In Our Time Podcast
Misha Glenny and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
A world-class seminar, every week.
In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped our world, spanning history, philosophy, religion, science, literature, art and culture.
On Thursdays, hear brand-new episodes hosted by Misha Glenny and leading academics. On Mondays, discover Misha's Archive Picks: classic conversations from the In Our Time archive, originally presented by Melvyn Bragg.
Recent episodes have featured topics as wide-ranging as the Roman Arena, Handel's Messiah, John Keats, On Liberty and the Mariana Trench, bringing expert insight to pivotal events, influential thinkers and remarkable discoveries.
Throughout the archive, you can hear discussions on historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, Nefertiti, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx and Albert Einstein; explore great works of literature such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the poetry of John Donne; uncover the stories behind cultural masterpieces including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel; or journey from Jupiter and the death of stars, to the theories of Plato and Aristotle.
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
Episodes to download
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Napoleon and Wellington
Thu 25 Oct 2001
The comparative histories of two titans of 19th century history.
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Democracy
Thu 18 Oct 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines the origins of the most cherished form of government in the world.
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Existentialism
Thu 28 Jun 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests examine the 20th century philosophy of existentialism
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The Sonnet
Thu 21 Jun 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Sonnet, the most enduring form in the poet’s armoury.
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The French Revolution's Legacy
Thu 14 Jun 2001
The impact and legacy of the French Revolution on European culture and politics.
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Literary Modernism
Thu 26 Apr 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines the movement that embraced Joyce, DH Lawrence and Virginia Woolf.
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The Glorious Revolution
Thu 19 Apr 2001
Melvyn Bragg considers whether the events of 1688 were really glorious or revolutionary.
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Black Holes
Thu 12 Apr 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Black Holes, the ghosts of massive stars.
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The Roman Empire's Collapse in the 5th century
Thu 5 Apr 2001
The causes and events of the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century.
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The Philosophy of Love
Thu 29 Mar 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines the western understanding of the Philosophy of Love since Plato.
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Fossils
Thu 22 Mar 2001
The significance of fossils in history and the impact of techniques in understanding them.
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Shakespeare's Life
Thu 15 Mar 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests consider the enigma of the life of William Shakespeare
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Money
Thu 1 Mar 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines whether economic factors really are behind all historical events.
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Quantum Gravity
Thu 22 Feb 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 20th century attempts to understand the Quantum world.
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The Restoration
Thu 15 Feb 2001
Melvyn Bragg looks at the reign of Charles II and the consequences of the Restoration.
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Imperial Science
Thu 1 Feb 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines whether agriculture or trade drove 19th century British imperialism.
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Science and Religion
Thu 25 Jan 2001
Melvyn Bragg explores the areas of conflict and agreement between science and religion.
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The Enlightenment in Britain
Thu 18 Jan 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines the role of British thinkers in the 18th century Enlightenment.
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Mathematics and Platonism
Thu 11 Jan 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines whether mathematics is a process of invention or of discovery.
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Gothic
Thu 4 Jan 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines the origins and significance of the 18th century Gothic movement.
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Psychoanalysis and Literature
Thu 9 Nov 2000
Melvyn Bragg assesses the role of Freudian analysis in understanding literature.
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Evolutionary Psychology
Thu 2 Nov 2000
Melvyn Bragg explores the basis and context for the ideas of Evolutionary Psychology.
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The Tudor State
Thu 26 Oct 2000
Melvyn Bragg looks at the re-shaping of England as a modern state by the Tudor dynasty.
In Our Time podcasts
Download episodes 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.
