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Free Thinking Episodes

  1.

    Agoraphobia

    Writer Graham Caveney joins Matthew Sweet and guests.

  2. Mountaineering, Lizzie Le Blond, Sport and science

    Rachel Hewitt has been researching pioneering Irish climber Mrs Aubrey Le Blond.

  3. Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe

    Historian Hetta Howes, novelists Claire Gilbert and Victoria MacKenzie join Shahidha Bari.

  4. Sidney Poitier

    Matthew Sweet and guests discuss the career of Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier.

  5. Kingship and ceremony

    Anne McElvoy looks at royalty, pomp and glory in opera, ancient Persia and Tudor England.

  6. Sound, conflict and central heating

    Matthew Sweet finds out how extreme temperatures changed Erland Cooper's music

  7. Lady Antonia Fraser

    Rana Mitter talks to Antonia Fraser about the art of writing historical biography.

  8. Ireland's Hidden Histories and Secret Stories

    With poet Majella Kelly, historian Jackie U铆 Chionna and memoirist Carmel McMahon.

  9. Queen Charlotte, fashion and music

    Shahidha Bari and guests on a Royal Collection exhibition and the new Bridgerton spin-off.

  10. Hilma af Klint

    The spiritual paintings of the Swedish artist are discussed by Matthew Sweet and guests.

  11. Tartan, Kidnapped and Highland writing

    Tartan at V&A Dundee, RL Stevenson's Kidnapped on stage, and the Highland Book Prize 2022.

  12. Galatea and Shakespeare

    Trans narratives in pre-Shakespearian drama, plus Twelfth Night and the First Folio.

  13. Caruso, Elsie Houston, Peter Brathwaite

    Exploring the flow of cultural influences in both directions across the Atlantic.

  14. Ginger Rogers

    Matthew Sweet and guests discuss Ginger Rogers's dancing, comic timing and 'sass'.

  15. Pirates

    From Treasure Island to Kynance Cove, Anne Bonney to Captain Pugwash. Anne McElvoy hosts.

  16. Religion and Science

    Is the idea that religion and science are at odds a myth?

  17. The Rossettis and Walter Pater

    Matthew Sweet and guests visit a Tate Britain show and look at Pater's Renaissance ideas.

  18. Introducing New Generation Thinkers 2023

    Christopher Harding finds out about the research done by ten academics chosen this year.

  19. Translating cultures

    Composer Alex Ho, novelist Xiaolu Guo, curator George Young and director Anthony Lau.

  20. East Germany

    Katja Hoyer on East Germany, behind the Berlin Wall and the Cold War caricature.

  21. The culture of Albania

    Matthew Sweet is joined by Lea Ypi, Adela Demetja, Ani Kokobobo and Aurel Qirjo.

  22. Wild Isles and nature writing

    Writers Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Horatio Clare and Jacob Polley.

  23. Busking and Billy Waters

    The early 19th century street performer Billy Waters, Streetwise Opera and street ballads.

  24. The wicked? stepmother

    Ahead of Mother's Day Matthew Sweet and guests discuss new ways of looking at stepmothers.

  25. Decadent Art

    New research into ideas about decadence and connections with France, England and Iran.

  26. Debt

    As Budget day approaches, Anne McElvoy looks at debt from the South Sea Bubble to Sunak.

  27. Emigration

    Laurence Scott finds out about 'Bad Bridgets', bush-ranger history and '蜜芽传媒 Children'.

  28. Making your voice heard

    Dina Nayeri, Kirsty Sedgman, Michelle Assay and Alberta Whittle join Shahidha Bari.

  29. Anarchism and David Graeber

    Matthew Sweet and guests look at the ideas of the American anthropologist (1961-2020)

  30. Concrete poetry

    Matthew Sweet and guests on the career of poet and monk Dom Sylvester Hou茅dard (1924-92).

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