South Mimms U
195 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsThe university where the subjects other educational institutions won't touch are taught, debated, and laughed at. You'll laugh and learn at the same time. We're real but we're not real. We take thought to its logical limits in the service of stretching your mind and opening new ways of thinking. No subject is taboo, no conclusion too weird. Join us and 'think different'. Email: [email protected]
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Episodes
Is Everywhere Nowhere?
August 12, 2021 13:00 - 17 minutes - 11.7 MBThe more you look, the more places become the same. The rise of the modern 'non-place' is relentless. So, if everywhere is nowhere and can be anywhere, why not pretend South Mimms is just like Oxford or Cambridge of Harvard or Yale? Architecture gets a rigorous going over from our academics. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
PurgoCoin: The Crypto Currency That Gets You Into Heaven Faster
July 20, 2021 05:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBThe rise of Bitcoin and the Blockchain seems inexorable. Decentralised Finance (DeFi) is, it's claimed, about to revolutionise money and banking. Everyone is issuing a coin or a token and people are eager to trade them. What if you could use crypto in the next life and pay off the debt of your sins to get into heaven faster? You would wouldn't you? The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Why it Pays to be Vague
July 09, 2021 20:00 - 14 minutes - 9.78 MBIt pays to be vague, sometimes. Possibly. Too much certainty is actually a bad thing. Maybe. Our Professor of Vagueness explains, in a roundabout way, why this is - or might be - the case. Have a listen. Or don't. It's up to you. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Why Going Back to the Office is the Most Human Thing To Do
July 09, 2021 18:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBShould you go back to the office? Do you want to? Our anthropologists believe it's the most human thing to do. It's a key location that helps us make sense of the world, forge relationships, and get creative. Listen to the fieldwork (in the wild) that proves the point. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Press One for Extinction
June 12, 2021 09:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBAnother of our MOREDIBLE short stories. We all hate those (often AI generated) welcome messages you get when you phone your bank or utility provider. The constant list of menu and options and no human beings available. But what would happen if all the humans disappeared and the voices in cyberspace had only each other to talk to? Our story speculates. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
The Slow Train to Happiness
June 10, 2021 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBA short story from South Mimms U's new MOREDIBLE service created by our drama and creative writing departments. In this story, a professor of Happiness Studies takes the train home and doesn't feel so happy about his life. Will his wife be there to meet him? The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
The Imagination Game
June 07, 2021 13:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBA short story from South Mimms U's new MOREDIBLE service created by our drama and creative writing departments. In this story, a boy tells of how his grandfather teaches him to exercise his imagination using random elements from the world around him. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Will your next phone be implanted in your brain?
May 24, 2021 07:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBResearch shows that most of us are never far from our phones. They're attached to us constantly. So, why not just implant them in our brains? At South Mimms, our technologists are working on a brain implant that means all you need to do is think to make and answer calls, send texts, surf the web - and do your Internet Banking. Good idea? Or a very bad one? Judge for yourself. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Can a robot be a poet?
May 20, 2021 11:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBArtificial Intelligence threatens to change everything, even creativity. Is it possible to use AI to write not just coherent prose but poetry too? It was first tried way back in the 1980s, and now our AI department is attempting to go further by developing Artificial Inspiration. But is it actually Artificial Insanity? The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Can a robot be a poet?
May 20, 2021 11:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBArtificial Intelligence threatens to change everything, even creativity. Is it possible to use AI to write not just coherent prose but poetry too? It was first tried way back in the 1980s, and now our AI department is attempting to go further by developing Artificial Inspiration. But is it actually Artificial Insanity?
What If Alexa Could Tell You Were Lying?
May 10, 2021 05:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBDigital assistants like Alexa and Siri are listening to your EVERY word. ALL the time. What if, instead of waiting to hear their name and answer a question, they were also monitoring whether you’re telling the truth or not? That would be REALLY creepy. Our Artificial Intelligence specialists have developed a unique digital assistant that can do just that – and the police are interested in it do they can automate interrogations. AND it’s got an Australian accent. Strange. The only university...
Could an AI therapist cope with a man who has no problems at all?
