A Need To Read

Earth is a hothouse with Prof. Bill McGuire

Bill McGuire is a Professor Emeritus of Geophysical and Climate Hazards at University College London, and a writer, who is regularly published in The Guardian, The Times, and The Observer. He is the author of many books, notably the newest, Hothouse Earth - an inhabitants guide, which is a look towards the future of our planet. 
 
 
In this podcast we discuss:
The impact of rising sea levels on the earth's crust, volcanos, coastal cities, and marine life
Humanity’s downward spiral due to the climate crisis  
Capitalism and climate change
And at the end, I chat about how I'm trying not to be sad all the time about what the future is looking likely to hold. 
 
Support for the podcast
 
I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.
 
- Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast. 
 
- Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee
 
I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link. 
 
- Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show
 
- Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show. 
 
- You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk
 

BEING YOU: Consciousness, Dreams and the Self with Prof. Anil Seth

Professor Anil Seth is a Computational and Cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Sussex. His book Being You was a Sunday Times Bestseller. 
 
Take part in Anil's research
 
In this podcast we discuss:
Anil’s latest project ‘The Dream Machine’
What dreams are for?
How your brain creates experience 
How we see colour
Why we all see things differently 
What happens to your brain on Psychadelics
What happens to your brains when you learn something new
The illusion of Self
Free Will 
 
Support for the podcast
 
I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.
 
- Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast. 
 
- Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee
 
I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link. 
 
- Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show
 
- Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show. 
 
- You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk
 

Philosophy for hard times, with Kieran Setiya

Kieran Setiya is a Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was born in Hull, UK. He is known for his work in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind. 
 
We discuss: 
Utilitarianism and the problems with focusing on happiness
The Good Enough life
Dealing with injustice
Effective altruism
Dealing with powerlessness and the limits of individualism
Meaning in an absurd world 
Assessing hope
How to face your midlife crisis 
Dealing with regret 
Meditation and presence 
Kieran’s favourite philosopher
His website is: http://www.ksetiya.net/ 
 
Support for the podcast
 
I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.
 
- Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast. 
 
- Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee
 
I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link. 
 
- Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show
 
- Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show. 
 
- You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk
 

Mental Health and Behaviour Change with Dr. Mike II

Dr. Mike Banna is a GP in the South of England, a GP educator, and a Director of the British Society for Lifestyle Medicine. He also writes a weekly newsletter for Gymshark called The Doctors Note.
 
This podcast discusses mental health services in the UK, Instagram wellness advice, behaviour change journeys, shamelessly being bad at things, and a few of his favourite books. 
 
Dr. Mike is on Instagram and Twitter as @DrMikethe2nd
 
Support for the podcast
 
I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.
 
- Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast. 
 
- Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee
 
I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link. 
 
- Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show
 
- Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show. 
 
- You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk
 
 
 

The Future of Farming with George Monbiot

George Monbiot is one of Britain's finest writers on Climate. He has a weekly column where he writes on political and environmental issues with The Guardian and is the author of multiple books.  His book feral has inspired a rewinding movement in the UK, and his latest book Regenesis looks at the future of farming. 
 
In this podcast we discuss
The complexity of soil 
How common farming practices are destroying the structure of soil  
What working on a pig farm is like 
How much DEFRA suck 
Where there is hope in eco-farming
The impact of animal agriculture 
The future of protein
How farmers control farming policies
 
Find more from George on his website: https://www.monbiot.com/about/
 
Support for the podcast
 
I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.
 
- Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast. 
 
- Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee
 
I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link. 
 
- Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show
 
- Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show. 
 
- You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk
 

The Law of Attraction debunked by David Grimes, an actual scientist.

David Robert Grimes is a Science communicator and author. His book The Irrational Ape has been discussed on this show many times. He joins me today to discuss the Law of Attraction, the pseudoscientific craze that has made millennials, Gen-Zers, and Gwyneth Paltrow believe they can bend the universe to suit their will.
 
More from David is on his website: https://www.davidrobertgrimes.com
 
I highly recommend reading his book if you have ever wondered what on the flat earth makes people believe in conspiracy theories. David's an excellent communicator. and a great voice for science and rationality. 
 
Support for the podcast
 
Hey!
 
I'm an independent podcaster, which is a fancy way of saying no one pays me a regular wage. And, to level with you, that is terrifying- all of the time. So, if you like what I do and want me to keep doing it please support the show in one of the following ways.
 
- Share the podcast with a friend, or review the podcast. 
 
- Make a one-off donation with BuyMeACoffee
 
I work with a couple of great companies who have discounts arranged for A Need To Read listeners, they're listed below. The discounts (BH) + freebies (AG) will already be applied when you click the link. 
 
