The foxes talk to Ricky Green of the Unversity of Kent about conspiracy theories and what causes people to believe in the unbelievable.

Specifically why are conspiracy theories so prevalant right now, in one of humanity's darkest hours, after a year of near-lockdown for so many? Does stress play a factor in our willingness to believe?

We explore what factors cause people to believe, the types of belief and most importantly, Ricky guides us as to how to handle the next time a friend or family member starts sharing their views on a "conspiracy" with you.

Ricky works alongside one of the leading teams of conspiracy theory research in the UK and shares some really interesting ideas which will cause you to see conspiracy theories and their believers in a whole new light.

About the show

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

About our guest

Ricky Green is a PhD student at University of Kent and is keenly interested in researching the subject of Conspiracy theories. Once one "to believe" in such theories himself, he now devotes his time to studying the factors that can influence our likelihood to believing in Conspiracy theories. Ricky lives on the South Coast in England.

Show mentions:

• 9-11 and if it is a conspiracy
• Zeitgeist the movie
• Is covid-19 a conspiracy and is Bill Gates looking to get a monopoly on vaccines?
• Was Covid-19 a lab experiment that escaped?
• 09:00 What is the difference between a conspiracy and a conspiracy theory?
• Is the New World Order a conspiracy theory?
• The word conspiracy and the power it holds to the listener
• Why do we suspend belief when it comes to conspiracy theories?
• 12:00 There is so much evidence against so many conspiracy theories, overwhelming in many cases
• Vaccinations as a hot topic in the conspiracy theorist's world and Anti-vaccination sentiment
• The spectrum of fantasists through to the rational sceptics
• At what point do people move from being rational to believing outlandish things?
• 14:30 The spectrum of thinking from rational thought through to believing the queen of england is a reptilian lizard
• 15:30 Measuring believe in conspiracy theories and the strongest determinist factor being believing in another
• 16:30 The main qualitative study where conspiracy believers were interviewed and themes drawn out into 5 types of conspiracy believers <-----
• Unusual ontology (way of thinking) to describe levels of belief in conspiracies
• 18:30 Attachment theory as a determinant of belief in conspiracies <-----
• People with a secure attachment style being less likely to believe in conspiracies, compared to people with an insecure attachment style who are far more likely to believe.
• 20:30 The link between anxiety and a tendency to catastrophise as a determinant in belief in conspiracy theories
• 22:30 A recent development in research via Professor Karen Douglas from the University of Kent and her team, concluding that conspiracy theories appeal to people whose important psychological needs are not being met.
• Our thinking style as a determinant of how interesting conspiracy theories are.
• 24:30 Animation as a tool of research, to measure the level of consciousness in shapes and therefore agency and intentionality in shapes.
• Humans as pattern seeking animals
• Those who see patterns where they do not exist are also believers in conspiracy theories
• 26:00 Level of education as a factor in likelihood to believe in conspiracy theories
• Covid-19 and

Practical philosopher Paul Baker takes the Old Fox Young Fox team on a journey through his life and what he has discovered of happiness and meaning along the way.

In a story that ranges from Eton to pioneering microlights, and from meditation to lessons from ancient greece, we cover a lot of ground and put a few ideas to rest along the way.

About the show

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

Show mentions:

