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Arts & Ideas

Leading thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives – looking back at the news and making links between past and present.

Radio 4,1276 episodes

Episodes

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Innovation
Matthew Sweet explores the cultures of novelty
09 Jan 2026,56 mins
Travel
Travel past and present and broadening the mind? Travel journalists and historians debate
02 Jan 2026,56 mins
Idleness
Is idleness ever a virtue? Matthew Sweet investigates
12 Dec 2025,56 mins
Influencing History
Matthew Sweet and guests ask who makes history and debate arguments in the Reith lectures
05 Dec 2025,56 mins
Marriage
Shahidha Bari joined by guests including Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch and Zoe Strimpel
28 Nov 2025,56 mins
Rocks
How can earth sciences like geology transform our understanding of history and society?
21 Nov 2025,56 mins
Revenge and reconciliation
In the week we mark the Armistice of World War I, Anne McElvoy and guests discuss revenge
14 Nov 2025,56 mins
The end of civilisations and societies
Peter Hitchens, Rhiannon Firth, Neville Morley, Phil Tinline, Luke Kemp join Shahidha Bari
07 Nov 2025,56 mins
Rational and Irrational decision making
Anne McElvoy considers the value of irrationality with Lionel Barber and Bronwen Maddox.
24 Oct 2025,57 mins
Traditions, roots and local pride
Ex MP Penny Mordaunt's new book asks Why Britain's Traditions Matter. Matthew Sweet hosts
17 Oct 2025,56 mins
The status of Science
Shahidha Bari and guests discuss the status of science in society and culture
10 Oct 2025,58 mins
The Good Life
Michael Rosen,Fergus Butler-Gallie Sophie Scott-Brown, Rachel Wiseman, Sudhir Hazareesingh
03 Oct 2025,56 mins
Finding my tribe
Anne McElvoy and guests discuss connections, divisions and creating new political parties
26 Sep 2025,56 mins
Friendship
Matthew Sweet discusses the mythology, psychology and politics getting along with people
11 Jul 2025,56 mins
Censorship, editing and self-censorship
Shahidha Bari's guests in frank topical discussion include Rana Mitter and Nicola Wilson
04 Jul 2025,57 mins
Christian faith, politics and culture
Anne McElvoy explores the visibility of Catholic & Christian faith in politics & culture
27 Jun 2025,56 mins
Language
Matthew Sweet and guests explore the way language unites and divides us
20 Jun 2025,56 mins
Failure
From business to sport, politics to the writing of Samuel Beckett: how do we view failure
13 Jun 2025,56 mins
Podcasting difficult histories
Matthew Sweet discusses difficult histories with 3 BBC podcast hosts at the Hay Festival
06 Jun 2025,56 mins
Common Sense
Ann Widdecombe, Rachael Wiseman, Sarah Jilani and Tiffany Watt Smith with Matthew Sweet
04 Jun 2025,56 mins
Power: A User's Guide
From the Hay Festival, Matthew Sweet discusses the many forms of political power
04 Jun 2025,57 mins
WOLVES
How wolves shape our modern world.
23 May 2025,56 mins
Political Visions
Anne McElvoy sets off in search of the sunlit uplands
16 May 2025,56 mins
Peace
In the week of VE Day, Matthew Sweet discusses what peace has meant since 1945
09 May 2025,56 mins
Community
Post local elections and pre VE day events, Shahidha Bari explores ideas about community
02 May 2025,56 mins
Decadence
Matthew Sweet assesses the state of contemporary culture
25 Apr 2025,56 mins
The Middle Classes
Muriel Zagha, Prof. Sam Friedman, Lord Willetts, Lisa Holdsworth & Prof. Melinda Mills
28 Mar 2025,56 mins
Isolation
Matthew Sweet explores ideas about being on your own
21 Mar 2025,56 mins
Evidence
Lord Sumption, Danny Robins, Dr Sarah Dillon Dr Jonathan Egid and Dr Anthony Milligan
14 Mar 2025,57 mins
Uncertainty
Chris Lintott, Margaret Heffernan, Liam Halligan, Tim Garton Ash, Victoria Donovan
07 Mar 2025,56 mins