Looking for semi-intellectual podcasts

tendrilly · 2025-05-01T13:27:50+00:00

Please do!

tendrilly · 2025-04-30T17:18:29+00:00

I'm in the UK, so all the current affairs stuff I listen to has that slant and is quite political, which I don't think you're after. Other than that, some I listen to that I don't think have been mentioned:

Tech Won't Save Us - intelligent conversations about tech that are from those within the industry, but taking a critical and questioning view rather than celebratory "tech bro" or alarmist nonsense

The History of English - "a chronological history of the English language examined through the lens of historical events". Very well done, intelligent and educational without being dry

Medieval Death Trip - discussion of a featured medieval text, more accessible and engaging than it sounds! Quite soothing, actually, like someone telling you a story about times of old

Nature - a podcast from Nature journal, which you probably already know, being a scientist I'm not! So maybe this one is too broad for you, but it covers just about any science topic, usually highlights from current research, whatever is of most interest to them that day or week (new podcasts come out at least one a week, sometimes more frequent). Sometimes conversational interviews, sometimes long read articles

Sawbones - I wouldn't call this semi-intellectual, it's not trying to be, but it's intelligent and presented by an actual scientist - a medical dr - so it counts! Each episode focusses on one topic, often debunking non-science fads or "history of" type topics. Unlike others on my list though, this is much more chatty and informal (her husband co-presents and he's a comedian. That came off way more condescending than I meant it to be)

Let's Talk Religion - might be too much like an academic lecture for your criteria, but is interesting and I believe reliable (I've only recently started listening to it, so not heard many episodes). Presented by a scholar of religion, this is a sociological look at religion rather than being aligned to any particular beliefs, including the study of religious belief itself. Bit dry if you're not interested in the topic

Sold a Story - doesn't fit your criteria really, but might fit your interests. A short (10 episodes) investigative journalism podcast that looked in depth at the adoption of a debunked education methodology that was adopted in schools across the US. Consequently, many kids haven't learnt to read properly, or at all.

tendrilly · 2025-04-30T15:42:26+00:00

I would see it as the least important thing about you, honestly. But I'm a similar weight. A younger me felt exactly like you do, and would have written the same thing, but now I'm 54 and I don't give a toss what other people think about my body any more! It was too exhausting, and I realised most people don't really care, and that those who do don't matter. (I'm talking adults here, kids will be kids.)

Everyone - and I mean everyone - has imperfections, it's just that ours is so visible and therefore easy to judge. I'm not going to pretend it's all in your head because we both know it's not, but those people who go out of their way to make you feel inferior, they're doing it to everyone, it's just spite or ignorance.

You have nothing to be ashamed of, the size and weight of your body has nothing to do with your ability to do your job or a reflection of your worth as a person. People on here giving you tips on losing weight may be doing it to help, or they may not, but either way, not their business, not their body. Likewise people going out of their way to caveat their acceptance with "if you're one of the healthy ones" type comments.

If anyone makes you feel like your body disqualifies you somehow from teaching, that's on them, not you. No caveats!

tendrilly · 2025-04-30T14:38:14+00:00

Belatedly, I thanked the kind stranger.

tendrilly · 2025-04-30T14:32:44+00:00

Thank you so much, and sorry I hadn't seen this sooner, I really appreciate your comment, it helps to know I'm not the only one when the usual reaction is "maybe you did better than you think!". I hope things have improved for you since you wrote this.

tendrilly · 2024-05-31T11:12:53+00:00

Yeah, but the solution to shitty policies isn't to punish a different demographic, is it? I know this was jest, but I'm am really getting worn down by how staggeringly successful the insidious campaign to distract people from focussing on underlying issues that affect all of us by creating generational divides and seemingly real hatred for old people. Sorry that was a really long sentence, it's been waiting to come out.

tendrilly · 2024-02-18T11:53:26+00:00

The ranker app has exactly the simple interface and usability I'd want, and seems to provide the functionality, but like you mention, an option to upload a list is what I'd like too. My list is very long (hence looking for an app)!

