The Incomplete Shambles Podcast

The Cosmic Shambles Network

Your feed for all the random podcast episodes from The Cosmic Shambles Network, independent creators of content for the curious. Discussions about all things science and culture usually helmed by Robin Ince and Professor Helen Czerski. From science panels at festivals, to topical discussions and even the occasional resurrection of the hit series Book Shambles, this your new podcast home for Shambles content. Shambles teams up with some of the biggest and best names in science and entertainment, and dives into a Universe of interesting things, with interesting people, in our uniquely Shambolic style. Our approach has always been one of fun and accessibility. Big ideas should be exciting, not intimidating.

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October 12 · 1 hr 2 min
Planets Beyond Our Own - Latitude 2026
There are over 6000 confirmed exoplanets and billions more predicted in just our Milky Way galaxy alone. So what types of planets are these, how do we detect them, how are they different from those in our solar system and could any harbour life? Three astrophysicists sit down to discuss it all. Dr Larissa Palethorpe, Dr Hannah Wakeford and Dr Matt Bothwell to be precise. This panel was recorded on The Apollo stage in The Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture at the 2026 Latitude Festiv
October 1 · 56 min
Beyond the LHC - The Future of Particle Physics - Latitude 2026
The Large Hadron Collider at CERN is nearing the end of its life cycle after incredible success highlighted by the discovery of the Higgs Boson. So what’s next? What’s the next big mystery in particle physics that a bigger, more powerful collider could help discover? Join Prof Jon Butterworth, one of the team at ATLAS involved in the discovery of the Higgs and Dr Clara Nellist who is continuing to explore Dark Matter at CERN as they chat to Prof Helen Czerski. This panel was recorded on The Ap
September 22 · 1 hr 12 min
Tackling the Rise of Health Misinformation feat. Alanna Smith and Suzi Gage
In today's age of social media algorithms and AI finding accurate and reliable health information online can feel like a losing battle. Someone who has recently published a masters research paper on this is Alanna Smith. Not just a Stanford psychology graduate, but also one of the top basketball players on the planet. Our producer Trent was lucky to sit down with the WNBA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year for a rare interview about her journey into psychology alongside her professional bas
September 8 · 1 hr 2 min
20 Years of Scientific Discovery - Latitude 2026
We opened up Latitude 2026 on the Thursday night and as Latitude celebrated its twentieth festival, and Shambles celebrated its twentieth year at Latitude, we took a look back at some of the biggest scientific discoveries of that time. Robin Ince is joined by physicist and oceanographer Prof Helen Helen Czerski, geneticist Prof Turi King, particle physicist Dr Clara Nellist and geologist Prof Chris Jackson. They chat about the discovery of the Higgs, identifying Richard III in a carpark, clim
August 19 · 1 hr 6 min
Experts Review 'The Great ADHD Myth?'
Now that Channel 4's 'documentary' has aired we've got our panel of experts back to discuss if the show was better or worse than expected. Hint: It's not the first one. 'The Great ADHD Myth?' is reviewed from a scientific point of view in this podcast by Professor Gina Rippon, Dr Camilla Pang, Dr Sarah Turner and Dr Dean Burnett chatting to Robin Ince. Support the work of Cosmic Shambles at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
August 14 · 1 hr 1 min
Some Questions for Channel 4 and its ADHD Documentary
Channel 4 recently announced a new documentary titled 'The Great ADHD Myth?'. The announcement came with a press release that, to put it mildly, raised some questions. So we put together a panel of experts to talk about the damage already done by this apparently agenda led documentary before it's even been broadcast. While the documentary claims to be 'just asking questions', our panel has some pointed questions for the filmmakers. Presented by Robin Ince and joined by Professor Gina Rippon, Dr
August 12 · 1 hr 3 min
Robin and Josie's Book Shambles with Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
Comedians and Bibliophiles Robin and Josie are back together for a Book Shambles live special with award winning musician and author Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason. Her latest book, To Be Young, Gifted and Black has just been released in paperback and it focuses on what it means – and how it feels – to grow up as a Black artist in today’s turbulent times. This was recorded live at the Latitude Festival 2026, in the Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture. Support us at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
August 7 · 1 hr 1 min
Batteries Maybe Included? - Latitude 2026
We really need to stop burning so much stuff. Sustainable energy needs to drive our future and batteries are going to play a big part in that. The advancement of battery technology has come a long way but there are still issues that need solving. To talk about all things lithium, sodium and a rechargeable future are Everything Electric founder Robert Llewellyn, material chemist and battery researcher Prof Saiful Islam and physicist Prof Helen Czerski. This panel was recorded on The Apollo stag
Oct 27, 2025 · 53 min
Climate Change at Sea - Latitude 2025
The ocean is an all too often overlooked part of our natural world, yet it is the blue engine that drives everything. And it is changing in many ways, at an alarming rate. Rising sea levels, warming oceans, increased acidification, plastic pollution... Physicist and oceanographer Dr Helen Czerski will discuss this with oceanographer Professor David Ho and geologist Professor Chris Jackson, looking at what we can do, and why or why not there's reason to be hopeful. Recorded in The Cosmic Shamble
Oct 3, 2025 · 42 min
Weirdly Normal - The Science of Neurodiversity - Live from Latitude
