Rephonic
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
Political Activism
Racism
Comedy
Antoni Gaudi

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes375Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryHistorySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Great Lives

Latest Episodes

Biography show in which the guest picks someone they admire. Benny Hill is a thorny choice but playwright Jonathan Maitland is determined that - despite accusations of sexism and racism later in his career - Britain's most successful comedian deserve... more

“Henrietta's eyes looked into one's soul at the same time exposing her own. She posed for me most Mondays for the last seven months until two days before she died.”

In a raw and very funny opener to the new series of Great Lives, painter and sculpt... more

The legendary opera star Maria Callas was lauded for her magnetic stage presence and extraordinary vocal range. Born in New York in 1923 to Greek immigrant parents, she moved with her mother and sister to Greece aged 13. In 1939 she attended the Athe... more

Born in Illinois in 1941, Dana Meadows studied Chemistry and Molecular Biology, before turning her back on a post doc position at Harvard, to pursue environmentalism.

She joined her husband Dennis Meadows as part of the team working on Professor Ja... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Last Word
Last WordBBC Radio 4
In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4
Profile
ProfileBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Sheri Randolph
Author of the biography 'Florynce Flo Kennedy, The Life of a Black Feminist Radical' and associate professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Episode: Ellen E Jones nominates Florynce Kennedy
Philippe Cousteau Jr.
Oceanographer, environmental activist, and filmmaker
Earth Echo International
Episode: Doug Allan on Captain Jacques Cousteau
Dr. Henry Marsh
Retired neurosurgeon and author of three bestselling books about life as a brain surgeon and his experiences as a cancer patient.
Episode: The surgeon Henry Marsh picks 'the saviour of mothers' Dr Semmelweis
Stephen Brown
Playwright who wrote a play about Dr. Semmelweis.
Episode: The surgeon Henry Marsh picks 'the saviour of mothers' Dr Semmelweis
Sir Mark Rylance
Actor who played Dr. Semmelweis in a recent theatrical adaptation.
Episode: The surgeon Henry Marsh picks 'the saviour of mothers' Dr Semmelweis
Julien Temple
Film and documentary maker known for works like The Great Rock n Roll Swindle.
Episode: Film director Julien Temple on Elizabethan bad boy Christopher Marlowe
Emma Smith
Professor of Shakespeare Studies and Fellow of Hartford College.
Episode: Film director Julien Temple on Elizabethan bad boy Christopher Marlowe
Sam Roddick
Entrepreneur and activist, daughter of Anita Roddick
The Roddick Foundation
Episode: Mary Portas on Anita Roddick
Hayaatun Sillem
CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Episode: Lady Rachel MacRobert, chosen by Hayaatun Sillem

Host

Matthew Parris
Experienced host known for his engaging interview style and ability to draw insightful narratives from guests.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Brilliant Lives

    I have discovered so many extraordinary people through this podcast. I really like the production too. It’s lovely to fall asleep to, but often I have to replay it several times to hear the whole thing. My only wish… is that someone will choose Marion Chesney as their great life!

    Cvt

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    STUARTBOYOFDESTINY
    New Zealand3 months ago
  • Highly interesting!

    A great podcast to get more than a broad idea about the person portrayed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BeckmannsiTunes
    Germany7 months ago
  • Appaling Episode on Nero

    The Great Life episode on Nero is one of the worst rewrites of history I’ve ever heard and is almost a parody of the BBC and its agenda-led output.

    Apparently his was a “great life” because he was an leading thespian and was bisexual.

    These are things the BBC love. But his sordid, mass execution of Christians (people the BBC hate) is quickly glossed over and even thrown into doubt.

    When Hermann Goering was caught fleeing Nazi Germany in 1945 it was noted that his nails were coated in red varnish... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    saperlo
    United States9 months ago
  • Excellent

    A great programme picked perfectly, informative and truthful. I love, and I love the presenter Matthew, he is just right for this medium. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Capdowling
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Informative but ideological

    I’ve enjoyed listening to these podcasts but the dreaded postmodernist ideology is creeping in. I appreciate it’s the BBC (and they have openly admitted they are all about social justice) but this obsession with this most bizarre of ideologies is puzzling. Just provide the facts-telling people how to think is far beyond the remit of a broadcaster.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    jazz2987
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the insightful selection of guests and topics, often discovering extraordinary lives they had not previously considered.
The production quality receives praise for being engaging and well-structured, with many noting its educational value.
Critics have raised concerns about ideological bias in discussions, feeling some narratives may downplay complex historical realities.
Many listeners enjoy the balance between humor and serious reflection on the lives discussed, finding it both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mark Billingham chooses George Harrison
Q: Do you think that George Harrison was underappreciated?
Both Billingham and Tessler agree that Harrison was massively underrated as a musician, songwriter, and singer.
Mark Billingham chooses George Harrison
Q: Is he more sort of at peace with himself?
Billingham believes that George Harrison found more peace in his later years, especially in writing songs reflecting on his experiences as a Beatle.
Mark Billingham chooses George Harrison
Q: Mark, why George?
Billingham explains that George's status as a Beatle and his subsequent contributions to music earn him recognition, and that there is so much to explore beyond his time with the band.
Jake Arnott on John Gay
Q: Can we talk about him in terms of his, up to this point, more successful friends?
They discuss how Gay, compared to contemporaries like Pope and Swift, carried a certain underdog status while also being a talented satirist.
Jake Arnott on John Gay
Q: Jake, you're a writer. Did you ever feel that sense of despair?
Jake Arnott relates to John Gay's struggles, expressing that he still experiences similar feelings of despair as a writer.

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?

This biographical series features guests selecting individuals who have profoundly inspired or influenced their lives. Each episode dives into the stories of historical and cultural figures, exploring their impact on society through discussions that blend personal anecdotes with historical context. Topics span various fields, including literature, activism, science, and the arts, allowing for a rich tapestry of narratives that highlight both celebrated and often overlooked figures. This diverse approach encourages listeners to reflect on the significance of these lives and the legacies they leave behind.

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. Last Word
2. This Cultural Life
3. In Our Time
4. Desert Island Discs
5. Profile

How many episodes of Great Lives are there?

Great Lives launched 18 years ago and published 375 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. Sheri Randolph
2. Philippe Cousteau Jr.
3. Dr. Henry Marsh
4. Stephen Brown
5. Sir Mark Rylance
6. Julien Temple
7. Emma Smith
8. Sam Roddick

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days