BBC Radio 4 · Education

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.

Episodes

In this episode of "In Our Time," Martha Clokie leads a discussion with John Gallagher, Phil Withington, and Teresa Bejan on the concept of civility. The conversation traces the historical evolution of civility from ancient Greece and Rome through the Reformation, touching on figures like Erasmus, Luther, and Hobbes, a...

Dragons

24 Jul 2025

46m

Barbour's 'Brus'

17 Jul 2025

49m

The Evolution of Lungs

10 Jul 2025

48m

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In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, Melvyn Bragg leads a discussion with Professor Steve Brusatte, Professor Jonathan Codd, and Professor Emily Rayfield about the evolution of lungs. The conversation traces the development of lungs from early fish with air sacs to the complex respiratory systems of dinos...

The Vienna Secession

03 Jul 2025

54m

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In this episode of "In Our Time," Melvyn Bragg leads a discussion with Mark Berry, Leslie Topp, and Diane Silverthorne about the Vienna Secession, an art movement that emerged in the late 19th century. The conversation explores the movement's origins as a breakaway from Vienna's conservative art establishment, its guid...

Hypnosis

26 Jun 2025

45m

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In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, Melvyn Bragg leads a discussion with Devin Terhune, Quinton Deeley, and Catherine Wynne about the history, science, and cultural impact of hypnosis. The conversation begins with Franz Mesmer's 18th-century practices and traces the evolution of hypnosis through figures ...

Paul von Hindenburg

19 Jun 2025

52m

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In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, Melvyn Bragg leads a discussion with Anna von der Goltz, Colin Storer, and Chris Clark about the life and legacy of Paul von Hindenburg. The panel explores Hindenburg's early life, military career, his role in World War I and the myth surrounding him, his presidency du...

Copyright

12 Jun 2025

1h 0m

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This podcast episode, titled "In Our Time," features Melvyn Bragg leading a discussion with Lionel Bently, Will Slauter, and Katie McGettigan about the evolution of copyright law. They delve into the historical context of the Statute of Anne, its impact on authors and publishers, and the ongoing battles over literary p...

Lise Meitner

05 Jun 2025

57m

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In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, Martha Clokie leads a discussion with Jess Wade, Frank Close, and Steven Bramwell about the life and work of Lise Meitner, the Jewish-Austrian physicist who solved the puzzle of nuclear fission. The panel explores Meitner's early life, her struggles as a woman in scien...

The Korean Empire

29 May 2025

47m

Molière

22 May 2025

51m

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This BBC podcast episode of "In Our Time" features Melvyn Bragg leading a discussion with Noel Peacock, Joe Harris, and Jan Clarke about the life and works of the French playwright Molière. The panel explores Molière's early life, his start as an actor, the challenges of running a theatre troupe, and his relationship w...