Social Innovation: The Social Ideas Podcast

Hosted by CJBS Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation

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Episodes

120

Latest episode

Jul 2025

Language

EN-GB

About the show

The Social Ideas podcast shares the impact of social innovation, its necessity and its capacity to challenge the status quo. Throughout this series, highly committed change makers in business, civil society, policy and academia will talk about their work, their ideas and their motivation to strive towards to a more equitable and sustainable world.The Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, acts as a platform for research and engagement with social innovators, academia and policy in UK and across the world.

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60 recent

July 14, 202522 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: Sociability - helping people find accessible places

In this episode we meet Matt Pierri, 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner and founder of Sociability. Sociability is a mobile app and online platform which provides detailed accessibility information for venues across the UK, helping people with disabilities to travel confidently. Matt shares his journey since starting Sociability as a student project in 2019. We learn about the importance of accessibility information for those who need it, and about the 'purple pound': why it makes good business sense for venues to be accessible and to signal clearly. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

July 14, 202527 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: Give Your Best - tackling clothing poverty and fashion waste

In this episode we meet Sol Escobar, founder of 'Give Your Best' and 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner. Give Your Best is the UK's first circular platform where people can donate clothes online, and marginalised women and children can shop entirely for free, with the dignity of choice. We learn about the problems of clothing poverty and fashion waste, and about Sol's journey as a social entrepreneur, supported by Cambridge Social Ventures. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

July 14, 202532 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network - helping people who have experienced forced migration to rebuild their livelihoods

In this episode we meet 2025 Social Innovation Prize Winner Charlie Fraser, founder of TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network). Since 2016, TERN has been supporting people in the UK to launch businesses. We learn about some of the challenges facing those who have fled their countries to escape violence, persecution and natural disasters, and need to rebuild their lives from scratch. Charlie explains how entrepreneurship can benefit refugees and their communities.Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

July 14, 202537 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: Coffee Afrik - reimagining community spaces in London

In this episode, we meet Abdirahim Hassan, one of our 2025 Social Innovation Prize winners, and learn about his Community Interest Company, Coffee Afrik. Coffee Afrik makes culturally sensitive public health projects, rooted in care, love and liberation, and inspired by radical philosophy. We learn about regenerative governance, and why the community programming approaches of the Black Panther party are relevant in London today. Follow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

July 15, 202424 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: Foundervine - removing social and economic barriers to entrepreneurship

In this episode we hear from Izzy Obeng, co-founder of Foundervine. Foundervine’s mission is to remove social and economic barriers to entrepreneurship for women and are racially-minoritised individuals. Collaborating with global partners, they help emerging companies reach their potential. Since 2017 they have supported over 1,200 helping them raise tens of millions in capital, creating over 600 jobs. FoundervineCambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social VenturesFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTubeFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

July 15, 202437 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: InPower Academy – transforming lives through martial arts

In this episode, we hear from Daryl Chambers, founder of InPower Academy CIC. InPower Academy work in in crime impacted areas to transform young people’s lives through martial arts training. InPower AcademyCambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social VenturesFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTubeFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

July 15, 202426 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: Sirlute – crafting the creative future of London

In this episode, we talk to JR Josephs, founder of Sirlute. As a charitable organisation, Sirlute provide creative learning and mentoring for children and young people in London. SirluteCambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social VenturesFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTubeFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

July 15, 202435 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: Women’s Work Lab – helping single mothers regain independence through a career support community

In this episode, we talk to Rachel Mostyn and Camilla Rigby. Rachel and Camilla are co-founders of Women’s Work Lab, a Community Interest Company which supports the careers of women and single parents in the South West of England. Women's Work Lab Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation Cambridge Social VenturesFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTubeFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

April 5, 202415 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: winning the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize

In this episode of The Social Innovation Podcast, Lisa Stepanovic shares the benefits and power of winning the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize.Lisa is the Founder and CEO of the multi award winning, Social Ark, which enables 16–30-year-olds from East London communities to develop social businesses that draw from their lived experiences. This year, Lisa is a judge for the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize, which she won in 2021.Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation The Cambridge Social Innovation PrizeCambridge Social VenturesFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube

April 4, 202424 min

The Social Ideas Podcast: the power of AutonoMe

In this episode of The Social Ideas Podcast, social entrepreneur Will Britton shares why he created the AutonoMe app and how winning The Cambridge Social Innovation Prize helped develop his social enterprise further.The AutonoMe app helps people learn new skills through step-by-step videos and helps them self-evaluate their needs. It’s already operating in seven local authorities in South West England, and Will’s ambition to make this a mainstream part of social care nationally.Cambridge Centre for Social InnovationCambridge Social Innovation PrizeCambridge Social VenturesFollow the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation on:FacebookInstagram LinkedInTwitterYouTube