May 02, 2021 05:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBThis episode has been made entirely by Artificial Intelligence. It explores the rise of the AI therapist, an idea pioneered in the 1960s by Joseph Weizenbaum and his famous ELIZA program. The goal of automating therapy - and cutting out the expensive human therapist - sounds attractive, but it can lead to some strange results. We found a man with NO problems to see if that the offbeat concept would confuse the therapeutic algorithm. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at t...
The Music of your Teens is the Music of your Life
April 08, 2021 05:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBThe music that touches us in our teens and early twenties is the music that resonates throughout the rest of our lives. Psychologists call it the 'Reminiscence Bump' and it's why advertisers use carefully targeted songs to get the attention of key demographics. And music can even help patients come out of a coma! In this episode we track down an obscure band from the early 1980s to do just that. Music by David Hopper. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Why you should always read the Acknowledgments
March 23, 2021 05:00 - 17 minutes - 11.7 MBYou might glance at the dedication, but you probably never read a book's Acknoweldgments. Well, our Creative Writing department thinks you should. There are hidden insights and stories in amongst the thanks and praise for agents, publishers, editors, and family members. There might even be evidence - if the book is by a Serial Killer. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Are you a cover version of your true self?
March 10, 2021 12:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBEveryday we are different versions of our true selves. As T.S Eliot put it we, 'prepare a face to meet the faces that we meet.' One psychologist likens it to different cover versions of the same song. The tune and the lyrics don't change, but the interpretation does. It's a fascinating idea. Oh, and it's the first ever podcast hosted by an AI enabled robot! The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
This Monkey Came From Heaven
February 09, 2021 08:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBVictorian amusements were - wild. Pleasure Gardens with 'dark walks' for courting couples and daredevil feats performed by fearless performers like tightrope walkers and hot air balloon ascents. The latter often featured unfortunate creatures thrown from the basket as they glided high above the spectators - from cats to dogs to - monkeys. They had makeshift parachutes which failed regularly. When one monkey (parachute intact) wafted into the garden of the ancestor of our expert in Victorian ...
How to be Lucky: The Squeaky Serendipity Interview
January 27, 2021 16:00 - 14 minutes - 9.65 MBSerendipity is what you make it. Literally. Seemingly random events and ideas can be melded together to create something brilliant. All you have to do is have the right mindset and be open to that inner voice (which might be a little squeaky) that's telling you to be active and take chances. We interview the famous 'Philosopher on Helium' to find out how. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Is Analogue the Answer to Cyberwarfare?
January 12, 2021 11:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBOur Peace Studies department, led by a bellicose general, has suggested that the best way to combat cyberwarfare is to go back to analogue means of communication. A reliance on too much technology, military history shows, usually leads to Goliaths falling prey to David’s. Join us in the bunker. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Biden & Trump: The 'Two Popes' Scenario
January 01, 2021 21:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBWe can't move for conspiracy theories. Our world-renowned department which studies them have found yet another: a secret cabal of 'deep state' conspirators that engineer opposing leaders to distract the populace from what's really going on. It started in 1360, earned it spurs when the Roman Catholic Church elected two Popes in two disputed elections and continues to this day with... Biden and Trump. You've got to laugh. Or at least chuckle. The only university that makes you chuckle AND lea...
Is This Podcast Is a Failure?
January 01, 2021 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBAll podcasters worry about the success of their creations. But maybe we worry too much. It's the curse of all creative people; will anyone like what we do? Our Failure Studies Dept. believes that nothing is ever truly a failure if it is attempted in good faith. That's what our Professor of Failure tries to convince our podcast host of as he struggles to record this episode. He wants to give up, she convinces him to continue. And in important lesson is learnt. The only university that makes...
The Last Bitcoin: The Ultimate Investment or The Last Folly of Humanity?
December 22, 2020 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBThere will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin. No one knows why (they might say they do, but they don't) and it's set off a frenzy of 'mining' which is sucking up power and pumping out carbon. Is it the madness of Easter Island all over again? A mad rush for a symbol of wealth that ends up undermining our ability to protect our ecosystems? We take a wry look at the subject. Turns out the Easter Island story might be a myth, but the rush to mine Bitcoin is very real. Includes an acerbic intervi...
