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Free Thinking Episodes

  1.

    Happiness

    Matthew Sweet investigates the history, politics and economics of this elusive concept.

  2. Scottish Kingship

    Medieval myth making, the kings of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny.

  3. Free speech, censorship and modern China

    The writings of Chinese women, from Ding Ling to coming of age in the 1990s

  4. Edward Bond

    Matthew Sweet and guests discuss the playwright Edward Bond (18 July 1934 鈥� 3 March 2024)

  5. Sleep justice and sleeplessness

    Laurence Scott talks to researchers exploring how we sleep and the idea of sleep justice

  6. Images of Persia

    Poetry by Hafez, Nowruz (New Year) and the Haft Sin table, the Mongol invasion, music.

  7. Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation

    Matthew Sweet and guests look at the 1974 Gene Hackman film about surveillance and murder.

  8. New Thinking : Muses and women's creativity

    From Pre-Raphaelite models to the daughter of Maud Gonne: Naomi Paxton with new research.

  9. Sarah Maldoror, Storm Jameson, The Hague Congress

    Ahead of International Women's Day, Shahidha Bari hears stories linking women with war.

  10. The Dutch connection

    John Gallagher hears about new research into Anglo-Dutch trade and early publishing.

  11. Stitching Stories

    Shahidha Bari visits a textile art show + research on embroidery, stage outfits & vintage

  12. Can - Future Days

    Matthew Sweet and guests take a deep dive into the influential German group's 1973 album

  13. Myths, ships and history

    Anna McKay, Lloyd Belton and Oliver Finnegan delve in the deep for seafaring histories.

  14. The Condom and VD

    Matthew Sweet and guests talk about sexual health, VD clinics, sex work and condoms.

  15. Chocolate

    Shahidha Bari discusses the confection that has conquered the world.

  16. The Greenwich Outrage

    Matthew Sweet and guests discuss an attempt to blow up the Royal Observatory in 1894.

  17. Picnics

    From Picnic at Hanging Rock to an Iron Curtain Pan European picnic

  18. On the Silver Globe

    Matthew Sweet and guests discuss Andrzej Zulawski's compelling science fiction film.

  19. East/West religious connections

    Authors Rowan Williams & Christopher Harding and artist Gayle Chong Kwan join Rana Mitter.

  20. Secrets, lies and Irish History

    Clair Wills, Martin Doyle, Scott McKendry and Louise Brangan discuss secrets and conflict.

  21. Holocaust history

    Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day (Jan 27) Anne McElvoy hears testimony and new research.

  22. The Kyoto School

    Chris Harding investigates the flourishing of Japanese philosophy in the 1930s and beyond.

  23. Heidegger and Anti-Semitism

    Matthew Sweet discusses the influential German philosopher's relationship with Nazism.

  24. What is normal?

    Sarah Chaney, Louise Creechan and Robert Chapman discuss neurodiversity with Matthew Sweet

  25. Shakespeare's Women

    The women who crop up in Shakespeare's life, his plays and who helped conserve his legacy.

  26. Dust, dirt and domesticity

    From mould to desertification Naomi Paxton and guests on the impact of dirt,heat and damp

  27. Essay writing

    From Montaigne to modern Scottish writing - Rana Mitter discusses what makes a good essay.

  28. Game playing

    Shahidha Bari finds out how to win at rock, paper, scissors and to make a Windrush game.

  29. Travel, pleasure and peril

    From preventing strangulation on the railways to guide maps and the art of travel posters.

  30. Dickens, Disney and copyright

    Matthew Sweet looks at copyright rules for Mickey Mouse and Dickens in C19th America.

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