We Can Work It Out

Hello and welcome to We Can Work It Out — the podcast that explores the history, present and future of workers’ rights. I’m your host, Dr Jonathan Lord: in each episode we’ll be delving into the stories, struggles and successes that have shaped working lives. From friendly societies to people management- we welcome academics, activist’s, trade unionist’s, policymakers and workers themselves to help us understand what fair work really means in a changing world.

We Can Work It Out is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts We Can Work It Out, a business show with 25 episodes published.

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  We Can Work It Out

  Episode 19 - Marxism in Music: Can Rock ’n’ Roll Change the World?

  Oct 3, 20261h 24m

  Can a three-minute song change someone's politics? Can music encourage people to become activists, support workers in struggle or even join a political movement? In Episode 19 of We Can Work It Out , I welcome back Professor Gregor Gall to discuss his new book, Marxism in Music: Constructing a Communist Contra-Culture with The Redskins, Rock ’n’ Roll and Revolution . At the centre of our conversation are The Redskins , the revolutionary socialist band that emerged during the political turmoil of early-1980s Britain. Against a backdrop of Thatcherism, mass unemployment, deindustrialisation and industrial conflict, the band attempted to combine popular music with an explicitly socialist message. We discuss their involvement in the 1984–85 miners’ strike , including their numerous benefit gigs and support for striking miners, and explore why the band wanted to “walk like The Clash and sing like The Supremes”. Gregor explains the important distinction between counterculture and contra-culture , arguing that socialist movements have historically concentrated on economic and political struggles while paying considerably less attention to culture as a means of influencing ideas. But did The Redskins actually change people? Drawing on testimony from more than 100 people, Gregor explains how the band's music introduced listeners to socialist ideas, encouraged political activism and helped sustain political commitment. We also explore the contradictions of producing anti-capitalist music within a capitalist music industry and compare The Redskins with The Clash, Billy Bragg, The Housemartins and Easterhouse . Finally, we bring the discussion into the present. In an age of Spotify, YouTube, TikTok and algorithm-driven culture, could a political band like The Redskins have the same influence today? Music may not change society by itself, but it can introduce ideas, create solidarity and encourage people to act. Enjoy the discussion. Until the 31 October, there is a 35% discount code available - MARXISM35 - on the hardback book so £52 (with free postage within UK). Use at https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/marxism-in-music-9798765140888/

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  Episode #16

  Episode 16 - Can We Afford the AI Revolution?

  Jul 13, 202658 min

  In this episode of We Can Work It Out , Dr Jonathan Lord is joined by Professor Richard Whittle, Professor of AI and Public Policy at the University of Salford, to explore one of the defining questions of our time: how should we understand the economics of generative AI, and who ultimately pays for its promises? Drawing on his background as an economist, Richard explains how his research has evolved from studying financial markets and asset price bubbles to examining the impact of artificial intelligence on work, public policy and the wider economy. Rather than focusing solely on what AI can do, the discussion considers the economic forces driving its rapid adoption and whether the current business model behind generative AI is financially sustainable. The episode explores the distinction between traditional artificial intelligence and generative AI, examining why the arrival of tools such as ChatGPT represents a fundamental shift in how organisations and individuals interact with technology. Richard discusses why today's AI services appear remarkably inexpensive and argues that current pricing reflects a strategy of rapid market expansion rather than the true cost of providing these systems. The conversation considers what could happen if businesses become dependent on AI platforms before significant price increases begin. The conversation also examines the implications for the public sector, where governments increasingly view AI as a mechanism for improving efficiency and reducing costs. Richard discusses examples from local government, education and healthcare, questioning whether AI-generated savings are being reinvested to improve public services or simply used to reduce expenditure. The discussion considers how artificial intelligence exposes wider structural problems within public services, including decades of underinvestment, workforce pressures and increasing demand. Jonathan and Richard explore the potential impact of AI on employment, productivity and future skills. Rather than predicting widespread job losses, Richard focuses on the longer-term consequences of replacing entry-level work with automation, asking how organisations will develop future experts if junior employees no longer gain the experience traditionally required to build professional judgement. The discussion highlights the importance of education, interdisciplinary thinking and maintaining human expertise alongside technological development. The episode also considers wider questions surrounding regulation, ethics and national sovereignty. Richard examines the dominance of a small number of global AI companies, the implications of relying on overseas technology providers and the challenges governments face in regulating rapidly evolving systems. The conversation touches on issues including copyright, data protection, inequality, AI literacy and whether access to advanced AI should eventually be considered a public utility. Finally, Richard outlines the key questions every organisation should ask before embedding AI into its operations, including whether current business models remain viable if AI prices rise significantly, how organisations can maintain human expertise alongside automation, and how AI will reshape competition across different sectors. Throughout the episode, he argues that the most important question is not simply what AI can do today, but what the long-term costs of today's short-term efficiency savings may be. This episode offers a thought-provoking examination of the economic realities behind generative AI and explores what its rapid adoption means for workers, employers, policymakers and the future of work. Enjoy the discussion.

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  Episode #15

  Episode 15 - The Bliss Mill Strike

  Jun 8, 202649 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, Dr Jonathan Lord is joined by labour historian John Mann to explore one of the most significant yet overlooked industrial disputes in British labour history: the Bliss Mill Strike of 1913–14.</p><p></p><p>Based on years of archival research, local history and family records, John reconstructs the story of a strike that transformed the Oxfordshire market town of Chipping Norton and left a legacy that continued to divide families and shape local politics for generations.  </p><p></p><p>The discussion begins with the history of Bliss Twe...

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  Episode #14

  Episode 14 - The Edge of Revolution: The General Strike that Shook Britain

  May 26, 202653 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, Dr Jonathan Lord is joined by historian, journalist and political writer David Torrance to discuss his new book The Edge of Revolution: The General Strike that Shook Britain. Together, they explore one of the most dramatic moments in modern British history and ask whether Britain in May 1926 really stood on the brink of constitutional crisis and social upheaval.  </p><p>David examines the economic and political tensions that led to the General Strike, including the crisis in the coal industry, fears of revolution following the Russian Revolution and F...

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  Episode #13

  Episode 13 - General Strike of 1926: Britain in Crisis

  May 19, 202656 minS0

  <p>A hundred years after the General Strike of 1926, the questions it raised still refuse to disappear.</p><p>What happens when millions of workers decide they have had enough? How does the state respond when key industries stop functioning? Is industrial action simply an economic dispute, or does it become something much larger, a challenge to authority, legitimacy and political power itself?</p><p>These are the themes at the centre of the latest episode of the We Can Work It Out podcast, where I’m joined by Dr Chris Kirkland, Senior Lecturer in Politics at York St John Un...

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