The Last Bitcoin: The Ultimate Investment or The Final Folly of Humanity?
December 22, 2020 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBThere will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin. No one knows why (they might say they do, but they don't) and it's set off a frenzy of 'mining' which is sucking up power and pumping out carbon. Is it the madness of Easter Island all over again? A mad rush for a symbol of wealth that ends up undermining our ability to protect our ecosystems? We take a wry look at the subject. Turns out the Easter Island story might be a myth, but the rush to mine Bitcoin is very real. Includes an acerbic intervi...
Hypochondria: Fake or Fiction?
December 03, 2020 16:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBIf you're a hypochondriac - don't listen to this podcast. Just don't. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Zuckerberg wants ALL your money!
November 23, 2020 18:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBNot content with owning our social lives, Facebook has a plan to take over the world's money. All of it. That's the thinking behind 'Libra' a cryptocurrency proposed by Facebook in 2019 and immediately blocked by regulators around the world. Is this proof that Mr. Zuckerberg is after world domination? Is it evidence that he's a disciple of the mad Objectivist, Ayn Rand? Does he want to be like her dead-behind-the-eyes Neoliberal heroes in her brick-like books? We speak to David Gerard, acer...
Fibs, lies, and Personal Statements: What happens when you tell the truth?
November 17, 2020 17:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MBApplying to university and college is, you're told, all about your CV or resumé – it’s got to be perfect and full of perfect experiences, sports, clubs, volunteering experience, blah, blah, blah. What would happen if you told the truth? Ally applied to our university and her Personal Statement did just that. So, we gave her an interview and she brought along her little dog too. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Why are some jobs worth more than others?
November 11, 2020 16:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MB"All labour has dignity" said Martin Luther King when he spoke in support of striking sanitation workers in Tennessee in 1968. But all labour doesn't attract the same levels of pay. In fact, many important jobs - like collecting rubbish - are low paid. At South Mimms U we tried an experiment and proposed a significant pay-rise for our janitor because his work is critical to all of us. The plan didn't go down well with our business manager... The only university that makes you chuckle AND l...
The Robot's Last Smoke
November 03, 2020 17:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBDai Version 7 is a robot with almost human feelings, but it turned out to be too clever for its own good. Programmed to think like a human it developed a liking for nicotine and cynicism. Its maker has decided to shut it down. We decided to record its final moments, last words, and a surprising amount of insight into the human condition. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Is 15 minutes of fame too much to expect in the era of TikTok?
October 27, 2020 10:00 - 13 minutes - 9.45 MB'Everyone in the future will be famous for 15 minutes' - that's what Andy Warhol is supposed to have said (he probably didn't), but we all believe it. Or do we? Has the, often random, instant fame delivered by social media devalued even the prospect of 15 minutes of notoriety? One teen says it has and she believes that your sense of self-worth should not be based on how many likes, retweets, and followers you might have. Fame isn't real and it's not worth it. The only university that makes...
Can IKEA lead to self-assembly romance?
October 19, 2020 10:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBYou’ll never see IKEA in the way again. Self-Assembly Furniture can boost our self esteem and… lead to love. That’s what our Self-Assembly Studies Dept. believes. In fact, they’ve started a Self-Assembly Dating Agency to prove it. It’s all based on psychology. Research shows that successfully putting together an IKEA bookcase (or anything else) can make you feel proud of yourself. And if you do it for or with someone else... lead to love. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn...
Poltergeist!
October 07, 2020 09:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBWe may have a poltergeist... The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Is 'Fake Time' the Latest Conspiracy Theory?
September 29, 2020 11:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBThe world is buzzing with conspiracy theories. Some of them plausible, others just plain whacky. Millions believe in them, including the President of the United States. We’ve uncovered a new one which suggests that everything we know about clock time and the calendar we live by is designed to control us. And it involves members of the 18th century ‘deep state’, and the setting of the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, London in 1884 – presided over by President Chester A, Arthur (who only assumed ...
