The Aidan Project

On this edition of The Aidan Project, Aidan is joined on the line from Oregon by Jared Miracle, a cultural entomologist with an M.Ed. and a PhD. in anthropology from Texas A&M University to discuss transnational culture. Where did tea really originate from? Or the bow and arrow? Or Pokémon? Probably not from where you may have assumed. In this episode, Aidan and Jared discuss cultural phenomena, homing in on the case of Pokémon, of which Jared is the world's leading scholar. Aidan and Jared also discuss the fascinating characteristics of Japanese culture more generally. Also discussed on the show is violence in society, delayed human adaption to modern technology, and much more. Jared is an author, educator, researcher, martial artist, chef, and much else besides. Definitely a fun show to share with your friends to get them hooked on The Aidan Project! You can follow Jared on Facebook (facebook.com/jaredmiraclewriter) and Twitter (@DocKungFu).

On this edition of The Aidan Project Podcast, Aidan is joined on the line from New York City by philosopher, Dr. Benedict Beckeld. In this episode, Aidan and Dr. Beckeld discuss a number of important issues, most notably Dr. Beckeld's explanation of Donald Trump's electoral success. Dr. Beckeld argues that oikophobia - a repudiation of one's own culture - led to the rise of Trump. The good news is that 'Western Decline' is cyclical; the bad news is that there is no immediate sign of a reversal. Also discussed on the show: the 'Regressive Left', immigration, Islam, free speech, race riots in Sweden, Brexit, Milo, atheism, bodybuilding, and much more. Dr. Beckeld was born in Sweden to Brazilian and Jewish parents, but emigrated with his family to New York City as a teenager. Dr. Beckeld's philosophy has thus far focused primarily on matters of aesthetics, ethics, contemporary culture, political philosophy and the philosophy of history. For more information on Dr. Beckeld, you can find him online at www.benedictbeckeld.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/benedictbeckeld

In this episode of The Aidan Project, Aidan is joined on the line from Israel by Ran Levi, an accomplished science author and podcaster. In this episode, Aidan and Ran discuss Ronald Reagan's ambitious Strategic Defence Initiative, known as 'Star Wars', which came to prominence towards the end of the Cold War. Aidan and Ran also look at 'Mutual Assured Destruction' – did the nuclear balancing act of the Super Powers mean that nuclear war was prevented? This episode also features a look at how warfare has developed since the demise of the USSR, the use of cyber-attacks rather than conventional military action, what steps Israel has taken to counter terrorism, the audacious Israel/US malware attack on Iran (Stuxnet), Israeli national identity, national service, and a number of other interesting topics. Ran is the host of one of Podbean's top ten technology podcasts of 2016, 'The Curious Minds Podcast', and his 'Making History' podcast is one of the most successful podcasts in Israel, with over five million downloads. Born in Israel in 1975, Ran studied electrical engineering, and has worked as an electronics engineer and programmer for several high tech companies in Israel. Ran has written three books in Hebrew, 'Perpetuum Mobile', 'The Little University of Science', and 'Battle of Minds'.  You can find Ran on Twitter @ranlevi or visit his web site at www.ranlevi.com

In this edition of the Aidan Project Podcast, Aidan is joined by Richard Keeble, who is none other than the Chairman of the Orwell Society. Richard is a retired Professor of Journalism at the University of Lincoln and has written extensively about Orwell, including a critical assessment of Orwell's war reporting, and also wrote a chapter in the 2012 book, Orwell Today, which he also edited, looking at Orwell's complex relationship with the intelligence services. Richard and Aidan look at Orwell's two most famous works, Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four (and the latter's huge spike in sales), and discuss what Orwell would have made of "alternative facts" in the new media age. Would Orwell be blogging online, attacking Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer for their doublethink with his unique command of language? We also discuss Orwell's life, his schooling, the shooting of an elephant in Burma, being wounded in Spain, his tremendous wit and his untimely death, in addition to discussing separating fact from fiction in his work, and much more besides. He (or she) who listens to this podcast will know the future. But you might not be able to control the past. For more information on The Orwell Society, please visit http://www.orwellsociety.com/

