The Positive News Podcast

Positive News
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The Positive News Podcast rebalances your media diet with uplifting, independent journalism about solutions and progress. What Went Right is our weekly video podcast, bringing you the good news that matters. Every Saturday, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three stories of progress – spanning climate, science, health, conservation, technology, communities and social change. Expect informed conversation, surprising developments and stories that might just shift your perspective on the state of the world.

  1. 1d ago

    What Went Right: How Brazil’s election could change the future of the Amazon

    What Went Right is a weekly video podcast from Positive News, bringing you the good news that matters. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week’s most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change.This week: A victory for the Amazon, a breakthrough in cancer treatment, Oxford Street goes car-free and Sardinian restaurants put conversation back on the menu.🌳 A victory for the Amazon – Lula’s re-election in Brazil brings fresh hope for the rainforest, with deforestation falling sharply and a pledge to end it by 2030. But can he deliver?💉 A breakthrough in skin cancer treatment – A personalised mRNA vaccine is showing promising results in trials, raising hopes of a new way to fight cancer. Could the same technology help treat other cancers?🚶 Oxford Street goes pedestrianised – One of London's most famous shopping streets is going car-free, with plans for more trees, public spaces and a boost to local businesses. Could this be the future of our high streets?📵 Phones off, conversation on – Restaurants in Sardinia are encouraging diners to put away their phones and start talking again. Could a simple experiment help families reconnect, and should more restaurants follow suit?Subscribe to Positive News on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. And for 10 stories of progress delivered to your inbox each week, sign up to our What Went Right newsletter at positive.news/letter.What Went Right is a Positive News production.Hosts: Tom Pattinson and Lucy WatsonProduced and edited by Tom PattinsonResearch and reporting: Robin EveleighExecutive producers: Pauline Milligan and Sean Wood#WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews

    What Went Right: How Brazil’s election could change the future of the Amazon

  2. Oct 23

    What Went Right: Can bird poo save islands from rising seas?

    What Went Right is a weekly video podcast from Positive News, bringing you the good news that matters. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week's most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change. With Lucy Watson away this week, Positive News associate editor Gavin Haines joins Tom Pattinson. This week: Could bird poo help save low-lying islands from rising seas? Could giving people free money help protect the Amazon rainforest? And what can an award-winning factory in Bangladesh teach us about the future of architecture? 🐦 Seabirds helping save tropical islands – Scientists have discovered that restoring seabird populations and native vegetation could help tropical islands withstand rising seas, with coral reefs around bird-rich islands growing up to 2.5 times faster. 🌳 Basic income protecting the Amazon rainforest – In the Peruvian Amazon, a basic income trial has shown promising results, reducing food insecurity while encouraging Indigenous communities to adopt more sustainable farming practices. Could financial security be one of the keys to protecting the rainforest? 🏗️ Sustainable, award-winning architecture – We look at some remarkable architecture projects, including an award-winning factory in Bangladesh designed with workers' wellbeing in mind, a housing development in London that puts green space at its heart, and a museum in Belgium built largely from recycled construction waste. Special thanks to Positive News associate editor Gavin Haines for joining us this week. Subscribe to Positive News on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. And for 10 stories of progress delivered to your inbox each week, sign up to our What Went Right newsletter at positive.news/letter. What Went Right is a Positive News production. Hosts: Lucy Watson and Tom Pattinson Produced and edited by Tom Pattinson Research and reporting: Gavin Haines Executive producers: Pauline Milligan and Sean Wood #WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews

    What Went Right: Can bird poo save islands from rising seas?

