I found this interview really moving. For me, if really highlighted the emotional work of being a working-class woman trying to fit into a club not made for her (ahem - me & academia) and having lived experience, being an advocate for others and change. Exhausting. Worth it though 👊

Feeling ancient. Just had to google ‘Who is Bad Bunny?’ for a crash course, having never heard of an apparent mega star.

I'd watch a muppet show movie where the muppets infiltrate an academic conference.

Trust me, the woman of academia are not at all surprised by the number of academic men orbiting Epstein.

Remember when we thought Sarah Palin was the dumbest person in politics Good times.

Like Dominic Cummings, Morgan McSweeney helped deliver electoral victory but, in doing so, debased and subverted everything his party claimed to stand for.

I'm excited to share a Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Qualitative Research in Psychology on New developments and good practice in reflexive thematic analysis co-edited by me, @ginnybraun.bsky.social @eileenjoy.bsky.social and Lisa Trainor. Please contact any of us if you have any questions.

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Disproportionately happy to see the shoots of daffodils, tulips, crocuses and hyacinths pushing through. #gardening #wintergarden

A bit of a long shot this one. But do any listeners to Weird in the Wade have a connection to Christ College Cambridge?

The NHS appears to have set up an Independent Review re: 'increased demand for mental health, autism and ADHD assessment and support across all age groups'. They are looking for people with relevant Lived Experience to join the Review as 'Partners' - important work! #livedexperience #autism #adhd

As St Brigid's Day Lá Fhéile Bríde approaches we round up some of the events organised by Irish community organisations to mark the day, a national holiday in Ireland💚☘️ Find an event near you! Want to add your event? Email [email protected] https://ow.ly/t6Yo50Y4QZy

*Not so fun fact. Matt Goodwin was my dissertation supervisor. Only briefly mind. I swapped after he said that my idea - a study and survey on the politics of the homeless (less than 1% vote) - was of "no academic interest". I got a 1st 🎓

In @prospectmagazine.co.uk, our Deputy Director of Research @sarahscobie.bsky.social looks ahead to the publication of a new National Cancer Plan for England. There are shared risk factors that apply to many types of cancer and which could be addressed by cross-government action.

Now out! Special Issue 'Competing Narratives in Decentred Health Systems', guest edited by @profkatsmith.bsky.social, Justin Waring & Mark Bevir, and PACKED with great papers from leading authors applying decentred theory to key issues in #publichealth journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jc...

There’s still beauty in the world. The Northern Lights put on a wonderful display all over Scotland. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

As Trump menaces Greenland, this much is clear: the free world needs a new plan – and inspired leadership | Gordon Brown

I feel like we’re living in a dystopian novel so dystopian that even if Huxley, Orwell and Bradbury had collaborated on a book, the three of them together couldn’t have dreamt this shit up.

📣 @nihrarcs.bsky.social #PPI webinar: Evaluating #PublicInvolvement with children & young people 🌟17/2/26 Presenters incl me, @helenabnett.bsky.social & @hertsypag.bsky.social + hosted by @skourkos.bsky.social & @elspethma.bsky.social Info & booking: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/involving-...

So lovely to see the unassuming Jessie Buckley smashing it at every awards ceremony for #Hamnet. What a superb actress & what a beautiful film. She deserves every lovely thing coming her way. (Denise Van Outen is being forced to eat her words right now. Too good for ‘I’d do anything’!)

Good Evening

Not commenting on Venezuela is one thing, but Starmer's ministers not even being willing to say "no of course the US shouldn't invade a peaceful sovereign democratic NATO country, which is one of our closest allies" is quite another.

If we can capture another country's president, can another country come and capture ours? Asking for a friend.

Last night over Reykjavík's skyline. Simply magical to live with this in your skies. #northernlights #aurora #fullmoon

An Irish tradition on #NewYearsEve that says you should open the back door to let the old year out & when midnight strikes, open the front door to let the new year in! Happy New Year ♡ #legendarywednesday #wyrdwednesday #irishfolklore #Ireland #traditions #customs #beliefs Photo: Co. Cork

Japanese New Year traditions include a thorough cleaning of the home, putting up decorations, eating soba noodles, visiting a shrine, and taking note of your first dream. I've written all about it here, with lots of #JapaneseArt too. Happy New Year! 🎍 #WyrdWednesday open.substack.com/pub/curiouso...

