

How To Academy Podcast
How To Academy
How To Academy is London's home of big thinking. From Nobel laureates to Pulitzer Prize winners, we invite the world’s most influential voices to share new ideas for changing ourselves, our communities, and the world. Our biweekly podcast is your chance to hear in-depth from the most exciting thinkers in global culture.
Episodes
Mentioned books

17 snips
Nov 20, 2023 • 1h 2min
Stanford Professor Dr. David Spiegel - How Hypnosis Can Change Your Life
Dr. David Spiegel, Stanford psychiatrist with expertise on the therapeutic potential of hypnosis, joins the How To Academy to reveal what self-hypnosis can do for you. They discuss the concept of hypnosis, its relationship with sleep and meditation, managing anxiety and stress, quitting smoking, incorporating hypnosis in psychotherapy, and the true nature and benefits of hypnosis.

Nov 15, 2023 • 1h 31min
Astronaut Chris Hadfield Meets Robin Ince
A global superstar following his legendary cover version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity aboard the ISS, Colonel Chris Hadfield is also an ace fighter pilot, a veteran of two space walks, the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, the former NASA Director of Operations in Russia, one of the most popular TED talkers of all time, an adviser to SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, and was personally asked by King Charles to help lead a new project to protect the space environment.He joins the How To Academy Podcast to share out-of-this-world stories from his life to date, including not only his time as an astronaut but his early days as an RCAF pilot intercepting Soviet bombers in North American airspace. His new novel The Defector – the sequel to his million-selling thriller The Apollo Murders – takes us into the world of Cold War fighter pilots in a dizzying game of spies, lies, and a possible high level defection playing out across three continents. It’s a tale sizzling with the kind of detail and authenticity that only one of the world’s best fighter pilots can provide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

87 snips
Nov 10, 2023 • 1h 11min
Neuroscientist and Philosopher Iain McGilchrist - The Divided Brain and the Meaning of Life
Neuroscientist and Philosopher Iain McGilchrist discusses the nature of the mind and brain, exploring their relevance to modern life. They explore hemisphere differences, the limits of language, the importance of relationships and context, and the implications of left and right brain hemispheres on attention and morality. The discussion also touches on tick-box assessments, evaluating art, and the potential impact of spreading information through conversations.

Nov 7, 2023 • 1h 9min
Philippa Gregory - 900 Years of Women's History
For decades, Philippa Gregory has thrilled us with tales of the court and the machinations of kings, queens, and courtiers. Now she turns her attention not to the lives of our rulers but the ordinary women whose lives and accomplishments are missing from the national story: a hidden history of those who had no legal presence, no voice in government and no right to own property – but still ruled, governed, and made fortunes.Highlighting the drive, ingenuity and vast contribution made, Philippa puts women back where they belong in our history – centre stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 snips
Nov 3, 2023 • 1h 22min
Albert Read Meets Will Gompertz - Where Good Ideas Come From (and How to Have More)
Albert Read, Managing Director of Condé Nast UK and author of 'The Imagination Muscle,' is on a mission to revive creativity. He teams up with Will Gompertz, Artistic Director of the Barbican and former BBC Arts Editor, to explore how imagination has evolved. Their lively discussion covers the myth of originality, emphasizing that new ideas often stem from existing ones. They also tackle the relationship between AI and creativity, the importance of silence and play, and how slowing down can enhance our creative processes.

Oct 31, 2023 • 1h 2min
Werner Herzog Meets Mark Kermode - A Life in Cinema
From his early movies to his later documentaries, he has made a career out of exploring the boundaries of human endurance: what we are capable of in exceptional circumstances and what these situations reveal about who we really are. But these are not just great cinematic themes. All his life, Herzog would embrace risk and danger, constantly looking for challenges and adventures. He joins Mark Kermode to reveal the influences and ideas that drive his creativity and have shaped his unique view of the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 27, 2023 • 36min
Timothy Garton Ash and Catherine Ashton - The Future of Europe (Bonus Episode)
Every month the How To Academy team release a new episode of Found in Conversation with our friends at Pictet. In this episode, we explore the past, present, and future of the European Project with Oxford Prof Timothy Garton Ash and Baroness Catherine Ashton, former EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 24, 2023 • 1h 2min
Arthur Brooks - How to Build the Life You Want
A Professor at Harvard Business School specialising in happiness and leadership, Arthur Brooks joins us to share his insights into realising greater happiness, no matter how challenging your circumstances. Drawing upon the ideas in Build the Life You Want, his new book co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, he will offer not unrealistic promises of perfect bliss, but evidence-based tools to meet you wherever you are and make greater happiness a choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 20, 2023 • 38min
Zeke Faux Meets Oliver Bullough - Inside the Wild Rise and Fall of Crypto
Zeke Faux is an investigative reporter for Bloomberg and the author of Number Goes Up - a wild, first hand account of his journey into the world of crypto currencies and the larger than life he met along the way - including Sam Bankman Fried, the founder of FTX. He joined us for a conversation with Oliver Bullow, the author of Butler to the World and Moneyland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 18, 2023 • 1h 15min
Davina McCall and Dr Naomi Potter - How to Thrive Through Menopause
Menopause affects every woman, and yet so many approach it with shame, fear, misinformation or silence. Why is no one talking about this? Who has the correct information? And how can we get it?Davina McCall and Dr Naomi Potter are here to tell you the truth, so you can make informed decisions about your life and your body. By exploring and explaining the science, debunking damaging myths, and smashing the taboos around the perimenopause and menopause, Davina and Naomi will equip you to make the most informed decisions about your health and your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


