Great Lives
BBC Radio 4Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 375 | Founded | 18 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | DocumentaryHistorySociety & Culture | |||
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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
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Reviews
- 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 Podcasts5STUARTBOYOFDESTINY
New Zealand3 months ago - Highly interesting!
A great podcast to get more than a broad idea about the person portrayed!
Apple Podcasts5BeckmannsiTunes
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 Podcasts1saperlo
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 Podcasts5Capdowling
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 Podcasts2jazz2987United Kingdoma year ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #136 | United States/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #19 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #95 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #209 |  Canada/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #36 |  Australia/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Apple Podcasts | #63 |  Italy/Society & Culture/Documentary |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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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?
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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?
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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.