Pod Delusion Extra: Recent Episodes
James O'Malley
In the 10th Anniversary Year of the Science Council Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve gave the lecture on the topic of "Why Science needs Ethics: why science cannot and should not aspire to be value free" on Tuesday 8th October. The lecture explored how decisions are made in science and what influences them, an important issue for all scientists and science users, and an especially relevant question for the professional practice of science.
The battle is about an idea: Gender. What is it? Is it socially constructed? Is it an innate male or female self that exists separately from one’s biological sex? Most importantly, who will get to define it? Also, are trans* activists biological essentialists? Or is it the radical feminists who are the biological essentialists? What the hell is biological essentialism anyway? And finally, can we just agree that we all hate Richard Littlejohn and get on with getting on?
Soho Skeptics attempted to find some common ground in a night of personal stories, discussion and comedy.
Having used art in many areas of politics – from Processed World, the magazine for Angry Secretaries, to anti-nuclear vehicles such as the 1985 film When the Wind Blows, Melida Gebbie’s work has always had the message that if an artist is doing their job properly they are meant to be the social, political, and universal barometer of their times. Currently working with Alan Moore on Angel Passage, a tribute to William Blake Gebbie will focus on the art and life of William Blake, exploring his vision and aspirations.
I did not come to this conference of my own free will because free will is an illusion. Plenty of evidence from neuroscience suggests that there is no persisting ‘me’ who could exert this mysterious power. Libet’s experiments on the timing of voluntary actions throw free will into doubt; the neuroscience of volition reveals the brain areas responsible for decision-making and self-control; and research by Wegner shows how the feeling of being responsible for an action depends on post-hoc attributions based on sequence, similarity and timing. So if our intuitions are not to be trusted, how should we live our lives? Many people reject the traditional idea of free will but still say they must live ‘as if’ they have free will. Otherwise, they claim, society would disintegrate and all hell break loose. I disagree and will discuss ways of living a moral and happy life without believing in free will.
Magic as metaphor; metaphor as the reality ingredient of literature; a rational approach to the fantastic. Presented by the award winning author of The Prestige, which was later adapted into a successful Hollywood movie directed by Christopher Nolan, Priest will explore another way of seeing – exploring magic as a metaphor in literature and lifting the veil on taking a rational approach with the fantastic.
With ongoing discussions between neuroscientists and philosophers on the existence, or not, of free will, and with so many people in the so-called ‘enlightened’ West still believing that their fate is somehow linked to the movements of the stars and planets, what does modern physics have to say on the matter of determinism and chance? Indeed, is our future preordained? This lecture will be a whistle-stop tour of Einsteinian relativity, quantum indeterminacy and whether, according to our current understanding of the nature of time, the future is knowable.
Our tiny blue planet is the only place we know where life can exist – a precious oasis in the vast desert of space. But throughout Earth’s history everything from exploding stars to impacts with giant asteroids have all left their mark on our planet – with profound consequences for its cargo of plants and animals. Public Astronomer Dr Marek Kukula explores how the world around us has been shaped by events in space, and how life on Earth has adapted to survive them.
Theoretical Computer Scientist Dave Cohen speaks to us at Royal Holloway Science Festival 2013.
Child Development Psychologist Jeanne Shinskey speaks to us at Royal Holloway Science Festival 2013.
Child Development Psychologist Patrick Leman speaks to us at Royal Holloway Science Festival 2013.
Philosopher AC Grayling delivers a lecture to the Central London Humanist Group on the roots and fruits of humanism.
The 2013 BHA Voltaire Lecture, presented by Steven Pinker and introduced by Jim Al-Khalili
Recorded at the Royal Institution, Helen Czerski was joined by Marcus Brigstocke, Bruce Hood, Barry Smith and Felicity Mellor to discuss what scientists should know about the dark arts of persuasion, and whether they should ever use them.
Chaired by Dr Richard Dawkins, the 2013 British Humanist Association Darwin Day lecture was delivered by Sir Tom Blundell, Professor Emeritus and Director of Research, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge on the topic of: ‘The emergence of drug resistance: Molecular evolution and new medicines for cancer and tuberculosis’.
