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In Our Time

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

A world-class seminar, every week. In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped our world, spanning history, philosophy, religion, science, literature, art and culture. On Thursdays, hear brand-new episodes hosted by Misha Glenny and leading academics. On Mondays, discover Misha's Archive Picks: classic conversations from the In Our Time archive, originally presented by ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1174Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for In Our Time

Latest Episodes

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His final choice is the Trinity, an episode first released in March 2014. The idea that God is a single entity, but one known in three distinct forms -... more

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His ninth choice is the episode on Jane Austen’s novel Emma, first released in November 2015. Austen described her leading character as "a heroine whom... more

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His eighth choice is The War of 1812, which was first released in January 2013. Melvyn Bragg and his guests discussed the conflict between America and ... more

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His seventh choice is the pioneering scientist Rosalind Franklin (1920 - 1958), first released in February 2018. During her distinguished career, Frank... more

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Recent Guests

Janet Todd
Professor Emerita of Literature, University of Aberdeen and Honorary Fellow of Newnham College Cambridge
University of Aberdeen; Newnham College Cambridge
Episode: Archive: Emma
John Mullan
Professor of English at University College London
University College London
Episode: Archive: Emma
Emma Cleary
Professor of English at the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
Episode: Archive: Emma
Frank Cogliano
Professor of American History
University of Edinburgh
Episode: Archive: The War of 1812
Kathleen Burk
Professor of Modern and Contemporary History
University College London
Episode: Archive: The War of 1812
Lawrence Goldman
Fellow in Modern History
St. Peter's College, University of Oxford
Episode: Archive: The War of 1812
MM McCabe
Professor of Ancient Philosophy Emerita, King's College London
King's College London
Episode: Archive: Plato's Republic
Angela Hobbs
Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy, University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
Episode: Archive: Plato's Republic
Rana Mitter
Professor of History and Politics of China at University of Oxford (or equivalent title as referenced in program)
University of Oxford
Episode: Archive: Empress Dowager Cixi

Hosts

Melvyn Bragg
Longtime host known for exploring broad historical themes with expert guests
Misha Glenny
Host guiding discussions with scholarly panels across topics
Ben Henderson
Co-host introducing segments and guiding discussion

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 17.3k ratings
  • Confucius episode … what about women?

    So disappointing that the discussion of Confucian thought did not explore its views re: women. Even though it was brought up at the beginning by the female panellists it got shut down by Melvin and never picked up again. Massive fail because of how catastrophic this ideology was for women.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Creatrix Studio
    United Kingdom23 days ago
  • Ruined by the BBC trailer inserts in the middle of the podcast. The interruption is intolerable

    Podcast Addict
    1
    sgu
    a month ago
  • The tile change is appalling

    Used to show beautiful mosaic in golden colors, now with model change is just a black spiral of doom

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Noveria79
    United Statesa month ago
  • Spoiled by ads in the middle

    I’m in the uk. I don’t need ads from the Beeb for other shows bang in the middle of a discussion!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dave 123456
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Gaia Theory

    Can you review this topic based off of the great archival episode from 2008? Amazing insights, especially in light of escalating environmental degradation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilderLander
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the breadth of topics and the quality of expert guests.
Some reviews call out host interruptions or interview style critiques.
The show is described as a high-quality, institution-like source of knowledge with passionate, accessible scholarship.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#19
United States/History
Spotify
#18
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Kingdom/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#11
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/History
Spotify
#40
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Archive: Coffee
Q: What was the big development? What was that great rush of development?
The big development was the rapid spread of coffee houses as central hubs for business, news, and sociability, moving from exotic consumption to essential urban infrastructure that supported commerce and intellectual exchange.
Machado de Assis
Q: Claire, how does Dom Casmurro address issues of trust and responsibility within a patriarchal society?
Through a first-person narrator who claims to tell Capitu's story, the novel invites doubt about fidelity and truth, revealing how the narrator's biases shape perception and critique of social roles.
Machado de Assis
Q: Ana Cláudia, what was Machado de Assis's first break as a writer?
He began in collaboration with a local press and through translating poetry and novels, while also writing poetry and engaging with literary circles, which helped him gain visibility as a writer.
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.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About In Our Time

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

A thoughtfully eclectic history-and-science program that brings together panels of scholars, researchers, and museum professionals to explore topics spanning ancient history, literature, art, technology, and natural science. Episodes fuse archival context, critical analysis, and vivid anecdotes to illuminate how ideas, objects, and cultures shape our world—from Renaissance portraiture and eighteenth-century literature to cybernetics, tree evolution, and global trade networks. The show often features multiple specialists offering nuanced perspectives, making complex topics feel accessible without sacrificing rigor. A standout pattern is the cross-disciplinary approach: historians sit alongside scientists, curators, and artists to connect ide... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with In Our Time:

1. HistoryExtra podcast
2. The Ancients
3. Empire: World History
4. The Rest Is History
5. Dan Snow's History Hit

How many episodes of In Our Time are there?

In Our Time launched 21 years ago and published 1174 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. Janet Todd
2. John Mullan
3. Emma Cleary
4. Frank Cogliano
5. Kathleen Burk
6. Lawrence Goldman
7. MM McCabe
8. Angela Hobbs

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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