Little Atoms
Encyclopedia
Little Atoms is a radio chat show broadcast weekly from London
on Resonance FM
104.4. It is hosted by Neil Denny, Richard Sanderson, Padraig Reidy, Becky Hogge
and special guest presenters. It actively promotes ideas of science
, rationalism
, atheism
and enlightenment and consists of interviews with cultural icons, intellectuals, writers and academics.
's "Internet Audio Show", Rick Wood's Audiomartini, Skepticality
and The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe preceding it.
It is featured on iTunes
under the category of social sciences and is generally listed in the top 100 featured podcasts for Science and Medicine in the UK iTunes podcast category. It was the official podcast of The Skeptic
magazine until 2011.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on Resonance FM
Resonance FM
Resonance 104.4 FM is a London based non-profit community radio station run by the London Musicians' Collective .The station is staffed by four permanent staff members, including programme controller Ed Baxter and over 300 volunteer technical and production staff.Until September 2007, ResonanceFM...
104.4. It is hosted by Neil Denny, Richard Sanderson, Padraig Reidy, Becky Hogge
Becky Hogge
Becky Hogge is a UK-based music and technology writer and the first full-time executive director of the Open Rights Group, resigning in 2008. She was previously the managing editor, and then the technology director and technology commissioning editor for openDemocracy.net...
and special guest presenters. It actively promotes ideas of science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
, atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
and enlightenment and consists of interviews with cultural icons, intellectuals, writers and academics.
History
The radio show was conceived by Neil Denny and Richard Sanderson at a meeting in a pub beer garden in London Bridge on 7 July 2005 and the first episode aired on 2 September 2005 and featured a panel of a scientist (Sid Rodrigues), physicist and ex-born again Christian (Norman Hansen) and a folklorist (Scott Wood), along with Neil Denny and Richard Sanderson as the show's hosts. Richard Sanderson was also the producer of two previous incarnations of rationalist radio shows on Resonance FM, "Sanderson's Alcove", which ran from February 2005 to July 2005 and "Baggage Reclaim" which ran from 2003 to 2005. It is regarded as the first "rationalist" radio show in the UK and one of the first podcasts; with only the JREFJames Randi Educational Foundation
The James Randi Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled...
's "Internet Audio Show", Rick Wood's Audiomartini, Skepticality
Skepticality
Skepticality is the official biweekly podcast of The Skeptics Society's Skeptic magazine. It explores rational thought, skeptical ideas, and famous myths from around the world and throughout history...
and The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe preceding it.
It is featured on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
under the category of social sciences and is generally listed in the top 100 featured podcasts for Science and Medicine in the UK iTunes podcast category. It was the official podcast of The Skeptic
The Skeptic (UK magazine)
The Skeptic is a British magazine and is billed as "the UK’s longest running and foremost sceptical magazine, which examines science, scepticism, secularism, critical thinking and claims of the paranormal."-History, format and structure:...
magazine until 2011.
Notable Guests
- Marcus Du SautoyMarcus du SautoyMarcus Peter Francis du Sautoy OBE is the Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. Formerly a Fellow of All Souls College, and Wadham College, he is now a Fellow of New College...
- Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford (3 February 2006, 14 March 2008) - Jonathan MeadesJonathan MeadesJonathan Turner Meades is a British writer on food, architecture, and culture, as well as an author and broadcaster. He is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society and a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association.-Education:Meades was born in Salisbury Wiltshire, and...
- British writer on food, architecture, and culture, as well as an author and broadcaster (5 December 2010, 11 May 2007, 3 March 2006) - Stewart LeeStewart LeeStewart Lee is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera...
- Comedian and broadcaster (15 September 2007) - Jon RonsonJon RonsonJon Ronson is a Welsh journalist, documentary filmmaker, radio presenter and nonfiction author, whose works include The Men Who Stare At Goats. His journalism and columns have appeared in British publications including The Guardian newspaper, City Life and Time Out magazine...
- Author and writer (Regular guest) - James RandiJames RandiJames Randi is a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation...
- Magician, author and founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (13 April 2008) - Christopher Hitchins - Author and Journalist (8 June 2008)
- James DelingpoleJames DelingpoleJames Delingpole is an English columnist and novelist. A self-described libertarian conservative, he writes for The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Spectator. He has published several novels and four political books, most recently Watermelons: The Green Movement's True Colors [2011]...
- Journalist and novelist (4 July 2008) - Richard HollowayRichard HollowayRichard F. Holloway is a Scottish writer and broadcaster and was formerly Bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church....
- Scottish writer and broadcaster, formerly The Bishop of Edinburgh (13 September 2008) - Ben GoldacreBen GoldacreBen Michael Goldacre born 1974 is a British science writer, doctor and psychiatrist. He is the author of The Guardian newspaper's weekly Bad Science column and a book of the same title, published by Fourth Estate in September 2008....
