Best Thomas Carroll Podcasts (2025)

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Is Civilisation About to Collapse? Luke Kemp 1:09:25

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2d ago1:09:25

1:09:25

Today, on Undercurrent Stories, we turn our attention to the grand sweep of human history — from the hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic to the great empires of Egypt and Rome, and onward to our interconnected, fragile world of today. At the heart of our discussion lies a question as old as civilisation itself: why do societies rise — and why do th…

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#583: Ultra-Processed Foods & Fixing the Food Environment – Kevin Hall, PhD 54:33

5d ago54:33

54:33

Ultra-processed foods have become central to the way we eat and to many of the challenges we face in public health nutrition. They dominate supermarket shelves, shape population diets, and often appear as the prime suspect in rising obesity and metabolic disease rates. But beyond the label itself, what exactly makes these foods problematic? Is it t…

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335 | Andrew Jaffe on Models, Probability, and the Universe 1:17:38

5d ago1:17:38

1:17:38

Science has an incredibly impressive track record of uncovering nonintuitive ideas about the universe that turn out to be surprisingly accurate. It can be tempting to think of scientific discoveries as being carefully constructed atop a rock-solid foundation. In reality, scientific progress is tentative and fallible. Scientists propose models, assi…

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Jake Tapper on ‘Race Against Terror’ 1:00:01

7d ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Larry sits down with CNN anchor and bestselling author Jake Tapper to discuss his new book, 'Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War.' The two explore America’s evolving response to terrorism, the pursuit and prosecution of terrorists, and what today’s battles over Donald Trump reveal about truth, power, and a…

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How Good is Your Weather Forecast, Really? Thomas Weber 1:07:47

9d ago1:07:47

1:07:47

For centuries, humans have looked to the sky in search of signs. Today, our tools are satellites and data models rather than clouds and folklore. In this episode, we hear from Thomas Weber about the people and technology transforming meteorology, and how accurate forecasts are reshaping lives across the globe. About Thomas; Thomas E. Weber is an Am…

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SNP45: Antioxidants – What You Need To Know 13:47

12d ago13:47

13:47

This is a Premium-exclusive episode of the podcast. To listen to the full episode you need to be subscribed to Sigma Nutrition Premium. What exactly are "antioxidants," and why do they get so much hype? We often hear that blueberries, dark chocolate, and red wine are healthy because they're packed with antioxidants – but is the story really as simp…

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334 | Daniel Whiteson on the Physics of and by Aliens 1:14:21

12d ago1:14:21

1:14:21

The universe as revealed by physics is objective: it's out there, existing and behaving in ways that are completely independent of human thought. But the process by which we learn about the universe, and the language with which we talk about it, is extremely human-dependent. Does that mean that aliens would do science differently, and even think di…

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574 - Paul Naude: The State Of The Industry 1:00:31

16d ago1:00:31

1:00:31

In today’s show Vissla CEO Paul Naude joins us to discuss how the consolidation of major surf brands is affecting surf culture, how the licensing operational model can threaten retailer’s long term viability, why now is a fertile opportunity for growth for independent brands and retail, and why the consumer wields influence through the power of the…

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#582: GLP-1 Agonists: Side Effects, Management and Diet – Dr. Spencer Nadolsky 48:30

19d ago48:30

48:30

GLP-1 receptor agonists have emerged as a groundbreaking tool in obesity treatment. In this episode, Dr. Spencer Nadolsky (an obesity specialist) explains how these medications are now yielding unprecedented weight loss outcomes in people with obesity. The discussion centers on GLP-1 agonist drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide: how they work, ho…

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333 | Gordon Pennycook on Unthinkingness, Conspiracies, and What to Do About Them 1:10:20

19d ago1:10:20

1:10:20

Why are people wrong all the time, anyway? Is it because we human beings are too good at being irrational, using our biases and motivated reasoning to convince ourselves of something that isn't quite accurate? Or is it something different -- unmotivated reasoning, or "unthinkingness," an unwillingness to do the cognitive work that most of us are ac…

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The Day the Ground Spoke: Following the Longest Dinosaur Footprints Ever Found with Armin Schmitt 36:59

