Best Neil Barrett Podcasts (2024)

1
JONATHAN HAIDT: moral psychology in a modern world 1:18:16

42m ago1:18:16

1:18:16

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and author of New York Times bestsellers 'The Righteous Mind', and 'The Coddling of the American Mind'. His latest book 'The Anxious Generation', argues that the rise of smartphones and overprotective parenting have led to a "rewiring" of childhood and a rise in mental illness. Jon discusses the intricate dyn…

1
A.J. JACOBS: experimenting with life 1:12:58

9d ago1:12:58

1:12:58

A.J. Jacobs is an author, humourist and journalist, who has written four New York Times bestsellers, including 'The Year of Living Biblically' , 'The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, and 'Drop Dead Healthy'. Jacobs discusses his unique life as a 'human guinea pig,' exploring different ways of living th…

1
MATTHIEU RICARD: the perspective of happiness 1:12:58

5d ago1:12:58

1:12:58

Matthieu Ricard is a French-Nepalese author, photographer, and Buddhist monk who resides at a Monastery in Nepal. Matthieu received a PhD degree in molecular genetics in 1972. He then decided to forsake his scientific career and instead practice Tibetan Buddhism, living mainly in the Himalayas. Since 1989, he has acted as the French interpreter for…

1
FRANCES KISSLING: the fearless advocate 1:04:35

12d ago1:04:35

1:04:35

Frances Kissling is a prominent advocate in the fields of religion, reproductive health and ethics. Kissling served as the president of Catholics for Choice for 25 years, where she worked to promote a progressive understanding of reproductive rights within the Catholic community, and has significantly contributed to discussions on abortion rights a…

1
TYLER COWEN: the future of humanity 1:19:46

19d ago1:19:46

1:19:46

Tyler Cowen is an American economist, columnist, and blogger, He was ranked at number 72 among the "Top 100 Global Thinkers" and he is here with Peter & Kasia to discuss wide ranging diverse topics! This episode delves into the speculation around the existence and visitation of aliens to Earth, and exploring the implications of such visits on human…

1
DUI TOLEDO: self-discipline and contribution 1:11:18

26d ago1:11:18

1:11:18

Dui Toledo is in conversation with Peter & Kasia to discuss his personal philosophy on living a good life, which includes balancing health, skill development, meaningful relationships, and service to others. Dui highlights his 105-hour rule to manage time efficiently, the importance of deliberate learning, and his perspectives on ethics, morality, …

1
KATE GRANT: turning compassion into action 43:41

1M ago43:41

43:41

Peter & Kasia are in-conversation with Kate Grant, a leading figure in the fight against obstetric fistula. This episode explores Kate's transition from a successful advertising career to working in international development and eventually leading the Fistula Foundation as CEO. Kate explains what obstetric fistula is, its impact on women in low-res…

1
ROBERT WRIGHT: navigating moral realism 1:03:05

2M ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Peter & Kasia are joined by author and journalist Robert Wright. Robert Wright is the New York Times bestselling author of The Evolution of God (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Nonzero, The Moral Animal, Three Scientists and their Gods, and Why Buddhism Is True. The discussion delves into the evolutionary explanations for altruism and sympathy,…

1
JANE GOODALL: recognising the animal as an individual 57:54

2M ago57:54

57:54

Jane Goodall DBE is an ethologist and conservationist, the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and a UN Messenger of Peace. Peter and Kasia have joined Jane in her family home to record this conversation. In this dialogue, Jane Goodall reflects on the powerful influence of her mother, her passion for animals that began in childhood, and her grou…

1
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON: the limitations of human perception 1:29:23

2M ago1:29:23

1:29:23

Peter & Kasia are joined by astrophysicist, author, and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson. They discuss Tyson's journey in becoming an astrophysicist and the public's fascination with space, and explore the impact of seeing the night sky and how it inspired Neil's life and career. The power of images like the Voyager 1 photo of Earth and the…