- Science writer and broadcaster (Regular guest) - Colin BlakemoreColin BlakemoreProfessor Colin Blakemore, Ph.D., FRS, FMedSci, HonFSB, HonFRCP, is a British neurobiologist who is Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and University of Warwick specialising in vision and the development of the brain. He was formerly Chief Executive of the British Medical...
- Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and University of Warwick (14 November 2008) - Adam CurtisAdam CurtisAdam Curtis is a British BAFTA winning documentarian and a writer, television producer, director and narrator. He works for BBC Current Affairs.-Early life and education:Curtis was born in 1955...
- Documentary Film-maker (21 November 2008) - Tim MinchinTim MinchinTimothy David "Tim" Minchin is a British-Australian comedian, actor, and musician.Tim Minchin is best known for his musical comedy, which has featured in six CDs, three DVDs and a number of live comedy shows which he has performed internationally. He has also appeared on television in Australia,...
- Musician, Composer and comedian (23 January 2009) - Noam ChomskyNoam ChomskyAvram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
- Philosopher and author (24 April 2009) - Steve JonesSteve Jones (biologist)John Stephen Jones is a Welsh geneticist and from 1995 to 1999 and 2008 to June 2010 was Head of the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at University College London. His studies are conducted in the Galton Laboratory. He is also a television presenter and a prize-winning author on...
- television presenter and a prize-winning author on the subject of biology, especially evolution (20 February 2009) - Seth KalichmanSeth KalichmanSeth C. Kalichman is a clinical community psychologist and professor of social psychology at the University of Connecticut, who researches HIV/AIDS prevention and care....
- Professor of social psychology at the University of Connecticut, who researches HIV/AIDS prevention and care. (29 May 2009) - Bruce HoodBruce Hood (psychologist)Bruce Hood is a Canadian-born experimental psychologist who specialises in developmental cognitive neuroscience and is Director of the Bristol Cognitive Development Centre, based at Bristol University....
- experimental psychologist and Royal Institution Christmas Lectures presenter (31 July 2009) - Ariane SherineAriane SherineAriane Sherine is a British comedy writer and journalist. She created the UK version of the Atheist Bus Campaign, which ran in January 2009. She lives in London.- Career :...
- British comedy writer and journalist. She created the UK version of the Atheist Bus Campaign, which ran in January 2009 (25 September 2009) - Raymond TallisRaymond TallisRaymond Tallis F.Med.Sci., F.R.C.P., F.R.S.A. is a British philosopher, humanist, poet, novelist, cultural critic and retired medical doctor.-Medical career:...
- British philosopher, humanist, poet, novelist, cultural critic and retired physician (20 November 2009) - Brian CoxBrian CoxBrian Denis Cox, CBE is a Scottish actor. He is known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear. He has also appeared in many Hollywood productions playing parts such as Dr. Guggenheim in Rushmore and William Stryker in X2: X-Men...
- British particle physicist and broadcaster (8 January 2010) - Ian McEwanIan McEwanIan Russell McEwan CBE, FRSA, FRSL is a British novelist and screenwriter, and one of Britain's most highly regarded writers. In 2008, The Times named him among their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945"....
- British novelist and screenwriter (19 March 2010) - Cory DoctorowCory DoctorowCory Efram Doctorow is a Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author who serves as co-editor of the blog Boing Boing. He is an activist in favour of liberalising copyright laws and a proponent of the Creative Commons organization, using some of their licences for his books...
- Founder of BoingBoing (2 April 2010) - Robin InceRobin InceRobin Ince is an English stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for presenting the BBC radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage .-Stand-up comedy:...
- English stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for presenting the BBC radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage. (20 July 2010 - also regular guest) - John MitchinsonJohn MitchinsonFor the English tenor, see John Mitchinson .For the Bishop, see John Mitchinson .John Mitchinson is the head of research for the British television panel game QI, and is also the managing director of Quite Interesting Limited. He is co-writer of the QI series of books with the show's creator John...
- Head of research for the British television panel game QIQIQI is a British comedy panel game television quiz show created and co-produced by John Lloyd, hosted by Stephen Fry, and featuring permanent panellist Alan Davies. Most of the questions are extremely obscure, making it unlikely that the correct answer will be given...
(25 December 2010) - Johann HariJohann HariJohann Hari is an award winning British journalist who has been a columnist at The Independent, the The Huffington Post, and contributed to several other publications. In 2011, Hari was accused of plagiarism; he subsequently was suspended from The Independent and surrendered his 2008 Orwell Prize...
- Award winning journalist and writer (Regular guest) - David EaglemanDavid EaglemanDavid Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Baylor College of Medicine, where he directs the Laboratory for Perception and Action and the Initiative on Neuroscience and Law. He is best known for his work on time perception, synesthesia, and neurolaw...
- Neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author (8 April 2011) - Sir Martin Rees - Baron Rees of Ludlow and Astronomer Royal (3 June 2011 - 200th Show Special)
External links
- Official website
- Little Atoms on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Little Atoms Facebook Group