In Our Time Podcast
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nerfertiti. Or perhaps you’re looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism’s early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you’re interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity’s cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato’s concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
Episodes to download
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Atrocity in the 20th Century
Thu 28 Oct 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the widespread and chilling inhumanity of the 20th century.
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The Individual
Thu 21 Oct 1999
Melvyn Bragg explores the concept of the individual from the Renaissance to today.
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The Nation State
Thu 14 Oct 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss whether it is appropriate to think of the UK as a nation.
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Utopia
Thu 7 Oct 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss why we are as enthralled as ever by the idea of a Utopia.
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Maths and Storytelling
Thu 30 Sep 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines whether it is possible to apply mathematical logic to literature.
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Pain
Thu 22 Jul 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the causes and our mechanisms of coping with pain.
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Truth, Lies and Fiction
Thu 15 Jul 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss whether it matters if memoirs aren’t entirely truthful.
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Africa
Thu 8 Jul 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the roots of Africa's current political and social crises.
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Intelligence
Thu 1 Jul 1999
Melvyn Bragg explores the origins, manifestations and possibilities of intelligence.
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Capitalism
Thu 24 Jun 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the history of capitalism from Marx to the collapse of Communism.
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The Great Disruption
Thu 17 Jun 1999
Melvyn Bragg looks at the 20th century shift from industrial to information society.
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The Monarchy
Thu 10 Jun 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the enduring strengths and current role of the British monarchy.
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Just War
Thu 3 Jun 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines where the idea of a just war originated and if it can still exist.
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Memory and Culture
Thu 27 May 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines how our collective and individual ways of remembering have changed.
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The Universe's Origins
Thu 20 May 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the history of what we know about the origins of the universe.
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Multiculturalism
Thu 13 May 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 20th century’s vast population and cultural shifts.
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Mathematics
Thu 6 May 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the importance of mathematics in relation to other sciences.
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Artificial Intelligence
Thu 29 Apr 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines whether we are near to achieving the thinking, feeling computer.
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Fundamentalism
Thu 22 Apr 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the roots and the consequences of religious fundamentalism.
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Evolution
Thu 15 Apr 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the future of gene therapy and advances in evolutionary biology.
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Writing and Political Oppression
Thu 8 Apr 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines whether writers have a political role in modern society.
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Good and Evil
Thu 1 Apr 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines how we judge good and evil in modern western civilisation.
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Architecture in the 20th Century
Thu 25 Mar 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines what the architecture of the 20th century says about the age.
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Animal Experiments and Rights
Thu 18 Mar 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the role of animals in humankind’s search for knowledge.
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History as Science
Thu 11 Mar 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the importance of geography and ecology in shaping world history.
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Shakespeare and Literary Criticism
Thu 4 Mar 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the enduring popular and academic appeal of Shakespeare.
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The Avant Garde's Decline and Fall in the 20th Century
Thu 25 Feb 1999
Melvyn Bragg examines the history and legacy of 20th Century Avant Garde painting.
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Space in Religion and Science
Thu 18 Feb 1999
Melvyn Bragg looks at how cyberspace has introduced a new concept of space in our world.
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Language and the Mind
Thu 11 Feb 1999
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss whether the formation of language is innate or cultural.
In Our Time podcasts
Download programmes from the huge In Our Time archive.
The In Our Time Listeners' Top 10
If you’re new to In Our Time, this is a good place to start.
Arts and Ideas podcast
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