Metaphor, with Simon Lancaster

All I need to say to you is "Your Brain on Climate is a lovely cake of a podcast" and you'll drool and tell all your friends to subscribe immediately.  Or something.

No look: our brains LOVE metaphors. We think in stories and our brains like making connections between different ideas to make sense of the world - particularly things we can't always touch and feel, like climate change.  Metaphors can constrain, divert or unlock our creativity, so we'd better get smart about the metaphors we use.  Because rest assured, there are some very clever metaphor-wangers out there.

Joining Dave this week is Simon Lancaster, political speechwriter and author of the essential book Connect!.  He tells Dave all about the brain chemistry at work behind a compelling metaphor, and why the wiliest storytellers can use metaphor to have us for Brexit. Sorry, breakfast. You can find Simon @bespokespeeches on Twitter, or via his website here.

Owl noises:
-- 11:18 - here's what Wikipedia has to say about neurons firing together / wiring together.
-- 22:45 - brace yourself, it's that Brexit Party rally from Newport.
-- 33.24 - interesting exploration of the bystander effect and climate change.
-- 47:50 - Paul Zak, the vampire neuroscientist, and why you shouldn't let him into your bedroom.

Your Brain on Climate is a podcast about human psychology vs the climate crisis: what we think, why we think it, and how it all adds up to a planet-sized emergency.  Contact the show:  @brainclimate on Twitter, or hello@yourbrainonclimate.com.

Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate.

The show is hosted by me, Dave Powell, who you can find @powellds on Twitter.  Original music by me, and I twiddle all the production knobs too.

Show logo by Arthur Stovell at www.designbymondial.com.