Have You Heard George's Podcast?

In the series debut George invites his listeners to step into the speakers and join him on a meandering ride aboard his own train of thought. The Poet muses on the interplay between crime and music in his community, painting an audio-portrait that is in equal parts complex and compelling.

In Uganda’s capital city, a young cab driver forms an unlikely bond with a sex worker during the crippling lockdown of 2021. They are both forced to make tough decisions. Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick & George the Poet Original Music and Sound Design by Benbrick.

George responds to audience questions taken from Common Ground, the platform he co-created in Chapter 3. Listeners discuss everything from art to race using prompts from previous episodes, reaffirming the importance of the artist/audience relationship.

Shaken by the passing of his grandmother, George reflects on the post-colonial struggles of her generation. 1970s Jamaica provides an early case study of the weaponised debt that went on to re-colonise much of the global South. A look back on previous episodes illuminates patterns of exploitation and extraction across African/Western relations. This is the global context that frames the questionable role of the International Monetary Fund in the perpetuation of poverty. George is reminded by his grandmother’s legacy that fighting for justice is always an option. Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick & George the Poet With an original score composed by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

When keeping it real goes…wrong? For a moment in the seventies, Jamaican democracy produced an ambitious plan to end inequality between countries. But when the island’s socialist leader, Michael Manley, flew too close to the sun, he got burnt. What was the New International Economic Order? Why did it rattle Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan so much? On this fast-paced tour of Jamaican history, George looks back at the rise and fall of the Third World’s biggest political project. Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Original score composed by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra

When is a breakup not a breakup? When your ex controls every aspect of your life. After walking through the freedom struggles of Ghana and the Congo in previous episodes, George turns his attention towards the “former” French colonies of West and Central Africa. What happens when freedom is gifted conditionally, not won through revolution? Is all independence created equal? Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Original Score by Benbrick recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra Sound Design by Benbrick

The power of Western languages over African economies is undeniable, and nowhere is this more obvious than in Black music. Despite "Francophone” meaning French-speaking, across Africa, it signifies so much more. George looks at the power dynamics between the English-speaking world, the French-speaking world and the Africans forced to navigate both. How did these languages become so important? And what do they reveal about the legacy of colonialism? Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick & George the Poet Original score composed by Benbrick and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra

After achieving independence, Ghana gave support to freedom fighters across Africa. What went wrong? Written by George the Poet. Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet. Original score by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Sound Design by Benbrick.

With enemies lurking in every corner, Patrice Lumumba is trapped in his own home. As the first democratically elected prime minister of the Congo, he planned to use the country’s natural wealth to improve the lives of its people, but secret actions by the US and Belgian governments stopped that from happening. These actions give a small indication of how far empires will go to hold onto power. Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the poet Original Score by Benbrick, recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra Sound Design by Benbrick.

Before Nigeria took over the African music scene, the Democratic Republic of Congo had us in a chokehold. But just like its minerals, the country’s music has yet to produce an industry that eases the economic suffering of its people, despite decades of supply and demand. Why? George goes to the genesis of the DRC’s economic reality by exploring the rise of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister. Written by George The Poet Produced by Benbrick and George The Poet Original music by Benbrick, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Sound Design by Benbrick.

Too many people don’t know that Ghana was the first African country to break free from colonial rule. Why does that matter? How could it not? Control of Africa’s resources keeps the rich world rich. What would happen if Ghana’s example set off an anti-colonial cascade across the continent? George revisits the country’s freedom struggle through the rise of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president. Written by George the Poet. Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet. Original music by Benbrick, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Sound Design by Benbrick.

Since its rise to international acclaim, the multi-award-winning "Have You Heard George’s Podcast?" has remained famously undefinable. In its explosive new season, however, this finally changes, as George the Poet pieces together fragments of the African and Caribbean independence struggles. Poignant tales of strength and sacrifice frame some of the most important yet least discussed events of the last six decades, from the perspective of history’s unsung heroes. George's verses flow over an evocative soundtrack, composed by long-time collaborator Benbrick, and brought to life by the BBC Concert Orchestra in Abbey Road. The season is peppered with timeless music from all corners of Black life - from Africa to the Caribbean and beyond. The fourth season of HYHGP? brings to light the hidden tragedies and triumphs that have shaped our world.

