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Richard Branson and Laughter

Chris is joined by billionaire businessman Richard Branson to discuss his new autobiography 'Finding My Virginity' and neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott tells us why we laugh.

Chris is joined by billionaire businessman Richard Branson to discuss his new autobiography 'Finding My Virginity' and how his dyslexia has contributed to his success. Neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott explains the science behind laughter and why we make jokes. We discover the world's best restaurants and count down your Top Tenuous links to black swans. Vassos is joined in the Sports Locker by gymnast Claudia Fragapane and Dave Tomlinson has the Pause For Thought.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Thu 12 Oct 2017 06:30
Â鶹Éç Radio 2

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Clips

See all clips from Richard Branson and Laughter (3)

Music Played

  • Electric Light Orchestra

    Shine A Little Love

    • ELO's Greatest Hits Vol.2.
    • Epic.

  • Erasure

    Just A Little Love

    • (CD Single).
    • Mute.
    • 8.

  • Patrick Swayze

    She's Like The Wind (feat. Wendy Fraser)

    • (CD Single).
    • RCA.

  • The Police

    Message In A Bottle

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Never Going Back Again

    • Fleetwood Mac - Rumours.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 10.

  • Nina Simone

    Ain't Got No, I Got Life

    • (CD Single).
    • Sony BMG.

  • U2

    You're The Best Thing About Me

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.

  • Paul Simon

    You Can Call Me Al

    • The Paul Simon Anthology (Disc 2).
    • Warner Bros.
    • 4.

  • Eddie Hodges

    I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door

    • Oldies But Goldies.
    • Janus.

  • Dawn

    Knock Three Times

    • Million Sellers Vol.14 - The Seventie.
    • Disky.

  • Dave Edmunds

    I Hear you Knocking

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1970 (Various).
    • Premier.
    • 4.

  • Tears for Fears

    I Love You But I'm Lost

  • The Cranberries

    Linger

    • Emerald Rock (Various Artists).
    • Polygram Tv.

  • Led Zeppelin

    Whole Lotta Love

    • Early Days.
    • Atlantic.
    • 13.

  • Anne-Marie

    Heavy

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.

  • Shed Seven

    Going For Gold

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
    • 7.

  • The Human League

    Tell Me When

    • Now 30 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Ed Wynn, Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke

    I Love To Laugh

  • Jools Holland & José Feliciano

    Let's Find Each Other Tonight

    • (CD Single).
    • East West Records.

  • Amen Corner

    Bend Me Shape Me

    • Heartbeat 2 (Various Artists).
    • Columbia.

  • Ed Sheeran

    Galway Girl

    • ÷ Divide.
    • Atlantic.

  • George Michael

    Fantasy (feat. Nile Rodgers)

    • (CD Single).
    • CMG.

  • La Belle Epoque

    Black Is Black

    • Dance Classics Volume 3 (Various Artists).
    • Arcade.

  • Ronan Keating

    Lovin' Each Day

    • Now 49 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

Pause for Thought

Pause for Thought

From Dave Tomlinson, writer and Vicar of St Luke’s Holloway in London:

 Looking at pictures in the news of De Vinci’s Salvador Mundi, a portrait of Christ which will reportedly sell at auction for around $100m, I found myself pondering afresh why Jesus is almost never pictured smiling.

 A few years ago, two Australians had the same thought. As global travellers, they noticed that wherever they went images of Jesus mostly portrayed an austere figure, never looking happy.

 So they invited international artists to create pictures of Jesus, seen through the lens of their own culture, but joyful and smiling. The result was a remarkable collection of paintings with unconventional images of Jesus dancing, juggling, playing games with children, eating, drinking and laughing with friends, even performing as a stand-up comic. They entitled the exhibition ‘Jesus Laughing’.

 I’ve always had a fondness for the Laughing Buddha, the rotund, happy figure that symbolises the good life filled with gratitude, compassion and happiness. And as a Christian I regret that too-often my faith tradition has conveyed the impression that God disapproves of enjoyment and carnal pleasure. I love the Jewish proverb which says that on Judgement Day we will give an account of every good thing that we refused to enjoy when we might have done so.

 At its best, religion has a smile on its face, not a frown. Yet it is also true that pleasure should not be our goal, but rather a consequence of discovering a richer meaning to life through a deeper connection with others.

 In a month’s time, my friend Evie will be the only disabled person in a party of climbers scaling Everest to Base Camp. Instead of simply grieving the death of her mother, Evie is doing the climb to raise money for a charity supporting disabled children in her mum’s memory. It will be devastatingly hard work, but Evie says she always wants to contribute, to make things better for others. And I know she will return with a typically almighty grin on her face.

 As a pleasure lover, myself, I find the pleasant life constantly beckons – and I do mean to enjoy my time here. But people like Evie show me that life’s greatest joy derives not from pleasure-seeking but from working to bring pleasure to others – even if it hurts!

Broadcast

  • Thu 12 Oct 2017 06:30
    Â鶹Éç Radio 2

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

Â鶹Éç Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.