Hen & Chicken

TALK: The History of Horror Films & Women
2025-12-02 19:30 - 21:30 UTC | Hen & Chicken Studio
Horror films often get a bad rap for how they treat women. Many lean on explicit sex and violence, reduce women into disposable victims, or fall back on familiar roles: the mother, the virgin, and the whore. But is that the whole story?

In this talk, Prof Susanne Kord takes a fresh look at women in horror, from the “final girl” who outlasts everyone else to the archetypes we love to fear. Drawing on film and cartoon theory, she explores how horror shapes the way we see women, whether audiences share some responsibility for what they watch, and whether an “ethical” horror film can exist.
At its core, this talk wrestles with two big questions: why do we keep watching horror – and what does that say about us?
Speaker Bio:
Professor Susanne Kord is a Professor Emeritus of German at UCL and a member of the British Academy. Her research interests include German history and culture, English literature, cinema (with an emphasis on horror and/or gender issues), and the history of crime (in real life, literature, and film). She is the author of eleven books and dozens of essays, and has received seven major awards for her writing, including a life-time achievement award. So far she has gone on three international lecture tours, and additionally offered fifteen keynote or plenary addresses at major conventions, four named lectures, and hundreds of other talks.

Talk: The History of Witchcraft in Popular Culture
2025-12-10 19:30 - 21:30
Why do witches have such a strong pull on our collective imagination? Are they simply bewitching caricatures, or is there something more metaphysical that drives their continuing popularity?
From the printed engravings of the 15th century to the images created by AI in the 21st century, witches continue to occupy a place in popular culture. They feature in art, literature, theatre, music, and film, and many more.
Dr Julia Phillips will examine the role of the witch in popular culture, from its earlier depictions to the present day. Discover why this figure has remained so compelling, and how it has continually evolved to embody the fears, values and hopes of each generation. Expect a lively journey through history, myth and gender, and leave with a fresh perspective on one of culture’s most enduring icons.

Dr Julia Phillips is Hons Senior Research Associate and lecturer at the University of Bristol. She received her PhD for her research examining how witches and witchcraft were featured in newspapers in Victorian Britain. Her work has been published in books, academic journals, and popular magazines, and she is a regular presenter at conferences and events. Her primary research interests are the study of witchcraft in the 19th century and the development of modern Pagan Witchcraft in the 20th/21st centuries.

TALK: The Psychology of Cats with Dr Jon Bowen
2026-01-14 19:30 - 21:30
Worshipped & domesticated by us for over 10,000 years, learn what modern science says about what goes on inside the mind of a cat! With Q+A.

What do cats need to keep them happy? What are the rules cats expect us to follow when we interact with them? Why do cats ask for attention but then sometimes object when we stroke them? Where do cats go and what do they get up to when they leave the house? How have cats learned tricks to secretly manipulate us to get what they want? These are just some of the questions we’ll answer in this wide-ranging talk about the secret lives of cats.
Jon Bowen is a veterinary surgeon who has been working with dogs and cats with behaviour problems for more than 25 years. He runs the behavioural medicine referral service at the Royal Veterinary College, where he also lectures on behaviour, and he has published research papers and book chapters on a diverse range of subjects including normal and problematic cat and dog behaviour, the social support people get from their pets, and the welfare of pets. He is a regular speaker at international meetings.

Talk: The Psychology of People Pleasing
2026-01-19 19:30 - 21:30
Join us as we explore what people pleasing is, what drives it, and how to begin to break free. Followed by a Q+A.

Do you struggle to say no? Take on too much? Put everyone else’s needs before your own? If fear and guilt are stopping you from living the life you want, people-pleasing could be the reason why.
In this talk, psychotherapist Hannah Paskin will break down people pleasing – helping you identify the signs, understand how it shows up in your work, relationships, and daily life, and learn practical techniques to say no with confidence and let go of guilt.
Speaker bio:
Psychotherapist Hannah Paskin is a Recovering People Pleaser who really gets it. She runs her own successful full-time therapy practice Hannah Paskin Therapy in Cheshire & Online. She is known as the Straight-Talking Therapist, and her mission is to give people the answers they need to break free from fear, guilt, anxiety and more. She helps people to overcome People Pleasing, Burnout, Imposter Syndrome, Perfectionism and High Functioning Anxiety. She is an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with 15 years’ experience in the field.

Talk: The History of Mermaids, Sea Spirits & Women
2026-02-24 19:30 - 21:30
Dive beneath the surface of mermaid lore, tracing their long histories and what they may reveal about wider society. Followed by Q&A.

