Critical Edge

Lukas Seifert and Oliver Walsh
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  • Politics
  • Updated Daily

Critical Edge stands for pushing ideas to the limit, and pushing our guests to those limits too. We feel that too many platforms host brilliant individuals, but don’t end up asking the questions that really matter. This is a platform for debate, a disruptive media channel, which discusses perspectives too often unexplored. Get ready for a new communal project. Ideas are sharper at the edge.

  1. 3d ago

    Philip Pullman: Life Imitates Art | #67

    Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with Philip Pullman, renowned author of His Dark Materials.We drew on everything from Milton's Paradise Lost to Superman to William Blake. This episode was about the power of literature to change the way we see ourselves and the way we live our lives, as well as the way storytelling can light up our imaginations. Lukas told Philip about how the concept of the daemon changed the way he saw his own personality, and the souls of those people around him. Philip also shared how Philip Goff's book Galileo's Error, which argued for pansychism, was the non-fiction book that most profoundly shaped his view of the world. Consciousness now seeps everywhere through his literary work. Philip said he doesn't like fantasy, at least not if it doesn't deal with fundamental questions of human psychology. This is why he loved Paradise Lost: the three of us bonded over Gustave Doré's famous illustrations for Paradise Lost, and William Blake's Illuminations.We finished with a discussion about how basic structures of thought can seep into the way we think, even at a young age. Ollie argued that Sleeping Beauty can make us see the man as the active desirer and the woman as the passive desired, although of course Philip thought better stories could plug this gap.Is it impossible to live without narrative structures? Ollie argued that the heads of people who don't read are simply filled with worse narratives, like the American Dream, which prizes money above all. Philip finished by recommending one of his favourite works of political thought for our next guest. Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe or check out our other platforms to join the team :) 0:00 - Introduction0:33 - Fiction as a Guide to Life1:44 - The Art of Storytelling3:21 - Growing Up in Australia9:42 - What Daemon Would You Have?16:02 - Books That Shaped Pullman24:01 - Panpsychism and Consciousness30:28 - Fantasy, Paradise Lost, and His Dark Materials42:49 - How Does Fiction Shape our Psychology?51:33 - Stories, Gender Roles, and Fairytales1:01:03 - Outro and Recommendation

    1h 2m

  2. May 26

    What Happens When a Philosopher Takes DMT? | #66

    Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with rockstar panpyschist Philip Goff.Ollie, Lukas and Philip talked about it all. We started with a discussion about the fundamental nature of consciousness, and why it can't be understood using the language of science: David Chalmer's 'hard problem of consciousness'. This led us to panpsychism and its connection to mystical beliefs. Philip opened up about his experience doing toad venom (5-MEO-DMT) and the perspective that opened up for him regarding our connection to something bigger.

    1h 16m

  3. May 13

    Is War Built Into Our Psychology? | #65

    Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with veteran of the philosophy game Jeff McMahan, an ethicist who lives and breathes his work. We really got into it this episode. We discussed whether war can ever be justified, the ethics of autonomous weapons, and the difficult questions concerning Gaza and Iran. Jeff isn’t one to weasel his words: you’ll want to hear what he has to say.Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe to our Spotify to hear more!

    46 min

  4. May 4

    The Science of Tripping | #64

    Critical Edge hosts and best mates sit down with Robin Carhart-Harris, leading psychedelic researcher and all round good bloke. We discussed the ethical and philosophical questions attached to psychedelics: such as how a drug can change how we see ourselves and the people around us, or what psychedelics might reveal about consciousness and the universe. Robin takes a pragmatic approach, and advocates for the potential upside in mental health treatment. To find out more about Robin's new book: https://www.carhartharrislab.com/upcoming-book

    1h 7m

  5. Apr 3

    This Is Why Art Matters | #63

    Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with rockstar philosopher Nigel Warburton, co-host of Philosophy Bites.Ollie, Lukas and Nigel had a great chat about whether art is subjective, how cultural beauty standards shape us, Nigel's favourite books and paintings, and what it is about art that is so essentially human. Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe or check out our other platforms to join the team :)

    43 min

  6. Mar 24

    Do You Understand the Universe? | #62

    Critical Edge hosts and best mates Ollie and Lukas sit down with Canadian-American astronomer Wendy Freedman, one of Times 2025 Top 100 most influential people in the world.Hardly experts on the topic, Ollie and Lukas had an open discussion with Wendy about the universe and its expansion, whether it really began with the big bang, and if we can ever know anything about dark matter. Lukas and Ollie open the chat talking to Wendy about why the universe reminds everyone about.Critical Edge is a multi-media community started by two friends seeking to learn how to think, not what to think. Subscribe or check out our other platforms to join the team :)

    42 min

  7. Mar 3

    4 Thought Experiments to Change How You Think | #61

    Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah to explore what classic thought experiments reveal about identity, morality, power, and the future of human connection. Across these puzzles—and the real-world examples they illuminate, from political power to dating apps and artificial intimacy—the conversation asks what truly anchors a good life: honor, authenticity, continuity, truth, connection. Philosophy here isn’t abstract; it’s a lens on how we live now. Hosted by two passionate Oxford students, Critical Edge aims to bring you engaging discussions with influential personalities, delving into topics that matter to our society and the world at large. Subscribe for more!

    1h 4m

  8. Feb 5

    David Edmonds: the Danger of Tribalism | #60

    Critical Edge hosts Ollie and Lukas sit down with philosopher David Edmonds to explore how discrimination, identity, and group psychology shape the way we see ourselves - and each other. Hosted by two passionate Oxford graduates, Critical Edge brings rigorous, accessible conversations with influential thinkers on the ideas shaping our world. Subscribe for

    53 min
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About

Critical Edge stands for pushing ideas to the limit, and pushing our guests to those limits too. We feel that too many platforms host brilliant individuals, but don’t end up asking the questions that really matter. This is a platform for debate, a disruptive media channel, which discusses perspectives too often unexplored. Get ready for a new communal project. Ideas are sharper at the edge.

Information

  • Creator
    Lukas Seifert and Oliver Walsh
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lukas Seifert and Oliver Walsh
  • Show Website
    Critical Edge

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