Level Up Human

Zoe Lyons joins Simon to find an upgrade for Human 2.0 from England rugby cap Dame Maggie Alphonsi, Dean Burnett and the studio audience at Winchester Science Festival. The panel discuss motivation, limb regeneration and an unusual approach to birth control. If you enjoyed this podcast you can now become a patron of the show: www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jay Lafferty joins Simon to judge suggestions for the next humans from hummingbird expert Dr. Sue Healy and cross cultural researcher Erin Robbins. The panel discuss internal fit bits, how animals lie and why you might need to vape on your baby. Recorded as part of Explorathon, the European Researchers' Night at St. Andrews University. If you enjoyed this podcast you can now become a patron of the show: www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Paul Sinha joins Simon for this special episode in collaboration with the Royal Society. Paul judges suggestions from neuroscientist Dr. Holly Bridge, bio-physical chemistry researcher Steve Lee and the studio audience live at the Science Museum. The team discuss fluorescing frogs, brain plasticity and why we need to milk a lot of spiders to improve care for stroke patients. If you enjoy Level Up Human you can now donate via Patreon: www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jack Heal judges suggestions by Hayley Pye, Maddy Coke and the Omni tent audience, Einstein's Garden at the 2016 Green Man festival. Simon Watt is in the chair as ever. The panel discuss whether we need leaders, a blood test that can reveal every virus you've ever had, and whether we actually need bodies any more at all. If you're enjoying the podcast, you can make a regular donation via our Patreon: www.patreon.com/leveluphuman Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ellie Taylor joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions by archaeologist Paul Duncan McGarrity, psychologist Dr. Julia Shaw and the studio audience at the Science Museum. The panel discuss the imperfect nature of memory, why spiders scare us and how easy it is to desecrate graves. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else AND you can buy Level Up merch including tote bags and mugs! Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Steve Cross, Mathew Tata and Catie Williams join Simon for some more Level Up fun at the first ever recording at the Bloomsbury theatre studio. The team discuss a loggerhead turtle with a titanium jaw, a machine that monitors your face to understand your emotions and Steve wants to rip everyone's spines out to replace them with more efficient titanium. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else AND you can buy Level Up merch including tote bags and mugs! Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman. Thank you for listening!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jack Heal joins Simon to sort the wheat from the evolutionary chaff in this special episode recorded at the 2016 Green Man Festival. Melissa Bovis and Jon Chase pitch ideas from their areas of expertise and we have contributions from the live audience in the Omni Tent in Einstein's garden. Only one suggestion can win! Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else. Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman. Thank you for listening!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Amy Howerska judges suggestions for human improvement from writer and broadcaster Timandra Harkness and then Dr. James Logan, now Professor James Logan! The panel discuss landmine clearing 'hero' rats, how to remember names and Amy Howerska's world of improved empathy where hospitals are run by high-functioning sociopaths. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else. Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman. Thank you for listening!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Danielle Ward joins Simon along with Cam Robinson and Nick Hawes. This episode was recorded before we had a guest judge, so the suggestions are judged by the studio audience at the Science Museum! Pitches include enhanced navigation, tails and people nappies?! Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else. Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman. Thank you for listening!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gemma Flynn just wants an easy life. Vying for her attention are philosopher Michael Wheeler and roboticist Eli Sheppard, with Simon Watt keeping score. We get a helping gene or two from the scrotum frog, and find out about the evolution of the haircut. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else. Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman. Thank you for listening!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Robert Llewellyn joins Simon to judge suggestions for the next humans from chemist Kathryn Harkup, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod, the studio audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival and the amazing lyre bird. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else. Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman. Thank you for listening!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jonny Berliner judges suggestions for levelled up humans by bio-engineer Dr. Michelle Rogers, biodiversity theorist Dr. James Rosindell and the studio audience at Imperial College. The panel discuss naturally occurring gyroscopes, telescopic generation and why you shouldn't drill a hole in your skull. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else. Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman or just buy us a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/A282QH8  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jay Lafferty settles in to judge suggestions for human enhancement from psychologist Dr. Kate Cross and researcher, lecturer and podcaster, Dr. Anindya Raychaudhuri. Simon Watt officiates as ever. The panel discuss sequential hermaphroditism, head transplants and the incredible legs of the giraffe. We find out why cooking has ruined our digestive abilities and why female hyenas are bigger than males. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com. We release each episode to our patrons a week before everyone else. Join them at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lorcan McGrane joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions for future humans by Helen Arney and Tony Bjourson. The panel discuss fecal transplants, and then more about fecal transplants. There is talk of beards for all, and we find out why Helen Arney's ukelele never gets any bigger. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com and if you'd like to receive the next LUH episode before everyone else, become a patron at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dan Schreiber joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions from neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott and real life levelled up human Frank Swain at the Albany theatre as part of SMASHfest. This episode is absolutely jam packed full of stuff including a demonstration of audible wifi signals, the fourteen facial expressions of horses, running so fast it makes you blind, and the reason animals can't talk. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com and if you'd like to receive the next LUH episode before everyone else, become a patron at www.patreon.com/leveluphuman  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ben van der Velde judges suggestions from Steinar Halldorsson, Dr. Catherine Green and the studio audience under the watchful eye of Simon Watt. The panel discuss immuno-privileged organs, dislocating limbs and whether you'd want to try a crème brûlée made from the eggs and milk of a duck billed platypus. This episode was recorded live at the Amey theatre as part of Oxfordshire Science Festival. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Neil Delamere sifts through evolutionary upgrades suggested by rocket scientist David McKeown and soon to be double doctor, Lara Dungan. Simon Watt is in the chair. The panel discuss whether shark skin would be useful to humans, whether it's worth evolving immortality, and find out why David wants to put giant electromagnets in our chests. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jo Caulfield chooses human improvements with pitches by Dr. Kate Shoenrock, Shaun Killen, Mother Nature and the studio audience at the Glasgow Science Festival. Simon Watt is in the chair. The panel discuss bio-electrics, how pigeons outperform humans at task-switching and why you might want a fish in your drink. Theme music written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics by Theo Weedon, web design by Ian Bridgeman and support from the Wellcome Trust. The producer is Rachel Wheeley. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Robin Ince joins Simon Watt to judge suggestions for human enhancement from science writer and broadcaster, Kat Arney, zoologist Jules Howard and the audience at Brighton Science Festival. Jules Howard has written off Robin Ince for being too old, Kat Arney wants a hangover free life and we discuss audience suggestions including cuddling improvements and more knee caps. Our theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen. Graphics are by Theo Weedon and our website was designed by Ian Bridgeman. Level Up Human is produced by Rachel Wheeley and supported by the Wellcome Trust. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zoe Lyons chooses ideas for future human, taking in suggestions from doctor of neuroscience Dean Burnett, champion rugby player Maggie Alphonsi, the studio audience at Winchester Science Festival and the 'smurf bird' cassowary. We discuss bird brains, horse health monitors and whether it's time for an alternative, doped, Olympics? Theme music was written and performed by Laurence Owen, graphics are by Theo Weedon and web design by Ian Bridgeman. Level Up Human is produced by Rachel Wheeley and supported by the Wellcome Trust. You can now support us directly with a donation: www.patreon.com/leveluphuman - help us land a resident gig and make more podcasts! Patreons receive new episodes before anyone else. For more information, go to www.leveluphuman.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.