Free Thinking Episodes Episode guide
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11/07/2025
The ideas shaping our lives today - with artists and thinkers in debates and interviews.
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Censorship, editing and self-censorship
Shahidha Bari's guests in a frank topical discussion include Rana Mitter and Nicola Wilson
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Christian faith, politics and culture
Anne McElvoy explores the visibility of Catholic and Christian faith in politics & culture
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Language
Matthew Sweet and guests explore the way language unites and divides us.
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Failure
From business to sport, politics to the writing of Samuel Beckett: how do we view failure?
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Podcasting difficult histories
Matthew Sweet discusses difficult histories with 3 ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ podcast hosts at the Hay Festival.
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Power: A User's Guide
From the Hay Festival, Matthew Sweet discusses the many forms of political power.
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Wolves
How wolves shape our world.
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Political Visions
Anne McElvoy sets off in search of the sunlit uplands.
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Peace
In the week of VE Day, Matthew Sweet discusses what peace has meant since 1945.
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Community
Post local elections and pre VE day events, Shahidha Bari explores ideas about community
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Decadence and Declinism
Matthew Sweet assesses the state of contemporary culture.
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The Middle Classes
Muriel Zagha, Prof Sam Friedman, Lord Willetts, Lisa Holdsworth and Prof Melinda Mills.
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Isolation
Matthew Sweet explores ideas about being on your own.
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Evidence
Lord Sumption, Danny Robins, Dr Sarah Dillon Dr Jonathan Egid and Dr Anthony Milligan.
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Uncertainty
Chris Lintott, Margaret Heffernan, Liam Halligan, Tim Garton Ash, Victoria Donovan
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A pinch of salt
A key preservative, the subject of taxes, a danger to plant-life - how much salt is good?
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Malcolm X, life changes and flexible thinking
Timandra Harkness, Ekow Eshun, Sophie Grace Chappell, Richard Bett and Stephen Bush.
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All we need is love
Susie Orbach, Armand D'Angour, Vittoria Fallanca, Mary Harrod and Catherine Wheatley.
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Repetition
Matthew Sweet and guests discuss routine, repetition and our sense of time
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Decision making
From think tanks and tallies to tarot, what tools do we use to help us choose our actions?
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Diaries and the day to day
Michael Crick, Irving Finkel, Sophie Coulombeau and Oliver Burkeman join Matthew Sweet.
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Common Sense
Ann Widdecombe, Rachael Wiseman, Sarah Jilani and Tiffany Watt Smith with Matthew Sweet.
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Knowing when to stop
From art to activism, campaigning to cabaret, Shahidha Bari asks when is enough enough?
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Beer, crisps and the British pub
Tim Martin, Natalie Whittle, Professor Philip Howell, Dr Marianne Hem Eriksen, Ben Wright.
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Luck, predictability and superstition
Dr Christian Busch, Bobby Seagull, Sharron Davies, Dr Kate Tomas and Timandra Harkness.
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How we think about evil
Matthew Sweet and guests pick up from this year's Reith lectures and look at ideas of evil
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Gifts and Gratitude
Following Thanksgiving, and as Christmas approaches, Shahidha Bari on giving and receiving
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Diplomacy from Ancient Greece to Trump
Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Professor Clare Jackson, Bronwen Maddox, Dr Holly Furneaux
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Cosy comfort reading or Nietzsche?
Alexander McCall Smith, Susannah Clapp, Tom Shakespeare, Deborah Sugg Ryan & Hugo Drochon