Better Known

Duncan Larkin discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Duncan Larkin has covered the sport of running for more than a decade. He’s a certified Army Master Fitness Trainer and was a top-300 American marathoner back in 2006. He has won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race and the Mohawk-Hudson Marathon. His first books include Run Simple and The Thirty-Minute Runner. Duncan writes about fitness for Outside Magazine, Competitor Magazine, Runner’s World, ESPN, and Running Times. Find out more at https://roadsmillslaps.tumblr.com/ and at https://www.instagram.com/dunlar/. How the last-place finisher of the NYC Marathon feels in the last mile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YrlVSOB4-s Silas Soule and Mochi https://www.colorado.com/life-chronicles-sand-creek-massacre The concept of cognitive dissonance https://www.healthline.com/health/cognitive-dissonance-examples Time will Reveal by DeBarge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_988-cpiG94 Keith Douglas’ poem Vergissmeinnicht https://interestingliterature.com/2017/08/a-short-analysis-of-keith-douglass-vergissmeinnicht/ The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2012/05/10/ambrose-bierce-one-americas-best/ This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Travel writer Tim Hannigan discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Tim Hannigan was born and brought up in the far west of Cornwall, but he now lives in Ireland. After leaving school he trained as a chef. He later studied journalism and began his writing career as a journalist and guidebook writer, based in Indonesia. He is the author of a number of nonfiction books, including Murder in the Hindu Kush, which was shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize, and Raffles and the British Invasion of Java, which won the John Brooks Award. His most recent book is The Travel Writing Tribe, about a quest to answer the trickiest questions about the travel genre. His next book, The Granite Kingdom, is an exploration of his own homeland, Cornwall, and is due out in May 2023. Find out more at https://timhannigan.com/. Indonesia https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1966/05/26/in-search-of-indonesia/ The 1811 British invasion of Java https://www.thehighlandersmuseum.com/?p=30029 Cornwall is one of the poorest regions in western Europe https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2016/02/real-cornwall-county-poorer-lithuania-and-hungary The Cornish language https://omniglot.com/writing/cornish.htm The public footpaths of England and Wales https://footpathmap.co.uk/ Eland Books https://www.travelbooks.co.uk/ This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Dan Schreiber discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Dan Schreiber is a writer, stand-up comedian, TV presenter, producer and podcaster. He is co-host of the UK’s most streamed podcast, No Such Thing As A Fish, which has had over 350 million downloads and has played to sell-out audiences in iconic venues such as the London Palladium and the Sydney Opera House. Dan is also a member of the 'QI Elves' and co-creator of the Rose d’Or award-winning BBC Radio 4 panel show The Museum of Curiosity. His new book, The Theory of Everything Else, is available at https://harpercollins.co.uk/pages/thetheoryofeverythingelse The science writer Ann Druyan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFebYBARdPs The front cover of Jim Carrey’s novel https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/books/jim-carrey-memoirs-and-misinformation.html The Cantonese word Aiyah http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/814/ Watkins Bookshop https://www.thebookseller.com/author-interviews/watkins-books-soho-london The power of monks https://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/29/football/leicester-city-buddha-monks-karma/index.html Neil Armstrong’s favourite footstep https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/neil-armstrong-walks-on-jerusalem This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Five years after the first episode of Better Known, Ivan Wise talks again to previous guests Richard Elwes, Wasfi Kani and Kerry Shale. They discuss previous choices that they agree (and disagree with) and new choices which they think should be better known. Richard Elwes is a Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Leeds, where he has taught courses on Geometry, Number Theory, Algebraic Topology, Combinatorics, Logic, History of Maths and Computational Mathematics. Find out more at www.richardelwes.co.uk. Wasfi Kani is the founder of Grange Park Opera. Wasfi Kani is an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA and St Hilda’s College, Oxford. She received a CBE in the 2020 New Year’s Honours list for services to music. She received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2002 for her work in bringing her second opera company, Pimlico Opera, into prisons. Find out more at www.grangeparkopera.co.uk. Kerry Shale’s theatre appearances include Frost/Nixon, His Girl