Susannah Cahalan: The Acid Queen takes listeners deep into the extraordinary story of journalist and author Susannah Cahalan, whose bestselling memoir Brain on Fire documented her battle with a rare autoimmune disease that was misdiagnosed as psychosis. She went on to write The Great Pretender, an investigation into the blurred lines between sanity and madness and the legacy of 1970s psychiatric experiments.

In this episode, Cahalan turns to her latest book, The Acid Queen, a bold exploration of counterculture, experimentation, and the shifting frontiers of psychiatry. With sharp insight and fearless curiosity, she examines how society defines mental illness, who gets to draw those boundaries, and the profound consequences for people’s lives.

This episode, The Acid Queen, originally aired on Radio Reverb, Brighton’s community radio station.

https://www.susannahcahalan.com/

What separates creatures who feel from those who don't? Where exactly does consciousness begin, and what responsibilities do we have toward beings capable of suffering?

In this episode, we speak to Professor Jonathan Birch, director of the Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience at the London School of Economics. Through groundbreaking research, Birch reveals surprising evidence that insects—creatures with brains smaller than pinheads—demonstrate behaviors suggesting they experience pleasure and play. Bees roll balls without reward, seemingly for fun, while fruit flies repeatedly ride miniature carousels purely for enjoyment.

This conversation ventures into unexpected territory, from the policy implications of recognizing sentience in octopuses and crabs to the heartbreaking ethical dilemmas surrounding human patients with brain injuries. Birch shares his work leading a government review that extended legal protection to invertebrates previously excluded from animal welfare laws, while questioning medical practices that make stark distinctions between conscious and unconscious states when evidence suggests a more complex reality.

Perhaps most provocative is the exploration of artificial intelligence and consciousness. Are we creating systems that merely mimic sentience perfectly, or could they develop genuine experiences? As Birch explains, we might have more in common with a bee than with even the most sophisticated AI—despite the latter's ability to converse fluently.

Throughout this fascinating discussion, one principle emerges consistently: when uncertainty exists about consciousness, we should err on the side of caution. This precautionary approach has profound implications for how we farm, conduct research, practice medicine, and develop technology. Join us for a mind-expanding journey that will transform how you see the creatures sharing our world—and perhaps even what it means to be conscious.

It All Makes Sense Now: ADHD Coach Meredith Carder

Ever wondered why certain things have always felt harder — or just different — for you or someone you love? In this illuminating episode, we sit down with ADHD coach Meredith Carder to unpack the realities of living with ADHD and what it actually means in day-to-day life.

From late diagnoses and misunderstood behaviours to self-compassion and neurodivergent strengths, Meredith brings insight, humour, and years of lived and professional experience to the conversation. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone with ADHD, or just curious — this episode is full of lightbulb moments.

📻 Broadcast on RadioReverb 97.2FM

https://meredithcarder.com/