Smooth Brain Society

• #65. Mainstreaming of the Far-Right - Dr. Aaron Winter

  In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Winter, senior lecturer in sociology at Lancaster University and Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI), to unpack the complex rise and normalization of far-right ideologies. From his personal roots in anti-racist activism to his research on racism, terrorism, and structural inequality, Dr. Winter explores how mainstream institutions, media, and political parties have helped legitimize far-right narratives. We discuss the myth of the “white working class” grievance, how race and class are falsely divided, the political misuse of populism, and the dangers of platforming hate under the guise of public discourse. An essential listen for anyone concerned about democracy, justice, and the future of inclusive politics.Dr. Aaron Winter: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sociology/people/aaron-winter Support the showSupport us and reach out!https://smoothbrainsociety.comhttps://www.patreon.com/SmoothBrainSocietyInstagram: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTikTok: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTwitter/X: @SmoothBrainSocFacebook: @thesmoothbrainsocietyMerch and all other links: Linktreeemail: [email protected]

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• #64. Funding the Future: Women’s Sport in New Zealand - Erin Roxburgh

  What does it take to elevate women's sport? Sahir and Lily Joiner of Nuku Ora - an active Wellington dive into the unique landscape of women's sports in New Zealand with special guest Erin Roxburgh, Deputy Chair of Women in Sport NZ. Erin, is a current squad member of the New Zealand Women's Indoor and Beach Handball teams and is currently a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington and future director at Sport NZ, shares her personal journey and expert insights into the funding and governance structures that shape the sporting world down under. We discover the surprising role of gaming funds and how it compares to more commercial models, using basketball and rugby as case studies. We also explore the relatively recent professionalization of sports in Aotearoa and what the future holds. Whether you're a sports enthusiast or simply curious about the forces behind the game, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at the challenges and opportunities in the future of women's sport.Erin Roxburgh Profile: https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/erin.r.roxburghLily Joiner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-joiner-341860194?trk=contact-infoSupport the showSupport us and reach out!https://smoothbrainsociety.comhttps://www.patreon.com/SmoothBrainSocietyInstagram: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTikTok: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTwitter/X: @SmoothBrainSocFacebook: @thesmoothbrainsocietyMerch and all other links: Linktreeemail: [email protected]

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• #63. Sex Disclosures in Romantic Relationships - Katie Knowles

  How much do we really talk about sex in our relationships — and when should we? In this episode, Sahir and Olivia sit down with relationships researcher Katie Knowles to unpack the psychology of sex disclosure, why most people in relationships hover around a "3.5 out of 5," and how attachment styles can shape what we share (and what we don’t). We go on to discuss some surprisingly relatable results from Katie's current research and where the future of intimacy and relationships is headed.Katie Knowles recently published a research paper reviewing all the present literature around sexual self disclosures. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388959085_Meta-Analyzing_People's_Self-Disclosure_of_Sexual_Information_to_Romantic_PartnersSupport the showSupport us and reach out!https://smoothbrainsociety.comhttps://www.patreon.com/SmoothBrainSocietyInstagram: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTikTok: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTwitter/X: @SmoothBrainSocFacebook: @thesmoothbrainsocietyMerch and all other links: Linktreeemail: [email protected]

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• #62. Epilepsy Explained - Professor Tony Marson

  Professor Tony Marson of the University of Liverpool talks to Beth and Sahir about Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which are sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. We discuss the types of epilepsy, what are its causes and how it manifests across time, what the current treatments for epilepsy are and what the future of epilepsy research looks like. This episode is part of our ongoing collaboration with the British Neuroscience Association, Liverpool Neuroscience Group and The Brain Charity.https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/anthony-marsonPublic Events run by LNG: https://meetings.bna.org.uk/BYOBLiverpool/BNA Festival of Neuroscience: https://meetings.bna.org.uk/bna2025/ Support the showSupport us and reach out!https://smoothbrainsociety.comhttps://www.patreon.com/SmoothBrainSocietyInstagram: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTikTok: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTwitter/X: @SmoothBrainSocFacebook: @thesmoothbrainsocietyMerch and all other links: Linktreeemail: [email protected]

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• #61. Memory and Healthy Ageing - Dr. Dorothy Tse

  In the build to the International Festival of Neuroscience being held in Liverpool from the 27th to 30th of April, 2025. We spoke to Dr. Dorothy Tse of Edge Hill University about her incredible research aimed at understanding memory, preventing dementia and promoting healthy ageing. We speak about the Tse Lab's work in understanding how prior knowledge can help in developing new memories and the importance of public input in all their research activities.Episode in collaboration with the British Neuroscience Association, Liverpool Neuroscience Group and The Brain Charity.Public Events run by LNG: https://meetings.bna.org.uk/BYOBLiverpool/BNA Festival of Neuroscience: https://meetings.bna.org.uk/bna2025/ Dr. Dorothy Tse: https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/person/dr-dorothy-tse/staff/Support the showSupport us and reach out!https://smoothbrainsociety.comhttps://www.patreon.com/SmoothBrainSocietyInstagram: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTikTok: @thesmoothbrainsocietyTwitter/X: @SmoothBrainSocFacebook: @thesmoothbrainsocietyMerch and all other links: Linktreeemail: [email protected]

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