| Part 1: Introduction |
This part sets the scene and manages expectations. It introduces attention to the mind and mindset. There’s a warning about multi-tasking and treadmills.
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Tim Knowlson |
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| Part 2: How do we even define happiness? Stories of the mind and the secret director |
Tim tries to define happiness and fails badly doing so. Sometimes definitions are confusing and need to be treated flexibly. Happiness as a label might not be so useful and is very contextual. |
Tim Knowlson |
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| Part 3: I’m a tourist in my own life |
We think about moving from spectator to actor in our own lives, away from autopilot using values and goals. |
Tim Knowlson |
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| Part 4: The Matryoshka Doll - is it really happiness or something else? |
Tim tries to unpack the word happiness using the metaphor of the Matryoshka Doll, and wonders how it connects to the state of our world and the transience of experience. |
Tim Knowlson |
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| Part 5: Why be happy when you can be real? |
Here we pull everything together. Living fully and meaningfully is greater than happiness. At what cost do we chase and try to own happiness?
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Tim Knowlson |
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| Were Padmasambhava and Vimalamitra de facto Sarvadharmāpratiṣṭhānavādins? |
Dorji Wangchuk discerns underlying similarities in the philosophical views of Padmasambhava, Vimalamita, and Rong-zom-pa. |
Dorji Wangchuk, Cathy Cantwell, Robert Mayer |
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| Beyond Weird: One Hundred Years of Quantum Mechanics |
In this talk, Philip Ball explains how new ideas might help reconcile quantum mechanics with general relativity. |
Marcus du Sautoy |
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| Storytelling, a powerful tool, but does it help lead to behaviour change? |
Dr Becky McCall examines the potential of digital storytelling as part of the behavioural science framework. |
Becky McCall |
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| How welcoming are UK cities for newcomers? |
Should we be optimistic about the future of welcoming in UK cities? In this feature episode, we navigate the policies, practices and perseverance essential to strengthen migrant welcoming and inclusion in the UK. |
Jacqui Broadhead, Rob McNeil, Delphine Boagey |
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| Prequels and Sequels - Theresa Specht |
A look at prequels and sequels in transmedia fantasy - Theresa Specht |
Theresa Specht |
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| Manga - Minjie Su |
A look at Manga, history, and fantasy Manga stories - MInjie Su |
Minjie Su |
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| Games (short talk) - Stuart Lee |
Fantasy gaming - Stuart Lee |
Stuart Lee |
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| Game of Thrones - Carolyne Larrington |
The impact of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones and the TV series - Carolyne Larrington |
Carolyne Larrington |
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| Arresting Strangeness and Fan Fiction (short talk) - Megan Laybourn |
Fan fiction and fantasy literature - Megan Laybourn |
Megan Laybourn |
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| Interview with Samantha Shannon |
Interview with Samantha Shannon |
Samantha Shannon |
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| Publishing Fantasy Panel - Bloomsbury Publishing Team |
A panel discussion, with introduction by Sir Nigel Newton (founder of Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd) |
Nigel Newton, Zoe Gilbert, Vicky Leech Mateos, Lucy Strong, Rebecca McNally |
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| Jinn, Faith, and Oral Folklore (short talk) - Sarah Mughal Rana |
A look at non-western fantasy literature and influences by the writer Sarah Mughal Rana. |
Sarah Mughal Rana |
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| After Tolkien (short talk) - Felix Taylor |
Susan Cooper, Diana Wynne Jones, and Alan Garner by Felix Taylor |
Felix Taylor |
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| J. R. R. Tolkien - Stuart Lee |
Applying the DISCWORLD framework to Tolkien - Stuart Lee |
Stuart Lee |
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| Elly Leavens, Let's talk e-cigarettes, November 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Elly Leavens, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA. |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Elly Leavens |
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| Norse Myths and E. R. Eddison (short talk) - Grace Khuri |
A look at he influences of Norse Myths on E. R. Addison - Grace Khuri |
Grace Khuri |
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| Weird Fiction (short talk) - Felix Taylor |
An introduction to weird fiction and the key writers - Felix Taylor |
Felix Taylor |
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| C. S. Lewis and the Origins of Narnia - Simon Horobin |
An introduction to C. S. Lewis and his Narnia novels - Simon Horobin |
Simon Horobin |
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| The Oxford School of Fantasy (short talk) - Carolyne Larrington |
A short exploration of the 'Oxford School' of fantasy - Carolyne Larrington |
Carolyne Larrington |
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| 19th Century Fantasy, Morris and Macdonald - Katie Harling-Lee |
The influences and writings of William Morris and George MacDonald - Katie Harling-Lee |