The full Leveson Debate, hosted by the Soho Skeptics with Nick Cohen, Suzanne Moore, Evan Harris and Natalie Fenton. Moderated by Helen Lewis.
Liz's full interview with philosopher Stephen Trombley from Episode 161 of The Pod Delusion
Richard Dawkins is a world famous Atheist, having authored several books and popularising Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. He studies ethology which is the study of animal behaviour and evolutionary biology. Dawkins was the Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 till 2008 at Oxford University. After retiring from this position, he now travels internationally giving lectures and making documentaries to increase Atheism awareness.
Liz's full interview with Ben Goldacre about Bad Pharma - from episode 155 of The Pod Delusion.
Maryam Namazie is a secular campaigner and commentator, spokesperson for the One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. In 2005 she was awarded the Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year.
Pragna Patel is a secular campaigner, founding member of Southall Black Sisters and co-founder of Women Against Fundamentalism. In 2010 Pragna received the Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year on behalf of Southall Black Sisters.
Peter Tatchell has been campaigning for human rights, democracy, LGBT freedom and global justice since 1967. Through the Peter Tatchell Foundation, he campaigns for human rights in Britain and internationally. In 2012 Peter was awarded the Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year.
Nick Cohen is a journalist, author, political commentator and eloquent supporter of secularism. He is a critic of the increasing role of religion in state education and of the Left’s tendency to pander to religious fundamentalists. His latest work,You Can’t Read This Book, is on freedom of expression.
Ted Cantle is Professor at the Institute of Community Cohesion. His report into the northern riots of 2001 drew attention to the “segregated” ethnic and religious communities living ‘parallel’ lives. His new book confronts the failures of multiculturalism head on and establishes a new concept — interculturalism — for managing community relations in a world defined by globalization and super-diversity.
Nia Griffith is Member of Parliament for Llanelli, Shadow Minister for Wales and a campaigner for Lords reform. She is a firm believer in the need for the separation of church and state.
Tom Williamson's full interview with Cook'd and Bomb'd's Neil Kennedy about celebrity Twitter bullies
The following is a recording of the Central London Humanist Group meeting from August 22nd 2012, in which celebrated human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell gave a talk on how we can make human rights law enforceable worldwide.
Journalist Paul Lewis has completed a study into the causes of the riots, and came back to Westminster Skeptics on the first anniversary of the first night of rioting, to tell us the results.
Full interview with investigative journalist Greg Palast, from Episode 142 of The Pod Delusion
Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading. Sometimes called ‘The First Human Cyborg’ the Institute of Physics selected Kevin to illustrate the ethical impact scientific work can have: the others selected were Galileo, Einstein, Curie, Nobel, Oppenheimer, and Rotblat.
Professor Richard Dawkins is the world-renowned ethologist, evolutionary biologist, author, vice president of the British Humanist Association, and recipient of the 2012 ‘Services to Humanism’ award.
Roger Martin was a career diplomat for 22 years, serving in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the UN before resigning ‘in fury’ to become an environmentalist. He is now Chair of the environmental charity Population Matters.
Ben Hammersley was born in Leicester in 1976. He is a renowned British internet technologist, journalist, author, broadcaster, and diplomat. His credits include Editor at Large of Conde Nast’s Wired UK magazine.
Professor Sir David King FRS is the former UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the Government Office of Science. He is currently Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at the University of Oxford.
Mark Stevenson is a British author, comedian, businessman, public speaker and futurologist, as well as a former semi-professional musician. His stand-up material focuses on science and he recently released a book entitled An Optimist’s Tour of the Future.
On the 17th May, the Co-Ordinating Committee for Media Reform held the Rally For Media Reform at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. We managed to grab a few interviews with a number of the speakers including Hugh Grant, Tom Watson, Jacqui Hames, Harriet Harman, Jacky Davis, Owen Jones and many others.
Mark Henderson, author of the Geek Manifesto, talks about the book and takes questions from the audience. Also featuring Evan Harris and Lord Taverne.
