Human Intelligence Podcast
In Human Intelligence, Naomi Alderman dissects the minds of brilliant thinkers from the past; examining the myriad ways in which humans think and realising that great minds don't, in fact, think alike.
Episodes to download
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Albert Einstein—Manhattan Project
Fri 21 Mar 2025
How a world famous pacifist jump-started the Manhattan Project and revolutionised science.
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Lise Meitner—Manhattan Project
Thu 20 Mar 2025
The woman who discovered nuclear fission but would have nothing to do with the bomb.
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John von Neumann—Manhattan Project
Wed 19 Mar 2025
The game theory pioneer who made the information age possible.
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Niels Bohr—Manhattan Project
Tue 18 Mar 2025
A scientific genius who saw poetry in the subatomic world.
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J Robert Oppenheimer—Manhattan Project
Mon 17 Mar 2025
The father of the atom bomb who longed to be an all-American hero.
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Charles Darwin—Collectors
Fri 24 Jan 2025
A life-long collector of curiosities, Darwin saw massive significance in tiny changes.
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Samuel Johnson—Collectors
Thu 23 Jan 2025
Working in chaos at a desk strewn with papers, 'Dictionary Johnson' left a great legacy.
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Pamphila—Collectors
Wed 22 Jan 2025
A prolific historian from ancient Greece – female, freelance and working from home.
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Denis Diderot—Collectors
Tue 21 Jan 2025
The Enlightenment encyclopaedist; the ultimate interdisciplinary thinker.
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Sei Shōnagon—Collectors
Mon 20 Jan 2025
The author of a Japanese masterpiece who saw the beauty and absurdity in everyday life.
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Diogenes—Teachers
Fri 17 Jan 2025
The irascible Greek thinker who lived in a barrel and argued for a simpler happier life.
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Peter Ramus—Teachers
Thu 16 Jan 2025
A radical teacher who believed passionately in knowledge and education for all.
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Mary Somerville—Teachers
Wed 15 Jan 2025
A remarkable 19th century polymath inspired by the natural world and the universe beyond.
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Maimonides—Teachers
Tue 14 Jan 2025
The celebrated medieval philosopher who reconciled faith and reason.
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Michael Faraday—Teachers
Mon 13 Jan 2025
An obsessive, meticulous intellect that gave us ideas behind world-changing technology.
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Malcolm X—Disruptors
Fri 10 Jan 2025
Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Malcolm X and his role in black nationalism in the US.
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Martin Luther—Disruptors
Thu 9 Jan 2025
Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Martin Luther, who inspired the Protestant Reformation
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Mary Wollstonecraft—Disruptors
Wed 8 Jan 2025
Naomi Alderman explores the mind of the brilliant feminist pioneer, Mary Wollstonecraft.
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George Washington—Disruptors
Tue 7 Jan 2025
Naomi Alderman explores the mind of the first US president, George Washington.
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Socrates—Disruptors
Mon 6 Jan 2025
Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Socrates, the original disruptor.
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