1
JUDY COLLINS: the life of an artist 1:10:39

2M ago1:10:39

1:10:39

Judy Collins is a singer-songwriter with a musical career spanning seven decades. Judy is known for the outstanding clarity and beauty of her voice. Judy is a Grammy Award winning artist, whose musical catalogue of work includes 36 studio albums. Judy joins Peter & Kasia to discuss her singing career, activism, and the importance of music and art. …

1
YUVAL NOAH HARARI: knowing the truth about yourself 59:16

2M ago59:16

59:16

Professor. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and the forthcoming NEXUS: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. His books have sold over 45 Million copies in 65 languages, and he is considered one of th…

1
INGRID NEWKIRK: the end of suffering 1:26:53

3M ago1:26:53

1:26:53

Ingrid Newkirk is an author, activist, and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal rights organisation. PETA famously proclaims that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any way. In this episode Peter & Kasia speak to Ingrid and explore PETA's achiev…

1
DANIEL KAHNEMAN: evaluating the human condition 1:06:42

3M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Join Kasia & Peter as they explore the profound impact of Daniel Kahneman, the Israeli-American psychologist, and author who revolutionised our understanding of human decision-making. Awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Kahneman’s groundbreaking work, alongside Amos Tversky, unveiled the cognitive biases and heuristics that …

1
PETER & KASIA: welcome to the podcast 38:16

3M ago38:16

38:16

Aristotle said; in order to know what it is to live well, we should study the lives of those who do live well, and that is what our two resident philosophers are here to uncover. What is it to live a good life? Peter & Kasia are in-conversation in this episode on what it is to live a good life on their terms. We hope this podcast will inform, motiv…

1
Lives Well Lived Trailer 0:56

4M ago0:56

0:56

Welcome to Lives Well Lived with Kasia de Lazari Radek & Peter Singer. The podcast will consist of interviews with remarkable guests who have lived well, both in the sense of living an ethical life, but also in that they are fulfilled and happy with what they have achieved in their lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Sarah Lee 53:06

1y ago53:06

53:06

Guardian/Observer staff photographer Sarah Lee first watched Dont Look Back whilst perched on a crowded bed in a Camden flat with a struggling rock combo called Coldplay. As she’s now a BAFTA photographer, Sarah checks plenty of other names in this episode, including Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett. On celebrity photogr…

1
Rebecca Slaman 50:53

1+ y ago50:53

50:53

Rebecca Slaman, writer and social media guru, is a fan of Bob Dylan’s “perfect random meme humour.” Twitter? “Girls lust after him! But I’ve seen some pretty egregious stuff. Old people don’t understand the platform.” Dylan’s 1987 film Hearts of Fire? “He cannot act. How can he not act? He’s been acting his whole life. So bad - but so entertaining!…

1
Bettye LaVette 50:23

1+ y ago50:23

50:23

In the 61st year of her singing career, five-time Grammy nominee Bettye LaVette warns us that our chat will be “straight, no chaser”. And she lives up to that promise. Bettye describes her surprise backstage meeting with Bob Dylan: “He kissed me on the mouth. It was no big deal. I’ve kissed Otis Redding and David Ruffin”. Working with Keith Richard…

1
Simon Munnery 46:26

1+ y ago46:26

46:26

Like his main man Bob Dylan, comedian Simon Munnery knows a few things about heckles: aside from being arrested in Edinburgh for heckling Arthur Smith, he met his future wife when she heckled him in Australia. When not on the road, Simon joins his local Morris Men in Bedfordshire pubs, serenading fellow drinkers with his version of Blind Willie McT…

1
Helen Barrett 53:48

1+ y ago53:48

53:48

Journalist Helen Barrett was lullabied to sleep as her mother sang Mr. Tambourine Man; she had it played at her mother’s funeral (“the Dylan version, not the Byrds cover”). To top it off, Baby, Stop Crying was the soundtrack to her Dylan-loving parents’ divorce. Helen analyses Dylan’s clothes (“John Lennon wasn’t given to copying people, but he cop…

