Richardson's Rubicon

John Richardson
  • 4.8（8則評分）
  • 小說
  • 每週更新

Richardson’s Rubicon explores the craft and chaos of speculative fiction. Each episode dives into worldbuilding, strange ideas, creative failures, surprising successes, and the deeper questions behind imagined worlds. Writers, worldbuilders, and curious listeners will find honest conversation, dark humour, and thoughtful insight into how stories take shape. Season Five focuses on the art of speculative storytelling and the minds that create it.

  1. 第 5 季第 1 集預告

    Episode 1: The Reset

    In this season opener, John strips the podcast back to its core purpose. The show drops the scattered topics and shifts hard toward speculative fiction, worldbuilding, and the craft behind imagined futures. John explains why the old format was unfocused, why this reset is necessary, and why writers must confront their own blind spots if they want their stories to work. He outlines the new plan for the season, including interviews with speculative fiction writers, honest discussions about his own writing process, and live call in sessions for anyone building worlds or wrestling with ideas. This episode sets the tone for a sharper, more deliberate, and far more demanding season.

    11 分鐘

  2. 7月16日

    Tears, Bikes & Trauma Goo

    In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I had a fascinating and often funny conversation with Bill Pautler, author of the book Awakening to Ourselves, The Practical Art of Building A Spiritually Aware Life. Bill’s had quite an adventurous life, he’s done everything from hot-air ballooning and motorcycling to scuba diving, along with raising a family (twice!). But what stood out most was his unexpected spiritual journey, especially a quirky experience he shared: Liberally cussing and then spending two full days in uncontrollable tears. Turns out this reaction is considered a "gift of tears," something Bill now fully embraces, even if it means crying at awkward times. We spoke at length about spirituality, as we are both at opposite ends of the spectrum it was an interesting, respectful, and at times a hilarious discussion! We also dipped into a bit of quantum physics banter, discussing the gap between real quantum computers (cold, precise lab devices) and more speculative theories suggesting the brain itself might have quantum properties. We joked (or did we?) about whether quantum computing could someday give rise to true machine consciousness. We've all seen the films, dude! Ultimately, Bill’s key message resonated clearly: beneath our fears and conditioned habits, we're all incredibly powerful beings. By letting go of trauma and showing compassion through simple actions, we can uncover joy, creativity, and community strength. I think listeners will find his unique stories both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking. Visit Bill Pautler's site to learn about his book: Awakening to Ourselves, The Practical Art of Building A Spiritually Aware Life Visit Richardson's Rubicon to see how you can subscribe, listen, watch and even take part! Buy John a Ko-Fihttps://ko-fi.com/richardsonsrubicon p.s. My video feed was awful, sorry!

    49 分鐘

  3. 7月12日

    When Porn Gives You A Plot Twist

    In this week’s Richardson’s Rubicon, I sat down with Hannah Ashwell mental health whizz, PTSD specialist, and all-round change-maker to tackle two of the sneakiest modern addictions: porn and gambling. Trust me, these things fly under the radar far more than booze or smack, and Hannah’s got the stats to prove it. We kicked off by digging into her story. She’s not just another talking head, she’s a counsellor, psychologist and entrepreneur who helps people flip their lives around. But the real eye-opener was when she told me more folks in the UK wrestle with porn and gambling habits than with alcohol and drugs. Mind-blowing, right? Then we got into what over-consuming porn really does. It’s not just a cheeky pastime, Hannah showed me how it can wreck your wallet, your headspace, your relationships, even your plumbing downstairs (hello, porn-induced ED). And the kicker? Viagra is Pornhub’s biggest client. Industry solves the problem it creates, classic. Next up: smartphones. We’re glued to these damn things, yet somehow we're lonelier than ever. Bullying, FOMO, shallow chatter, our pockets have become playgrounds for misery. My daughter’s brush with online nastiness only underlined how toxic it can get. Hannah’s fix? Apps like OurPact for the kids, plus clever habit-pairing, boil the kettle, do your physio; open the back door, take your meds. Small tweaks, big wins. Of course, the conversation got darker when we talked human trafficking and illegal content, Hannah dropped some sobering stats about child-abuse material being the fastest-growing crime here. Grim stuff, but if we don’t talk it through, how will anything change? Thankfully, she shared glimmers of hope, stories of folks who’ve clawed their way back, and how confession (think Sex Addicts Anonymous) can be the first leap toward recovery. We wrapped up by ripping into social media fakery, Hannah’s sworn off it for now, and I don’t blame her, and lamenting how stretched our mental-health services are. Bottom line: if you want to laugh, cry, and learn how to wrestle your own demons, and maybe even ditch your phone for a night, this one’s for you. Quit Porn - Hannah Ashwell https://quit-porn.com The Balance Phone https://www.thebalancephone.com/ Our Pact https://www.ourpact.com/ Buy John a Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/richardsonsrubicon Visit the show! https://richardsonsrubicon.com/

    51 分鐘

  4. 7月7日

    Freeports: They're Not Free, and They're Not Ports!