• 04:30, 05:30 if i look for meaning what would happen
• 06:30 going from meaninglessness to meaning
• pascal's wager
• 08:30 what if this is your one life...leaving the world better off
• 10:20 the thing i learned from hang gliding
• 12:00, 37:30 permaculture is...
• 13:30, 15:30 the alexander technique
• The Alexander technique
• incorrect sensory perception
• the habit of thought
• the U.S. election
• 18:33 frog into boiling water
• the boiling the frog concept
• NLP
• virginia
• castell
• milton ericcson
• fritz furls
• john mcquerther NLP
• Hypnotherapy
• 22:20 definition of hypnotherapy
• 24:30 magic and science
• book - Yiral harare - homo deus
• 25:30 human beings are complex
• 28:30 the most important thing any living thing can do
• documentary - the social dilemma
• 30:15 one of the reasons we are more fragmented than ever <-------
• 31:15, 32:50 a bristol engineer, staying curious <-----
• martial arts
• civil engineering
• UN report: a common future
• 33:30, 34:47 UN report and climate change took a week to understand <----
• Quakers
• Oxfam
• William Waldergrave MP Bristol
• 35:30, 37:00 what can we do to create a fair world <---
• the environmental movement
• karl henrique robere - Swedish Doctor and Karate champion
• Karate
• 38:00 Karl henrique robere wanting a consensus between scientists in sweden <--------
• 39:30 how to be unsustainable
• 42:00 there are 3 environments - social human environment
• mesopotamian myths
• 45:00 the yin yang symbol and seeking balance as humans <-----
• 50:40 we are a part of nature, we are struggling with a need to conserve
• 52:30 the magic of life as a gardener
• Veganism and evolutionary theory
• 57:30 the difficult thing for humans as hunters and gatherers
• 1:02:00 when we eat we should be grateful
• 1:06:00 the most impt rule - look after your environment
• book: hindsights guy kawasaki
• 01:27:00 quality of our reacting ...systemic nature of our actions <--
• 01:29:00 the power of three

About our guest:

Paul Baker is a practical philosopher most interested in how we as individuals can help each other to live lives that get better and better. A coach, therapist and trainer, Paul can be reached via the email below.

• Contact Paul Baker

Global Health Advisor Dr. Sam Shah is back on the Old Fox Young Fox podcast, this time focusing on medical innovation in the NHS and globally. We talk Covid-19 vaccines, what we've learned about the virus so far, how the healthcare system has responded to the increased load and what it is like to work on the frontline, in a medical clinic, day to day.

This is a far-ranging conversation and we cover a lot of interesting ground, including the role of data in current and future healthcare, the public-private partnership and how we all have a role to play in staying healthy.

Then we take a global view and look to China, India, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and beyond for examples of medical innovation and both the benefits and risks that such a rapidly evolving world brings with it.

About the show:

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

Show mentions:

• An insider's guide to Covid-19 with Dr. Sam Shah
• 02:30 hope the vaccine gets to the people who need it most
• Event: The future of healthcare technology innovation in Dubai
• nhs england
• NHSX
• Google Deep Mind project in the NHS
• 07:00, 08:30 NHS as a philosophy, assets and IP and ownership
• Facebook and their accumulation of big data
• 10:00 Google Deep mind in the NHS
• 11:00 Private suppliers to the NHS
• 12:00 willingly giving our data
• WhatsApp and widespread clinical use. There is so much to be gained by clinicians sharing knowledge.
• 13:00, 14:00-14:41 data safety and sharing of data safely
• Ciitizen.com startup
• 16:00 Move the power from the system to the citizen
• 16:55, 18:00 - 18.00 NHSX role in data handling and privacy
• NHS Digital
• Department of Health England
• 21:00 smart cities as an example of data being used healthfully
• Department of sport, Department of pensions
• Smart cities and the Internet of things (IoT) as an inspiration for big data in health
• 23:00 China and how big data was used during Covid-19
• 6:30, 27:45 Nudging as a technique to change behaviour, turn the system in the same way
• FitBit and Google's purchase of FitBit
• 29.27 The system is worn down and needs proper investment beyond toys, the model we need
• 31:30 we should pay and promote wellness rather than pay for sickness, is the Chinese model more effective in this way?
• 33:00 role of technology in helping during diagnosis or care
• 35:45 diagnosis and when to test
• 37:00, 38:31 Australia embracing technology in remote diagnosis
• Flight Forward drone delivery of medication in the USA
• Images of skin such as Mole map
• 38:00 lots of technology can assist, it is about risk profile
• Stephen Fry and his experience of being tested for Cancer
• 39:40 Stephen Fry and his experience helping lead to more testing
• Clare Oliver and the campaign to ban sunbeds in Australia
• 54gene and the need to ensure racial equality in gene therapy research
• 46:00 inequity in health and the need to undertake development of drugs that benefit the communities they need to help
• The human genome project
• The 100,000 genomes project
• 51:00 - 52:00 edit out lack of a question and answer
• Compulsory vaccinations and caution around due process in testing
• Population-based genetic studies
• The...