Over one billion Africans on the continent. 200 million in the diaspora. 18% of the world’s population. Thousands of artists with a gazillion listeners every day. What will it take for Black music to truly liberate Black people? Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language that may offend. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. Soundtrack: Mahalia Jackson - Summertime / Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 00:57 - 07:36 Dave & Stormzy - Clash 09:39 - 11:26 Nas - If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) ft. Lauryn Hill 12:34 - 13:04 Bobi Wine - Maama Mbile ft Juliana 14:17 - 14:46 Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock 19:01 - 20:20 Jazmine Sullivan - Pick Up Your Feelings 20:42 - 21:41 Solange - F.U.B.U (feat. The-Dream & BJ the Chicago Kid) 22:47 - 24:47 Benbrick - Falling Tide (performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra) 24:57 - 29:04 Thank you to: My team: Sandra, Vidhu, Birungi, Luke AG. BBC Sounds: Dylan and…

As a soon-to-be-married man, George reflects on all the things that made him propose to his partner, Sandra. He thinks about teamwork and the value of culture, sharing what he has learned about both through the transition from friendship to relationship to marriage. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. With music from: WizKid - True Love Benbrick - Memories Sara Tavares - Balancê Benbrick - Sandra’s Hand Chosen Blood & Winnie Nwagi - Yitayo Vinka - Overdose (feat. Kent & Flosso) Orezi & Sheebah - Sweet Sensation Mac Ayres - Jumping Off the Moon Archive: The clips of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle used at 00:47 and 02:20 are taken from their Spotify podcast Archewell Audio, from the Episode ‘2020 Archewell Audio Holiday Special’. The poem by Vidhu used at 19:15 is called ‘My Name is Vidhu’ and is on her YouTube page BananaSharma. Thank you to: Sandra! Meghan and Harry, Archewell Audio, and Spotify. My brothers Kenny, Nathan,…

There was a moment, somewhere between the 1980s and 1990s, when Black music turned gangsta. This moment shaped two of the world’s most influential genres: American Rap and Jamaican Dancehall. The story behind the music is one of oppressed Africans unlocking the ancient powers of their ancestors to break free. The dark side of this story is that many of those Africans, descended from slaves, embraced the pattern of violence that had cursed them for so long and slowly turned against each other. Was gangsta music the explosion of Black culture, or the implosion of Black power? In the end, the market decides. Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language which may offend, as well as adult themes. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. With music from: Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper’s Delight Billy Boyo - One Spliff A Day Ninja Man - Murder Dem Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full Super Cat -…

R&B music has changed. It was once the soundtrack of love, but is now more like a journal of pain. Through this music, George tracks the breakdown of the African American family since the 1970s. He discovers that higher poverty and incarceration rates among African Americans left a generation of children to fend for themselves. By the 1990s Gangsta rappers were displaying disrespect to women - and the market loved it and rewarded it. At the same time, Black women were pushing back through songs calling out immature men, and celebrating financial independence. Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language which may offend, as well as some adult themes. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. With music from: Ginuwine - Differences Jhené Aiko - P*$$Y Fairy (OTW) Kaash Paige - Love Songs George The Poet - Baby Father Cardi B - WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) Megan Thee Stallion - Cash Shit (feat. DaBaby) Rick Ross…

The 1960s was a mad time for Black people. It was a mad time for the world, but especially for Black people. The African Independence movement boosted morale but quickly descended into cut-throat strongman politics. Meanwhile, the American Civil Rights movement empowered new voices but failed to eliminate racism. Both ended in violence. George revisits the birth of Uganda through the story of his grandfather - Andrew Frederick Mpanga. The disappointments of this period put into context the birth of Black Power, and the emergence of gang culture among African American youth. Warning: This episode contains very strong language and language that may offend, as well as adult themes. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. With music from: Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come The Last Poets - Black Soldier David McCallum - Edge 2Pac - 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted (feat. Snoop Dogg) All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by…

