Philosophical conversations about inner and outer change.
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The Bardo Podcast is a philosophy, comedy, and spirituality podcast hosted by comedian Marc Salmon.
Inspired by the Buddhist idea of the Bardo, a space of transition and uncertainty, the podcast explores how we make sense of change, creativity, and modern life.
Through long-form conversations with comedians, philosophers, Buddhist thinkers, and artists, the show blends humour and deep thinking to explore new ways of thinking in uncertain times, from personal transformation to culture, identity, and meaning.
Sometimes serious, sometimes funny, always curious, honest, and searching.
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Latest Episode
Episode 9 - Emily Herring
Henri Bergson and Why You Feel Less Free Than You Think
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Why do so many people feel rushed, rigid and disconnected from themselves?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, Marc Salmon is joined by writer and philosopher Emily Herring to explore the life and ideas of Henri Bergson, once the most famous philosopher in the world.
We discuss Bergson’s ideas on time, freedom, memory, intuition, laughter and why modern life can often feel increasingly mechanical.
Emily explains how we often mistake clock time for lived experience, habit for freedom, and concepts for reality.
We also explore Bergson’s clashes with Einstein and Bertrand Russell, the meaning of élan vital, mysticism, and whether technology is advancing faster than our moral development.
A thoughtful and surprisingly relevant conversation about how to stay human in an increasingly mechanical world.
Topics include:
Henri Bergson explained simply
Time: lived time vs clock time
Freedom and free will
Memory and consciousness
Intuition beyond fixed concepts
Why laughter matters
Bergson vs Einstein
Bergson vs Bertrand Russell
Élan vital and creativity
Technology, algorithms and modern life
Guest:
Emily Herring is a writer based in Paris. She studied philosophy at the Sorbonne and received her PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Leeds.
She is the author of Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People - the first biography of Bergson in English.
Check out her website here.
Online Meditation Sessions:
Second and fourth Sundays, 10:30am UK
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Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller
Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special here