Old Fox Young Fox talks to writer, environmental activist and former Director of Friends of the Earth Jonathon Porritt about the climate emergency and why against all the odds, there is still hope.

We trace Jonathon's journey from the activist frontline, to a career in politics, then to founding Forum for the Future, where he saw progress in educating and partnering with the business community on the need to act regarding the climate.

And we discuss his decision to now step back from Forum for the Future and to focus on doing what he can as Chancellor at Keele University and by a more direct role in supporting the next generation of climate activist.

We cover a lot of ground and ask a lot of the tough questions facing our global community including what is the role of civil disobedience in activism? Should we feel guilty at not having done enough or is that energy better used in making small changes to help fight climate change?

About the show:

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

.

Show mentions:

• Book: Hope in Hell by Jonathon Porritt
• Report - The Future of Sustainability: https://www.forumforthefuture.org/new-report-out-now-from-system-shock-to-system-change-its-time-to-transform
• The futures centre: https://thefuturescentre.org/
• Report - Future plates (transforming school lunches in the USA): https://www.forumforthefuture.org/future-plates-transforming-school-lunches-in-the-usa
• 03:05 the big issues are relatively simple
• The intergovernmental panel on climate change
• the green party of new zealand
• rupert murdoch's press empire
• the green party of australia
• 08:00 what net zero 2050 means
• 09:00 what we need to do to carbon emissions by 2030
• 11:00 lots of things are moving in the right direction: a low carbon economy
• the low carbon economy
• investors getting behind the low carbon economy
• world faith and religious organisations backing the environmental movement
• intergenerational injustice
• 16:00, 18:00 Young people are protesting differently. In 2019 both exploded into our midst.
• Greta thunburg
• Extinction rebellion and the School...

Want a new Mercedes but can’t afford to buy one? Why buy a CD when £10 a month gives you ‘000? Setting up a new online business but will limited funds? Have it all, Subscribe Now!!

This episode of Old Fox Young Fox looks at the subscription economy. Joined by Toby Beresford of Veneficus, we explore how a move from owning to renting is transforming the landscape for both consumers and suppliers globally.

Netflix, Spotify, Apple iCloud, Office 365 and Amazon Web Services are all examples of subscriptions and whether we realise it or not, we are consuming more products and services via subscription every day. In fact, 2020 saw huge growth in subscription services globally due in part to Covid-19 and our insatiable desire to try before we buy, get it now and always have the latest and greatest.

What is surprising is how far the subscription model of pay as you go has reached with school uniforms, and even jet engines moving to this model.

But how do subscriptions actually work? What are the benefits to businesses to moving to a subscription-based model and are they better or worse for us the consumer?

.

About the show:

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

.

Show mentions:

• Veneficus - https://www.veneficus.co.uk/
• https://Rise.global - digital scorecards
• Book - Infinite gamification by Toby Beresford
• Netflix
• Spotify
• BarclayCard data shows we have become a subscription society
• Freddy's flowers
• Nakedwines.com - the wine club
• Relationship commerce
• Microsoft Office365
• SaaS: Software as a Service
• Free trial versus Freemium
• Apple iCloud
• Music - Jeremy Woolwich piano music
• Renting property as a form of subscription
• The role of rentals in sustaining instant gratification
• The lifetime value of a customer
• Personalisation as a method of making customers sticky
• Technology as driver of subscriptions
• Google Cloud
• Laundry tablet delivery services
• Affiliate networks
• How successful subscription businesses are buying...