A special podcast recorded in front of a live audience at the QED conference 2012 in Manchester. Featuring all sorts of exciting things!
Full recording of the National Secular Society's Secularist of the Year awards ceremony. Featuring Peter Tatchell, Clive Bone and Nick Cohen, amongst others.
An extended cut of the interview featured in episode 127 of the Pod Delusion. Also featuring Henry Spooner, Vaughan's barrister.
Lawyer David Allen Green talks about the role of religion in the British legal system - and why it should be more secular.
Philosopher Richard Norman critiques Alain de Botton's new book, Religion for Atheist. At the AHS's 2012 convention.
Simon Frantz is joined by Mo and Hugo to discuss Christopher Nolan's 2000 film 'Memento'.
Adam Rutherford delivers the British Humanist Association's 2012 Darwin Day Lecture. Chaired by Steve Jones.
The convener of Westminster Skeptics David Allen Green speaks at December 2011's Westminster Skeptics meeting about privacy law.
Colin Leys addresses the Westminster Skeptics to talk about the proposed NHS reforms. Recorded on the 23rd January 2012.
Martin Robbins tells us about his trip in which he tried to find out more about practitioners of altmed in Africa. Recorded at London Skeptics in the Pub on the 10th January 2012.
Full recording of Julian Huppert MP speaking to a meeting in Reading organised by Dr Jenny Woods.
One Law For All's rally - featuring Richard Dawkins, Nick Cohen, AC Grayling and many others. Recorded 11th February 2012.
Liz's full interview with the artistic director Nicholas Kent about the nuclear season at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn.
The chief exec of the British Humanist Association delivers a talk to the conference. Recorded on the 28th January 2012.
Chris Huang-Lever's full interview with the leader of the Australian sex party, from Pod Delusion episode 119.
Simon Frantz speaks to Dr Peter Bentley from UCL about many of the themes and issues raised in Robocop.
Simon Frantz speaks to Justin Hancock about some of the issues and themes in classic 80s film Weird Science.
Liz spoke to Ed about the Voyager probes, which are on the verge of leaving the solar system.
A debate about politics and the arts recorded at Soho Theatre. Chaired by Michael Crick and features, amongst others, Dianne Abbott MP and Don Foster MP.
Graeme giving his talk "Thinking critically about statistics and inference". Recorded on the 21st November 2011.
A special recording of Ada Lovelace Day LIVE! Recorded on October 7th 2011. Ft Gia Milinovich, Helen Arney, Maggie Philbin, Kate Smurthwaite, Sara Pascoe, Sue Black and Suw Charman-Anderson.
Recorded at Clapham Picture House, a discussion on the 2009 film Moon, led by Simon Frantz.
Lester Waugh speaks about how his team built and tested the ExoMars rover. Recorded at UCL for London Science Festival.
Lewis Dartnall and Nick Lane talk about the prospects for finding extra-terrestrial life. Recorded at UCL for London Science Festival.
Craig Leff talks about the logistics of working with Mars Rovers. Recorded at UCL for London Science Festival.
Prof Jon Butterworth and Dr Lyndon Evans talks about the construction of the LHC. Recorded at UCL as part of London Science Festival.
Liz Lutgendorff's full interview with author Andrew Scott Cooper about his book The Oil Kings, which looks at Iran in the 1970s.
Recorded 26th October 2011, Phillip Schofield, director of the Bentham Project at UCL delivers a fascinating lecture on some of Jeremy Bentham's manuscripts which have only just come to light.
Philosopher Ray Tallis gives the British Humanist Association's 2011 Holyoake Lecture entitled 'Aping Mankind'. Recorded on the 18th October 2011.
Way back in September, the Secular Europe Campaign hosted a debate in association with the British Humanist Association on the role of Islam in a Secular Europe.
Science Minister David Willetts delivers the 2011 Roberts Lecture at the Royal Society of Medicine, for the Science Council as part of London Science Festival.
Science writer Oliver Morton discusses the 1956 film Forbidden Planet with Simon Frantz.