At the end of 2020, George proposed to his girlfriend, Sandra, after one year of dating. Well, technically it was after years of friendship then one year of dating. When the two met as teenagers at a Ugandan event, they were both finding their place in the world. For George, Uganda provided answers that Britain couldn't. Like many in their generation, he and Sandra developed a pattern of holidaying in the Motherland before returning to their lives in the UK. However, as the harsh realities of African politics became clear to George, he began to rethink his relationship with UG. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds. Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins With music from: Bebe Cool - Wire Wire Flukes - Wifey Riddim (Instrumental) Fergie - Glamorous ft Ludacris Griminal (Freestyle) Dot Rotten (Freestyle) Double S (Freestyle) Chip (Freestyle)…

In his teens, “Gangsta for life” was the signature war-cry sung by one of George’s favourite singers - Mavado. But after Mavado’s epic clash with rival, Vybz Kartel, George saw the line as a mentality...one that had empowered and terrorised Jamaicans for decades. Music, money and murder all feature in this complex case study of Black urban street culture. Warning: This episode discusses adult themes and has some graphic descriptions of violence. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick With music from: Mavado - Last Night Vybz Kartel - Badda Dan Dem Mavado - Sunrise ft. Vybz Kartel Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock Mavado - Hope and Pray Vybz Kartel - Mr Officer Vybz Kartel - Bicycle Stephen "Di Genius” McGregor - Day Break Riddim Vybz Kartel - Broad Daylight Mavado - Nuh Bleach Wid Cream DJ Khaled & Mavado - Unchanging Love All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Thank you to: My team…

Once upon a time, the General Public pinned their hopes, dreams and issues on the Entertainment Industry. Society stalked celebs, music moved millions, and the industry expanded endlessly. Where did this obsession start? Warning: This episode contains strong language and adult themes. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. With music from: Mahalia - What You Did ft Ella Mai Ray Charles - America The Beautiful Drake - Lust for Life Jeff Beal - House of Cards Main Title Theme Ella Mai - Boo’d Up Ella Mai - Not Another Love Song Nas - If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) ft. Lauryn Hill All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra. We had the following guests: ZeZe Mills as The General Public, Big Narstie, Alhan Gençay, and Kae Kurd. Thank you to: My team Sandra, Vidhu, and Birungi. Dylan Haskins and the team at BBC Sounds, BBC Concert Orchestra, ZeZe Mills, Mahalia, SK Vibemaker, Big Narstie,…

Story time. A man drifts away from his family after his brother is killed. His estranged wife struggles to raise four kids alone. Their youngest son turns to the streets. A mix of genius and luck propels him from the jaws of death to superstar status. What can we learn from the life and times of Shawn Carter? Warning: This episode contains some very strong language, language which may offend and adult themes. Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. With music from: Nines - NIC (feat. Tiggs Da Author) Lonnie Liston Smith - A Garden of Peace Jay-Z - Dead Presidents Jay Z - My First Song All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra. We had the following guests: The former DMC world champion DJ Blakey scratching those Jay-Z samples, and Sandra Makumbi. Thank you to: My team Sandra, Vidhu, and Birungi. Dylan Haskins and the team at BBC Sounds, BBC Concert Orchestra, Jay-Z's Mum, Ms Lowden, Torrie…

