Raj Persaud in conversation - the podcasts

Want help Staying Sane? Interested in unlocking the potential of your brain? Want to know why we find some people more attractive and seductive than others, and how to become irresistible yourself? Need to attain goals like losing weight or passing exams? Desire less stress in your life? Dr Raj Persaud FRCPsych, a Consultant Psychiatrist based in London, UK, talks to leaders in the fields of mental health, as well as those suffering from psychological problems, in order to get to the cutting edge of our current understanding of ourselves, through our brains and our minds. The podcast series interviews world experts in fields as diverse as Economics, Neuroscience, Psychotherapy and Psychology to deliver the essential cutting edge information you need to better understand yourself and the world around you.

The Statistics Expert who's helped two Nurses overturn their Serial Killer Convictions on Appeal 09/12/2023

The Statistics Expert who's helped two Nurses overturn their Serial Killer Convictions on Appeal Psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud talks in-depth to Professor Richard Gill - one of the key experts who has helped overturn two recent nurse serial killer convictions You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. The article below was published before the outcome of the Lucy Letby case was known https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/in-the-media/2023/02/in-a-normal-murder-case-you-actually-have-a-body-statistician-richard-gill-says-in-science ‘In a normal murder case, you actually have a body’ statistician Richard Gill says in Science 02 February 2023 After diving into the murder trial of nurse Lucia de Berk, statistician Richard Gill became a leading expert on the statistics of medical murder cases. Together with colleagues, he now wrote a peer reviewed report about the statistical missteps in past medical murder trials. It gives recommendations for how legal systems can do better. ‘People’s intuition of an “impossible coincidence” sometimes falsely joins the dots in the evidence,’ he says in the Science Magazine. Lucia de Berk was under trial for being present at a suspiciously high number of deaths and resuscitations. His wife told him about a “witch trial” and saying: ‘They’re using statistics; you should get involved, do something useful.’ At first Gill didn’t get involved, but years later the case would turn out to be the pinnacle of his career. He proved that the nurse went to jail based on bad statistics, tunnel visions and assumptions. ‘In a normal murder case, you actually have a body which has clearly been murdered,’ he says. ‘When there’s only a suspicious cluster of deaths, investigators may assume a murderer is at work and selectively focus on evidence that supports that assumption.’ Statistics to the rescue When the court of appeals announced the acquittal of the nurse, Gill was there to celebrate. ‘It was one of the biggest events of my life,’ he says. ‘It was really joyful.’ And that became the start of lending his expertise as a statistician in medical murder cases. With that expertise, Gill and his colleagues wrote a report published by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) in September 2022. That report exposes the statistical missteps in past medical murder trials and makes recommendations for how legal systems can do better. One of the things that the report recommends is for investigators to be ‘blinded’. For example, having pathologists classify deaths as suspicious or not, without knowing which medical personnel were in attendance. The next generation of statisticians Gill hopes the report will help with new similar cases. The one of the British nurse Lucy Letby for expample, who is now on trial for the alleged murder of seven babies. Gill is retired, but still follows the case closely. As he will not be working much on forensic cases anymore, Gill hopes younger statisticians will feel compelled to help when bad statistics lead to injustice, as he did. ‘I sensed that in the Lucia case, I could make a difference. And that therefore I must.’ Want to know more? Read more about Richard Gill and his career in the article on . /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/28014858

Lucy Letby - the untold story from the key prosecution expert witness - Dr Dewi Evans talks to Dr Raj Persaud 09/05/2023

