Drive Time Show Podcast 01-09-2026: Cost of Living & Artificial Influence

Join our hosts for Tuesday’s show from 4-6pm where we will be discussing: ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ and ‘Artificial Influence: Are we becoming too dependent?’ Cost of Living Crisis The cost of living is putting increasing pressure on households across the UK, with rising housing, energy, food and everyday costs making it harder to make ends meet. Join us as we explore its impact on different communities and the Islamic perspective on financial responsibility, wealth and social welfare. Artificial Influence: Are we becoming too dependent? AI is becoming part of almost every aspect of our lives, but are we becoming too dependent? Are we gaining convenience at the cost of creativity, reflection and wisdom? Join us as we explore how AI is changing the way we think, learn and live — and what Islam teaches us about knowledge, reflection and tawakkul. Guests: Stephen Millard - Deputy Director at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research Aiden Greenall - Policy Manager at Crisis. Crisis is the UK national charity for people experiencing homelessness. Dr Maddy Power Eric So - Professor of Global Economics and Behavioral Science at MIT Sloan, where his research examines how artificial intelligence, human behavior, and market incentives interact Ala Yankouskaya - Senior Lecturer In Psychology with a research focus in investigating the cognitive and brain mechanisms of human perception and attention. Michael Weinstein - Founding Director of Sustainability at Southern New Hampshire University and has been an expert contributor on AI and the Environment. Jens Gröger - Senior Researcher at the Öko-Institut in Berlin. His research focuses on information and communication technology (ICT) and digital transformation. Producers: Maria Ahmad, Tooba and Nadia Anwar