  3. Oct 16

    What Went Right: How Indonesia slashed poverty

    What Went Right is a weekly video podcast from Positive News, bringing you the good news that matters. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week's most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change. This week: Indonesia has slashed extreme poverty, London's new super sewer has dramatically reduced sewage entering the Thames, researchers have linked walking to better mental health in children, and giant tortoises are thriving again in the Seychelles. 🇮🇩 Indonesia's extraordinary poverty reduction – Millions have escaped extreme poverty thanks to decades of economic growth, investment and development. But how did it happen, and could other countries follow its example? 💧 London's super sewer delivers – A 25km tunnel beneath the capital has reduced sewage overflows into the Thames by an estimated 86%. Tom explains how it works, while Lucy recalls her experience swimming in Paris as the French capital worked to clean up the Seine. 🚶 Could walking improve children's mental health? – New research involving more than 5,500 young people links higher daily step counts with better mental health and differences in brain development. Tom and Lucy discuss walking to school, competitive step counting and how to encourage children to exercise more. 🐢 Giant tortoises make an extraordinary comeback – Once hunted to the brink of extinction, the giant tortoises of Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles now number around 180,000. That's more tortoises than people living in the entire country! Subscribe to Positive News on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. And for 10 stories of progress delivered to your inbox each week, sign up to our What Went Right newsletter at positive.news/letter. What Went Right is a Positive News production. Hosts: Lucy Watson and Tom Pattinson Produced and edited by Tom Pattinson Research and reporting: Gavin Haines Executive producers: Pauline Milligan and Sean Wood #WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews #ConstructiveJournalism

    What Went Right: How Indonesia slashed poverty

  4. Oct 9

    What Went Right: Two teachers beat a mining giant

    What Went Right is a weekly video podcast from Positive News, bringing you the good news that matters. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week's most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change. This week: Two retired teachers have taken on a mining giant and won a landmark climate case in Australia, scientists have revealed promising results from a potential new Parkinson’s treatment, and Prince William has launched a toolkit to help communities prepare for emergencies. 🌍 People power wins landmark climate case in Australia Retired teachers Wendy Wales and Tony Lonergan helped lead a community campaign against the expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine in New South Wales. Now Australia's High Court has backed their legal challenge, in a ruling that could change how future fossil fuel projects are assessed. We discuss the extraordinary victory for people power and its implications for global climate action. 🧠 A promising breakthrough in Parkinson's research Could a new drug help scientists tackle Parkinson's disease before symptoms develop? Early clinical trials of SNT-4728 have produced encouraging results, reducing brain inflammation and improving movement in people with a sleep disorder linked to a high risk of Parkinson's. We explore the research, its potential and the questions scientists still need to answer. 🤝 Prince William's plan to help communities prepare for disasters From floods and wildfires to power cuts and cyber attacks, how prepared are we for the unexpected? Prince William has launched Ready Together, a new emergency preparedness toolkit designed to help communities support each other during a crisis. Positive News' associate editor Gavin Haines reports on how it works, while Lucy shares her experiences reporting from disaster zones around the world. Subscribe to Positive News on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. And for 10 stories of progress delivered to your inbox each week, sign up to our What Went Right newsletter at positive.news/letter. What Went Right is a Positive News production. Hosts: Lucy Watson and Tom Pattinson Produced and edited by Tom Pattinson Research and reporting: Gavin Haines Executive producers: Pauline Milligan and Sean Wood Explore the Ready Together toolkit: https://www.readytogether.co.uk Read more about the Parkinson's trial: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/2026/parkinsons-uk-funded-drug-improves-movement-symptoms-early-trial #WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews

    What Went Right: Two teachers beat a mining giant

  5. Oct 5

    What Went Right: The winners of the ‘alternative Nobel prize’

    What Went Right is a weekly video podcast from Positive News, bringing you the good news that matters. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week's most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change. This week: the women challenging powerful institutions win the ‘alternative Nobel prize’, renewable energy helps shield the UK from the global gas crisis, countries make progress on healthy ageing, and a rescued gorilla gives birth after being returned to the wild. 🏆 The women taking on entrenched power The 2026 Right Livelihood Award, often known as the ‘alternative Nobel prize’, has gone to four women and women-led organisations working on human rights, democracy, AI and rural communities. Tom and Lucy look at Pakistani human rights lawyer Jalila Haider, the Rural Women’s Assembly in southern Africa, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and AI researcher Timnit Gebru, whose work questions who builds artificial intelligence, who benefits from it and who gets to decide how it develops. 🌞 Renewables soften the energy shock Record wind and solar generation has supplied 41% of UK electricity so far this year, compared with 25% from gas, according to Carbon Brief.With global gas prices hit by disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, Tom and Lucy look at how renewable energy is increasingly being seen not only as a climate solution, but as a route towards greater energy independence. Across 12 European countries, heat pump sales have also risen 11% in the first half of 2026, with around 1.16 million units sold. 👵 Are we getting better at ageing? The number of people aged 60 and over is expected to grow from around one billion in 2020 to 2.1 billion by 2050, putting new pressure on health and care systems around the world.But a new report from the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing finds signs of progress. More countries now have laws tackling age discrimination and national long-term care policies, alongside growing efforts to help people remain mobile, socially connected and independent for longer. Tom and Lucy discuss whether the answer to an ageing population lies less in expanding traditional care and more in helping people live healthier, more independent lives in the first place. 🦍 A rewilded gorilla becomes a mother Lulingu was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when she was around 18 months old and spent years being rehabilitated before finally being returned to the wild in Virunga National Park in 2024. Now she has given birth after mating with a wild silverback, becoming one of the first rewilded Grauer’s gorillas to successfully reproduce in the wild.For conservationists working to rebuild one of the world’s smallest and most isolated gorilla populations, the new arrival offers evidence that carefully managed rewilding can work. Subscribe to What Went Right on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts, and get 10 stories of progress in your inbox each week by signing up to the What Went Right newsletter at positive.news.What Went Right – good news that matters. What Went Right is a Positive News production. Hosts: Lucy Watson and Tom Pattinson Produced and edited by Tom Pattinson Research and reporting: Gavin Haines Executive producers: Pauline Milligan and Sean Wood #WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews

