Monthly Archives: February 2012

Episode 124 – 24th February 2012

February 24, 2012Episodes2000AD, Adam Jacobs, Alcohol, Bad PR, Brian Two, Coalition for Equal Marriage, Coalition for Marriage, comics, Conor Marron, David Lovesy, David Robertson, Drew Rae, Extremism, Islamism, James O'Malley, Lottolab, Marsh, Michael Marshall, Neuroscience, Perception, PR, Public Health, Raheem Kassam, Religion and Politics, Science Museum, Student Rights, Tom Hoddenadmin

This week we find out about the counter campaign to the awful Coalition For Marriage, discover how religious extremists are targeting university campuses to recruit students, find out if the government’s new alcohol advice stands up to scrutiny and reminisce about 2000AD at 25. We also come closer to answering the age-old question… are the colours we perceive the same as the colours other people do?

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Coalition for Equal Marriage (2:50) by James O’Malley (ft Conor Marron)
Extremism on Campus (11:48) by James O’Malley (ft Raheem Kassam)
Leading Faiths (25:36) by Drew Rae
Alcohol Limits (29:20) by Adam Jacobs
Bad Valentines PR (37:25) by Marsh
2000AD at 35 (43:28) by Tom Hodden
Lottolab (50:40) by James O’Malley (ft David Robertson)
The sketch at the end is by David Lovesy and Brian Two

Follow-Up Links:

Coalition for Equal Marriage – make sure you sign their petition!
Student Rights
Science Museum Lates

Episode 123 – 17th February 2012

February 17, 2012EpisodesAlan Turing, Anne Marie Waters, Bideford, Bideford Council, Brian Two, Censorship, Census, Christianity, David Lovesy, Free Expression, James O'Malley, Joan Smith, Kate Smurthwaite, Liz Lutgendorff, National Secular Society, Nick Cohen, Nick Doody, One Law For All, Paula Kirby, Peter Rowlett, Prayer, Rally, Rhys Morgan, Richard Dawkins, Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science UK, Sherlock Holmes, Survey, Tessa Kendall, Tom Hodden, You Can't Read This Bookadmin

This week is a bit of a secularism special – punch your fist in the air at the Rally to Defend Freedom of Expression, find out about the perils of censorship in Nick Cohen’s new book and get the accurate story on the Bideford council prayers ruling. Plus we talk about a new survey showing Christians aren’t terribly Christian, find out why Alan Turing deserves a pardon and solve the mystery of which Sherlock Holmes adaption is best.

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Rally to defend Freedom of Expression (2:40) by James O’Malley & Liz Lutgendorff
(ft Richard Dawkins, Nick Doody, Kate Smurthwaite, Rhys Morgan, Joan Smith and Anne-Marie Waters)
Nick Cohen Interview (18:10) by Liz Lutgendorff & James O’Malley
Census Christians (28:54) by James O’Malley (ft Paula Kirby)
Bideford Council (37:35) by Liz Lutgendorff (ft Tessa Kendall)
Turing Pardon (45:00) by Peter Rowlett
Sherlock and Copyright (54:56) by Tom Hodden
The sketch at the end is by David Lovesy & Brian Two

Follow-Up Links

Listen to the rally to defend free expression in full here.
One Law For All
Full Nick Cohen interview:
(Check back in the morning!)
Buy Nick Cohen’s ‘You Can’t Read This Book’ here.
Full Paula Kirby Interview:
RDFRS Survey Results & Data
National Secular Society
Alan Turing Links

Pod Delusion Extra

CineSci6 – Memento (2000)

February 16, 2012Pod Delusion ExtraChristopher Nolan, CineSci6, Hugo Spiers, Memento, Memory, Mo Costandi, Neuroscience, Simon Frantzadmin

CineSci6 is a series of events at Clapham Picture House exploring the science behind some classic films by first screening the film, and then having the science writer Simon Frantz discuss the film with an expert. You can find out more about how to attend the events on the Science in the Pub website.

In this 6th podcast, Simon Frantz discusses Christopher Nolan’s 2000 film Memento. He is joined by Guardian neuroscience blogger Mo Costandi and Hugo Spiers, who researches spatial cognition, memory and goal-directed behaviour at UCL.

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CineSci6 is organised by James Robson and Paolo Viscardi, and facilitated by Kate Coventry. The discussion is led by Simon Frantz.

Westminster Skeptics – David Allen Green on Privacy

February 14, 2012Pod Delusion Extra, Westminster SkepticsDavid Allen Green, Jack of Kent, libel, Libel Reform, Privacy, Westminster Skepticsadmin

In this edition of the Westminster Skeptics podcast David Allen Green casts a critical eye over privacy and libel law, and on where developments in libel and privacy are going well and going badly.

Darwin Day Lecture 2012

February 13, 2012Pod Delusion ExtraAdam Rutherford, BHA, Darwin Day, Steve Jonesadmin

This year’s 2012 British Humanist Association Darwin Day lecture was presented by renowned author, broadcaster, scientist, and geek Adam Rutherford. Dr Adam Rutherford is a geneticist, author and broadcaster, as well as an editor at the science journal Nature. He presents television and radio programmes and is a writer for The Guardian newspaper. The 2012 Darwin Day lecture was chaired by biologist Steve Jones.

