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Free Thinking Episodes

  1. Humility

    From Spinoza's thinking to the "humble brag" - Matthew Sweet and guests explore humility.

  2. Oral tradition and oracy

    Anne McElvoy and guests look at speaking fluently in politics, the classroom & communities

  3. Taste

    Matthew Sweet and guests explore what it means to have 'good taste'.

  4. Women, language and experience

    Shahidha Bari's guests include Karen McCarthy Woolf, Lauren Elkin and Sara Ahmed.

  5. Authority

    Anne McElvoy and guests discuss authority in politics, business, education and the family.

  6. Crime and punishment medieval to modern

    Matthew Sweet's guests include Lord Sumption and criminal barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind.

  7. Working Class Creativity

    Depictions of working class life on TV and in culture and how they've changed.

  8. Is Might Right?

    The history of an idea that's shaped political philosophy, from Plato to Carl Schmitt.

  9. Labour, work and productivity

    Anne McElvoy and guests discuss labour in terms of both work and childbirth.

  10. Double Lives

    From spying behind enemy lines in WWII France to lives lived online.

  11. Victorian Values

    Gisela Stuart, AN Wilson, Fern Riddell, Sarah Williams, Matthew Stallard and Matthew Sweet

  12. Innovation

    Matthew Sweet explores the cultures of novelty.

  13. Travel

    Travel past and present and broadening the mind? Travel journalists and historians debate.

  14. Idleness

    Is idleness ever a virtue? Matthew Sweet investigates.

  15. Influencing History

    Matthew Sweet and guests ask who makes history and debate arguments in the Reith lectures.

  16. Marriage

    Shahidha Bari is joined by guests including Prof Diarmaid MacCulloch and Zoe Strimpel.

  17. Rocks

    How can earth sciences like geology transform our understanding of history and society?

  18. Revenge and reconciliation

    In the week we mark the Armistice of World War I, Anne McElvoy and guests discuss revenge.

  19. The end of civilisations and societies

    Peter Hitchens, Rhiannon Firth, Neville Morley, Phil Tinline, Luke Kemp join Shahidha Bari

  20. Rational and Irrational decision making

    Anne McElvoy considers the value of irrationality with Lionel Barber and Bronwen Maddox.

  21. Traditions, roots and local pride

    Ex MP Penny Mordaunt's new book asks Why Britain's Traditions Matter. Matthew Sweet hosts

  22. The status of science

    Shahidha Bari and guests discuss the status of science in society and culture.

  23. What is a good life?

    Matthew Sweet and guests explore what it means to live a good life.

  24. Finding my tribe

    Anne McElvoy and guests discuss connections, divisions and creating new political parties.

  25. Friendship

    Matthew Sweet discusses the mythology, psychology and politics getting along with people.

  26. Censorship, editing and self-censorship

    Shahidha Bari's guests in a frank topical discussion include Rana Mitter and Nicola Wilson

  27. Christian faith, politics and culture

    Anne McElvoy explores the visibility of Catholic and Christian faith in politics & culture

  28. Language

    Matthew Sweet and guests explore the way language unites and divides us.

  29. Failure

    From business to sport, politics to the writing of Samuel Beckett: how do we view failure?

  30. Podcasting difficult histories

    Matthew Sweet discusses difficult histories with 3 麻豆社 podcast hosts at the Hay Festival.

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