What if being a bit weird is actually entirely normal? What if sharing our internal struggles wasn't a sign of weakness, but strength? Let some experts help you wade through the 'neurotrash' to talk about the science of neurodiversity. Gina Rippon is a Professor of Cognitive NeuroImaging and author of The Gendered Brain and The Lost Girls of Autism. Dr Camilla Pang is the Royal Society Book Prize winning author of Explaining Humans and Perfectly Weird. They join comedian and author of Normally W
Sep 19, 2025 · 51 min
We're Going On a Dark Matter Hunt - Live from Latitude
Recorded live at Latitude 2025, join Dr Clara Nellist of CERN, and two astrophysicists, Sky at Night co-host Dr Maggie Aderin-Pock and Sky at Night regular Dr Jen Gupta alongside Dr Helen Czerski to discuss what we know about Dark Matter, and how we're trying to actually find it. Support the show at patreon.com/cosmicshambles and watch the video version of this panel on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/cosmicshambles
Aug 15, 2025 · 54 min
Trust Me, I'am an AI - Live from Latitude
AI is in the news everywhere you look at the moment. But amongst all of the sensationalist headlines, what’s really going on, and what should we actually be worried about when it comes to AI? Prof Kevin Fong recently took a look at medicine in AI for a BBC series and Elizabeth Black is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at King’s College. They join Dr Suze Kundu to chat about it all. Recorded in The Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture at the 2025 Latitude Festival. Support us at
Oct 13, 2022 · 57 min
Live from Latitude - Helen Czerski and Kevin Fong
Recorded LIVE at the 2022 Latitude Festival, Dr Helen Czerski and Prof Kevin Fong sit down to talk about the merits of space travel in a time where the Earth is gripped by a pandemic and climate change. Should we still be focussing on space travel? What can it teach us that helps with life on Earth? And why are we so enamoured with space, when the oceans are still so ignored? Support the podcast and network at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Mar 21, 2022 · 41 min
Can Motorsport Science Save the World?
Dr Kit Champman is a life long motorsport fan and as a scientist, he previously worked with Virgin Racing's Formula E team on the chemistry and material science of their cars. Many innovations, first developed for racing, have been incorporated into everyday life across fields of healthcare, fluid dynamics, climate and, obviously, road cars. His latest book is, Racing Green, and looks into these developments and research, and it's out now. If you’d like to directly support what we do at the Cos
Jan 23, 2022 · 49 min
Tackling COVID in Africa with Two Wheels for Life
The mantra of 'We're not vaccinated against COVID until the whole world is vaccinated' is now more prevalent than ever. At last year's British MotoGP round at Silverstone Robin Ince went along to meet up with Andrea Coleman and 13 time Grand Prix winner Randy Mamola, founders of the charity Two Wheels for Life. The charity uses motorcycles to deliver healthcare, and now, COVID vaccines to hard to reach rural communities in Africa. Robin, Andrea and Randy chat about their work during the pandemic
Oct 31, 2021 · 1 hr 1 min
The Year in Astronomy with Chris Lintott - Live at the Norwich Science Festival
Recorded live at the 2021 Norwich Science Festival, Dr Helen Czerski is joined by Chris Lintott, co-host of The Sky at Night and Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford to talk about the year in astronomy so far. They chat about the discovery of new planets, the Drake equation, missions to Mars and whether Elon Musk is a force for good... Support the show and get all sorts of bonus goodies at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Oct 31, 2021 · 36 min
Beneath the Night with Stuart Clark
Dr Stuart Clark is a science writer and journalist with a PhD in astrophysics. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and his latest book, Beneath the Night: How the Stars Have Shaped the History of Humankind is out now in paperback. Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity at cosmicshambles.com/shop Support The Cosmic Shambles Network at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Oct 17, 2021 · 58 min
The Theory of Everything with Michio Kaku
>Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist, futurist, and popular science author and speaker around the world. He is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the City College of New York and his latest book The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything has just been released. Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity at cosmicshambles.com/shop Support The Cosmic Shambles Network at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Oct 10, 2021 · 33 min
How to Build and Apple Pie From Scratch with Harry Cliff
Harry Cliff is a particle physicist at the University of Cambridge working on the LHCb experiment at CERN. He chats to Robin Ince about his new book, How to Make an Apple Pie from Scratch, an exhilarating search for the most basic building blocks of our universe, and the dramatic quest to unlock their cosmic origins. If you’d like to directly support what we do at the Cosmic Shambles Network visit patreon.com/cosmicshambles Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importance
Oct 3, 2021 · 37 min
The Social Instinct with Prof Nichola Raihani
Nichola Raihani is a Professor of Evolution and Behaviour at UCL. Her research focuses on the evolution of cooperation in nature. Her first book, The Social Instinct, is out now. She joined Robin Ince to talk about it. Support the podcast and Shambles in general by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmichshambles Order Nichola's book The Social Instinct : How Cooperation Shaped the World via Hive or your favourite local bookshop. Pre-Order signed and dedicated copies of Robin's new book The Importan

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