Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

I am the owner of the London Standard and a member of the House of Lords. My podcast is about the cutting edge of science and medicine, and the future of humanity.

We understand that your grandfather, Vladimir Sokolov, was one of your inspirations for the podcast, could you tell us a little about him, and how he inspired you?

My grandfather was one of the most important scientists in the Soviet Union. He was an ecologist, zoologist, and a pioneer of the USSR’s environmental movement; an early sustainability advocate who did much to advance the global interest in wildlife conservation.

As a child, I would frequently join him on field trips for months at a time, participating in scientific work along the steppes of Mongolia, deep in the Amazon Rainforest or the reefs of Vietnam. My very first trip with him was to Chernobyl, where we went to hunt ducks with a Geiger counter to measure their radioactive levels following the 1986 disaster. We then went on many expeditions to Africa, which inspired my love of the continent and where I have supported conservation charities throughout my adult life. More widely, my grandfather inspired me to engage passionately with the world and work towards a better future for humankind: protecting nature, improving health outcomes, and supporting cutting edge medicine.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place? What do you hope listeners will gain from listening to Brave New World?

Lockdown brought us all to a standstill. In my case, it inspired a period of reflection. I was able to turn my attention to ideas and projects which I’d been ignoring or delaying.

I’ve always been interested in science, for all the reasons outlined above, and it felt like the right time to do something about it.

The idea behind the podcast came about largely due to my interest in longevity science. I have spoken about this in the House of Lords and am a firm believer in the virtues of anti-ageing technology. I am also fascinated by the ethical and cultural implications of a movement that seeks to extend life – potentially, some argue, towards infinity.

More universally, we all became preoccupied with health and wellness during the pandemic – and more conscious than ever before of the health crisis befalling our country. Brave New World seeks to address the issues ripe for reform, as outlined by the Health Secretary last month. Namely: how we treat anxiety, depression, chronic disease, sleep deprivation, obesity, and age-related illness.

The podcast hears from those who seek to revolutionise healthcare and bring new treatments to the fore: psychedelics, nootropics, biohacking, etc. I hope listeners come away from it enlightened and better informed about the options out there for them.

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

It was either the Lex Fridman podcast or Philosophize This with Stephen West.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

Making Sense with Sam Harris and The Joe Rogan Experience.

Can you tell us about some of the guests you have coming up in series three of Brave New World?

We have groundbreaking scientists like Peter Attia, George Church, and Tim Spector; and thinkers like Steven Pinker who are reshaping how we think about the course and direction of humanity.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

Sam Altman.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

Mark Hyman on the rise of longevity medicine.

Do you have a favourite episode of the podcast, or one you are proudest of?

Helen Mirren on belief.

Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you/the podcast?

You can read interviews and editorial around the episodes on the Standard.

Listen to Brave New World on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps >>

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