Generation Uncharted

Lewis Oakley

We are a generation navigating uncharted waters. They say it’s the best time to be alive, but for many, it doesn’t feel that way. Crippling taxes, a cost-of-living crisis, and rising divorce rates leave little room for stability, let alone fun. So what does living well and being successful actually look like in today’s world? And how do we move from just surviving to thriving? Join broadcaster and author Lewis Oakley as he speaks with experts, innovators, and everyday people to uncover fresh perspectives, smarter life hacks, and practical ways to live well—despite the odds.

  1. Aug 10

    Why Modern Life Is Making Men Miserable

    Why are so many men lonely, anxious and unsure of where they fit in the modern world? In this episode of Generation Uncharted, I’m joined by Andrew Pain — host of Men on Show and author of Honestly Man — to explore why masculinity has become so confusing, why shame isn’t helping, and what men can actually do about it. We talk about the decline of male role models, dating apps and rising sexlessness, pornography, the manosphere, money, housing, male loneliness and the pressure men feel to be successful providers. We also get into a question that sits behind much of the conversation: has modern society become uncomfortable celebrating men while becoming increasingly comfortable criticising them? Andrew explains why he believes young men need more compassion rather than condemnation — and why getting offline, rebuilding community, finding purpose and developing real-world relationships could be part of the answer. We also discuss: • Why young men are struggling with their mental health• Andrew Tate, the manosphere and the male role-model vacuum• Why dating apps can be brutal for average men• Porn, body image and sexual expectations• Why men still feel pressure to provide• The housing crisis and delayed adulthood• Why traditional therapy doesn’t always work for men• The pressure on modern fathers to “do everything”• What actually gives men happiness and fulfilment• Why masculinity itself shouldn’t be treated as something toxic Andrew’s new book Honestly Man: Why Masculinity Is Confusing, Why Shame Doesn't Help, and What To Do About It is available now. Generation Uncharted explores what it means to be a modern man — from relationships and fatherhood to work, sex, politics and the pressures facing men today. Subscribe for more conversations about how men can build better lives without blame, panic or easy answers.

  2. Aug 3

    Who Is Really Controlling the Future of AI?

    Are we sleepwalking into an AI police state, or allowing Silicon Valley hype to decide our future for us? In this episode of Generation Uncharted, Lewis Oakley speaks to Dr Eleanor Drage, a researcher at Cambridge’s Centre for the Future of Intelligence and author of What If We Got AI Right. They discuss the rise of AI “snake oil”, facial recognition and secretive policing technology, whether algorithms can ever be neutral, the pressure to make money from AI, its impact on education and how ordinary people can help shape a better technological future. They also explore feminist approaches to AI, the environmental impact of data centres and why you should not panic if you are not making £10,000 a month using ChatGPT. Chapters  00:00 Introduction00:17 Who is Dr Eleanor Drage?01:25 What makes technology “good”?03:33 AI utopia, apocalypse and hype05:57 How parents should think about AI10:04 Who gets to decide AI’s future?12:40 What past technologies can teach us15:29 Are we heading towards an AI police state?19:33 The rise of AI snake oil21:38 Why AI ethics must leave academia24:46 What is feminist AI?28:25 The pressure to make £10K a month from AI33:51 How much water does AI really use?36:48 How writing the book changed Eleanor’s thinking40:10 What If We Got AI Right Subscribe to Generation Uncharted for conversations about masculinity, relationships, family, work, technology, politics and what it means to navigate modern life.

