Best Dr Michael Alsford Podcasts (2024)

In youthful spirits, the fresh faced Danny and Dr. Mike take a look at what it's like to get old and mine all the philosophical chat they can from it.

1
Episode 213: Freewill and Determinism Final Episode 24:22

Play Pause

2M ago24:22

24:22

In this final episode of the series, Danny and Mike explore the idea that human being can be reduced to their DNA. Does your genetic make up determine how your life unfolds and the choices you make. Plus, should we develop a method to control our impulses and even develop a 'code' in which to follow. Thus, everything has been covered completely in …

1
Episode 212: Free Will and Determinism Part 4 22:06

3M ago22:06

22:06

Yes, we're back for another round of Free will and determinism! Remember you chose to tune in and hear the latest from Danny and Mike as they get deeper into the limits of of freedom and free speech. Or did you? Join us and remember you can say what you like about the podcast - as long as its good!

1
Episode 211: Freewill and Determinism Part 3 25:30

4M ago25:30

25:30

Are you really free to eat anything you like for breakfast? Even turkey? Maybe, How about wear any clothes you want? Even slippers outside? Could be. But what about having children and keeping them? Is there really an option not to procreate and not to keep a child you produce? Is evolutionary biology controlling us to maintain the human species ab…

1
Episode 210: Freewill and Determinism Part 2 24:14

4M ago24:14

24:14

See, we knew you would be back! This time Danny and Dr. Mike consider whether or not they are truly 'good' people or perhaps 'bad' without knowing it? If morality changes as time moves on, can you be 'good' one moment and 'bad' the next because the world has changed its mind on what is moral? You should tune in this time as our moral, upright podca…

1
Episode 209: Freewill and Determinism Part 1 17:31

5M ago17:31

17:31

You were always going to end up here, why fight it? Come and join Danny and Dr, Mike from your own free will, as they discuss, from their own free will, er... free will. Are we truly completely free or are we determined in our actions through social, psychological or political forces? Tune in and find out!…

1
Episode 208: Existentialism Final Part 19:33

5M ago19:33

19:33

Where do you live? In the real world or online? Danny and Dr. Mike finish off their existentialism chat with a discussion about the way we have recorded our lives and how we present ourselves online. Also, a rigorous talk on what Dr. Jakyll gets up to when his fiancé is 'taking the waters in Bath'.

1
Episode 207: Existentialism Part 8 18:33

6M ago18:33

18:33

This week, Dr. Mike whisks Danny of into the mists of time and recalls his days as Earth's first line of defense against Alien invasion! You heard correctly, Mike once was part of a crack team of first responders who were engaged in monitoring the night skies for suspicious flying objects and scouring the countryside for extraterrestrial vehicles e…

1
Episode 206: Existentialism Part 7 18:28

6M ago18:28

18:28

It's a new year and everyone is feeling optimistic and about the year ahead! Everyone except for Dr. Mike and Danny who return with more of their chat on the dark side of existentialism. Come join them as they talk Sisyphean ordeals, Star Trek and being 'Beach Ready'.

1
Episode 205: Philosophy? WTF?? 2023 Christmas Special! 58:21

7M ago58:21

58:21

So here it is the 2023 WTF?? Christmas Special!

1
Episode 204: Existentialism Part 6 24:54

7M ago24:54

24:54

Welcome back for another round of Existentialism talk with Danny and Dr. Mike. Listen as they continue to look for answers in the structures and traditions of life. Listen out and see if you can find order and rules in their chat about Kafka's Trial!

1
Episode 203: Existentialism Part 5 22:32

8M ago22:32

22:32

Yes dear listener, we have returned to continue our exploration of Existentialism. This time we focus on the depths of despair as we look at the absurdness of existence! Danny and Dr. Mike will take you through the darkness and look for any signs of meaning along the way. Strap in and think positive thoughts!…

1
Episode 202: Existentialism Part Four 17:48

9M ago17:48

17:48

To not make a choice is still a choice have some good faith and tune into the final part of Danny and Dr Mike's Existentialism discussion! They chat about the return of philosophy to schools and the importance of critical thinking in our world where the answer to all questions is most certainly 42!

