The Reith Lectures Podcast
Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series
Episodes to download
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4. Fighting for Humanity in the Age of the Machine.—Rutger Bregman - Moral Revolution
Tue 16 Dec 2025
4/4Dutch historian Rutger Bregman gives his fourth and final Reith Lecture.
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3. A conspiracy of decency—Rutger Bregman - Moral Revolution
Tue 9 Dec 2025
3/4Dutch historian Rutger Bregman gives the third of his 2025 BBC Reith Lectures.
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2. How to start a moral revolution—Rutger Bregman - Moral Revolution
Tue 2 Dec 2025
2/4Rutger Bregman gives the second of his 2025 BBC Reith Lectures called Moral Revolution.
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1. A Time of Monsters—Rutger Bregman - Moral Revolution
Tue 25 Nov 2025
1/4Dutch historian Rutger Bregman delivers his first BBC Reith Lecture: Moral Revolution.
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Moral Maze debate: Rutger Bregman’s call for a moral revolution
Tue 25 Nov 2025
Michael Buerk chairs a debate examining Rutger Bregman’s call for a moral revolution.
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Can we change violent minds?—Gwen Adshead - Four Questions about Violence
Tue 17 Dec 2024
4/4In her final Reith Lecture, Dr Gwen Adshead asks if we can change violent minds.
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Does Trauma Cause Violence?—Gwen Adshead - Four Questions about Violence
Tue 10 Dec 2024
3/4Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if trauma causes violence.
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Aren't they all evil?—Gwen Adshead - Four Questions about Violence
Tue 3 Dec 2024
2/4Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks: Aren't they all evil?
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Is Violence Normal?—Gwen Adshead - Four Questions about Violence
Tue 26 Nov 2024
1/4Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead asks if violence is normal.
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4. The Future of Prosperity—Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future
Wed 20 Dec 2023
4/4Ben Ansell concludes his series of Reith Lectures on why politics fails
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3. The Future of Solidarity—Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future
Wed 13 Dec 2023
3/4Ben Ansell's third 2023 Reith Lecture on why politics fails.
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2. The Future of Security—Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future
Wed 6 Dec 2023
2/4Professor Ben Ansell gives the second of his 2023 Reith Lectures on why politics fails.
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1. The Future of Democracy—Ben Ansell: Our Democratic Future
Wed 29 Nov 2023
1/4Professor Ben Ansell delivers the first 2023 Reith Lectures on Our Democratic Future.
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4. Freedom from Fear—The Four Freedoms
Wed 21 Dec 2022
4/5Foreign affairs expert Dr Fiona Hill gives her BBC Reith Lecture on Freedom from Fear.
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3. Freedom from Want—The Four Freedoms
Wed 14 Dec 2022
3/5Author and musician Darren McGarvey, delivers his Reith Lecture on 'Freedom from Want'.
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2. Rhyddid i Addoli—The Four Freedoms
Wed 7 Dec 2022
Rowan Williams delivers his BBC Reith lecture on faith and liberty in Welsh.
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2. Freedom of Worship—The Four Freedoms
Wed 7 Dec 2022
2/5Rowan Williams delivers his BBC Reith Lecture on faith and liberty
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1. Freedom of Speech—The Four Freedoms
Wed 30 Nov 2022
1/5Best-selling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's BBC Reith Lecture on freedom of speech.
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AI: A Future for Humans—Stuart Russell - Living With Artificial Intelligence
Wed 22 Dec 2021
4/4Stuart Russell suggests a way forward for human control over artificial intelligence.
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AI in the economy—Stuart Russell - Living With Artificial Intelligence
Wed 15 Dec 2021
3/4What will artificial intelligence mean for the future of work?
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AI in warfare—Stuart Russell - Living With Artificial Intelligence
Wed 8 Dec 2021
2/4Stuart Russell warns of the dangers of developing autonomous weapon systems
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The Biggest Event in Human History—Stuart Russell - Living With Artificial Intelligence
Wed 1 Dec 2021
1/4Stuart Russell asks how artificial intelligence could transform our world
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From Climate Crisis to Real Prosperity—Mark Carney - How We Get What We Value
Wed 23 Dec 2020
4/4Mark Carney argues that the market can be redirected to alleviating climate change.
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From Covid Crisis to Renaissance—Mark Carney - How We Get What We Value
Wed 16 Dec 2020
3/4Mark Carney looks at the tensions between economic and human values during the pandemic.
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From Credit Crisis to Resilience—Mark Carney - How We Get What We Value
Wed 9 Dec 2020
2/4Mark Carney assesses what lessons have been learnt from the 2008 financial crash.
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From Moral to Market Sentiments—Mark Carney - How We Get What We Value
Wed 2 Dec 2020
1/4Why have financial values come to be considered more important than human ones?
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Shifting the Foundations—Jonathan Sumption - Law and the Decline of Politics
Tue 18 Jun 2019
Jonathan Sumption argues against Britain adopting a written constitution.
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Rights and the Ideal Constitution—Jonathan Sumption - Law and the Decline of Politics
Tue 11 Jun 2019
Jonathan Sumption assess the pros and cons of written and unwritten constitutions.
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Human Rights and Wrongs—Jonathan Sumption - Law and the Decline of Politics
Tue 4 Jun 2019
Jonathan Sumption argues that courts have usurped power via human rights law.
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In Praise of Politics—Jonathan Sumption - Law and the Decline of Politics
Tue 28 May 2019
Jonathan Sumption explains how democracy can accommodate opposing opinions and interests
New to the Reith Lectures? Here’s where to start
Four lectures recommended by the series producer.
