New York’s Penn Station is the busiest transport hub in the United States - as many as 650,000 people pass through it in a day. But this intercity hub is widely agreed to be outdated and unloved.

Now there are plans to pour billions of dollars into a station facelift - in the hope it will attract Americans back to trains.

In this episode, Laura Heighton-Ginns hears from key stakeholders Amtrak and the Regional Plan Association on why they believe a major overhaul is needed.

Laura also takes a tour of the station and finds out about its much-admired predecessor - the Pennsylvania Station of the early 20th Century.

And she explores the site of the planned demolition work, which controversially includes historical buildings and a busy community church.

Presented and produced by Laura Heighton-Ginns.

(Image: Penn Station scaffolding. Credit: BBC)

In this episode we explore mental health provision in Pakistan. Pakistan has a population of more than 200 million people but only around 500 working psychiatrists. This means around ninety percent of those with common mental health issues go untreated.

We hear from Mahira Kahn, a multi award winning Pakistani actress, in April this year Mahira was appointed as an Ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Mahira works with the trust to promote and support it’s current Peace of Mind campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and needs in Pakistan. Mahria tells us about her work with the trust and how her job has affected her own mental health.

We also speak to Sanaa Ahmad who is the British Asian Trust's Mental Health programme manager, and Dr Iffa who works with communities in Pakistan providing mental health treatment.

Presenter / production: Emb Hashmi Producer: Carmel O'Grady

Photo: Mahira Khan; Credit: Getty

A British businessman has come up with a bold plan to turn the floating seaweed sargassum into cash, and tackle global warming at the same time. In this episode, Justin Rowlatt meets John Auckland. He is the man behind Seafields, which aims to create a floating farm 'the size of Croatia' far out in the South Atlantic ocean. The plan is to harvest the seaweed, sink it to the seabed and earn cash from carbon credits. Justin also speaks to Professor Victor Smetacek, an expert in marine biology - the project is based on his ideas. And Dr Nem Vaughan, associate professor in climate change at the University of East Anglia talks Justin through some of her questions around how or whether the project will work. Presenter: Justin Rowlatt Producer: David Reid (Image: Sargassum being harvested. Credit: BBC)

The use of robots in North American workplaces has increased by 40% since the start of the pandemic and the small to medium sized businesses, which never automated before, are getting in on the act. The robotics industry has responded to the global increased demand by creating more and more customisable robots, which can be leased or hired.

Ivana Davidovic explores what effect this has had - and could have in the future - on the labour markets, innovation, but also on social inequality.

Ivana hears from a small restaurant owner from California who wouldn't be without her server robot Rosie any more, after months of being unable to fill vacancies. Joe Campbell from the Danish company Universal Robots and Tim Warrington from the British company Bots explain how they are taking advantage of the post-pandemic "great resignation" and which industries are next in line for a robotics boom.

Karen Eggleston from Stanford University explains her research into the consequences of the use of robots in over 800 nursing homes in Japan and Daron Acemoglu from MIT discusses whether robots in workplaces will liberate their human colleagues or simply entrench inequality.

Presented and produced by Ivana Davidovic

(Photo: Robot waitress serving dessert and coffee on a tray in a cafe. Credit: Getty Images)

*This episode was originally broadcast on 10 February 2022.

Is space the final frontier for meat grown from animal stem cells?

Elizabeth Hotson asks whether growing steaks under micro gravity conditions could help in the quest for food security and whether, back on earth, consumers could be persuaded to stomach meat reared in labs.

We hear from Didier Toubia, the CEO of Aleph Farms who defends his space meat mission from accusations of gimmickry.

Seren Kel, the science and technology manager for the Europe region of the Good Food Institute, gives her view on the environmental impact of cell-gown meat and Dr Jason Michael Thomas, senior lecturer in psychology at Aston University explains how reluctant consumers might be persuaded to try new and strange-sounding foods.

Presenter: Elizabeth Hotson Producer: Elizabeth Hotson

(Photo description: The Solar system. Credit: Getty Images)

When women's tennis world number one Ash Barty suddenly announced in March 2022 that she was retiring from tennis, it was huge shock.

Barty, a three time grand slam champion, was only 25.

At the time she said she was leaving professional tennis to pursue other life goals.

Quitting is often seen as a negative thing to do, but in this episode we explore the positive side.

PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears survey of more than 52,000 people in 44 countries showed that one in five workers planned to quit their jobs in 2022.

Marie Keyworth speaks to Moya Dodd, former vice-captain of Australia’s women’s football team - The Matildas. She now works as a lawyer in Sydney and says Barty's decision to 'quit at the top' could be a lesson to us all.

Career coach Sarah Weiler has quit several roles herself, and has now made it her job to help others – how do you know when it’s time to move on?

And Dina Denham Smith is an executive coach based in the San Francisco Bay area. She helps what she calls ‘high performing, high achieving’ people make decisions. She tells Marie how you can improve your situation if quitting isn’t an option.

Presented and produced by Marie Keyworth.

(Image: Ash Barty. Credit: Getty)

Now that borders have opened up post pandemic, backpackers have been slow to return to Australia.