Friday, The Normal Heart and six self-written solo shows. Television work includes The Sandman, Dr. Who and The Trip. Films include Batgirl and Angel Has Fallen. For BBC radio, he has won three Sony Awards for acting and writing. His latest play, an adaptation of Yentl The Yeshiva Boy, will be broadcast early in 2023. He co-presents the podcast Is It Rolling, Bob? Talking Dylan: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/is-it-rolling-bob-talking-dylan/id1437321669. Find out more at www.kerryshale.com. Mark Sykes and the exhumed coffin http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7617968.stm The Minoan civilisation https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2009/08/13/knossos-fakes-facts-and-mystery/ Steven Appleby https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Appleby This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Anna Ploszajski discusses with Ivan six things which she thinks should be better known. Dr Anna Ploszajski is an award-winning materials scientist, comedian and storyteller based in London. She’s a materials generalist, equally fascinated by metals, plastics, ceramics, glasses and substances from the natural world. Anna channels her passion for storytelling about materials through writing, podcasting, presenting and training scientists and engineers in the art of storytelling. Her first book, Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning Through Making, is out now. In her spare time, Anna plays the trumpet in a funk and soul covers band and is an ultra-endurance open water swimmer. Find out more at www.annaploszajski.com. Materials science https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materials_science Into the Woods by John Yorke https://www.waterstones.com/book/into-the-woods/john-yorke/9780141978109 Ultra-swimmer Sarah Thomas https://sarahthomasswims.com/. Trumpets can play quietly! https://www.alisonbalsom.com/ Barberette https://www.barberette.co.uk/ IFIXIT https://www.ifixit.com/ This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Helen Gordon discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Helen Gordon’s books include Notes from Deep Time (Profile), Landfall (Penguin) and, with Travis Elborough, Being a Writer (Frances Lincoln). She has written about nature, science, art and books for various newspapers and magazines including the Economist’s 1843 magazine, the Guardian, the TLS, Apollo and Wired UK. A former Granta magazine editor, she currently teaches creative writing at the University of Hertfordshire. Deep time https://profilebooks.com/work/notes-from-deep-time/ James Hutton https://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/edinburghs-geology/geological-pioneers/james-hutton/ and https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/GeositesSiccarPoint Campi Flegrei https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=211010 The view towards London from Farthing Downs https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/farthing-downs/visit-farthing-downs Man in the Holocene https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Man-in-the-Holocene-by-Max-Frisch-Geoffrey-Skelton/9781564784667 Desk Set https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v13391 This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Novelist John King discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. John King is the author of nine novels with a tenth (London Country) to be published in 2023. His debut The Football Factory was turned into a film starring Danny Dyer and Dudley Sutton, while his most recent (Slaughterhouse Prayer) is being developed for television. His first novella The Beasts Of Brussels appeared as one-third of The Seal Club in 2020 along with work by Irvine Welsh and Alan Warner. The second of a proposed trilogy (Seal Club 2: The View From Poacher’s Hill) is due in 2023. John co-owns London Books, edits the London Classics fiction list, publishes and edits the small-press fiction journal Verbal and co-runs the Human Punk nights at London’s 100 Club. He has also written articles and reviews for the likes of the New Statesman in the UK, la Repubblica in Italy and Le Monde in France. You can find out more at https://www.john-king-author.co.uk/ The Middle Path https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhadasa The benefits of leaving the EU https://www.john-king-author.co.uk/liberal-politics The realities of animal slaughter https://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/til-the-pigs-come-round/ Drinking beer in public houses is good for our health https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/the-moon-under-water/ The so-called lowlife literature of 1930s London https://www.london-books.co.uk/ Dharma Blues https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbAb9oqkHlQ This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Economist Anton Muscatelli discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow since 2009. An economist, his research interests are monetary economics, central bank independence, fiscal policy, international finance and