Best Discussions With A Physicist Podcasts (2025)

1
An inquisitive physicist view of audio accessibility and inclusion 36:01

9h ago36:01

36:01

Nick Hunn, a physicist with extensive experience in Bluetooth technology, discusses audio accessibility and inclusion. He highlights the shift from traditional telecoil-based hearing aids to advanced technologies that benefit everyone, not just those with hearing impairments. The new Bluetooth Auracast standard is a game-changer, enabling easy acce…

1
Dr. David Thesmar models social justice as an economic system 43:54

2d ago43:54

43:54

In this episode, have you ever felt that there is too much injustice in the world and you just can’t respond to it all? Have you ever found yourself making a compromise with your ethics just to make it through the day? I think we all have. My guest today has written a book looking at these tradeoffs. Hopefully it will help us all to be able to make…

1
Captioning and other accessibility features going mainstream. With Larry Goldberg 33:32

4d ago33:32

33:32

Larry Goldberg, a media and technology accessibility consultant, shares his journey from public broadcasting to consulting, focusing on accessibility and inclusion. He introduced captioning and audio description at WGBH in Boston and later worked on accessibility initiatives at Yahoo. Larry emphasizes the importance of captions and audio descriptio…

1
Don Weatherbee of Regenx is mining catalytic convertors for precious metals 26:52

9d ago26:52

26:52

In this episode I’m digging into a growing industrial segment that mines waste for precious metals. Often discarded systems contain higher precious metals fractions than the original ore they are mined from. Discarded computers and electronics, and in this case, catalytic converters can be recycled and thereby mitigate new mining operations and the…

1
Dr. Joe Romm says the hydrogen economy is a pipedream 1:03:07

1M ago1:03:07

1:03:07

In this episode I’m discussing energy, specifically hydrogen and nuclear with a leading environmentalist author. His recent book the Hype about Hydrogen (revised) highlights the seemingly intractable problems with a Hydrogen economy. He’s also publishing a whitepaper highlighting the high costs of SMRs and touting renewables as the cheapest solutio…

1
A look at the parties and leaders in Canada's federal election 34:36

1M ago34:36

34:36

Welcome to my Canadian election review podcast. As of the time of this episode Canada is just a couple weeks away and the Rational View is here to provide you with a rundown on the major parties. In Canada we have two major parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives who are the only parties who have ever won elections, plus a third party, the New …

1
Designing for Inclusion. With Chris McGinley, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design 35:39

1M ago35:39

35:39

Chris McGinley, a Senior Research Fellow at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, part of the Royal College of Art a wholly post graduate art and design institute in London, joined us for this Inclusively podcast. Chris is a Senior Research Fellow. He focuses on the ageing market and diverse user needs in design, but the Centre as a whole looks more …

1
Why am I me and not you? An exploration of physicalism 26:05

2M ago26:05

26:05

Life is chaotic right now, people are worried, all you hear on social media is conflict and crazy. Time to step back, relax, and go on a journey with me into philosophy of the mind. Let’s meditate a bit and disconnect from the reset of modern civilization. Why am I seeing the world only from within Al Scott’s head? Why am I me and not you? Why do y…

1
Living the accessibility life, with Neil Milliken and Antonio Santos at Atos 39:46

2M ago39:46

39:46

Neil Milliken and Antonio Santos work for Atos, the global IT Digital Transformation & IT Services Organisation. For them, accessibility and inclusion cut across all domains. Neil and Antonio are also the founders of the AXSChat podcast, which has been running for over ten years and delivers regular content looking at the many aspects of accessibil…

1
Wireless empowers the elderly to live on their own. With Ronnie Chang, ZTE 34:04

2M ago34:04

34:04

The elderly population is exploding, and so are their needs and desire to live a fulfilling and independent life and have easy and effective access to healthcare. Wi-Fi and cellular can be game-changing through sensing and home-based services. I talked to Ronnie Chang, Marketing Director Fixed and Multimedia Terminals at ZTE, about a set of applica…

1
Why did adventurer Miles Spencer retrace the journey of Lawrence of Arabia? 33:51

2M ago33:51

33:51

Miles Spencer is a father and a mentor of tech founders. He says the similarities in those jobs are remarkable. He founded, financed, built and exited three digital media companies. Prior to that, he was a Venture Principal at Capital Express, and hosted MoneyHunt on PBS. In his spare time he is a painter and an adventurer who has hiked through the…

1
Is Trump responding to unfair Canadian tariffs? 30:59

2M ago30:59

30:59

Donald Trump has fawned over authoritarians and dictators and strives to emulate them. What do dictators do? They expoit weaker countries and expand their territory. Hitler had the Aunschlus where he annexed Austria, Putin has Ukraine, and Trump wants Canada and Greenland. The international community allowed Putin to take Crimea with little repercu…

1
Closing the employment gap for disabled people with Jane Hatton, Evenbreak 37:46

2M ago37:46

37:46

Jane Hatton started Evenbreak to help employers to improve the recruitment of disabled people, not as a way to comply with regulation, but as an imperative to improve the quality of the workforce, and as an approach that helps everybody—enterprises, disabled people and everybody else. We deep-dived into the impact of AI in recruitment, the value of…

1
Professor David Bernstein discusses attacks on civil liberties 1:05:40

2M ago1:05:40

1:05:40

In this episode I’m following up on a tip from a listener who suggested that I should speak with David Bernstein. David was on Michael Shermer’s podcast discussing civil liberty, free speech, and constitutional law issues. In the current situation of highly polarized public debate it is critical that we listen to both sides of the argument and don’…

1
Juliana Tafur discusses bridging polarizing gaps and connecting Americans 49:58

3M ago49:58

49:58

In this episode I’m interviewing a thoughtful kindred spirit to the Rational View. Someone who has made it her mission to bridge polarizing gaps in society and work for the greater good. Please excuse my deep bass FM radio voice as I’m getting over a nasty virus. Juliana Tafur is the director of the Greater Good Science Center’s Bridging Difference…

1
An update on Project 2025 implementation and what it means for democracy 48:03

3M ago48:03

48:03

This episode is providing a rational review of events to the south in the new republican administration. There is a lot of concern on the left over the activities of Musk and Trump. There is a huge pile of propaganda that both sides are producing. What are the facts? Should we be worried? Appearing in the Oval Office and addressing the nation whils…

1
Dr. Anton Van Der Merwe on dangerous left wing anti-science dogmas 1:13:56

3M ago1:13:56

1:13:56

In this episode I’m going to play devil’s advocate and look at the flaws on the left of the political spectrum. I am always trying to challenge my biases and poke holes in my positions by listening to opposing opinions. I have been butting heads with a UK professor over social media on several issues recently as he has been posting what I would con…

1
Economist Dean Baker says the wage-productivity gap is real 49:40

3M ago49:40

49:40

In this episode I am exploring the divergence between productivity and wages in western economies since 1970. This was covered in one of my first podcasts and is a striking failure of society that has derailed post-war successes and led to the current situation of inequity and unrest. It puts us in the strange position that robotics and AI are goin…

1
Inclusively with Frances West | Putting humans first 33:21

3M ago33:21

33:21

Frances West has a vast experience in making technology more inclusive, that started when she was at IBM. She believes that technology can be a great enabler of inclusion if we put humans—all of them, with all their differences—first from design to market. An inclusive approach will drive demand, user satisfaction and profitability. She also shared…

1
Just how dangerous are the new mRNA vaccines? 33:49

4M ago33:49

33:49

In this episode I’m reviewing the scientific evidence on the safety of new mRNA vaccines. There has been a flurry of misunderstandings and misinformation posted online with the result being spreading vaccine hesitancy and a growing public health emergency. The WHO highlighted vaccine hesitancy as a major global health risk. Just this morning I hear…

