What warrants the death penalty in our current society? Murder is certainly on the list, but is that all? Should Utopia have the death penalty if the only goal is to punish the crime? And if not, how would Utopia handle those who commit unspeakable acts of violence that currently warrant the death penalty? In this episode, we discuss all of these q…

Is the death penalty effective? Does it actually serve as a deterrent for the most heinous of criminals? Or do we use it purely for punitive purposes? In this episode we seek to better understand the death penalty and its role in our current world. We also look at what the international community's opinion is on the matter while we discuss serial k…

In our third episode on Domestic Pets, we discuss the importance of education, learn how to spell RESPECT, and try to determine how we evolve from our current practices of pet ownership to a society that values all lives equally. And as always, we mix in a little nonsense for comedic effect. Utopian AF: The Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/utopia…

Continuing our discussion on domestic pets from the previous episode, we examine whether or not people in Utopia should be allowed to own pets or if there is another way to coexist. We also discuss what the alternatives would be without pet ownership and whether or not they are viable. Oh, and there is a brief discussion about AI-centric pets! Utop…

How do we view domestic pets today...are they family, or property? In the first episode of our three part series on domestic pets, we research some interesting facts about our furry friends (did you know there are approximately 473 million dogs worldwide?) while we discuss the pets in our lives and their impact on us as people. Utopian AF: The Podc…

Welcome to Utopia! In the first episode of Utopian AF: The Podcast, your hosts Paddraick and John discuss the overview of the podcast as well as what the definition of a Utopia is and how we plan to address the major issues that prevent us from achieving it. Equal parts insightful and ridiculous, this episode sets the stage for what our audience ca…

Pete & Karlo from Podside Picnic join me to talk about Frederik Pohl's 1977 science fiction novel Gateway. We discuss "full medical" as it relates to the disaster that is American healthcare, company towns, gold rushes, risk, and gateway as a metaphor for the market. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode covers a different utopia…

Academic and #ACFM co-host Jeremy Gilbert joins the podcast to talk us through the concept of "the long 90s". We discuss why cultural innovation has stagnated, the relationship of culture to politics and how anti-utopianism may be falling out of fashion. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode covers a different utopia, dystopia, u…

Sleep- such an integral part of our lives, almost a third of our lives we spend sleeping, yet something most of us just take for granted. In this introductory episode we talk about some important aspects of sleep including dreams (jump..jump :D).

What did God decided to do when human beings just won't leave Him alone? Here is a short story for you to reflect and introspect about. Or just if you like listening to stories. #self #God #psychology #selfempowerment #internallyblissful #bliss #lookwithin #spiritual #spiritualgrowth #storytime #stories #uwlpodcast #utopianwayoflife…

Trevor Strunk from No Cartridge joins us to talk about his new book Story Mode. We discuss how horror videogames help chart our fears, which events caused the genre to radically shift direction, Resident Evil, the apocalypse and neoliberalism.You can find Trevor's book here: https://bookshop.org/books/story-mode-video-games-and-the-interplay-betwee…

In this episode we talk about tying the knot. Although considered a very essential part of an individual's life some times we fail to reflect upon its role in our life and our expectations from it.

Katie Stone joins me to talk about Francis Ford Coppola's horny Dracula adaptation, the original Bram Stoker novel and how the figure of the vampire can be rethought to connect to utopian ideas around work, idleness, care and more. You can find the talk Katie mentions in the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiPseSrT0p0And my Kickstarte…

In this episode we introduce you to the concept of defense mechanism given by Sigmund Freud. We also discuss popular or most used defense mechanisms, including how to identify and overcome them. Let your guards down and listen to this interesting episode!

Stefan Riekeles, author of the book Anime Architecture: Imagined Worlds and Endless Megacities, joins me to talk about the dystopian worlds imagined by artists and directors that provide the background to some of the genre's most famous movies. You can find the Kickstarter project I mention in the episode here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/…

This is second part of our series "Building Blocks of Relationship" (Ep:02). Good communication is so critical in building a new relationship and maintain an old one. Let the communication going - with others and also yourself.

Ranged Touch's Cameron Kunzelman returns to the show to talk about the fascinating detective RPG that is Disco Elysium. We talk about how the game represents contemporary capitalism, the strengths and weaknesses of its character portrayals, the spectre of communism and, of course, Cuno. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode cover…

Sci-fi author, journalist and blogger Cory Doctorow joins the show to talk about the tangle of intricate dystopian narratives that is conspiracy theory. We discuss the roots of conspiracy theory, why it is becoming more prevalent at this particular moment, and how it can be effectively countered. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each epi…

It's a solo episode this time as I return to the book Economic Science Fictions to delve into a chapter on extraction and the way is reflected in capitalism and science fiction media. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode covers a different utopia, dystopia, utopian thinker, or utopian movement, asking what they can tell us about…

We are born alone (unless ofcourse you are twins, triplets, or quadruplets and so on!) and we die alone. But often many of us are very fearful of being alone on the journey that we call life. How can spending time with yourself impact your life? Does it give you more power of choice when you are comfortable walking the path alone? Is loneliness and…

Blood Knife's Kurt Schiller joins the podcast to talk about the post-scarcity communist society depicted in Iain M. Banks Culture series and how it seems to have attracted the most unexpected of fans in ultra-capitalist billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode covers a different utopia, dys…

Konstantinos Dimopoulos, a game urbanist and designer, joins us to talk about virtual cities in videogames. We talk about their critical potential, how they communicate information, and how Konstantinos has been exploring him in his book, Virtual Cities: An Atlas & Exploration Of Video Game Cities. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each e…

It's the Holiday Season!!!!! Families are together, there is love, happiness and warmth in the air, despite the cold weather of December 🥶!!!! Here is an episode to help you cope with Holiday Stress (being around family is not always easy😁). In the second half we bid adieu to 2020 and welcome the year Twenty-Twenty One!!! Merry Christmas and Happy …

Vincent Liegey and Anitra Nelson, the authors of the book Exploring Degrowth: A Critical Guide, join me to talk about what Degrowth means, how it aims to address the climate crises and change our world, why it is difficult for capitalism to co-opt it, and why we can't assume that renewable energy will solve all our problems.Utopian Horizons is a po…

You are greater than the sum of parts. Know what are the different aspects of self. Strengths or weakness: what should be your focus of improvement? Where do you invest your energy? And does knowing all this play a role in helping you to see the bigger picture, the target of your life?

Rosie from the Twin Peaks podcast Diane joins the show again to talk about the unique and surreal videogame world of Kentucky Route Zero. We chat about themes of debt and exploitation, the powerful use of haunting, different ways of thinking about foreground and background, and a possible kernel of utopian hope in a overwhelmingly dystopic world. U…

Most often it is easier to look out and find reasons for our failure, sadness, and a mediocre life. It is not until we start looking in, can we start to tackle problems at their root and bring about the change in our lives which we have been longing for so long. Birth to death is a journey which all of us will complete. So destination is not a prob…

In this episode, we give you strategies to reduce use of your smartphones and social media. Some simple but effective ways to take a break from your smartphones every once in a while.

From non-existent some 20years back to being an essential part of our lives, Social Media has come a long way. Our over-dependence on it is evident from the size of tech-giants like Facebook and Google. In this Episode, we try to explore how our lives has changed since advent of Social Media and if it's good or bad for our mental health, relationsh…

I finally return to my run-through of every Philip K Dick novel to talk about 1964's The Penultimate Truth. I touch on class differences, the loss of the new, authority in postmodernity and conspiracy theory. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode covers a different utopia, dystopia, utopian thinker, or utopian movement, asking wh…

· What is a relationship?· Relationship with ‘Self’ and how we can improve it.· Building blocks of a good relationship – Gratitude and Communication.Jargon we have used: Temperament:1. Personality traits that determine how someone reacts to the world. Temperament style plays a key role in how they behave and interact with people and world.2. The co…

Hi Listeners! We thought before we embark on this journey together, you should know us better. This is an Introduction episode where we talk about ourselves and why we decided to start this podcast. This episode gives a framework of Utopian Way of Life and what you can expect when you tune in. Welcome aboard!…

Dr Anna McFarlane from the University of Glasgow returns to the podcast to talk about 1999 science fiction phenomenon The Matrix. We discuss what The Matrix represents, systemic power, cyberpunk, trans readings of the film and more. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode covers a different utopia, dystopia, utopian thinker, or uto…

The author of Abolish Silicon Valley, Wendy Liu, joins the podcast to give an insider perspective of Silicon Valley from a former Google intern who once brought into the industry's lofty ideas of itself. We discuss Silicon Valley ideology, how capitalism limits the potential of technology and much more. Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. E…

Gabriel and Jack from the AAA Collective talk to me about their new game about utopia, the process of creating it, and matching theme to process.You can find the game here: https://aaa.itch.io/utopias Utopian Horizons is a podcast about utopia. Each episode covers a different utopia, dystopia, utopian thinker, or utopian movement, asking what they …