In The Zone

Interesting chats with Mike and Josh

Dog breeding and dangerous dogs

Is there really such a thing as a ‘dangerous dog’? In this episode, Mike and Josh are joined by Kate Milroy to discuss this contentious issue, and the way owners treat their pets. Should a dog ever be put down because it’s considered ‘dangerous’? Tune in to find out!

The secret lives of vets

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a vet? In this episode, Mike and Josh are joined by Kate Milroy to discuss the secret lives of vets, and what it’s really like working with animals.

Animals, language, killing and death

Mike and Josh are joined by Dr Emma Franklin, a linguist whose research explores the language around death, and specifically, the killing of animals.

Man Plus by Frederik Pohl

In the latest instalment of the In The Zone Book Club, Mike and Josh talk about Frederik Pohl’s Man Plus (1976) – a tale of biological transformation and computer control.

Gender and AI

Why are so many digital voices female? Why do we ‘prefer’ female voices to male? In this episode, Mike and Josh discuss the question of gender and AI, and some of the many factors that have led us to a world dominated by ‘female’ digital assistants such as Alexa, Siri and Cortana.

The future of automation

Are we heading to a fully-automated future? If so, what are we going to do with all our spare time? Mike and Josh discuss the future of automation and the implications of automation for the jobs market and future of the human race.

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!