When the search for truly vegan meat gets really strange
September 22, 2020 13:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MBThe quest for truly vegan meat that looks like, smells like, tastes like, bleeds like real meat can drive start-ups to get a little too creative with their science. We imagine what might happen if the desire for the big bucks goes too far. If you're going to be a vegan, why eat something that replicates what you hate? It's just strange. But entrepreneurs believe there's a market for it amongst the many who don't actually want to go totally vegan, but just want to look like they have. The o...
Why are so many people making podcasts?
September 14, 2020 12:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBThere are almost 900.000 active podcasts available right now and the number is increasing all the time. Under 5% get more than 2,000 downloads per episode, while the top 1% get almost 15,000. Sounds a lot like society. So, what's the motivation? Our Podcast Academy - the only one in the world - studies the art and science of podcasting, and with the help of an expert from our Psychology Dept. we've uncovered a startling fact: many podcasters have the 'King of Comedy' Syndrome named for the 1...
Why are so many people making podcasts?
September 14, 2020 12:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBThere are almost 900.000 active podcasts available right now and the number is increasing all the time. Under 5% get more than 2,000 downloads per episode, while the top 1% get almost 15,000. Sounds a lot like society. So, what's the motivation? Our Podcast Academy - the only one in the world - studies the art and science of podcasting, and with the help of an expert from our Psychology Dept. we've uncovered a startling fact: many podcasters have the 'King of Comedy' Syndrome named for the 1...
Are there more strange coincidences in football than ordinary life?
September 09, 2020 08:00 - 13 minutes - 8.97 MBWe love a coincidence - it feels spooky, it feels pre-ordained, and we're certain it means something. Football fans relish those coincidences even more than most. We're always looking for serendipity and parallels which might become omens. Our short look at some of the strangest will get you thinking about the ones which have stuck in your mind. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
OK Boomer - You're OK!
September 07, 2020 15:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBCora is 18 and she's realized that Boomers are OK. Why? Because if the Earth is ever hit by a massive solar flare all digital devices will be rendered useless, the Internet won't work, and even power grids will go down. It happened in 1859 when the telegraph sparked and burned out during The Carrington Event caused by a massive solar storm which engulfed our planet in a geomagnetic apocalypse. Luckily, not many people were connected to electricity or used the telegraph. But our world is TOTA...
Is it rational to support Spurs - or any team?
September 01, 2020 08:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBWhy do you support a team with such passion and commitment? Why are we so loyal? Most clubs say the fans are important, but they don't act that way. Our teams let us down more often than they deliver success... and they take our money eagerly and sometimes give us little in return. It happens at Tottenham Hotspur and it happens at all clubs. And we love to complain about it. So, is it rational to support your team? Our troubled lecturer in Rational Ethics is having a crisis of the heart and ...
Should humanity CHOOSE extinction?
August 21, 2020 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBMaybe it's time to 'CHOOSE EXTINCTION'. That's what a member of our palaeontology department believes. The Earth will survive the climate change chaos we’ve set in motion to finally return to its natural equilibrium, at least until the Sun begins to burn out. In that case, it might be more logical for the human race to speed its exit from the ecosystem. We can make things worse (in the short term) then disappear and let the Earth recover. We might even accomplish it before the end of this ce...
Could Jared Kushner be a malfunctioning sex doll?
August 14, 2020 10:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBIt sounds absurd, but could it be true? South Mimms high-tech sex doll manufacturer, HunkTech, was developing a high-end prototype sex doll (to retail for tens of thousands of dollars) when it was stolen. The company's designers had - for a laugh - given the prototype the feature of Trump's beloved son-in-law while they were struggling to design a face that would be handsome, kind, and sexy all the same time. Once the theft had been discovered they began to notice that Kushner's decision mak...
Never Milk in First! Never Surrender!!
August 11, 2020 16:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBFor the first time since the Boston Tea Party, Britain almost went to warover tea! Our Etiquette Department (THE finest in the world) bristled with indignation at the famous 'Michelle from North Carolina' who attempted to make what she called 'British Tea' in... a microwave! Horror of horrors! Our Etiquette expert explains how proper British tea must be made, and explains the mystery of whether milk should go in first... or last. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the s...