macroeconomics. Sir Anton was Chair (2016-21) of the First Minister’s Standing Council on Europe, a non-political group providing expert advice to Scottish ministers on Scotland’s relationship with the EU. He was a member of the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers 2015-21, and subsequently advised them on the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. He is a member of the advisory group for Sir Paul Nurse’s Review of the UK’s Research, Development and Innovation Organisational Landscape. From 2017-20 he was Chair of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities. He has been a special adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee on fiscal and monetary policy, and he has advised the European Commission and the World Bank. He holds an honorary degree from McGill University in Canada. The life of James McCune Smith https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH24115&type=P&o=&start=0&max=20&l= The importance of central bank independence https://www.ft.com/content/c233c60e-7d88-465a-9b8b-c35b6a5ca339 (paywall) Cooking with fresh (Apulian) artichokes https://personalpuglia.com/2012/11/27/an-abundance-of-artichokes-food-itlay/ Sostiene Pereira by Antonio Tabucchi https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/nov/21/pereira-maintains-tabucchi-review The game of Maniglia/Manille https://www.pagat.com/manille/mariglia.html Basilica of St Nicholas in Bari https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_di_San_Nicola This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Novelist Kamila Shamsie discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Kamila Shamsie was born and grew up in Karachi, Pakistan. Her novel, Home Fire, won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2018. It was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017, shortlisted for the Costa Best Novel Award, and won the London Hellenic Prize. She is the author of six previous novels including Burnt Shadows, shortlisted for the Orange Prize, and A God in Every Stone, shortlisted for the Women’s Bailey’s Prize and the Walter Scott Prize. Her work has been translated into over 30 languages. Kamila Shamsie is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was named a Granta Best of Young British Novelist in 2013. She is professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester and lives in London. Her new novel is Best of Friends, which is available at https://www.waterstones.com/book/best-of-friends/kamila-shamsie/9781526657862. Kamila Shamsie is in conversation with Nesrine Malik at London’s Southbank Centre on Wednesday 28th September. Tickets are available at https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/literature-poetry/kamila-shamsie-best-friends?eventId=907048. The Peshawar Museum https://aboutkp.kp.gov.pk/page/peshawar_museaum Women’s cricket https://theconversation.com/the-history-of-womens-cricket-from-englands-greens-to-the-world-stage-132904 How to dress on scorchingly hot days https://www.gearpatrol.com/style/a736579/how-to-dress-cool-through-hot-weather/ The Pakistan floods https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/world/asia/pakistan-floods.html Ada I and II of Caria https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_of_Caria City walks https://www.ft.com/content/9d190dfe-97d5-4a9a-b8a3-8019589e9cee This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Philip Ball discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Philip Ball is a freelance writer and broadcaster and worked previously for over 20 years as an editor for Nature. He writes regularly in the scientific and popular media and has authored many books on the interactions of the sciences, the arts, and the wider culture, including H2O: A Biography of Water, Bright Earth: The Invention of Colour, The Music Instinct and Curiosity: How Science Became Interested in Everything. His book Critical Mass won the 2005 Aventis Prize for Science Books. Philip is a presenter of Science Stories, the BBC Radio 4 series on the history of science, and is the 2022 recipient of the Royal Society’s Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal for contributions to the history, philosophy or social functions of science. He trained as a chemist at the University of Oxford, and as a physicist at the University of Bristol. His latest book is The Book of Minds (2022), a survey of the varieties of mind that do and might exist. Find out more at www.philipball.co.uk. Our genome is not a blueprint for us https://aeon.co/essays/our-genome-is-not-a-blueprint-for-making-humans-at-all Emmy Noether https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxmDphojQUU Glenn Branca https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/14/glenn-branca-dead-guitarist-composer The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1997/07/17/paradise-in-a-dream/ What mercury feels like https://www.quora.com/What-does-mercury-feel-like The deceptive cadence https://www.aaronkrerowicz.com/beatles-blog/the-beatles-use-of-deceptive-cadences This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm