5x15

5x15 is delighted to welcome leading science broadcaster and doctor Chris van Tulleken for a special online event in January, fresh from delivering the Royal Institution's prestigious Christmas Lectures. Chris's latest book Ultra-Processed People was a Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller upon publication last year, and it was widely hailed as a 'Book of the Year' and a ground-breaking intervention in the food world. It has, quite simply, changed the conversation around what we eat. We have entered a new 'age of eating' where most of our calories come from an entirely novel set of substances called Ultra-Processed Food, food which is industrially processed and designed and marketed to be addictive. But do we really know what it's doing to our bodies? Ultra-Processed People follows Chris through the world of food science to discover what's really going on. It's a book about our rights. The right to know what we eat and what it does to our bodies and the right to good, affordable food. Don't miss the chance to hea

Join us to celebrate 5x15's fifteenth birthday! To mark the occasion, we'll be back at The Tabernacle in February for a very special evening, featuring a truly stellar line-up of speakers: Harriet Walter, John Crace, Jonathan Freedland, Theresa Lola and Chloe Dalton. Expect captivating stories about Shakespeare's women, as reinterpreted by a beloved classical actress; the inspiring work of a German Jewish author writing during the Second World War; poetry and diasporic experience; a transformative encounter with an injured hare in the countryside and a satirical look at British politics - from the point of view of Herbie the dog. Theresa Lola is a poet, writer, and creative practitioner. She was the appointed Young People’s Laureate for London in the year 2019-20. In 2018 she was the co-winner of the Brunel International African Poetry Prize. Her work is included in the OCR’s GCSE English Literature syllabus. As a practitioner she infuses poetry to deliver creative outcomes. She has worked on projects by t

Join us to celebrate 5x15's fifteenth birthday! To mark the occasion, we'll be back at The Tabernacle in February for a very special evening, featuring a truly stellar line-up of speakers: Harriet Walter, John Crace, Jonathan Freedland, Theresa Lola and Chloe Dalton. Expect captivating stories about Shakespeare's women, as reinterpreted by a beloved classical actress; the inspiring work of a German Jewish author writing during the Second World War; poetry and diasporic experience; a transformative encounter with an injured hare in the countryside and a satirical look at British politics - from the point of view of Herbie the dog. Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist and the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s contemporary history series, The Long View, and host of the podcast Unholy. He is the author of twelve books, the latest being The Escape Artist. He has written nine thrillers, mostly as Sam Bourne, including The Righteous Men, a Sunday Times number one bestseller. His new picture book, King Winter's Bir

5x15 is delighted to announce a special online event with two award-winning authors, the acclaimed Yale professor Sunil Amrith, and John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather, which won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in 2023. They will be in conversation about Amrith's new book The Burning Earth, a paradigm-shifting survey of how human history has reshaped the planet over the last 500 years. Humans have always searched for freedom. Ever since innovations in agriculture vastly expanded production of the staples of food energy, our remarkable achievements in reshaping nature have brought about an overwhelming expansion in the life chances of billions of people. Yet every technological innovation has also empowered humans to exploit each other and the planet with fierce brutality, making the history of the environment inextricably linked to the histories of Empire, genocide, eco-cide and war. As the threat of climate change becomes ever clearer, join us for an important conversation with two of the lead

5x15 is delighted to announce a special online event with Oliver Burkeman, author of the international breakout bestseller Four Thousand Weeks, a book that touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of readers. Inspired by its investigation into time and how we use it, some of those readers changed their lives, and made big decisions to rethink careers, relationships, priorities, and misguided assumptions about productivity. Now, Oliver Burkeman is back with Meditations for Mortals, a book that will take us on a liberating journey towards a more meaningful life. Addressing the fundamental questions about how to live, it offers a powerful new way to take action on what counts: a guiding philosophy of life that he calls ‘imperfectionism’. How can we embrace our non-negotiable limitations? Or make good decisions when there’s always too much to do? What if purposeful productivity were often about letting things happen, not making them happen? To be read either as a four-week ‘retreat of the mind’ or devoured i

5x15 is delighted to announce a special online event with acclaimed psychologist Jonathan Haidt and television presenter Kirstie Allsopp, in partnership with Smartphone Free Childhood. Author of the groundbreaking, No.1 Sunday Times bestseller The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt has transformed the conversation around teenage mental health and galvanised a global movement. Haidt argues that there are two major factors behind the epidemic of mental illness among adolescents: the rise in smartphone usage, and the decline of free-play in childhood. With so many of us glued to our screens, it is now harder than ever to rediscover time spent in the real world. But there is another way. By presenting startling new data, Haidt's book has inspired many to put his practical recommendations to the test, and the results are remarkable. By limiting smartphone usage and returning to in-person interactions, children, teenagers and the rest of us can discover independence, responsibility and meaning, allowing us all to

