The Poetry of Reality with Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
The Poetry of Reality is hosted by world renowned truth-teller, evolutionary biologist and best-selling author, Professor Richard Dawkins. He has been celebrated globally for his honest critique of religion and tradition and his push for critical thinking. His books include The Ancestor’s Tale, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable, Unweaving the Rainbow, A Devil’s Chaplain, The God Delusion, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Magic of Reality, his two-part autobiography An Appetite for Wonder and A Brief Candle in the Dark, and Outgrowing God: A Beginner’s Guide. Dawkins has long been known for his uncompromising passion for science, calling out for the pressing need in modern societies for scientific literacy and rational thinking, especially in the education of young minds. His relentless pursuit of truth, and his recognition of the beauty of life on earth, will feature in this podcast, as he charts his way through scientific and existential inquiries like ‘What are we doing here?’ and ‘When did life begin?’
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 6, 2024 • 42min
Dawkins in the Classroom: London Students Debate God, Darwin & the Origin Of Life
Author and evolutionary biologist Dawkins leads a discussion with London high school students on Charles Darwin and evolution. Topics include the meaning of life in an evolutionary worldview, the origin of life, the Big Bang theory, the relationship between evolution and religion, and the evolution of the human heart.
Jan 30, 2024 • 17min
Evolution Education: Nurturing Skeptical Young Minds with Bertha Vazquez
Bertha Vasquez, a passionate advocate for teaching evolution, discusses the challenges of educating students about evolution in American schools. She shares her experiences and the work of the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science. They also explore the distinction between microevolution and macroevolution, and highlight programs that promote science appreciation and critical thinking. The chapter concludes with reflections on an annual conference and future goals in educating young skeptics.
Jan 20, 2024 • 5min
On Being Christian: An Open Plea To Ayaan Hirsi Ali
The podcast features a critique of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's identification as a Christian, questioning the alignment of Christianity with being a good human being and emphasizing the importance of evidence for belief.
Jan 17, 2024 • 1h 1min
Darwinism vs Creationism: A Debate On Truth & Evolution with Wendy Wright
This episode features me in direct debate with Christian political conservative Wendy Wright. We talk about teaching evolution in schools, the "controversy" it poses for religious conservatives, about the evidence-base, truth and intolerance towards differences.She brings up dogmatism in the scientific community, and I push back about enabled ignorance in her own, while we share a mutual desire for human altruism and empathy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
7 snips
Jan 15, 2024 • 55min
An Atheist Scientist & A Religious Scientist Discuss Evolution
Father George Coyne, a devout Catholic and lover of science, discusses traditions of faith, dangers of religious literalism, and how he views evolution as part of God's work. They explore Catholic Church's stance on evolution, influence of personal history on religious beliefs, flaws of intelligent design, and the intersection of science and God.
Jan 15, 2024 • 1h 6min
Faith, Reason, and Theology: Richard Dawkins and Alex O'Connor in Conversation
Join me in a new conversation with Alex O'Connor as we discuss a range of topics, including Jordan Peterson, Ayaan Hirsi Ali's journey into Christianity, my bafflement at how Alex could stand three years of studying the non-subject of theology, the fear of death, and other things. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jan 6, 2024 • 19min
Q&A: Ask Dawkins Anything
Why won’t ChatGPT dispute the existence of God? What is the evolutionary purpose of wonder and awe in the face of nature? Can a community exist independent of religion? And can we expand the human lifespan? Find out the answers to these and more, as I take on all your questions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Jan 3, 2024 • 46min
Christmas Lecture 05: Virtual Reality: Can You Believe What You See?
The human eye and the human brain help us process reality. How accurate is our shared perception of reality? Scientific knowledge helps us clear the rubble from the path and see things for what they are. In the last part of Growing Up In The Universe, I take you through virtual reality models in the human mind and in computers. Through them we examine the questions: How do imagination, language and technology help us discern what is real from what is not? And what does the future of the human mind and perception look like? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dec 27, 2023 • 45min
Christmas Lecture 4 : The Ultraviolet Garden
Explore how animals, birds, and insects experience the universe. Learn about the intricate relationship between flowers and pollinators, with a focus on bees. Discover the similarities between computer viruses and DNA viruses. Discuss the possibility of life on other planets through panspermia. Dive into the behavior and structure of insect colonies, and gain a new perspective on bees' wings as 'plant wings'.
Dec 21, 2023 • 45min
Christmas Lecture 3: Climbing Mount Improbable
Climbing Mount Improbable is a 1996 popular science book by Richard Dawkins. The book is about probability and how it applies to the theory of evolution. It is designed to debunk claims by creationists about the probability of naturalistic mechanisms like natural selection Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
