Best Brain In A Vat Podcasts (2025)

1
Cultural Appropriation | Stephen Kershnar (Rebroadcast) 51:42

Play Pause

8d ago51:42

51:42

Is it permissible for members of one group to appropriate the cultural practices of another? Is there anything wrong with cultural appropriation at all, or are there benefits to cultural appropriation?

1
Emergency Archbishop Livestream 1:32:12

4h ago1:32:12

1:32:12

Church of England vicars with a difference Tom Pelham, Daniel French and Jamie Franklin sit down down for a special livestream reaction to the selection of Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. What are the implications for the global Anglican Communion? What is the role of the Archbishop anyway? Why stay in the Church of England? An…

1
Pompous Church Leaders Opine on Unite the Kingdom; Digital ID; Theology of Climate Change Activism; and reaching the Islamic World with Dr Duane Miller 1:42:02

5d ago1:42:02

1:42:02

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin is joined by the Rev'd Dr Duane Miller, missionary to the Islamic world and scholar in contextual theology with a particular focus on Islam. They talked about the challenges with demographic change and Islamic political theology, how Christianity offers a distinct vision for politics than Islam…

1
David Frost: "Why I Went Back to Church" 11:12

9d ago11:12

11:12

FULL INTERVIEW HERE: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1303861/episodes/17884608-faith-and-politics-with-david-frost WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/VUTLZbE0Ozg Support the showBy J.A. Franklin, T.J. Pelham, Daniel French

1
Forgiveness and Hate at the Charlie Kirk Funeral 1:18:17

13d ago1:18:17

1:18:17

Church of England revs with a difference Jamie Franklin and Thomas Pelham sit down to talk about the biggest issues in Church and state. This time: The Charlie Kirk Funeral: Erika Kirk forgives but Trump offers only hatred for his enemies. Is the right in danger of engaging in the politics of hate too? Church leaders condemn the Unite the Kingdom m…

1
Aztec Philosophy: What the Aztecs Knew About Life | Sebastian Purcell 57:31

16d ago57:31

57:31

How did the Aztecs understand life, morality, and human purpose? What can Aztec philosophy teach us about living well? Sebastian Purcell guides us through Aztec thought, beginning with a thought experiment from Homer’s Odyssey and moving into the core ideas of Aztec wisdom. Along the way, he contrasts Aztec ethics with Western traditions and applie…

1
Faith and Politics with David Frost 1:32:19

17d ago1:32:19

1:32:19

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down in-person with David (Lord) Frost in a wide-ranging conversation on faith and politics, including never before heard insight into David's conversion to Christianity. Topics include: David's recent conversion to Roman Catholicism and what attracted him to Christianity in the first plac…

1
With Nick Dixon on Charlie Kirk 1:14:13

21d ago1:14:13

1:14:13

Church of England rev with a difference sits down with comedian and commentator Nick Dixon to talk about the murder of Charlie Kirk and some of the responses to his death. This conversation was recorded for Nick's podcast The Current Thing. We discuss: -The appalling response to Charlie Kirk’s murder from Alastair Campbell, Stephen King, and many m…

1
#212: Inside IKEA’s End-to-End Supply Chain Overhaul with Susanne Waidzunas 24:34

19d ago24:34

24:34

*Hosted by Radu Palamariu* Susanne Waidzunas has spent over 25 years shaping one of the most intricate global supply chains on the planet at IKEA. From her early days managing suppliers in the Baltics to leading a sweeping digital and sustainability transformation, Susanne offers a rare look inside IKEA’s end-to-end strategy. We explore how her tea…

1
Charlie Kirk: Murder and Aftermath 1:12:43

29d ago1:12:43

1:12:43

Church of England revs with a difference Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time: The appalling murders Charlie Kirk and Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska and what this says about American society and identity politics more generally. Angela Rayner resigns from the government over dodgy…

