Root Node: Recent Episodes
Root Node
Here I discuss my thoughts surrounding the green energy paradox and shortcomings of green energy or renewables as a silver bullet solution to humanity's problems. Lithium mining in Ireland, rewetting the bogs, the resistance mindset, nuclear energy, the aviation industry and the minecraft matrix paradigm we find ourselves in are explored.
Caroline is a PostDoc studying the effects of human pressure across scales and ecosystems with a particular focus on plant and marine systems. We discuss the impact of human land use on plants and trees in Europe, the revolution of plant, climate and human footprint data available for ecological analysis, the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems, the decline of coral reefs and the potential for massive conservation and regeneration of endangered species and environments from analysing global data and taking these insights on board.
Clodagh is a certified psychedelic therapist, mother of mushrooms and a psychonaut. We discuss psychedelic therapy, the medicalisation of psychedelics, the spirit of the mushroom and its ancient healing potential, the taboo surrounding psilocybin and plant medicines, the divine femininity, the evolution of humanity through psychedelics, DMT, Ayahuasca, 5-Meo-DMT and so much more! This one's an absolute riot.
Tanya is a virology PhD student at UCC studying transduction in bacteria and their phages. Had an absolute blast chatting to Tanya and was positively giddy as she talked me through the many diverse modes of phage transduction. We talk about horizontal gene transfer, generalized, specialized and lateral transduction as well as the more fringe molecular piracy of phage satellites and Gene Transfer Agents. These diverse mechanisms serve to increase the genetic mobility and fitness of phages or their host bacterium in their ancient molecular arms race. My mind was blown on more than 1 occasion. Thanks again Tanya!
Robert Miller is a horticulturist and soil enthusiast. We discuss the current state of the soil's health, the Dust bowl as a case study, the effects of industrial agriculture and the Green Revolution, the struggle of being a modern day farmer, the bottleneck in food production, and regenerative agriculture techniques which can restore soil health.