Ep. 113: Curiosity, empathy, and being open to the world, with guest, David Bramwell, Author of 'The Number 9 Bus to Utopia'.

In this episode 113, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious David Bramwell - a writer, broadcaster, performer and professional seeker. 

He’s the author of The Number 9 Bus to Utopia, a philosophical travel memoir, in which he went looking for different and potentially better ways of living.

He’s presented many programmes for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 on subjects ranging from Ivor Cutler, Ken Campbell and time travel, to the art of public speaking. 

As a podcaster, he produces and presents Adventures in Nutopia and The Ways of Water,  and has co-hosted other popular podcasts including, Odditorium, Watling Street with author John Higgs, and Seeker! The Ken Campbell Podcast with Daisy Campbell.

In 2020 his book The Cult of Water was published, exploring belief and rituals, and then in 2023 he self-published The Singalong-A-Wicker-Man Scrapbook.

Since 2004 he has been hosting Brighton’s Catalyst Club, a monthly salon at which three guest speakers from all walks of life take to the stage to talk about their passions. 

As a performer, he has toured several solo shows and performed at Soho Theatre, Somerset House, Tate St Ives, TEDx, Idler Academy, MOMA, UK festivals, and the Lowry Theatre. 

And finally there's Oddfellow's Casino, an eclectic band project that blends spoken word, music and storytelling, and who are approaching their 25th anniversary this year. 

In this episode they explore a wide range of topic including:

• How to use Brexit to dodge home DIY and tasks
• The Singalong-a-Wicker-Man show!
• Panpsychism and consciousness (Does Broccoli dream of sheep?)
• How do tomatoes feel about being eaten? Are tomatoes controlling us?
• What sparked David’s curiosity superpower?
• What fashion items are best for a philosophical data analyst?
• What lessons David learned on ‘The Number 9 Bus to Utopia’
• How alternative communities show great creativity and imagination
• What the everyday interests of everyday people can tell us about curiosity and being human
• How we might engage better with people who have different views to ourselves
• What is the official name for a ‘Bum Reader’?

And as ever, enjoy the Thought Experiment …this time it’s:

• Where is this bus going?

Learn more about David

https://www.drbramwell.com/

https://oddfellowscasino.bandcamp.com/

https://catalystclub.co.uk/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/adventures-in-nutopia/id1649333497

References

Trevor Noah

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/nonprofittechies/microsoft-and-trevor-noah-a-partnership-for-asking-questions/4036636

Australian Writers Festival boycott

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgm4jkwz2z8

The Wicker Man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man

Crows picking up cigarette butts

https://stevedalepetworld.com/blog/something-to-crow-about/

Panpsychism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panpsychism

Philip Goff

https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/

Museum of Curiosity

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k3wvk

Spalding Gray

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalding_Gray

Rudolph Steiner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Steiner

Underground Temple

https://thetemples.org/

Shark House

https://museumofoxford.org/bill-heine-the-man-behind-the-headington-shark/

Findhorn