Paralympics. He won gold in Rio the following year and the rest is history.

You can listen to this podcast and all the other episodes of the Changemakers series on SoundCloud here or on PodBean here.

Podcast episodes descriptions

Episode 1: “How can you help me to win again?” Developing a new prosthetic knee joint for a paralympic champion

Appolinaire Etoundi and Andy Lewis in conversation. When BRL roboticist Appo met Para triathlete Andy at a swimming pool, he promised Andy he’d help him develop the knee joint for his prosthetic leg – but only if he won a medal at the next Paralympics. He won gold in Rio the following year (2016) – and the rest is history!

Episode 2: Exploring the impact of racism on children’s mental health

UWE Bristol’s Verity Jones and primary school teacher Nat Brown paint a picture of what racism looks like in schools, and they discuss Verity’s pioneering project that looks at the impact of racism on the mental health and wellbeing of 10 to 11-year-olds.

Episode 3: Speak Up: Tackling all forms of discrimination and harassment

Ana Miguel Lazaro and Rania Regaieg talk about how UWE Bristol is making a stand against all forms of discrimination through its SpeakUp campaign. Drawing from their own experiences of harassment, they talk about the campaign and how it is effecting change across the University and the student community.

Episode 4: Our Path to 2030: How hydrogen could power our homes

Dick Shone and Henry James represent two generations of UWE Bristol alumni, and both are interested in contributing to a net zero future. Dick owns modular home manufacturer Boutique Modern and Henry is a project manager at Wells and West Utilities. In this podcast, they talk about how hydrogen-powered boilers could be one part of a more sustainable energy mix in the home.

Episode 5: Addressing inequalities in care for patients with pelvic floor disorders

Nikki Cotterill and Carla Southworth explain how one in five people in the UK suffer from incontinence. Nikki talks about some of the work she and Bristol Health Partners project manager Carla are doing to help people deal with bowel or bladder leakage. They discuss their community work and the CONfidence app they have developed to help people of all ages. To download app: Apple, Android. See more info about the research here.