Lucy Letby - the untold story from the key prosecution expert witness - Dr Dewi Evans talks to Dr Raj Persaud Psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud talks in-depth to Dr Dewi Evans - one of the key prosecution expert witnesses about the Lucy Letby case You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. https://www.herald.wales/west-wales/carmarthenshire/how-dr-dewi-evans-helped-secure-justice-in-nurse-letbys-chilling-baby-murders/ How Dr. Dewi Evans helped secure justice in nurse Letby’s chilling baby murders LUCY Letby’s conviction for multiple counts of murder and attempted murder at the Countess of Chester Hospital is intertwined with the meticulous work of Dr. Dewi Evans, a retired consultant paediatrician from Carmarthen. Dr. Evans, a seasoned medical legal expert with over three decades of experience, emerged as a key figure in unraveling the complex web of deliberate harm inflicted upon innocent infants. In an exclusive interview with TalkTV, Dr. Evans delved into the intricacies of his involvement in the case, revealing the depths of his horror at the heinous events that unfolded. He described the events as a tragedy of unparalleled proportions, possibly ranking as the most shocking occurrence within an NHS hospital in the past 75 years. Cheshire Police turned to Dr. Evans for his expertise in dissecting the medical evidence and shedding light on the nefarious activities behind the deaths. His journey began with an exhaustive review of clinical records, meticulously analysing over 30 cases of babies who perished or suffered collapses between January 2015 and July 2016. Dr. Evans’ ability to discern hidden patterns within the chaotic medical records would prove to be a critical turning point. Among the cases, he identified 15 instances that defied conventional explanations. These babies displayed telltale signs of harm, ranging from symptoms of air embolism—suggesting the injection of air into their circulatory systems—to signs of milk or milk-and-air injections directly into their stomachs, leading to life-threatening breathing difficulties. However, the true revelation came with the discovery of insulin poisoning in two sets of twins. Dr. Evans stumbled upon abnormally elevated insulin levels in these babies, indicative of an intentional injection of insulin. This discovery, initially unforeseen even by the astute doctor, added a sinister layer to the unfolding narrative. Dr. Evans also highlighted the crucial role of analyzing duty rosters. His meticulous examination revealed a chilling connection—Lucy Letby was consistently on duty during each of the tragic incidents. This realisation provided a pivotal break in the case, further cementing the suspicion against Letby. Yet, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. During the trial, Letby’s defence team sought to discredit Dr. Evans’ objectivity and impartiality, accusing him of bias. However, Mr. Justice Goss, the presiding judge, steadfastly refused to exclude Dr. Evans’ evidence, emphasising the need for the jury to assess his credibility in light of the broader evidence presented. The case also spotlighted the systemic shortcomings and managerial failures within the NHS. Dr. Evans lamented the lack of responsiveness from NHS managers and pointed to a culture of cover-ups when things went awry. The case prompted a broader conversation about transparency, accountability, and safeguarding within healthcare institutions. Ultimately, Dr. Dewi Evans’ meticulous analysis and unwavering dedication became instrumental in securing justice for the innocent victims and their families. The case serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of persistent investigation, expert analysis, and the pursuit of truth in even the most chilling of circumstances. /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/27950613

Which member of the UK Royal Family was most mad for sex? Historian and coach Anne Scoular explains 02/07/2023

Which member of the UK Royal Family was most mad for sex? Historian and coach Anne Scoular explains You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. Born in New Zealand, Anne fled at the earliest opportunity to England, where her roots and heart lie. She co-founded Meyler Campbell in 1999 and continues to work tirelessly to promote its activities and Community. She is also an intermittent but happy gardener, and a passionate historian. Following a successful global career as a diplomat and Citibank-trained international banker Anne retrained mid-career as a psychologist (PG Dip Psych and MSc Organisational Psychology - both with Distinction.) Among her many accolades Anne was named as one of five leading experts in business coaching globally by Harvard Business Review (2009), is the author of The Financial Times Guide to Business Coaching (2011) (a second edition of which was published in 