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In Our Time

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1160Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for In Our Time

Latest Episodes

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the origins and evolution of an alliance which transformed the geopolitics of the classical world: the Delian League. Since the start of the 5th Century BCE, city states across Greece had been fighting a series of arme... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss one of the towering figures of Brazilian and world literature, Machado de Assis (1839 - 1908). He was the descendant of slaves and built his career while slavery was still in place in Brazil (abolished 1888) and many o... more

As 4th July approaches, we think you’ll like this episode of The Global Story. All week, The Global Story podcast is exploring the surprising and often hidden ways the US has shaped the modern world.

Roman Mars – the host of 99% Invisible and the n... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the earliest evidence we have of the existence of trees and how even plants we might have on windowsills or as vegetables in gardens can and do, in the right conditions, evolve into trees. Since their emergence around ... more

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Recent Guests

Roman Mars
Host of 99% Invisible; involved in History of the United States in 100 Objects
99% Invisible, BBC series
Episode: The Global Story - The soft power superpower, with Roman Mars
Bill Baker
Senior Researcher
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Episode: The Evolution of Trees
Jenny McElwain
1711 Chair of Botany, Trinity College Dublin; Director of Trinity Botanic Gardens
Trinity College Dublin
Episode: The Evolution of Trees
Christopher Berry
Senior Lecturer in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Cardiff University
Episode: The Evolution of Trees
Huw Pryce
Emeritus Professor of Welsh History
Bangor University
Episode: The Welsh Marches
Rhun Emlyn
Lecturer in History and Welsh History at Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth University
Episode: The Welsh Marches
Helen Fulton
Professor of Medieval Literature
University of Bristol
Episode: The Welsh Marches
Clare Jackson
Honorary Professor of Early Modern History, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: The Levellers
Theresa Béjan
Professor of Political Theory, Fellow of Oriel College, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: The Levellers

Host

Misha Glenny
Host of In Our Time

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 17.2k ratings
  • Secular timeline confusion and distraction

    For the regular listener who is not a member of academia or the scientific community I.e. your target audience, please, please, go back to using BC and AD. The new inclusive terms are too confusing and distracting. Are listeners really offended by the terms society has used for CENTURIES!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Insomniac 64
    United States5 days ago
  • Spam

    Feed gets spammed with other programmes

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bob Cranshaw
    United Kingdom17 days ago
  • Best Of Our Time

    In Our Time is one of the best programs the BBC has produced in either radio or Television. The eclectic mix of topics is a constant delight. I would happily pay my licence fee just to ensure it remains on air

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FinnParker99
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Levellers

    I love In Our Time, which has greatly advanced my education. However, I was disappointed that the episode about the Levellers ignored their deep Christian convictions and Bible roots. Even if the panelists themselves are not Christian they should have the intellectual integrity to acknowledge where the Levellers got their ideas from.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jalal1951
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • In good hands

    This is one of my favorite podcasts, and I couldn’t really imagine it with another host. After listening to the latest episodes i can see that the essence remains the same. I am enjoying the new host and the choice of topics. There seems to be a new sensitivity and perspective that brings something fresh while staying true to what made the podcast so great in the first place. Congratulations to everybody involved.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Daniela del Pomar
    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
#40
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#29
United States/History
Spotify
#17
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#154
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#15
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#25
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 Ancients
5. The Rest Is History

How many episodes of In Our Time are there?

In Our Time launched 21 years ago and published 1160 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. Roman Mars
2. Bill Baker
3. Jenny McElwain
4. Christopher Berry
5. Huw Pryce
6. Rhun Emlyn
7. Helen Fulton
8. Clare Jackson

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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