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Free Thinking Episodes

  1.

    East Germany

    Katja Hoyer on East Germany, behind the Berlin Wall and the Cold War caricature.

  2. The culture of Albania

    Matthew Sweet is joined by Lea Ypi, Adela Demetja, Ani Kokobobo and Aurel Qirjo.

  3. Wild Isles and nature writing

    Writers Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Horatio Clare and Jacob Polley.

  4. Busking and Billy Waters

    The early 19th century street performer Billy Waters, Streetwise Opera and street ballads.

  5. The wicked? stepmother

    Ahead of Mother's Day Matthew Sweet and guests discuss new ways of looking at stepmothers.

  6. Decadent Art

    New research into ideas about decadence and connections with France, England and Iran.

  7. Debt

    As Budget day approaches, Anne McElvoy looks at debt from the South Sea Bubble to Sunak.

  8. Emigration

    Laurence Scott finds out about 'Bad Bridgets', bush-ranger history and 'Home Children'.

  9. Making your voice heard

    Dina Nayeri, Kirsty Sedgman, Michelle Assay and Alberta Whittle join Shahidha Bari.

  10. Anarchism and David Graeber

    Matthew Sweet and guests look at the ideas of the American anthropologist (1961-2020)

  11. Concrete poetry

    Matthew Sweet and guests on the career of poet and monk Dom Sylvester Hou茅dard (1924-92).

  12. Sesame Street and Soviet culture

    Anne McElvoy on Russian punk protest and a version of US TV's Big Bird, Bert and Ernie.

  13. Tin cans, cutlery and sewing

    New research into the history of stainless steel cutlery, tinned food and sewing machines.

  14. Climate change and empire building

    The long history of climate change and empire: historians Nandini Das and Peter Frankopan

  15. Ghosts of Caribbean history

    New writing by Colin Grant and Kevin Jared Hosein; art by Michael Elliott and Mary Evans.

  16. Phaedra, Cretan palaces and the minotaur

    Knossos, birthplace of myths and tragedies, is explored by Rana Mitter and Natalie Haynes.

  17. Idrissa Ou茅draogo

    Matthew Sweet and guests explore the work of Burkinab茅 film-maker Idrissa Ou茅draogo.

  18. People's History

    The people's history of banners, a dress diary, Sheffield sculptures and a new musical.

  19. Stories of Love

    Romeo and Juliet reworked, Proust and Rita Mae Brown's coming-of-age tale Rubyfruit Jungle

  20. Donkeys

    From Aesop and the bible to the film EO which looks at a donkey born in a Polish circus.

  21. Lady Macbeth

    From Kurosawa and Shostakovich to Zinnie Harris. New takes on the Scottish play.

  22. Gwendolyn Brooks

    Shahidha Bari looks at the writing of a Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet (1917-2000).

  23. Crossroads and TV soaps

    Russell T Davies and Paula Milne on the power of soap operas.

  24. The English Civil War

    The resonances of C17 history now, discussed by Jonathan Healey, Anna Keay, Clare Jackson.

  25. Holocaust Memorial Day 2023

    Matthew Sweet looks at the experiences of Portuguese Jewish and Roma communities.

  26. William Stukeley

    The English antiquarian (1687-1765) who may be the father of modern archaeology.

  27. Aztecs and Otherness

    Caroline Dodds Pennock discusses how Aztecs, Inuit, Mayans and others discovered Europe.

  28. Audrey Hepburn

    Matthew Sweet marks the 30th anniversary of the death of this icon of film and fashion.

  29. Higher education for women and working-class students

    Anne McElvoy hosts a conversation about higher education and the history of its expansion.

  30. The Wife of Bath

    Shahidha Bari is joined by Professor Marion Turner, poet Patience Agbabi and Hetta Howes.

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