George’s Train of Thought travels through the madness of 2020 to find light at the end of the tunnel - his audience. The success of this journey depends on your next move. You've heard George’s podcast, and now George wants to hear from you. He’s driven by the idea that Black culture could one day provide economic security for Black people worldwide. As a listener, you play a special part in this vision. George’s Train of Thought is departing from his new online platform, built for the Chapter 3 audience. Your seat has been reserved. Go to GTPCG.com Credits: Written by George the Poet Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet Mixing, recording and editing by Benbrick. With music from: J Hus - Repeat (feat. Koffee) Marc Five - It’s Go Stormzy - Crown All original music is written by Benbrick and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra. We had the following guests: George’s nephews, Sandra Makumbi, Marc 5, Darshan Sanghrajka, Anne Whitehead, Benbrick. Thank you to: My team Sandra, Vidhu, and Birungi. The Common…

The Peabody Award-winning podcast from George the Poet is back with a new series on 15th July.

Following difficult conversations with Uganda and Britain, George drops a bombshell. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: You Can Fly by Price Love, Think Twice by Celine Dion Featured guests: Anne Isger as Britain. Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds. Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor for BBC: Jason Phipps

The Insecurity Guards hunt down ideas before they can make it onto George’s podcast. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Playa Hater by The Notorious B.I.G., St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, Middle of the Night by The Clovers, Easy Snapping by Theophilus Beckford, Freedom Sound by The Skatalites, Simmer Down by The Wailers, My Boy Lollipop by Millie Small, Joe Liges by Delroy Wilson, I Spy (feat. Headie One & K-Trap) by Krept & Konan Featured guests: Jawad Ifraz, Andrew Bell, Chris Bernard, Patrin, Tasneim Zyada, Aaron Daniels, Lams, Tyra Mai, Petra Clips taken from the BBC Archive: Reggae – The Story of Jamaican Music (Forward March). Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds. Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor for BBC: Jason Phipps

George’s relationships continue to fall apart as his mind descends into a battlefield. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Empire Army by Vybz Kartel, Must Be by J Hus, No Manners by Teyana Taylor, Wishing On A Star by Rose Royce Featured guests: Julie Adenuga as Dija, Lola, Jawad Ifraz, Andrew Bell, Chris Bernard, Stephen Boateng, Sir Martyn Lewis, Kenny Imafidon, Patrin, Tasneim Zyada, Aaron Daniels, Lams, Tyra Mai, and Vidhu Sharma Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds. Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor for BBC: Jason Phipps

George finds himself torn between different audiences at a crossroads in his writing. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Who Am I by Beenie Man, Step Out by Busy Signal, I Really Mean It (feat. Cam’ron & Jimmy Jones) by The Diplomats, When I’m ‘Ere by Roll Deep Featured guests: Diggy, and Conroy. We read an extract from The Guardian / The Observer article Yardie Terror Grips London published on Sunday 18th July 1999, and accessible online. We took elements from DJ Target talking about Grime from the “Welcome to the World of George The Poet” live event. Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds. Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor for BBC: Jason Phipps

The two competing parts of George’s brain - contentment and ambition - battle it out. George looks at how black creativity shapes trends through music to fashion and beyond. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Didn’t Cha Know by Erykah Badu, 1,2,1,2 by George The Poet, Scribble Paper by Little Dragon, Real N****** (feat. Cam’ron, Jimmy Jones & Juelz Santana) by The Diplomats, Ambition (feat. Meek Mill & Rick Ross) by Wale Featured guests: Ty Logan as Benji, Arnold Jorge as Damario, Young Talented Individuals, Hussain Manawer (presenting the Best Arts & Culture award at The British Podcast Awards 2019), Patrin, Andrew Bell, Tyra Mai, Tasneim Zyada, and Kenny Mpanga. Thank you to CJ Obi and everybody who attended my meeting to discuss the future of St Raph’s, Matthew Walker and Penguin for allowing us to use elements from the book Why We Sleep, Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson for writing the book Why Nations Fail, and Peter…

George contemplates his relationship with the audience before giving a personal account of conflict in his area. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Barbar G by Mark Kavuma, 10 Man (feat. Gappy Ranks & Big Zeeks) by Patrin, Running by Abi Ocia Featured guests: Diggy, Henry Stone Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds. Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor for BBC: Jason Phipps

