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New research on how society works

Updated: weekly
Episodes available: indefinitely

Episodes to download

  •

    Medical Icons

    Tuesday

    Medical revolutions that transformed out relationship to our bodies and the world.

  • Coffee Culture

    Tue 10 Sep 2024

    Hipster baristas in Philadelphia and Chinese-run espresso bars in Italy.

  • The British Elite

    Tue 3 Sep 2024

    Who runs Britain today? Are they a conservative chumocracy or a different kind of elite?

  • Shopping

    Tue 25 Jun 2024

    From the rise of the mall, to the closure of shops during Covid.

  • The swimming pool

    Tue 18 Jun 2024

    The swimming pool: its iconic role in our society and culture. Also, pool etiquette.

  • The politics of the body

    Tue 11 Jun 2024

    The politics of the body: movement and posture.

  • Opioids

    Tue 4 Jun 2024

    Opioids in the US and UK: from illicit drug heroin to pharmaceutical drugs.

  • Garden Utopias

    Tue 28 May 2024

    Garden Utopias: from the suburban privet hedge to guerrilla gardening.

  • Richard Sennett

    Tue 21 May 2024

    Richard Sennett: A conversation with a leading cultural and social thinker.

  • Anonymity - Self-creation

    Wed 14 Feb 2024

    Laurie Taylor explores hidden and crafted identities.

  • Capitalism

    Wed 7 Feb 2024

    Capitalism: the origins of the word and a survey of attitudes to our economic system.

  • Traditionalism - Russian Orthodox Converts

    Wed 31 Jan 2024

    Traditionalism and Russian Orthodox converts.

  • THE ENGLISH

    Wed 24 Jan 2024

    THE ENGLISH: How the country house became 鈥楨nglish鈥�, and changing notions of England.

  • The Passport

    Wed 17 Jan 2024

    The Passport: a cultural history. Also, the trade in 'golden passports'.

  • The Power of Song

    Wed 10 Jan 2024

    The power of song: An iconic hymn, and singing and peacebuilding in South Sudan.

  • Hope and the 'good enough' life

    Wed 3 Jan 2024

    Hope and the 'good enough' life.

  • Intersections

    Wed 25 Oct 2023

    Intersections - how violence impacts some people more than others.

  • The Grave - Memorial Benches

    Wed 18 Oct 2023

    Laurie Taylor explores the origins of the grave and the meaning of memorial benches.

  • Pets

    Wed 11 Oct 2023

    How the British relationship to companion animals has changed. Also, the dog walk.

  • Sugar

    Wed 4 Oct 2023

    Sugar: its social history and meaning in our lives.

  • Woke

    Wed 27 Sep 2023

    Laurie Taylor talks to philosopher Susan Neiman about the concept of 鈥榳oke鈥�.

  • Guns

    Wed 20 Sep 2023

    Guns: from gun sellers in the US to the impact of the gun on human progress.

  • Water Ways

    Wed 13 Sep 2023

    An exploration of human relationships with water.

  • Boxing and Kickboxing

    Wed 6 Sep 2023

    Boxing and Kickboxing: Laurie Taylor explores their potential for transforming lives.

  • The Petite Bourgeoisie

    Wed 30 Aug 2023

    Laurie Taylor explores the unstoppable rise of the lower middle class.

  • High Finance

    Wed 7 Jun 2023

    Laurie Taylor considers the impact of the asset management industry on our everyday lives.

  • Fashion Re-imagined

    Wed 31 May 2023

    Fashion Re-imagined: how might we create a more equitable industry?

  • Digital intimacy

    Wed 24 May 2023

    How are algorithms transforming our relationships?

  • Prison Abolition

    Wed 17 May 2023

    Laurie Taylor considers the radical case for ending imprisonment.

  • Taste and Lifestyle

    Wed 10 May 2023

    Taste and Lifestyle: how consumer culture remade taste and the West Indian front room.

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主播大秀 Thinking Allowed is produced in partnership with The Open University

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