1
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk 30:11

27d ago30:11

30:11

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Mark and Jasondiscuss the tragic assassination of political commentator, Charlie Kirk. The episode discusses Kirk's commitment to open dialogue and civil discourse, particularly on college campuses, and critique the societal implications of hisdeath. The episode delves into themes of free speech, academicf…

1
Using AI to Fight Crime | David Boonin (Rebroadcast) 1:14:07

1M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

Is racial profiling always wrong, even if used by an AI to decrease crime? Should we use AI to judge criminal cases, recommend sentences for the guilty, or decide parole for prisoners? Chapters: [00:00] Introduction to AI in Crime Fighting [00:12] Thought Experiment: The Looting Scenario [06:32] Predictive Policing and AI [10:13] Debating the Ethic…

1
Classic Replay: Lord Frost on Covid, Identity Politics, Brexit, Free Speech and More! 2:08:20

1M ago2:08:20

2:08:20

If you enjoyed this episode, why not book now to attend the upcoming live interview recording in Winchester with Lord Frost! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irreverend-live-jamie-franklin-interviews-lord-frost-tickets-1536201733739?aff=oddtdtcreator Church of England vicars Daniel French, Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin are joined by Lord Frost. Davi…

1
#211: Why Calm Leadership Wins in Supply Chain with Arne Flemming of Bosch 33:41

1M ago33:41

33:41

*Hosted by Fei Yu* I sat down with Arne Flemming, Senior Vice President of Corporate Supply Chain Management and Global Logistics Services at Bosch, a €90B global powerhouse operating across mobility, industrial tech, home appliances, and more. Arne leads supply chain operations impacting 30,000+ associates and 230 plants worldwide. We discuss his …

1
Are We Free at Work? Marx on Capitalism Today | Brian Leiter 1:10:47

1M ago1:10:47

1:10:47

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, we’re joined by Brian Leiter, co-author (with Jamie Edwards) of a new book on Marx. We explore whether workers in contemporary capitalism are truly free—or trapped in a form of “wage slavery.” Leiter uses thought experiments to probe the limits of workplace freedom. He also examines Marx’s labor theory of value—it…

1
The Life of Brain 1:25:56

1M ago1:25:56

1:25:56

Church of England revs with a difference Daniel French, Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time: Creation-tide liturgy approved by the Church of England: but is this simply more climate change propaganda? Classical Christian school King Alfred's forced to close due to Labour's tax r…

1
The Possible Worlds of David Lewis | Barry Lam (Rebroadcast) 52:04

2M ago52:04

52:04

What are possible worlds? Could you have been born to different parents, and could an object be both completely green and completely red? Barry Lam explains how David Lewis’s views on possible worlds can help us understand everything from time travel to the nature of who we are.

1
Two-Tier Justice; Multi-faith CofE; and is immigration driving religious revival in Britain? 1:04:50

2M ago1:04:50

1:04:50

Church of England revs with a difference Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest issues in church and state. This time: Two tier justice? As Labour councillor who urged crowd to slit the throats of Southport protestors freed. Multi-faith chaplain made new Principal at a major Church of England training college. Is immigrati…

1
Procreative Ethics | Rivka Weinberg (Rebroadcast) 1:02:39

2M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Is it wrong to bring new life into the world? Is adopting a child a moral obligation? Is parenting meaningful?

1
Badenoch's Problem with God 1:17:03

2M ago1:17:03

1:17:03

Church of England rev with a difference, the Rev'd Dr Jamie Franklin, sits down to talk about the biggest issues in Church and State. This time: Kemi Badenoch, the Problem of Evil and Cultural Christianity. Thought for the Day Guests slams Jenrick's "xenophobia" and BBC is accused of political bias (again). Update on the trial of the Rev'd Dr Berna…

1
Imagine There’s No Gender | Holly Lawford-Smith [with Raja Halwani] (Rebroadcast) 56:18

2M ago56:18

56:18

Would the world be better if we didn’t recognize genders? In such a world, there would be males and females, but nothing associated with what it means to be male or female other than biological facts. Men and women would be equally likely to be social leaders. And there would be no stereotypically male or female behavior. In this world, there’d be …

1
#210: Operational Innovation at TE Connectivity with Jim Tobojka 32:15

2M ago32:15

32:15

*Hosted by Radu Palamariu* Jim Tobojka is the Chief Operations Officer at TE Connectivity, a USD 16B industrial tech powerhouse whose products power everything from EVs to life-saving devices. We dived into Jim’s bold career path, from turning around plants at age 24 to scaling TE’s logistics network through a transformative initiative called Integ…

1
The Moral Lives of Spies | Cécile Fabre 1:01:41

2M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

What does a spy owe — to their country, their conscience, or their cause? In this episode, Cécile Fabre investigates the moral lives of Cold War operatives like Kim Philby and Oleg Gordievsky. With Fabre, we probe the strange morality of spies and the ethical paradoxes they inhabit. Is it ever right to betray your country? Can deception be a moral …

1
Keir Torture 48:26

2M ago48:26

48:26

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down to talk about the biggest issues in Church and State. This time: PM Keir Starmer humiliated in Trump's visit to Britain. Bishop Jonathan Baker rages in dressing gown in front of audience of concert-goers. Clergy response to migrant unrest in Epping. And more on why young people are re…

1
#209: Building Resilient, Local-Global Supply Chains with Manuel Wildberger of Givaudan 36:21

2M ago36:21

36:21

*Hosted by Fei Yu* Manuel Wildberger leads European operations at Givaudan, a global flavor and fragrance giant with 7.4B Swiss Francs in sales and customers across 150 countries. I spoke with Manuel about how he manages a 800M Swiss Francs supply chain across seven plants and five countries while balancing hyper-customization, precision, and resil…

1
The Right to Sex | Raja Halwani (Rebroadcast) 59:01

3M ago59:01

59:01

Do we have a right to sex, and is there an obligation to sexually fulfill the disabled? Should sex work be not only legal, but obligatory? [00:00] Introduction and Guest Welcome [00:16] Exploring the Right to Sex: Thought Experiment [03:43] Negative vs. Positive Rights to Sex [09:50] State-Sponsored Sex Work and Ethical Considerations [11:52] Sexua…

1
Danny Kruger and Christian Restoration in Britain 1:12:24

3M ago1:12:24

1:12:24

Church of England vicars with a difference Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest events in church and state. This time: Danny Kruger and his address on Christianity to an empty House of Commons. Woke and Islam are the religions poised to take over, but is there anything that can be done about it? Protests and counter-prot…

1
#208: Apple in China with Author and Journalist Patrick McGee 39:03

3M ago39:03

39:03

*Hosted by Radu Palamariu* In this episode, we dive into one of the most consequential supply chain narratives of our time: how Apple became the single largest private contributor to China’s tech rise. Patrick McGee, a longtime Financial Times reporter and author of Apple in China, joins me to unravel the $55B-a-year investments, the Foxconn partne…

1
Decriminalizing Sex Work | Jessica Flanigan 1:01:25

3M ago1:01:25

1:01:25

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, we welcome back Jessica Flanigan for a discussion on the decriminalization of sex work. Using a decriminalization framework, Flanigan examines the ethics of sex work and the role of state regulation. The conversation explores autonomy, consent, and coercion. It also addresses the stigma surrounding sex work, its p…

1
Schoolgirl BANNED for celebrating Britain; Church of England Synod says "No" to gay marriage, Israel boycott and "assisted "dying" 1:15:19

3M ago1:15:19

1:15:19

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time: Theological reflections on the horrendous Texas flooding. 12-year-old school girl sent home for celebrating Britain in Culture Celebration Day. Update from Church of England's General Synod: Gay Marriage on the rocks; c…

