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Artwork for Great Lives

Great Lives

BBC Radio 4
Civil Rights Movement
Eartha Kitt
Harry Belafonte
World War II
Gerard Hoffnung
Frank Whittle
Diana Barnato Walker
Broadway
Thomas Jefferson
Calypso Music
Turbojet Engine
JG Ballard
Hollywood
Catherine Dunham Dance Company
Cotton Fields
Slavery
Racism
Political Activism
Comedy
Antoni Gaudi

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes397Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryHistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Great Lives

Latest Episodes

Matthew Paris is joined by the pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew, who nominates the Great Life of the early 20th century composer Nicolai Medtner.

It’s often the case that in a world of strong contenders, there are 'Great Lives' hidden by the sca... more

Born Joan Molinsky in 1933, Joan Rivers shot to fame on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, who she later infuriated by hosting a late night chat show of her own. Comedian and writer Helen Lederer, author of Not That I Am Bitter, picks Joan for her ... more

Johnny Green was a hippy, a driver, a writer, a father and the road manager of The Clash. He wrote about this experience in a memorable book, A Riot of Our Own. Then he found a new passion, cycling, and so he wrote Push Yourself a Little Bit More: Ba... more

Christine de Pizan was born in Italy but most of her life was spent in Paris, where her father was astrologer to the King of France. After her husband died she was left alone to bring up her three children. Christine's most famous work is The Book of... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Francis Pott
Composer and pianist, champion of Medtner's work
Episode: Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew nominates Russian composer Nicolai Medtner
Andrew Davenport
Writer and musical mind behind In the Night Garden and Moon and Me, co-creator of Teletubbies
Episode: Oliver Postgate
Matthew Sweet
Cultural historian
Episode: Oliver Postgate
Sandra Kerr
Folk musician who worked on Bagpuss
Episode: Oliver Postgate
Elizabeth Day
Novelist and history graduate
Episode: Elizabeth Day on Hatshepsut
Professor Joyce Tyldesley
Egyptologist and author
Episode: Elizabeth Day on Hatshepsut
Tim Fletcher
Involved with organizing Derek Bailey's material for Huddersfield University.
Huddersfield University
Episode: Comedian Stewart Lee on Derek Bailey
DJ Taylor
Friend of JL Carr and literary critic
Episode: Miles Jupp on JL Carr, author of A Month in the Country
Katrina Navickas
Professor of History with a focus on protest
Episode: Ned Ludd mythical leader of the Luddites

Host

Unknown

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 2k ratings
  • Learn new things

    And enjoy doing so!

    Host is really good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MaryH1nge
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Fantastic except for Matthew

    I do love Great Lives but Matthew Parris is very irritating. His opinions should be irrelevant and his droning, patronising tone silenced. Let the guest and experts speak.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    hannakuso
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Learn new things

    And enjoy doing so

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MaryH1nge
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Richey Edwards episode

    An unusual subject for the show, but an important one. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode, thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LL-77
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Usual beeb

    Selective selection of those that have passed. The bias of this ‘objective’ cult is becoming tiring…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Capn_Chaos
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the in-depth exploration of historical figures and often find the discussions enlightening and engaging.
There is a noted enjoyment of the podcast's production quality and a desire for more diverse subject matter, showcasing a mix of positive and critical feedback.
Critiques mention that the podcast can be somewhat ideologically driven, reflecting on how certain perspectives can influence historical narratives.
Several reviews highlight the host's ability to connect personally with guests, bringing out emotional narratives alongside factual history.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

John Cooper Clarke on Johnny Green, road manager of The Clash
Q: Did he want to be a celebrity in his own right?
No way, no, not at all.
Sylvia Plath
Q: What ultimately happened in Sylvia Plath's life?
Plath experienced significant depression following personal crises, leading to her tragic suicide in early 1963.
Sylvia Plath
Q: How do you feel about Sylvia Plath's representation as a depressing writer?
Many find her work, despite its exploration of depression, to be comforting and relatable rather than merely depressive.
Maggi Hambling picks muse and lover Henrietta Moraes
Q: Did she talk to you at all about her childhood?
Maggi recalls that Henrietta was very much in the present and focused on current happenings.
Maggi Hambling picks muse and lover Henrietta Moraes
Q: What do you mean by muse?
Maggi describes the moments where the painting paints itself, which are the moments she truly lives for.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Great Lives

What is Great Lives about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content focuses on the exploration of influential figures from various fields, with episodes predominantly featuring guests who share personal insights into the lives and legacies of historical and cultural icons. The topics typically cover the subjects' contributions, the impact they had on society and the world, and the inspiration they have provided to others, especially in terms of artistic, cultural, and social achievements. The discussions often highlight the intersection of personal narratives and broader societal issues, making this series appealing for listeners interested in history, personal stories, and cultural commentary.

Where can I find podcast stats for Great Lives?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Great Lives. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Great Lives and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Great Lives get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Great Lives, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Great Lives?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Great Lives, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Great Lives have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Great Lives has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Great Lives?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Great Lives:

1. This Cultural Life
2. Desert Island Discs
3. In Our Time
4. Start the Week
5. From Our Own Correspondent

How many episodes of Great Lives are there?

Great Lives launched 19 years ago and published 397 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Great Lives?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Great Lives?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Great Lives from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Great Lives?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Great Lives. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Great Lives?

Recent guests on Great Lives include:

1. Francis Pott
2. Andrew Davenport
3. Matthew Sweet
4. Sandra Kerr
5. Elizabeth Day
6. Professor Joyce Tyldesley
7. Tim Fletcher
8. DJ Taylor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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