Level Up Human
77 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago -"Dragons Den for Nerds" Simon Watt and Rachel Wheeley invite academics to pitch good ideas for the human body.
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Episodes
Episode 27 - Whiskers
May 03, 2017 00:00 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBDanielle Ward joins Simon along with Cam Robinson and Nick Hawes. This episode was recorded before we had a guest judge, so the suggestions are judged by the studio audience at the Science Museum!Pitches include enhanced navigation, tails and people nappies?!Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We rele...
Episode 26 - Nano Robots
April 19, 2017 00:00 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBGemma Flynn just wants an easy life. Vying for her attention are philosopher Michael Wheeler and roboticist Eli Sheppard, with Simon Watt keeping score. We get a helping gene or two from the scrotum frog, and find out about the evolution of the haircut.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release ea...
Episode 25 - Chimp Strength
April 05, 2017 00:00 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MBRobert Llewellyn joins Simon to judge suggestions for the next humans from chemist Kathryn Harkup, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod, the studio audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival and the amazing lyre bird.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week befor...
Episode 24 - Metal Bones
March 22, 2017 00:00 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBJonny Berliner judges suggestions for levelled up humans by bio-engineer Dr. Michelle Rogers, biodiversity theorist Dr. James Rosindell and the studio audience at Imperial College. The panel discuss naturally occurring gyroscopes, telescopic generation and why you shouldn't drill a hole in your skull.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more infor...
Episode 23 - Giraffe Legs
March 08, 2017 00:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBJay Lafferty settles in to judge suggestions for human enhancement from psychologist Dr. Kate Cross and researcher, lecturer and podcaster, Dr. Anindya Raychaudhuri. Simon Watt officiates as ever.The panel discuss sequential hermaphroditism, head transplants and the incredible legs of the giraffe. We find out why cooking has ruined our digestive abilities and why female hyenas are bigger than males.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design...
Episode 22 - Beards for All
February 22, 2017 00:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MBLorcan McGrane joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions for future humans by Helen Arney and Tony Bjourson. The panel discuss fecal transplants, and then more about fecal transplants. There is talk of beards for all, and we find out why Helen Arney's ukelele never gets any bigger.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more information, go to www.levelu...
Episode 21 - Skin Ruffs
February 08, 2017 00:00 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MBDan Schreiber joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions from neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott and real life levelled up human Frank Swain at the Albany theatre as part of SMASHfest.This episode is absolutely jam packed full of stuff including a demonstration of audible wifi signals, the fourteen facial expressions of horses, running so fast it makes you blind, and the reason animals can't talk.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by ...
Episode 20 - Lego Limbs
January 25, 2017 00:00 - 35 minutes - 48.7 MBBen van der Velde judges suggestions from Steinar Halldorsson, Dr. Catherine Green and the studio audience under the watchful eye of Simon Watt.The panel discuss immuno-privileged organs, dislocating limbs and whether you'd want to try a crème brûlée made from the eggs and milk of a duck billed platypus.This episode was recorded live at the Amey theatre as part of Oxfordshire Science Festival.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ia...
Episode 19 - Shark Skin
January 11, 2017 00:00 - 47 minutes - 65.4 MBNeil Delamere sifts through evolutionary upgrades suggested by rocket scientist David McKeown and soon to be double doctor, Lara Dungan. Simon Watt is in the chair.The panel discuss whether shark skin would be useful to humans, whether it's worth evolving immortality, and find out why David wants to put giant electromagnets in our chests.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The pro...
Episode 18 - Finger Torches
December 28, 2016 00:00 - 47 minutes - 65.1 MBJo Caulfield chooses human improvements with pitches by Dr. Kate Shoenrock, Shaun Killen, Mother Nature and the studio audience at the Glasgow Science Festival. Simon Watt is in the chair.The panel discuss bio-electrics, how pigeons outperform humans at task-switching and why you might want a fish in your drink.Theme music written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more in...
