In this episode of the podcast, JP Lawson unpacks Cathy O’Neil’s groundbreaking book Weapons of Math Destruction and explore how algorithms shape our everyday lives.

Learn what algorithms are, how they impact social inequality, and the steps governance systems can take to curb their harmful effects. Listen in for an insightful breakdown of the power and peril of modern algorithms.

Tyler Perry's The Six Triple Eight explores the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black, all-female unit that overcame racism, sexism, and lack of resources to ensure soldiers on the frontlines received critical morale-boosting mail during WWII.

Through a standout character like Major Charity Adams, played by Kerry Washington, the film highlights themes of resilience, leadership, and the intersection of race and gender.

This podcast examines these themes and shares five lessons, from valuing women in military operations to the importance of equitable resource allocation, drawing parallels to contemporary struggles for inclusion and equity.

This episode is a deep dive into the topic of aid effectiveness; built on the thesis by Jean-Philip Lawson, originally produced in 2022.

It examines the effectiveness of foreign aid in Ghana and Rwanda, exploring the relationship between aid and development, identifying internal drivers of aid to these nations and evaluating the impact of aid on their development.

The research employed a mixed-methods approach, utilising both quantitative and qualitative data, including questionnaires and secondary data analysis. Key findings relate to the challenges of aid effectiveness, such as corruption and capacity limitations, and the thesis concludes with recommendations for improving aid utilisation and reducing aid dependency.

The study also considers the impact of factors such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and the COVID-19 pandemic.