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In Our Time

BBC Radio 4
French Revolution
Philosophy
Poetry
Thomas Hardy
Christianity
Evolution
Napoleon Bonaparte
Waltz
Germinal
General Relativity
Quantum Physics
Thomas Wyatt
Consciousness
Battle Of Valmy
Persian Empire
Pheromones
Vincent Van Gogh
Wormholes
Post-Literate Society
Hinduism

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 15... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1152Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for In Our Time

Latest Episodes

Misha Glenny and guests discuss one of the great writers on Central Europe after the first world war and on the dying of the old orders with the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire. As a German speaking Jew from Brody in the north-eastern edge of... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss cybernetics – the field of study which gave us the prefix ‘cyber’ and helped lay the foundations for the information age. After the Second World War, cybernetics emerged as the study of communication, feedback, and con... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss how, after the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833, sugar planters recruited workers from India to replace or compete with their formerly enslaved labourers. Over the next 90 years, more than a million p... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the work of Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972), the graphic artist and printmaker best known for his impossible buildings, paradoxical perspectives, and repeating geometric patterns. Born in Leeuwarden and trained as ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Orit Halpern
Lighthouse professor and chair of Digital Cultures
Technische Universität Dresden
Episode: Cybernetics
Jon Agar
Professor of science and technology studies at University College London
University College London
Episode: Cybernetics
Jacob Ward
Historian of science and technology at Maastricht University
Maastricht University
Episode: Cybernetics
Clem Cicharan
Emeritus professor of history
London Metropolitan University
Episode: Indian Indentured Labour
Purba Hussain
Lecturer in modern history, University of York
University of York
Episode: Indian Indentured Labour
Neha Hui
Associate professor in economics
University of Reading
Episode: Indian Indentured Labour
Judith Kadee
Exhibitions Project Manager and Public Programme Curator at Hague Historical Museum
Hague Historical Museum
Episode: M.C. Escher
Marcus du Sautoy
Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, Professor of Mathematics and Fellow of New College, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: M.C. Escher
Sarah Hart
Professor Emerita of Mathematics and Fellow of Birkbeck College, University of London; Fellow of Gresham College
Birkbeck College; Gresham College
Episode: M.C. Escher

Host

Misha Glenny
Host of In Our Time

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 17.1k ratings
  • Wonder!

    Emotional content of M.C. Escher? Wonder!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KentuckyRobert
    United Statesa month ago
  • Melvyn Bragg is Obnoxious

    The show is functionally unlistenable because of the host’s obnoxious and rude behavior towards his guests, particularly those that are women.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    kathrynlawler
    United Statesa month ago
  • Empire

    I listened to the Joseph Roth episode. I live in Vienna; my great grandfathers were officers in the KuK army. I’ve read Roth. This was brilliant. Thank you. I’ll be listening to many more episodes of course

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LolaChanning
    United Statesa month ago
  • BBC Premium doesn't deliver what it promises

    I have paid for Premium only to discover that all episodes prior to 2015 have ads.

    Why does the BBC think that is fair and reasonable?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    David Sanderson1
    Australiaa month ago
  • Wonderful

    I‘ve always loved this podcast and was very nervous when the change was announced but I‘m so pleased with Misha Glenny as a host. I find he brings the perfect balance of curiosity and respect for the guests and the conversations are a real pleasure to listen to under his stewardship.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elle Smythe
    Germany2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

A few criticisms mention pacing or host style in certain episodes.
High regard for the quality and breadth of topics across disciplines.
Thoughtful, balanced discussions that invite expert voices and civility.
Listeners appreciate accessible, evidence-based conversations with scholars.
Host is praised for curiosity and respect, though some listeners note interruptions can occur.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#42
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#30
United States/History
Spotify
#17
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#193
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#27
Canada/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Handel's Messiah
Q: How has Messiah evolved in performance practice over time?
The guests note that Handel created many versions to suit different singers and spaces, from large choirs to intimate orchestration, and modern performances continue to experiment with forces while maintaining the core emotional trajectory of the piece.
Handel's Messiah
Q: Why did Messiah premiere in Dublin and how did that affect its reception?
They discuss how Dublin offered professional choirs, charitable venues, and a favorable cultural climate, which helped Messiah gain acclaim and set the stage for its later London reception and the debates about sacred content in theatre spaces.
Handel's Messiah
Q: What was the relationship between the libretto and Handel's musical choices in Messiah?
The panel explains that Jennens supplied a scripture-based text, which Handel then musically interpreted with a strong emphasis on contrast, mood, and imagery, allowing the music to carry both dramatic and spiritual weight without a single narrative storyline.
The Roman Arena
Q: But Kathleen, if I can bring you in on this issue, we always get the impression that these were fights to the death, but that's not actually the case.
Gladiators were valuable assets to their owners, so they were not typically killed during fights; only about 5% resulted in death, and fights were often structured to avoid fatalities.
The Roman Arena
Q: Matthew, what can you tell us about how these arena games began?
The games began as ritual combat at funerals of aristocrats in Italy, particularly Campania, and evolved as Rome expanded into large spectacles attracting massive audiences as they became politically linked to the magistrates.

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 In Our Time

What is In Our Time about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show targets curious, knowledge-seeking listeners who relish deep dives across history, science, culture, and philosophy, often featuring expert panels that unpack complex ideas with historical context and interdisciplinary connections. Episodes frequently pair humanities scholars with scientists or mathematicians to illuminate topics from ancient law to modern technology, highlighting how ideas shape civilization. A notable strength is the breadth of subjects covered, the rigor of the discussions, and the sustained emphasis on accessible, thoughtful dialogue led by a seasoned host. The format tends to attract listeners who enjoy scholarly yet approachable conversations and who value credible, well-sourced analysis over sensationalism.... more

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Which podcasts are similar to In Our Time?

These podcasts share a similar audience with In Our Time:

1. In Our Time: History
2. In Our Time: Culture
3. HistoryExtra podcast
4. The Rest Is History
5. The Ancients

How many episodes of In Our Time are there?

In Our Time launched 21 years ago and published 1152 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on In Our Time?

Recent guests on In Our Time include:

1. Orit Halpern
2. Jon Agar
3. Jacob Ward
4. Clem Cicharan
5. Purba Hussain
6. Neha Hui
7. Judith Kadee
8. Marcus du Sautoy

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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