Critical Edge

Cenk Uygur: The Real Reason I Was Banned From the UK 23.06.2026 34min

Ollie and Lukas sat down again with Cenk Uygur to discuss being banned from the UK for anti-semitism, Israel’s influence in the UK, and Palestine.Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe or check out our other platforms to join the team :)

Philip Pullman: Life Imitates Art | #67 05.06.2026 1t 2min

Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with Philip Pullman, renowned author of His Dark Materials.We drew on everything from Milton's Paradise Lost to Superman to William Blake. This episode was about the power of literature to change the way we see ourselves and the way we live our lives, as well as the way storytelling can light up our imaginations. Lukas told Philip about how the concept of the daemon changed the way he saw his own personality, and the souls of those people around him. Philip also shared how Philip Goff's book Galileo's Error, which argued for pansychism, was the non-fiction book that most profoundly shaped his view of the world. Consciousness now seeps everywhere through his literary work. Philip said he doesn't like fantasy, at least not if it doesn't deal with fundamental questions of human psychology. This is why he loved Paradise Lost: the three of us bonded over Gustave Doré's famous illustrations for Paradise Lost, and William Blake's Illuminations.We finished with a discussion about how basic structures of thought can seep into the way we think, even at a young age. Ollie argued that Sleeping Beauty can make us see the man as the active desirer and the woman as the passive desired, although of course Philip thought better stories could plug this gap.Is it impossible to live without narrative structures? Ollie argued that the heads of people who don't read are simply filled with worse narratives, like the American Dream, which prizes money above all. Philip finished by recommending one of his favourite works of political thought for our next guest. Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe or check out our other platforms to join the team :)0:00 - Introduction0:33 - Fiction as a Guide to Life1:44 - The Art of Storytelling3:21 - Growing Up in Australia9:42 - What Daemon Would You Have?16:02 - Books That Shaped Pullman24:01 - Panpsychism and Consciousness30:28 - Fantasy, Paradise Lost, and His Dark Materials42:49 - How Does Fiction Shape our Psychology?51:33 - Stories, Gender Roles, and Fairytales1:01:03 - Outro and Recommendation

What Happens When a Philosopher Takes DMT? | #66 26.05.2026 1t 15min

Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with rockstar panpyschist Philip Goff.Ollie, Lukas and Philip talked about it all. We started with a discussion about the fundamental nature of consciousness, and why it can't be understood using the language of science: David Chalmer's 'hard problem of consciousness'. This led us to panpsychism and its connection to mystical beliefs. Philip opened up about his experience doing toad venom (5-MEO-DMT) and the perspective that opened up for him regarding our connection to something bigger.

Is War Built Into Our Psychology? | #65 13.05.2026 45min

Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with veteran of the philosophy game Jeff McMahan, an ethicist who lives and breathes his work. We really got into it this episode. We discussed whether war can ever be justified, the ethics of autonomous weapons, and the difficult questions concerning Gaza and Iran. Jeff isn’t one to weasel his words: you’ll want to hear what he has to say.Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe to our Spotify to hear more!

The Science of Tripping | #64 04.05.2026 1t 7min

Critical Edge hosts and best mates sit down with Robin Carhart-Harris, leading psychedelic researcher and all round good bloke.We discussed the ethical and philosophical questions attached to psychedelics: such as how a drug can change how we see ourselves and the people around us, or what psychedelics might reveal about consciousness and the universe. Robin takes a pragmatic approach, and advocates for the potential upside in mental health treatment.To find out more about Robin's new book: https://www.carhartharrislab.com/upcoming-book

This Is Why Art Matters | #63 03.04.2026 43min

Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with rockstar philosopher Nigel Warburton, co-host of Philosophy Bites.Ollie, Lukas and Nigel had a great chat about whether art is subjective, how cultural beauty standards shape us, Nigel's favourite books and paintings, and what it is about art that is so essentially human. Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe or check out our other platforms to join the team :)

Do You Understand the Universe? | #62 24.03.2026 42min

Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with Canadian-American astronomer Wendy Freedman, one of Times 2025 Top 100 most influential people in the world.Hardly experts on the topic, Ollie and Lukas had an open discussion with Wendy about the universe and its expansion, whether it really began with the big bang, and if we can ever know anything about dark matter. Lukas and Ollie open the chat talking to Wendy about why the universe reminds everyone about.Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe or check out our other platforms to join the team :)

4 Thought Experiments to Change How You Think | #61 03.03.2026 1t 4min

Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah to explore what classic thought experiments reveal about identity, morality, power, and the future of human connection.Across these puzzles—and the real-world examples they illuminate, from political power to dating apps and artificial intimacy—the conversation asks what truly anchors a good life: honor, authenticity, continuity, truth, connection. Philosophy here isn’t abstract; it’s a lens on how we live now.Hosted by two passionate Oxford students, Critical Edge aims to bring you engaging discussions with influential personalities, delving into topics that matter to our society and the world at large. Subscribe for more!

David Edmonds: the Danger of Tribalism | #60 05.02.2026 52min

Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with philosopher David Edmonds to explore how discrimination, identity, and group psychology shape the way we see ourselves - and each other.Hosted by two passionate Oxford graduates, Critical Edge brings rigorous, accessible conversations with influential thinkers on the ideas shaping our world. Subscribe for

John Curtice: The Hidden Psychology of Class | #59 20.01.2026 56min

Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with Professor John Curtice, the UK's leading authority on public opinion and electoral behaviour, to examine how Britain's political landscape has been transformed over the past decade.We explore how class has evolved as a marker of political identity, why age and education now structure voting behaviour more than any other factors, and how these shifts have redrawn the electoral map. Professor Curtice unpacks the evidence: how Labour and Conservative coalitions have changed, what the data actually shows about "realignment," and why voters are behaving less predictably than ever.Finally, we look ahead: electoral reform, the prospects for party competition, and how the next decade of British politics may unfold.Hosted by two passionate Oxford graduates, Critical Edge aims to bring you engaging discussions with influential personalities, delving into topics that matter to our society and the world at large. Subscribe for more!