  3. May 26

    Helen Thorn: How To Rebuild When Life Falls Apart

    Helen Thorn is the author of How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger and one half of Scummy Mummies. In this episode of Generation Uncharted, Helen joins Lewis Oakley to talk about the moment her life changed completely, discovering her husband had been having a four-year affair just before lockdown, navigating divorce, single parenting, dating again, and rebuilding a sense of self when the future you thought you had disappears. This is a conversation about what happens when life does not go to plan. Helen speaks openly about betrayal, desire, modern relationships, why divorce does not have to mean failure, and how big change can force you to ask who you really are without the old roles, routines and expectations. They also discuss Helen’s new book, How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger, including the stories of women who have faced grief, cancer, addiction, divorce and major life change, and what those experiences reveal about resilience, hope and rebuilding. Plus, Helen reflects on 13 years of Scummy Mummies, the impossible standards placed on modern parents, why motherhood is so public now, and why most of us are simply trying to be good enough. Generation Uncharted is a podcast about navigating modern life when the old rules no longer apply. Subscribe for more conversations about identity, relationships, culture, work and the pressure of modern life. Guest: Helen Thorn Host: Lewis Oakley Helen’s book: How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger Follow Helen: Instagram: @itsmehelenthorn Scummy Mummies: @scummymummies Follow Lewis: Instagram: @lewyoaks

  4. Apr 12

    The Next Political Revolution Is Digital

    For decades, democracy meant voting every few years and hoping for the best. But what if that model no longer works? In this episode of Generation Uncharted, I speak with Charlie Jobson from House of the People about whether representative democracy is outdated in a digital age. We explore: • Why trust in institutions is collapsing• Whether citizens should vote on laws directly• The rise of digital democracy• The generational divide in political power• Are politicians becoming obsolete?• Can technology remove political intermediaries? Is this democratic renewal… or the start of something far more radical? Subscribe for conversations about modern power, agency and navigating systems that no longer feel built for us. About House of the People House of the People is the UK's first platform letting verified citizens vote on real parliamentary bills and see how their MP actually voted. It measures the gap between what the public wants and what Parliament does. Free, politically neutral, and built on the principle that democracy shouldn't only happen once every five years. Sign up at houseofthepeople.com. Links:  - Website: https://houseofthepeople.com   - X: https://x.com/HoTPOfficial   - Instagram: https://instagram.com/houseofthepeopleofficial   - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/houseofthepeople Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HoTPOfficial/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@houseofthepeopleofficial #Democracy #Politics #UKPolitics #FutureOfWork #DigitalDemocracy

  5. Apr 8

    Apple ID Backlash, Scott Mills & KitKat Heist| What’s Trending? EP13

    Apple wants your ID. AI is taking over your feed. And NASA is heading back to the moon… what’s actually going on? Matthew Russell-Jones joins Lewis Oakley on What’s Trending? to break down the biggest conversations online right now — from Apple’s controversial age verification rollout to BBC fallout, AI influencers, and the return of space exploration. Featured in this episode: Apple’s new age verification system and why people are pushing backThe deeper concerns around privacy, data and digital controlBBC Radio 2 fallout and the reality of modern cancel cultureHow allegations, media and public opinion collideNASA’s Artemis mission and whether space exploration still mattersGrowing backlash against AI-generated influencers and contentHow algorithms are reshaping what we see onlineThe bizarre KitKat heist and why the internet loves stories like this YouTube Chapters 00:00 Intro00:30 Apple’s Age Verification Backlash03:00 Privacy, Data & “Digital Control” Concerns06:00 Why This Feels Bigger Than Apple08:00 Risks for LGBT Privacy & Data Leaks13:05 BBC Fallout & Cancel Culture Debate16:00 Allegations vs Evidence – Where’s the Line?20:00 Age of Consent, Power Dynamics & Society26:15 NASA Returns to the Moon – Why It Matters30:00 Should We Focus on Earth Instead?36:10 AI Influencers & The Growing Backlash39:00 Are Algorithms Killing Real Content?42:30 The Future of AI Content & Creativity43:25 The KitKat Heist Explained47:30 What Would You Do With Stolen KitKats?48:30 Outro

About

We are a generation navigating uncharted waters. They say it’s the best time to be alive, but for many, it doesn’t feel that way. Crippling taxes, a cost-of-living crisis, and rising divorce rates leave little room for stability, let alone fun. So what does living well and being successful actually look like in today’s world? And how do we move from just surviving to thriving? Join broadcaster and author Lewis Oakley as he speaks with experts, innovators, and everyday people to uncover fresh perspectives, smarter life hacks, and practical ways to live well—despite the odds.