1
Michael Bonner 44:49

1+ y ago44:49

44:49

Michael Bonner, editor of music magazine Uncut, takes on Dylan’s 2022 UK concerts, as well as The Philosophy of Modern Song (“Dylan mimicking the critical noise around Dylan”). Other topics include an in-depth dissection of Key West (“ambient, amniotic and immersive”), Dylan’s “thing that he has about dual guitarists” and a couple of unfortunate Do…

1
Stewart Lee 58:38

1+ y ago58:38

58:38

Comedian and columnist Stewart Lee remains “grateful to the people who brainwashed me into listening to Bob Dylan during a period of emotional and physical weakness.” He remembers seeing Dylan live at Hyde Park with his kids (“one of the greatest nights of my life”) as well as the time he alienated the audience at a Teenage Cancer Trust Benefit. “I…

1
Matt Rowland Hill 51:32

1+ y ago51:32

51:32

Writer Matt Rowland Hill is well placed to comment on Dylan’s ‘Property of Jesus’ years: “the kind of fire-and-brimstone Christianity that I grew up with was exactly the kind that Dylan converted into. He was ripe to be captured”. At the age of 17, Matt wangled his way past security in London, hoping to accost his hero, only to told by members of D…

1
Jeff Hanna 41:32

2y ago41:32

41:32

Jeff Hanna, founder member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is a team player. He has played with Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Rosanne Cash, Linda Ronstadt and Matraca Berg. Oh, and Roger McGuinn, Jason Isbell, Rodney Crowell, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Larry Campbell an…

1
Emma Swift 45:38

2y ago45:38

45:38

Australian singer/songwriter Emma Swift's highly acclaimed Blonde On The Tracks album, with guitar backing by life partner (and former podcast guest) Robyn Hitchcock, was her breakthrough recording. Emma swears that "singing Dylan's songs is like wearing a magical cape. Suddenly you have special powers. My job is to give each song a different emoti…

1
Caroline Bird 49:33

2y ago49:33

49:33

Prize-winning poet and playwright Caroline Bird reminds us that “we’re all poets when we’re asleep. Writing is trying to find a way to dream while we’re awake”. On Bob Dylan: “You always hear him choosing the dark side of the road”; “What I love is that his songs are full of denial. Whenever the emotion gets too real, he runs away” and “He’s so naï…

1
Lenny Kaye 51:53

2y ago51:53

51:53

Patti Smith Group guitarist and author Lenny Kaye reminds us that “Bob Dylan is still experimenting, seeing who he might be, putting on the weirdest shows ever, upending barriers”. Almost in one breath, Lenny gives forth on working with or listening to Suzanne Vega, John Coltrane, Gayle, The Stooges, Brian Eno, The Byrds, Bing Crosby and Janis Jopl…

1
Justin Trefgarne 54:48

2y ago54:48

54:48

Film director/screenwriter Justin Trefgarne talks about Dylan, but also about fathers, sons, archetypes and coincidence. “Bob has been the guardian angel and surrogate father for my entire adult existence,” he tells us. From his first encounter with Like A Rolling Stone (which he played for five hours straight), “everything was up for grabs”. Hear …

1
John Doe 48:55

2y ago48:55

48:55

Singer/Songwriter/Actor John Doe tells terrific tales: hanging with Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder in Memphis, gigging with Nick Lowe in London and hearing his voice come out of Christian Bale’s mouth in Todd Haynes’s Dylan biopic I’m Not There. Did John’s appearance with LA punk band X on the Letterman Show in 1983 inspire Dylan’s wild 1984 set wit…

1
Steven Cockcroft 56:41

2+ y ago56:41

56:41

Belfast’s Steven Cockcroft (co-host of leading Beatles podcast Nothing Is Real) offers unexpected takes on The Boys and Bob: “Roll On John isn’t about an individual, it’s about the sanctification of Lennon” and “The Travelling Wilburys was a calculated move by George”. Also on the menu: Dylan’s questionable harmonies on an obscure Ringo album track…

