For generations, scientists have struggled to make sense of the fundamental question: ‘what is life?’ Even a humble bacterium accomplishes things so dazzling that no human engineer can match it, and huge advances in molecular biology over the past few decades have served only to deepen the mystery. So, can life be explained by known physics and chemistry, or do we need something fundamentally new? In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud discusses these thought-provoking questions with renowned physicist Professor Paul Davies – author of the 2019 book The Demon in the Machine.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

What is life? Bridging the disciplines to solve unanswered questions?

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Are you ignorant about the pandemic?

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Lost in thought: can intellect save you in a pandemic?

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

How to think like Shakespeare: lessons from a Renaissance education.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The psychology behind mathematical modelling of epidemics.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Alcohol self-management during COVID-19 and beyond

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Managing alcohol withdrawal in acute in-patient psychiatry.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic appearing to inflict suffering indiscriminately, age-old questions have come to the fore, like “why do we suffer?, why do people die young?, is there any point to our physical and emotional pain?”. In his 2018 book, ‘Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering’, Professor Scott Samuelson examines the various philosophies of suffering and attempts to tackle these hardest questions of all. Here he talks to Dr Raj Persaud about the conclusions he has drawn from these theories, and how this may help us to cope with suffering at this challenging time.

Albert’s Camus’s famous 1947 novel ‘The Plague’ has now come to the attention of a new generation of readers – those who draw parallels between Camus’s depictions of disease-ridden Algeria and the COVID-19 pandemic we are currently living through. It is the story of placid everyday lives that are suddenly, brutally disrupted by a virus: an existential reminder of the arbitrariness of life and the certainty and randomness of death. In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to the author of ‘A Very Short Introduction’ to Camus, Dr Oliver Gloag, about the impact this writer could have on our outlook and behaviour during these challenging times.