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What a month! We need to talk or what? Britain saw it’s ugliest side in our streets whilst the US political scene exploded with the failed assassination attempt on the not inconsiderable target that is The Donald and then a tidal wave of hope broke over the country (and world) inspired by Kamala Harris.  

Starmer’s honeymoon ended the second England started to riot. There was a terrifying moment when it felt that there could be lynchings in the street before a broad coalition faced down the Tommy Robinson mob. Farage squirmed, complicit in the dissemination of a conspiracy that fuelled events. Liz ‘let them eat lettuce’ Truss said nothing except to complain when her book talk was interrupted by merry pranksters Led By Donkeys. Prescient, then, that our next talk on Wednesday Sept 11th concerns conspiracies. THE TRUTH ISN’T OUT THERE - THE ERA OF CONSPIRACY THEORY features ex conspiracist Brent Lee, Sian Norris an author and senior investigative journalist at openDemocracy and Dr. Alessandro Miani of Bristol University’s School of Psychological Science. We’ll talk about hateful conspiracies, those that seek to undermine democracy, the bad actors involved and how they gestate and spread online. But we’ll also cover the human cost, the lives and families upended whilst we also need to recognise that some conspiracies turn out to be true. It promises to be a fascinating talk about an age old issue that is once again potent and pernicious in our digitised world. Tickets, including a deal on a pair and student discounts from here. 

We follow with the final two talks of the year. On Tuesday October 22nd, we weigh up THE GRASS ISN’T ALWAYS GREENER - GREENWASHING VERSUS CREDIBLE CLIMATE ACTION. New Altered State host Eliz Mizon of The Bristol Cable is joined by environmental campaigner Natalie Fee and Veronica Wignall of Ad Free Cities to discuss what we all can actually do today to positively influence the climate crisis. This takes in Carla Denyer and our vote, pressure that can be brought to bear in the workplace (to B Corp or not to B Corp) and we’ll call out corporate greenwashing and discuss how we can exert influence. Early bird and student discount tickets are available from here. 

And then our last talk of what’s been an invigorating first year for Altered State is on Tuesday 19th November. We offer A LIFE LESS ORDINARY - TALES OF INNER STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE. Every so often we hear of seemingly extraordinary feats of human endurance; how otherwise everyday people have been able to channel the fortitude and ingenuity to recover a seemingly lost cause or been able to summon the will to achieve otherworldly feats of endurance. We will hear from those that have looked death in the face and didn’t blink and who have harnessed their own tenacious physical courage and determination to help rebuild shattered mental health. Super early bird tickets at a tenner a pop and student discounts are available now here. 

We promised to keep the conversation going after each of the talks and so it’s with interest that we see the draconian Public Order Act 2023 that we discussed in our very first event being made to look ridiculous with the gross discrepancy of the severity of sentences doled out to peaceful climate protestors when compared to those handed down to tooled-up white power supremacists running amok on the high street. The law, courtesy of the last Government, is an ass but new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has embraced it. The struggle continues.  

If you can’t make the talks, our post event podcast THE ALTERED STATE gives a half hour of highlights and pithy commentary. 

See you in the Hen and Chicken.  

Cheers, Al, Ben and Paddy.