Behind the Stigma

About Behind the Stigma

Hosted and produced by Seiara Imanova, a PhD student from University of Birmingham, Behind the Stigma is a pioneering podcast that bridges the gap between the general public and the fields of Psychology, Psychiatry and Mental Health. Each episode offers a deep dive into cutting-edge research, featuring conversations with leading experts and top researchers in the field. Take a listen, as we uncover the science, challenge misconceptions, and bridge the crucial gap between academia and the everyday.

Publisher

Behind the Stigma

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Sept 2021

Latest episode

28 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

99 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Is it Morally Wrong to Keep Pets with Dr. Angie Pepper

   Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Angie Pepper, moral and political philosopher at the University of Roehampton, whose research focuses on what we owe to other animals. We move past the usual question of whether an individual pet is well cared for and look at pet keeping as an institution: the norms and roles that give humans near-total control over companion animals. We discuss why Angie argues this control can't be justified even in loving homes, how animals can express as...

2. 

   23 Aug 2026

   How the brain predicts reality with Professor Karl Friston

   Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, I'm joined by Professor Karl Friston, theoretical neuroscientist at UCL, and one of the most cited neuroscientists in the world. Friston is best known for the free energy principle, a framework that has reshaped how we understand the brain as a prediction machine. We discuss what the free energy principle actually means, how precision-weighting might help explain conditions like schizophrenia, anxiety and depression, and why trauma may be better unders...

3. 

   19 Jul 2026

   The Conscious Universe: Exploring Panpsychism with Professor Philip Goff

   Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Professor Philip Goff, philosopher and professor at Durham University, explores the nature of consciousness, panpsychism, and the profound insights from his recent 5-MeO-DMT journey. We discuss some of his ideas, and how panpsychism challenges our understanding of reality and the universe. About Philip Goff Professor Goff is a British author, panpsychist philosopher, and professor at Durham University whose research focuses on philosophy of mind and conscious...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

6,746

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

28

Social presence

91

YouTube

74

Engagement

76

Contact Behind the Stigma

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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