Mark Blyth: The Psychological Impact of Capitalism | #58 20.12.2025 48min

Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with Professor Mark Blyth, an expert in political economy, to unpack how economic ideas shape the world we live in. We explore why being wrong is essential to learning, drawing on Nassim Taleb’s ideas of uncertainty, fragility, and “skin in the game.” From there, the conversation ranges across bubbles (AI, housing, finance), the commodification of time and everyday life, and why economics can’t be treated as a value-free hard science. We dig into inequality, trickle-down economics, wealth and taxation, austerity, and the concentration of power in today’s tech-dominated capitalism—before turning to one of the most contentious issues in politics: immigration. Blyth offers a characteristically blunt and nuanced account of why immigration debates provoke such intensity, how economics, culture, and media manipulation interact, and why avoiding these discussions only deepens the problem. Hosted by two Oxford graduates, Critical Edge aims to help you learn how to think, not what to think, through serious but accessible conversations with leading thinkers. Subscribe for more.

Frank Turek Debates Evil, Homosexuality, and Scripture | #57 07.12.2025 57min

Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with Frank Turek, an American Christian apologist. We had some interesting and nuanced discussion about the interrelation of faith and doubt, the problem of evil, and the reliability of scripture. We got into some more tough territory when discussing contradictions in scripture, the New and Old Testament, and homosexuality. There's a lot to stick your teeth into here.

Anthony Scaramucci on the Cost of Living, Epstein, and the Future of MAGA | #56 22.11.2025 41min

Ollie and Lukas sit down with Anthony Scaramucci for a fast, candid conversation about power, populism, and political renewal. Anthony is former White House Communications Director, and co-host of The Rest Is Politics US. Today, he discusses why he has changed his mind on Bitcoin, what finally pushed him to break with Trump, why MAGA is beginning to fracture, and how the Epstein files are reshaping American politics. Hosted by two passionate Oxford graduates, Critical Edge aims to bring you engaging discussions with influential personalities, delving into topics that matter to our society and the world at large. Subscribe for more!

How Will Trump Be Remembered | Dominic Sandbrook 12.11.2025 57min

Ollie and Lukas sit down with historian, author, and co-host of The Rest is History, Dominic Sandbrook — one of Britain’s most influential public historians. Can pride in one’s country ever be “healthy"? How should we teach the British Empire in schools? Listen in.

Cllr George Finch Debates Immigration | Critical Edge #54 05.10.2025 1t

Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with the youngest ever country council leader, George Finch. 19 year old George, from Warwickshire, defect from the Tories to Reform UK last year. George and our hosts found some things to agree on: the need for educational reform, the importance of tolerance, and the ever more threatening cost of living crisis. However, they fiercely debated about "British values", the role of immigration in the UK, the British Empire, and what sort of jokes a kid can make at school (free speech).

Critical Edge #53 - Julian Jessop 01.09.2025 39min

In this episode, we sat down with economist Julian Jessop to discuss the future of taxation, free markets, and the role of the state. From whether VAT should be extended to food and children’s clothing, to how corporate taxes impact real people, Jessop makes the case for a simpler, more neutral tax system. Additionally, we explore his continued support for Brexit despite short-term costs, his belief in the potential of deregulation, and his take on the EU as a protectionist bloc. The conversation also turns to AI regulation—should governments overregulate for safety, or let innovation flourish? And on personal freedom, Jessop weighs in on tobacco, drug legalization, and whether the state should intervene in our private choices.Hosted by two passionate Oxford graduates, The Critical Edge Podcast aims to bring you engaging discussions with influential personalities, delving into topics that matter to our society and the world at large. Subscribe for more!

Critical Edge #51 - Danny Dorling 28.08.2025 1t 7min

Oxford academic Danny Dorling discusses the state of inequality in the UK - from the rise of right-wing populism and the hollowing out of the middle class to the state of race relations across the island. How large are the barriers to equality of opportunity in the UK?

Critical Edge #52 - Anand Menon 16.08.2025 52min

In this episode, we sat down with Anand Menon, the director of UK in a changing Europe, and Professor of Political Science and King's College London. We discuss the long-term impact of Brexit on trade and on the UK's soft power; the importance of the recognition of Palestine for Gaza; the development of US-EU relations; and whether the UK has a 'special relationship' with the US. Hosted by two passionate Oxford graduates, The Critical Edge Podcast aims to bring you engaging discussions with influential personalities, delving into topics that matter to our society and the world at large. Subscribe for more!

Critical Edge #50 - Sir Ben Okri 15.07.2025 40min

Sir Ben Okri OBE is a Booker Prize-winning British-Nigerian writer and a powerful voice in post-colonial literature. In this exclusive interview, Okri reflects on how our ways of seeing — as readers, viewers, and thinkers — are shaped by the media we consume.

Critical Edge #49 - Parag Khanna 04.05.2025 52min

Parag Khanna is a strategy advisor and bestselling author. He is an expert in geopolitics and global strategy and how we can apply AI to better navigate economic disruptions in our volatile world. Listen in.