Katie Harling-Lee |
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| Fairy Tale and Fantasy - Ros Ballaster |
The influences and history of fairy and folk tales - Rod Ballaster |
Ros Ballaster |
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| Modern Re-enchantment and the Medieval Fantastic - Bond West |
Medieval literature and the influences on modern fantasy literature |
Bond West |
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| Arthurian Literature (short talk) - Gabriel Schenk |
Arthurian influences on fantasy literature especially T. H. White - Gabriel Schenk |
Gabriel Schenk |
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| Myths and Legends (short talk) - Carolyne Larrington |
The early history of fantasy - myths and legends - by Carolyne Larrington |
Carolyne Larrington |
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| Classics and Fantasy - Beppe Pezzini |
An exploration of the use of classical literature in Tolkien by Beppe Pezzini |
Giuseppe Pezzini |
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| Critical Approaches to Fantasy (short talk) - Stuart Lee |
A short-talk (10 minutes) on critical approaches to fantasy using a DISCWORLD framework by Stuart Lee |
Stuart Lee |
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| Introduction to Fantasy - Adam Roberts |
Introduction to the genre and history of fantasy Literature by Adam Roberts. |
Adam Roberts |
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| SU Elections special: Oxford Shapes the world, you can shape Oxford |
SU Presidents for Undergraduates, welfare equity and inclusion and Communities and Common Rooms share their experiences of being an SU President, the opportunities the roles offer and their thoughts on the importance of student re |
Seun Sowunmi, Alisa Brown, Shermar Pryce |
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| Padmasambhava and Nubchen Sangye Yeshe: Legend, Lineage, Legacy |
Dylan Esler explores the nexus of links—both legendary and historical—that connect Nubchen Sangye Yeshe with Padmasambhava. |
Dylan Esler, Robert Mayer |
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| The spells attributed to Padmasambhava in the Ba ri be'u 'bum |
Sam van Schaik examines the magic spells attributed to Padmasambhava in a grimoire compiled by Bari Lotsawa (1040-1112). |
Sam van Schaik, Robert Mayer |
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| Padmasambhava and the Copper-Colored Mountain |
Ben Bogin sketches a cultural history of Padmasambhava's 'Copper-Colored Mountain'. |
Benjamin Bogin, Robert Mayer |
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| 4: Living in Zombie Time – Martin O’Brien |
What is it like to live in Zombie Time? Performance artist Martin O’Brien opens the conversation on living beyond predicted life expectancy in what he calls ‘zombie time’. |
Patricia Kingori, Martin O’Brien |
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| Oxford Careers Service: pathways and possibilities |
A conversation with Careers Service Director Jonathan Black on careers support at Oxford, employability, AI, internships, undergraduate and postgraduate support, international students, Oxford’s alumni network and the evolving fut |
Wantoe T. Wantoe, Jonathan Black |
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| The temple to Poseidon in the Portus Magnus of Alexandria |
Franck Goddio presents his research on the remains of a large religious complex in the Portus Magnus of Alexandria. |
Franck Goddio, Damian Robinson |
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| 3: Does Time Exist – Felix Flicker |
Does time exist? Theoretical physicist Felix Flicker from the University of Bristol explores whether time exists and living after the end of the universe. |
Patricia Kingori, Felix Flicker |
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| Justin Strickland, Let’s talk e-cigarettes, October 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Justin Strickland, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Justin Strickland |
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| Advances in Garbled Circuits |
MT25 Strachey Lecture - Professor Rafail Ostrovsky: Advances in Garbled Circuits |
Rafail Ostrovsky |
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| 2: The Immortal Jellyfish – Miranda Lowe |
The Jellyfish that refuse to die. MIRANDA LOWE CBE, a principal curator in the Department of Life Sciences at the NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM in LONDON, introduces us to the extraordinary world of the immortal jellyfish. |
Patricia Kingori, Miranda Lowe |
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| 1: Introduction – Patricia Kingori |
Who decides when it’s over? In this episode of the podcast series After the End, Professor Patricia Kingori introduces the project and sets the stage for what’s to come. |
Patricia Kingori |
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| Beyond the Headlines: Oxford, EDI, and What Belonging Really Means |
In this episode, SU President for Welfare, Equity and Inclusion, Alisa Brown, speaks with Oxford’s Chief Diversity Officer, Professor Tim Soutphommasane, about belonging, access, free expression, and how EDI is shaping the future |
Alisa Brown, Tim Soutphommasane |
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| Pedal Power: Open City and The Bike Project |
Community, refugees, and urban life: what’s cycling got to do with it? We explore refugee women’s experiences in London through the ESRC Open City initiative and a participatory film with The Bike Project. |
Michael Keith, Eda Yazici, Delphine Boagey, Jacqui Broadhead |
