Main content

Free Thinking Episodes

  1. 11/07/2025

    The ideas shaping our lives today - with artists and thinkers in debates and interviews.

  2. Censorship, editing and self-censorship

    Shahidha Bari's guests in a frank topical discussion include Rana Mitter and Nicola Wilson

  3. Christian faith, politics and culture

    Anne McElvoy explores the visibility of Catholic and Christian faith in politics & culture

  4. Language

    Matthew Sweet and guests explore the way language unites and divides us.

  5. Failure

    From business to sport, politics to the writing of Samuel Beckett: how do we view failure?

  6. Podcasting difficult histories

    Matthew Sweet discusses difficult histories with 3 蜜芽传媒 podcast hosts at the Hay Festival.

  7. Power: A User's Guide

    From the Hay Festival, Matthew Sweet discusses the many forms of political power.

  8. Wolves

    How wolves shape our world.

  9. Political Visions

    Anne McElvoy sets off in search of the sunlit uplands.

  10. Peace

    In the week of VE Day, Matthew Sweet discusses what peace has meant since 1945.

  11. Community

    Post local elections and pre VE day events, Shahidha Bari explores ideas about community

  12. Decadence and Declinism

    Matthew Sweet assesses the state of contemporary culture.

  13. The Middle Classes

    Muriel Zagha, Prof Sam Friedman, Lord Willetts, Lisa Holdsworth and Prof Melinda Mills.

  14. Isolation

    Matthew Sweet explores ideas about being on your own.

  15. Evidence

    Lord Sumption, Danny Robins, Dr Sarah Dillon Dr Jonathan Egid and Dr Anthony Milligan.

  16. Uncertainty

    Chris Lintott, Margaret Heffernan, Liam Halligan, Tim Garton Ash, Victoria Donovan

  17. A pinch of salt

    A key preservative, the subject of taxes, a danger to plant-life - how much salt is good?

  18. Malcolm X, life changes and flexible thinking

    Timandra Harkness, Ekow Eshun, Sophie Grace Chappell, Richard Bett and Stephen Bush.

  19. All we need is love

    Susie Orbach, Armand D'Angour, Vittoria Fallanca, Mary Harrod and Catherine Wheatley.

  20. Repetition

    Matthew Sweet and guests discuss routine, repetition and our sense of time

  21. Decision making

    From think tanks and tallies to tarot, what tools do we use to help us choose our actions?

  22. Diaries and the day to day

    Michael Crick, Irving Finkel, Sophie Coulombeau and Oliver Burkeman join Matthew Sweet.

  23. Common Sense

    Ann Widdecombe, Rachael Wiseman, Sarah Jilani and Tiffany Watt Smith with Matthew Sweet.

  24. Knowing when to stop

    From art to activism, campaigning to cabaret, Shahidha Bari asks when is enough enough?

  25. Beer, crisps and the British pub

    Tim Martin, Natalie Whittle, Professor Philip Howell, Dr Marianne Hem Eriksen, Ben Wright.

  26. Luck, predictability and superstition

    Dr Christian Busch, Bobby Seagull, Sharron Davies, Dr Kate Tomas and Timandra Harkness.

  27. How we think about evil

    Matthew Sweet and guests pick up from this year's Reith lectures and look at ideas of evil

  28. Gifts and Gratitude

    Following Thanksgiving, and as Christmas approaches, Shahidha Bari on giving and receiving

  29. Diplomacy from Ancient Greece to Trump

    Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Professor Clare Jackson, Bronwen Maddox, Dr Holly Furneaux

  30. Cosy comfort reading or Nietzsche?

    Alexander McCall Smith, Susannah Clapp, Tom Shakespeare, Deborah Sugg Ryan & Hugo Drochon

  1. Previous
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. …
  8. 44