    Welcome to this episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where I dive into a topic that might not be on your radar, but will certainly grab your attention. Today, we're welcoming John Forbes from the Freeport Campaign Group, which is part of Salvo. John joins us for an eye-opening discussion about Freeports and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Scotland. Despite their promising names, these zones come with complexities and concerns that many are unaware of, including secretive dealings, potential for deregulation, and impacts on local communities and economies. We explore these facets, shedding light on the roles that both the UK and Scottish governments play in these zones, as well as the influence of private companies. Join us as we dissect the potential risks and realities of Freeports and SEZs, and learn about what can be done to raise awareness and provoke action. Stay tuned, as this conversation could change the way you view economic development and regional planning. Facebook. /www.facebook.com/share/g/1EnH1ihusL/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/freeport_sez_community_group?igsh=b2F3MXM4ZGtic2Jt&utm_source=qr Bluesky. https://bsky.app/profile/freeports.bsky.social X. @SalvoFreeports Email address freeports@salvo.scot

    47 分鐘

  5. 6月27日

    The Path to Independence

    In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, John Richardson talks with Colette Walker, leader of the Independence for Scotland Party, about the launch of Liberate Scotland and how it all links in with the UN decolonisation case. Colette shares how she has always felt Scottish rather than British and how class divisions in period dramas first sparked her distaste for the Union. She explains the founding of ISP in 2020 as a way to capture regional list seats under the D’Hondt system and boost pro-independence representation in Holyrood. Visit https://richardsonsrubicon.com/the-path-to-independence/ for more info! They explore how the strategy of contesting both constituency and list seats backfired in 2021. Colette describes how unionist parties gained extra seats on list votes because pro-independence voters split their support. ISP’s plan is to stand under the Liberate Scotland banner on the list and in constituencies stand as ISP, ensuring a clear “indy party one” and “indy party two” ballot. This approach aims to build a super-majority of cross-party MSPs ready to claim a democratic mandate for independence. John raises concerns about candidates who arrive in Parliament with only one issue, independence. Colette defends the approach with a tease that more details will come. Pointing to policies in their manifesto like universal basic income, she insists these are somel examples of what a sovereign Scotland could do. Real decision making would follow a Swiss-style model of direct democracy. Citizens would propose and veto laws via binding referenda, with MSPs serving as accountable representatives rather than distant rulers with a take it or leave it attitude. They also discuss local government. Colette highlights how freeport schemes in England and privatisation of services shrink public spending and reduce Scotland’s block grant. She notes that seventy per cent of Edinburgh lies within a freeport zone and that council investments there have already jumped five-fold. Both agree that smaller, more transparent local bodies and local referenda could rein in unresponsive authorities. On identity, Colette sides with Nicola Sturgeon’s civic definition: anyone who lives in Scotland and contributes is Scottish. No ethnic or birth criteria apply. She wants a broad inclusive nation built on shared values. John is relieved! Looking ahead to Holyrood 2026, Colette promises a big launch of Liberate Scotland once logistics, crowdfunding, candidate selection and other details are set. She urges listeners to get involved with door-knocking, stalls and social media. Her call to action is clear: seize the moment to declare independence, or risk losing Scotland’s resources and services for good.

    57 分鐘

  6. 6月20日

    Still Better Than Question Time 🤡

    In this solo episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I navigate a chaotic evening after my guest cancels last minute. Probably not my best episode, sorry! I reflect on the previous week's well-received interview with Alex Thorburn of Liberation Scotland and Salvo and share listener feedback. I go into current affairs, questioning the BBC's framing of Scotland's performance, have a go at John Swinney's vague 2050 independence vision, and unpack the failure of wealth tax proposals. I also lays into the government’s approach to energy pricing and windfall payments to gas companies, all while urging listeners to call in (spoiler: they don’t). 😢 This candid and slightly chaotic episode touches on sovereignty, media bias, wealth inequality, and government energy policy.

    27 分鐘

  7. 6月13日

    Claim of Right, Act of Wrong: Is the Union a Fiction?

    This week, we're discussing Scottish independence with researcher Alex Thorburn from Salvo and Liberation Scotland, two civic movements developing their own strategy without waiting for approval from Westminster. We explore Scotland's claim to nationhood through the Claim of Right, the Treaty of Union, and their significance in the 21st century. Alex walks us through a potential route to the UN via the Decolonisation Committee (C24), and makes the case that Scotland could assert its sovereignty. We recall times when Scotland asserted its democratic power, such as the canceled fracking plans, the nuclear waste that was kept away from Ayrshire, and when 97% of Strathclyde opposed water privatisation. These aren’t just footnotes - they’re great examples of what happens when civic Scotland gets its boots on. Whether you're pro-indy, undecided, or just here for the constitutional gossip, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the routes ahead, not instead of political leadership, but alongside it.

    46 分鐘

  8. 第 4 季預告

    Trailer: Is Scotland ready for independence? Are the SNP?

    We’re going live Thursday at 9pm (UK time) to talk it out — and you’re invited. Book a guest slot or just hop in on the night. 👉 Take part: https://rubipod.link/live Smart chat, real voices, and big questions. Only on Richardson’s Rubicon.

    1 分鐘
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4.8
（滿分 5 顆星）
8 則評分

簡介

Richardson’s Rubicon explores the craft and chaos of speculative fiction. Each episode dives into worldbuilding, strange ideas, creative failures, surprising successes, and the deeper questions behind imagined worlds. Writers, worldbuilders, and curious listeners will find honest conversation, dark humour, and thoughtful insight into how stories take shape. Season Five focuses on the art of speculative storytelling and the minds that create it.

資訊

  • 創作者
    John Richardson
  • 活躍年代
    2022年 - 2025年
  • 集數
    39
  • 年齡分級
    兒少不宜
  • 版權
    © John Richardson
  • 節目網站
    Richardson's Rubicon