Since Hans Christian Andersen turned the mermaid into a romantic heroine, shimmering sea-maidens have swum through popular culture. “Mermaiding” has even become a verb. But where do these figures really come from, and why do they hold such power over us?

Talk: Vampires & the Human Psyche
2026-03-04 19:30 - 22:30
Discover the fascinating connections between vampires and the human mind, from Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With Q&A.

Why are we so drawn to vampires? What do they reveal about us?
Long before Hollywood, vampires started with folklore, born out of fear and superstition. Over the centuries, these figures have evolved into a key element of pop culture and left a lasting mark on our collective consciousness. From Dracula and Nosferatu to Lost Boys and our beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this talk will explore these enduring symbols and their connections to the human psyche.
Join Katie Evans in exploring why we both fear and love vampires, and how their stories resonate with us on a personal level. Through psychoanalysis, forensic psychology and the lens of gender and sexuality, we will dig deep into vampiric legend. From Freud and Jung to modern ideas of narcissism, we will explore how these blood-sucking figures represent otherness, internal struggles and the complexities that many of us face as humans.
Speaker Bio:
Katie Evans is a BACP-accredited therapist and self-confessed horror nerd. Her passion for all things spooky began in childhood and continued through her studies in music, film, and media at Liverpool University, before moving into the field of mental health. She holds advanced accreditation in GSRD Therapy (Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity). In addition, Katie has presented at conferences across Europe and has spoken for organisations including The Maudsley, the British Psychological Society, The NHS, LGBT Foundation, and HMPPS, among others. She is also a registered guest lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. An advocate for using pop culture in psychotherapy, Katie previously hosted The Mental Health Monsters Podcast and continues to explore how fictional narratives – especially those from the horror genre – can help us better understand ourselves.

Talk: A Psychologist’s Guide to Expressing Female Rage
2026-03-30 19:30 - 21:30
Join award-winning psychologist Dr. Lalitaa Suglani to explore women’s hidden rage, why it matters, and how to release it. With Q&A.

Do you often find yourself suppressing your anger? When anger goes unexpressed, it can surface as anxiety, burnout and self-blame. Yet, anger is not something to fear, it is a powerful emotional signal.
This talk will explore where female range comes from, why so many women are conditioned to silence it and how to better recognise it. We will explore the psychological roots of anger, and how early social and relational conditioning shapes how safely we feel able to express it. Walk away with practical guides to recognise, regulate and communicate anger constructively. Join Dr Suglani to find out why your rage has been hiding, and how to work with it consciously.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Lalitaa Suglani is an award-winning psychologist specialising in helping high-achieving professionals manage stress, burnout, and high-functioning anxiety. As the author of High Functioning Anxiety: How to Manage Inner Panic and Thrive, she offers actionable tools to help individuals live authentically while resisting the pressures of overwork. With a wealth of experience speaking at international events and appearing on multiple podcasts, Dr. Suglani is committed to empowering individuals to balance ambition with well-being and resilience.

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Talk: The Neuroscience of Adverse Childhood Experiences
2026-04-14 19:30 - 21:30
Discover how early life experiences could shape long-term wellbeing, and how certain factors can support recovery. With Q&A.

Why do early life experiences, especially those that are difficult, shape who we become as adults? Adverse Childhood Experiences like neglect, abuse and/or chronic stress can alter the developing brains of children and adolescents. In turn, this cumulative stress could play a role in shaping our emotions, learning, memory, and decision-making.
In this talk, Dr Jeffrey DeMarco will draw on neuroscience to explore the influences of early environment on children’s long-term well-being, and how this impacts us into adulthood. He will also explore the role of support and resilience in helping the brain heal and grow after trauma. This session is perfect for any adult eager to explore and understand childhood experiences and how they can have a lasting impact on our lives.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
Speaker Bio:
Dr Jeffrey DeMarco is a Senior Technical Advisor for Protecting Children from Digital Harm at Save the Children UK. He is also a chartered forensic psychologist, and frequently lectures on trauma at Middlesex University. His research and policy work bridge psychology with technology and child protection, where most recently, he led a nine-nation digital-resilience programme. He has spoken before the European Commission, Europol, and UNICEF on online harms, radicalisation, and the experience of trauma. His ideas have been featured in his TEDx RoyalHolloway talks “The Importance of Trust” and his podcast “Privacy Talks” (2025).

Talk: The History of Greek Mythology: From Mount Olympus to modern mystery
2026-04-29 19:00 - 21:30
From Mount Olympus to Medusa, discover the fascinating history of Greek mythology and its echoes through the ages. Followed by Q&A.

