Gin and Topic

Our ever-curious step-mother and step-daughter, Sarah and Áine, begin each episode with a glass of gin in hand, before launching into the topic of the week. Once the gin has been thoroughly sampled, and reviewed, they discuss what they already know about the weekly topic. It could be anything, from science to art, from political to cultural. Most importantly, they often don’t know a lot. Luckily, there is a weekly expert who shares their knowledge… and the gin. The guest may be plagued with ‘Okay, but why?’s, and ‘So, how?’s, but they get to drink through it! And, if this expert can tell our hosts that everything they thought they knew is wrong, even better. There’s no confrontation, just a genuine wish to learn and understand, and at the end of the show, the hosts spend a little time mulling over what they’ve learnt, and wondering how they can slip it into conversations to look smart.<p>Support this show <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic">http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic</a>.<br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Another Round & Some Memories Found

To celebrate the end of series 6, the Gin & Topic family just had to have a little get together… want to join us? Let’s look back on the series and chat about everything we learnt with another round of particular favourites from the tasting room to keep us hydratedFor the final time this series… cheers!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

06-21
28:51

Clink & Oops Series 6 Bloops

You’d think that six series in we might have less bloopers to share with you. Think again!As per tradition, here are all our ‘sorry Ben’s’ and technical fuck ups for you all to enjoy. Including a few from our guests…Cheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

06-16
22:50

Series 6 Top Ups

This series we’ve been joined by nine wonderful experts, each one with their own topic. But we always end up chatting away with our guests for far too long…So, join us this week for a little treat. From extra topic gems to chats about just how our experts ended up in their roles, here are the bits that we couldn’t squeeze into the main show! Cheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

06-14
32:16

Tasting A Little More From Series 6

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re having a few extra shots from the seriesCheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

06-11
11:16

Everleaf & CRISPR

CRISPR! No, it’s nothing to do with crisps… What is it, you ask? Well, that’s what this week is all about.We’re joined by Soren Hough, a writer and a scientist who completed a PhD in Biochemistry at Cambridge. He has been working with, and writing about, CRISPR since 2014 and is currently a Visiting Scientist in the DNA repair laboratory of Prof Sir Steve Jackson. So really there’s nobody better to answer: CRISPR: What is it, why is it both amazing and scary, and what does this new technological power mean for society?Sit back, relax, grab a gin and get ready to have your mind boggled. Cheers!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05-17
01:06:21

Tasting Everleaf

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re tasting Everleaf Marine with our guest Soren HoughCheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05-14
19:08

Clean G & Kids Environment and Health

What environment do you like to listen to us in? We hope you haven’t got kids around, there’s an explicit warning for a reason! Although maybe this week, you should at least keep them in mind.We’re joined by Pia Hardelid, a Professor of Epidemiology at the University College London. Pia is leading a project called the Kids’ Environment and Health Cohort which is setting up a new national data resource for research into how the local environment affects children’s health as they grow up in England. She’s going to help us answer the question: how can we understand the relationship between children’s health and the environments they grow up in? Join us to find out more. Cheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05-10
48:46

Tasting Clean G

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re tasting Clean G with our guest Pia HardelidCheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05-07
18:15

Never Never & Science Integrity

We’ve talked sharing science this series but how do you know that the science you’re reading isn’t as fake as a love island star’s teeth? This week we’re joined by Dr Simone Cuff, a biomedical researcher who currently works with a major scientific publisher checking scientific papers for research integrity issues and signs of fraud. She’s going to tell us all about the incentives that mean people who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of truth… twist it. We promise, this is all true. Cheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05-03
01:02:50

Tasting Never Never

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re tasting Never Never triple Juniper gin with our guest Dr Simone CuffCheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-30
18:54

Tonic Waters & Flying Squirrels

This week we’re making some airtime for a less represented animal (thank you for that joke, Sarah). We’re going to be chatting all things flying squirrel! Our expert is Jeremy Howard, PhD student at the University of Missouri St. Louis. He’s currently studying bumblebees but we’re dragging him back to his previous work as we chatted all things bee way back in series one with Hamish. So, flying squirrels. Why should we research and protect them? Join us to find out. Cheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-26
49:15

Tasting Tonic Waters

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomWe’re doing something a bit different this week… we’re tasting tonic waters. Join us as we try Fever Tree, Schweppes and Double Dutch with our guest Jeremy Howard.Cheers!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-23
22:20

Cambridge Curator's & Sharing Science

We chat a lot about science on this podcast but this week we’re going a bit meta and chatting about sharing science. Although, in a much more academic sense… We’re joined by Emma Smith, a Journal Development Editor at eLife, an independent nonprofit committed to improving the way scientific research is reviewed and communicated. They’re going to be answering the questions: How do we know what science to trust and does that process work? What can we do to improve it?Cheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-19
01:04:33

Tasting Cambridge Curator's

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re tasting Cambridge Curator’s gin with our guest Emma SmithCheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-16
17:30

Isle of Harris & Toxic Algae

It’s the third and final in this accidental swampy theme! And this week it’s getting toxic…We’re joined by Dr. Will J Brownlie, an Environmental biologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. But don’t worry, Will isn’t the toxic one and nor is this week’s gin. We’re talking Toxic Algae. And more specifically, should we be worried about toxic algal blooms?Cheers!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-12
55:18

Tasting Isle of Harris

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re tasting Isle of Harris gin with our guest Dr Will J BrownlieCheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-09
19:00

Caorunn & Swamp Methane

We’re back in the swamps this week but don’t worry, there’s no sign of Shrek.Our guest is Dr Carole Helfter, an Environmental physicist and Group Leader in Biosphere-Atmosphere Exchange and Effects at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. She’s going to be talking to us all about Swamp Methane and answering the burning question: Where does it come from and why should we care?Cheers!Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-05
46:05

Tasting Caorunn

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re tasting Caorunn with our guest Dr Carole Helfter Cheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

04-02
14:11

Dà Mhìle & Plankton Physics

Plankton Physics, two words that on their own we have some knowledge about. Together? Not a clue. But why should you care about plankton?This week’s guest is going to tell us. We’re joined by Russell Arnott - Marine biologist; oceanographer; science presenter and director of Incredible Oceans CIC, a marine education non-profit organisation. Pour yourself a glass of gin – we’ve gone with Dà Mhìle this week – and join us all in a toast. Here’s to Thankton Plankton! CheersSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

03-29
01:00:28

Tasting Dà Mhìle

Welcome to the Gin & Topic tasting roomThis week we’re tasting Dà Mhìle with our guest Russell ArnottCheers! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/gin-and-topic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

03-26
14:43

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