    What Went Right: The winners of the ‘alternative Nobel prize’

  6. Sep 26

    What Went Right: 27 years later, the last landmines are cleared

    What Went Right is a weekly video podcast from Positive News, bringing you the good news that matters. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week's most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change. This week on What Went Right: Kosovo reaches the end of a 27-year landmine clearance operation, the world edges closer to its global conservation target, researchers develop a potentially less invasive way to test for womb cancer, and scientists identify a new wild cat in Bolivia. 💣 Kosovo clears its last landminesTwenty-seven years after the Kosovo War ended, a major humanitarian mine-clearance operation has been completed. Tom and Lucy look at the extraordinary scale of removing explosives from a landscape, how cleared land can return to farming, tourism and everyday life, and why Kosovo’s hard-won expertise is now being used to help countries including Ukraine and Syria. 🌍 Can the world protect 30% of the planet?Almost 200 countries agreed in 2022 to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030, and new figures suggest progress towards that goal is gathering pace. What Went Right looks at what it actually means for an area of land or ocean to be “protected”, why marine conservation is much harder to police, and how involving Indigenous communities and local fishing communities can determine whether conservation succeeds in practice.The discussion also looks at the recovery of wildlife inside genuinely protected areas, the High Seas Treaty and the gap between declaring an area protected and stopping damaging activities such as illegal fishing, bottom trawling, drilling and logging. 🧪 A less invasive test for womb cancerAround 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with womb cancer each year, while many more undergo uncomfortable investigations after experiencing possible symptoms.Researchers at the University of Manchester are developing tests using urine and vaginal samples that could offer a far less invasive way of identifying women who need further investigation. Tom and Lucy discuss how the approach could reduce unnecessary procedures, ease pressure on NHS services and what still needs to happen before a new test could become part of routine healthcare. 🐆 A new wild cat is identified in BoliviaTo finish this week’s What Went Right, scientists have identified what appears to be a previously unknown wild cat in Bolivia’s cloud forests.Roughly the size of a domestic cat but carrying striking leopard-like markings, the discovery is a reminder of how much of the natural world remains undocumented. Tom and Lucy ask what else could still be living in some of the planet’s least explored habitats, even as those ecosystems face pressure from deforestation and human activity. Subscribe to Positive News and follow What Went Right for a new episode every week, plus the full weekly roundup of positive news, solutions and signs of progress from around the world. What Went Right is a Positive News production. Hosts: Lucy Watson and Tom Pattinson Produced and edited by Tom Pattinson Research and reporting: Gavin Haines Executive producers: Pauline Milligan and Sean Wood #WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews #Conservation #WombCancer #Kosovo #Wildlife #ClimateSolutions #Nature #SolutionsJournalism