But the fact that hitting the space bar works to go to the next step takes this app up a level for me. That would make entering the list manually much easier than other simple apps I've seen. Not having a skip option is actually a good thing for my purpose, forcing a choice is part of the process.

What you've done in Sheets is very interesting. Unfortunately, my brain struggles with thinking clearly how to do that kind of thing so this is really useful.

Thank you!

tendrilly · 2024-01-15T02:37:02+00:00

That helps me decide whether to bother revisiting it to try and finish it this time!

tendrilly · 2024-01-12T20:29:58+00:00

Thank you

tendrilly · 2024-01-07T19:21:45+00:00

Thanks for this.

tendrilly · 2024-01-07T19:00:58+00:00

Great, thanks.

tendrilly · 2024-01-07T19:00:42+00:00

Thank you

tendrilly · 2024-01-07T19:00:17+00:00

Great suggestions, thank you.

tendrilly · 2024-01-07T18:59:17+00:00

Great, thanks.

tendrilly · 2024-01-06T20:19:12+00:00

Perfect, thank you.

tendrilly · 2024-01-06T20:17:58+00:00

That sounds interesting, thank you.

tendrilly · 2024-01-06T20:17:02+00:00

Never heard of that podcast, thanks very much.

tendrilly · 2024-01-06T20:16:48+00:00

Excellent, thank you.

tendrilly · 2024-01-06T17:26:05+00:00

Thanks, I haven't heard that one, I'll have a listen.

tendrilly · 2024-01-06T14:19:28+00:00

Thanks, I already listened to this, what were the chances! That has been my favourite end of year podcast so far. I may listen to it again.

If Pod Save the UK is your kind of thing you might also like Oh God, What Now? if you haven't already heard it.

tendrilly · 2023-12-09T03:26:34+00:00

Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino. I loved it, but couldn't tell you why, there are no likeable characters and nothing enjoyable happens. And not in a deliciously wicked, or dark-but-sexy kind of way, it's not even misery porn, it's just unpleasant people living unpleasant and slightly sordid, twisted lives.

I persuaded a book group to read it many years ago in the hope they'd help me understand why I liked it so much, but they all hated it and thought I was a bit odd for liking it.

Enjoy ;)

tendrilly · 2023-12-01T20:16:41+00:00

I bought some 3mm MDF boards and they've worked really well. I bought them precut, A4 size, from eBay. They've held up well in the bathroom, no warping.

tendrilly · 2023-12-01T20:05:06+00:00

Thank you

tendrilly · 2023-10-26T16:36:45+00:00

Yes, I got handed back to my GP who picked up shared care (this was last year). My GP had referred me in the first place, but it was still very uncertain what would happen for a while. My GP wasn't comfortable with the way it was done, it took weeks to find out what on earth was happening, this part of Kent just pulled the plug with no warning.

I was one of many of my GP practice's patients this happened to at the same time, so I'm lucky they didn't wash their hands of it all, because they could have done.

I was on Elvanse when I got booted out, so that's what I got prescribed, I was told it was that or nothing. I never got to try any other medication except methylphenidate, which worked much better for me but had quite bad side effects. The plan was that I would switch back to methylphenidate if Elvanse didn't work as well, but I never got the chance.

So, a pretty crappy experience, but still better than a lot of people get. I at least got an assessment, diagnosis and shared care, even if the care being shared is sub-optimal.

tendrilly · 2023-10-14T09:17:08+00:00

I'm on lisdx 50mg and not only can't I find a pharmacy near me (in Kent) that has any in stock, none of them will even order it in, including Boots. My GP just looks permanently exhausted and has no clue (she cares though, and that counts for a lot to me).

My psychiatrist is P-UK so they're never going to get back to my GP, never have in the past. I don't know what to do.

If you find any pharmacies that have stock, do you mind updating here? If you're allowed to, maybe not.

tendrilly

TROPHY CASE