1
Disgust | Martha Nussbaum (Rebroadcast) 58:01

3M ago58:01

58:01

What exactly makes us feel disgusted? Is disgust for a person or group ever justified? And is disgust useful, or should we try to eliminate it? Chapters: [00:00] Introduction to Disgust and Cognitive Content [00:11] Paul Rosen's Experiments on Disgust [02:16] Disgust and Its Connection to Animality and Mortality [03:05] Projective Disgust and Socia…

1
Lily Allen and Abortion, Welby and Gay Marriage, and Employment Benefits for Early Miscarriages 52:03

3M ago52:03

52:03

Church of England revs with a difference Tom Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time: Lily Allen jokes that she can't remember how many abortions she's had. Justin Welby at the Cambridge Union says he was being "thick" about gay marriage. Government announces employment benefit for women w…

1
God is an Englishman: Special Interview with Bijan Omrani 1:28:22

3M ago1:28:22

1:28:22

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sat down to talk with scholar and author of God is an Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England Bijan Omrani in a special live interview. In a wide-ranging conversation, topics covered included the following: English national identity and its interplay with the Church of England. The…

1
Patriotism Unpacked | Spencer Case (Rebroadcast) 59:38

3M ago59:38

59:38

What does it mean to be patriotic, or to love your country? Some argue that patriotism is virtuous because it allows us to transcend our selfish needs and act for the good of our community. But others argue that patriotism is overly narrow-minded, arbitrary and sometimes immoral. Microdigressions Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@Micro-Digressions …

1
Madness at Glastonbury and Withholding Communion 1:13:06

3M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Church of England Revs with a difference Jamie Franklin, Thomas Pelham and Daniel French are back to talk about the biggest issues in church and state. This time: More on the Bishop of London's statement that women should not be criminalised for terminating their pregnancies at any point. Lib Dem MP denied Holy Communion by Roman Catholic priest Fr…

1
#207: From CSCO to CEO, Building a Global Board Career, and the GAP framework with Pier Luigi Sigismondi 38:44

3M ago38:44

38:44

*Hosted by Radu Palamariu* Pier Luigi Sigismondi helped build Unilever’s supply chain into a global benchmark, then pivoted to become a sought-after board member across three continents. In this episode, we explored his remarkable journey from Latin America to C-suites and boardrooms, and how a mindset rooted in humility, ambition, and adaptability…

1
Is Tarot a Tool for Thought? | Georgi Gardiner 1:01:44

3M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, Georgi Gardiner returns to explore the epistemic value of tarot: its capacity to shape self-understanding, spark creative reflection, and influence major life decisions. Drawing on personal experience and philosophical analysis, Georgi examines how tarot can serve as a mirror for introspection while also raising c…

1
Abortion and Suicide: A Very Dark Week for Britain 1:15:38

4M ago1:15:38

1:15:38

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down to talk about the biggest stories of the week. On the agenda this time can only be the passing of laws in Britain decriminalising abortion up to birth and legalising state-sponsored suicide. We also look at the Bishop of Manchester's denial that so-called "grooming gangs" had anything…

1
Living The Philosophical Life | Agnes Callard 55:21

4M ago55:21

55:21

In this episode, Brain in a Vat is joined by public philosopher and author Agnes Callard to explore the relevance of philosophy in everyday life. Drawing from her work on Socrates, Agnes makes a case for why philosophical inquiry matters, now more than ever. From the pig farmer analogy to Socratic love, this conversation is a deep dive into how phi…

1
From the Archives - Louise Perry: The Sexual Revolution Has Failed! 1:14:39

4M ago1:14:39

1:14:39

In this classic episodes, Church of England revs with a difference Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin talk to author and journalist Louise Perry about her groundbreaking work The Case Against The Sexual Revolution. Louise discussed her increasing openness and sympathy toward the Christian outlook on family, motherhood, and sexual relationships, the c…