In this edition of The Aidan Project Podcast, Aidan is joined by documentary filmmaker, Frances Harper, alongside Richard Payne, to discuss Holocaust denial. The famous libel trial of David Irving v Penguin Books and Deborah Lipstadt was recently brought to the silver screen. The trial is noted for the utter destruction of Irving, featuring an uncompromisingly brutal assessment of his dishonesty by the trial judge. Away from this court battle – which Irving himself took to trial, having taken umbrage at the book, 'Denying the Holocaust', which painted him as a dangerous Holocaust denier - is there any limit that society should place on free speech? What can be made of German law, whereby Holocaust denial is a criminal offence? Is the best way of defeating a bad idea to suppress it or engage it? Are some claims too obscene to be allowed in public discourse? Following a short review of the film, these questions are explored and debated.

With a very special guest, Dave McCall, The Aidan Project looks at the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Taking the nomme de plume of David Ebsworth, Dave is an acclaimed historical fiction author, and a member of the Historical Novel Society, the International Brigades Memorial Trust, the Anglo-Zulu War Historical Society, New Writers UK, and the Alliance of Independent Authors. For many historians, the Spanish Civil War marks the real start of World War 2. What is the merit of this argument? What type of man was Franco? Can he be compared with the leaders of the Axis powers? What were the typical experiences of the many men and women from across the world who volunteered to fight for either side? What can be made of British policy during the war not to intervene? George Orwell wrote that he traveled to Spain to fight for 'common decency'. The Aidan Project explains why, despite Orwell's best efforts to defend the Republic, it was a losing battle.

In this episode, The Art of Terror, I will be looking at the War on Terror, in addition to Edmund Clark's thought-provoking exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London, entitled War *of* Terror. This adapted name is quite deliberate, as will become clear within this episode. The artist-photographer, Clark, has visited Guantanamo Bay, along with the homes of persons who have been held under house arrest here in the United Kingdom. In a world in which ISIS and other groups sympathetic to the Jihadist cause are committing regular atrocities in the Middle East and, indeed, much closer to 'home', Western-speaking, we must surely offer strong support for robust governmental action to tackle terrorism. But - and this is the key - it needs to be effective and proportionate. Is it really a case of no pain, no gain? Is torture ever morally acceptable? Indeed, can the War on Terror ever be fought with our morals intact? This episode also looks at the West's best options for tackling extremism; options which, frustratingly, are being suffocated by the 'regressive left'. Furthermore, and very much linked to the work of would-be reformers, the power of belief in the supernatural is a significant factor in the War on Terror, which this episode explores in detail. Did George W. Bush's belief in God lead to the invasion of Iraq? Thank you for tuning in. You can follow my work on Twitter @theaidanproject.

This episode of The Aidan Project tackles the moral confusion of the liberal argument, and the intellectual self-harm being conducted by the left. The rise of Trump, and the Brexit result can surely, at least in part, be explained by the inner fighting on the left, which has moved many to the centre, and on some issues, to the right, in the search for a measure of much-needed honesty. The left has a lot of work to do; Aidan is aghast that the left is not willing to defend basic constructs of liberalism by not being honest about its unpalatable challenges. This episode also looks at Trump's conduct thus far in 2017. Please do take a moment to subscribe, be it via WordPress, iTunes, YouTube or Stitcher et al, as this truly assists in getting this argument out there. This is a wake-up call.

On this episode of The Aidan Project Podcast, Aidan looks at the history of the Israel/Palestine conflict, explores the views of respected thinkers on the issue, considers how US policy may change under a new US President, and attempts to gain an insight into future prospects for a lasting peaceful settlement. The dispute between Israel and the Palestinians remains as contentious as ever, but other issues in the Middle East in 2016, principally the conflict in Syria, have taken the Palestine question off the front page. However, the recent vote of the United Nations Security Council to declare Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories as illegal has raised media coverage. Is there any hope for peace?

In part one, The Aidan Project covered Brexit, Stop Funding Hate, the British press, the decline of the left, Labour's impotence, Jihadism, Nigel Farage, David Cameron, and more. In part two, we must talk about Donald Trump, including his relationship with Syria, Russia and the United Kingdom. Aidan also looks forward (if that is the correct term) to 2017, including the supposed alliance of Trump and Vladimir Putin, Israel's anger at the UN, and Scottish independence. Aidan also makes an appeal to the left to be honest.