Episode 17 - Cuddle Vision
December 14, 2016 00:00 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBRobin Ince joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions for human enhancement from science writer and broadcaster, Kat Arney, zoologist Jules Howard and the audience at Brighton Science Festival.Jules Howard has written off Robin Ince for being too old, Kat Arney wants a hangover free life and we discuss audience suggestions including cuddling improvements and more knee caps.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics are by Theo Weedon and our website was designed by Ian Br...
Episode 16 - Bird Brains
November 30, 2016 00:00 - 47 minutes - 64.8 MBZoe Lyons chooses ideas for future human, taking in suggestions from doctor of neuroscience Dean Burnett, champion rugby player Maggie Alphonsi, the studio audience at Winchester Science Festival and the 'smurf bird' cassowary.We discuss bird brains, horse health monitors and whether it's time for an alternative, doped, Olympics?Theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen, graphics are by Theo Weedon and web design by Ian Bridgeman. Level Up Human is produced by Rachel Wheeley and ...
Episode 15 - Mutant Testicles
November 16, 2016 00:00 - 43 minutes - 60.2 MBMatthew Collins joins Simon Watt at the Northern Ireland Science Festival to judge evolutionary suggestions from glyco-biologist Triona O'Connell, clinical geneticist Shane McKee and the studio audience at the Black Box Theatre.Theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen, graphics are by Theo Weedon and website design is by Ian Bridgeman. Level Up Human is produced by Rachel Wheeley and supported by the Wellcome Trust.You can now support us directly with a donation: www.patreon.com...
Episode 14 - Fertility Switch
November 02, 2016 00:00 - 27 minutes - 37.4 MBSteve Cross joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions from Mathew Tata and Catie Williams at the Bloomsbury Theatre, UCL. In this episode the team discuss what gods they'd like to be, why naked mole rats are better than humans and whether if we level up as a species, all the challenges we face will level up too, 'to keep the comic interesting.'Theme music by Laurence Owen, graphic design by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman. Produced by Rachel Wheeley and supported by the Wellcome Trust.Fo...
Episode 13 - Babel Fish
October 19, 2016 00:00 - 40 minutes - 55 MBGemma Flynn joins Simon Watt, Eli Sheppard and Michael Wheeler at the Edinburgh International Science Festival to explain why there's never anything in the bagging area, why a babel fish upgrade is not around the corner, and why Netflix is choosing what you watch on TV.Eli Sheppard has some very specific ideas on exactly when the machines are going to take over. This man is worth keeping an eye on.Theme music by Laurence Owen, graphic design by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman. Produc...
Episode 12 - Giant Babies
October 05, 2016 00:00 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBLindsay Sharman joins Simon Watt for a sun soaked episode from the gorgeous Wilderness festival. Lindsay has to consider pitches from geneticist Maia Elliott and biologist Jamie Upton, our lively audience and Mother Nature herself. The panel discuss death, harvesting your own buttocks for stem cells and how a poo transplant could help fight infections. This is all grist to the Level Up Human mill by this stage. However we also need to tell Jamie Upton where babies come from, as he seems to h...
Episode 11 - Kevlar Skin
September 21, 2016 00:00 - 49 minutes - 67.9 MBHugh Dennis judges ideas for human enhancement from Professor Alice Roberts, Marcus du Sautoy and the studio audience at Glastonbury festival. Simon Watt officiates with offerings from Mother Nature's buffet table.In this episode we discuss transcranial magnetic stimulation, how we know bees are good at maths and why there's never been a giraffe at the International Space Station.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics are by Theo Weedon and our website was design...
Episode 10 - Stomach Mouths
September 07, 2016 00:00 - 51 minutes - 71 MBElf Lyons judges suggestions from QI elf Stevyn Colgan and Dr. Joe Latimer with Simon Watt keeping tabs on everybody as best he can.The panel discuss smart bacteria, sentient suitcases and what the 'G' in G-spot stands for. At one point, if you listen carefully, you can hear Simon suggest he's going to do something obscene to a yoghurt.Theme music written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is R...
