Breaking beliefism

Breaking beliefism

By Prof Paul DolanSociety & CultureBusinessScience
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Breaking beliefism episodes

  • Prof Micael Dahlen

    In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan talks to Prof Micael Dahlen, a happiness expert from the Stockholm School of Economics. They have plenty in common, including their approach to research subjects and their love of tattoos. They discuss Micael’s research on serial killers and how judging them reflects the human inclination to look for moral absolutes. 


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    28 min
  • Prof Mark Rowlands
    In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan chats to philosopher Prof Mark Rowlands about whether dogs have found the key to happiness in life - by not reflecting on their actions. As a new dog owner, Paul agrees that we could learn from dogs who are always up for anything. They discuss (the lack of) free will and how the human tendency to overthink can lead to troubled beliefs. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • Oliver Burkeman

    To start the new series of Breaking Beliefism, Prof Paul Dolan talks to Oliver Burkeman, the author of "4000 Weeks" and "Meditations for Mortals". They discuss how small tangible actions can be more purposeful and make us happier than big dreams, and the need to accept the inevitability of ageing and death. They agree on most things, apart from the value of self-help culture.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  • Season finale
    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.

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    6 min
  • Giles Coren
    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.

    28 min
  • Melanie Rickey
    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.

    30 min
  • Rt Hon Steve Baker
    In this episode, Prof Paul Dolan talks to Rt. Hon Steve Baker, former MP and Minister in the last Conservative government. Paul and Steve disagree about several things, but are united in their support for dissent. They discuss how beliefism and groupthink have contributed to flawed policymaking, and why politicians are sometimes more honest about their biases than academics. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  • Aleksandar Matic
    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.

    29 min
  • Gearóid Norris
    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.

    29 min

About Breaking beliefism

From the publisher's feed

Following on from his Duck/Rabbit series, where he discussed issues that divide us, Professor Paul Dolan is now…