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Public Health Disrupted

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by UCL Health of the Public

31 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview

Presented by Doctor, writer and TV Presenter Xand van Tulleken and community health psychologist and self-proclaimed hippie, UCL's Professor Rochelle Burgess. This podcast is about public health, but more importantly, it’s about the systems that need disrupting to make public health better. In each episode, we’ll be challenging the status quo of this field, asking what needs to change, why and how to get there. We’ll be joined by activists, scholars, artists, comedians and industry professionals to offer perspectives from the UCL community and beyond. We’re calling this podcast Public Health Disrupted because that’s exactly what we want to do. We are going to be breaking down disciplinary, sectoral and geographic boundaries to really understand the diverse and complex issues impacting our health.

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Publishing Since

11/6/2020

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Global Mental Health: Rights, Care and the Global Landscape

June 11, 2026

Global Mental Health: Rights, Care and the Global Landscape

<p><strong>Global Mental Health: Rights, Care and the Global Landscape</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In this episode, Xand and Rochelle discuss the intricate relationship between geography and global mental health. Alongside guests Parth Sharma and Dr Kelly Rose-Clarke, they explore how factors such as conflict, climate, and social inequalities shape mental health experiences around the world, challenging conventional narratives and highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of mental health support.</p><p> </p><p>This episode raises critical questions about the future of mental health care, the necessity for systemic change, and the role of lived experience in shaping effective interventions. As the conversation unfolds, we invite you to reflect on how global mental health can be disrupted and transformed for the better.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Guests:</strong></p><p><strong>Parth Sharma</strong> is an abolitionist, anti-colonial scholar whose work is grounded in their intersectional lived experience as a queer, non-binary, disabled, mad person. A cultural worker, filmmaker, and multimedia artist, Parth has worked in journalism, clinical mental health and human rights. Today, Parth is the Deputy Principal Coordinator for the Movement for Global Mental Health, and you can find them disrupting global mental health, interrogating the mental health industrial complex, and actively imagining abolitionist futures.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Dr Kelly Rose-Clarke</strong> is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Principal Research Fellow in Global Mental Health here at UCL. Kelly is interested in developing and testing mental health interventions for low-resource settings, with a focus on community-based approaches for children and adolescents. In Nepal, Kelly is leading an 8-year programme to evaluate a school-based talking therapy for adolescents with depression. She has worked as a consultant for UNESCO and conducted research for the World Health Organization to inform global mental health policy and programming.</p><p> </p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li>The impact of geography and socio-political factors on mental health</li><li>How community-led initiatives can mobilise care during crises</li><li>The intersection of rights and mental health care</li><li>The potential for an abolitionist approach to global mental health</li><li>What global mental health could look like in the coming decades</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Hosts:</strong> </p><p>Xand van Tulleken – Doctor, Writer, and TV Presenter and Professor Rochelle Burgess – Community Health Psychologist and Professor at the UCL Institute for Global Health.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Resources and mentions:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/global-mental-health-msc">Discover the new Global Mental Health MSc at UCL</a> - launching in October 2026!<br><a href="https://www.tponepal.org/">Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation Nepal</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>“What has disrupted your thinking?”</strong></p><p>Parth: Book - The Revolution Will Not Be Funded by INCITE! and Revolutionary Suicide by Hui P. Newton</p><p>Kelly : Art - landscapes of East Yorkshire by David Hockney</p><p> </p><p><strong>Production Credits:<br></strong>Public Health Disrupted with Rochelle Burgess and Xand van Tulleken is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public. Recorded remotely and edited by <strong>Annabelle Buckland at </strong><a href="https://www.decibellecreative.com/"><strong>Decibelle Creative</strong></a><strong> / </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/decibelle_creative/"><strong>@decibelle_creative</strong></a><strong></strong></p><p>Want to be part of a live recording of Public Health Disrupted?<br>On 30 June 2026, the podcast will be recorded in front of a live audience for the first time at UCL's Bloomsbury Studio. <a href="https://bloomsburytheatre.com/event/2026/06/public-health-disrupted">Learn more and get your ticket.</a></p>

Episode thumbnail for Why are younger generations drinking less?

April 21, 2026

Why are younger generations drinking less?