1
Episode 201: Existentialism Part Three 22:04

9M ago22:04

22:04

Once again you have made the correct choice! This week in their continuing chat on Existentialism, Danny and Dr. Mike turn to Kierkegaard and the different stages of life. Are you still in the throes of hedonism, or have you reached the stage in which you want to give something back? Find some meaning in your life by listening to the duo examine th…

1
Episode 200: Existentialism Part Two 24:02

9M ago24:02

24:02

This week Danny and Dr. Mike find themselves on the stage of life continuing their discussion on Existentialism by asking are we more than just decision makers? Do we bring more to the table then just our ability to make a decision? Listen while stroking your chin in wonder as the pair present the despair of choice in our current world on inauthent…

1
Episode 199: Existentialism Part One 32:54

10M ago32:54

32:54

Congratulations! You have chosen wisely to listen to this podcast! This week Danny and Dr. Mike tackle Existentialism. Stroke your beards, adjust your berets and light up your Gauloises as you listen to the truth seeking pair as they steer their way through the nihilism of our current world. Hold on tightly and in good faith as they bravely throw t…

1
Episode 198: Holiday Time 'Leisure' special! 12:28

1y ago12:28

12:28

Yes its holiday time in Philosophy? WTF?? world! Open up your deck chair, unscrew a bottle of ambre solaire lay back and listen as Mike muses on the purpose of leisure time! Dive into our archive of earlier episodes here: https://castbox.fm/channel/id3766780?country=gb Send us an email: philosophywtf@gmail.com Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.…

1
Episode 197: AI - Episode Three 40:27

1y ago40:27

40:27

Danny and Dr. Mike conclude their discussion on AI with a wider chat on who gets the keys to the social media platforms we all use and the fallibility of the humans that are in charge of them. Also, with ChatGPT and similar are we removing humans from the creative process and does this spell the end of art? Tune in to hear all this and more with yo…

1
Episode 196: AI - Episode Two 37:19

1y ago37:19

37:19

This week gasp in suspense and delight as Danny and Dr Mike, without any computer assisted aides whatsoever, tightrope walk across the twin philosophical concepts of the Turning Test and the Chinese room! You will hold your breath as the Turning test brings us closer to the idea that the machines could take over and then laugh in relief as Searle a…

1
Episode 195: AI - Episode One 30:21

1y ago30:21

30:21

Join us this week as Dr Mike and Danny get super topical and chat ChatGPT! That's right, PhilosophyWTF has caught up with the 21st Century and is getting to grips with cutting edge thought! Listen with growing concern as our fearless thinkers discuss the rise of computer generated Artificial Intelligence and then sigh with relief as they cheerfully…

1
Episode 194: A Chat with Hunter: Final Part 40:00

1y ago40:00

40:00

Welcome listeners to the final part of the talk with Hunter! As Danny's and Mike's chat with Hunter winds down, inevitably the chat turns to politics and Science Fiction! Also we have a chance to listen in and hear more about Hunter's life, how he encountered the podcast and how he realised that philosophy should be accessible for everyone (especia…

1
Episode 193: A Chat With Hunter Part 3 26:01

1+ y ago26:01

26:01

This week Danny, Hunter and Mike have had enough of the breakneck speed of technology and discuss whether we should destroy ChatGPT and 'go back to the 50s'. Then, listen in horror as Danny raises the idea that maybe there were upsides to George Bailey not existing and whether we should be able to 'reset' our lives. All this plus the inevitable Sta…

1
Episode 192: A Chat With Hunter Part 2 22:16

1+ y ago22:16

22:16

Welcome back to part two of our chat with Hunter. This week we talk nation and identity and ask ourselves: 'are we where we come from?', 'How much of ourselves do we take with us when we travel?' 'Where does our culture come from?', 'Is a man an island even if he lives on one?' So relax, sit back and take back sovereignty with Hunter, Mike and Dann…

1
Episode 191: A Chat With Hunter 19:50

1+ y ago19:50

19:50

In this week's episode Danny and Mike have a cosy chat with American friend-of-the-pod Hunter Campbell Royall! With a focus on our relationship to the land, Identity and culture we ask who we really are and where did we come from?