    What Went Right: 27 years later, the last landmines are cleared

  7. Sep 22

    What Went Right: Plastic bag litter has fallen 80% on UK beaches

    What Went Right is a weekly video podcast from Positive News, bringing you the good news that matters. In every episode, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three of the week’s most interesting positive developments – from climate solutions and scientific breakthroughs to advances in healthcare, ambitious community projects, conservation wins and tech innovations. Expect informed conversation, surprising stories and a closer look at the people and ideas behind positive change. This week: Bristol takes aim at high-carbon advertising, plastic bag litter plunges on UK beaches, and Singapore tries a new way to get people reading. ⛽ Putting the brakes on fossil fuel ads Bristol has become the latest city to restrict advertising for fossil fuels and other high-carbon products, including flights, cruises and SUVs, on council-owned advertising space. Tom and Lucy look at why cities are taking action, whether advertising restrictions can really change behaviour and where similar policies are already being tried. 🛍️ Plastic bag litter falls by 80% Plastic carrier bags found on UK beaches have fallen dramatically since charges were introduced, offering a clear example of a policy whose impact can be tracked over time. But with plastic still making up most beach litter, how much further do we need to go – and could deposit return schemes be the next big shift? 📚 Why reading could be good for your health A new Cambridge review of the evidence links reading for pleasure with better brain health, cognition and wellbeing, as well as a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Meanwhile, Singapore is encouraging people to swap scrolling for 15 minutes of reading a day, prompting a wider conversation about books, attention spans, access to reading and why sometimes a comic or graphic novel is more than enough. Subscribe to Positive News wherever you get your podcasts. And for 10 stories of progress delivered to your inbox each week, sign up to our What Went Right newsletter at www.positive.news/letter What Went Right is a Positive News production. Hosts: Lucy Watson and Tom Pattinson Produced and edited by Tom Pattinson Research and reporting: Gavin Haines Executive producers: Pauline Milligan and Sean Wood #WhatWentRight #PositiveNews #GoodNews

    What Went Right: Plastic bag litter has fallen 80% on UK beaches

  8. Apr 21

    Meet the curator helping artists to thrive in London | Ep5 | The Purpose Pioneers

    What happens when artists can no longer afford to live and work in the cities they help shape? In the fifth episode of The Purpose Pioneers, the new podcast series from Positive News, we meet Eline van der Vlist, CEO of SPACE, the UK’s first social enterprise dedicated to providing affordable studio space for artists. Founded in London in 1968 by artists Bridget Riley and Peter Sedgley, SPACE was created in response to a growing need for accessible creative space. Today, it supports more than 900 artists across 21 sites in London and Colchester, offering studios where they can develop their work and sustain their practice. In this conversation with Positive News’ Sarah LaBrecque, Eline shares her unconventional journey from law into the arts, having worked across Amsterdam, London and New York before retraining as a curator and leading projects across Europe and the Middle East. She reflects on three defining moments that shaped her sense of purpose and led her to head one of the UK’s most influential arts organisations. Together, they explore the structural challenges facing artists in urban centres, where creative communities often drive regeneration only to be priced out of the very places they helped transform. Eline explains how SPACE intervenes in this cycle by acquiring and managing buildings to provide long-term, affordable studios in central locations. She discusses the wider value artists bring, not only through their contribution to the economy, but in shaping the cultural identity that makes cities vibrant and globally relevant. The episode also looks at how SPACE combines property, social enterprise and cultural programming, from leasing studios at below-market rates to curating exhibitions that give emerging artists visibility and opportunity. More broadly, the conversation explores what it takes to sustain creative ecosystems in an era of rising costs, and how purpose-driven organisations can protect the people and practices that define a city’s cultural life. -- The Purpose Pioneers is a new podcast series from Positive News about the journey of turning ideals into action. Producer: Simon Elliott, Crowdfindervideo Host and story editor: Sarah LaBrecque Series editor: Tom Pattinson Production lead: Pauline Milligan Executive producer: Sean Wood The Purpose Pioneers is sponsored by Triodos Bank, a bank for people and organisations who want to create positive impact.

    Meet the curator helping artists to thrive in London | Ep5 | The Purpose Pioneers
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Positive News Podcast rebalances your media diet with uplifting, independent journalism about solutions and progress. What Went Right is our weekly video podcast, bringing you the good news that matters. Every Saturday, Positive News chief digital editor Tom Pattinson and journalist and broadcaster Lucy Watson pick three stories of progress – spanning climate, science, health, conservation, technology, communities and social change. Expect informed conversation, surprising developments and stories that might just shift your perspective on the state of the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Positive News
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Positive News
  • Show Website
    The Positive News Podcast

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