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Teach Me A Lesson with Greg James and Bella Mackie podcast

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Teach Me A Lesson with Greg James and Bella Mackie

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  BBC Radio 5 live  

Greg James and Bella Mackie learn a fascinating and fun lesson from one of Britain's most inspiring teachers.

Greg James and Bella Mackie learn a fascinating and fun lesson from one of Britain's most inspiring teachers.

 

All

Progress

Duration

Release Date

#35

Can We Make Fast Fashion Guilt Free?

Greg and Bella get a lesson in ethical consumerism from Design and Technology teacher Mr Brandy. They'll start by looking at their own purchasing decisions: what's the last item they bought and why? They'll look at the oldest items in their wardrobes to see what that might tell us about how sustainable our current fashions are. As a case study, they'll take a look at the phone industry and discuss the ways we can beat planned obsolescence. For the practical element of today's lesson, Mr Brandy will challenge Greg and Bella to set up their own fast fashion brand: coming up with a name and a product line, but also making some difficult decisions about manufacturing, shipping and packaging. Will they choose the more ethical, higher investment option, or will they leave ethics at the door in pursuit of profit? Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with the podcast - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

14 Nov 2022

52 MINS

52:15

14 Nov 2022

#34

Is Taylor Swift Our Greatest Living Poet?

Following the release of her latest album, 'Midnights', Greg and Bella find out if Taylor Swift is a great poet, as well as a great songwriter. English teacher Miss Tiddy is a Taylor Swift superfan, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of Taylor Swift's music (and dating history!). In this lesson, she'll use techniques familiar from English Language GCSE to dissect Taylor's lyrics, such as assonance, alliteration and pathetic fallacy. With the help of Shakespearean actor Olivia Vinall, Taylor's lyrics are brought to life and put under the microscope by Miss Tiddy - are Taylor's songs just nice words strung together, or are they actually poetry? Fellow Swiftie Jeremy Vine pops by to host a game of Taylor Swift vs. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Miss Tiddy continues the comparison to the greats by looking at the similarities between Taylor and Lord Byron, Wordsworth, Robert Frost and Shakespeare. Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with the podcast - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

07 Nov 2022

42 MINS

42:50

07 Nov 2022

#33

Halloween Special: How To Grow A Skeleton

It's a Halloween special as Forensic Anthropologist and now secondary school science teacher Miss Robinson gives Greg and Bella a lesson about how to grow a human skeleton. Miss Robinson will welcome Greg and Bella into her Forensics lab, to show them a host of props and remains to see what they can teach us about our bones. Along the way, they'll find out what your bones are made of, how they are formed, what happens if you break one, and how possible it is to grow them back if something happens to one of them. And Bella asks, can we grow a skeleton in a lab? There will be lots of amazing facts, some grizzly stories and plenty of laughs along the way as Greg and Bella share their stories of broken bones and marvel at just how long it takes to grow a full skeleton. At the end of the episode, they’ll find out what happens to the skeleton when the body doesn’t need it anymore – meeting the oldest human-ish skeleton ever discovered – Lucy. Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with the podcast - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

31 Oct 2022

51 MINS

51:37

31 Oct 2022

#32

Can We Live Our Whole Lives Online?

IT teacher Mr Kolawole teaches his favourite lesson to Greg and Bella – after 18 months of WFH, home learning and video calls – could we ever live our whole lives online? He starts by looking our current internet and social media usage, encouraging Greg and Bella to bare all when it comes to their own screentime figures. He then discusses Dunbar's Number - the idea that humans only have the capacity for a certain number of real life connections - and how the internet might be a brilliant way of finding your own tribe. They'll discuss the potential of the Metaverse and the experiences that could be possible there. To end the lesson, he introduces Greg and Bella to a thought experiment put forward by philosopher Robert Nozick in the 1970s called The Pleasure Machine, to find out what they would make of a world where we get everything our hearts desire, without question. Is this a healthy way to live? Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with the podcast - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

24 Oct 2022

50 MINS

50:17

24 Oct 2022

#31

Will Humans Ever Go Extinct?