1
The Israel Palestine Conflict | David Benatar 59:21

4M ago59:21

59:21

Are Jews entitled to their own homeland? Is the Israeli response to the massacre of civilians perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th justified? Should there be a ceasefire? David's Article in Quillette: https://quillette.com/2023/10/21/its-not-the-occupation/ Raja Halwani wrote to us about Jason's exposition of his view at 33:06. Here is Raja's clarif…

1
Riots and Immigration: Is Civil War Coming to the West? 1:03:41

4M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Church of England revs with a difference Thomas Pelham and Jamie Franklin sit down to talk about the biggest events in church and state. This time: England football fans chant completely unacceptable things at Keir Starmer. Riots in L.A. and Northern Ireland. Is civil war on the horizon for Western nations? Labour performs an inevitable U-turn on w…

1
#206: Data-Driven Supply Chain Transformation with Ruth Beadle of Sanofi 30:32

4M ago30:32

30:32

*Hosted by Stéphanie Moles-Rota* In this compelling episode, I interviewed Ruth Beadle, the Head of Supply Chain at Sanofi, where we talked about her transformative leadership journey across various industries and geographies. Ruth shared pivotal moments that shaped her career, the challenges of leading large-scale ERP and AI-driven initiatives, an…

1
The Ideal State: An AI Debate - Plato vs Nozick 47:59

4M ago47:59

47:59

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, we examine two competing political visions through an AI debate between Plato and Robert Nozick. Plato defends rule by philosopher kings and a unified society, while Nozick argues for individual liberty and a minimal state. Following our previous episode featuring Mill and Kant, we continue investigating major phi…

1
Have Blasphemy Laws Been Reintroduced in Britain? 1:17:48

4M ago1:17:48

1:17:48

Church of England rev with a difference Jamie Franklin sits down to talk about the biggest stories in church and state. This time we ask if blasphemy laws have been reintroduced in Britain since the prosecution of protestor Hamit Coskun for burning a Koran and criticising Islam in public. Would such a thing happen to someone burning the Bible? And …

1
From Covid to Christ with Christine Padgham 1:00:40

4M ago1:00:40

1:00:40

In a very special conversation episode, Rev Jamie Franklin sits down with Christine Padgham, former host of the Coronastories podcast, leader of Inform Scotland, mother, Covid sceptic, and friend of the Irreverend podcast. It's about five years now since all the Covid madness kicked off. And a lot has happened in that time. In a wide-ranging conver…

1
#205: How Unilever’s Ice Cream Division Became the $8.5B “Magnum Company” with Sandeep Desai, CSCO 31:28

4M ago31:28

31:28

*Hosted by Radu Palamariu* Unilever is turning its iconic ice cream business, home to Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s, into a standalone powerhouse. What does it really take to spin off an €8.5B global business? Sandeep Desai, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Unilever Ice Cream, takes us inside the transformation. From leading 9,000+ employees across 38 fact…

1
Organ Markets | James Stacey Taylor (Rebroadcast) 1:13:57

4M ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Should we be allowed to sell our organs on the open market? Would the poor be exploited under such a system? And does organ donation impose an unfair burden on the relatives of those that need a transplant? Check out FeedSpot's list of 90 best philosophy podcasts, where Brain in a Vat is ranked at 15, here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/philosophy_p…

1
Incarceration, Drugs and Terror: It's Two-Tier Britain 1:03:47

4M ago1:03:47

1:03:47

Church of England revs with a difference Jamie Franklin and Thomas Pelham sit down to talk about the biggest issues in church and state. This time: Lucy Connolly back in the slammer: But is this an example of political imprisonment and two-tier justice? Why have the Liverpool vehicle attack suspect's ethnic details been released? And Sadiq Khan say…

1
Podcast Extra: Who or What is the Devil? w/ author Jared Brock 1:00:59

5M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Church of England rev with a difference Daniel French sits down to talk with author Jared Brock. In his new book A Devil Named Lucifer, Jared seeks to elucidate the controversial subject of the Devil from a Biblical perspective whilst debunking popular misconceptions. Together, he and Daniel explore the themes of the book and speak about the new de…