1
Episode 158: Essence and Identity Part 6 32:17

2+ y ago32:17

32:17

Ok, it’s the last cast of the year, you all know the drill, I’m not sure I can be bothered this week so I’m just going to phone this one in if that’s ok with the rest of you? Right, so welcome, it’s Danny and Mike, listen to us talk about stuff. Sit in amazed silence as this happens, then that, then some other stuff, possibly about social construct…

1
Episode 156: Essence and Identity Part 5 24:43

2+ y ago24:43

24:43

This week, as we approach that festive time of the year, join Mike and Danny as they invite a few friends over for drinks and nibbles. Listen in as de Beauvoir tries to bogart all the vol-au-vents while arguing that she is free to range with absolutely liberty across the entire buffet and who are we to try to constrain her with our fascist party ho…

1
Episode 155: Essence and Identity Part 4 17:31

2+ y ago17:31

17:31

This week, join Mike and Danny here in our bodies where we feel safest of all, we can lock all the doors, it’s the only way to live in bodies… or is it? Certainly Merleau Ponty would agree. Yes, it’s time for the physical body to not only take centre stage but to actually become the stage upon which we strut and fret and access the world. Bet you w…

1
Episode 154: Essence and Identity Part 3 19:41

2+ y ago19:41

19:41

This week Mike confuses Danny with someone else, after all, how is Danny to be distinguished from anyone else? One needs to be tolerant of each other, right? Or perhaps, as Popper tells us, the tolerant society can only be tolerant by not tolerating the intolerant. To secure the essence of humanity what must we deny? How do we police our fundamenta…

1
Episode 153: Essence and Identity Part 2 19:59

2+ y ago19:59

19:59

This week Mike and Danny get down to essentials but where do they take us? What is a good Danny? Who is it that decides on the “Danniness” of a thing? Yes we are coming after you Plato, we have a guzungada and we are not afraid to use it. Also, in todays cast, beer - what is it? Is there an essential beer or is it simply a label we hang on a partic…

1
Episode 152: Essence and Identity 18:29

2+ y ago18:29

18:29

This week join Mike and Danny in the Philosopher’s Kitchen as they seek to impress the judges with their philo-culinary delights. Will the guest diners enjoy Danny’s Wittgenstein soufflé or will it collapse at the last minute proving to be insubstantial and nothing more than hot air? Will Mike’s Platonic pie flavoured with 'essence of human form' a…

1
Episode 147: Philosophy is Where You Find it! Part 6 28:22

2+ y ago28:22

28:22

This week join Mike and Danny as they attempt to build a scale model of Danny from bits of information gleaned by rummaging through his bins during the hours of darkness. Is it possible to create an accurate scale model of the world using nothing but words and statistics? Develop a new found respect for data analytics as we identify Danny’s perfect…

1
Episode 146: Philosophy is Where You Find it! Part 5 15:19

3y ago15:19

15:19

This week, who knows what’s going on because we certainly don’t. Danny has been struck down by the virus (he’s fine and recovering so don’t pander to him, he’s just looking for attention) and Mike can’t recall what they talked about when this cast was recorded. All we can say with any certainty is that the whole thing will be its usual mixture of i…

1
Episode 145: Philosophy Is Where You Find It! Part 4 16:51

3y ago16:51

16:51

This week join Mike and Danny as they get just what they deserve. Yes, who are you and what do you want? Is there an ontology behind consumerism? What do we need to own in order to be complete? Join us as we ride into town on the mule of philosophy and play what we deserve off against what we lack. Yes, it’s an anthropological showdown with everyth…

1
Episode 144: Philosophy is Where You Find it! Part 3 16:43

3y ago16:43

16:43

This week join us as Mike and Danny bunk off school to hide behind the bike sheds and talk lifestyles. Yes, you heard right, we’re bucking the system and biting the very hand that feeds us. Listen in mute disbelief as your two cheeky chappies from the lower 6th sass their teachers and serve up shade to their betters. What do you mean you don’t want…

1
Episode 143: Philosophy is Where You Find It! Part 2 13:19

3y ago13:19

13:19

This week, join Mike and Danny as they delve into the depths of the fridge, behind the the milk, cheese and other fresh dairy products to rummage amongst the fetid remains of dinners past. Yes, stand amazed, and slightly nauseated as your two ragged philosophical gastronauts engage in the thinking persons equivalent of coming home late from the pub…

