PPLS Perspectives

In this special episode Philosophers Professor Michael Cholbi and Professor Michael Gill discuss the recent vote (17/03/26) rejecting The Assisted Dying Bill in the Scottish Parliament. The bill would have allowed terminally ill adults in Scotland, who are eligible, to lawfully request, and be provided with, assistance by health professionals to end their own life.

In this episode of PPLS Perspectives, Madeline Horner sits down with Dr April Bailey, lecturer in Social Psychology and leader of the Bailey Identity and Social Cognition Lab. Together, they explore April’s research on how we think about “people” — and why, often without realising it, we tend to imagine a man rather than a woman. The conversation spans methods from reaction-time tasks to large-scale language models, considers cross-cultural and intersectional perspectives, and reflects on what these hidden biases mean for science, policy, and society more broadly.

We are taking a break for Christmas so there won't be a new episode this month. Thank you for your continued support, we'll be back in 2026 with more PPLS Perspectives.

In this episode Maisie Hallam returns to speak to Professor Jenny Culbertson from the Centre for Language Evolution about how language will shape—and be shaped over the next 50 years. From the accelerating loss of minority languages to the rise of AI and shifting patterns of migration, they explore the challenges and opportunities facing global linguistic diversity.

To mark UK Black History Month we start the new season with a special episode. PhD candidate Tony Baugh speaks with Professor Tommy Curry — the first Black philosophy professor in Edinburgh’s 442-year history. Together they discuss the University's landmark race review with was co-chaired by Professor Curry. The race review is available to read in full here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/about/race-review

In the final episode of our second season of the podcast Postdoctoral Research Assistant Dr Iain Hardie talks to PhD student Hannah Gofton about the CHILDS (COVID-19 Health Impact on Long-term Child Development in Scotland) Study, a project that utilised data from from almost 25,000 babies born in Scotland during the pandemic found no link between concerns with a child’s development at 13 to 15 months and the mother contracting the virus during pregnancy.

Sociolinguist Dr. Christian Ilbury returns to PPLS Perspectives with PhD student Gilly Marchini. In this episode they discuss how digital culture and technology have changed the way in which we use or interact with language.

Professor Matthew Chrisman sits down with with Fergus Cleland to discuss his work around freedom of speech and civilised debate.

Our first episode of 2025 sees Research Fellow Dr David Hill sit down with Dr Charlie Xia to discuss his work exploring causal links between poverty and mental illness.

In our third episode Jenny Jones (MSc Developmental Linguistics) chats to Professor of Developmental Linguistics and founder of Bilingualism Matters, Professor Antonella Sorace.

Ellie Palmer returns to the podcast, this time, to chat to Alasdair Richmond about the philosophy of time travel.

In the first episode of our second season, Lucas Perry chats to Professor Michelle Luciano about her work on the genetic links to dyslexia.

How does language evolve from generation to generation? What factors shape the way we communicate? Professor Kenny Smith sits down to chat to PhD student Maisy Hallam about his work in our latest episode.

In our fourth episode Dr. Mazviita Chirimuuta discusses her work and new book The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience with early career research fellow Kate Nave.

In our first episode Ellie Palmer chats with Professor Michael Cholbi (author of Grief: A philosophical guide) about his work on the philosophy of grief.

Does the way we speak act as a barrier to social mobility? In our second episode PhD candidate Gilly Marchini discusses this issue with sociolinguist Dr. Christian Ilbury.