In this bonus episode, recorded in front of a live virtual audience, Professor Paul Dolan and his guests discuss the neuroscience and social science behind the polarisation problem. Why do we take sides on so many issues? What makes us want to be part of one group and not another? What drives our judgements, choices and assumptions?

Paul was joined by his LSE colleague Dr Jennifer Sheehy Skeffington, and fellow academics Dr Lasana Harris from University College London, Professor Anil Seth from the University of Sussex, and Dr Tiffany Watt Smith from Queen Mary University.

A Mother Come Quickly production

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Professor Paul Dolan looks at why we like to take opposite sides - from food to football clubs, and politics to pizza – and why we find it difficult to accept differences of opinion. He speaks to two people who know a lot about polarisation and how to help people see things from the other side. One of them is Lord Gus O'Donnell who was Cabinet Secretary under Labour and Conservative governments and who was instrumental in helping the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives form a coalition government. The other is Dr Nick Chater, who is a Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School and who advises on climate change policy. Paul’s also joined again by his friend and colleague Dr Kate Laffan.

A Mother Come Quickly production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Professor Paul Dolan examines what the last year has taught us about life’s only certainty: death. Has it changed how we think about the lives of older and younger people? Do we want to live longer, or better? He speaks to two people with different views: Brendan McCarthy works who for the Church of England, and the cancer specialist Dr Karol Sikora. He also hears from two academics who have done research into the subject - Professor Aki Tsuchiya from the University of Sheffield and Amanda Henwood, a PhD student from the LSE. He’s also joined again by his friend and colleague Dr Kate Laffan.

A Mother Come Quickly production

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.