<p>In the first episode of Season 6 of Public Health Disrupted, Dr Xand van Tulleken and Professor Rochelle Burgess explore why younger generations are drinking less, and what that shift means for public health.</p><p> </p><p>Alcohol consumption among young people has fallen sharply over the past two decades, but the reasons behind this change are complex. Is it greater awareness of alcohol harms, economic pressure, changing social lives, or wider shifts in how young people experience risk and wellbeing?</p><p> </p><p>Joining Xand and Rochelle are <strong>Millie Gooch</strong>, founder of the Sober Girl Society, and <strong>Dr Melissa Oldham</strong> from the Department of Behavioural Science and Health at UCL. Together, they unpack what the data tells us, what sobriety and “drinking less” look like in everyday social life, and why community, policy and support systems matter if this trend is to lead to better health outcomes in the long term.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li>Why alcohol consumption among young people has fallen in recent decades</li><li>How social media, economic pressure and changing social norms are reshaping drinking culture</li><li>The role of community in helping people navigate social life without alcohol</li><li>Why supportive systems are essential for public health</li><li>How policy, regulation and marketing influence our relationship with alcohol</li></ul><p><strong>Hosts:</strong> </p><p>Xand van Tulleken – Doctor, Writer, and TV Presenter and Rochelle Burgess – Professor of Global Mental Health and Social Justice at the UCL Institute for Global Health.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Resources and mentions:</strong></p><p><a href="https://alcoholchange.org.uk/">Alcohol Change UK</a></p><p><a href="https://sobergirlsociety.com/">Sober Girl Society </a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>“What has disrupted your thinking?”</strong></p><p>Millie: Song - Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen</p><p>Melissa: Book- Wintering by Katherine May</p><p> </p><p><strong>Production Credits:<br></strong><br></p><p>Public Health Disrupted is a podcast from UCL Health of the Public.</p><p>Recorded remotely and edited by <strong>Annabelle Buckland at </strong><a href="https://www.decibellecreative.com/"><strong>Decibelle Creative</strong></a><strong> / </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/decibelle_creative/"><strong>@decibelle_creative</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>

Episode thumbnail for Ageing Playfully: Transforming perspectives on growing older

September 25, 2025

Ageing Playfully: Transforming perspectives on growing older

<p>In this episode of Public Health Disrupted, host Rochelle Burgess is flying solo, and dives into the transformative power of play in the context of ageing. </p><p><br></p><p>Joined by Rachel Colles, a professional performer and ‘Elderflower’ with <a href="https://heartsminds.org.uk/">Hearts and Minds</a>, and <a href="https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/75497-carrie-ryan">Dr Carrie Ryan</a>, a lecturer in Creative Health at UCL, the discussion explores how playfulness can disrupt conventional narratives surrounding ageing.</p><p><br></p><p>Rochelle, Rachel, and Carrie challenge the societal tendency to associate play solely with childhood, revealing how embracing play in later life can foster joy, creativity, and meaningful connections. They share insights from their experiences, including engaging with people living with dementia and the profound impact of playful interactions (and bingo!) in care settings. </p><p><br></p><p>The conversation highlights the importance of validating emotions, and how play serves as a vital public health intervention, encouraging a shift in perspective on ageing. This episode also touches on the significance of fostering genuine connections, ultimately advocating for a more playful approach to public health.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Host:</strong> Rochelle Burgess – Community Health Psychologist and Professor at the UCL Institute for Global Health</p><p><br></p><p><strong>With special thanks to our guests:</strong></p><ul><li>Rachel Colles - Professional Performer and Elderflower, <a href="https://heartsminds.org.uk/">Hearts and Minds</a></li><li><a href="https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/75497-carrie-ryan">Dr Carrie Ryan</a> - Lecturer in Creative Health, UCL Department of Arts and Sciences</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources and mentions:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.phoebedavies.co.uk/extravagantacts">‘Extravagant Acts for Mature People'</a> by Phoebe Davies (as mentioned at the end of this episode by Dr Carrie Ryan!)</li></ul>

31 total episodes available

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What is Public Health Disrupted?

Presented by Doctor, writer and TV Presenter Xand van Tulleken and community health psychologist and self-proclaimed hippie, UCL's Professor Rochelle Burgess.

This podcast is about public health, but more importantly, it’s about the systems that need disrupting to make public health better. In each episode, we’ll be challenging the status quo of this field, asking what needs to change, why and how to get there. We’ll be joined by activists, scholars, artists, comedians and industry professionals to offer perspectives from the UCL community and beyond.

We’re calling this podcast Public Health Disrupted because that’s exactly what we want to do. We are going to be breaking down disciplinary, sectoral and geographic boundaries to really understand the diverse and complex issues impacting our health.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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