UnderstandEpisodes Episode guide

An American Journey
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James Naughtie examines the ideas tying America's founding to the modern United States.
An American Journey homepage
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
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Justin Webb looks at five big US foreign policy shifts, from Monroe to Trump.
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines homepage
The Trip
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Tim Hayward looks at the science, culture, history - and future - of psychedelics.
The Trip homepage
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines - Omnibus
Justin Webb looks at five big US foreign policy shifts, from Monroe to Trump.
Derailed: The Story of HS2
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The inside story behind HS2. Has a high speed dream become an almighty mess?
Derailed: The Story of HS2 homepage
The UK Election
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Alex Forsyth and Adam Fleming unpick some of the key elements of the UK election.
The UK Election homepage
The US Election
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US election terminology explained with Justin Webb.
The US Election homepage
Israel and the Palestinians
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Katya Adler and guests explain the context of the conflict.
Israel and the Palestinians homepage
Tech and AI
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Understand: Tech and AI.
Tech and AI homepage
The Economy
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Tim Harford cuts through the jargon of the economic terms and ideas dominating the news.
The Economy homepage
How Reading Made Us
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The story of how reading made us and what might happen if we stop - with James Marriott.
How Reading Made Us homepage
Derailed: The Story of HS2 (Omnibus 2)
The extraordinary inside story of Britain's most ambitious and controversial rail project.
Derailed: The Story of HS2 (Omnibus 1)
The extraordinary inside story of Britain's most ambitious and controversial rail project.