Under The Skin With Russell Brand

Author, professor, priest and former atheist Alister McGrath and I discuss the rationality of religious belief, the war between science and religion, and whether faith is still destined to play a central role in the 21st century.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author of “Selfie” Will Storr and I discuss where the ideal of the perfect self came from, why it is so powerful and whether there is any way to break its dangerous spell.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frankie Boyle and I discuss media censorship, the virtues of nihilism, and the effects of fatherhood on life as a comedian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Naomi Klein discusses her new book with me she explains how the groundwork laid by Bill Clinton and Bill Gates led to Donald Trump’s presidency; the political shock tactics being used to force through destructive policies; and how resistance and imagination can lead to radical change.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leading meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg explains why we find it so hard to be in our own mind, why we have a habit to always go to the negative, and how meditation can transform society.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week philosopher Simon Critchley enlightens us to the roots of philosophy, as well as topics including football as ‘working class ballet’, what constitutes a 'good death’, and the relevance and importance of philosophy in these times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a fascinating interview I discuss with Yanis what happens when you take on the political, financial and media elite, and how radical reform can occur. Through accounts of his confrontations with the IMF, European institutions and the German government we examine where true power lies and how it is wielded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of the UK General Election I talk with Stop The War’s Lindsey German and Dr Brad Evans about how violence has been normalised to the point where as voters we’ve not only become desensitised to it, but have been taught to desire it from our leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show asks: What kind of freedom do we have? Are we responsible for our actions? Do we create our own identity and if not, should we question it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Brad Evans, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain and I reflect on the tragic events in Manchester and ask how we can break the cycle of violence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Monbiot and I discuss the dark money capturing our politics for the billionaires and corporations; the terrifying power of Big Data; and the opportunity for a new democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Simon Amstell and I discuss his film 'Carnage', how veganism began a journey of personal enlightenment and how taking Ayahuasca changed his life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neuroscientist and laughter expert Sophie Scott and I discuss the use of comedy within politics, how the left and the right use language differently, and what communication techniques to look out for in the run up to the UK election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does politics matter? Dr Brad Evans and I discuss the snap UK election, how to reimagine a better future and what real radical politics looks like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m joined by writer Matthew Todd to discuss the crisis of shame facing the LGBT community, the disproportionate link to mental health problems and how taking a lead on trauma recovery could change the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick and I discuss the difficulty in overcoming boundaries between human and animal science, Noel’s own groundbreaking work, and the need to understand and harness the love between humans and animals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m joined by Yuval Noah Harari, author of bestseller ‘Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind’. We discuss how homo sapiens came to dominate the world, how our society is built on fiction, the creation of a class of useless people, and the future for our species. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s show I talk to Professor Anne Phillips about feminism, its perception within society and the cultural shift necessary to create real change and greater equality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I speak with filmmaker Adam Curtis about the rise of individualism, where real power lies, and whether we really want change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s show I talk to Professor Paul Gilroy about the re-emergence of open racism within political rhetoric, the relationship between race and religion, and why we still divide humanity into different identity groups based on skin colour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.