Can We Have Your Attention?
Can We Have Your Attention? is a podcast all about the War for Attention. Join Claire Coady and James Wickham as they dive into how your attention is attracted, tracked, traded, and manipulated in the modern attention economy. New episodes every other week, wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent Episodes
Aug. 19, 2026
Fact-Based Election Advertising with Alex Tait & Reform Political Advertising
For the past 25 years, claims on packets of crisps have been subject to more regulation than claims in election campaigns. But that could finally be about to change. Amendments to the Representation of the People Bill promise to apply some of the UK’s strenuous - and effective - advertising standards to election advertising. We are joined by Alex Tait, ad industry veteran and founder of the non-partisan campaign organisation Reform Political Advertising, one of the groups advocating these change
Aug. 5, 2026
Is what's Good for News, Bad for Society?
We're told the news is an important part of a functioning society. But is our 24-hour, always-on news culture, with bad news to the fore, actually harming us and our institutions? In this episode, James Wickham and Claire Coady explore the nature of news, its impact on society, and how media practices influence public perception and trust. They discuss whether quality journalism has declined, the rise of social media, and whether regulation would foster a healthier media ecosystem. From the ep
July 22, 2026
AI and Disinformation with Sam Stockwell (The Alan Turing Institute)
Is AI like steroids for disinformation? Claire Coady and James Wickham are joined by Sam Stockwell from The Alan Turing Institute to discuss their research into AI-generated disinformation – from AI songs and fake rappers, to fabricated forensic "evidence" and chatbots that repeat whatever is popular on social media. They discuss why the real problem isn't just deepfakes but sheer volume, and what governments and AI firms can do about it. And do brands and advertisers, who fund the whole ecosyst
July 8, 2026
Attention! The Revolution has Already Begun
Has the Age of Attention Scarcity given way to the Attention Revolution? Recent data from Ofcom shows that over the past 12 months, discontent with online life is growing – and people’s behaviours are changing too, with major consequences for the media, advertisers, and communications. As more people avoid the ad-funded internet, and public support for restrictions and bans increases, what’s stopping industry and government from changing? Claire Coady and James Wickham discuss a year after Clai
June 22, 2026
How can the BBC win trust when nobody trusts anything? Legacy media, disinformation, and winning tactics with Rebecca Skippage
Trust in news is down, and news avoidance is up. Many people don’t know what to believe, or who to trust. How can legacy media convince audiences to trust them when they're under attack – but loathe to change? Rebecca Skippage, the former Global Disinformation Editor at BBC News, joins Claire and James this week to discuss misinformation, disinformation, legacy media, meeting people where they are, and how organisations like the BBC can rise to the challenge. Find out more about Rebecca Skippag
June 8, 2026
Tired of Britain, Tired of Life? Populism, Polarisation, and Discontented Britain with Steven Lacey
Is Britain broken, or is everyone just tired? Steven Lacey from cultural research company The Outsiders and the think tank Resilience & Reconstruction joins Claire and James to talk about their fascinating research into the forces of life driving populism. What is driving discontent? Why hasn’t politics been able to meet this challenge? And does the answer lie in reviving communities and the high street? The Outsiders: The cultural insight agency founded by Steven Lacey https://outsidersinsigh
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