What are ley lines and is there a new one in South Mimms?
August 03, 2020 10:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBMany believe that the world is crisscrossed with ley lines of supernatural energy which the ancients used to place their monuments, temples, and burial grounds. That's why Stonehenge is where it is, perfectly aligned with the arc of the sun and stars and universe. Might there be an overlooked ley line in South Mimms beneath a humble traffic roundabout? Our academics think so. They're investigating... and you can already buy the souvenir key ring. The only university that makes you chuckle ...
Does Trump have a ghostwriter for his 'prison diaries' already?
July 22, 2020 12:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBMany are calling for Trump to go to jail once he leaves the White House and maybe Trump himself expects to spend time behind bars. So, it's not too far-fetched to assume that he'll want to publish his 'Prison Diaries' to justify himself AND make some money. We believe he's done just that and found a ghost-writer... on a golf course right here in South Mimms. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Do you have a nose for controversy?
July 15, 2020 12:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBA special edition in which we interview the 'most pretentious' film director of his generation, Gary Ocean Orchard, about his new film in which noses become objects of lust and depravity. Not even Andy Warhol would have gone this far! The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
If your dog could talk, would you want to listen?
July 04, 2020 14:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBWe love our dogs. They're humanity's most faithful friends. But what are they thinking? Is it just about their next snack or walk? Or are they judging you as well as loving you? We've found a way to interpret their thoughts and turn them into speech. And the result is surprising - and amusing. Once you've heard what these pooches have to say you'll never look at your dog in the same way again. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Did the TikTok Tulsa Takedown put Gen Z into the history books?
June 30, 2020 15:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBWe stumbled across a wormhole in space time to listen in to a teacher telling a class of 10 year olds about the Great TikTok Tulsa Takedown on June 20th 2020 - only she was doing it in... 2060 in a parallel universe. We know that these are historic times, but which current events will inspire future generations? We think it will be the Black Lives Matter movement and the energy and invention showed by the Gen Z generation. It's an amusing, speculative, but possibly prescient look at the pres...
Does Home Advantage exist when there's nobody home?
June 23, 2020 16:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBWe all think that playing at home gives our team the edge, but what is it based upon? The familiar surroundings, the pitch, the lack of travel... or the crowd? And what about when there is no crowd? And when you watch a game behind closed doors on TV do you need the sound of the crowd? Or even... their smell? We take an amusing look at all of those issues, and report a little experiment that doesn't quite go to plan. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
A new light on floodlights: How they changed the game and made it special
June 20, 2020 09:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBFloodlit games are different. Everyone knows it. Whether you're at the game or watching on TV, there's something special about soccer under lights. We look at surprisingly early examples of floodlit games, how floodlights ushered in the era of European competitions like the European Cup, and just what makes the games so special. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Do soccer fans owe EVERYTHING to Scotland?
June 20, 2020 09:00 - 13 minutes - 9.21 MBMartin Polaine has a theory: we owe everything to Scotland. From our outpost in the outback of Australia, he suggests that everything from the spread of the game around the world to the tactics we take for granted in the modern era to even the rules of the game... came from Scotland or Scottish players and managers. Surely not! See what you think of Martin's theory. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Should you beware a short referee?
June 16, 2020 17:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBWhy do referee's make strange decisions? Is it because they're showboating or stupid or both? Or is it because they're a bit too short and resent being vertically-challenged, especially in the midst of all those tall players? Well, there is research that shows - in general - that short refs give more fouls, penalties, and yellow and red cards than taller ones. Find out why. You'll never watch a match the same way again. The only university that makes you chuckle AND learn at the same time.
Do you eat more when your team loses?
June 16, 2020 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBYour team loses, perhaps badly, maybe to a hated rival, and what do you do? Drown your sorrows? Actually, research shows that many fans pig out on high calorie foods. Yes, academics have studied the phenomenon. SMU's Soccer Studies Faculty couldn't resist finding tasty morsels amongst the research numbers and are pleased to bring them to you in an easily digestible and high calorie discussion. Enjoy.