Podcast Club: May theme: Time

May 12 at 6:30 pm on Zoom

Like a book club, but for podcasts!

Every month we listen to a curated list of podcast episodes (see list below) on a particular topic or theme and then we meet to discuss them. It’s the perfect discussion for time-starved folks. No long books to read! Listen to the podcasts while you commute, do chores or go for a walk. Listening to podcasts is such a great way to learn something new and then further reinforce that knowledge by discussing with others.

What is time?

In May we’re trying to answer some questions about the mysteries and complexities of time. Is time travel possible? Why does our perception of time vary depending on the situation? Do different languages and cultures describe time differently? And how can we spend our limited time more purposefully and meaningfully?

To register: email Heather at hgoldik@nelson.ca

Podcast: All in the Mind

Episode: The Enigma of Time (28 minutes)

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-enigma-of-time/8786764

Even though we know that time is measurable and finite—our perception of it varies enormously. When we’re bored time drags, and wouldn’t you swear that time seems to speed up as you get older? Drawing on the latest insights from psychology and neuroscience we explore the mystery of time perception, its connection to our sense of self, and how we could be the architect of our own perception of it.

Podcast: About Time

Episode: Language of Time (29 minutes)

https://timelyapp.com/podcasts/episode-1-the-language-of-time

“Time” is the most frequently used noun in the English language. But what are we actually talking about when we talk about time? This episode looks at time representations and referencing systems used by different cultures, to explore how far language can shape how we think about time.

Podcast: Dan Snow’s History Hit

Episode: How Timekeeping Changed the World (25 minutes)

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/how-timekeeping-changed-the-world/id1042631089?i=1000529425680

Accurate timekeeping is at the very root of all of the technological advances in the modern world, but how did it all begin? From Roman sundials to medieval water-clocks, people of all cultures have made and used clocks for thousands of years. Dan speaks to horologist, historian and former curator of timekeeping at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, David Rooney, about the importance of time, and what clocks can tell us about the history of human civilisation.

Podcast: BBC World Service The Inquiry

Episode: Is Time Travel Possible?  (23 minutes)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csytg1

Ever wanted to meet your historical heroes or explore the inventions of the future? Travelling in time has long been a dream of writers and filmmakers, but what does science tell us about how possible this would be to achieve in real life?

We explore how physics shows us that time runs at different rates depending on where we are and how we’re moving – time goes more slowly for astronauts on the international space station for example. We hear about the very dangerous ways we could possibly exploit this to skip forwards through time and into Earth’s future, and we do the maths on wormholes, to see if they offer a possible portal to our past.

Podcast: NPR Life Kit

Episode: How to rethink what you spend your time-and life-doing (19 minutes)

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/16/1045396983/time-management-tips-oliver-burkeman

You’ve only got 4,000 weeks to live — give or take. While that may come as a brutal dose of reality, it’s also an opportunity to think about how you’re spending that time.

In this episode, we talk to Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, about the idea of time management, why none of us will ever be in control, and how we can better decide what we spend time on, and ultimately, the moments that make up a life.