1
Dr. Nilanjana Dasgupta on how biases are like wallpaper 51:18

4M ago51:18

51:18

In this episode I am continuing to cast a lens into the presence of inequity in society. The Rational View is about using evidence-based practices to promote justice for all. Over the years we, as a society, have made great progress in addressing inequality, but unscientific biases still abound. Many folks would say that we’ve already equalized opp…

1
Siri Chilazi uses evidence to address diversity, inequity, and inclusion 48:59

4M ago48:59

48:59

In this episode I’m interviewing a researcher who studies equality in the workplace. Her work stands out as being heavily influenced by quantitative studies on the effectiveness of various interventions aimed at leveling the gender gap in the workplace. I hope we can gain some insights into what is good and what does not work to promote fairness in…

1
Does grounding reduce inflammation and speed healing? 27:12

4M ago27:12

27:12

Happy New Year. Welcome to 2025! You made it! I’m glad to be able to share this with you. Today I want to talk about a health fad called Earthing, or Grounding. You’ve probably heard of it. Is it supported by science or is it snake oil? This calls for The Rational View. If you like my program please send money to patron dot podbean dot com slash TH…

1
Planetary scientist Dr. John Moores takes readers to the farthest reaches of the solar system 32:31

5M ago32:31

32:31

In this episode I’m interviewing a scientist turned science fiction author who has written a book that takes the reader on a journey around the solar system to the many remote places we’ve visited with our space probes. I’m eager to learn what he thinks about space exploration. Dr John Moores is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Research in …

1
Former Hungarian MP, Dr. Gabor Scheiring compares Trump to authoritarian leader Viktor Orban 48:34

6M ago48:34

48:34

In this episode I’m interviewing someone with firsthand knowledge of the replacement of democracy with an authoritarian populist regime. What does this mean? Take, for example, the case of Hungary under the leadership of Viktor Orbán, the populist prime minister of Hungary since 2010. In 2022, European parliament declared that Hungary could no long…

1
Inclusively with Rupert Baines | AI and mental health 33:22

6M ago33:22

33:22

How should we make the workplace more inclusive for mentally ill and neurodiverse people? How will AI help in diagnosing, treating and helping mental illness? Will AI help disabled people to socialize or cause isolation? We explored these issues and more with Rupert Baines, Chair of the UKTIN Semiconductor Expert Working Group, who has been dealing…

1
Richard Ford chats about the outrage-industrial complex 33:51

6M ago33:51

33:51

In this episode, I’m exploring the topic of the Outrage Industry. Who else is growing inured to over-the-top tirades of outrage and offense? This seems to be a relatively new phenomenon whereby click-bait memes generating outrage are monetized by social media networks into clicks. Let’s explore how this impacts society and what we can do to counter…

1
Dr. Rob Howarth says natural gas is worse than coal for the environment 33:57

6M ago33:57

33:57

In this episode I’m interviewing a researcher who has been studying the impacts of methane on the greenhouse effect, and trying to assess whether burning natural gas is helping or hurting the climate. His most recent paper suggests that it should not be considered an improvement over coal. Robert Howarth is an Earth systems scientist and ecosystem …

1
Dominic Cardy introduces a new evidence-based Canadian political party 55:13

7M ago55:13

55:13

In this episode I’m interviewing the leader of a new Canadian political party, the Canadian Future Party. Their website has the following statement that I liked, “The CFP believes people from every corner of the country want to be united behind a common set of ideals: democracy, the rule of law, collective action, and individual rights. A country w…

1
Inclusively with Mansoor Hanif | The cities of the future 33:11

7M ago33:11

33:11

We were joined on Inclusively by Mansoor Hanif, recently of Neom, previously with BT/EE and Ofcom. Mansoor is currently enjoying himself as an angel investor (for instance in Darabase) and strategic advisor after his recent stint in the desert. He brings vast experience to the discussion about how we build more inclusive cities in the future. His i…