2020), and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. In 2018, Anne was appointed Visiting Scholar at Oxford Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Anne and her co-author Professor Herminia Ibarra published the article, “The Leader as Coach” in the November-December issue of the Harvard Business Review. In March 2020, it was announced that this article had won the Warren Bennis Prize, awarded for the top-rated HBR leadership article of the year. Much in demand for her expertise, Anne has served on a raft of Expert Panels and policy committees including a Positive Psychology task force for the Royal Society. She has delivered Keynote speeches for all the major coaching bodies including AC, BPS/SGCP, ICF, WABC and ICAEW, and has taught workshops at London Business School and Cambridge's Judge Business School. Anne believes that traditional mentoring / training / consulting puts in content while coaching pulls out the capacity people have within ...and that we all need both. In her view knowledge and skill are essential, but so too are the energy, inspiration and motivation that can only come from within. Great organisational coaching fluently and pertinently blends both. Anne Scoular on Raj Persaud podcast 14 December 2022 References and further resources Anne: Background on Anne: https://www.meylercampbell.com/our-people/anne-scoular ; Her book on leadership coaching: https://www.amazon.co.uk/FT-Guide-Business- Coaching-Guides/dp/1292309075/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= ; and her 2019 bicentenary lecture on Queen Victoria, her grief and recovery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6DMSK16dP0&ab_channel=MeylerCampbell Queen Victoria Short, sparkling and psychologically alert biography: Jane Ridley, Victoria: Queen, Matriarch, Empress (London: Allen Lane/Penguin, 2015) (The great, full biography: Elizabeth Longford, Victoria RI (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1964/1987) The Queen’s effectiveness John Plunkett (2000) “Queen Victoria: the Monarchy and the Media”: PhD dissertation, Birkbeck College London; published as a book, John Plunkett: Queen Victoria: First Media Monarch (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003). (But the detailed data is in the PhD.) Wealth of data Journals of Queen Victoria, freely accessible at http://www.queenvictoriasjournals.org (114 vols: 13 originals 1832-37; 13 Esher transcript 1832-40; 111 Beatrice-ed 1837-01; 4 drafts) Letters of Queen Victoria, ed. Esher / Benson / Buckle, 9 vols 1907-32 (you see her at work.) Personal Letters to her daughter ‘Vicky’, ed. Roger Fulford, 5 vols 1964-81 (Vol 1 especially recommended – two very fine, very real women in impassioned conversation.) The Queen’s own two publications: Leaves from a Highland Journal 1868 and 1885 - online on QV journals site as above Diaries and letters of 360o : Greville, Ponsonby, Mallet, Antrim, Lyttleton, Reid, Arnold, Gladstone, Disraeli... Biopsychosocial See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biopsychosocial_model Insecure attachment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_theory Complicated grief The Centre for Prolonged Grief (Columbia University, New York) (formerly the Centre for Complicated Grief): https://prolongedgrief.columbia.edu/for-the-public/complicated-grief- public/overview/ Burnout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSAGnwf0iAY and other Sally Maitlis articles/videos Identity In Victorian era: Pat Jalland, Women, Marriage and Politics 1860 – 1914 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986) for starters. (Pat Jalland is also the expert on Victorian bereavement.) But the superb (and slim) book in this area is K.D. Reynolds, Aristocratic Women and Political Society in Victorian Britain (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998) – a fine scholarly study of gender, power, and female leadership in the Victorian era, its iron constraints, and how some fortunate women got around them a little; has much of relevance to us. Today: Herminia Ibarra, Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career (Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2004) The Queen’s recovery The 1997 movie Mrs Brown (Judi Dench/ Billy Connolly) is spot on re Brown; William M. Kuhn, Henry and Mary Ponsonby (London: Duckworth, 2002) is perceptive on the work and marriage of these two remarkable and unconventional characters; Robert Blake’s Disraeli (1966; various editions since) is one of the great biographies of all time. Power https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_and_Raven%27s_bases_of_power Mentoring and coaching www.meylercampbell.com Continued discrimination Caroline Criado Perez, Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, (London: Chatto & Windus, 2019) /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/25862085