- Go to Therapy and get 10% off your first month with BetterHelp, who sponsor the show
 
- Get your nutrition covered with the all-in-one AG1 shake from Athletic Greens, who also sponsor the show. 
 
- You can also give me feedback/comments/validation by emailing me: hello (at) aneedtoread.co.uk

Psychology of Online Behaviour with Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton

Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton is a cyberpsychology researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, in Dublin. She has authored a new series called 'The Psychology of Online Behaviour' on audible, and regularly appears in the media to discuss her research. 
 
We discuss
- How Tinder changed online dating
- Social Media use
- Why social media gets the blame for the mental health crisis
- The psychology of Dick Pics
- How men can be more successful with online dating
- How men and women's experiences vary with online dating
- How to think rationally about screen time & technology use
- How school shooters aren't linked with gaming 
 
For more from Nicola head to her website: https://www.nicolafoxhamilton.com/ 
 
Get a Free audiobook with Audible and access to Nicola's Audible Original 'The Psychology of Online Behaviour'
 
Support
 
Get my new weekly newsletter
 
www.Buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread
 
BetterHelp sponsors this podcast, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you’ll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you’ll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.
 
This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread
 
 
Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 
 

How to save our planet, with Professor Mark Maslin

Mark Maslin is a Professor of Earth System Science at University College London, a thought-leader on global heating, and the author of popular books on climate change and human evolution, most recently How To Save Our Planet: The Facts.
 
Mark joined me to discuss:
- How much it will cost to limit further damage and save the planet,
- Why Jordan Peterson is wrong about environmentalists,
- Who will be dealing with the worst of the consequences of global heating,
- How capitalism can save the planet,
- What it means to be in The Anthropocene,
- How governments, individuals, and corporations can do their bit 
 
You can find Mark on Twitter: @profmarkmaslin
 
Support
 
Get my new weekly newsletter
 
This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you’ll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you’ll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.
 
This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread
 
Get a Free audiobook with Audible! 
 
Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 
 
Or to support my work by making a donation please head to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread

What’s wrong with Self-Help, with Siobhan O’Hagan

Siobhan O'hagan is a Personal Trainer and Content Creator, she is also a good friend of mine. She's back on A Need To Read for the third time to discuss; Tony Robbins, self-help, effective altruism, whether or not the laptop lifestyle is sustainable, Angel numbers, the meaning of suffering, Whether books REALLY helped me as much as I thought, The recently UCL study on the chemical imbalance narrative around depression, the effectiveness of IAPT (Immediate Access to Psychological Therapies) in the UK, and the problems with the economics of happiness.
 
Books Discussed
The existentialist Cafe
The Antidote 
Manufacturing Happy Citizens 
 
Support
The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.
 
You can also see the archive posts with this link.
 
This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you’ll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you’ll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.
 
This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread 
 
Get a Free audiobook with Audible! 
 
Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact 
 

Exponentially faster and cheaper tech with Azeem Azhar

Azeem Azhar is one of the world’s most trusted voices in technological innovation. He has worked within the tech industry since the early 90s with companies like the BBC, The Guardian, and The Economist. More recently, Azeem has become an active startup investor and has advised organizations like the World Economic Forum. He is a contributor to publications including the Financial Times, Wired, and the MIT Technology Review. He's been producing the Exponential view newsletter— which looks at intersections between technology and business— for the last 7 years and has attracted a high-profile readership.
Azeem’s new book, Exponential, looks at how technology has come to advance so rapidly, and the different ways we are struggling to keep up. 
 
In this podcast we discuss:
What are the characteristics of The Exponential Age
Why the Metaverse is a bit meh
Which technologies that have been getting exponentially cheaper
How clean energy is being held back
The ways big tech firms use your data
Cyber security and the threat of misinformation 
Russia’s cyber antics 
How advanced does tech have to be for us to be suspicious of living in a simulation? 
 
Azeem can be found on Twitter: @Azeem
Or at Exponential View: https://www.exponentialview.co/ 
Support
 
The best thing you can do is share the podcast with a friend, or sign up for my new weekly newsletter.
You can also see my older newsletters with this link.
 
This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp, so if you want to learn to understand your behavior or emotions with the help of a professional you can get 10% off your first month of therapy by heading to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread from there you’ll just need to run through a 5-minute questionnaire and you’ll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours.
 
This podcast is also sponsored by Athletic Greens so you can get an additional 5 free travel packs and a year's supply of Vitamin D3 with your Athletic Greens subscription at www.athleticgreens.com/aneedtoread 
 
Get a Free audiobook with Audible! 
 
Get in touch: www.aneedtoread.co.uk/contact