More Stuff Matters: If fertility is falling, who is having children?

More Stuff Matters: If fertility is falling, who is having children?

Author: Sky News July 13, 2026 Duration: 23:57

We're unlocking an episode of More Stuff Matters before coming back with more new episodes!

In the main episode, Ed explored the mystery of falling birth rates through child car booster seats. In this bonus, he takes the conversation further.

Featuring an extended interview with social scientist Dr Alice Evans, they explore not just why people are having fewer children, but who is still having them.

From South Korea and Turkey to Zambia and Uzbekistan, Alice draws on years of research around the world to explore the changing expectations around relationships, marriage and family life.

Together they look at how technology, culture and demographics are reshaping societies across the globe, and what those changes might mean for the future.

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Each weekday, The Sky News Business Podcast cuts through the noise to bring you the essential business and economic stories that are shaping the moment. Hosted by Sky News, this daily audio briefing goes beyond the headlines, offering clear analysis and context directly from the financial hubs. You’ll hear on-the-ground reports from the City of London and global markets, alongside conversations with analysts, executives, and policymakers who are directly involved in the day's developments. It’s designed for anyone who needs to understand not just what happened, but why it matters-whether you're managing investments, running a business, or simply trying to make sense of complex financial news. The podcast provides a reliable, digestible format to stay informed, blending timely updates with deeper discussion that connects the dots between economics, policy, and real-world impact. Tune in for a straightforward and authoritative take on the forces driving commerce and finance.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 9

Stuff Matters with Ed Conway
Podcast Episodes
Trainers: An old pair of Nikes that altered history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:15
Ed has a theory. Did an unbranded pair of trainers from the '70s help trigger Western deindustrialisation and pave the way for Trump, Farage and - ultimately - China's economic dominance?Find out how to subscribe to our…
Howitzers: Medieval cannons and the supply chains of modern war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:39
Ed uncovers the surprising story of the howitzer – the artillery weapon that has dominated battlefields for hundreds of years, from Napoleon to Ukraine and forever changed the economics of war. But this isn't just the st…
Car seats: The mystery of our depopulating planet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:13
What if bulky children’s car safety seats are a clue to one of the biggest changes in human history – the reason people aren't having kids anymore? Ed Conway investigates.Become a Sky News Insider! You can listen to Stuf…
Bananas: Is it the end of our favourite fruit? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:05
It's a story that spans continents and centuries, taking in corporate empires and CIA-backed coups and it's all about bananas. Could Britain's favourite fruit be wiped out?Find out how to subscribe to our members club Sk…
AirPods: Why's everyone fighting over the mysterious elements inside? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:02
That satisfying snap when you close an AirPods case is powered by one of the most important materials in the modern world.To listen without ads, get new episodes a week early, exclusive bonus episodes and much more, beco…
LEDs: How a little blue light changed the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:19
A flashing wristband at an NFL game sends Ed Conway down an unexpected economic rabbit hole.To listen without ads, get new episodes a week early, exclusive bonus episodes and much more, become a Sky News Insider. Find ou…
What is Stuff Matters? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42
In Stuff Matters, Ed Conway takes an object, cracks it open and reveals the world shaping forces hidden inside.Each episode follows a trail of ideas that stretches beyond the object itself, uncovering far reaching econom…