Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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The Pod Delusion episode 183
April 25, 2013
Thatcher graffiti in Brighton, April 2013
Episode 183: This week – What could have caused the Waco explosion, how one man managed to hack and control a plane with his mobile phone, why the government’s austerity agenda may be based on a faulty Excel spreadsheet, and banging our heads against a brick wall over MMR. Also: Alex Fitch looks into media coverage of Margaret Thatcher’s funeral, and Elizabeth Donnelly and Aysha Raza discuss the presence of women in science… (Originally broadcast 19th April 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
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The Pod Delusion episode 181
April 10, 2013
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Excerpt from Atari advert circa 1982
Episode 181: This week we explore the phenomenon of land grabbing, investigate a fascist footballer, and discover an intriguing piece of technology that will enable the blind to see using a clever phone app.
Alex Fitch wonders it’s game over for Atari, Liz Lutgendorff asks ‘Are Secularists Successful?’ and much more! (Originally broadcast 5th April 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
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The Pod Delusion episode 175
February 25, 2013
‘La Nona Ora’ (Pope struck by a Meteorite) – sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan
Episode 175: This week we look at Terry (Horrible Histories) Deary’s daft ideas, we speak to a space archaeologist (!) and look at Blackberry’s rise and fall… Also: Alex Fitch looks at criteria the Vatican might investigate when choosing a (more progressive) new Pope and Liz Lutgendorff talks to Janet Heimlich, author of Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment. (Originally broadcast 22nd Feb 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
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Links: Articles on Pope Benedict XVI in The Guardian
Listen to Alex’s 2009 interview with Horrible Histories author Terry Deary (more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 170
January 20, 2013
Franco Nero, Terence Hill, Thomas Milan, Ruka Uchida and Jamie Foxx as Django
Episode 170: This week – Highlights from the Leveson debates, European secularist court victories, an atheist church, dodgy charity PR, and some burgers with horse in it. Also: David Marsh investigates the demise of DVD and Alex Fitch looks at the history of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained as the latest in a long series of Spaghetti Westerns featuring a coffin dragging gunslinger. (Originally broadcast 18/01/2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
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Links: Read an abridged version of Alex’s Django monologue
Rare Cult Cinema nominate their ten favorite Django sequels
Wikipedia article on Django
Recommended events: Zombies at the Science Museum
Zombies: the word alone is enough to get the pulse racing, but what makes them so terrifying? On a dark winter’s night at the Science Museum, we’ll explore the murky but fascinating world of consciousness and uncover the inner workings of the zombie psyche. (more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 165
December 17, 2012
Photo of Picturehouse cinema, Stratford
Episode 165: This week – Is David Cameron finally right about something? Why do Bristol University Christian Union think that women should be seen and not heard? What’s the deal with the human rights act? Kate Russell speaks to Games Workshop co-founder and fantasy gaming legend Ian Livingstone and Alex Fitch ruminates on the future of arthouse film distribution following Cineworld’s takeover of PictureHouse cinemas.
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Links: Picturehouse cinemas website
Cineworld website
(more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 161
November 12, 2012
Press Complaint Commission code rule 11
Episode 161: This week – We speak to Pirate Party leader Loz Kaye about his party and author Stephen Trombley about his new book looking at the key figures in western philosophy. We also tackle dodgy Ofsted inspections, communicating the scientific method, Alex Fitch looks into censorship and law, and Sarah Castor-Perry investigates how to make the perfect cheese toastie.
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The Pod Delusion episode 156
October 5, 2012
No Swearing sign on Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Episode 156: This week – Historical precedents for Apple Maps, why Northern Ireland is so… challenging… Alex Fitch indulges in lots of swearing and James O’Malley looks into why a pineapple is the new frontier for the battle between freedom of speech and religion.
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The Pod Delusion episode 153
September 20, 2012
Statue commemorating thalidomide survivors – text reads: In memory of the dead and living
Episode 153: What happened when BPAS held a debate with Christian Concern? Why does Christian Wolmar want to be Mayor of London? Can celebrities be Twitter bullies? What’s the deal with the EU’s silly cookie laws? Also: Alex Fitch looks at the relationship between the media and tragedies such as Hillsborough, the Thalidomide scandal and the massacre on Utøya Island, and Trish Hann looks at the politicising of Ultrasound in the abortion debate.
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The Pod Delusion episode 150
August 24, 2012
Desperate Dan promotes The Dandy relaunch – art by Jamie Smart
Episode 150: The Pod Delusion hits 150 episodes this week and as ever, mixes levity and serious issues in this regular counter-culture and alt-politics podcast. This celebratory episode kicks off with a bit of a grim start as we cover the debate of the definition of rape that the media has been having this week, as well as the continuing predicament of Julian Assenge; we then get a bit more upbeat as we talk about atheism and religion, and Alex Fitch looks into possible reasons behind the cancellation of The Dandy… plus Salim Fadhley and Matthew De Abaitua discuss the Art of Camping!
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Links: Make a donation / Subscribe £5 per month to help fund the Pod Delusion
Julian Assange court hearings - Magistrates, High, Supreme
Buy The Art of Camping by Matthew De Abaitua
Robot 6 page on UK reactions to The Dandy demise (more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 146
July 27, 2012
Foreground: Steve Mann, cyborg / background: McDonalds sign, Champs-Élysées
Episode 146 This week: Why some colic treatments have been smacked down as rubbish, why we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about the Aurora shooter, why government policy could use some control trials, what happened at Winchester Science Festival, and a segment on the latest news surrounding the Twitter Joke Trial featuring interviews with Paul Chambers himself, David Allen Green and John Cooper QC (Paul’s legal team), Al Murray and Louise Mensch. Plus Alex Fitch discusses McDonald’s “Cyborg hate crime” and its relevance to the Olympics, and Kas Farooq looks at Dinosaur dinners! (more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 144
July 15, 2012
Covers of Life with Archie #16, Astonishing X-Men #51, Earth 2 #2
Episode 144: In this episode we find out what’s happening with Richard O’Dwyer, the Sheffield student who’s facing extradition to the US for copyright infringement, why Nature won in the libel courts, and why the government is letting creationism be taught in British schools…
Plus: Sean Ellis suggest a novel solution for Lords Reform, Alex Fitch discusses portrayals of Gay Marriages in comics such as Life with Archie, Astonishing X-Men and James Robinson’s new DC title Earth 2 with journalist Tim Macavoy, and we preview a couple of fun Edinburgh shows!
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The Pod Delusion episode 141
June 29, 2012
Still from Prometheus
Episode 141: We speak to the leader of the Libyan Democratic Party, find out about ecocide, and why we should cut down on the world population. Also, Cory Hazlehurst tackles political narratives and Alex Fitch has a deeper look into Prometheus against the backdrop of research into panspermia and extremophiles.
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Recommended events:
Karrie Fransman exhibition (more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 138
June 10, 2012
Police protect the Olympic countdown clock
Episode 138: This week, we find out if the anti-GM protesters managed to smash up the GM crops experiment, what the latest on the Twitter Joke Trial is, and why the proposals for equal marriage don’t go far enough. Also, Alex Fitch looks into LOCOG’s draconian brand enforcement plus Salim Fadhley and Prof Bob Hammond discover why file sharing might not be all that bad for the music industry.
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The Pod Delusion episode 136
May 27, 2012
“Another banner year for tomato sales” by Khalil Bendib
Episode 136: This week Liz Lutgendorff and James O’Malley speak to Hugh Grant, Tom Watson, Harriet Harman, Rich Peppiatt, Owen Jones and more at the rally for media reform, find out why the BBC isn’t biased and why Norway divorced its church and state. Also, Alex Fitch discusses shareholder rebellions and Hayley Stevens looks into Derek Acorah’s latest escapades.
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Links: Article on the history of shareholder rebellions at corpwatch.com
Info on media reform
The Pod Delusion episode 134
May 10, 2012
Professor Jim Al-Khalili / Manchester Biobank storage / Redhill ballot box
Episode 134: This week we find out why geeks need to get more political by speaking to Mark Henderson, author of the ‘Geek Manifesto’, speak to Professor Jim Al-Khalili about his new book on paradoxes in science, discover why FRAND is no friend of free software, and go down the Ancestor’s Trail. Also, Alex Fitch looks at protest voting in Bradford and London and Peter English investigates the Biobank… The Pod Delusion is a weekly news magazine radio programme and podcast about interesting things.
Visit www.ipadio.com, for more info on downloading.
Links: Buy The Geek Manifesto by Mark Henderson
The Skeptical Voter Project
Buy Paradox by Jim Al-Khalili
The Ancestor’s Trail
(more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 131
April 22, 2012
Memorial to Dimitris Christoulas in Athens
Episode 131: This week… Why at least some LibDems are opposed to the government’s snooping plans, open access science publishing, how to get around the ban on council prayers and much more! Also: Alex Fitch on protest suicides and Ed Bower on atheist attitudes to Christianity…
Correspondents include Dr Jenny Woods, Matt Kaiser, Alex Dutton, Alex Fitch, Clio Bellenis, Ed Bower and Blake Hutchings. The Pod Delusion is a weekly news magazine radio programme and podcast about interesting things.
Visit www.ipadio.com, for more info on downloading.
Links: Guardian articles on Dimitris Christoulas, Alem Dechasa and Yeshi Jemphel (more…)
The Pod Delusion episode 128
March 24, 2012
iPad in Gameboy case / Nintendo Virtual Boy / PC Engine LT
Episode 128: This week… We speak to IPCC climate scientist Michael E Mann, find out who won the Secularist of the Year award, try to build a space elevator and believe it not, have a story that’s vaguely about football. (Don’t worry though – we’re not actually talking about sport.) Alex Fitch discusses his addiction to handheld gadgets and Liz Lutgendorff talks to Peter Tatchell…
Correspondents include James O’Malley, David Allen Green, Georgia Gale Grant, Liz Lutgendorff, Michael E Mann, Sean Ellis, Sven Rudloff and Alex Fitch. The Pod Delusion is a weekly news magazine radio programme and podcast about interesting things.
Visit www.ipadio.com, for more info on downloading.
Links: Retro Gaming Blog and wikipedia page
Gizmodo article on gadget addiction
The Pod Delusion episode 125
March 8, 2012
Still from Every day the same dream
Episode 125: This week… there might not be any faster than light neutrinos, but what can we learn from a failed experiment? Might Iran embracing science be a good thing? Can Alex Fitch convince you that video games are on a par with art, film and literature? And what’s life like in the armed forces for a non-believer? Find out in this week’s show!
Correspondents include Drew Rae, David Eastman, Andrew Gould, Blakeley Nixon, Liz Lutgendorff, Tom Hodden and Alex Fitch. The Pod Delusion is a weekly news magazine radio programme and podcast about interesting things.
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