24d ago36:59

36:59

Paleontologist and author Armin Schmitt returns to the show where we explore two remarkable dinosaur discoveries that are reshaping what we know about life millions of years ago. From the longest dinosaur trackway ever uncovered in Oxfordshire, England, to the first-ever discovery of fossilised gut contents inside a sauropod in Australia, Armin sha…

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#581: What Is Successful Public Nutrition Policy? And Why Is It So Hard to Achieve? – Emily Callahan, RD, MPH 1:05:38

26d ago1:05:38

1:05:38

Public nutrition policy plays a critical role in shaping population health through laws, guidelines, and programs that influence what people eat. In this episode, Emily Callahan, an expert in nutrition policy, talks about why public nutrition policies often fall short and what "success" looks like. They discuss how evidence-based nutrition interven…

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332 | Dmitri Tymoczko on the Mathematics Behind Music 1:21:11

26d ago1:21:11

1:21:11

Music is math that you can dance to. The fact that certain notes sound good when played together, or in succession, is related to the mathematical properties of the frequencies to which they correspond, an idea that goes back as far as Pythagoras himself. These days we have a much more intricate understanding of these relationships and how to manip…

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Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jarecki on 'The Alabama Solution' 1:07:06

28d ago1:07:06

1:07:06

Larry is joined by filmakers Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jarecki to talk about their latest film 'The Alabama Solution' as it offers a harrowing look at the prison system and the abuses that take place within it. Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jareck Producers: Steve Ahlman and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad cho…

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History of Everything from the Big Bang to You: Tim Coulson 51:18

1M ago51:18

51:18

In this episode, we explore the the biggest question of all: How did we get here? Joining me is Professor Tim Coulson, biologist and zoologist at the University of Oxford and author of A Little History of Everything: From the Big Bang to You. Tim traces our story from the birth of the universe to the emergence of life and consciousness — touching o…

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#580: Sodium Bicarbonate for Sports Performance – Prof. Lewis Gough 1:02:45

1M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most consistently supported ergogenic aids in sports nutrition research, yet its underlying mechanisms and real-world applications remain widely misunderstood. More recent developments have focused on how to optimise both the timing and formulation of supplementation. The "individualised ingestion timing" approach h…

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AMA | October 2025 3:37:18

1M ago3:37:18

3:37:18

Welcome to the October 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the ques…

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573 - Rodolfo Klima 59:12

1M ago59:12

59:12

In today’s show early Peruvian shaping pioneer Rodolfo Klima joins us to discuss Peru as the inception place of surfing and it’s integral role in early surf competitions, learning how to shape by instinct alone, Gordon Clark's unknown factory in Peru, the challenge of building a business in an unstable economy and democracy, why Peru may generate t…

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572 - Barry Vandermeulen 1:08:28

1M ago1:08:28

1:08:28

In today’s show South African pro surfer turned shaper Barry Vandermeulen joins to share stories of early life in the remote but influential Bay of Plenty, his tutelage from Spider to Spyder, Matt Biolos’s springboard into his eponymous label, how to run a business without a website, why he doesn’t put his name on his surfboards, and his opportunit…

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The Human League, Heaven 17 and the Power of Sound: Martyn Ware 1:09:47

1M ago1:09:47

1:09:47

In this episode I'm delighted to welcome musician, producer and sound pioneer Martyn Ware to the show. Martyn takes us back to his Sheffield roots and shares how the experimental beginnings of The Human League led to the formation of Heaven 17. He opens up about the split with Phil Oakey, the creation of groundbreaking tracks like Being Boiled, and…

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#579: Is Your Chronotype Hard-Wired or Modifiable? And What Does It Mean for Health? 59:28

1M ago59:28

59:28

In this episode, we explore the concept of chronotype, which reflects an individual's biological circadian timing and how it manifests in preferred sleep–wake patterns. Understanding chronotype is important because it differs from simple diurnal preference, which may be shaped by lifestyle or psychological factors rather than biology. We examine ho…

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331 | Solo: Fine-Tuning, God, and the Multiverse 1:54:45

1M ago1:54:45

1:54:45

Certain features of our universe seem unnatural to us. These include "constants of nature" such as the cosmological constant and the mass of the Higgs boson, as well as features of the initial conditions like the curvature of space and the initial entropy. But they can't truly be "unnatural" -- they are literally features of Nature itself. Some hav…