George dives deeper into his dreams via a circus of characters - some old, some new. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Memories by A Pass, You Can Fly by Price Love, A Night To Remember by Shalamar Featured guests: Barney Artist as Inua the Intern, Mandi as Anna the analyst, Anne as Britain, Sandra & Petra as George’s friends in the car Thank you to Robert Serumaga. Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds. Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor for BBC: Jason Phipps

Having lost his way, George encounters a mysterious figure who offers to help him, but on one condition. Chaos ensues as the poet ends up travelling 10 years into the future. Written by George The Poet Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet Original music by Benbrick Featured songs: High For This by The Weeknd, Both by Headie One, Gigantalous by SL Featured guests: Jamala as Samira the Oracle, Julie Adenuga as Dija, Sir Martyn Lewis as the Newsreader, J Man as Genna, GK as Spinner, George’s Mum, Diggy, Natalie, Zizi, Vidhu, Cristale, Young Talented Individuals, Lola, Damini Thank you to Matthew Walker and Penguin for allowing us to use elements from the book Why We Sleep Have You Heard George’s Podcast? is a George the Poet production for BBC Sounds Commissioning Executive for BBC: Dylan Haskins Commissioning Editor for BBC: Jason Phipps

An intimate portrait of George’s love life highlights his struggles to keep a work/life balance. He constructs an elaborate analogy that spirals out of control, leaving him lost. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Up Late by Ari Lennox, Running by IAMDDB, What Do You Mean? (feat. J Hus) by Skepta. Featured guests: Julie Adenuga as Dija, TrueMendous as Trudy This episode features clips taken from Knight Rider, Aladdin, Rick and Morty, and Space Jam. Knight Rider (2008) directed by Steve Shill. Production Company: Dutch Oven, Universal Media Studios (UMS). Distributor: National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Clip appears at 00:10:53 Aladdin (1992) directed by Ron Clements & John Musker. Production Company: Walt Disney Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV, Walt Disney Feature Animation. Distributor: Buenva vista Pictures. Clip appears at 00:14:51 Rick and Morty (Season 1, Episode 3 Anatomy Park), directed by John Rice, Pete Michels.…

George reflects on the role of trauma in black art. A slice of American history provides insight into the ghettoisation of African voices, leading to a strangely familiar story. Written by George The Poet. Produced by Benbrick & George The Poet. Original music by Benbrick. Featured songs: Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack, The Message by Grandmaster Flash, Ghetto Quran by 50 Cent, Many Men (Wish Death) by 50 Cent Featured guests: Julie Adenuga as Dija This episode features clips taken from Foxy Brown, Trouble Man, The Spook Who Sat By The Door, and The Mack. It also features comments from Vonetta McGee, Oscar Williams, and Jim Brown taken from the documentary Black Hollywood: Blaxploitation And Advancing An Independent Black Cinema (1984). The clip of Cicely Tyson is taken from an interview with ABC News (1972) and appears at 00:07:26. These comments on Blaxploitation are chosen to show that black people working within different areas of the movie industry had similar reservations and concerns in how black…

A quick introduction to the podcast from George the Poet.

Award-winning podcaster and spoken word artist George the Poet comes to the BBC’s own Radio Theatre for a one-off live show exploring what rap can teach us about education. For George, rap was always a vehicle for knowledge. But it isn’t always taken seriously by an establishment that often sees it as unconstructive. Rap was an essential part of George’s own development as a poet, and studying Sociology at Cambridge University allowed him to look more closely at what rap can do for marginalised communities. This show charts George’s own story of education – his evolution from Grime MC to Cambridge student to spoken word artist – and pays homage to the rap music that shaped him and his peers. George brings a number of friends to the stage to explore what rap can teach us about education. DJ Target is a 1Xtra DJ and a founding member of UK Grime collective Roll Deep. In his book Grime Kids he charts the creation of the groundbreaking music genre that gave voice to a generation. Neuroscientist Dr Becky Inkster…

