Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mind Your Business | 20240215 | 20251208 (R4) |  In the final episode of the series, writer and satirist Heydon Prowse takes a tongue-in-cheek look at corporations and mental health. It's one of the most talked about issues of our times, but when big business says it cares about our mental wellbeing, does it really mean it? From emotionally-accepting fast food to kindness clothing, brands nowadays are keen to trumpet their strong support for the mental health of their staff and customers, even building meditation pods in the middle of delivery warehouses. Speaking to experts, corporate consultants, campaigners and more, Heydon puts big business on the couch and asks the multinationals to open up about it all. He'll also examine the fast growing wellness industry. Whether it's a meditation app or a listening-session start up, companies are promising to improve our mental health and profiting while they do it. How do we tell a cynical cash in from an attempt to change things for the better? If you need support with mental health, details are available at BBC.co.uk/actionline Contributors: Dr Mara Einstein, Queens College CUNY and author of Compassion, Inc. Kati Morton Therapist, Mental Health Speaker and Youtuber Dr Ashley Frawley, Researcher, University of Kent and author of The Semiotics of Happiness Geoff Norcott, Comedian, Political Commentator and author of The British Bloke, Decoded Priya Anand, Bloomberg News Producer: Sam Peach Writer and satirist Heydon Prowse looks into big corporations and mental health. Writer and satirist Heydon Prowse turns his attention to corporate Wokewashing. Writer and satirist Heydon Prowse finds out what happens when big companies talk about mental health. | |
| Race | 20240208 | 20251201 (R4) | Satirist Heydon Prowse offers a tongue-in-cheek investigation into how companies embraced race as the next social justice bandwagon to flaunt their woke credentials. After the murder of George Floyd organisations suddenly tweeted and posted support for a movement they had never seemed to care about, rushing to be the first to be seen to make donations. CEOs took the knee in the office, a toy company paused its marketing of its police themed range. Heydon himself was in a panic – should he post a black square with the hashtag #blackouttuesday in support of Black Lives Matter? If he did, he feared the profoundly performative act of solidarity that required zero effort was wokewashing, if he didn't wouldn't he look like a full blown racist. To discover who did it right and who did a facepalm, Heydon meets: Enes Freedom, former NBA star whose career came to a sudden halt when he chose to protest an issue beyond BLM Podcaster Zubi, who wonders if wokewashing is a brilliant con to subdue the left Marketing guru Katie Martell, who hails the advert that got people setting fire to their trainers Comedian Kae Kurd, who ponders if Pepsi or Dr Pepper is the best drink for a protest Judd Legum who unearthed financial hypocrisy, and academics Lily Kunda and Francesca Sobande who discuss what, if anything, has changed as a result – and a favourite ice cream. Producer: Sarah Bowen Assistant Producer: Oliva Sopel Satirist Heydon Prowse delves into brands who are trumpeting their opposition to racism. Writer and satirist Heydon Prowse turns his attention to corporate Wokewashing. When George Floyd died in 2020, companies rushed to post black squares and proclaim their support for BLM. Comedian and satirist Heydon Prowse asks, did anyone really mean it? | |
| 01 | Pride Before A Fall? | 20240125 | 20240625 (R4) 20251117 (R4) | In this first episode, Heydon investigates corporations' approach to LGBTQ+ inclusivity. He'll trace the history from brands' first engagements with gay customers to the situation today, where Pride month sees the high street and social media festooned with corporate rainbow flags. Heydon will ask how many companies live up to this inclusive message in actions. This episode will also take a look at the backlash to brand engagement with LGBTQ+ issues that has been seen in the UK and the USA as the corporate world is drawn into the culture wars. It's led to boycotts and hasty backpedalling, but what's really going on, and why? Contributors: Peter Tatchell, Activist and Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation Prof Alison Taylor of New York University's Stern Business School and author of 'Higher Ground: How Businesses Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World. Rain Dove, Model and Actvist Andrew Doyle, Comedian, GB News Presenter and author of The New Puritans: How the Religion of Social Justice Captured the Western World. Producer: Sam Peach Archive Credited To: John Sloman (Youtube) Dove US (Youtube) raindovemodel (instagram) dylanmulvaney (instagram) Make Yourself At Home Podcast by Nines Ben Shapiro (Youtube) CNN WKMG News Kid Rock (X) Satirist Heydon Prowse takes looks at big corporates and LGBTQ+ rights. Comedian Heydon Prowse conducts a tongue-in-cheek investigation into progressive corporations. |