Despite a number of initiatives, the number of travellers is low. And that’s having an impact on businesses who need staff.

David Reid explores the Australian working holiday visa scheme, which was set up fifty years ago to encourage young people to travel and work. It's not been without problems, and recently there have been allegations of exploitation and even abuse.

So is the visa scheme the right solution for the Australian labour crunch? Or should government step in and rethink the whole set up?

David speaks to Lee Thurston who runs Miss Moneypenny’s restaurant in Noosa, on the east coast of Queensland. Lee is from the UK but has settled in Australia. Lee said when they came to open up after the pandemic, all the backpackers had gone home. So he’s had to train up local teenagers instead.

Hamish Hill runs Nomad’s hostel in Noosa. He tells David it’s noticeable how many vacancies there are and the impact that’s happening. He’d like fewer regulations on backpackers.

Professor Stephen Howes, director of the development policy centre at the Australian National University, explains how the visa scheme works, and how it’s changed from its original intention.

And David visits a small farm run by Joe Lyons, who has 50 hectares growing avocados and macadamias in Bundaburg near Queensland. He and other farmers are rethinking their reliance on backpackers. They’re currently staffed by 100% Australian labour.

Presenter/producer: David Reid

(Photo: Fruit picking. Credit: Getty Images)

Fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries – more than half of everything we wear is still made from plastic.

In the search for more sustainable ingredients – designers are now turning to those you would normally find on your plate.

Katie Barnfield travels to Sherwood Forest in England to meet Ashley Granter and Aurélie Fontan from Mykko – a company making leather from mycelium, the root system of mushrooms.

Fancy a food based swimsuit? We talk to Dr Kate Riley from Textile Exchange about new developments in so-called bio synthetics.

And in the race to adopt these new materials, could some brands be accused of greenwashing? Rachel Cernansky from Vogue Business takes us through the controversy.

Produced and presented by Katie Barnfield.

(Image: Mushrooms growing on a tree branch. Credit: Getty)

Home solar – putting panels on your roof or side of your house, used be something fairly unusual. However, rising energy costs means that people are increasingly looking for alternatives.

Presenter Rick Kelsey explores why the trend for solar panels is happening across Europe – and asks whether the industry has the infrastructure to cope with increasing demand.

Rick travels to south east England where panels are being put on the roof, and speaks to installer Scott Burrows. And he meets Linda who rents her home – her landlord has just had solar panels fitted. Linda says she has noticed the reduction in her bills, however her central heating is gas so there might not be as big a reduction over the winter.

Just over 3,000 solar installations are being carried out every week according to the trade association Solar Energy UK. That’s up from 1,000 a week in July 2020.

Michael Schmela and Naomi Chevillard are from Solar Power Europe. They say they are seeing an unprecedented demand in countries across Europe, especially those that rely on gas.

We also hear from a solar project in the Morogoro region of Tanzania, where farmers are using solar to run a farm and a training centre.

And David Shukman, the BBCs former climate editor, talks about the affordability of solar panels and how that’s changed over recent years. How much is the demand and payback time for home solar changing?

Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey.

(Image: Solar panels being fitted on a roof. Credit: Getty)

Brompton makes 100,000 foldable bikes in London every year and exports about 75% of them. Chief executive Will Butler-Adams tells us how he grew the business around the world. He also explains how he's navigating inflation, and the prospect of recession. Plus, why he believes his mission is not simply to sell more bikes, but to change how people live in cities around the globe.

Producer/presenter: James Graham Photo: Will Butler-Adams on a Brompton bike at his London factory. Credit: Brompton.

Comics are a multi-billion dollar industry and comic conventions - or cons - attract thousands of fans, desperate to meet their heroes and splash some cash.

Elizabeth Hotson visits the MCM event in London to find out what’s hot and what people are spending their hard-earned money on.

We hear from Joëlle Jones, a comic book writer and illustrator, Jenny Martin, Event Director at MCM Comic Con and Michael Loizou from Brotherhood Games.

Plus tattooist Matt Difa shows off his Star Wars inkings and Vincent Zurzolo, the Chief Operating Officer of Metropolis Collectibles in New York looks back on one of his most memorable comic book sales.

Producer: Elizabeth Hotson Presenter: Elizabeth Hotson

Picture Description: Comics at Wellcome Trust Superhero exhibition, Picture Credit: Getty Images

Margrethe Vestager is the European commissioner for competition.

Ms Vestager has been spearheading the landmark Digital Markets and Digital Services Acts aimed at regulating the global technology industry.

The new rules passed the European Parliament in July and will start to be implemented in the spring.

Victoria Craig sits down with Ms Vestager to ask about the commission’s win against Google in one of Europe’s biggest courts (which resulted in a record fine).

She also explains the importance of her hallmark legislative endeavours on global competition and fairness in the big tech space.

And she talks about how the EC’s Important Projects of Common European Interest programme – which allows joint investments in riskier technologies – could help alleviate Europe’s energy crisis.

Producer: Stephen Ryan Presenter: Victoria Craig

(Image: Margrethe Vestager. Credit: Google)