5x15 is thrilled to announce a special event with author and journalist Bella Mackie, whose bestselling books include Jog On and How to Kill Your Family. In conversation with writer and broadcaster Alexandra Heminsley, Bella will be speaking about her hotly anticipated new novel What A Way To Go, a brilliantly funny and twisty mystery for fans of Succession and true crime. Anthony Wistern is wealthy beyond imagination. Fragrant wife, gaggle of photogenic children, French chateau, Cotswold manor, plethora of mistresses, penchant for cutting moral corners, tick tick tick tick tick tick. Unfortunately for him, he’s also dead. Suddenly poised to inherit his fortune, each member of the family falls under suspicion. And that's when the lying starts... If you're still not over Succession, then the family at the heart of Bella Mackie's new novel 'gives the Roy clan a run for its money, with a murderous twist (Sunday Times Style.) Join us in September for a thrilling conversation about dysfunctional families, rich

Due to phenomenal demand, 5x15 has programmed an additional London event with leading author and ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer. Don't miss the chance to hear this extraordinary writer share her unique perspectives on plants, ecology and the natural world. She will be in conversation with Alice Vincent- author of Rootbound- at Conway Hall on May 30th. Robin Wall Kimmerer's internationally bestselling books, Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss, not only teach us about the biology of different organisms, but show us other ways of living in the world. It is through celebrating our reciprocal relationship with nature that we can awaken our ecological consciousness, and better protect our planet's gifts. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a Professor of Environmental Biology and the founder and director of the Centre for Native Peoples and the Environment. Her current work spans trad

5x15 is delighted to announce a special event in June with beloved chef, writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Hugh will be speaking with cross-bench peer and 5x15 co-founder Rosie Boycott about food, health, and his new book How to Eat 30 Plants a Week. Leading nutritionists have confirmed that when it comes to eating plants, diversity is the key, and 30 is the magic number. As we add more plants to our diet, measurable health benefits accrue, thanks to their amazing micronutrients and differing fibres, and once we get to 30 per week the effects start to plateau. So hitting the magic 30 week after week will do wonders for your gut microbiome and in turn help reduce the risk of common diseases, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease, dementia, depression, auto-immune diseases and allergies. 30 plants may sound a lot, but in Hugh’s expert hands it feels like an easy win. How to Eat 30 Plants a Week is bursting with recipes that are dependably delicious, packed with plants and great for your

Join 5x15 for an explosive online event with leading writer and thinker George Monbiot on his #1 Sunday Times bestseller The Invisible Doctrine in conversation with Rosie Boycott. How can you fight something if you don’t know it exists? We live under an ideology that preys on every aspect of our lives: our education and our jobs; our healthcare and our leisure; our relationships and our mental wellbeing; the planet we inhabit – the very air we breathe. So pervasive has it become that, for most people, it has no name. It seems unavoidable, like a natural law. But trace it back to its roots, and we discover that it is neither inevitable nor immutable. It was conceived, propagated, and then concealed by the powerful few. Our task is to bring it into the light—and to build a new system that is worth fighting for. Neoliberalism. Do you know what it is? Praise for The Invisible Doctrine 'Explosive and beautifully told … these truths can set us free' -Danny Dorling 'This book is dynamite – shining a spotlig

5x15 is delighted to announce an exclusive event with leading author Robin Wall Kimmerer, in the beautiful setting of Kew Gardens. Robin Wall Kimmerer's internationally bestselling books, Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss, not only teach us about the biology of different organisms, but show us other ways of living in the world. It is through celebrating our reciprocal relationship with nature that we can awaken our ecological consciousness, and better protect our planet's gifts. Don't miss the chance to hear this extraordinary writer share her unique perspectives on plants, ecology and the natural world. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a Professor of Environmental Biology and the founder and director of the Centre for Native Peoples and the Environment. Her current work spans traditional ecological knowledge, moss ecology, outreach to tribal communities and creative wri

Lauren Child is an English children’s author and illustrator best known for her book series the Charlie and Lola picture books, which were adapted into a BAFTA-winning children’s television show, and the Clarice Bean series, which has sold over 7 million copies and won legions of fans over the world who have grown up with Clarice. Child won the annual Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association for the first Charlie and Lola book; for the 50th anniversary of the Medal, a panel named it one of the top ten winning works, which comprised the shortlist for a public vote for the nation’s favourite. Child was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to children’s literature. She was the 10th Children’s Laureate from 2017-2019, and is a former trustee of the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration and a UNESCO Artist for Peace. Her latest book in the Clarice Bean series i

Dorian Lynskey writes about music, film, books and politics for publications including The Guardian, The Observer, the New Statesman, GQ, Billboard, Empire, and Mojo. His first book was 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs. A study of thirty-three pivotal songs with a political message, it was NME's Book of the Year and a 'Music Book of the Year' in The Daily Telegraph. His second book, The Ministry of Truth: A Biography of George Orwell's 1984, was longlisted for both the Baillie Gifford Prize and the Orwell Prize. He hosts the podcasts 'Origin Story' and 'Oh God, What Now?'. His latest book, Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About The End of the World , is an original and revealing exploration of one of the central concerns of our times: fantasies and nightmares of the end of the world. With thanks for your support for 5x15 online! Learn more about 5x15 events: 5x15stories.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/5x15stories Facebook: www.facebook.com/5x15stories Instagram: www.instagram.com/5x

