Jonathan Balcombe is a scientist, author and speaker specialising in animal sentience and emotions.

Balcombe holds 3 degrees including a PhD in ethology. He has published over 50 scientific papers on animal behaviour and animal protection and is currently the Director of Animal Sentience with the Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy, in Washington, DC.

Some topics we talk about include sentience, animal emotions and ethics, cephalopods and the evolution of consciousness and some surprising animal behavioural anecdotes.

Jonathan's books really influenced the way I thought about animals and I highly recommend checking them out.

 

 

 Show notes and links here 

Connect with Jonathan:FacebookTwitter

Jonathan's Books:

Pleasurable KingdomSecond Nature: The Inner Lives of AnimalsWhat A Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins

Recorded in Leipzig, GermanyTheme Song by Cosmic Tortoise

Alan Watts was a brilliant philosopher; a fantastic speaker full of lucidity and cheekiness. He wrote a wonderful small book called "The Joyous Cosmology". It is the best description of the psychedelic experience I have come across, and when I couldn't find a decent audio version of his book I decided to make one myself.

I feel this book would be of interest to curious people on either side of the psychedelic fence.Since this book appears to be on the public domain, I don't see any harm sharing it. I'm sure Alan wouldn't mind.

Read The Joyous Cosmology text in full here"The Joyous Cosmology" by Alan WattsRecorded in Leipzig, GermanyTheme song by Cosmic Tortoise

This episode features Stanley Krippner: Professor of Psychology at Saybrook University, a contemporary and friend of Alan Watts, Albert Hofmann and Timothy Leary, author, co-author and editor of a vast body of fascinating work.

Some topics of this conversation include shamanism, the power of suggestion/placebo, dreams, psychoactive plants, Alan Watts, Albert Hofmann and Jungian psychology. It was truly a privilege to talk to Stanley and I'm sure those interested in his areas of expertise will find this conversation as enjoyable as I did.

  Show notes and links here 

 

Stanley's webpage is here

Recorded in Leipzig, GermanyTheme Song by Cosmic Tortoise

I feel very lucky to have befriended such interesting fellows as James and Michael. It's with these two that I have spent many an evening talking about anything and everything into the early hours.Michael and James are both highly knowledegable and curious people; they always carry a wide range of topical discussion plucked from a bunch of disciplines.

This conversation was particularly enjoyable. Some topics we discuss include:  Brain interfaces, dreams, philosophy, the multiverse, gods, abstinence, pheromones, conspiracy theorists, food ethics, movies, craigslist and non-human entities...

So...strap yourself in - this is a gouwun.

 

 Show notes and links here Recorded in Christchurch, New ZealandEdited by Michael KoefmanTheme song by Cosmic Tortoise

Royce is a beekeeper and good friend of mine. We go really deep into bees, honey making and everything to do with beehives and chat a bit about fermented foods and goats.

I think this converstaion would be a useful introduction for anyone seriously thinking about getting involved in beekeeping.

 Enjoying the bakers yeast Mead

Show notes and links here

Recorded in Christchurch, New ZealandTheme song by Cosmic Tortoise

Emily C Browning is a New Zealand musician. We talk about music (mostly) and Emily performs some of her songs.

 

 

Connect with Emily:FacebookInstagramSongs:

"Lover" @ 01:00 (original video here)"Daydreaming" @ 23:46"All that I want" @ 30:10"Cruel" @ 45:54Recorded in Christchurch, New ZealandTheme song by Cosmic Tortoise

Mark Chirnside is a good friend of mine. We go deep into coffee, NZ politics/globalism, Mark's new rock opera and music.

 

 

 

Marks links:

https://chirny.com/https://echolypse.bandcamp.comhttps://secondi.bandcamp.com

Recorded in Christchurch, New ZealandTheme song by Cosmic Tortoise

Last year I made friends with a young Syrian refugee while visiting a city in the Netherlands. This is his story.

 

 Lebanese song: Melhim Zain - Ghibi ya ChamsRecorded in Breda, Netherlands and Christchurch, New ZealandTheme song by Cosmic Tortoise