Greg and Bella explore the science of extinction with the help of dinosaur enthusiast Mr Yates. Together, they’ll look at some famous recent extinctions, find out what role conservation plays in the preservation of species, and explore the major mass extinction events that shaped our world today. They’ll also look at just how possible it might be to bring lost species back to life – is the film Jurassic Park science fact or just science fiction? They’ll meet the animals that have somehow managed to defy extinction – what set them apart from the species that didn’t make it to today? And finally, we’ll take what we’ve learnt and apply it to the human race – are we at risk of our own major extinction event? What will our world look like in the future? Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with the podcast - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

17 Oct 2022

43 MINS

43:07

17 Oct 2022

#30

Why Do We Need Sadness?

Greg and Bella are back with a brand-new term of teachers teaching their favourite lesson! To kick us off we have RE teacher Mr Bonfield with a lesson about sadness – why do we need it? To mark World Mental Health Day, Mr Bonfield looks to 3 great philosophers - Aristotle, Nietzsche and Schopenhauer - to see what they thought the point of sadness was. Wouldn't the world be a happier place without sadness? Or could understanding sadness be the secret to unlocking happiness? As the lesson unfolds, Greg and Bella find out what Pixar films, superheroes, and pop songs can teach us about sadness - and find out why a whale called Blue 52 might be the saddest animal on the planet. They’ll explore why the colour blue is linked with sadness, discuss the things that make them cry and talk about the historical heroes who lead their best lives despite the challenges they faced. Greg also reflects on how the poem Guesthouse by the ancient poet Rumi changed how he thinks about sadness, and Bella talks about her own experiences with anxiety. Mr Bonfield ends the lesson by finding out what Greg and Bella’s strategies are for beating the blues – from exercise to laughing with friends, being creative to having a hug. Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with the podcast - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

10 Oct 2022

49 MINS

49:29

10 Oct 2022

#29

How To Never Lose A Penalty Shoot-Out

In the last lesson before the summer break, Greg and Bella get schooled in penalties by primary school teacher Miss Sheridan. Can they find out how to score the perfect penalty before the summer holidays? Miss Sheridan will share how she and her students spend a whole week on this one topic, looking at it across the curriculum. Skimming history, geography, psychology, maths, biology and English, Greg and Bella will learn about the origins of the penalty shoot-out and the countries who pioneered it; they'll uncover the psychology behind the perfect penalty and hear about how hugs can help! We'll also find out the most important part of the body to use when taking a penalty, and why you should never turn your back on a goalie! Plus just how quickly should you take one? Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with the podcast - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

11 Jul 2022

39 MINS

39:52

11 Jul 2022

#28

What's So Great About '68?

Greg and Bella welcome back Drama teacher Mr Yale with a lesson about the year 1968. '68 might seem to fall through the history books - dwarfed by other more dramatic years - but Mr Yale is here to make a case for it being a turning point year. Vietnam and the Space Race were in the news; Oliver! was on the cinema screens; and the Theatres Act 1968 lead to this year being known as the "Year Zero for British Theatre" with the first performance of Hair the Musical taking the West End by storm (starring none other than Elaine Paige!). Mr Yale will use these real events as a springboard to take Greg and Bella through some classic drama practicals - from who can best embody the voice of a significant object from '68 - to is Bella brave enough to let Greg catch her when she falls? Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

04 Jul 2022

42 MINS

42:21

04 Jul 2022

#27

How To Kill A Vampire... With GCSE Science!

Award-winning Miss Jethmalani recruits Greg and Bella to her vampire slaying research team! What's the best way to kill a vampire - with a string of garlic, or with a GCSE Science textbook? Outstanding New Teacher of the Year 2021, Miss Jethmalani is perfectly placed to put the nail in the coffin of the vampire myth. With new recruits Greg and Bella by her side, she'll use the science of enzymes to take apart the myth of the vampire piece by piece. Why is it impossible to be immortal? Enzymes. Why do bodies decompose? Enzymes. What makes garlic smell? Enzymes! After investigating vampire bats, and just how possible it would be for a human to turn into a bat, Miss Jethmalani will discuss the most plausible root of the myth - a condition called porphyria - which is caused by malfunctioning enzymes (of course!). Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with your pictures - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

27 Jun 2022

47 MINS

47:50

27 Jun 2022

#26

10 things you might not know about the Windrush

To mark Windrush Day 2022, our resident history teacher Miss Patel is back for a lesson all about the Windrush Generation. In this lesson Greg and Bella will hear about the reality of life in post-war Britain and the Caribbean; the British recruitment campaigns that encouraged people to book their passage on boats like the Windrush; and they'll hear about the ship itself and it's surprising history. Miss Patel will talk about the passengers who boarded the Windrush itself - including a stowaway - and the welcome that they found once they arrived at Tillbury Docks on the 22nd June 1948. We'll hear the challenges they faced, and the amazing women who ought to be as well known as Rosa Parks, including Olive Morris, Altheia Jones-LeCointe and Paulette Wilson. Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

20 Jun 2022

49 MINS

49:10

20 Jun 2022

#25

Where's The Most Painful Place To Get A Tattoo?