| 02 | Femvertizing | 20240201 | 20240702 (R4) 20251124 (R4) | Be it shoe polish, hair curlers or a perfumed douche, brands hail their products as promoting girl power, body positivity and gender equality. Fashion names emblazon T shirts with positive feminist messages, shower gel bottles celebrate all shapes of women, even Monopoly has as Ms version addressing the gender pay gap. Are companies just jumping on the feminist bandwagon or are they real social justice warriors? Heydon discusses FKA Twigg's bottom and the need for repentance with author Ella Whelan. And marketing expert Katie Martell explains faux femvertizing and which ads make her drop her panties. He hears how fake suffragettes helped flog cigarettes from advertising guru Jean Kilbourne, and comedian Josie Long uncovers ads where women are reduced to a pair of breasts. Tech journalist Sage Lazzaro tells how Feminist Apparel staff's revolt backfired, China Labour Watch's Li Qiang talks factory supply chains, and amongst the bubbles at Lush, Hilary Jones explains how they supported the Spy Cops and why there are no oompa loompa their factories. Producer Sarah Bowen Assistant Producer: Olivia Sopel Satirist Heydon Prowse investigates how brands are using feminism to boost their profits. Can a flavoured douche or tough mascara empower women? Satirist Heydon Prowse explores how brands are jumping on the feminist bandwagon to sell their products. |
| 03 | Race | 20240208 | 20240709 (R4) | When George Floyd died in 2020, companies rushed to proclaim their support for BLM. They posted black squares, CEOs took the knee in the office, they rushed to be the first to be seen to make donations. But did any of them look at their own organisations, did any of it make a difference? Producer Sarah Bowen Assistant Producer: Olivia Sopel Heydon Prowse asks what's the impact of companies trumpeting their opposition to racism? Satirist Heydon Prowse explores the impact of companies trumpeting their opposition to racism. Satirist Heydon Prowse offers a tongue-in-cheek investigation into how companies embraced race as the next social justice bandwagon to flaunt their woke credentials. After the murder of George Floyd organisations suddenly tweeted and posted support for a movement they had never seemed to care about, rushing to be the first to be seen to make donations. CEOs took the knee in the office, a toy company paused its marketing of its police themed range. Heydon himself was in a panic – should he post a black square with the hashtag #blackouttuesday in support of Black Lives Matter? If he did, he feared the profoundly performative act of solidarity that required zero effort was wokewashing, if he didn't wouldn't he look like a full blown racist. To discover who did it right and who did a facepalm, Heydon meets: Enes Freedom, former NBA star whose career came to a sudden halt when he chose to protest an issue beyond BLM Podcaster Zubi, who wonders if wokewashing is a brilliant con to subdue the left Marketing guru Katie Martell, who hails the advert that got people setting fire to their trainers Comedian Kae Kurd, who ponders if Pepsi or Dr Pepper is the best drink for a protest Judd Legum who unearthed financial hypocrisy, and academics Lily Kunda and Francesca Sobande who discuss what, if anything, has changed as a result – and a favourite ice cream. |
| 04 LAST | Mind Your Business | 20240215 | 20240716 (R4) | In the final episode of the series, writer and satirist Heydon Prowse takes a tongue-in-cheek look at corporations and mental health. It's one of the most talked about issues of our times, but when big business says it cares about our mental wellbeing, does it really mean it? From emotionally-accepting fast food to kindness clothing, brands nowadays are keen to trumpet their strong support for the mental health of their staff and customers, even building meditation pods in the middle of delivery warehouses. Speaking to experts, corporate consultants, campaigners and more, Heydon puts big business on the couch and asks the multinationals to open up about it all. He'll also examine the fast growing wellness industry. Whether it's a meditation app or a listening-session start up, companies are promising to improve our mental health and profiting while they do it. How do we tell a cynical cash in from an attempt to change things for the better? If you need support with mental health, details are available at BBC.co.uk/actionline Contributors: Dr Mara Einstein, Queens College CUNY and author of Compassion, Inc. Kati Morton Therapist, Mental Health Speaker and Youtuber Dr Ashley Frawley, Researcher, University of Kent and author of The Semiotics of Happiness Geoff Norcott, Comedian, Political Commentator and author of The British Bloke, Decoded Priya Anand, Bloomberg News Producer: Sam Peach Writer and satirist Heydon Prowse looks into big corporations and mental health. Writer and satirist Heydon Prowse finds out what happens when big companies talk about mental health. |