State of our Nation

Writer and disability rights activist Penny Pepper joins Andy McCabe to discuss representation, punk, creativity, and the realities of navigating systems that often fail disabled people. Penny shares why disabled stories need to move beyond stereotypes, and how autonomy and meaningful social care can change lives. A candid conversation about identity, power, and whose stories get heard.

Andy McCabe and Kari Gerstheimer explore how social care shapes disabled people’s autonomy, identity, and everyday choices. They discuss the effects of underfunding, the importance of knowing your rights, and the need for support that helps people live the lives they choose.

Will Pike joins Kari to discuss disability, autonomy, and the systems that shape access to support. Drawing on his experience of spinal injury and his work as a disability rights campaigner, Will explains how bureaucracy, inaccessible environments, and decisions made without disabled people can undermine dignity and inclusion. They explore why lived experience matters, how universal design can benefit everyone, and what it takes to build care and support systems that work for the people who rely on them.Watch Will’s short film, Yes I Can, If: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjvYZ2jvvp8

In the third episode of State of our Nation: In Conversation, Kari Gerstheimer and Andy McCabe discuss Kari's recent conversation with Will Pike and why people need to know their rights before they reach crisis. They explore how to move from repeated assessments and “fight for it yourself” systems toward proactive support, accessible housing, and a society where everyone can live a good life. Access Social Care: https://www.accesscharity.org.uk/ Social Care Future: https://socialcarefuture.org.uk/

Episode 2 of State of Our Nation in Conversation explores what the future of social care could look like, from the Casey Commission and pooled risk to the questions of fairness, dignity and who should pay. Kari Gerstheimer and Andy McCabe unpack the realities of navigating social care, disability-related costs and means-testing, while asking what it would take to build a system that works for people across generations and communities.Access Social Care: https://www.accesscharity.org.uk/ Social Care Future: https://socialcarefuture.org.uk/AccessAva: https://www.accessava.org.uk/

This episode of State of our Nation explores why social care in England is at breaking point, and why meaningful reform has proved so difficult. Sonia Sodha breaks down how the system works, why more than a million adults are going without the care they need, and how the current model places too much responsibility on families. The conversation also examines funding, the value of care work, and what a fairer national care service could look like — putting dignity, support and real lives at the centre of the debate.

The first episode of State of our Nation series 4 explores how society’s systems often exclude anyone who doesn’t fit an imagined “normal”—from disabled people to older adults and unpaid carers. Comedian Ria Lina challenges outdated approaches to education, social care and ageing, making the case for more accessible, visible and human-centred communities. The conversation also examines unpaid care, the value of humour in serious campaigns, and why we must design systems around real lives rather than forcing people to fit the system.

In the first episode of series 4 In Conversation, Kari Gerstheimer and Andy McCabe reflect on Kari's conversation with comedian Ria Lina, exploring disability, neurodiversity and the future of social care. They discuss the importance of co-production, designing services around people’s lives, greater choice and opportunity, and recognising social care as a right that enables people to live fulfilling, independent lives.They also look ahead to the Big Conversation on Care, highlighting the importance of public engagement in shaping the future of social care and ensuring people’s rights are properly recognised and funded.Find out more and take part in the Big Conversation:The Big Conversation on Care

In this episode, Kari and Andy explore the evolving landscape of social care in the UK, emphasising the importance of language, human rights, and strategic framing in influencing policy and public perception. As Prime Minister Andy Burnham signals a potential turning point, the hosts discuss how thoughtful communication and systemic reforms can shape a more equitable future.

In the final episode of the State of Our Nation: Global Perspectives podcast, Adelina Comas-Herrera, Director of the Global Observatory on Long-Term Care, discusses the challenges and opportunities in social care systems globally. The conversation highlights the funding gaps and inefficiencies in England's social care system, comparing it with international models. Adelina emphasises the need for universal coverage based on need rather than means, and the importance of international collaboration to improve care systems. The discussion also touches on workforce issues, the impact of COVID-19, and the potential for reform through better governance and funding models.