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Kenny Mayne on Sports Media 1:03:38

1M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

Larry is joined by former ESPN contributor Kenny Mayne to discuss his newest podcast We Need a Fourth! They also discuss the going's on of sports media, the fallout from poor fan behavior in golf, and much more. Host: Larry Wilmore Producers: Steve Ahlman and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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571 - Thomas Campbell 1:16:26

1M ago1:16:26

1:16:26

In today’s show Thomas Campbell unpacks the 10 year process of making YI-WO, analyzes the value and the cost of asking an audience to be present, shares the experience in Morocco wherein he was dead broke that spring-boarded his painting career, explains how a short skate film for Supreme led him to surf filmmaking, and grapples with the challenge …

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Bill Tancred: Olympic Athlete, British Discus 25 Year Record Holder & Academic 44:39

2M ago44:39

44:39

Today we have a really special guest with us. An international athlete, he competed in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics in the discus and won bronze and silver medals in successive Commonwealth games from 1970 to 1974. He was the British National discus champion on 7 occasions and held the British record for 25 years. Since then he has been a lead…

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570 - Eric Arakawa 1:19:43

2M ago1:19:43

1:19:43

In today’s show North Shore icon Eric Arakawa shares insights from 51 years of surfboard shaping, explains the invention of the Nose Guard, why it’s essential to use money and love people but most people do the opposite, how to leverage burnout to fuel inspiration, recounts the chance encounter with one enigmatic shaper that changed both their live…

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#578: Creatine For Brain Health: Overhyped Trend or Science-based Intervention? – Prof. Eric Rawson 52:30

2M ago52:30

52:30

Creatine is best known as a sports supplement for enhancing muscle strength and high-intensity performance. But could it also improve brain health and cognitive function? Or are such claims overhyped? If creatine can support brain health, it could have implications for aging, neurodegenerative diseases, concussion recovery, and mental fatigue. In t…

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330 | Petter Törnberg on the Dynamics of (Mis)Information 1:12:01

2M ago1:12:01

1:12:01

A characteristic of complex systems is that individual components combine to exhibit large-scale emergent behavior even when the components were not specifically designed for any particular purpose within the collective. Sometimes those individual components are us -- people interacting within societies or online communities. Studying the dynamics …

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Listener Mailbag 1:04:35

2M ago1:04:35

1:04:35

Larry weighs in on the latest with Jimmy Kimmel and Charlie Kirk, the future of the Democratic Party, the role of artists in culture, his love of magic, conspiracy theories, and much more on this week’s episode of ‘Black on the Air.’ Host: Larry Wilmore Producers: Devon Renaldo and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi…

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Is There a Limit to Energy Expenditure? And What Happens When We Push It? (SNP44) 14:09

2M ago14:09

14:09

Energy expenditure is one of the most fundamental yet often misunderstood aspects of human physiology. A central question is whether there is a ceiling to how many calories we can burn, and what happens when activity levels approach that limit. Grasping these dynamics is essential for health professionals and researchers, as energy balance directly…

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329 | Steven Pinker on Rationality and Common Knowledge 1:16:32

2M ago1:16:32

1:16:32

Getting along in society requires that we mostly adhere to certainly shared norms and customs. Often it's not enough that we all know what the rules are, but also that everyone else knows the rules, and that they know that we know the rules, and so on. Philosophers and game theorists refer to this as common knowledge. In Steven Pinker's new book, W…

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Good Vibrations - Unlocking the Healing Power of Music: Stefan Koelsch 50:23

2M ago50:23

50:23

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the profound impact of music on the human brain. Join us as we explore how melodies and rhythms can evoke emotions, enhance mental health, and serve as a powerful therapeutic tool. With insights from leading neuroscientist Stefan Kölsch, discover the science behind music's ability to heal and transform ou…

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#577: Ultra-processed vs. Minimally Processed Diets: UPDATE Trial – Samuel Dicken, PhD 49:38

2M ago49:38

49:38

Recently a new trial was published in Nature Medicine comparing the effect of ultra-processed versus minimally processed diets. Specifically, the UPDATE trial compared these two diets in the context of a healthy dietary pattern (in line with the UK's EatWell Guide). This eight-week randomized, crossover trial generated a lot of discussion and was l…