This episode of Old Fox Young Fox features Dr. Sam Shah, a Global Digital Health Advisor and former Director of NHSX. We summarise what we know about Covid-19 so far and take a long, hard look at good, the bad and the ugly of the state of healthcare in the UK and globally.

As we enter into a second northern hemisphere winter living with Covid-19 and all the concerns that brings, what have we learned about the virus and how to prevent it? Is our public healthcare service up to the task and are our Government helping or hindering the delivery of healthcare to those who need it most?

Dr. Shah is outspoken, incredibly knowledgable and is passionate about the need for equal access to healthcare as a basic human right. He raises serious questions about the state of our Government and the former Management Consultants now lining the upper echelons of many public service departments.

This is an episode not to be missed and one that echoes the experiences of many countries during this pandemic and during this current experiment in Populism in many nations.

About the show:

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

Show mentions:

• How we have handled Covid-19 in the UK
• The Swedish, Taiwanese, New Zealand and American experiences of Covid-19
• What he have learned about Covid-19
• Reducing health inequalities
• The structure of healthcare in the UK
• Corruption in the UK public service
• The rise of Populism in governments
• The role of technology and innovation in healthcare
• Public Health England
• NHS England (National Health Service)
• The Lancet
• Nature journal
• Orca Health
• Healthy places, healthy lives initiative
• MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)

.

About our guest:

Dr. Sam Shah is a Global Digital Health Advisor whose interests span digital health, clinical leadership and public health. He works with both private and public organisations such as the UK's NHS (National Health Service). He is a founder of the Faculty of Future Medicine at Ulster University. Sam was previously Director of Digital Development for NHS England and NHSX, where he was responsible for digitisation programmes including a flagship project to digitise urgent care in the NHS. Sam lives and works in South East England and is a practicing clinician to this day.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-shah-nhs/

.

Related episodes:

Rob Hopkins, author of From What is to What if and founder of The Transition Town Network explains to Old Fox Young Fox how communities around the world are coming together to make a difference.

We discuss his book From What is to What if and the premise that drives it and how he found himself moving from teaching Permaculture to founding a global movement now spanning over 1,200 towns.

This is inspiring stuff and speaks deeply firstly to the dire global situation we find ourselves in and importantly acts as a call to arms for us all to feel empowered to do something about it. Because together, we can just get more done.

About the show:

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

.

Show mentions:

• Transition Movement: https://transitionnetwork.org/
• Book - Rob Hopkins: From What is to What if (available from Hive, or Amazon UK or Amazon US if you must)
• Book - Rob Hopkins: The Power of Just Doing Stuff
• Book - Rob Hopkins: The Transition Companion
• Podcast: From What is to What if: https://www.robhopkins.net/
• Extinction Rebellion
• The Sunrise Movement
• 360 degree organisation
• Community Energy Movement
• Book - David Fleming: Lean Logic
• Circular Cities
• The Ellen Macarthur Foundation
• Monsanto, France
• Tool - Openspace
• Crystal palace food market: http://www.crystalpalacetransition.org.uk/food-market.html
• Flat pack democracy movement: https://www.flatpackdemocracy.co.uk/
• Control shift
• New Economy: https://neweconomy.net/
• The Declare Movements
• Me too movement
• Black Lives Matter movement
• Muniscipalities in transition: https://municipalitiesintransition.org/
• Politician - Denis Healey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Healey
• Activist - Greta Thunberg:

Just an opportunity for an Old Fox and a Young Fox to enjoy a conversation, reflect on previous episodes and the big events that are changing our lives.

About the show:

Old Fox Young Fox is an intergenerational conversation between Jeremy Woolwich and Oliver Happy, one that explores the impacts of a rapidly changing world.

• Check out Ollie's new show: Problem Busters

Topics covered:

• Covid-19
• Brexit
• Bellarus rebellion
• Conspiracy theories
• Corruption in high places
• The state of western democracy
• BLM (Black Lives Matter)

Social post photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash