Heart Yoga Radio

EXTERNALITIES

In this podcast, I consider 'externalities' which is the name given to the dumping of waste products into water and air, and onto land by capitalist industrial production, free of charge. I argue this is done under the imperative of 'increasing shareholder value' and in which governments are implicated. This explains, I argue, why governments wait until the last minute to act, even though citizens' health may be severely impacted. I illustrate the thesis with examples from the the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. [Free. 30 minutes.]

A SUSPICION - CLIMATE & CULTURE WARS

Join me on my constitutional as I entertain the suspicion that the UK right-wing government is on the brink of refocussing its culture wars on net zero, and eco-concern generally, and throwing everything it can muster at it. I place these speculations in a context of a brief and rough explanation of the hermeneutics of suspicion. The podcast ends with the trailer to our upcoming series of live zoom talks. See http://peteyates.uk/live-events/ [Free. 28 minutes.]

LAO TZU 58

In this podcast, we consider Chapter 71 of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. This chapter is about self-deception, understood as a sickness. We appraise the character of many modern politicians in the light of Lao Tzu's insights on this matter. [Free. 25 minutes.]

AI - THREAT OR PROMISE?

In this podcast, we discuss AI and its recent emergence into the public sphere. We examine four main aspects of AI; what the term 'AI' signifies, the knowledge status of its products, the political and economic ramifications of AI, especially its role in automation, and its position in current affairs public discourse. [Free. 61 minutes.] 

OUR BIGGEST DANGER?

In this podcast, we consider Nietzsche's assertion that "Our biggest danger is disgust at man." The discussion ranges wide and includes an appraisal of Nietzsche's counter-insight that life is redeemed by art. [Free. 39 minutes.]

INDIVIDUAL & COLLECTIVE, (& FARMING)

This podcast is a wide-ranging discussion which ends up entertaining the suspicion that the individual and collective do not make up a stark opposition, as much right-wing propaganda presupposes. The journey includes some thoughts about soil and ecological degradation and cultural shifts taking place regarding struggles over how agriculture should be best conducted. Not to mention, a stab at answering the pressing conundrum, "What is woke, exactly?"  [Free. 32 minutes.] (Click on the link to buy me a coffee.)

SAVAGE JAVID'S RANDIAN FANTASY - INTERESTING TIMES 38

In this podcast we comment on the state of the Tory Cabinet as members are 'pinged' as  a result of the Secretary of Sate for Health testing positive for COVID19 on the eve of 'free-dumb day'. We focus on contradictions within the right as authoritarian social conservatism vies with libertarian-libertinism for dominance and powerful opportunists attempt to face both ways. In this context we examine Javid's espousal of Randianism. [Free. 35 minutes.]

LAO TZU 22

This podcast offers a reading of Chapter 35 of the Tao Te Ching. It deals with the character of Lao Tzu's ideal leader who is a sage with connection to the Tao. We tease this out and relate it to modern leaders of the 'strong man' type and ideals of social organisation. [Free. 19 minutes.]

LAO TZU 21

In this podcast we discuss Chapter 34 of The Tao Te Ching. In this Chapter, Lao Tzu describes the Tao as best he can, emphasising its low key and quietly stealthy operation of supporting, suffusing and embracing all things, including humans. We explore the explicit instructions for mediation that the chapter contains. [Free. 13 minutes.]

LAO TZU 20

In this episode of our Lao Tzu series, we explore themes of judgement, desire, non-violence, and longevity: all in the light of Lao Tzu's meditation 'method' of aligning with the Tao. [Free. 24 minutes.]