The season finale sees a return to the inside of George's Mind. Episode 6 introduced Sanyu, a young idea on a mission to break out of the Poet's overcrowded headspace and reach his audience with her most meaningful contribution. After escaping the "Research and Development" faculty of George's Mind, Sanyu participated in a version of Episode 8 that simply wasn't all that, by her standards. Determined to deliver unprecedented value to the audience, Sanyu decides to "save" Episode 8 from averageness, fighting off insecurities and the ever-changing conditions of a creative mind. The ensuing adventure is a story of hope, fear and sacrifice relevant to anyone who dares to dream big. In many ways, Sanyu embodies the message of the podcast, put most aptly by Victor Hugo: nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Featured songs: Ambush "Man Can't"; Dun Dee "Ooh Wee"; KwayorClinch "Renting"; Mucky “It’s On Me”; Jorja Smith "The One"; Maverick Sabre & George the Poet ft. Jorja Smith "Follow the…

On a mission to find the best use of his platform, George casts his gaze 2000 miles across the Mediterranean Sea to explore the modern Libyan slave trade. Ugly truths about corruption, accountability and the rule of law force him to consider Ugandan politics in comparison to the last years of Gaddafi's Libya. Eventually, he finds hope in an unexpected message from an old friend. Featured songs: Mega - Chariot Written by George the Poet Original score by Benbrick Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet.

A stroll down memory lane takes George to the beginning of his journey with poetry, before a call from a friend reminds him how far he still has to go. Asking about an idea George had previously shared, (“Sanyu”), the friend complains that George is overthinking, hoarding his potential and ultimately shortchanging the world. What follows is a Disney-style dive into the life of an idea in George’s mind. From the clubs of Kampala, to the corners of the imagination, to the frontline of Ugandan politics - the journey is crazy. Featured songs: Radio & Weasel ft. General Ozzy - Potential; Radio & Weasel - Ngenda Maaso; Radio & Weasel - Kuku; Coco Finger - Emikono Wagulu; Rabadaba - Bwekiri; Isaac Blackman - To the Ceiling; Bobi Wine - Badman from Kamwokya Written by George the Poet Original score by Benbrick Produced by Benbrick and George the Poet

Have you ever wished you could teleport? Or mind-read? Or time travel? All of these are easier than you think. Every time you press play you step into another world and open yourself up to someone else's experience. This might not sound like a groundbreaking discovery in an era of constant verbal and visual bombardment, but the potential of this truth is limitless. In his own wildly unconventional way, George the Poet uses music from his environment to convey this point. All you have to do is press play. Featured songs: Mucky - It's On Me Maleek Berry - Gimme Life Bonnie Beretta - Team Bonnie Guala - Guala Gala 1011 - Next Up? Written by George the Poet Original score by Benbrick Produced by Benbrick and George The Poet

George continues his Grenfell story. Written by George the Poet Original score by Benbrick Produced by Benbrick and George The Poet

A young teacher's daily struggles provide the backdrop for this harrowing reflection on the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In a move from journalism to drama, George departs with the documentary-style narration of previous episodes to deliver a heart-wrenching story of resilience and neglect in London's inner city. Enlisting the help of rising star Jade Alleyne, poet Sophia Thakur as well as his own brothers, Freddie, Michael and Kenny Mpanga, George introduces a small universe of characters whose witty exchanges offer insight into their respective environments. Featured songs: Chika Dole - Touch Abi Ocia - Running Written by George the Poet Original score by Benbrick Produced by Benbrick and George The Poet

George explores the roles of family and formal education in the lives of marginalised young people. With more elaborate scene-setting, his lyrical stream of consciousness flows over a soundscape that is increasingly cinematic and journalistic. The Poet argues that inner city music acts as a pressure valve for voiceless young people who face systemic disadvantage. Expanding on the points of the previous episode, he advocates for youth having space to "speak their truth," and for listeners to take consideration of the problematic realities behind this art.