THE BAD BEHAVIOUR PODCAST

Bad Behaviour podcasts tend to focus on current or recent bad behaviour but nevertheless we like to entertain ourselves and our listeners by providing plenty of historic context. It can help to understand ~ and make judgements on ~ the off-the-scale bad behaviour of today’s bad-actors if it is viewed in the light of yesterday’s criminal opportunism and aggravated stupidity. It is also easier, for some reason, to laugh at yesterday’s delinquency and we are going to need a few laughs as we unpick our way through today’s news headlines.

Our podcasters and their guests are just as interested in the behaviour of local bad-actors as we are in the malfeasance of global leaders. Hardly a year goes by, it seems, without a little local difficulty somewhere threatening to turn into a global face-off.

Our podcasters are occasionally exercised by the zero-sum mindset. The idea that every human interaction is inevitably a binary conflict with one winner and one looser. The zero-sum mindset is a ubiquitous and deadly belief among political leaders, policy makers, business leaders, dynastic tyrants and the delusional founders of the giant digital-technology companies who like teenagers cannot control their adolescent urges. All of these pullers of levers are convinced that unless they “win” they, and all mankind, will crash and burn. The zero-sum mindset denies any possibility of collaboration from which all sides benefit. As a consequence decisions are taken that pose serious threats to world stability and may constitute existential threats now or in the future.

Our podcasts are about climate change, war, inequality, prejudice, pollution, tyranny, global health threats and the rest of the issues that threaten us today. Our podcasters are serial complainers but they are also tasked with offering possible solutions.

The Bad Behaviour Podcast is at home on Spotify but can be found on the other usual platforms. Like all the Bad Behaviour projects it is free to access and free of advertising and sponsorship.

Members of the Bad Behaviour Supporters Group can suggest lines of inquiry and nominate guests to appear on the podcast. The discussion forums which underpin the podcasts are only accessible to members of the BBSG.