Main content

Free Thinking Episodes

  1.

    Dickens

    Mathew Sweet, Linda Grant, Laurence Scott & Lucy Whitehead -150 years since Dickens' death

  2. Tackling Modern Slavery

    Naomi Paxton looks at new research into the effectiveness of the UK act passed in 2015.

  3. Robin Askwith

    The actor talks to Matthew Sweet about a childhood affected by polio and his career.

  4. Sarah Perry

    In a conversation with Mathew Sweet, the gothic author explores writing past and present.

  5. Anne Fine and Romesh Gunesekera. Jarman's Garden

    Shahidha Bari hosts a conversation recorded with the Royal Society of Literature.

  6. Kindness

    Rutger Bregman tells Anne McElvoy why survival of the fittest needs rethinking as an idea.

  7. The 2020 Wolfson History Prize: David Abulafia, Hallie Rubenhold, Prashant Kidambi

    From Indian cricket, a survey of the oceans to Jack the Ripper: 3 shortlisted historians.

  8. A feminist take on medieval history

    How does Chaucer write on rape and consent? What links Kim Kardashian and Margery Kempe?

  9. The 2020 Wolfson History Prize: Toby Green, Marion Turner, John Barton

    New takes on Chaucer, the Bible and African trading from 3 of the historians shortlisted.

  10. Big State and the Industrial Revolution

    Emma Griffin and William Ashworth share new research on Victorian industry.

  11. WWII radio propaganda and French relations

    From a gratitude train to the sinister broadcasts to US soldiers. Matthew Sweet presents.

  12. Neolithic Revelations

    A lack of dental floss in the Neolithic era proves to be a boon for archaeologists.

  13. Cary Grant

    Matthew Sweet and guests imagine an evening in the film star's company.

  14. Shakespeare for the People

    Adrian Lester and Prof Ewan Fernie talk to Islam Issa about Birmingham's first folio.

  15. Alternative Realities

    Shahidha Bari explores the impact of life-changing experiences and the fourth dimension.

  16. Science Fiction and ecological thinking

    Hetta Howes, Amy Butt and Caroline Edwards ask if science fiction is the new realism.

  17. What's so great about EM Forster

    Deborah Levy and Laurence Scott talk to Shahidha Bari about novelist EM Forster's work.

  18. Deep Time and Human History

    Lewis Dartnell, Gaia Vince and David Farrier join Rana Mitter to talk the deepest history.

  19. Belonging

    Philip Dodd talks to actor Christopher Eccleston and historian Ruth Dudley Edwards.

  20. Religion and ordinary lives

    Tom Charlton looks for evidence of belief from samplers to children's scribbles in bibles.

  21. Knees

    Dance to prayer, servants to Kings, knees ups to being on our knees. With Matthew Sweet

  22. Wordsworth

    Professors Sally Bushell and Simon Bainbridge talk to New Generation Thinker Sarah Jackson

  23. Future Thinking

    Mark Honigsbaum, Lisa Mullen, Riel Miller, Sarah Dillon and Rupert Read with Matthew Sweet

  24. The Declaration Of Arbroath

    Anne McElvoy and guests discuss the early medieval document and Scottish politics today.

  25. How do we build a new masculinity?

    Sunil Gupta, CN Lester, Tom Shakespeare and Alona Pardo with Matthew Sweet.

  26. Contagion & Viruses

    Matthew Sweet talks to John Dupr茅, Mark Honigsbaum, Lisa Mullen & Matt Adams

  27. Shoes

    From Roman sandals to trainers and stilettos, Shahidha Bari looks at the shoe trade.

  28. Does Growth Matter?

    Is the economic future all about growth? Danny Dorling discusses Slowdown.

  29. Slebs: Warhol, Beaton and celebrity culture

    Lisa Mullen, Caroline Frost and historian & podcast host Greg Jenner join Matthew Sweet.

  30. Advertising, Renaissance Art and Artemisia Gentileschi

    Historians Catherine Fletcher, Selina Todd and art critic Jonathan Jones join Rana Mitter.

  2. 1
  3. …
  4. 16
  5. 17
  6. 18
  7. 19
  8. 20
  9. …
  10. 44