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| The Power of Opportunity with Oxford’s Vice Chancellor, Oxford’s Future Through Student Eyes |
In this inaugural episode, SU President for Postgraduates, Wantoe T. Wantoe speaks with Vice Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey about Oxford’s global leadership, student opportunity, and how today’s students can shape the Universit |
Irene Tracey, Wantoe T. Wantoe |
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| German in the World |
Natasha A. Kelly speaking about Black German identity and culture to Dr Kirstin Gwyer for ‘German in the World’ |
Bernhard Malkmus, Kirstin Gwyer, Natasha Kelly |
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| Ryan Courtney, Let’s talk e-cigarettes, September 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Ryan Courtney from the University of New South Wales, Australia. |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Ryan Courtney |
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| Elias Klemperer, Let's talk e-cigarettes, July 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Elias Klemperer from the University of Vermont, USA. |
Elias Klemperer, Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson |
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| Bitter Carrots: A Restrictive Migration Agenda |
Who is the anti-migration agenda actually serving, and what are the alternatives? We welcome experts from the six-year-long MIGNEX project, which gathered a range of perspectives to explore questions of migration and global develo |
Jessica Hagen-Zanker, Leander Kandilige, Carlos Vargas Silva, Delphine Boagey |
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| Robo-dogs and The Rise of Crimmigration |
In a world obsessed with AI, what are robo-dogs and how are they deployed at border control? With the rise of “crimmigration” across the world, the lines between migration management and criminal law are becoming blurred. |
Petra Molnar, Peter Walsh, Jacqui Broadhead, Rob McNeil, Delphine Boagey |
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| Tripartite Lineages and Cremation Ground Revelations: Crossovers Between Early rDzogs chen and Kaula Śaivism |
Paul Thomas presents evidence that Indian Tantric Śaivism exerted a direct influence on Tibetan Dzogchen in the 11th and 12th centuries. |
Paul Thomas, Robert Mayer |
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| Lauren McMillan, Let's talk e-cigarettes, June 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson interview Lauren McMillan, University of Stirling about her project evaluating the effectiveness of an e-cigarette intervention for smoking cessation at centres for people experiencing or at |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Lauren McMillan |
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| O rgyan Tshe dpag med traditions: Glimpse of an Ocean |
Cathy Cantwell traces the tradition of Padmasambhava in the form of Amitāyus from Guru Chowang in the 13th century. |
Cathy Cantwell, Robert Mayer |
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| Mapping Missionary Work: Migrant Youth and Religious Movements in Northeast India |
What does migration have to do with missionary work? We explore how Baptist and Presbyterian missionary work as socioreligious institutions have impacted and influenced mobility in Northeast India, both pre- and post-colonialism. |
Tiatemsu Longkumer, Zarzosanga Pachuau, Shivangi Kaushik, Rob McNeil, Jacqui Broadhead |
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| What is a student? Perspectives from across Europe |
Professor Rachel Brooks explores how students are conceptualised across six European countries, challenging assumptions of a uniform student experience and highlighting the influence of national context, discipline, institution and social background. |
Rachel Brooks |
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| Chatting with AfOx fellow Vuyokazi Mntuyedwa on digital literacies and South African Higher Education |
Vuyo, an AfOx fellow at the University of Oxford and academic literacies lecturer at CPUT in South Africa, reflects on digital literacies and transforming South African Higher Education. |
Vuyokazi Mntuyedw, Danica Sims |
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| Human Rights: Cooling a Planet on Fire |
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for a new approach to politics in response to the climate emergency. |
Volker Türk |
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| Steve Cook, Let's talk e-cigarettes, May 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Steve Cook from the University of Michigan USA about the importance of correctly interpreting and assessing the available data |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Steve Cook |
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| 2025 Disability Lecture: Building an Environment for All |
Professor Sam Howison explores how an institution like Oxford University can build accessible environments, highlighting the complexities, evolving needs, and broad benefits of inclusive design. |
Sam Howison, Jordelle Akinola, Irene Tracey, Elizabeth Frood |
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| Repetition is a Form of Change: An Oblique Strategy in Poetry |
Professor of Poetry lecture – Repetition is a Form of Change: An Oblique Strategy in Poetry |
Alicia Stallings |
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| Oxford Islam & Justice Seminar: Islam and Natural Law |
The theme for this week's lecture is Islam and Natural Law |
Ramon Harvey, Jacob Williams |
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| On Padmasambhava’s Names, Himalayan Syncretism, and the Apotheosis of the Fierce Guru |
