As the possibility of a trade war across the world looms, a new podcast covering what it calls the biggest issue of our times is being launched by production company Made in Manchester.
The election of a second term for President Trump has completely thrown the world order up in the air.
In this new era of uncertainty and shifting alliances, this new podcast asks: what has America ever done for us?
Presented by journalist, broadcaster and MIM Creative Director Ashley Byrne, the podcast explores the complex and often contentious influence of American culture, business, politics, and more on British society and other countries.
From the adoption of American slang and the influence of Hollywood in shaping British entertainment to the presence of US businesses and political ideologies, What Has America Ever Done for Us looks at it all.
The show will not just look at US influence in Britain but also compare and contrast how other countries deal with it. By presenting a balanced assessment, the podcast invites listeners to form their own opinions on whether the American influence has been a ‘boon or a bane’ for the UK, Canada, the EU and other nations.
Ashley Byrne says: “We never discuss the impact of America on our lives. From how we manage our nuclear deterrent to who owns our industries to the influence on our culture and even how we think. It’s time for a rational assessment of what it’s done to us, good or bad over so many years.”
The 35 minutes interviews will include: How American Takeovers are Shaping Britain, Is it our Nuclear Deterrent or America’s? The Big Tech, Social Media Influence and how visibility is affected by algorithms, Uber’s Threat to our Taxi firms, The Amazon effect, How the English Premiership is quickly turning into the American Premiership, the Americanisation of our Language and Black Friday, Halloween and School Prom – where did that come from?, and how the US gave us the culture wars.
Ashley adds: “America’s footprint on our lives is everywhere – in medicine, in mental health (the US DSM decides on the mental health labels that the whole world follows), on the environment, in food production and content and of course in storytelling through TV and film. Good or bad, we’ll be leaving no stone unturned.”
The first episode will include an interview with Angus Hanton author of Vassal State: How America Runs Britain.
What Has America Ever Done for Us will be available wherever you get your podcasts from next week.