Clover Stroud is a writer and journalist, writing regularly for The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Saturday and Sunday Telegraph, among others. She also hosts a popular podcast called Tiny Acts of Bravery. Her first book, The Wild Other, was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. Her critically acclaimed second book, My Wild and Sleepless Nights: A Mother's Story, and third book, The Red of My Blood: A Death and Life Story, were instant Sunday Times bestsellers and rated 'best books of the year'. She is currently living in Washington DC with her husband and the youngest three of her five children. Her latest book, The Giant on the Skyline, is an inspiring memoir about home, family and belonging. With thanks for your support for 5x15 online! Learn more about 5x15 events: 5x15stories.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/5x15stories Facebook: www.facebook.com/5x15stories Instagram: www.instagram.com/5x15stories

Johann Hari is the author of three previous internationally bestselling books, translated into 40 languages. His TED talks have been viewed over 80 million times, and his work has been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah to Noam Chomsky to Joe Rogan, Elton John, Hillary Clinton and Steven Bartlett. He was also the executive producer of an Oscar-nominated film, and an eight-part TV series with Samuel L. Jackson. His new book, Magic Pill, is a revelatory look at the new drugs transforming weight loss as we know it. With thanks for your support for 5x15 online! Learn more about 5x15 events: 5x15stories.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/5x15stories Facebook: www.facebook.com/5x15stories Instagram: www.instagram.com/5x15stories

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each. Suzi Ronson is an author, songwriter, and former hairdresser and stylist. At fifteen, she left school and enrolled in the Evelyn Paget College of Hair and Beauty, going on to become David Bowie’s stylist after helping create his iconic Ziggy Stardust hairstyle. She travelled the world with Bowie as his hairdresser, stylist and confidante. Ronson has also worked with Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and John Mellencamp. She divides her time between London and New York. In her dazzling and intimate new book, Me and Mr Jones, she not only a unique perspective on one of the most beguiling stars of our time but also a world on the cusp of cultural transformation, charting the highs and lows of life as one of the only women in the room as it happened. With thanks for your support for 5x15 online! Learn more about 5x15 events: 5x15stories.com Twitter: www.twitter.c

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each. Andrew O’Hagan is one of the most exciting and serious chroniclers of our times. Born in Glasgow, he has been nominated for the Booker Prize three times, was voted one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists in 2003 and won the E. M. Forster Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is Editor-at-Large of the London Review of Books and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. His previous novel, Mayflies, won huge acclaim, was a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month and was adapted for television in an award-winning two-part BBC drama starring Martin Compston and Tony Curran. His highly anticipated new book Caledonian Road is, in the words of Joshua Cohen, 'a brilliant state-of-the-nation novel that pulls down the facades of high society and knocks over the “good liberal” house of cards'. With thanks for your support for 5x

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each. Dr Agnes Arnold-Forster has worked at McGill University, at the Centre for the History of Emotions at Queen Mary University of London and as a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Centre for Human Development in Berlin. She is the author of an academic history of cancer and has written widely for academic, medical and mainstream outlets. She has also appeared on BBC Radio, consulted for television dramas and documentaries, and worked closely with the Science Museum, the Wellcome Collection, and the Royal College of Nursing. She lives in London. In hew new book, Nostalgia: A Biography, Arnold-Forster blends neuroscience and psychology with the history of medicine and emotions to explore the evolution of nostalgia. With thanks for your support for 5x15 online! Learn more about 5x15 events: 5x15stories.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/5x15stories Fac

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each. Philip Lymbery is Chief Executive of leading international farm animal welfare organisation Compassion in World Farming, as well as being a Visiting Professor at the University of Winchester, award-winning author and animal advocate. He was appointed an ambassadorial ‘Champion’ for the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021. He has played a leading role in many major animal welfare reforms, including Europe-wide bans on veal crates for calves and barren battery cages for laying hens. He has also spearheaded Compassion’s engagement with more than 1,000 food companies worldwide, leading to significant improvements in the lives of more than two billion farm animals every year. His first book Farmageddon was listed as a Book of the Year by The Times, while the second book in the trilogy, Dead Zone, was selected as a ‘Must Read’ by the Daily Mail. His third b

5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each. Henry Dimbleby is the co-founder of LEON, and the Director of The Sustainable Restaurant Association, which runs some of London's most successful street food markets. His work with DEFRA culminated in the National Food Strategy – a policy proposal widely praised by industry wide figures such as Yotam Ottolenghi and Sir Partha Dasgupta. In 2013 he co-authored The School Food Plan, which set out actions to transform what children eat in schools and how they learn about food. In his new book Ravenous, Dimbleby takes us behind the scenes to reveal the mechanisms that act together to shape the modern diet - and therefore the world. He explains not just why the food system is leading us into disaster, but what can be done about it. Learn more about 5x15 events: 5x15stories.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/5x15stories Facebook: www.facebook.com/5x15stories