Dan Hirshberg describes the origins of the famous 'Eight Names' of Padmasambhava, and also of his fierce form as 'Guru Dragpo'. |
Dan Hirshberg, Robert Mayer |
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| Will Computers prove theorems? |
Kevin Buzzard: Will Computers prove theorems? |
Kevin Buzzard |
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| Formalizing the Future: Lean’s Impact on Mathematics, Programming, and AI |
Leo De Moura: Formalizing the Future: Lean’s Impact on Mathematics, Programming, and AI |
Leo De Moura |
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| Books as Objects, Data and Meaning: A Computational Approach to Eighteenth-Century Book and Intellectual History |
Annual Voltaire Foundation Lecture on Digital Enlightenment Studies: Mikko Tolonen on Books as Objects, Data and Meaning: A Computational Approach to Eighteenth-Century Book and Intellectual History |
Mikko Tolonen |
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| Politics and Global Health: The Need for a New, Resilient Architecture |
Mitchell Warren will provide updates on AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition's (AVAC) court challenge against the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID and offer his insights into what a more resilient global health funding infrastructure could look like |
Mitchell Warren |
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| Nonlinear dynamics of active particles |
Dr Rahil Valani provides an introduction to active matter (a field focusing on active particles' nonlinear dynamical behaviors) exploring the active system of superwalking droplets that can exhibit hydrodynamic quantum analogs. |
Rahil Valani |
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| The physics of “flat” electrons |
Dr Dumitru Călugăru explores the main strategies for engineering flat band materials, discusses band topology concepts and their relevance to flat band physics, and highlights the role of strong interactions in these materials. |
Dumitru Călugăru |
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| How to program a quantum computer |
Dr Dominik Hahn explains how a quantum computer is built, discusses how quantum operations are programmed in a way similar to classical computing, and showcases examples of quantum programs running on superconducting devices. |
Dominik Hahn |
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| Eden Evins, Let's talk e-cigarettes, April 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson explore new e-cigarette research and speak with Eden Evins from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, about her randomized clinical trial on varenicline for youth vaping |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Eden Evins |
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| Immigration Policy in Transatlantic Perspectives |
Geopolitics, irregular movement, the rise of the far-right: these are just some of the buzzwords populating your morning news headlines. But where is the relationship between Europe and the U.S. heading? What are the implications |
Naika Foroutan, Tarik Abou-Chadi, Rob McNeil, Jacqui Broadhead, Delphine Boagey |
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| Chatting with Ghaith Alfakhry on his journey from dentistry into medical education in Syria |
Ghaith Alfakhry, a dentist by background shares his journey into medical education his passion for advocating for change in Syria. |
Ghaith Alfakhry, Danica Sims |
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| Chatting with Avita Rath on feeling like an imposter and the need to talk about emotional labour |
Avita Rath, speaks of feeling like an imposter as a dentist in Health Professions Education and the invisible work of emotional labour. |
Avita Rath, Danica Sims |
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| Chatting with Louise Allen on continuous professional development, qualitative research and the need for mentorship and guided self-reflection |
Louise Allen, a dietician by background and currently a post-doctoral researcher in Medical Education, shares her personal experiences and research on social learning journeys and effective CPD. |
Louise Allen, Danica Sims |
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| System Entrepreneurship: Lessons from Rwanda |
Educating future leaders in Africa and driving transformational impact on African economies. |
Peter Drobac |
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| Misunderstandings and misuses of commonly-cited methods for systematic reviews & meta-analyses. |
Professor Julian Higgins explains why he believes the systematic review and meta-analysis methods described in many highly cited papers are routinely misunderstood or misused. |
Julian Higgins |
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| Monserrat Conde, Let's talk e-cigarettes, March 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Monserrat Conde from the University of Oxford. |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Monserrat Conde |
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| Migration Sounds |
What does migration sound like? Migration Sounds features 120 sounds of migration across 51 countries from Argentina to Australia, with personal stories from diaspora communities and people who have migrated all over the world. |
Rob McNeil, Stuart Fowkes, Delphine Boagey, Jacqui Broadhead |
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| Privacy, Verification, Robustness: A Cryptographer's perspective on ML |
Strachey Lecture: Privacy, Verification, Robustness: A Cryptographer's perspective on ML |
Shafi Goldwasser |
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| J3: A Roman ship's boat from the Portus Magnus of Alexandria |
