The digital archive
What data should we store for posterity? How do we decide what to keep and what to throw away? In this episode, Mike and Josh discuss the digital archive, and the issues with long term data storage and the internet.
Micro-transactions in gaming
Mike and Josh discuss the ever-increasing use of microtransactions in gaming, and their impact on gaming communities and the wider economy. They also discuss the thorny issue of loot boxes, and the way games publishers are introducing gambling through the back door.
The living and the dead
What happens to our data when we die? Mike and Josh chat about the growing trend in online memorialisation, with social media pages being turned into digital monuments for the dead. Is it ethical? Is it even in good taste? Tune in to find out!
Subscription culture – is it good for us?
Is subscription culture making us lazy? Mike and Josh chat about the many pros and cons of subscriptions services with friend of the show Lindsey-Claire Hogg. From Netflix and Spotify to the benefits of unified platforms, there are many questions to be answered, including what this means for the High Street, and does it really offer us more choice? Listen in to find out…
The living machine
Are AI really alive? Can they ever be alive? Mike and Josh take on the big questions, and more, as they wonder what it means to be alive, what it means to be human, and what we mean by ‘human’ in the first place.
Getting things done
Mike and Josh are joined by friend of the show Emily Lynn to chat about all things work-related. From productivity apps and resources, to tips on how to get down to writing, this podcast will help you focus your efforts and get things done!
Human Enhancement and the Body Hackers
What is human enhancement and where will it take us next? Mike and Josh are joined by Lindsey-Claire Hogg to chat about all things enhancement-related from sport and athletics to back-street clinics, robot surgeons and body hackers. Definitely not one to be missed!
War-Games and the Dehumanisation of War
Mike and Josh discuss the issue of dehumanisation in warfare. Topics covered include drone warfare, cyberwarfare and the nature of war itself.
Organs, Tissue and the Great Transplant Debate
Mike and Josh are joined by PhD researcher Lindsey-Claire Hogg to discuss the law around organ transplants, and specifically, tissue transplants in minors (children). In what proves to be a fascinating discussion, Lindsey outlines the different between organ and tissue transplants, how we define ‘minors’ and what we mean by informed consent. We never knew organ donation could be so interesting!
Academic Blogging
Mike and Josh chat to Emily Lynn, founder Let’s Talk Academia – an online community and blog founded in 2017. The blog has proven extremely popular with early career researchers, who have found it a great place to share their experiences of academic life, and the many challenges academia can bring.
Ghostwriting, AI and the Future of Essay Mills
Mike and Josh talk about the murky world of professional ghostwriting, and consider the impact AI may have on written media in the near future. With AI now capable of producing human-like written content, it won’t be long before AI are used by essay mills to create essays for students that bypass the normal plagiarism checks. Higher education is certainly in for a shock..
Digital Democracy: e-Voting and Online Elections
Voting and electoral systems have been in the news a lot recently. In this episode, Mike and Josh discuss whether online voting (eVoting or iVoting) is the answer to enhance democracy and improve voter turnout.