"Screw This... Let's Try Something Else" Podcast

The 'Screw This… Let’s Try Something Else' is a national storytelling campaign testing whether hopeful, community-led narratives can increase public agency and inspire real-world action. At a time when 73% of people in the UK feel systems and institutions are failing, public discourse is often dominated by crisis and division. This podcast set out to explore a different approach: shifting the narrative from despair to practical, participatory hope.

The series highlights communities across the UK taking action where institutions have fallen short - rebuilding food systems, developing community-owned energy, rethinking housing and revitalising local economies. These initiatives are presented not as isolated stories, but as practical, replicable models for change. They are already influencing policy. The project is a collaboration between trusted media brand Immediate, social impact storytelling lab ANTIDOTE, Climate Outreach, The University of Bristol and Brian Eno. The campaign includes a “Hope Survey” measuring whether listening increases optimism and perceived agency, and an AI postcode search tool that helps listeners discover collective action projects close to home. Early results show strong engagement and activation with extensive media coverage & ranking in the top 5% of new podcasts on Apple. 10% of listeners have used the postcode search tool to find local initiatives, ten times higher than typical digital conversion rates. Future amplification includes a national tour. By combining trusted media reach, research-led storytelling and practical routes to participation, the campaign demonstrates how storytelling can move beyond awareness to increase public agency and inspire community-led