1
Inclusively with Giovanni Severini, Microsoft | Better sound quality for assistive hearing devices 33:12

7M ago33:12

33:12

Current Classic Audio Bluetooth connectivity to assistive hearing devices does not deliver a good quality of experience and requires too much power. Bluetooth Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) is a new technology for audio streaming over Bluetooth that allows audio devices to run longer on a charge, with increased audio quality and reduced latency. We ta…

1
Jamie Merchant introduces Modern Monetary Theory and the failure of capitalism 57:02

7M ago57:02

57:02

In this episode I'm dipping my toes into a new topic a little bit outside my range, but we can still use the tools of science and evidence to assess. The economy and Modern Monetary Theory. It is a new idea that clashes with classical economics. It can be summarized as the idea that governments whose dollar is not linked to a gold standard don't ne…

1
Neurologist Dr. Richard Cytowic says screens are addictive and bad for your brain 47:57

8M ago47:57

47:57

In this episode I am interviewing a neuroscientist and a writer who has done a lot of work on synesthesia, or the melding of sense perceptions. His most recent book delves into how we can take back control of our attention from addictive social media. This should be of interest to most of us, and especially to parents of young children and teenager…

1
Dr. Michael Weist provides a crucial piece of evidence linking consciousness to quantum states in microtubules 56:37

8M ago56:37

56:37

In this episode I’m returning to the mysterious and challenging topic of consciousness and awareness, the elusive theory of mind that philosophers have chased for centuries, and is now coming to heel under the tools of neurobiology and the framework of modern physics. My guest today has performed experiments on rats that lend credence to the intrig…

1
Dr. Lindsey Cormack says ignorance of civics damages democracy 36:27

8M ago36:27

36:27

In this episode we’re going to chat with someone who understands the value of a good civics education. This comes at a time when observers are rating the US as a flawed democracy, and a current presidential nominee has been indicted for insurrection. Gerrymandering of districts is rampant, voter suppression bills are common, and a significant minor…

1
Inclusively with Salesforce | Building accessibility into products from scratch 51:00

8M ago51:00

51:00

Salesforce has built accessibility and inclusive design into its processes, products and services and established an accessibility group at the heart of the business. Its multi-pronged approach benefits from executive buy-in and builds up from the bottom with a specialist accessibility team spreading the word throughout the organization. In this In…

1
Sharon McMahon says moral narcissism is destroying society 50:33

8M ago50:33

50:33

In this episode we’ll be discussing polarization and the idea of moral narcissism. My guest has published an article in a substack newsletter discussing this idea that people today are taking on absolute moral stancess in polarizing issues because of the status it gives them in their tribe, irrespective of the cost. In her blog she makes an analogy…

1
Inclusively with BeMyEyes | Creating a more accessible world with AI for blind people 47:53

9M ago47:53

47:53

Be My Eyes is a fantastic example of how human volunteers and, now, AI, leveraging the power of smart phones, can help blind people interact with the world around them. From a simple start using the phone camera to help guide someone around their home, it has now evolved into a global business helping blind people, as well as businesses serving the…

1
Dr. Michael Levin on cellular consciousness (re-release) 1:11:57

9M ago1:11:57

1:11:57

In this episode I’m going to be sharing with you an earlier interview with Dr. Micheal Levin that I found to be really mind bending. In it I wanted to explore the cellular basis of consciousness, and we delved into that a little bit, however the part that I found really interesting was his discussion of how cells work together and communicate to bu…

1
Inclusively Telecom: Introduction 12:13

9M ago12:13

12:13

Chris Lewis and Lewis Insight, and Monica Paolini at Senza Fili, the hosts of Inclusively Telecom introduce the new podcast. They talk about the format, goals, topic and approach. You can find out more about Inclusively Telecom and the live Inclusively events at https://senzafili.com/inclusively_in_telecom/ Send us feedback, questions, and suggesti…

