Freedom Pact Podcast

Chris Robertson is the frontman and guitarist of the band @blackstonecherry . In this interview, he talks openly and honestly about his battles with depression and his process for handling mental health and well-being.You can catch Black Stone Cherry on tour in the U.K.: http://www.blackstonecherry.comYou can follow Chris on social media at:Instagr…

James Haskell is an English former rugby union player who played for Wasps RFC and Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership, and internationally for England.In this interview today, we discuss James's life & career, cancel culture, men's mental heath and more. Buy Approach with(out) caution here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Approach-Without-Caution…

Siddharth Kara, MBA, is a British Academy Global Professor based at Nottingham University, an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Senior Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has documented several thousand slaves in more than fifty countries across twenty-one years of research and advises several United Nations agenci…

Zack Telander is an athlete, fitness youtuber, weightlifter and coach. He has become well known for pointing out the charlatans of the fineness industry, and was recently part of creating "The Liver King Lie" on the More Plates More Dates youtube channel.In this episode, Zack and I discuss: - Attacking The New Year- Fitness Charlatans- How To Find …

James Smith is a three time Sunday Times Best Selling Author, speaker, online PT and fitness personality. He is well known for his no nonsense approach as he became the fastest growing online PT, amassing over 3 million followers across his social media platforms to date.He is the author of "Not A Diet Book," "Not A Life Coach" and "How To Be Confi…

Kalyna Miletic is a highly sought-after leadership coach, TEDx speaker, author and entrepreneur on a mission to help women build meaningful legacies. She's founded two companies Kickstart Your Work and Chiefly, a podcast, the Lead Today Show, and a charitable giving clothing line, Lead. Apparel.Kalyna was named one of Business Insider’s “Most Innov…

Brent Smith is an American singer best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Shinedown, who have the most number one singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts with 18, and all of their released singles have reached the top 5 on the chart. Additionally, on June 3, 2021, Shinedown was ranked #1 by Billboard on the Greatest of All Time Mai…

Maclin is an artist and thinker based in Cleveland, Ohio. He is the founder of MIND, LLC and is on the constant pursuit of innovation to make the world a better place for creative minds. You can find him online at: www.maclin.ioMaclin is the author of "Providence," his new poetry book which you can find on his website above, or on Amazon by searchi…

Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, journalist and columnist. Over his career he has fronted ITV's football coverage, co-presented Daybreak, launched multiple BBC show including The One Show, and presented several documentaries and documentary series. As a radio presenter Adrian currently hosts Question Time Extra Time and Chiles on Friday, both on 5li…

Dan Hardy would describe himself as "a professional reptile, amateur philosopher, part-time visionary - Student of the martial arts and commentator of UFC fights." I would describe him as one of the legends of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, and a pioneer of British MMA. He is a former UFC fighter who is now an entrepreneur, coach, analyst, commen…

Niko Stoifberg is an author and self-experimentalist. Niko summarizes non-fiction books for a living. In his spare time, he writes columns and fiction. His acclaimed debut novel Dort appeared in 2019. On New Years Eve in 2015, Niko set himself the resolution to not buy anything for one year. The results were surprising.In this episode today, we dis…

Dr Liz O'Riordan ( @Liz O'Riordan ) is a breast cancer surgeon, two-time breast cancer survivor, author and speaker.In this conversation today, Liz and I discuss:- What it was like being diagnosed with cancer twice- The irony in being a breast cancer surgeon and then getting breast cancer- How having cancer has changed Liz's outlook on life- The nu…

Tobias (Toby) Gutteridge is a former member of the U.K. Special Forces (S.B.S). Toby was on tour in Afghanistan when he got shot through the neck, which left him instantly paralysed from the neck down. He has a miraculous survival story, and has overcome many of his own struggles but he still faces new challenges each and every day. Links mentioned…

Max Dickins is an author, a playwright and a recovering stand-up comedian. He has had his own Sony Award-nominated show on Absolute Radio and appeared numerous times on BBC One’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. Dickins’ critically acclaimed live shows have played to sell-out crowds at the Edinburgh Festival and on national tours. IRL he is also the co…

Dr Louis Ignarro is an American pharmacologist, Professor Emeritus in the UCLA school of Medicine and the co-winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize.Dr Ignarro and colleagues won the Nobel prize in 1998 for their demonstration that nitric oxide, a molecule that we will discuss in depth, worked as a signalling agent within the cardiovascular system. This fin…

Tova Friedman is a holocaust survivor of Auschwitz. After surviving the liquidation of the Jewish ghetto in Central Poland where she lived as a toddler, Tova was five when she and her parents were sent to a Nazi labour camp, and almost six when she and her mother were forced into a packed cattle truck and sent to Auschwitz II, also known as the Bir…

Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu is a former professional footballer who last played in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion and with the Welsh national side. He is also the founder of The Turmeric Co.In this episode, we discuss:- The supplement that saved Thomas' career- How to deal with pressure - Why football sponsorships and advertisements are ha…

Dr Daniel Z Lieberman is a medical doctor, Psychiatrist and clinical professor of Psychiatry at George Washington.Dan has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and was the best selling author of the Molecule of More, A book about Dopamine that I was personally recommended on the show by Dr Andrew Huberman when he came on.Dr Lieberman’s latest bo…

Dr Karan Rajan is an NHS surgeon, clinical Lecturer at Sunderland University and social media influencer with more than 5 million social media followers.If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a 5* review and subscribing to us. It really helps!Links:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter​ (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://in…

Dr Mark Goulston is a Psychiatrist, suicide prevention specialist, former UCLA professor of Psychiatry and former FBI and police hostage negotiator. Dr Goulston is the best-selling author of nine books including ‘just listen.’ Which has been translated into 28 languages, Dr Goulston is also the host of the highly rated podcast my wakeup call.In thi…

Rory Sutherland is the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK and the founder of the behavioural science practice. He writes the Spectator’s ‘Wiki Man’ column, presents series for BBC Radio 4, serves on the advisory board of The Evolution Institute, and is former President of the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising). The IDM (Institute of Direct and…

Amy Chan is the Founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing the heart. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of Heart Hackers Club – an online magazine that focuses on the psychology behind love, lust and desire. The Observer calls her “A relationship expert whose work is like that of a scientifi…

Julian Peterson is a software developer, musician, entrepreneur and the founder of 'Essay.' If you don't know Julian, you may know him as the son of former Freedom Pact guest, Tammy Peterson and Jordan Peterson.In this episode we discuss:- The power of writing- Meaning- Finding Your Purpose - The importance of family- & much moreLinks:Essay: https:…

Russell Foster is Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, Director of Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute and Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford. Expect to learn all about the science of the body clock, and how your circadian rhythm has a direct impact on the quality of your sleep and health.Watch all o…

Oliver Burkeman is a feature writer for The Guardian. He is a winner of the Foreign Press Association's Young Journalist of the Year award, and has been short-listed for the Orwell Prize. He writes a popular weekly column on psychology, "This Column Will Change Your Life," and has reported from New York, London, and Washington. Oliver's latest book…

Ben Aldridge writes about practical philosophy, comfort zones, mental health, and adventure. You can find him climbing mountains, learning Japanese, running marathons, taking ice baths and sleeping in unusual places. The challenges he sets for himself, and his readers are often demanding yet quirky and fun. Ben has suffered from severe anxiety and …

Dr Jenna Macciochi specialises in understanding how nutrition and lifestyle interact with the immune system in health and disease. With over 20 years' experience she is on a mission to break down the science behind our health and share the secrets of how to be well, for good. Based in Brighton, Jenna is a lecturer at Sussex University, a qualified …

Listen to our first interview with Nick in which he details his full story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_-_at8H37ENick Yarris was sent to death row for 22 Years, for a crime he didn't commit and was the star of the documentary "Fear of 13." He is the author of multiple books, and a highly revered speaker. Links:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsle…

Barry Maurice William Hearn OBE is an English sporting events promoter and the founder and President of promotions company Matchroom Sport. Barry has developed Matchroom Sport into one of the world’s leading independent suppliers of quality sports programming. Aside from Matchroom Sport, Barry is Chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation, the …

Today on the Freedom Pact podcast we are joined by progressive political commentator, David Pakman. David hosts "The David Pakman Show," featuring the biggest political and news stories of the day, including lively debate with guests from all sides, analysis and stories no other shows are covering.Consider subscribing to our Youtube Channel: https:…

Dr Iain McGilchrist is a former literature scholar at Oxford University before an interest in the mind and body led him to studying medicine, which paved the way for him to become a consultant Psychiatrist.Dr McGilChrist is an associate of Green Templteton College in Oxford, a fellow of the royal college of Psychiatrists, a fellow of the royal soci…

Dr Will Bulsiewicz, or 'Dr B', is a board certified Gastroenterologist who both practises and researches at the cutting edge of science related to gut-health. Long time listeners of the show will know that this is Dr Bulsiewicz's third appearance on the show! Our first podcast with Dr B (#33) is in our top ten most downloaded ever episodes and our …

After the marvelous Thomas cup win, India has another reason to celebrate as Telangana-born boxer Nikhat Zareen bagged the gold medal in the 52-kg category at the Women's World Boxing Championship after defeating Thailand's Jitpong Jutamas in the fly-weight final in Istanbul. With this, the 25-year-old became only the fifth Indian woman to bag a go…

