We Can Be Weirdos

"It made me laugh. So I did it."Stand up comedian, writer, director, and trained physiotherapist, Barry Ferns has written for the BBC, C4, Radio and has won awards for both stand up and directing short films. His films have been selected for The LA Comedy Film festival, Raindance, North by Northwest and he has won the Malcom Hardee Award for Comedy, as well as the Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe award and has been nominated as one of the 4 best MC’s in the entire country.***LIVE SHOW OCTOBER 21st***We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 21st October 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. Stay tuned for the guest announcement!Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

"Lava is almost sentient"Dr Robin George Andrews is an award-winning science journalist, who regularly writes about space and geosciences, and is a doctor of experimental volcanology. He has written for outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, Scientific American and Quanta Magazine. He has written two books, Super Volcanoes: What they reveal about Earth and the worlds beyond, and How to Kill an Asteroid, out October 1st 2024. ***LIVE SHOW OCTOBER 21st***We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 21st October 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. Keep listening to the podcast for the guest announcement!Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

"I'm a dangerous person to know..."Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is one of the godfathers of the world of weird. He's the only guest to have personally created one of the entries on the batsh*t list! In this live recording, hear Rupert take on the list, and tell Dan about his numerous experiments of the unexplained. Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance, and the sense of being started at. At Cambridge University he worked in developmental biology as a Fellow of Clare College. He was Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Hyderabad, India. From 2005 to 2010 he was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project for research on unexplained human and animal abilities, funded by Trinity College, Cambridge.***LIVE SHOW OCTOBER 21st***This episode is just a taster of a whole night of eclectic weirdness! To see it all for yourself, We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 21st October 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. Keep listening to the podcast for the guest announcement!Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

Tom Scott, a legendary YouTuber known for his captivating science and tech videos, dives into intriguing topics. He explores the intersection of storytelling and science, revealing how to make complex ideas engaging. The conversation touches on the cultural shifts in belief systems, especially regarding the paranormal and UFOs. Their humorous take on quantum theories and misconceptions adds depth, as does a fun discussion on dreams and the surreal nature of reality. Expect personal anecdotes and refreshing insights in this delightful chat!

The rituals of the royals are quite magical, but how eccentric are our royals, past and present?Royal historian, author and broadcaster Prof Kate Williams is here to tell us just how kooky are favourite royals are. From the power of John Dee, an occultist and adviser to Elizabeth I, who used a mythical mirror to speak to ghosts to Charles II who apparently touched nearly 100,000 people believing he could cure disease. And we can’t forget Prince Philip’s obsession with UFOs.Kate is the host of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things, hosted alongside fellow royal enthusiast and acclaimed writer, Robert Hartman. She studied at Somerville College, Oxford, and is now the Director of Life Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. She’s the author of many historical biographies including England’s Mistress, Becoming Queen and Young Elizabeth.

"Now that's what I call a soft rock: 2!"Dan looks back at some of the strangest and silliest unexplainable experiences a.k.a. 'soft rocks' from guests past, including Josh Widdicombe, Dan Snow and Lucy Cooke. We'd love to hear about your unexplainable experiences! Join the We Can Be Weirdos Discord Server, where over 1,500 weirdos are sharing their experiences, thoughts and theories. You can find the link in Dan's Instagram bio, or the We Can be Weirdos instagram bio. See you there!

"I must have seen ten ghosts... but I don't think they're ghosts'Anthony Delaney is an actor, writer, historian, and podcaster originally from County Kilkenny, Ireland. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and obtained a PhD in 18th century social and cultural history from the University of Exeter. He co-hosts the hit podcast After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & The Paranormal, alongside Maddy Pelling. His first book, Queer Georgians: A Hidden History, will be published in 2025.

"Psychotherapists have experiences that we keep quiet about... because we sound bloody mad!"Live from the Underbelly Theatre, London! Psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry takes on the batshit list... and reveals some unexpected woo-woo of her own. Also featuring music by Emma-Lee Moss (F.K.A. Emmy The Great), and Bexy Cameron, author of Cult Following. Philippa Perry trained as a psychotherapist and worked in the mental health field for many years before writing her graphic novel, 'Couch Fiction' which lays bare the process of psychotherapy. This was followed by 'How to Stay Sane', 'The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)' and her latest book 'The Book You Want Everyone* You Love To Read *(and Maybe a Few You Don’t)'. She hosts 'Grayson’s Art Club' with her husband Grayson Perry, and has presented many documentaries including 'The Truth about Children Who Lie' , 'Being Bipolar'  and 'How To Be A Surrealist with Philippa Perry'.***LIVE SHOW SEPTEMBER GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT***This episode is just a taster of a whole night of eclectic weirdness! To see it all for yourself, We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 16th September 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. This time featuring 'godfather of the batshit list', author and parapsychology researcher Rupert Sheldrake. Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

Finally, a crow special! Dan chats with Dr Sarah Jelbert, a comparative psychologist at the University of Bristol, who is interested in the evolution of cognitive abilities in animals. She's mad about crows (because they're mysterious, super intelligent and majestic). Did you know they have their own woodland workshops? Stick your beak into this episode to find out more. Also, a heads up, this will be the last Rough Corner for a few weeks while Dan and Spooky Al head on holiday (not together). The main episodes will continue as (para)normal.

"The Now: More of it is coming!"What is consciousness? Are you the same you as 5 seconds ago? Can an AI mind replicate your own? Is the universe a simulation? Big questions, yes. But fear not, Lieven Scheire is here!Lieven Scheire is a Belgian comedian, physicist and science communicator on stage and on TV, in both Dutch and English. Lieven is the face and founder of ’Nerdland’, a popular brand in which he, alongside a group of geeky friends, brings science and technology closer to the broader public. He's also a prolific author, and has a new book called 'AI', a beginner's guide to the magic, possibilities and limitations of the Artificial Intelligence revolution.