The Jamie Bolam Podcast

#13 - Dr Mohammad Farhadinia, Big Cat Expert: “Conserving The World’s Rarest Cat”, “From Medical Student To Wildlife Conservationist” and “Navigating Mental Health in Conservation”

Dr Mohammad Farhadinia is a Lecturer in Conservation Science at the University of Kent and a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. An ex-medical student, originally from Iran and now based in the UK, Mohammad is an expert in large carnivores, such as Persian leopards and Asiatic Cheetahs, and he is currently focused on researching how animals adapt cognitively to new environmental landscapes within rewilding initiatives. Beyond his academic positions, he has been involved in pivotal policy platforms such as UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), the Society for Conservation Biology and the IUCN (International Union for the Conversation of Nature), key for bridging research with real-life conservation efforts. He has also had extensive experience in the NGO sector, co-founding and serving as CEO of the Iranian Cheetah Society from 2001-2008 and then Director of Science until 2016, fighting to protect the last remaining Asiatic Cheetahs and Persian leopards in Iran. He also established the Future4Leopards Foundation in 2013. Mohammad is currently Co-Chair of the Persian Leopard Working Group and teaches elective courses at the University of Oxford, such as Transboundary Conservation, which I was fortunate enough to study last year during my MSc Studies. In today’s episode, Mohammad shares his diverse experiences in conservation with us. How did he go from being a medical student to a nature conservationist? How does one research and capture leopards in the name of conservation? What should we all know about the world’s rarest cat, the Asiatic Cheetah, and how can its story teach us all important lessons about what truly matters in conservation? How can we deal with uncertainty and big egos in life, and why should we share experiences instead of achievements? When might you want to consider a PhD, and what is the importance of rewilding and reintroducing large carnivores such as cheetahs to their historic range? Extra stuff: Follow Mohammad on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-farhadinia-82117a3b/ Twitter: https://x.com/msfarhadinia?lang=en Instagram: @msfarhadinia His website: https://mfarhadinia.godaddysites.com/ [https://mfarhadinia.godaddysites.com/] Follow me on Instagram @jamie.a.bolam Sign up to my FREE newsletter at https://jamiebolam.substack.com/

#12 - Connor Wright, AI Ethicist: “Can and Should AI Combat Loneliness And Other Societal Issues?”, “The Rise and Risks of AI Girlfriends!”, & “The Hidden Environmental Cost of AI!”

Connor Wright is an AI Ethicist, currently simultaneously Partnerships Manager at the Montreal AI Ethics Institute and pursuing his Master’s in AI Ethics and Society at the University of Cambridge. He’s also a TEDxYouth Speaker and has featured on panels on the topics of facial recognition technology and post-pandemic education, as well as co-authoring and editing the book “Trustworthy AI Alone Is Not Enough”. Connor’s passion lies in social AI, and the cross-section between the Sub-Saharan African philosophy of Ubuntu and AI, stemming from his upbringing in South Africa. He also holds a first-class degree in Philosophy with Advanced Proficiency in Spanish from the University of Exeter. Connor is also an avid sportsman, football and Futsal fan, having played in and won the final of the UK’s National Futsal Series. On top of this, he is also Women’s Football Correspondent at Arsenal Editor, a Qualified Rescue Scuba Diver and won Exeter University’s Student Coach of the Year 2021/2022 for his years of dedication coaching the Women’s Futsal team. In today’s episode, Connor shares his insights into the important intersection between AI and Ethics, exploring the potential applications and pitfalls of using AI to combat pressing societal problems such as loneliness and health. We also discuss the rise of AI girlfriends and companion apps, Ubuntu philosophy, the benefits and risks of AI-powered chatbots and facial recognition and the environmental cost of AI. Shownotes: Dying by Suicide timestamp for those who wish to avoid: 30:35-31:26 The book Connor Co-authored: Trustworthy AI Alone Is Not Enough: https://e-archivo.uc3m.es/entities/publication/ebbb83c9-5f66-48e5-9a1c-428fdf51edaa Fact check for the Joy Buolamwini facial recognition study Connor mentions - the error rate for white male faces was 0.8%, while it rose to 34.7% for black female faces: https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-finds-gender-skin-type-bias-artificial-intelligence-systems-0212 Anatomy of an AI system by Crawford and Joler: Anatomy of an AI System https://anatomyof.ai The Monserrate article Connor  mentioned: https://mit-serc.pubpub.org/pub/the-cloud-is-material/release/2 [https://mit-serc.pubpub.org/pub/the-cloud-is-material/release/2] Taiwan Water Shortage and Tensions with Microchips: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emanuelabarbiroglio/2021/05/31/no-water-no-microchips-what-is-happening-in-taiwan/ Fact check: ChatGPT’s electricity use in January 2023 was the equivalent of 175,000 Danish families’ use in a year: https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2023-03-23/el-sucio-secreto-de-la-inteligencia-artificial.html The griefbot case study Connor mentioned: https://www.theverge.com/a/luka-artificial-intelligence-memorial-roman-mazurenko-bot Extra stuff: Follow Connor on Instagram @saffa_connor Connor’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-wright-931729168/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-wright-931729168/] Sign up to my FREE newsletter at https://jamiebolam.substack.com/ [https://jamiebolam.substack.com/] Follow me on Instagram @jamie.a.bolam Find me on Youtube, Spotify, LinkedIn and more via my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jamiebolam [https://linktr.ee/jamiebolam] #podcast #jamiebolampodcast #Oxford #oxforduniversity #ai #artificialintelligence #computers #cambridge #cambridgeuniversity #podcaster #podcasters #research #ethics #philosophy #inspirational #love #linkinbio #fyp #fypシ #fypage #taiwan #environment #conservation #girlfriend #boyfriend #relationships #ubuntu #southafrica #uk #inspiration #lifelessons #motivational #learning #friends #podcastsofinsta #podcastsofinstagram