For over two thousand years, Greek mythology has shaped Western imagination. Stories of Olympian gods, epic heroes, and fearsome monsters have inspired philosophers and poets, painters and playwrights, filmmakers and fans alike. We’ve seen Homeric epics to the spectacle of Troy and the bold reinvention of myth in Netflix’s Kaos. Every retelling places us in an unbroken chain of storytellers stretching back to antiquity, keeping ancient voices alive in the modern world. But how well do we really know the origins of these tales?
In this talk, Dr Shelby Judge explores the great mythic ages of ancient Greece – the Golden and Silver Ages, the Bronze Age, and the Age of Heroes – bringing to life the defining stories and figures of each era. Along the way, the talk asks a deeper question: why have these myths endured? By examining their archetypes, moral tensions, and enduring insights into the human condition, this talk reveals why Greek mythology continues to fascinate, challenge, and enchant us today.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
Speaker Bio:
Dr Shelby Judge is a Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Derby, where she researches digital feminist and popular feminist responses to Incels and the Manosphere. She recently completed her PhD in English Literature at the University of Glasgow, producing the thesis Contemporary Feminist Adaptations of Greek Myth, and her work in this field is ongoing due to the genre’s proliferating nature. Shelby has published on topics including #MeToo and the Trojan War, 21st-century adaptations of Helen of Troy, transgender adaptations of Frankenstein, and transgender readings of Ovid.
She has delivered public lectures on toxic masculinity in Greek myth and sea monsters in Scottish folklore, and is a regular contributor to the Literary Encyclopedia, where she has written on the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy and Margaret Atwood, as well as entries on Laura Bates and Janice Hallett. She also serves as a committee member for the Transatlantic Literary Women network, funded by the US Embassy and BAAS.

Talk: Getting Away with Murder: Why some murders stay unsolved
2026-04-30 19:00 - 22:00
Every crime tells a story. But not every story ends with justice.

Behind every closed case and every cold file lies a question we can’t quite let go of… how did they get away with it?
In this series, we’ll uncover the truth behind the world’s most baffling crimes… where evidence was missed, witnesses were silenced, and the guilty walked free. We’ll explore the psychology of deception, the flaws in forensic science, and the fragile line between guilt and innocence. Because when the system breaks, it’s not just the victims who suffer — it’s our faith in justice itself.
Join Dr. Friday, as we go beyond the headlines… and into the minds of those who got away with murder.

Dr Friday earned his PhD at the University of Greenwich and went on to lead their forensic psychology course for the Criminology Department.
His experimental research earned him the ‘doctor’ title and several academic awards, but he’s very much just Ross when bringing the darker edges of human behaviour to the public. With pitch-black humour and personal stories, he makes complex forensic psychology accessible, entertaining — and sometimes even hilarious. He’s created live shows, a book, and even an immersive crime scene experience that lets guests step into the macabre world of the serial killer.

Talk: Horror Movies, Sexuality & Power
2026-05-18 19:30 - 21:30
Discover how horror movies reveal hidden stories of sexuality, fear and identity across classic and modern cinema. Followed by Q&A.

Sex and horror have always been intertwined. While the genre has often been criticised as exploitative or moralising – particularly toward women – it has also created a powerful space for audiences to explore their own stories of desire, fear and identity.
In this thought-provoking talk, Katie Evans draws on psychoanalysis, queer theory and film history to uncover the hidden narratives within some of our most beloved horror films. From classic monsters like Dracula and The Bride of Frankenstein to Psycho, Hellraiser and It Follows, we’ll examine how themes of shame, pleasure and survival play out on screen.
Whether you’re drawn to horror, fascinated by identity, or curious about sexuality, this talk invites you to consider what horror narratives really represent. Together, we’ll explore ideas on sexual development, kink and queerness – and how horror films can reflect the parts of ourselves we’re taught to hide, revealing our complex relationship with otherness and what we can fear is the “monstrous” within.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
Speaker Bio:
Katie Evans is a BACP-accredited therapist and self-confessed horror nerd. Her passion for all things spooky began in childhood and continued through her studies in music, film, and media at Liverpool University, before moving into the field of mental health. She holds advanced accreditation in GSRD Therapy (Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity). In addition, Katie has presented at conferences across Europe and has spoken for organisations including The Maudsley, the British Psychological Society, The NHS, LGBT Foundation, and HMPPS, among others. She is also a registered guest lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University. An advocate for using pop culture in psychotherapy, Katie previously hosted The Mental Health Monsters Podcast and continues to explore how fictional narratives – especially those from the horror genre – can help us better understand ourselves.
This talk is 18+

Talk: The Hidden World of Fairies & Women
2026-06-03 19:30 - 21:30
Step into Britain’s hidden fairy realm and meet the powerful Queen behind its myths, magic and forgotten stories. Followed by Q&A.