According to Swedish folklore, the perfect way to ring in the New Year is to fast from food and social interaction all day, followed by a walk in the woods. This ritual, known as årsgång (or “year walk”), is meant to provide insight for the upcoming year. 🧵 #PhantomsFriday #FolkyFriday

In Icelandic folklore Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat, comes to eat those who do not wear their new clothes for Christmas. In this image, you can see somebody did not put on their new Christmas sweater. Or perhaps even more unfortunately, no one got them one! More ... 👇

Happy New Year! At midnight on Hogmanay, the Watch Stone will move from its position guarding the approach to the Ness of Brodgar to take a drink from Stenness loch. (Or so it is said!) Wishing you all a wonderful 2026, filled with folklore, fun and many a hike to an ancient site 💚🪨🎉

The year's last light #Shetland #happynewyear

Finding it difficult to stop myself buying a box of Christmas lights every time I leave the house. It’s just so dark and they’re so twinkly.

Excellent journalism from my colleague Xander Elliards, looking at the Sandie Peggie verdict and which parts of haven't received much media attention. From Peggie harassing Dr Upton, to racist jokes and her evidence being deemed "not credible", there is a LOT. www.thenational.scot/news/2568550...

Upcoming NIHR RSS online session: Qualitative health research involving children - ethical and methodological considerations 🗓12 Jan 26 🕥 10.30 – 11.30 Register to attend: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Should you wear a mask if you've got symptomatic flu? YES. If you wear it at home *from the onset of your symptoms*, your family members are much less likely to catch flu from you (but you must avoid unmasked co-sleeping and eating around same table - have your meals alone). 1/

The only thing to do when there’s 50mph winds whooshing around outside and down the chimney. Snuggle up on a human and cross your paws. #Cats #BlueSkyCats

One of the most disturbing things about the U.S. government getting themselves into the anti-vaccine game is that it is a time-release poison pill. It will take a few years before the worst of the harm is visible to enough people that they will truly understand what has been done to them.

As set out in this thread, the causes of the court backlog are chronic lack of funding and absurd inefficiency. The government has made no proposals to address either. Their answer is to remove juries. Rather than fix the leaking roof, their solution is to burn the house down.

NEW BLOGPOST Abolishing trial by jury: why is the government overlooking the obvious? thesecretbarrister.com/2025/12/02/a...

Here's a piece I wrote about mandatory training for all health & social care staff about working with people with learning disability & autism - the Oliver McGowan training. Women with LD die 23 years younger than other women, men 19 years younger - is this the answer? doi.org/10.1136/bmj....

Look out for new feature documentary Testimony, winner of the Best Human Rights Film at the Dublin International Film Festival It chronicles the fight for justice by survivors of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries and Mother & Baby Homes, a battle that takes them all the way to the UN

Coming up: Experiences of grief in ethnically diverse communities: panel discussion and film launch 📢 📆Thurs 4 Dec 2025 📍Online 🕛7-8pm 🔹Highly recommended 🔹New research findings 🔹Led by @lucyselman.bsky.social & colleagues @goodgrieffest.bsky.social Details & register: 🔽 bsky.app/profile/good...

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture. They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all." My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away. Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

oh, that's... that's not... you can't call it that

1/ How does the COVID Inquiry's Module 2 report align with what we said in @independentsage.bsky.social at the time? A 🧵on Transparency, Early & Decisive Action, Scientific Advice, Integration of Social & Economic Harms, Communication and Behavioural Science, Governance, Data and Preparedness

Today, as the #CovidInquiry releases its module 2 report, we are thinking especially of everyone who will have to relive the trauma of that time, who will have to hear of the government failings that led to their loved ones' deaths.  We will never forget our beloved dead. ❤️

UK Covid inquiry: Chairwoman of the inquiry, former judge Baroness Hallett, said the UK's response could be summarised as "too little, too late" Lockdown could have been avoided - but action came too late 'Chaotic' government with key figures criticised including Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson

Looking forward to reawakening my dormant men’s health/ #masculinities brain cells in the new year. I will be joining a fab collaborative group who are evaluating men’s mental health interventions over the next three years. Men, it seems I haven’t finished with you!

The fact that the Louvre heist didn’t take place at dawn, but at the very reasonable hour of 9:30 a.m. shows that even French jewel thieves have a better work-life balance than us.