S2E4 – Ashley Brown: Truth

In episode 04, we discuss the word “Truth” with Ashley Brown, a historian, writer, editor and publisher, who produces science and history reference books for Windmill books, many of which he researches and writes himself.

Paul and Ashley dive into sensitive and controversial topics such as terrorism, politics, religion and history and contemplate on compelling questions like: “Are there any universal truths which are passed on from generation to generation?”  and “Can you manipulate the truth for what you consider to be a philosophical good?”

Following the interview, our guest Language Detective Mette Tingey reveals the etymological roots of the word “truth” and shares some intriguing facts about the archaic version which was used in Shakespeare’s plays.

Later in the podcast, our producer Yuliya Stancheva dives into the world of music, films, books and religion and highlights fascinating examples of how “truth” has puzzled the minds of artists, writers, musicians, philosophers and religious people throughout the years.

 

Hosts: Paul Mangell & Yuliya Stancheva

Guest Host: Mette Tingey

Producer/Writer: Yuliya Stancheva

Sound design: Alpha Studios

Sound engineers: Mikosh Nanasi

Art design: David Standley

Vocals: Stancho Stanchev

Guest: Ashley Brown

Born in 1950, Ashley Brown was educated at Dover Grammar School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. After graduating, Ashley went to King’s College London to study for a PhD on the French Revolutionary army of the 1790s and spent some immensely enjoyable years in Paris splitting his time between the archives and his parallel life as a jazz drummer. Meanwhile, he had also found a profitable sideline in ghost writing history books for public figures. Eventually, combining all these activities proved impossible and he gave up thoughts of academia to enter publishing full time. In the late 1980s he set up his own company and has run this and offshoots ever since, producing science and history reference books, many of which he researches and writes himself. He now lives in Cambridgeshire, still plays music and turns out for the Cambridgeshire Over 60s cricket team when his creaking body allows.