Best-selling author Johann Hari talks to Psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud on where has all our attention gone? 02/07/2023

Best-selling author Johann Hari talks to Psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud on where has all our attention gone? You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. All over the world, our ability to pay attention is collapsing. In the US, college students now focus on one task for only 65 seconds, and office workers on average manage only three minutes. New York Times best-selling author Johann Hari went on an epic journey across the world to meet the leading scientists and experts investigating why this is happening to us – and discovered that everything we think we know on this subject is wrong. We think our inability to focus is a personal failing – a flaw in each one of us. It is not. This has been done to us – by powerful external forces. Our focus has been stolen. Johann discovered there are twelve deep cases of this crisis, all of which have robbed some of our attention. He shows how he learned this in a thrilling journey that takes him from Silicon Valley dissidents who figured out how to hack human attention, to veterinarians who diagnose dogs with ADHD; from a favela in Rio where everyone lost their attention in a particularly surreal way, to an office in New Zealand that discovered a remarkable technique to restore their workers’ attention. Crucially, he learned how – as individuals, and as a society – we can get our focus back, if we are determined to fight for it. The answers will surprise and thrill you. This is a book about our attention crisis unlike any you’ve read before. Johann Hari’s books on addiction and depression transformed those debates, appearing in 37 languages, praised by everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Noam Chomsky to Hillary Clinton. His TED talks have been viewed 78 million times. What They’re Saying About “Stolen Focus” ‘I think this book is exactly what the world needs right now … I hope everybody buys the book. I promise you it will be worth your time and certainly worth your focus.’ – OPRAH ‘If you want to get your attention and focus back, you need to read this remarkable book. All over the world, Johann Hari interviewed both the leading scientists investigating why we’re losing our focus, and the people developing solutions. He has cracked the code of why we’re in this crisis, and how to get out of it. We all need to hear this message.’ – ARIANNA HUFFINGTON ‘A visionary, systemic, revolutionary and practical guide for creating the new world. Through tireless research and genius insight Johann Hari certainly snapped me to attention. A life changing book.’ – EVE ENSLER ‘Johann Hari’s superb STOLEN FOCUS is a beautifully researched and argued exploration of the breakdown of humankind’s ability to pay attention. It’s a story that so many of us have felt needs to be told, but whose cause and consequences are hard to capture and articulate without guesswork, prejudice or ideology. Hari not only achieves this and more, but he does so it with the pace, sparkle and energy of the best kind of thriller writer. I can’t remember reading a book which made me shout out “yes! That’s it!” quite so many times. The same brilliant voice that has made us rethink so convincingly the real solutions to the global epidemic of addiction and mental health (Chasing the Scream, Lost Connections) is not satisfied with hand-wringing or tub-thumping – Hari as ever also offers ways out, one which we would do well to … to concentrate…’ – STEPHEN FRY ‘Stop whatever you’re doing and read this book. A deeply researched, disturbing, and yet ultimately hopeful exploration of the primal crisis of our time: our diminishing ability to focus on what really matters.’ – RUTGER BREGMAN ‘I don’t know anyone thinking more deeply, or more holistically, about the crisis of our collective attention than Johann Hari. And this is a crisis that we must address if we are to meet any of the other pressing emergencies we face as a species, whether ecological or social. Which means that this book could not be more vital. Please sit with it, and focus.’ – NAOMI KLEIN ‘A brilliant book about one of the most important topics of our time’ ‘Johann Hari writes like a dream. He’s both lyricist and storyteller — but also an indefatigable investigator of one of the world’s greatest problems: the systematic destruction of our attention. Read this book to save your mind.’ – SUSAN CAIN ‘A gripping analysis of why we’ve lost the capacity to concentrate, and how we might find it again. STOLEN FOCUS won’t just capture your attention—it will keep you thinking and rethinking long after you’ve finished it. Johann Hari is one of the most insightful critics of our modern malaise, and he’s written the book the world needs to win the war on distraction.’ – ADAM GRANT, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and host of the TED podcast WorkLife ‘A brilliant book about one of the most important topics of our time’ – DR. RANGAN CHATTERJEE ‘Thanks to this brilliant book, I have got to know myself and my fellow humans better. It educates and entertains you – the stories will suck any reader in, and then slowly change your mind. Everyone should read it. It has changed my habits – way beyond just putting away my phone more. ‘Stolen Focus’ is a really important book.’ – DR. PHILIPPA PERRY ‘In his unique voice, Johann Hari tackles the profound dangers facing humanity from information technology and rings the alarm bell for what all of us must do to protect ourselves, our children and our democracies.’ – HILLARY CLINTON ‘An entirely necessary book, a miracle of clarity and depth, a resonant, deeply researched warning followed by a truly inspiring clarion-call to action. Read it and weep, then dry your eyes and join in.’ – EMMA THOMPSON ‘In a world that in Johann Hari’s deft phrase suffers from “mental jet lag,” his new book is a highly original and wide-ranging investigation into the causes of our epidemic of flagging attention. Written with Hari’s trademark incisive prose, indefatigable search for scientific evidence vividly presented, and illustrated with telling anecdotes, Stolen Focus is a bracing and necessary wake-up call to us all.’ – GABOR MATE M.D ‘A bold, troubling and penetrating tour de force that lifts the lid on something parents, teachers, psychologists and doctors have been increasingly worried about. A fascinating journey into the mind and how it is being manipulated with devastating effects. Hari’s subject is something that is affecting us all and this seminal work will be one of the defining books of our era. Johann Hari is quickly proving himself to become the chronicler of our time. We must all wake up and pay attention to this book’s message. It is a clarion call for us to take back our focus. Get off social media, switch off the TV, put down your smart-phone and do one thing – read this book.’ – DR. MAX PEMBERTON ‘This mind-blowing book explains everything. Read it and be free.’ – SIMON AMSTELL ‘If you read just one book about how the modern world is driving us crazy, read this one.’ – THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ohann Hari is the author of three New York Times best-selling books, and the Executive Producer of an Oscar-nominated movie and an eight-part TV series starring Samuel L. Jackson. His books have been translated into 40 languages, and been praised by a broad range of people, from Oprah to Noam Chomsky, from Elton John to Naomi Klein. His latest book, , was published in January 2022, and received rave reviews everywhere from the Washington Post to the Irish Times to the Sydney Morning Herald. It has been a best-seller on three continents. Johann’s first book, , was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film . It has also been adapted into a documentary series which is available to . His second book, was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”, and shortlisted for an award by the British Medical Association. Johann’s TED talks have been viewed more than 93 million times. The first is named . The second is entitled . He has written over the past decade for some of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, the Spectator, Le Monde Diplomatique, the Sydney Morning Herald, and Politico. He has appeared on NPR’s All Thing Considered, HBO’s Realtime With Bill Maher, The Joe Rogan Podcast, the BBC’s Question Time, and many other popular shows. Johann was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and when he was a year old, his family moved to London, where he grew up and where he has lived for most of his life. His father – a Swiss immigrant – was a bus driver, and his mother was a nurse and later worked in shelters for survivors of domestic violence. He studied Social and Political Science at King’s College, Cambridge, and graduated with a Double First. Johann was twice named ‘National Newspaper Journalist of the Year’ by Amnesty International. He has also been named ‘Cultural Commentator of the Year’ and ‘Environmental Commentator of the Year’ at the Comment Awards. He lives half the year in London, and spends the other half of the year traveling to research his books. You can email Johann at chasingthescream (at) gmail dot com. To read about what Johann is working on now, and what you can do to support him, please . /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/25860864

Alexandra Durnford Executive Coach talks to Dr Raj Persaud about coaching and personal change 12/08/2022

Alexandra Durnford Executive Coach talks to Dr Raj Persaud about coaching and personal change You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. A London-based executive coaching & mediation practice. I founded Byron & Wilf to coach clients to think, communicate and behave in a way that improves their ability to manage themselves and others more effectively, achieve their professional and personal goals and reach new levels of confidence and performance at work. About An executive coach, member of Faculty at Meyler Campbell and mediator with over twenty years of experience in communications. I work with board directors, CEOs and senior leaders on how they can improve their awareness and management of themselves and others to successfully: Communicate with more skill Transition to a more senior role Make difficult decisions Manage stress Resolve conflict Build their reputation and impact My work as a mediator has enabled senior level individuals in global organisations to identify issues and develop a non-adversarial and collaborative approach to resolution with close colleagues, peers and team members. Qualifications I am a graduate of the Meyler Campbell Mastered Programme (2014) and have an MA in English Literature from St Andrews University (1998). I am currently studying for a MSc in the Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health at Kings College London. I am qualified to work with a number of psychometrics including: Hogan, MBTI, Firo-B and ESCI. What my clients say I worked with Alex following a promotion, when I was struggling, as many people do, with imposter syndrome. She helped me understand some of the misconceived assumptions I was holding on to and identified strategies to help improve my confidence and performance. Whilst some of those imposter feelings never leave, I now have control of them and feel so much more confident in my role and am performing at a higher level. I highly recommend Alex as a coach, as she gets results and is great fun to work with. Choice - which for me is fundamental to and comes before change How we all ignore the mind-body connection - for example high functioning, successful individuals not recognising link between their stress levels, cracked teeth, frozen shoulders, eczema, IBS etc. We tend to think physical health or mental health - still I think the conversation needs to advance to link the two things together How can you get to 50+ and have no idea about how your amygdala works and why when you are sitting in a meeting and your boss tells you he doesn’t think much of you, you don't freeze and get brain fog because you are incompetent..its physiological (obvs you will need to check my neuroscience here!) The importance of the language we use in our own heads and the horror movies we mentally press play on and how this links to the above - emotional self-regulation Mindfulness/breathing - I don’t know your thoughts on this but having always been a bit wary of it for fear of being dubbed a life coach, my degree and personal experience have taught me otherwise and I think it is a crucial life skill There is lots of hierarchy based debate regarding the differences between coaching, therapy, counselling, psychotherapy - and of course there are differences but the fundamentals which are often the most effective are not rocket science …i.e. asking open questions & listening - but this is still v hard for lots of people to do /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/25266510

Diet and Fitness Guru Rosemary Conley talks to Dr Raj Persaud about the psychology of motivation 11/29/2022

Jane Janse Van Rensburg Addictions Therapist talks to Dr Raj Persaud about why addicts become therapists 11/29/2022

Roxana Cardos Business Psychologist talks to psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud on the psychology of personal strengths 11/29/2022

The Psychology of Music with Rock Legend and Executive Coach Peter Cook 11/29/2022

The Psychology of the Greatest Cad and Bounder Ever in the World - Dr Cosmo Duff-Gordon defends his ancestor - the first man to get off the Titanic 08/17/2022

An addictions counsellor explains the essence of personal change 08/17/2022

Psychology of the Professional Executive Who Starts to Drink Too Much 08/17/2022

The Serotonin Story - Depression Myth or Medical Miracle? Professor Joanna Moncrieff talks to Dr Raj Persaud 08/09/2022

The Serotonin Story - Depression Myth or Medical Miracle? Professor Joanna Moncrieff talks to Dr Raj Persaud You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. Prof Joanna Moncrieff Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry Epidemiology & Applied Clinical Research Division of Psychiatry Research summary My research consists of an analysis of all aspects of psychiatric drug treatment, including subjective experiences, history of drug treatment, a critique of evidence for drug treatments, theoretical perspectives on psychiatric drug treatment, and political aspects of drug treatment, including work on the influence of the pharmaceutical industry. I am also interested in the nature and function of diagnosis in modern psychiatric practice, and in the history, politics and philosophy of psychiatry more generally. I have written two books: The Myth of the Chemical Cure, published by Palgrave Macmillan http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?PID=283272 and A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs, published by PCCs books http://www.pccs-books.co.uk/product.php?xProd=463&xSec=1&jssCart=951d6cfb50d466e4f830c58cadfd75d6 LATEST BOOK – A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs: The truth about how they work and how to come off them. Second Edition In an era when more people are taking psychiatric drugs than ever before, Joanna Moncrieff’s explosive book challenges the claims for their mythical powers. Drawing on extensive research, she demonstrates that psychiatric drugs do not ‘treat’ or ‘cure’ mental illness by acting on hypothesised chemical imbalances or other abnormalities in the brain. There is no evidence for any of these ideas. Moreover, any relief the drugs may offer from the distress and disturbance of a mental disorder can come at great cost to people’s physical health and their ability to function in day-to-day life. And, once on these drugs, coming off them can be very difficult indeed. This book is a wake-up call to the potential damage we are doing to ourselves by relying on chemical cures for human distress. Its clear, concise explanations will enable people to make a fully informed decision about the benefits and harms of these drugs and whether and how to come off them if they so choose. ‘This is a brilliant book. It offers an incisive, clear and evidence based appraisal of psychiatric drugs, arriving at just the right time to counter the growing controversy and confusion in this area. I could not think of a more respected and credible guide to take us through this tricky terrain. This book should be compulsory reading for anyone working in mental health. I would also recommend it for anyone holding a more personal interest in the subject.’ – –Dr James Davies, Reader in Social Anthropology & Mental Health, University of Roehampton, and author of Cracked: why psychiatry is doing more harm than good. /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/24009201

Who Really Saved Freud From Himself? Andrew Nagorski talks to psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud 08/02/2022

Who Really Saved Freud From Himself? Andrew Nagorski talks to psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. Saving Freud The Rescuers Who Brought Him to Freedom By Andrew Nagorski served as Newsweek’s bureau chief in Hong Kong, Moscow, Rome, Bonn, Warsaw, and Berlin. He is the author of seven previous critically acclaimed books, including Hitlerland and The Nazi Hunters. He has also written for countless publications. Visit him at AndrewNagorski.com. A dramatic true story about Sigmund Freud’s last-minute escape to London following the German annexation of Austria and the group of friends who made it possible. In March 1938, German soldiers crossed the border into Austria and Hitler absorbed the country into the Third Reich. Anticipating these events, many Jews had fled Austria, but the most famous Austrian Jew remained in Vienna, where he had lived since early childhood. Sigmund Freud was eighty-one years old, ill with cancer, and still unconvinced that his life was in danger. But several prominent people close to Freud thought otherwise, and they began a coordinated effort to persuade Freud to leave his beloved Vienna and emigrate to England. The group included a Welsh physician, Napoleon’s great-grandniece, an American ambassador, Freud’s devoted youngest daughter Anna, and his personal doctor. Saving Freud is the story of how this remarkable collection of people finally succeeded in coaxing Freud, a man who seemingly knew the human mind better than anyone else, to emerge from his deep state of denial about the looming catastrophe, allowing them to extricate him and his family from Austria so that they could settle in London. There Freud would live out the remaining sixteen months of his life in freedom. This book is both an incisive new biography of Freud and a group biography of the extraordinary friends who saved Freud’s life. /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/23937627

Will Robots Choose What Drugs We Take in the Future? Psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud talks to a pioneer of AI drug discovery 07/20/2022

What Does Luxury Treatment in Psychiatry Look Like - Raj Persaud lifts the veil on how the wealthy get psychological help 07/20/2022

The Reluctant Carer talks to Dr Raj Persaud 07/07/2022

What does driving across the length of Africa in a 1950's Land Rover teach us about modern masculinity? 07/06/2022

What does driving across the length of Africa in a 1950's Land Rover teach us about modern masculinity? Trans-Africa Land-Rover 7 reviews by Current price£ 30.00 GBP Please note: £30 is the special price for non-trade customers who purchase this book directly from Porter Press. The story of Philip Kohler and his epic overland adventure by When Philip Kohler left his native South Australia in 1955, his sights were firmly set on the UK, yet his continued appetite for travel eventually led him to Northern Rhodesia – a move that would ultimately see him fulfil a deeply held desire to complete a solo crossing of the Sahara desert. With only his thoughts and the mechanical outpourings of his Series II Land-Rover for company, Kohler spent three years traversing his way across a remarkable continent that was in the midst of revolution and change – documenting his journey with his trusted Leica camera – before arriving back in London in the latter half of 1962. The adventure provided not just new experiences, but also shaped the rest of his professional life – his photographic ability, as well as a chance encounter with John Wayne, resulting in a hugely successful career in the international film industry. Lavishly illustrated with the beautiful photographs that he took along the way, and written by award-winning author , this new book from Porter Press International tells the story of Philip Kohler and his trans-African Land-Rover. A unique collection of photographs and documents that charts Kohler’s journey from Australia to Europe, including superb colour images of 1950s London. The epic story of Kohler’s overland adventure across Africa and Europe in his 1959 Series II Land-Rover – one that was undertaken without sponsorship or assistance. Illustrated with more than 300 photographs – most of which are in beautifully preserved colour – that Kohler took along the route, including a solo crossing of the Sahara desert. The full story of Kohler’s encounters with Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox while in Africa, which led to him working as location/production manager on nearly 40 films, including The Empire Strikes Back, Full Metal Jacket and numerous Bond movies. How this remarkable one-owner Land-Rover, which remained with the family until 2016, made an emotional return to the road after 20 years of inactivity. Specifications: ISBN: 978-1-913089-29-0 280 x 240mm, 144 pages Jacketed hardback Over 300 period photographs and original documents The Author Martin Port has owned and run classic cars for 30 years – from humble Morris Minor to AC Buckland and Porsche 912 – but his overwhelming passion is for classic Land-Rovers. Since buying his first as an antidote to Porsche ownership, he has travelled through Europe and North Africa at the wheel of various examples and has been the proud owner of the 1959 Trans-Africa Series II since 2016, using the 63-year-old example as his preferred daily mode of transport. Martin has been working as a graphic designer, writer and photographer since graduating from art college in 1993 and was Classic & Sports Car’s art editor for 16 years before embarking on a freelance career in 2019. He is author of , and, and designer of – all published by Porter Press International. He has written for Land Rover Monthly, Classic Land Rover, Classic & Sports Car, Octane and Magneto and is editor of the Series 2 Club magazine, Built 2 Last. /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/23651624

How To Cope When Your Life Changes Irrevocably, Dramatically and Completely But In An Instant 07/06/2022