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You can also hear an interview with Adam about the lecture on Pod Delusion episode 120.

Is it the end of the NHS as we know it? (Westminster Skeptics)

February 12, 2012Westminster SkepticsColin Leys, NHS, Reformadmin

Recorded at Westminster Skeptics on 23rd January 2012, Colin Leys spoke about the proposed NHS reforms.

The government maintains that the Health and Social Care Bill doesn’t mean the privatisation of the NHS. Is this true? What are the main changes implied by the Bill, and what do they imply for patients and taxpayers? What are the reasons for the changes, and do they add up to a persuasive case?

Colin Leys is an emeritus professor of political studies at Queen’s University, Canada, and an honorary professor at Goldsmiths University of London. His most recent books include Market-Driven Politics: Neoliberal Democracy and the Public Interest (2001) and (with Stewart Player) The Plot Against the NHS (2011).

Martin Robbins on ‘Bad Science in the Developing World’ (London SITP)

February 11, 2012Pod Delusion ExtraAfrica, AltMed, Martin Robbinsadmin

Recorded at London Skeptics in the Pub, Martin Robbins of the Guardian’s Lay Science talks about dangerous pseudo-medical practices outside the Western world, from homeopaths in East Africa to flat earthers and anti-vaccine campaigns in Nigeria.

Julian Huppert on LibDem Science Policy

February 11, 2012Pod Delusion ExtraJulian Huppert, LibDems, Liberal Democrats, science policyadmin

Recorded on the 25th January, Liberal Democrat MP spoke to a meeting in Reading about his consultation on science policy and about his recent work on their digital policy. The meeting was organised by Dr Jenny Woods.

You can hear a short interview with Julian on episode 120 of the Pod Delusion’s regular weekly programme.

Rally To Defend Free Expression – 11th February 2012

February 11, 2012Admin bits and piecesFree Expression, Maryam Namazie, Nick Cohen, One Law For All, Rally, Richard Dawkinsadmin

In a very chilly Westminster today a rally was held to defend freedom of expression. Organised by the One Law For All campaign, it brought together a number of groups and individuals including many university atheist societies, the BHA, NSS, Richard Dawkins, Nick Cohen, Joan Smith and AC Grayling.

You can hear further coverage of the recent free-speech cases that have provoked this rally on The Pod Delusion’s weekly programme…

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Speakers listing…

Anne Marie Waters from One Law For All (4:50)
AC Grayling (8:15)
Maryam Namazie reading a statement on behalf of the creator of Jesus & Mo (11:30)
Keith Porteous Wood from the National Secular Society (14:42)
Nick Doody (17:35)
Nick Cohen (20:35)
Rhys Morgan (26:10)
Jennifer Hardy, President of Queen Mary Atheist Society (31:25)
Jim Fitzpatrick MP (33:40)
Jenny Bartle, President of the AHS (35:15)
Susan Zuang, from UCL Atheist Society (36:10)
Baroness Cox (39:30)
Rupert Sutton from Student Rights (42:15)
Richard Dawkins (44:02)
Kate Smurthwaite
Faisal Gazi
Derek Lennard from GALHA, the Gay & Lesbian Humanist Assocation
Sue Cox from Survivors’ Voice Europe
Pragna Patel from Southall Black Sisters
Marco Tranchino from Central London Humanists Group (87:30)
Mark Embleton from Atheism UK (90:20)
Chris Moos reading a message from Andrew Copson, head of the British Humanist Association
Gita Sahgal from Centre for Secular Space (96.25)
Roger Farrington of the Sheffield Humanist Society reading a message from Roy Brown from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (105:07)
Joan Smith
Maryam Namazie from One Law For All

We’re trying to crowdsource the names of speakers and their timing in the podcast above – so let us know in the comments below the speaker and the timecode if you happen to notice this.

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Episode 122 – 10th February 2012

February 10, 2012EpisodesAlex Fitch, Carl Gardner, Christopher Chope, Craig Lucas, Daily Mail, David Allen Green, Daylight Savings Time, DST, Electric Lullaby, Filibustering, James O'Malley, Jeremy Greenstock, Jessica Metheringham-Owlett, libel, Michael Marshall, Moon Bases, Newt Gingrich, Paul Chambers, Reform, Sally Morgan, Sarah Angliss, Tom Williamson, Twitter Joke Trial, UN, United Nations, Womens History Monthadmin

This week we explore UN reform with a former ambassador to the United Nations, get the latest on the Twitter Joke Trial, build a moon base and keep filibustering to pass the time.

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UN Reform (2:25) by James O’Malley (ft Sir Jeremy Greenstock)
Twitter Joke Trial Appeal (12:36) by Carl Gardner (ft David Allen Green)
Moon Bases (16:56) by Alex Fitch
Women’s History Month (25:53) by Jessica Metheringham-Owlett
Filibustering (30:41) by Craig Lucas (ft Christopher Chope)
Challenge Sally (38:40) by Tom Williamson (ft Michael Marshall)
Electric Lullaby (47:15) by Sarah Angliss

David Allen Green interview courtesy of Carl Gardner

Women’s History Month:

Sarah’s Links: