Altered State’s mission is to foster intelligent debate and stimulate thought through live talks and podcasts. We explore politics, pop culture, contemporary lifestyles, and a green future. We strive to inspire forward-thinking ideas and to cultivate a community for the curious and open-minded.
For more Altered State content visit alteredstate.org.uk
The Altered State - Pussy Riot and Led By Donkeys — The Art of Direct Action
This podcast is from our event on 1st December, when two activist groups with huge followings shared the stage for the first time at St George's, Bristol. Masha Alyokhina and Olga Borisova of Pussy Riot were joined by Ben Stewart, James Sadri and Oliver Knowles of Led by Donkeys, in a discussion chaired by author and journalist Oliver Bullough.
They explored how, in very different political systems, they have both used satire, performance and creative disruption to ridicule the powerful and hold them to account.
Introduction as ever from Al Farquhar.
Music is Ilashe Beach courtesy of Tony Njoku and PRAH recordings.
17 Dec 2025
The Altered State - Beneath the Skin — an intimate look at our bodies
Beneath the Skin — an intimate look at our bodies was our talk on October 30th. We were joined by writer, surgeon and mother of 4 Gabriel Weston and Gene Feder Professor of Primary Care at the University of Bristol.
We delved beneath the surface with these two remarkable doctors into their experiences, the human body and biases that have shaped medicine. As we thoroughly enjoyed the body of the talk, we have left it untouched with host from the night Eliz Mizon guiding us through.
Introduction as ever from Al Farquhar.
Music is Ilashe Beach courtesy of Tony Njoku and PRAH recordings.
21 Oct 2025
The Altered State — Sound Waves — Changing the soundtrack of the ocean
Sound Waves - Changing the Soundtrack of the Ocean was our talk held on September 11th in collaboration with Futures (a UKRI funded initiative)
Steve Simpson - Professor of Marine Biology & Global Change at the University of Bristol - joined us to talk about his work, in particular on coral reefs. He injected some optimism into what at first sight might be a sorry outlook with the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
Altered State host Al Farquhar guides us through. The host on the night was Miranda Krestovnikoff.
Music courtesy of Tony Njoku and PRAH Recordings
9 Sept 2025
The Altered State — Trump and Vance — With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies? Episode 2
This is part 2 of our podcasts from our talk “Trump and Vance — With Friends Like These Who Needs Enemies”.
Host Colin Gavaghan, Professor of Digital Futures at the University of Bristol, fielded questions from our audience for our panel and asked them for their Toolbox suggestions.
Our panel featured General Sir Tim Radford, former Deputy Supreme Commander NATO Europe, Ana Juncos Garcia, Professor of European Politics at the University of Bristol and Richard Graham, former MP and diplomat who chaired the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and was a member of the Joint Committee for National Security.
Introduction as ever from Al Farquhar and music courtesy of Tony Njoku and PRAH Recordings
14 Aug 2025
The Altered State - Trump and Vance - With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies ? Episode 1
First part of audio from the Altered State talk on June 24th. Talk host Colin Gavaghan of the University of Bristol was joined by General Sir Tim Radford, former Deputy Supreme Commander of Nato Europe, Ana Juncos Garcia, Professor of European Politics at Bristol University, who specialises in defence and security, and Richard Graham, a former diplomat and MP who has sat on the Parliamentary Committees for National Security and promotes democracy around the world.
We discussed the current state of security arrangements in Europe given the impending NATO summit the following day, and American disengagement.
Introduction from our own Al Farquhar and music courtesy of Tony Njoku and PRAH Recording
Questions from the audience to follow in episode 2
20 Jun 2025
The Altered State - Gut Rot - Are UPF's the New Tobacco
Al Farquhar guides Charlie Bigham, Heloise Balme, and Will Shotton as they dissect ultra-processed foods, exploring fermentation, food deserts, and the crucial role of fiber in this interview episode.
13 May 2025
The Altered State - Beware the Ides of Musk. Time to put the brakes on Elon?
Highlights from our BEWARE THE IDES OF MUSK talk that was held on 27th March. Professor Colin Gavaghan of Bristol University, Green councillor Cara Lavan and Dr Marcus Gilroy-Ware of SOAS discussed whether Elon Musk was containable and if so, what the possibilities are to do so. The host on the evening was Rudy Millard.
Podcast host is Al Farquhar
Music courtesy of Tony Njoku / PRAH Recordings
25 Mar 2025
The Altered State - Health and Happiness: The Magic Properties of Chocolate and Mushrooms
Highlights from our Health and Happiness talk on 6th Feb. Mushrooms and chocolate are great antidotes to the February blues according to Tom Baxter, founder of the Bristol Fungarium, and Joe McDonnell, Director of local chocolate maker, Radek's. Tom came to mushrooms later in life after chasing down fraud in Siberia. Joe told us about the chocolate making process, and the exotic lucuma flower he uses. Tom entertained us with fungi tales and magical compounds.
Podcast host Al Farquhar guides us through.
16 Jan 2025
The Altered State – A Life Less Ordinary: Tales of Inner Strength and Resilience
Highlights from the brilliant A LIFE LESS ORDINARY talk on Nov 19. Hearing 3 differing stories of bravery and compassion, we learnt to never underestimate the human spirit. Our panel comprised of Douglas Robertson, who survived 38 days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean, war zone medic for Médicins Sans Frontières, Dr. Rachael Craven, and endurance athlete and mental health advocate, Dan Beaumont. They were hosted by author Polly Morland.
Podcast host is Al Farquhar.
28 Nov 2024
The Altered State - The Grass Isn't Always Greener: Greenwashing versus Credible Climate Action
Natalie Fee, Jessica Ferrow, and Veronica Wignall discuss the urgent need for credible climate action, offering practical ways to combat greenwashing and make a positive impact at home and in the workplace.
10 Oct 2024
The Altered State- The Truth Isn't Out There: The Era of Conspiracy Theory
For our 6th event on Sept 11th, we talked with ex-conspiracist Brent Lee, senior investigative reporter Sian Norris from openDemocracy and Dr. Alessandro Miani from Bristol University's School of Psychological Science about what powers conspiracy theories and how they affect our understanding of the truth.
Podcast host Al Farquhar guides us through the highlights.
12 Jul 2024
The Altered State - Democracy in Crisis in the Age of Putin and Trump: Lessons from Russia with P*ssy Riot
For our 5th event on Jun 26th we talked with Masha Alyokhina & Olga Borisova of the anti-Putin feminist art collective P*ssy Riot about what happens to democracy when there’s no opposition, no free media and a servile judiciary. Podcast host Al Farquhar guides us through the highlights.
15 May 2024
The Altered State - "AI - IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT"
On April 24th, our host Rudy Millard was joined by Nigel Toon, CEO of AI company Graphcore, speculative fiction author Heather Child, and Colin Gavaghan, Professor of Digital Futures at the University of Bristol, to discuss AI.
Podcast host Al Farquhar guides us through the highlights.
8 Apr 2024
The Altered State - Wye oh Why
On 6th Feb Panellists Charlotte Hitchmough of The Rivers Trust, Will McBain of ARUP and Simon Evans of the Rivers Wye and Usk Foundation joined our host Rudy Millard at the Hen and Chicken in Southville.
The panel discussed the national shame that is the state of Britain’s rivers, who and what is to blame for this literal sh*tshow and how we can sort it out.
Podcast host Al Dixon guides us through the highlights.
Who has been a guest on Altered State - WE NEED TO TALK
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Charlie Bigham
Heloise Balme
Will Shotton
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