Breaking beliefism

In this discussion with Mark Rowlands, a philosopher and author, the conversation pivots around the surprising happiness of dogs, who seem to thrive without self-reflection. Rowlands and host Paul Dolan explore how overthinking complicates human life and complicates our pursuit of happiness. They delve into the contrast between instinctual joy in animals and the burdens of human self-awareness. Their insights suggest that finding meaning might come from shared experiences rather than endless contemplation.

Oliver Burkeman, author of "4000 Weeks" and "Meditations for Mortals," joins Prof Paul Dolan to explore the power of small, tangible actions over lofty dreams. They discuss embracing life's limitations, such as aging and mortality, to find deeper fulfillment. The duo critiques the self-help industry, arguing for practical steps rather than grand transformations. Their conversation humorously touches on the quest for legacy and even veers into the emotional nuances of music preferences, underscoring the importance of empathy in our polarized world.

Looking ahead to the new season of Breaking Beliefism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first season of ten episodes of Breaking Beliefism is complete and thanks to my amazing guests. You can listen to my quick reflections in this short wrap-up. I've learned a lot but naturally changed my mind about very little, including Coldplay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan speaks to newspaper columnist and TV presenter Giles Coren, who has made a career out of being opinionated. The conversation was the embodiment of ‘breaking beliefism’ - they disagreed on several things, including whether literature and music are a waste of time. But they did agree on how provocation can lead to better debate and how the middle classes are the most constrained by rules. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan chats to journalist and fashion editor Melanie Rickey, who founded The Enoughness movement after recovery from drug and alcohol misuse. They agree on the concept of ‘enoughness’ – the sweet spot between fearing less and seeking more – but place different emphasis on the role of individuals and society in bringing it about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this discussion, Steve Baker, a former Conservative MP and Minister of State, shares his views on the pitfalls of groupthink in politics. He emphasizes the dangers of COVID lockdown decision-making and advocates for open dialogue. The duo debates the role of politicians versus academics in acknowledging biases. They also touch on the need for diverse perspectives within political discourse and the value of learning from mistakes. Finally, they highlight the importance of empathy and humor in fostering collaboration across differing beliefs.

In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan talks with Dr Aleks Matic, who is a computer scientist and all round geek at Koa Health. They discuss how beliefism across disciplines is often found in the language used. They agree that Aleks' fellow Serb Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time but disagree about how to be happy with Aleks preferring the dullness of a "calm sea" over the excitement of being a "rough ocean".  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan discusses all things gambling with Gearóid Norris. They talk about the discipline required to make money from gambling and how to deal with the challenges of problematic gambling. They explore the stigma associated with gambling and why Gearóid feels the need to lie to cabbies about what he does for a living.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan talks to Dr Rim Turkmani, a colleague at the LSE currently working on the Syrian conflict and who was previously an astrophysicist. They discuss how the methods of natural science help inform social science and how addressing the challenges of beliefism in conflict zones provides lessons for breaking beliefism elsewhere. They talk about immigration and agree that so much depends on how the issues are framed.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.