Greg and Bella are joined by award-winning Biology teacher Miss Wilsher for a lesson all about tattoos! By looking at how a tattoo works, we'll find out about the different layers of your skin and how pain works; we'll also hear about the chequered history of tattooing and it's ancient origins. Lacrosse-fan Miss Wilsher will share the science behind why a tattoo stays put, how to stop them fading and - at the other end of a tattoo's life - how laser removal works. Otzi the Iceman makes a reappearance, and Greg and Bella will share their own tattoo stories - from embarrassing first tattoos to Greg's blink-and-you'll-miss it wrist tattoo. ... Read more

13 Jun 2022

40 MINS

40:56

13 Jun 2022

#24

Can Maths Explain What We Find Beautiful?

Greg and Bella are back with a brand new term of teachers giving their favourite lessons! Today it's Maths with former semi-professional footballer Mr Grindrod. In a lesson all about sequences, patterns and ratios, we'll find out how much maths goes into the things we find beautiful. From beautiful flowers, to beautiful buildings, artworks and even faces! We'll learn about the Golden Ratio, a magic number called phi and the Fibonacci Sequence. And we'll also find out just how obsessed with maths DaVinci was! Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with your pictures - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

05 Jun 2022

42 MINS

42:12

05 Jun 2022

#23

How Can Cheese Slices Help Us Find The Speed Of Light?

Professional breakdancer and Physics teacher Mr Ceeraz invites Greg and Bella to an end-of-term cheese-but-no-wine party, as they attempt to find the speed of light using cheese slices and a microwave. Physics fanatic Mr Ceeraz promises that his lessons are never dull as he injects plenty of puns, amazing visual aids and lots of dancing to help his students get to grips with complex subjects - like the speed of light and the electromagnetic spectrum. In today's episode, Mr Ceeraz will play a game with Greg and Bella all about speed which will help them understand just how fast the speed of light is. He'll crack out the cheese strings to explore the structure of waves, share his actions to the legendary Electromagnetic Spectrum song from YouTube and discuss the different waves that make up the spectrum. Plus, he'll introduce Greg to a website which shows you how far a radio broadcast has travelled into space (Greg's first show is REALLY far away!) and share an amazing do-it-yourself experiment using cheese slices and your kitchen's microwave to help anyone find the speed of light. Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with your pictures - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

24 Jan 2022

41 MINS

41:13

24 Jan 2022

#22

How Can We Mend A Broken Heart?

Greg and Bella return for 2022 with a special lesson from primary school teacher Miss Osueke all about the heart. Award-winning Miss Osueke will take us on a guided tour of the cardiovascular system, and challenge Greg and Bella to come up with new ways of remembering parts of the heart. Join Greg and Bella in the task to find your resting heart rate and the 'in-lesson' exercise to increase it. Learn about the surprisingly valuable contents of our blood, including a precious metal which can be found in your mobile phone! We'll also find out about the ways in which emotional heartbreak can have real medical implications, as Greg and Bella share their stories of young heartbreak. Hear about the work of early heart surgery pioneer, Daniel Hale Williams, plus Miss Osueke's shock lupus diagnosis and the open heart surgery that saved her life. Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with your stories - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

17 Jan 2022

50 MINS

50:00

17 Jan 2022

#21

Are You More Squeamish Than A Shakespearean?

English teacher Mrs Steele gives Greg and Bella a lesson about just how gross life was in Shakespeare's day. Greg and Bella will work out if they could survive a day in Elizabethan London; hear about the crazy ideas that informed early medicine and their unlikely cures; find out how women's health was treated differently and see how all these ideas played out in the theatre of the day. Bad students of all ages are welcome. Expect brilliant teachers, captivating subjects but absolutely no homework. Get in touch with your funny school stories - email us at teachme@bbc.co.uk ... Read more

20 Dec 2021

46 MINS

46:40

20 Dec 2021