Once, there was a realm ruled by a powerful Queen – a figure who could shape her appearance, take lovers, and command a kingdom beneath the earth that included the dead. Known by many names, she was most often called the Queen of the Fairies.
In this talk, we’ll explore Britain’s lost fairy traditions through this enigmatic figure. From early medieval pagan beliefs – including links to the goddess Diana – to later connections with saints and angels, we’ll trace how her story evolved across time. We’ll uncover accounts of Scottish witches said to draw power from her, alongside those who feared her influence – and explore why the Presbyterian Kirk sought to suppress these stories. Finally, we’ll examine what these stories reveal about women, power and belief in Britain’s past.
Speaker Bio:
Diane Purkiss is Professor of English at the University of Oxford, and a fellow of Keble College. She has published on witchcraft, fairies, and also on the English Civil War, the occasion of England’s biggest witchhunt. She has been in more than a dozen television documentaries; she even has an IMdb entry and a Wikipedia page… She has spoken to general audiences at numerous literary festivals and to many local history societies.

Talk: The Science of DMT & Ayahuasca
2026-06-22 19:30 - 21:30
Join us to explore the intersection of science, shamanism + DMT (the ‘spirit molecule’) and the entities it reveals. Followed by a Q+A.

This talk explores the intersection between the scientific, therapeutic, psychonautic, and shamanic exploration of the DMT realm and attempts to fuse these disparate and yet overlapping cosmologies.
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), dubbed the ‘spirit molecule,’ is an extremely potent short acting psychedelic substance. It is found naturally in the human body and is abundant in other areas of nature. It has been theorised that DMT is released at birth, near-death experiences and even when we dream!
The traditional indigenous use of DMT in the Amazonian visionary decoction, ayahuasca, known as the ‘vine of the dead,’ has a long history of shamanic use to transcend time and space and communicate with the spirits of nature. Most people experiencing a breakthrough dose of DMT report encounters with seemingly sentient, intelligent and independent entities, which typically convey a convincing sense of their reality, such that a recent survey found that of those having such encounters who reported being atheist before their experience, more than half reported that they were no longer atheist afterwards.
This talk explores the intersection between the scientific, therapeutic, psychonautic, and shamanic exploration of the DMT realm and attempts to fuse these disparate and yet overlapping cosmologies.

Dr David Luke is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich. His research focuses on transpersonal experiences, anomalous phenomena and altered states of consciousness, especially via psychedelics, having published more than 100 academic papers in this area, including ten books, most recently Otherworlds: Psychedelics and Exceptional Human Experience. When he is not running clinical drug trials with LSD, conducting DMT field experiments or observing apparent weather control with Mexican shamans he directs the Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness salon and is a cofounder and director of Breaking Convention: International Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness.

Talk: Sylvia Plath, Witchcraft & Radical Poetry
2026-07-08 19:30 - 21:30
Explore the politics of the witch trials and powerful witch imagery in Sylvia Plath’s poetry. Followed by Q&A.

Sylvia Plath is best known for her novel The Bell Jar (1963) and her emotive, striking poetry. She grew up in Massachusetts, close to Salem, a place closely linked to the history of the witch trials. During the 1950s, renewed public interest in these events influenced Plath’s writing and imagination. Plath often used images of witches and witch trials to explore power, identity and injustice. Her poetry reflects her concerns about control and authority in society, while also showing sympathy for those unfairly accused.
In this talk, Dr Dorka Tamás explores how Plath connects with witchcraft and poetic language, and how the figure of the witch appears in different forms in her work. We’ll look at the contrast between fictional “evil” witches from fairy tales and the real historical victims who were accused of witchcraft, and punished by patriarchal systems of power.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
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Speaker Bio:
Dr Dorka Tamás is a researcher and teacher based at Royal Holloway, University of London.She earned her PhD in English literature from the University of Exeter (2022) and herMaster’s degree from the University of Sussex (2018). Dorka is specialised in twentieth-century women’s poetry, particularly Sylvia Plath, the legacies of early modern witch-hunt inliterature, and post-1945 American culture. She has spoken at the Sylvia Plath Literary Festival at Hebden Bridge (2022), at numerous academic conferences, and at the Romancing the Gothic lecture series. She is the author of Sylvia Plath and the Supernatural, published by Cambridge University Press (2026) and the editor of The New Sylvia Plath Studies, forthcoming from Cambridge University Press.
This talk is 16+

Talks: AuDHD & Women: Exploring gender bias in neurodivergence
2026-07-28 19:30 - 21:30
Discover how AuDHD uniquely presents in women in this insightful and neuroaffirming talk. Followed by Q&A.