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328 | Mary Roach on Replacing Parts of Our Bodies 1:07:20

2M ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Like any machine, bodies occasionally break down, and it's natural to go in search of a replacement part. Ancient societies featured simple prosthetics for teeth, noses, and limbs, while modern medicine pursues more advanced ways of replacing internal organs and microbiomes. But what is striking is not just the impressive ingenuity of our attempts …

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569 - Makua Rothman 1:09:36

2M ago1:09:36

1:09:36

In today’s episode Makua Rothman discusses surfing Waimea at age 8, his maternal lineage to King Kamehameha, songwriting as a catharsis to process childhood trauma, how his World Title count was limited by his addition, the freedom in relinquishing the weight of expectation, and how society’s modern embrace of vulnerability can open pathways of com…

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Heroes, Villains, and Everything In Between: Steve Carroll. 32:14

2M ago32:14

32:14

Today I’m joined by returning guest Steve Carroll — artist, lecturer, and author of the Diaspora science fiction series. In this episode, Steve opens up about the creative process behind his writing, and we dive deep into the role of characters in storytelling — how they evolve, why they matter, and what they can teach us about resilience, belongin…

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#576: The Social Psychology of Health Beliefs and Misinformation – Matthew Facciani, PhD 53:52

2M ago53:52

53:52

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Facciani explores how social psychology influences health beliefs and the spread of misinformation. The conversation delves into why people adopt certain nutrition or health beliefs so strongly, how identity and group membership shape our interpretation of evidence, and what makes us susceptible to false or misleading h…

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AMA | September 2025 3:30:04

2M ago3:30:04

3:30:04

Welcome to the September 2025 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number -- based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the qu…

1
Tara Palmeri on Epstein and His Survivors 53:11

2M ago53:11

53:11

This week, Larry is joined by investigative journalist, author, and podcast host Tara Palmeri to sift through the complexities of the Epstein files and his survivors—just days after several of his accusers traveled to Capitol Hill to demand accountability (1:26). They explore the confusion surrounding the case, the role of money, and how Epstein se…

1
The Untold Stories of Tudor Women with Author Tony Riches 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

Acclaimed historical fiction author Tony Riches returns to Undercurrent Stories to discuss his latest Tudor novels, Bess: Tudor Gentlewoman and Frances: Tudor Countess. We explore the hidden influence of Elizabeth I’s ladies-in-waiting, the challenges of bringing real historical figures to life, and why these women’s stories still resonate today. P…

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337 | Mark Olly | A Chin Wag With A Living Legend | C.E. Artist - Jessie Ransom Powers 1:05:56

2M ago1:05:56

1:05:56

Join us for Expanded Content, Afterthoughts, Live Hangouts and Reality Expansion found. . . https://www.patreon.com/Expanding_Reality Ridiginal Publishing YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RidiginalPublishing/videos Email| [email protected] This outstanding conversation with the living legend Mark Olly is one of my favorite. We discu…

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#575: How Does Dairy Impact Cardiometabolic Health? – Prof. Jean-Philippe Drouin-Chartier 46:12

2M ago46:12

46:12

Dairy is often treated as a single food group, yet milk, yogurt, cheese, and butter can have very different effects on health. Some evidence links yogurt to favourable outcomes, while butter is known to raise LDL cholesterol. And then there's the paradox of cheese: high in saturated fat, but not consistently associated with higher heart disease ris…

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327 | Cass Sunstein on Liberalism 1:10:15

3M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

"Liberalism," divorced from its particular connotations in this or that modern political context, refers broadly to a philosophy of individual rights, liberties, and responsibilities, coupled with respect for institutions and rule of law over personalized power. As Cass Sunstein construes the term, liberalism encompasses a broad tent, from Ronald R…

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568 - Joey Cabell 1:24:31

3M ago1:24:31

1:24:31

In today’s episode early surf icon Joey Cabell talks through transitioning from solid redwood boards (which he purchased from his shoeshine earnings) through Balsa to being the first Polyurethane foam board tester for Clark & Hobie, he share stories of being on the Duke Kahanamoku Surf Team, training for winter Hanalei by swimming the Nā Pali coast…