On 18 May, Hardik Patel who gained popularity during the Patidar agitation, quit the party. Taking swipes at senior leaders, he accused the party of lacking strong leadership both at the state and central levels. He said that Congress only plays the role of a “roadblock” when it comes to serious issues — be it about Ram Mandir, abrogation of Articl…

After enforcing a ban on wheat exports, India announced some relaxations on 18 May. The surprise decision had led to a lot of chaos as hundreds of thousands of tonnes of wheat were reportedly left stranded at Gujarat’s Kandla Port after the ban was announced. But the new notification from the Ministry of Commerce has said, "It has been decided that…

The decades-old Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath dispute has sprung back in the news once again. While there are several chapters to this long-drawn dispute, which goes back as far as 1991, let's look at the recent developments first. On Monday, 16 May, a Varanasi court directed for a spot within the mosque complex to be sealed after a court-appoin…

15th May was not just any Sunday, it was a historic Sunday for Indian sports as the Indian men's Badminton team defeated 14-time winners – Indonesia, to clinch their first ever Thomas Cup title in Bangkok. Praise is still pouring in for the players who together helped India win the prestigious tournament for the first time in its 73 year history. S…

The RBI’s unscheduled hike in repo rates on 5 May confirmed that the central bank was behind the curve in controlling inflation and now new data released by the National Statistical Office on 12 May shows exactly how behind. Retail inflation in India soared to its highest since May 2014 to 7.79 percent in April, almost double the RBI’s mandate of 4…

On the long-standing question of criminalising marital rape, the Delhi High Court on 11 May delivered a split verdict in a batch of petitions challenging the exception provided to marital rape in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Justice Rajiv Shakdher of the two-judge bench held that Exception 2 under Section 375, which says that any sexual acts by a h…

Are we as a society practicing inclusivity and showing sensitivity towards people with disabilities? A video from Ranchi airport that went viral on social media platforms recently is raising this question. This said video captured an incident where a teenage boy with disability was purportedly mistreated by IndiGo airlines. This incident took place…

This time around marks a year to the deadly second wave of Covid. While officially 5.42 lakh people lost their lives to the virus in India since 2020, there have been many repercussions of the pandemic. This episode of The Big Story is not going to be about the headline making news, it's going to be about an issue which is very close to us here at …

In the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his first foreign visit of the year to Europe on 5 May with visits to Germany, Denmark, and France. PM Modi’s first port of call was Berlin, where he met the new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose government has decided to make economic sacrifices by r…

In a surprise move on Wednesday, 4 May, the Reserve Bank of India hiked the benchmark repo rate for the first time in four years by 40 basis points to 4.4 percent. Alongside this, the central bank also raised the cash reserve ratio or CRR by 50 basis points to 4.50 percent. Unveiling the new policy on Wednesday, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said th…

The wait is over! India’s biggest ever Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) kicked off for subscription for retail institutional investors today, that is on 4 May. Since it's completely an offer for sale, all the proceedings will directly go to the government which is expecting to raise Rs 21,000 crores by sell…

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, planetary scientist, author, and science communicator. His new book, 'Welcome To The Universe: In 3D" is out now: https://welcometotheuniverse.net/In this episode of the podcast, I ask Neil:- Why does time get slower when you travel through space?- What do the US Government UFO images tell us?- Why…

A month after taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India's "democracy will not sustain if we can't guarantee freedom of speech and expression". However, 8 years on, the freedom of one of the fundamental pillars of democracy – the press – has taken a nosedive. In 2015, the World Press Freedom Index, which is compiled annually by …

We are joined by Matt Hancock, MP for West Suffolk and the former health secretary of the U.K during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic for a sit-down interview at Portcullis House, Westminster.In the short time that we were together, we asked Matt about his dyslexia campaign, how working through Covid effected his mental health, did China infl…

The IPL 2022 saw quite a few overhauls- two new teams being added, the mega auction where teams splurged close to Rs 550 crore for 204 players to construct some new squads. We also saw iconic names going missing and some new captains being announced. There seems to be a lot of change this season and a quick glance at the points table tells the same…

If you, like me, have caught yourself multiple times a day complaining about how this year is hotter than the last, you are not alone. March 2022 has been India’s third warmest March since 1901 and there have been at least 26 heat waves since the start of March, which can last for anywhere between 4-10 days. On 11 April, Delhi broke a 72-year-old r…

Things seem to be going from bad to worse for Virat Kohli as his poor performance continues to haunt him in the ongoing IPL 2022 as he got out on the first ball for the second straight match and scored less than 10 runs in the match subsequent to it. The former Indian captain, who has scored over 23,500 international runs for India, was out on the …