For many years, Autism and ADHD could not be diagnosed together, with one diagnosis excluding the other. We now know that the two are deeply connected, with up to 60% of Autistic people also experiencing ADHD. Yet despite growing awareness, many women continue to be overlooked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed due to outdated assumptions and gender bias.
This talk explores the complex reality of AuDHD – not simply having both Autism and ADHD, but navigating the constant internal “tug of war” between two often conflicting neurotypes. Drawing on current research and lived experience, we’ll explore topics including masking, burnout and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria.
Taking a neuroaffirming approach throughout, this talk offers practical insights and supportive strategies to help women better understand themselves, recognise their strengths, and advocate for the support they deserve.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
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Speaker Bio:
Dr Emilie Moorhead (DClinPsych, CPsychol, BSc) is a Clinical Psychologist with nearly two decades of clinical experience working with Neurodivergent people. She is a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Chartered Clinical Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Dr Moorhead runs her own successful Psychology practice, This Is Me Psychology, which specialises in supporting Neurodivergent people to gain the best possible understanding of themselves. She adopts a neuro-affirming approach, helping Neurodivergent people to recognise the strengths and values that they have to enable them to embrace their full potential. She strongly believes that everybody should be able to access Neurodivergent support in a proactive and preventative manner, without needing to reach crisis point first.
Dr Moorhead has also worked in a range of NHS and private mental health services, including Clinical Lead at two specialist Neurodiversity Services. She works with individuals across the lifespan. She is a guest lecturer on a number of University courses, specialising in Neurodivergent conditions and post-diagnostic support.

Talk: The Science of Dreams
2026-08-11 19:30 - 21:30
Join us while we take a closer look at what happens to the brain while we sleep and the meaning behind our dreams. Followed by Q+A.

Humans have studied and interpreted dreams for many centuries. Have you ever woken up after a crazy dream convinced it means something? Or spent hours wondering why your mind comes up with such ludicrous fantasies?
In this engaging talk from NHS psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Jonathan Iliff, you will learn what science has to say on the matter! Jonathan will explain the current theories on how and why we dream, what goes on in our brain during sleep and how you can enhance your dreams!
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
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Dr Jonathan Iliff is a psychiatrist and medical doctor in the NHS, with a background in neuroscience and psychedelic drug research. Jonathan has been an associate researcher with the psychedelic research group attached to King’s College, was the founder and chair of the UCL Society for the Application of Psychedelics and has worked with prominent figures in the field. His research focused on the use of psychedelic compounds, like LSD and psilocybin – the active ingredient in magic mushrooms – a promising new treatment for depression. Today his focus is clinical – focusing on helping with people, and their problems in the here and now.

Talk: The Psychology of Possession & Exorcism
2026-08-25 19:30 - 21:30
Explore the science behind possession, exorcism, and why our brains conjure the paranormal. Followed by Q&A.

Millions of people around the world – including in the UK today – believe that spirits or demons can take over a living person’s body. But neuroscience tells a very different story. So if a demonic possession isn’t real, what’s actually going on?
It turns out that there’s no single answer. Some historical demonic “possessions” were likely undiagnosed conditions like epilepsy or Tourette’s. Others look remarkably like phenomena we recognise today – dissociative identity disorder, hypnosis, speaking in tongues. Then there are the darker cases: possession used as a label against vulnerable people, with devastating results. This talk unpacks the science, the psychology, and the genuinely strange space where belief and the brain collide.
Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7:30pm – come down early to grab a good seat!
Speaker Bio:
Chris French is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he founded the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit — dedicated to understanding why humans have paranormal experiences, and what’s really behind them. He’s a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and a Patron of Humanists UK. He’s published more than 200 articles and book chapters, and is a regular contributor to the Guardian and Skeptic magazine.
He frequently appears on radio (Curious Cases, All in the Mind, Uncanny, Today, PM) and television (Newsnight, BBC Breakfast, The Big Questions) casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims. He has also given talks on a wide range of such topics both nationally (the Royal Institution, New Scientist Live) and internationally (Europe, Australia, Taiwan, USA). His most recent book is The science of weird shit: Why our minds conjure the paranormal, published by MIT Press in 2024.

Learn more about Seed Talks events here: Seed Talks | Fascinating lectures in relaxed spaces

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