Great Lives Podcast
Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
Episodes to download
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Jeanne Baret, first woman to sail round the globe
Tue 21 Dec 2021
Nina Sosanya picks Jeanne Baret, first woman round the globe.
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Rory Sutherland on Johnny Ramone
Tue 14 Dec 2021
The advertising guru Rory Sutherland on the founder of the New York punk band, the Ramones
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JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit
Tue 7 Dec 2021
Niall Ferguson chooses JRR Tolkien, creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
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Yanis Varoufakis on Hypatia
Tue 21 Sep 2021
The life and brutal death of a gifted mathematician and philosopher from the ancient world
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Dorothy Byrne on Catherine of Siena
Tue 14 Sep 2021
The president of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge champions the life of the Italian saint
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Peggy Seeger on her husband Ewan MacColl
Tue 7 Sep 2021
Peggy Seeger picks her long time partner, Ewan MacColl, folk singer and labour activist.
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Josiah Wedgwood, master potter
Tue 31 Aug 2021
Tristram Hunt on Josiah Wedgwood, vase maker general to the universe!
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Frantz Fanon
Tue 24 Aug 2021
The anti-colonial writer and psychiatrist from Martinique is the choice of Lindsay Johns
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Althea Gibson
Tue 17 Aug 2021
The first black tennis player to win Wimbledon is the choice of Professor Devi Sridhar.
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Hans Christian Andersen
Tue 3 Aug 2021
Author of The Little Mermaid and The Emperor's New Clothes, he was 'a very strange orchid'
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Rosie Millard on Edward III
Tue 25 May 2021
Rosie tells Matthew Parris that Edward III was a cultural hero who deserves greater fame.
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Ben Miller on William Hazlitt
Tue 18 May 2021
Actor and comedian Ben Miller nominates essayist William Hazlitt.
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Arlo Parks on Elliott Smith
Tue 11 May 2021
Singer-songwriter Arlo Parks nominates the young life of singer Elliott Smith.
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Jonathan Dimbleby on Harry Hopkins
Tue 4 May 2021
President Roosevelt's right hand man in World War Two, Harry Hopkins.
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KT Tunstall on Ivor Cutler
Tue 27 Apr 2021
Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall nominates Scottish humorist Ivor Cutler
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Black and British pioneer Kenny Lynch
Tue 20 Apr 2021
Veteran black and British entertainer Kenny Lynch.
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Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist
Tue 13 Apr 2021
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown picks Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe.
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The Talented Mr Ripley author, Patricia Highsmith
Tue 6 Apr 2021
Sometimes known as 'the stalker's balladeer', she is director Jonathan Kent's choice.
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Rights activist Cesar Chavez nominated by Cori Crider
Tue 26 Jan 2021
Human rights lawyer Cori Crider explains why she is inspired by the life of Cesar Chavez.
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Caroline Catz on Delia Derbyshire
Tue 19 Jan 2021
Actor Caroline Catz chooses Delia Derbyshire, who realised the theme to Doctor Who.
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David Jonsson on Jean Michel Basquiat
Tue 12 Jan 2021
Actor David Jonsson champions artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
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Diane Morgan on Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding
Tue 29 Dec 2020
Comedian and actor Diane Morgan chooses the life of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding
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The Great Lives of Great Lives
Tue 22 Dec 2020
After 450 episodes, Matthew Parris thinks it's time to find out what makes a great life.
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David Spiegelhalter on Frank Ramsey
Tue 15 Dec 2020
Statistician David Spiegelhalter champions the short, brilliant life of Frank Ramsey.
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Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII
Tue 8 Dec 2020
Who would marry a serial killer? Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII
Great Rock and Roll Lives
Stories of inspiration from great musicians from Bowie to Billie Holliday
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