1
Eric Asimov 54:06

2+ y ago54:06

54:06

Our special culinary episode with critic Eric Asimov includes the story of long-time Dylan bass player Tony Garnier’s delicious Christmas gumbo and Dylan’s wine-making venture, Planet Waves (“the wine has aged better than the album”). A fan since hearing “I Want You” the age of eight, Eric is “drawn to the atmosphere Bob creates. It’s misty. It’s a…

1
Curtis Stigers 56:52

2+ y ago56:52

56:52

Singer, songwriter and saxophonist Curtis Stigers tells us true stories with a cast of characters including Van Morrison, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan. A fan from way back (“Bob is the perfect creation. He’s an art form in himself”), his jazzy cover versions include Things Have Changed (“people go nuts for that song. Their heads explode”). A committe…

1
Thom Tuck 38:04

2+ y ago38:04

38:04

Comic actor Thom Tuck discovered Bob Dylan when, growing up in Bangladesh, he caught the promo for Subterranean Homesick Blues on MTV Rewind. His family eventually returned to Leeds, where his outsider status was made even worse/better by his obsession with all things Bob. At university, he didn’t improve his lot by writing a play called “One More …

1
Laura Tenschert 53:23

2+ y ago53:23

53:23

Fellow podcaster Laura Tenschert’s Definitely Dylan contains multitudes of theories and insights which she shares in this eye-opening episode. German-born Laura learned English by listening to Bob, which gave her sharper ears than most. Dozens of songs are given forensic treatment, ranging from classics like Lord Protect My Child and Buckets of Rai…

1
Richard Strange 45:43

2+ y ago45:43

45:43

Writer and musician Richard Strange insists “If you don’t want to be Bob Dylan, you shouldn’t be writing songs”. He takes us on a journey that starts in his Brixton comprehensive (“I was always bunking off, going to art galleries and the haunted, dingy Soho flesh-pot folk clubs”). He discovers “the boy band of Beat literature: Burroughs, Kerouac an…

1
Andy Miller 58:08

2+ y ago58:08

58:08

Author, editor and podcaster Andy Miller is mad as hell and he’s not going to take it anymore: “Bob Dylan is not a safe option!” “The heritage industry around the Beatles and Dylan is neutering the anarchy of the music. The world sees me as just another bloke buying a Dad Rock box set at Christmas. But it’s not a hygienic vision of what rock ‘n’ ro…

1
Kate French-Morris 49:45

3y ago49:45

49:45

Music journalist Kate French-Morris found her calling in a University of California class taught by Greil Marcus (“he gets closer to Bob’s mind than anyone can, with his sideways thinking and his cattiness”). Kate shares a birthday with Dylan, but her main man might be Bruce Springsteen, who figures strongly in this, our first studio recording for …

1
Michael Scott Moore 47:57

3y ago47:57

47:57

While held captive for 32 months by Somali pirates, writer and Dylan fan Michael Scott Moore had plenty of opportunity to contemplate lyrics, especially All Along The Watchtower. He was given a Bible during his captivity and discovered, in Isaiah, “the ramparts, the princes, the two horsemen and the wildcat. The whole song clicked! It’s about the f…

1
Daniel Radosh 52:13

3y ago52:13

52:13

Comedy writer Daniel Radosh initiated the Twitter hashtag #BD969, celebrating every officially released Dylan song, as well as posting four playlists for The 80th Birthday: Bob Dylan For Beginners. We discuss these gems and open up the contentious topic of Dylan’s album cover art, from best to worst and everything in between. Other albums covered i…

1
Jonathan Taplin 47:44

3y ago47:44

47:44

Jonathan Taplin, former road manager for The Band, has done it all. He set up the equipment for Dylan’s electric set at Newport in ‘65 (“the soundcheck lasted ten minutes”) and was production manager for Dylan and The Band at the Guthrie Tribute in ’68. He organised the groundbreaking Concert For Bangladesh and produced the concert and film of The …

1
Ann Powers 47:27

3y ago47:27

47:27

Ann Powers, writer and lead music critic for America’s National Public Radio, joins us from her East Nashville home to discuss gender, sexuality and “the body” in Bob Dylan’s work. Sparked off by an emotional encounter involving Joni Mitchell, Ann compares Mitchell’s work with Dylan’s and discusses other groundbreaking female artists like Roberta F…

1
Richard Williams 48:58

3y ago48:58

48:58

Journalist Richard Williams joins us to talk Dylan and to surf “the waves of his career”, from Freewheelin’ (“one revelation after another”) to Murder Most Foul (“I was astonished by it. The level of detail. It’s like a John Coltrane quartet.”). Richard reminds us of “one of the great things I learned from Dylan: if you don’t understand something, …

1
Episode 42 - Jewel Box Companion 1: Bernie's Letter 1:05:00

3y ago1:05:00

1:05:00

The first of six 'Jewel Box Companion' episodes. It's taken me a while to get to grips with all of the extra new material and versions that we have been treated to. I've boiled it down into six relatively short playlists, and I'm going to be introducing them, one by one, and providing a little context and interpretation where I can. 'Chapter 1' is …

1
John Harris 58:25

3+ y ago58:25

58:25

Music and political journalist John Harris joins us just before Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday to celebrate the man with “the wink and the nod and the little impish skip” as well as the man who gives us “the solace of emptiness”. Mr Harris is not afraid to go against the grain: “”Love And Theft” is as good as Highway 61 or Blood On The Tracks”. As for J…

1
Charlie McCoy 51:48

3+ y ago51:48

51:48

Nashville musician Charlie McCoy’s Dylan-related achievements include those distinctive guitar licks on Desolation Row, that blues harmonica on Obviously Five Believers (a rare example of another person playing harp on a Dylan session) and the inventive bass lines on John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait. His motto: “Say yes - an…

1
Michael Simmons 42:19

3+ y ago42:19

42:19

Musician and writer Michael Simmons has written dozens of Dylan cover pieces for MOJO magazine, as well as incisive liner notes for Another Self Portrait and Bob Dylan 1970. “I remember where I was when Kennedy was assassinated and I remember the exact moment I heard Like A Rolling Stone. It sounded like freedom.” He praises Bob as both “a revoluti…

1
Episode 41 - Old Friends 1:07:12

3+ y ago1:07:12

1:07:12

It's the 50th Frenniversary! Elton's 4th album was a pick-and-mix, with three pastoral pop songs from the same mould as the Elton John Album, two spiky rock songs that kept the Tumbleweed rolling, and a 10 minute long Buckmaster-stroke, thrown in for good measure. While it is an uneven listen, it contains some of Elton's finest music. The album get…

1
Tom Jackson 50:53

3+ y ago50:53

50:53

To mark our 50th episode, writer and podcaster Tom Jackson gives us his clear-eyed take on Dylan’s “Born Again” albums: Slow Train Coming, Saved, Shot Of Love and Trouble No More. “Slow Train Coming is not a smooth record, not a pleasant record, but I enjoy the tension.” And the accompanying live performances? “They were church services, really. Bu…

1
Episode 40 - Tumbleweed Connection at 50 (part 2) with John Higgins and Peter Thomas 2:09:42

3+ y ago2:09:42

2:09:42

Here we are at last! This is the concluding part of the Tumbleweed Conversation I had with John Higgins, Elton's Legacy Consultant and Feature Writer at eltonjohn.com, and Peter Thomas, founder of pmc-speakers.com and Elton collector extraordinaire. Once again, I invite you to accompany us on our ramble along the timeline, all the way to the Trouba…

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