A small Roman boat was discovered in the port of Alexandria. Why was it transporting a large iron anchor at the moment it sank? Professor Damian Robinson presents this fascinating and rare find. |
Damian Robinson, Alexander Belov, Nesreen Elgaly, David Honore, Catherine Grataloup, Tina Roushannafas, Patrice Sandrin |
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| The Indigeneity of Early Christianity in Africa: Has the time come for Late Afriquity? |
“The Indigeneity of Early Christianity in Africa: Has the time come for Late Afriquity?“ Father Jarel Robinson-Brown |
Jarel Robinson-Brown |
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| The ‘Key-spring’ of The Lord of the Rings? |
Stuart Lee talks on 'The ‘Key-spring’ of The Lord of the Rings?' |
Stuart Lee |
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| C.S. Lewis’s Influence on The Lord of the Rings |
Michael Ward talks on 'C.S. Lewis’s Influence on The Lord of the Rings' |
Michael Ward |
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| Medievalism in the Margins: Echoes of Anglo-Saxon England in Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings – From Page to Screen |
Grace Khuri talks on 'Medievalism in the Margins: Echoes of Anglo-Saxon England in Appendix A of 'The Lord of the Rings' – From Page to Screen' |
Grace Khuri |
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| A Harmless Vice: Tolkien’s Invented Languages |
Mark Williams talks on 'A Harmless Vice: Tolkien’s Invented Languages' |
Mark Williams |
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| The authors and styles of 'The Lord of the Rings' |
Giuseppe Pezzini talks on 'The authors and styles of The Lord of the Rings' |
Giuseppe Pezzini |
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| J. R. R. Tolkien and G. B. Smith: Two Forgotten War Poets? |
Stuart Lee talks about Tolkien's recently published war poetry in the context of G. B. Smith. |
Stuart Lee |
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| Tolkien as Interpreter and Transformer of Culture: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings' as a Modern Book |
Holly Ordway presents on 'Tolkien as Interpreter and Transformer of Culture'. |
Holly Ordway |
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| NRPF and the UK Welfare System |
Over 2.6 million people are locked out of the welfare state in the UK and now subject to ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF), an immigration policy restricting access to social security. How can local government respond? |
Rupinder Parhar, Ann, Lucy Leon, Rob McNeil, Jacqui Broadhead, Delphine Boagey |
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| Olivier Drouin, Let's talk e-cigarettes, February 2025 |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Olivier Drouin from the University of Montreal, Canada. |
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Nicola Lindson, Olivier Drouin |
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| What These Ithakas Mean: Cavafy, Translation, Influence, and Imitation |
What These Ithakas Mean: Cavafy, Translation, Influence, and Imitation (Professor of Poetry lecture, Feb 2025) |
Alicia Stallings |
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| Anyons: New Types of Particles in Quantum Physics |
While it was originally believed that only bosons and fermions were allowed by quantum mechanics, in fact, when objects are restricted to move on a two-dimensional plane, new types of particles called "anyons" can emerge. |
Steve Simon |
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| A New Twist on Topology: The Rise of “Moiré Materials” |
Prof Sid Parameswaran discusses how quantum condensed matter physics has been revolutionized by “moiré materials”, made by stacking individual atomically thin layers such as graphene with a relative twist/offset between layers. |
Siddharth Parameswaran |
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| Topology in the Physics of Condensed Matter |
Prof Shivaji Sondhi explains how topology is applied to understanding properties of condensed matter systems, providing an introduction to topics including defects & solitons, the quantum Hall effect, and topological insulators. |
Shivaji Sondhi |
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| Sheldonian Series: Life |
The Vice Chancellor moderates three guest speakers, delivering presentations examining the theme of Life from planetary, technological and ethical perspectives followed by a lively audience Q&A session. |
Irene Tracey, Nigel Shadbolt, Jayne Birkby, Luke Bretherton |
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| Gendered Aspects of Ukraine’s Displacement Crisis |
With war comes displacement. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has forced millions to flee homes and rebuild elsewhere. What role does a women's agency play in navigating the complexities of displacement and building resilience? |
Daryna Dvornichenko, Tania Orlova, Jacqui Broadhead, Rob McNeil, Delphine Boagey |
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| Treasure and archaeology: reflections on the Begram hoard and the interpretation of deposits of valuable objects (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) |
Lauren Morris examines archaeologically discovered hoards: how does one tell if their concealment was pragmatic, or ritual? And can one always even make such distinctions? |
Lauren Morris, Robert Mayer |
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| Not just "what," but also "how well:" Intervention fidelity in clinical trials of complex interventions in healthcare |
The concepts of intervention fidelity and how they can influence the results of clinical trials. |
Arsenio Paez |
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