#11 - Bilal Mustafa, Oxford Natural History Researcher - Wildlife Conservation in Pakistan

Bilal Mustafa is an inspirational wildlife conservationist and zoologist from Pakistan. He has recently completed his Postgraduate Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice at the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. (AKA WildCRU), and I would not at all be surprised to see him leading the conservation scene in his home country one day. I am fortunate enough to have joined the WildCRU family myself as well, and it is there that we met and became friends in early 2023. Bilal is a fellow of the Linnean Society, the Royal Geographic Society, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Crocodile Special Group, and he also works for Conservation Optimism and serves on Reserve: The Youth Land Trust. Today, Bilal takes us on a journey into the Pakistani nature conservation world. Why did Bilal dedicate himself to conservation? What is the history of conservation in Pakistan and what makes it such a unique place? What were Bilal’s experiences like, surveying for river dolphins, studying snow leopards, gharial (a type of crocodile) and delving into historical natural history? What are his thoughts on trophy hunting and what fascinating example of traditional ecological knowledge can we learn from Pakistan? What on Earth is transboundary conservation and what is Bilal’s take on conservation in the developing world? How has he found life at Oxford and at WildCRU, arguably the Mecca of wildlife conservation research? Join us today to find out the answers to all these questions and much more! Extra stuff: Follow Bilal on Instagram and X @itswildbilal Sign up to my FREE newsletter at https://jamiebolam.substack.com/ [https://jamiebolam.substack.com/] Follow me on Instagram @jamie.a.bolam Find me on Youtube, Spotify, LinkedIn and more via my Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jamiebolam [https://linktr.ee/jamiebolam]

#10 - Nic Alvanis, Streetlifting World Champion: “Overcoming Imposter Syndrome”, “Improving Your Life By Cultivating Acceptance and Detachment” & “Navigating Autonomy and Boundaries In Latin Dance”

Nic Alvanis is an elite calisthenics athlete, becoming 2022 Streetlifting World Champion for his weight category. He is a sponsored calisthenics athlete, calisthenics coach and a co-founder of the University Calisthenics Association, which seeks to unite and ignite the Calisthenics bodyweight fitness scene across all universities. Nic is also an amazing musician and latin dancer with a passion for salsa and bachata. Nic is one of my best friends, our first repeat guest and this is the first of forthcoming episodes available in video form! Today Nic and I share with you an amazing conversation we had following our many deep talks and philosophising on life and making the most of it. We discuss how to overcome imposter syndrome, cultivate acceptance and detachment to improve your life, and introduce our thoughts on what we have been calling “Bachata Ethics” - in a nutshell, exploring how we can navigate and reconcile our love of partnered dances like bachata when faced with deep analysis that prompts us to reevaluate our engagement in the activity. We touch on learning to navigate this on both an individual basis as well as within a relationship context. We’ve had really interesting conversations with many dancers developing our ideas on this and we’re really excited to share our thoughts. We’re always developing these thoughts and are really curious to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to contribute to the conversation with us directly or in the comments online! Extra stuff: Nic’s Instagram: @nic.blu Nic’s dance instagram: @nicdancediary Follow me on Instagram @jamie.a.bolam Sign up to my FREE newsletter at https://jamiebolam.substack.com/ [https://jamiebolam.substack.com/]

#9 - Javiera Perez Ribalta - Chilean Regeneration Practitioner and Co-Founder of Regenerativa

Javiera Perez Ribalta is a co-founder of Regenerativa, a Chilean nature recovery organisation, and is deeply dedicated to preserving and regenerating Chile’s amazing biodiversity. Javi has since worked extensively on soil regeneration, agroecology, regenerative cattle management and forest restoration, collaborating with small farmers grappling with soil degradation and drought. She has spent the last 3 years dedicated to the Isla Mocha Community Regeneration project, engaging the local community in regenerative actions. Javi is part of the 2023-24 cohort studying the Masters in Biodiversity, Conservation & Management at the University of Oxford, being a member of St Peter’s College. A sociologist by academic background prior to her step into the world of conservation, Javi is also a dedicated LGBTQ activist. Javi loves photography, music, squash, hiking and is an avid and talented botanist. Her botanical photography is truly beautiful. How did Javi become so deeply dedicated to conserving our planet? What can she tell us about her beautiful country, the Chilean conservation ecosystem and its stunning Valdivian Forests What is Javi’s story in co-founding Regenerativa, and how does one successfully build an NGO, from idea through to action? What can Isla Mocha teach us about being regenerative in our actions, what does regenerative cattle management look like, and what the heck is a Chilihueque? Rest assured, mi gente, that you will find out all the answers to these riveting questions and much more on this exciting episode of the Jamie Bolam podcast! Extra stuff: Regenerativa’s website: www.regenerativa.cl [http://www.regenerativa.cl] Regenerativa’s Instagram: @regenerativacl Follow me on Instagram @jamie.a.bolam Sign up to my FREE newsletter at https://jamiebolam.substack.com/ [https://jamiebolam.substack.com/]