Understand Podcast
In a new ten-part series, Tim Hayward takes a mind-altering look at the science, culture, history - and future - of psychedelics.
NEW in Understand - The Trip
The story of psychedelics. It's a unique moment. After decades of taboo and blanket illegality, policymakers and research institutions are taking these substances seriously. As a new dawn of psychedelic treatment beckons, Tim Hayward makes a personal journey into how we got here and where this is all heading.
Understand from BBC Radio 4 - unravelling the complexities of the biggest stories and subjects that really matter right now.
Episodes to download
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10. Unknown unknowns—The Trip
Mon 1 Sep 2025
10/10What more is there to learn about psychedelics? Tim Hayward makes a case for curiosity.
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9. Sacred plants for sale—The Trip
Mon 1 Sep 2025
9/10Who stands to profit from the commercialisation of psychedelics?
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8. A tipping point?—The Trip
Mon 11 Aug 2025
8/10Significant barriers exist for research looking at psychedelics. Is that about to change?
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7. Fascination and taboo—The Trip
Mon 11 Aug 2025
7/10Psychedelic drugs have a chequered history. How did wonder turn to fear?
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6. Critical periods—The Trip
Mon 11 Aug 2025
6/10Can psychedelics help the brain to learn things anew?
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1. Altered States—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
1/10Tim Hayward looks at the science, culture, history - and future - of psychedelics.
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5. Message in a bottle—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
5/10Tim Hayward travels into the past to better understand today’s psychedelic research.
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4. Looking for a cure—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
4/10Tim Hayward investigates why people are travelling abroad seeking a psychedelic cure.
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3. Stranger things—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
3/10Tim Hayward visits the outer reaches of cutting edge psychedelic research.
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2. When the drugs take hold—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
2/10Tim Hayward investigates the anatomy of a trip.
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Introducing The Trip—The Trip
Wed 30 Jul 2025
1/10Tim Hayward looks at the science, history - and future - of psychedelics.
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9. You Can Do One—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Thu 24 Jul 2025
9/10Rishi Sunak is faced with the decision of what to do about HS2's future.
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8. Help I’m Under a Digger—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Wed 23 Jul 2025
8/10HS2 begins building, and environmental protestors make their presence felt
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7. Gold Plated—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Tue 22 Jul 2025
7/10HS2's contracts with major firms become a new focus for critics.
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6. The Only Friend that Mattered—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Mon 21 Jul 2025
6/10As HS2 faces fresh threats, a new prime minister steps in.
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5. Worry About the Detail Later—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Fri 18 Jul 2025
5/10Dissent grows within HS2 itself.
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4. Well Done Geoffrey—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Thu 17 Jul 2025
4/10Costs mount as compromises with protesting locals are struck
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3. That can’t be right—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Wed 16 Jul 2025
3/10Protest groups begin to organise as the line's route is announced.
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2. Mutually assured exaggeration—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Tue 15 Jul 2025
2/10HS2 makes its case to ministers, but fault lines rapidly emerge.
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1. The Railwayman—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Mon 14 Jul 2025
1/10HS2's story begins with a blank piece of paper.
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Trailer—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Mon 7 Jul 2025
1/10The inside story behind HS2. Has a high speed dream become an almighty mess?
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10. What Happens on Election Day?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
Election Day - from when the polls open, to forming a government
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9. How Does the Election Differ Across the UK?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
How does the political geography of the devolved nations differ
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8. What’s the Media’s Role in an Election?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
Why does the media matter in an election campaign?
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7. What Can Polling Predict?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
What polls can tell us. And what they can’t.
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6. How Important Are Marginal Seats?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
The significance of marginal seats, tactical voting and electoral pacts.
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5. How Do You Make Sure Voting Runs Smoothly?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
Explaining voter ID, votes for Brits abroad and why we use pencils instead of pens.
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4. Why Do People Vote the Way They Do?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
What can we tell about how someone will vote from their age, gender and ethnicity?
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3. What Difference Does a Manifesto Make?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
How do manifestos get written and who are they actually for?
