In this episode we chat to writer and science historian Audra Wolfe about organised labour, constructing a union for scientists, and the myth of apolitical science. Audra's writing has appeared in the Washington Post and The Atlantic. She is the author of Freedom's Laboratory: The Cold War Struggle for the Soul of Science and the award winning Competing With the Soviets: Science, Technology, and the State in Cold War America. Audra Wolfe @ColdWarScience Never Just Science newsletter audrajwolfe.com Freedom's Laboratory (JHU Press) Competing with the Soviets (JHU Press) The Great G ..read more

In this episode we chat to Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West authors of Calling Bullshit: The Art of Scepticism in Data-Driven World. Carl Bergstrom is a theoretical and evolutionary biologist and Professor of Biology at the University of Washington. Jevin West is an Associate Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, he also co-founded the DataLab and directs the Center for an Informed Public. @CT_Bergstrom @jevinwest / jevinwest.org Calling Bullshit (Allen Lane - 2020) Calling Bullshit Course @lawrenceyolland / @gemmamilne / @radicalscipod ..read more

In this episode we chat to Richard Ovenden OBE, author of Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack! Richard is the Bodley's Librarian at the University of Oxford, and is the the 25th person to hold this post since its creation in 1600.  Burning the Books (2020) Richard's Twitter Richard's article in The Economist on preserving digital information ..read more

In this episode we chat to Kat Arney author of Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution and the Science of Life. Rebel Cell Kat's Twitter Gemma's Moonshot article ..read more

In this episode we chat to Stuart Ritchie author of Science Fictions: Exposing Fraud, Bias, Negligence and Hype in Science! We return to the roots of our podcast and explore the flaws in science and what actions can be taken to make it better. Stuart is a lecturer at King's College London within the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre with interests in meta-science.  @StuartRitchie Science Fictions Book   ..read more

In this episode we chat to Akshat Rathi an energy and climate reporter at Bloomberg. He is also the editor of United we are Unstoppable, the topic of this episode, a collection of 60 inspiring stories from young climate activists across the globe. Twitter United we are Unstoppable Akshat's Bloomberg writing @lawrenceyolland / @gemmamilne / @radicalscipod  ..read more

In this episode we talk to economist Rob Larson about the immense power of the big 5 tech companies (even if in the intro I say big 4...sorry Microsoft), the economics of how they got to be so big, the tyrannical rulers at the helm, and the perverse business practices that insure them against competition. Rob is a Professor of Economics at Tacoma Community College and author of Capitalism vs. Freedom (2018), and Bit Tyrants (2020). He also writes for venues such as Jacobin and Current Affairs. Twitter Bit Tyrants Rob's Jacobin / Current Affairs Writing Left Book Club   ..read more

In this episode Gemma chats to journalist and author Tim Maughan. Tim’s first novel Infinite Detail (2019) which tells a dystopic time-shifting tale of the pre and post-apocalypse following the global technological shutdown was selected by The Guardian as their Science Fiction and Fantasy book of the year ..read more

In this episode we chat to Adam Hart Professor of Science Communication at the University of Gloucestershire and author of Unfit For Purpose: When Human Evolution Collides with the Modern World. In this episode we talk about armchair evolutionary biologists, why evolution is so attractive for life-hackers and self-helpers, and the responsibility of science communicators. Adam’s Twitter Unfit for Purpose ..read more

In this episode we spoke to materials scientist and author Ainissa Ramirez about her brilliant new book The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, all about the 8 inventions that shaped our society and the materials behind them. We talked all about telling science stories within a wider context of politics, history and society; why material science is the New Jersey of academia; and - of course - the joy of the archives! Ainissa’s Twitter The Alchemy of Us ..read more