Freethought Kampala's James Onen talks about skepticism in Uganda. Recorded for the British Humanist Association on 12/10/11.
Recorded 3rd October 2011, Juliet Jacques delivers a talk titled "Thinking critically about transgender issues"
Kash Farooq's full interview with physicist Dr Ben Still, who specializes in neutrinos.
Liz Lutgendorff speaks to Dave Kellet and Fred Schroeder about an intriguing new comics documentary. Originally from episode 102.
Sue Cox, from Survivors Voice, speaks to the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 Conference. Recorded 10th September 2011
National Secular Society Executive Director Keith Porteous Wood speaks to Secularism 2011. Recorded 10th September 2011.
Dr Anthony Lempert tells the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 conference a horrifying story about withdrawing his daughter from daily worship in school. Recorded 10th September 2011.
Baroness Turner of Camden speaks to the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 conference. Recorded 10th September 2011.
The rally from the Secular Europe protest in full - featuring Peter Tatchell, Maryam Namazie and more.
Simon Frantz discusses the science in Fritz Lang's Metropolis, with the author Simon Ings.
Journalist Nick Cohen talks at the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 Conference. Recorded on the 10th September 2011.
Paul Blanchard has some PR tips for advancing the cause of secularism, at the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 Conference. Recorded 10th September 2011
Anne Marie Waters of the One Law For All campaign speaks to the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 Conference. Recorded 10th September 2011.
Baroness Mary Warnock speaks to the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 conference. Recorded 10th September 2011.
Dr Anthony Lempert speaks to the National Secular Society's Secularism 2011 conference on the role of secularism in healthcare.
Science 3.0's Graham Steel speaks to Alok Jha, Mo Costandi and James Meikle from the Guardian about some of the major issues in science journalism today.
Simon Howard's final special Pod Delusion compilation of our best celebrity interviews.
Simon Howard picks some of the Pod Delusion's best interviews to celebrate the 100th edition of the show on Friday.
The second compilation from Simon Howard, highlighting some of our most unusual reports!
Recorded live at the AHS's Questival on August 6th, we hosted a Pod Delusion 'open mic' type night - full of fascinating stories!
Simon Howard presents a rundown of some of the Pod Delusion's biggest and best arguments.
Blakeley Nixon's full report, including extended interviews with Craig from the Chasers and Helen from the New Statesman.
Recorded on 1st August 2011, Sid Rodrigues talks to journalist Angela Saini about her book 'Geek Nation'.
Sir David Attenborough answers questions from the audience at Clapham Picture House about his film Flying Monsters 3D
The star of Lawrence Leung Wants A Jetpack and Lawrence Leung's Unbelievable chats to us about his work whilst he's over in London.
We speak to the man who threw a foam pie at Rupert Murdoch to find out just why he did it, and whether he regrets it.
Interviews with Phillip Pullman, CJ de Mooi, Peter Atkins, Chris French, Stephen Law, Richard Norman and Julian Baggini.
Liz Lutgendorff's full uncut interview with Mark Stevenson, author of An Optimist's Tour of the Future.
Rich Peppiatt, James Ball, Joanne Cash, Wendy Grossman and David Allen Green discuss the impact of the phone hacking scandal on journalism.
A recording of London Skeptics in the Pub with Mark Stevenson. Recorded on the 4th July 2011.
A debate organised by the All Party Humanist Group ft shadow constitutional reform minister Chris Bryant and others!
Natalie Haynes talks to the conference about Roman and Greek perspectives on the meaning of life.
Author Phillip Pullman speaks to BHA Chief Exec Andrew Copson about the meaning of life.
Prof Chris French speaks to the BHA Conference on the topic of "Meaning and Randomness: On Seeing Things That Are Not There".
Philosopher Julian Baggini answers the question "What does religion have that we don’t?".
BHA Chief Exec introduces the 2011 conference and then the first lecture by Peter Atkins.
Full version of Dr*T interviewing More Or Less's Tim Harford for Pod Delusion episode 89.
Topical science discussion event hosted by Paolo Viscardi and Jenny Rohn. Discussion topics include the New College of the Humanities.