1
Dr. Michael Walker on the evolution of mind 33:22

9M ago33:22

33:22

In this episode I’m continuing to look at consciousness and cognition and the working memory that sets humans apart from all other animals. Human working memory can be roughly quantified to hold about 7 items at once in a sequence and allow conscious manipulation, consideration, and attention to about 4 of them at a time. These numbers are surprisi…

1
Dr. Hector Manrique says a good working memory is uniquely human 52:50

9M ago52:50

52:50

In this episode I’m going back to look at consciousness and cognition, and specifically one aspect of our mental capacity that sets us apart from other animals. It’s our ability to recall items in a sequence, for those of you who are software buffs, basically we have a short term memory buffer that acts like a linked list. We can remember a list of…

1
Two days is not enough weekend. A Rational rant about inequity. 18:28

9M ago18:28

18:28

This episode is a rant about why people don’t have time to become better informed about the issues. It is about why people are rushed. It is about why people feel mistreated by the system. The Rational View is going to rant about inequity and highlight the growing resentment amongst the struggling middle class at the elite robber barons of capitali…

1
Inclusively | How can both women and men benefit from gender diversity? 1:02:24

9M ago1:02:24

1:02:24

Diversity benefits everyone—people, businesses and customers. How can we improve gender diversity in the workplace, in our daily work practices and in our environment to benefit both women and men? In this Inclusively conversation, in collaboration with UKTIN, women and men compare their perspectives on how gender diversity plays out and how to cre…

1
Inclusively | Can Wi-Fi sensing help elderly and disabled people? 53:12

9M ago53:12

53:12

Inclusivity starts at home. Being able to live independently at home is, for many of us, fundamental to our quality of life. How can technology help us live on our own more safely and give our caretakers better tools to assist us? We talked to Saibal Chakraburtty, Director of Product Management at Cognitive Systems, about how Wi-Fi sensing can do t…

1
Inclusively | Driving accessibility, inclusion and diversity from the top at Colt 51:32

9M ago51:32

51:32

Rachel Collins, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Colt joined us in this Inclusively event. Rachel brings a wealth of experience and will describe how accessibility, inclusion and diversity form a key part of building the business and culture of which Colt is rightly very proud. This comes from the very top of Colt and the CEO’s very open ES…

1
Inclusively | AI and ML: friend or foe of inclusion? 1:00:00

9M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

AI and ML are powerful tools that can improve our lives, but also can create social and economic challenges, and increase inequality. What role can they play in promoting inclusion, reducing biases, helping people with physical and mental disabilities? Or can they hinder these efforts? Is there something we need to do to ensure that AI and ML will …

1
Inclusively: Building inclusion at TELUS 48:29

9M ago48:29

48:29

Ibrahim Gedeon, CTO at TELUS, joined us in a live conversation to explore how he sees the organization and the wider ecosystem building towards a more inclusive future both inside of the telco but also extending out to customers in Canada. We explored how technology and business model shifts bring many exciting opportunities to build a better-conne…

1
Inclusively: How can women succeed and improve the workplace? 1:01:53

9M ago1:01:53

1:01:53

This year, at Inclusively, we celebrated our first International Women’s Day as we are still in our early infancy, having launched it last fall, with a wide-ranging conversation on how gender diversity is valuable in telecoms for women, men and business. Increasing women’s participation in the workforce, especially at high levels, is more than a bo…

1
Inclusively | Thinking inclusively in telecoms 1:01:11

9M ago1:01:11

1:01:11

A more inclusive approach from all parts of the communications industry will bring benefits to everyone. It will open access to digital services to those formerly excluded. It will create new services. It will generate new revenue opportunities. And it will underpin the customer experience every customer expects. Chris Lewis, Lewis Insight, and Mon…

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