In Our Time podcast

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In Our Time

A world-class seminar, every week. In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped our world, spanning history, philosophy, religion, science, literature, art and culture. On Thursdays, hear brand-new episodes hosted by Misha Glenny and leading academics. On Mondays, discover Misha's Archive Picks: classic conversations from the In Our Time archive, originally presented by Melvyn Bragg. Recent episodes have featured topics as wide-ranging as the Roman Arena, Handel's Messiah, John Keats, On Liberty and the Mariana Trench, bringing expert insight to pivotal events, influential thinkers and remarkable discoveries. Throughout the archive, you can hear discussions on historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, Nefertiti, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx and Albert Einstein; explore great works of literature such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the poetry of John Donne; uncover the stories behind cultural masterpieces including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel; or journey from Jupiter and the death of stars, to the theories of Plato and Aristotle. In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.

A world-class seminar, every week. In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped our world, spanning history, philosophy, religion, science, literature, art and culture. On Thursdays, hear brand-new episodes hosted by Misha Glenny and leading academics. On Mondays, discover Misha's Archive Picks: classic conversations from the In Our Time archive, originally presented by Melvyn Bragg. Recent episodes have featured topics as wide-ranging as the Roman Arena, Handel's Messiah, John Keats, On Liberty and the Mariana Trench, bringing expert insight to pivotal events, influential thinkers and remarkable discoveries. Throughout the archive, you can hear discussions on historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, Nefertiti, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx and Albert Einstein; explore great works of literature such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the poetry of John Donne; uncover the stories behind cultural masterpieces including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel; or journey from Jupiter and the death of stars, to the theories of Plato and Aristotle. In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.

 

#1121

The Battle of Antietam

Misha Glenny and guests discuss The Battle of Antietam, the single deadliest day of the Am... more

7 hrs Ago

59 MINS

59:30

7 hrs Ago


#1120

Archive: Feathered Dinosaurs

All dinosaurs were originally thought to be related to lizards - the word 'dinosaur' was c... more

09 Nov 2026

49 MINS

49:14

09 Nov 2026


#1119

Megalosaurus

The first dinosaur to ever be scientifically named, almost 20 years before we even had the... more

05 Nov 2026

56 MINS

56:04

05 Nov 2026


#1118

Archive: Citizen Kane

Orson Welles was only 25 when his film Citizen Kane was released in 1941. It is widely acc... more

02 Nov 2026

54 MINS

54:18

02 Nov 2026


#1117

Casablanca

Recorded at the Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield, Misha Glenny and guests discuss Casab... more

29 Oct 2026

53 MINS

53:36

29 Oct 2026


#1116

Archive: Dark Matter, the mysterious substance in space

Dark Matter is a proposed form of matter that does not absorb, reflect or emit light. It i... more

26 Oct 2026

46 MINS

46:51

26 Oct 2026


#1115

Particle Accelerators

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the machines that are described as the world’s largest exp... more

22 Oct 2026

52 MINS

52:34

22 Oct 2026


#1114

Archive: Erasmus

One of the most celebrated thinkers of the Renaissance, Erasmus (c1466-1536) is best known... more

19 Oct 2026

42 MINS

42:49

19 Oct 2026


#1113

Thomas More's Utopia

In 1516, the publication of one small book would coin a new word and give rise to centurie... more

15 Oct 2026

54 MINS

54:52

15 Oct 2026


#1112

Archive: The Measurement of Time

Misha Glenny chooses the first of his archive picks - bringing back classic conversations ... more

12 Oct 2026

42 MINS

42:59

12 Oct 2026


#1111

Archive: Trinity

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

08 Oct 2026

44 MINS

44:34

08 Oct 2026


#1110

Archive: Emma

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

01 Oct 2026

50 MINS

50:17

01 Oct 2026


#1109

Archive: The War of 1812

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

24 Sep 2026

44 MINS

44:33

24 Sep 2026


#1108

Archive: Rosalind Franklin

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

17 Sep 2026

51 MINS

51:39

17 Sep 2026


#1107

Archive: Plato's Republic

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

10 Sep 2026

50 MINS

50:46

10 Sep 2026


#1106

In Our Time Returns for a New Series

In Our Time returns for a new series with host Misha Glenny. A world class seminar, every ... more

07 Sep 2026

02 MINS

02:01

07 Sep 2026


#1105

Archive: Empress Dowager Cixi

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

03 Sep 2026

51 MINS

51:03

03 Sep 2026


#1104

Archive: Plate Tectonics

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

27 Aug 2026

44 MINS

44:27

27 Aug 2026


#1103

Archive: Hatshepsut

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

20 Aug 2026

47 MINS

47:58

20 Aug 2026


#1102

Archive: Coffee

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to ... more

13 Aug 2026

56 MINS

56:52

13 Aug 2026


#1101

Archive: Aphra Behn

Widely regarded as the first professional woman writer in English literature, Aphra Behn (... more

06 Aug 2026

52 MINS

52:11

06 Aug 2026