Mike meets with Dr Will Norman, London’s cycling and walking commissioner, to discuss the challenge of designing London’s cycling transport networks.

Producer: Sam Cluley

As anthropologists who have become parents, Mike and Olivia inevitably think about how they and others parent.This week, Olivia talks with Prof. Helen Ball - Director of the Durham Sleep Centre, and author of 'How Babies Sleep' (2025). Together, they unpack Helen's background in biological anthropology, her groundbreaking work in infant sleep research and the way looking across cultures and the history of WEIRD countries (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic) can help us reflect on how certain norms in parenting have evolved and why.

Producer:

Sam Cluley

Hosts:
Dr. Olivia Barnett-Naghshineh
Dr. Mike Crawley

Guest:

Prof. Helen Ball

Show Notes:

Information on safe co-sleeping: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/co-sleeping/

‘How Babies Sleep’ by Professor Helen Ball: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459772/how-babies-sleep-by-ball-professor-helen-l/9781804948019

‘The Nurture Revolution’ by Dr Greer Kirchenbaum:https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Nurture-Revolution-by-Greer-Kirshenbaum/9781538709344?srsltid=AfmBOopddbO4RKdVFs9XqeUbCIP_bnijXFQKWvgIV3N2MlrwiRbDiaAf

The Harry Harlow Monkey Experiments: https://www.simplypsychology.org/harlow-monkey.html

In this episode Michael meets Professor Anand Pandian to discuss how division is created through everything from social media to the design of our cars and homes. They focus on his book Something Between Us, which won the 2026 Zocalo Book Prize.

To kick off the series, hosts Mike and Olivia provide a brief rundown of anthropology, their experiences in the field and a teaser for our upcoming episodes.

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