Our Peace Studies department, led by a bellicose general, has suggested that the best way to combat cyberwarfare is to go back to analogue means of communication. A reliance on too much technology, military history shows, usually leads to Goliaths falling prey to David’s. Join us in the bunker.

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

We can't move for conspiracy theories. Our world-renowned department which studies them have found yet another: a secret cabal of 'deep state' conspirators that engineer opposing leaders to distract the populace from what's really going on. It started in 1360, earned it spurs when the Roman Catholic Church elected two Popes in two disputed elections and continues to this day with... Biden and Trump. You've got to laugh. Or at least chuckle.

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

All podcasters worry about the success of their creations. But maybe we worry too much. It's the curse of all creative people; will anyone like what we do? Our Failure Studies Dept. believes that nothing is ever truly a failure if it is attempted in good faith. That's what our Professor of Failure tries to convince our podcast host of as he struggles to record this episode. He wants to give up, she convinces him to continue. And in important lesson is learnt. 

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

There will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin. No one knows why (they might say they do, but they don't) and it's set off a frenzy of 'mining' which is sucking up power and pumping out carbon. Is it the madness of Easter Island all over again? A mad rush for a symbol of wealth that ends up undermining our ability to protect our ecosystems? We take a wry look at the subject. Turns out the Easter Island story might be a myth, but the rush to mine Bitcoin is very real. 
Includes an acerbic interview with David Gerard, author of The Attack of the 50ft Blockchain.

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

If you're a hypochondriac - don't listen to this podcast. Just don't. 

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

Not content with owning our social lives, Facebook has a plan to take over the world's money. All of it. That's the thinking behind 'Libra' a cryptocurrency proposed by Facebook in 2019 and immediately blocked by regulators around the world.  Is this proof that Mr. Zuckerberg is after world domination? Is it evidence that he's a disciple of the mad Objectivist, Ayn Rand? Does he want to be like her dead-behind-the-eyes Neoliberal heroes in her brick-like books? We speak to David Gerard, acerbic tech critic and author of the definitive account of the Libra plan: 'Libra Shrugged: How Facebook Tried to Takeover THE MONEY!' - well worth a read if you're interested not just in crypto but money is general. It's available at https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/libra/

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

Applying to university and college is, you're told, all about your CV or resumé – it’s got to be perfect and full of perfect experiences, sports, clubs, volunteering experience, blah, blah, blah. What would happen if you told the truth? Ally applied to our university and her Personal Statement did just that. So, we gave her an interview and she brought along her little dog too. 

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

"All labour has dignity" said Martin Luther King when he spoke in support of striking sanitation workers in Tennessee in 1968. But all labour doesn't attract the same levels of pay. In fact, many important jobs - like collecting rubbish - are low paid. At South Mimms U we tried an experiment and proposed a significant pay-rise for our janitor because his work is critical to all of us. The plan didn't go down well with our business manager... 

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

Dai Version 7 is a robot with almost human feelings, but it turned out to be too clever for its own good. Programmed to think like a human it developed a liking for nicotine and cynicism. Its maker has decided to shut it down. We decided to record its final moments, last words, and a surprising amount of insight into the human condition. 

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.

'Everyone in the future will be famous for 15 minutes' - that's what Andy Warhol is supposed to have said (he probably didn't), but we all believe it. Or do we? Has the, often random, instant fame delivered by social media devalued even the prospect of 15 minutes of notoriety? One teen says it has and she believes that your sense of self-worth should not be based on how many likes, retweets, and followers you might have. Fame isn't real and it's not worth it. 

The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.