I expect that this will be the first in an occasional series on the podcasts I listen to regularly. I keep talking to people about what podcasts they listen to and it'd be great to have a place to send them for links etc.
So perhaps my favourite podcast at the moment is In Our Time hosted by Sir Melvyn Bragg.
In Our Time is a programme from Radio 4's conversation strand. It is a weekly discussion programme who's web page claims that it's about the history of ideas. It covers the widest range of topics imaginable.
The format is pretty simple every week Melvyn sits down with a group of three academics and they discuss their specialist subjects for three quarters of an hour. Sir Melvyn acts as an intelligent lay person. Steering the conversation, asking for more information or for an idea to be explained more clearly. What makes it so great is the range of subjects that are covered and the quality of the experts who are called in to discuss that subject. Just this season they have covered the history of Antarctica, the Central Asian scientist and historian al-Biruni, the English King Athelstan and the evolution and characteristics of the Neanderthals. And that in the space of just 4 shows. And in each case those discussing the subject were articulate, easy to listen to and yet obviously extremely knowledgeable.
The shows that I've particularly enjoyed in the past have had topics as wide ranging as number theory, Arthurian literature, the infant brain and roman satire.
I don't know of any show of it's kind being broadcast any where else in the world and I can't think of another radio station in the world that would broadcast it. Just this one show confirms my love of Radio 4 and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
The show can be accessed via it's website. Unfortunately only the most recent episode is available as a podcast. But the whole back catalogue is streamable. There are so many interesting topics. Don't blame me if it keeps you occupied for a good long while...
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