1
Episode 142: Philosophy is Where You Find It! Introduction 17:39

3y ago17:39

17:39

This week join Mike and Danny as they scavenge through the philosophical skips and bins in search of discarded gold. Yes, we are up-cycling preowned and well used ideas that others have simply thrown out. I mean really, senseless waste. Look at this passing phrase from a 1940’s film - still plenty of good ontological wear in that. And here, see tha…

1
Episode 141: How to Build a Philosophy Part 7 18:00

3y ago18:00

18:00

This week join Mike and Danny simply because they tell you too. Yes, that’s right, you can trust us, we’re reliable, when have we ever steered you wrong? I mean, who else are you going to believe? After all, what do you really know? A handful of shabby first hand experiences mediated through highly questionable sense organs and the rest is all hear…

1
Episode 140: How to build a Philosophy Part 6 14:43

3y ago14:43

14:43

This week join Mike and Danny as they question your life style, yes YOURS! After all, who are you people to come in here with your uniqueness, strutting your difference around like it was no thing? I mean, it’s taken us ages to sort things out and to figure out the how and why of things and then in you people trot with your thinking and opinions an…

1
Episode 139: How to Build a Philosophy Part 5 16:21

3y ago16:21

16:21

This week; being here, being there, being neither one thing or another, being in, being out, being real, being fake. To be, or not to be and bebop a Lula, she's my baby. Yes, it's ontology week at WTF mansions where Mike and Danny are being themselves and loving it. Existence is very much as you find it and we find it everywhere but what is it? Do …

1
Episode 138: How to Build a Philosophy Part 4 16:12

3y ago16:12

16:12

This week join Mike and Danny as they dare to tug at the knicker elastic that alone holds up the underwear of Reality. Will the boxer shorts of infinity be found to be adequately supported or will we be left with faces scarlet with shame, our ontologies around our ankles? What, exactly, covers up our philosophical modesty? Are our epistemological p…

1
Episode 137: How to Build a Philosophy Part 3 16:50

3y ago16:50

16:50

This week, join Mike and Danny as they examine the very foundations of reality because it looks like there are some nasty cracks appearing in your plaster work. What’s it all built on, eh? What sort of cowboy builders did you get in to do the original work? Listen in as your two philosophical construction workers don their hard hats and high vis ve…

1
Episode 136: How to Build a Philosophy Part 2 14:43

3y ago14:43

14:43

This week join Mike and Danny, back in the lab again, as they tentatively extract dangerous metaphysic from the safety of its lead lined container. Have they instituted all necessary safety protocols or are they being recklessly cavalier with this most dangerous of philosophical substances? Catch your breath as Danny dons a protective suit and atte…

1
Episode 135: How to Build a Philosophy. 17:05

3y ago17:05

17:05

This week join Mike and Danny as they lay out their tools and scavenged resources and commence construction. Yes, what, exactly is required to build a philosophy? The toe bone's connected to the heel bone, the heel bone's connected to the foot bone, the foot bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to the knee bone… but what is th…

1
Episode 134: Coming up. 2:46

3y ago2:46

2:46

This week something unnatural stalks the corridors of WTF Mansions. Join Mike and Danny as they set themselves against the gods in a mad bid to create a philosophy from nothing but spare parts and hubris. Yes, this week we prepare the lab, provide instructions to our hideous underlings and power up those things that go buzz buzz. Dare we fly in the…

1
Episode 133: A Well-earned Break 23:37

3y ago23:37

23:37

This week, take your pick and join Danny down in the WTF mines digging for pure philosophy or leave your pick behind and take your leave with Mike by the seaside. Yes, it's Morlocks and Eloi at WTF Mansions today as we continue to explore the masks we wear. As Danny slaves beneath the earth Mike labours to engage with true human identity behind a s…

1
Episode 132: Philosophy and Theatre p5 12:09

3y ago12:09

12:09

This week join Mike and Danny - but not the same Mike and Danny as you joined last week by any means - as they grow a beard, change their look and adopt posher accents. Yes, it's time to flip the script and change costume as we ask the question, "wtf do you think you are?" As we all intermingle at the grand masquerade of life what have you come as?…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dr Michael Alsford Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide