The Culturico's Podcast

Technology, AI, and the apocalypse with Zachary Loeb

Join us for a Culturico podcast about the end of the world with historian of technology Zachary Loeb. We discuss the history of apocalyptic ideas and modern technological scepticism through the lens of his own academic work. This focuses on the Y2K scare or “millennium bug”, a collective fear of global computer systems becoming suddenly unable to distinguish dates correctly from midnight on January 1^st, 2000, with catastrophic consequences. Although these fears never materialised, they tell the story of our global reliance on computing and resulting unease, both of which have only increased in the decades since. This fear has found expression in popular culture, which we use – for example through the sci-fi novels of William Gibson – to ask whether computer risk poses a tangible threat to governments, and whether it is possible to imagine a future with less computing.

The war in Ukraine: Prospects for peace, ramifications for world politics, with Alexander Gillespie

What are the prospects for peace in Ukraine? Can our international institutions - like the United Nations and International Criminal Court (ICC) - do anything to resolve the conflict? With clear human rights violations taking place, how can violators be held accountable? Are sanctions working? Professor of Law at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, Dr Alexander Gillespie and Associate Professor of International Relations at San Francisco State University in the United States, and Culturico's own international relations editor, Dr Anthony Pahnke, discuss these themes and others on Culturico's latest podcast. Dr Gillespie brings years of expertise to the subject, having authored nineteen books in law and politics, and being the first New Zealander to be named Rapporteur for the World Heritage Convention, involving international environmental diplomacy under the auspice of UNESCO. Dr Pahnke has authored numerous articles and two books, focusing on development policy, social movements, and trade.

Unromantic, Political Art: An Interview with Caoimhghin Ó Croidheáin

This edition of the Culturico podcast discusses the philosophical and political background of art with Caoimhghin Ó Croidheáin, an Irish artist, lecturer and writer. His own art, which draws heavily on social realism and geopolitical themes, is contextualised by Ó Croidheáin in his book "Against Romanticism: from Enlightenment to Enfrightenment and the Culture of Slavery". In this work, he suggests that modern-left wing movements should see themselves as inheritors of the scientific and politically progressive ideals of the Enlightenment, in contrast to the reactionary ideals of Romanticism. In the interview we discuss the legitimacy of these claims, but also the connection between philosophical views and artistic aesthetic, as well as the appeal and pitfalls of making politicised art.

The status of research for ALS patients

Join us for a very informative episode, where Juliette Foucher and Tommy Bunte join us to discuss the latest advances in ALS research. We discuss how scientists and medical personnel join in collaborative efforts to battle the disease, develop and discuss clinical trials with the patients. Juliette and Tommy also tell us the many ramifications of their work researching, working with patients, and organizing ALS consortia and conferences. We also discuss how important and valuable is the hard work that patients put into advocacy and end on a positive note by acknowledging the many advances and prospects for future treatments.

How to communicate science with Helen Pilcher

Would it be possible to bring back The King? What was the first animal that was extinct twice? How does a physicist study snowflake shapes? How can scientists reach non-scientists better? These and other topics are brought to the podcast by Helen Pilcher, an excellent scientific communicator, while we discuss over the podcast the best way to communicate to an audience, be it science or any other specialized topic.

Conversation with Irish Poet Ciarán O’Rourke

In this episode, Culturico editor (and poet) Jessica Brown talks with Ciarán O'Rourke, a poet living in Galway, Ireland, and whose most recent collection of poetry Phantom Gang is soon to be released. What is a poetry-writing practice like? How does a poem work? What is it like to see poetically? These questions and more are discussed in this warm, thoughtful interview.

The power of poetry: An interview with Zilka Joseph

Culturico's poetry and literature editor Gerfried Ambrosch sat down with award-winning poet Zilka Joseph to discuss her latest book, a collection of poems entitled In Our Beautiful Bones, as well as her journey both as a writer and as an immigrant to the United States. Her ethnic background as a member of Bene Israel, a 'lost' Jewish tribe in India, also comes up as a topic of conversation. Other topics include definitions of poetry, approaches to writing, and the transformational power of words.

How the far right in America influences far right movements worldwide

In this Podcast, two professors – Anthony Pahnke, from the Department of International Relations at San Francisco State University, and Peter Simi, from the Department of Sociology at Chapman University – discuss the nature of far-right extremism in Europe and the United States. Their conversation deals with the causes for the rise of the far-right, the role that violence plays in their mobilization, and how extremist ideas and activists have become mainstream. They conclude by exploring ways that people can challenge the far-right’s growing influence.

The influence of migrations on Kerala, India with Mohamed Shafeeq K.

Migration from South Asia to the Gulf Countries have been a key factor of the economic development of both regions. In this episode, we sit down with Professor Mohamed Shafeeq K. and discuss the influence of these migrations on Kerala, India. He has studied this particular migration in detail and speaks about the cultural impact of these migrations.

The Aurat March in Pakistan

In this episode, Culturico editor Jessica Brown is in conversation with Aurat March (Women's March) volunteers from Pakistan. They speak on the care and effort that goes behind the organisation of the March, aiming to make it intersectional and deciding the relevant yearly themes. Relevant themes include feminism in Pakistan, collective work with a focus on the theme for 2021 which was "A Pandemic of Patriarchy".