In Our Time
BBC Radio 4
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nefertiti. Or perhaps you're looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism's early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you're interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity's cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato's concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nefertiti. Or perhaps you're looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism's early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you're interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity's cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato's concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
Episodes
Mentioned books
15 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 54min
Margaret Beaufort
David Grummitt, historian of the Wars of the Roses; Catherine Lewis, medieval household and piety specialist; Joanna Laynesmith, Tudor-era historian. They trace Margaret Beaufort's rise from child bride and young mother to political survivor. Short scenes cover her marriages, protecting Henry through exile and civil war, her role at Bosworth, court influence as king's mother, patronage, piety and cultural legacy.
63 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 53min
The Columbian Exchange
John Lindo, ancient DNA expert on infectious disease in the Americas; Rebecca Earle, food historian of early colonial Spanish America; Mark Maslin, earth system scientist on human climate impacts. They examine catastrophic population loss and its environmental ripple effects. They trace how crops, livestock and pathogens crossed oceans, reshaping diets, landscapes, trade and climate in the centuries after 1492.
72 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 48min
John Keats
Meiko O’Halloran, Romantic literature lecturer; Nicholas Roe, Wardlaw Professor of English; Fiona Stafford, Oxford literature professor. They trace Keats’s quick shift from medicine to poetry. They explore his 1818 creative surge, the making of the great odes, his classical influences, harsh contemporary reviews and the role of illness and travel in his short life.
156 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 50min
The Code of Hammurabi
Selena Wisnom, lecturer in Middle Eastern heritage, on Babylonian religion and ritual. Frances Reynolds, Assyriologist from Oxford, on the stele and legal phrasing. Martin Worthington, Middle Eastern studies professor, on Babylonian language and history. They trace the stele's imagery, the code's conditional style, social ranks and punishments, and how the law was displayed, read and reused across Mesopotamia.
168 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 51min
Henry IV Part 1
Laurence Publicover, Associate Professor of English at Bristol, Lucy Munro, Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature at King’s, and Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford, chat about Falstaff, Hotspur and Hal. They discuss kingship and succession, Hal’s tavern life and performance of identity, the politics of history plays, staging challenges, and the play’s enduring popularity.
293 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 50min
The Roman Arena
Matthew Nicholls, Oxford scholar of Roman architecture, explains amphitheatre building and imperial politics. John Pearce, archaeologist at King’s College, discusses beasts, logistics and material finds. Kathleen Coleman, Harvard classicist, explores gladiators’ social status and careers. They cover origins from funeral rites, arena logistics, Colosseum politics, spectacle organization, star performers and the decline of the games.
242 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 58min
The Mariana Trench
Jon Copley, a deep-sea biologist, explains hadal life and molecular adaptations. Alan Jamieson, an experienced submersible pilot and trench researcher, shares hair-raising dive stories and engineering challenges. Heather Stewart, a geoscientist, gives geological context on subduction trenches and seafloor processes. They discuss trench discovery, bizarre trench fauna, sediment flows, pollution at depth, and risks from mining and climate change.
159 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 49min
On Liberty
Piers Norris Turner, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ohio State, unpacks Mill’s arguments. Helen McCabe, Professor of Political Theory at Nottingham, traces Mill’s life and Harriet Taylor’s role. Mark Philp, Emeritus Professor of History and Politics at Warwick, situates Mill in 19th-century politics. They debate the harm principle, tyranny of opinion, individuality as social progress, and who counts as fit for liberty.
22 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 6min
Welcoming Misha Glenny
A new presenter introduces his background in journalism, humanities and technology. He explains why weekly deep dives and three academics make for lively, truth-seeking conversations. He previews starting with John Stuart Mill's On Liberty and teases future shows on the Mariana Trench and the Roman arena. Launch date and listening details are announced.
71 snips
Jan 22, 2026 • 16min
Melvyn Bragg meets Misha Glenny
Misha Glenny, a journalist and author renowned for his work on Eastern Europe and organized crime, discusses his transition into hosting with Melvyn Bragg. They delve into the show's success, linking it to curiosity and eclectic topics. Melvyn praises Misha's approach and the importance of clear, teachable conversations. They explore the appeal to younger audiences and the significance of curiosity in learning. Misha also shares insights from his BBC experience, emphasizing the lasting relevance of knowledge.