Episode 9 - Bum Cushions
August 26, 2016 00:00 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBSuzi Gage, Rosie Wilby and Jim Bell join Simon Watt for a recording live at the 2015 Green Man festival in Einstein's Garden.The panel discuss bum cushions, stackable humans and what is the best addiction?Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics are by Theo Weedon and our website was designed by Ian Bridgeman. Level Up Human is produced by Rachel Wheeley and supported by the Wellcome Trust.For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com Support this show http://su...
Episode 8 - Drunk Learning
August 10, 2016 00:00 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MBEllie Taylor judges suggestions by Paul Duncan McGarrity, Dr. Julia Shaw, the Science Museum studio audience and Mother Nature herself with Simon Watt.The panel discuss sonogenetics, how to win at pool and why you don't necessarily want to be using 'all' of your brain.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon and web design by Ian Bridgeman. Level Up Human is produced by Rachel Wheeley and supported by the Wellcome Trust. Support this show http://supp...
Episode 7 - Polydactyl Cats
July 27, 2016 00:00 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MBHelen Arney joins Simon Watt to judge pitches for the next stage of humanity from Emma Robinson and Andrew Steele live at Impfest.The panel discuss mind-reading fMRI scanners, polydactyl cats and the amazing planarian.Theme music written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/leveluphuman...
Episode 6 - Zoom Vision
July 13, 2016 00:00 - 43 minutes - 59 MBAmy Howerska joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions for the next humans from Timandra Harkness, James Logan, the studio audience and Mother Nature herself in an episode recorded live at the Royal Institution.The panel discuss olfactory resheathing, heteropaternal superfecundation and the incredible L. riparia - a generously endowed earwig.Theme music written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is...
Episode 5 - Glow in the Dark Genitals
June 29, 2016 00:00 - 39 minutes - 54.1 MBDanielle Ward joins Simon Watt with Cam Robinson and Nick Hawes to discuss ideas for the next stage of human evolution. Recorded at the Science Museum lates.The panel discuss glow in the dark testicles, oxygen producing hair and the venomous slow loris in this wide ranging episode taking in ethics, logic and the benefits of elbow blades.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics are by Theo Weedon and our website was designed by Ian Bridgeman. Level Up Human is produ...
Episode 4 - Quadrupedalism
June 15, 2016 00:00 - 32 minutes - 44.9 MBRobert Llewellyn settles into the judge's chair for Level Up Human live from Cheltenham Science Festival. Simon Watt arbitrates as Dr. Kathryn Harkup, Ben Garrod and the studio audience vie for Robert's attention with ideas for improved humans.Ben Garrod explains how to air-taste when you have no sense of smell and we set Kathryn Harkup the task of working out how much would be a fatal dose of marzipan.Theme music written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by ...
Episode 3 - Frozen Brains
June 10, 2016 00:00 - 46 minutes - 64.3 MBDan Schreiber joins Simon Watt and a panel of scientists to work out how to improve humans with the help of a live studio audience at SMASHfest. With Sophie Scott and Frank Swain.The panel discuss lesbian lizards, the sleep/wake cycle and why birds don't have teeth.Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com a...
Episode 2 - Face Shazam
June 09, 2016 00:00 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MBHolly Walsh joins Simon to Level Up humans with camo-tattoos, face shazam and vampire champagne parties. Neuroscience researcher, Lewis Hou, and physicist, Matt Allinson, pitch in for a special episode recorded live at Einstein's Garden at the 2015 Green Man Festival. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley.For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.co...
Episode 1 - Rainbow Hair
June 08, 2016 00:00 - 31 minutes - 43.7 MBRobin Ince joins Simon Watt to decide what humans should evolve next. Expert pitches from science writer and broadcaster Kat Arney and zoologist Jules Howard. Additional pitches from the studio audience at the Brighton Science Festival and Mother Nature herself.The panel discussed hair colour, immortality and Jules's testicles, but which suggestion made it through to be incorporated into our genome?Theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen, graphics by Theo Weedon and website des...