How To Cope When Your Life Changes Irrevocably, Dramatically and Completely But In An Instant Vajrin Malin qualified as a doctor from Bristol Medical School in 1985. His postgraduate medical training was mostly in London, initially in Infectious Diseases. This took him to a lecturer position in Zimbabwe for two years where he had an interest in TB in HIV. He then undertook a PhD on TB vaccine design and finally completed his training including Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and General Medicine. He recently retired from 20 years as Respiratory Consultant in Bath. He's had a lifelong interest in training and education. In addition to his time in Africa, he was College Tutor for the Royal College of Physicians, Foundation Programme Director, Director of Medical Education in his hospital trust and Associate Postgraduate Dean for Health Education England (HEE) South West. He sat on the council for the NACT UK holding the office of Honorary Treasurer then Honorary Secretary. His HEE responsibilities included providing professional support for postgraduate trainees (PSW) and Supported Return to Training (SuppoRTT). He's taught in Uganda, he has been a NACT Eugene Meyer Travelling Fellow to North Carolina and written several documents for NACT. He was a keen triathlete competing in Ironman events, marathons and long distance cycle holidays with his wife and friends. He was ordained and given the name Vajrin (previously Adam) in the Western Buddhist Order (now Triratna) 16 years ago. Sadly, in February 2020, whilst undertaking a 3000km off-road cycle trip the length of New Zealand, he fell 20m down the gorge leaving him permanently paralysed from his chest down. However, he's had excellent rehabilitation, initially in Auckland and later Salisbury and Stoke Mandeville spinal units. After a stormy period in the first year of his spinal cord injury (four neurosurgical operations for a swollen spinal cord - SPAM). He is now back working one day a week for HEE seeing trainees and running a South West programme on supporting trainees who’ve had a break of 3 months or more. His interests include health and well-being, coaching (ILM5 trained), burnout, educational leadership and educational systems. Selection of articles Supporting Locally Employed Doctors (LEDs) across the UK: The non-consultant non-training doctors. NACT UK 2017 (currently being updated) Putting an end to Black Wednesday: improving patient safety by achieving comprehensive trust induction and mandatory training by day 1 - Vaccinia expression of mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85 and ESAT-6 secreted proteins - Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in Zimbabwe - Leprosy in reaction: a medical emergency. Lesson of the Week - /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/23651162

How to stop worrying - Gwendoline Smith talks to Dr Raj Persaud 05/17/2022

How To Deal With Money Stress - the seven dollar millionaire confides with the psychiatrist 05/04/2022

How To Deal With Money Stress - the seven dollar millionaire confides with the psychiatrist The Little Book of Zen Money: A Simple Path to Financial Peace of Mind ISBN: 978-1-119-85969-7 April 2022 304 Pages DESCRIPTION At last, a mindful book about money that anyone can appreciate and understand The Little Book of Zen Money: A Simple Path to Financial Peace of Mind delivers easy-to-follow steps for combining sensible saving strategies with mindfulness practices to achieving financial peace of mind. Finally, you can know how to fix your finances without feeling stressed out! In this book, you’ll find out that sound financial strategy is far more straightforward than the financial industry wants you to think. It reveals the path to mindful money simplicity, showing readers how to adopt behaviors that encourage responsible saving and spending. You’ll learn about: How to journal your spending and saving so you keep track of the money you have coming in and going out Easy mindfulness exercises, mantras, and meditations that keep you centered, rational, and calm when it comes to your money Simple explanations of the financial industry and how to invest responsibly that anyone can understand Perfect for anyone who doesn’t usually like books about money (or the complicated jargon they’re often filled with), The Little Book of Zen Money proves that you don’t need to be an expert, professional, or mathematician to get great financial advice. ABOUT THE AUTHOR THE SEVEN DOLLAR MILLIONAIRE is a group of financial literacy enthusiasts, who make learning about money accessible and engaging, and the author of Happy Ever After: Financial Freedom Isn’t a Fairy Tale. They were quoted in the Financial Times in November 2020 saying “No one thinks about being financially literate per se. But they do want to be financially secure, to not be in debt and misery”. Seven Dollar Millionaire Did you know that the smallest amount of money you need to save and invest (at a 7% return) to become a millionaire over your career is just seven dollars? No, nor did the Seven Dollar Millionaire until his daughter asked him if she could become a millionaire, and what was the smallest amount she could start with. That question turned into the book "Happy Ever After", his new nickname and a lifetime commitment to teaching the concepts that can help all of us achieve financial security. Having worked in the financial sector for more than 20 years, he has managed billion-dollar deals, invested hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, and won multiple awards - but helping people make the most of their circumstances, whether they are migrant workers or his own daughter, is worth so much more. You can find out more of the Seven Dollar Millionaire's secrets, at this page of his website https://www.sevendollarmillionaire.com/secrets/ and here is an example of one of the fairytales from Happy Ever After, along with its wonderful hand-drawn illustration by Jo Sanders: https://www.sevendollarmillionaire.com/2021/02/21/the-emperors-new-money-2/ /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/23010203

The Psychology of the Ukrainian Soldier - interview with a Psychologist who treats them 03/26/2022

Mental Health of Ukraine - A psychiatrist based there explains 03/20/2022

Can you achieve more Good Luck in your life? 02/21/2022

Can you achieve more Good Luck in your life? You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. CONNECT THE DOTS THE ART AND SCIENCE OF CREATING GOOD LUCK “A wise, exciting, and life-changing book” - Arianna Huffington Modern life can feel like an endless sequence of cancelled plans, last-minute meetings and delayed journeys. So how can we use unpredictability to our advantage? LSE and NYU academic Dr Christian Busch has spent a decade exploring how we can use uncertainty as a pathway to more joyful, purposeful and successful lives. In this book, he reveals the secrets behind the hidden force that rules the universe: serendipity. The book is based on cutting-edge research in the natural and social sciences, as well as hundreds of interviews including with leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from around the world who turned the unexpected into opportunity by seeing and connecting the dots. Anchored in a science-based framework and peppered with inspiring stories and hands-on exercises, it captures how all of us can cultivate serendipity and turn uncertainty into opportunity, joy, and sustained success. Dr. Christian Busch is an expert in entrepreneurship, social innovation, and purpose-driven business. He teaches at New York University (NYU) and at the London School of Economics (LSE), and directs the NYU Global Economy Program. He is a co-founder of Leaders on Purpose and the author of The Serendipity Mindset: The Art & Science of Creating Good Luck. Previously, he served as Inaugural Deputy Director at the LSE's Innovation Centre and co-founded the Sandbox Network, a community of young innovators. He is part of the World Economic Forum's Expert Forum, and has been named as 'top emerging management thinker' (Thinkers50), 'Top 99 Influencer' (Diplomatic Courier), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/22203668

What Can Grief Teach Us About Ourselves? 02/08/2022

What Can Grief Teach Us About Ourselves? You can also listen to this interview on a free app on iTunes and Google Play Store entitled 'Raj Persaud in conversation', which includes a lot of free information on the latest research findings in psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience and mental health, plus interviews with top experts from around the world. Download it free from these links. Don't forget to check out the bonus content button on the app. Grief and Grieving a guide for the confused Grief: A Philosophical Guide published by Princeton University Press An engaging and illuminating exploration of grief—and why, despite its intense pain, it can also help us grow Experiencing grief at the death of a person we love or who matters to us—as universal as it is painful—is central to the human condition. Surprisingly, however, philosophers have rarely examined grief in any depth. In Grief, Michael Cholbi presents a groundbreaking philosophical exploration of this complex emotional event, offering valuable new insights about what grief is, whom we grieve, and how grief can ultimately lead us to a richer self-understanding and a fuller realization of our humanity. Drawing on psychology, social science, and literature as well as philosophy, Cholbi explains that we grieve for the loss of those in whom our identities are invested, including people we don’t know personally but cherish anyway, such as public figures. Their deaths not only deprive us of worthwhile experiences; they also disrupt our commitments and values. Yet grief is something we should embrace rather than avoid, an important part of a good and meaningful life. The key to understanding this paradox, Cholbi says, is that grief offers us a unique and powerful opportunity to grow in self-knowledge by fashioning a new identity. Although grief can be tumultuous and disorienting, it also reflects our distinctly human capacity to rationally adapt as the relationships we depend on evolve. An original account of how grieving works and why it is so important, Grief shows how the pain of this experience gives us a chance to deepen our relationships with others and ourselves. Michael Cholbi is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. He has published widely in ethical theory, practical ethics, and the philosophy of death and dying. His books include Suicide: The Philosophical Dimensions (Broadview, 2011), Understanding Kant’s Ethics (Cambridge University Press, 2016), and Grief: A Philosophical Guide (Princeton University Press, expected 2021). He is the editor of several scholarly collections, including Immortality and the Philosophy of Death (Rowman and Littlefield, 2015); Procreation, Parenthood, and Educational Rights (Routledge, 2017); The Future of Work, Technology, and Basic Income (Routledge, 2019); and The Movement for Black Lives: Philosophical Perspectives (Oxford University Press, 2020). He is the the co-editor of the textbook Exploring the Philosophy of Death and Dying: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives (Routledge, forthcoming 2020). His work has also appeared in a number of scholarly journals, including Ethics, Mind, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, and Oxford Studies in Normative Ethics. In recent years, he has been an acdemic visitor at Australian National University, the University of Turku (Finland), and the Hastings Center - Bioethics Research Insitute. His current research interests are Kantian ethics, particularly respect for persons, equality, and rational agency death and dying, including suicide and assisted dying, immortality, and grief ethics of work and labor paternalism procreative and parental ethics Qualifications Ph.D, University of Virginia, 1999 [President's Fellow and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellow] Responsibilities & affiliations Founder, International Association for the Philosophy of Death and Dying Editorial board, Journal of Applied Philosophy Board of advisors, Social Theory and Practice Area editor (Ethics), Ergo International advisory board, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Former editor, Teaching Philosophy Multiple roles within the American Philosophical Association, including Divisional Executive Committe Member, the Committe on Teaching Philosophy, and the Committee on Public Philosophy /episode/index/show/rajpersaud/id/22065875

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Raj Persaud in conversation - the podcasts

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