In Our Time

Podcasts · History

In Our Time

237 episodes · 12 with AI analysis

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.

AI Intelligence · across all analyzed episodes

Topics · top 10

Dadaism origins and Cabaret VoltaireWorld War I as catalyst for artistic movementsSound poetry and nonsense languagePhotomontage as artistic techniqueAbsurdism in art and literatureSurrealism vs. Dadaism distinctionAnti-war and anti-nationalist artistic protestChance operations in art creationWomen artists in Dada (Emmy Hennings, Hannah Höch, Sophie Taeuber-Arp)Dada in Berlin vs. Zurich vs. Paris vs. Cologne

Analyzed Episodes

Apr 16, 2026

Dadaism

Dadaism origins and Cabaret VoltaireWorld War I as catalyst for artistic movementsSound poetry and nonsense language
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Apr 2, 2026

Margaret Beaufort

Wars of the Roses and succession crises in 15th-century EnglandMedieval wardship and marriage as political toolsFemale estate management and landownership in medieval England
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Feb 19, 2026

The Mariana Trench

Mariana Trench geology and plate tectonicsDeep-sea submersible engineering and designHadal zone life adaptation to extreme pressure
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Jul 24, 2025

Dragons

Chinese Imperial Dragon Symbolism and Emperor AuthorityWestern Christian Dragon Mythology and Saint LegendsChinese Zodiac Dragon Year Demographics and Cultural Impact
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Mar 12, 2026

The Code of Hammurabi

Code of Hammurabi—ancient Babylonian legal system and its structureAncient Mesopotamian law and judicial practiceSocial stratification in ancient Babylon—awilu, mushkanu, and slave classes
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Mar 19, 2026

John Keats

John Keats biography and literary historyRomantic poetry and aestheticsMedical training and creative practice
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Jul 31, 2025

Civility: Talking With Those Who Disagree With You

History of Civility as Social VirtueCivility and Religious ToleranceReformation and Rejection of Civil Decorum
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Jan 22, 2026

Melvyn Bragg meets Misha Glenny

Educational podcast format and designIntellectual curiosity as audience driverAcademic communication and accessibility
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Mar 5, 2026

Henry IV Part 1

Shakespearean succession narratives and Tudor political anxietyCharacter development and coming-of-age storytelling in early modern dramaPerformativity of power and political legitimacy
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Feb 5, 2026

Welcoming Misha Glenny to the In Our Time studio

On Liberty by John Stuart MillMariana TrenchRoman Arena and Gladiatorial Games
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Feb 12, 2026

On Liberty

Freedom of thought and expressionTyranny of the majority in democratic societiesIndividual liberty versus social conformity
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Feb 26, 2026

The Roman Arena

Gladiatorial Combat Economics and Business ModelsRoman Arena Architecture and InfrastructureImperial Political Power and Public Spectacle
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