Does the way you speak and other factors determine your social class? How about your parents’ professions, income, education, and where you live?
The journalist and author Danny Lavelle has long been fascinated by the concept of class due to his varied life experiences. From moving through foster care, attending university, living on the streets, to becoming an award-winning writer, he has pondered how highly the notion of class matters in understanding life in 21st-century Britain.
Lavelle shares his experiences with Helen Pidd while uncovering the indicators of social standing, demographics, work, and their connections. They discuss how the idea of ‘working-class interests’ fits with individualism and examine whether a person’s quality of life or lifestyle matters more than their class.
Lavelle, the author of Down and Out: Surviving the Homelessness Crisis, previously discussed his experiences on the streets and the effects of UK government cuts in a past episode of Today in Focus.
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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/apr/28/living-in-class-limbo-podcast