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Start the Week

BBC Radio 4
Claude Monet
Glass
Glassmaking
Emma Smith
Errollyn Wallen
Laurence Cummings
Small States
Climate Change
Stained Glass
Art History
Material Science
Opium
China
Games
Classical Music
Jazz
Compositional Process
Handel
Jephtha
Algorithms

Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes636Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Start the Week

Latest Episodes

When society, financial systems and human beings fall short, how can we repair the damage? Tom Sutcliffe hosts Radio 4's discussion programme which starts the week, exploring the social, moral and political contradictions of the world we face today, ... more

Games are supposed to be fun — so what happens when the logic of games, points and competition escapes the playground and starts reshaping everyday life? The novelist and games-writer Naomi Alderman and her guests explore how the joy of play collides... more

A lawyer, artist and curator discuss different examples of censorship and self censorship in Radio 4's weekly discussion of ideas to kick off the week. Tom Sutcliffe's guests are:

Ai Weiwei: a major name in contemporary art and for decades a leadin... more

Adam Rutherford and guests discuss intelligence, genetics and the nature of reality. How are scientific advances in AI, cognitive science and genetics changing our understanding of the material world and what it means to be human?

Adrian Woolfson a... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

C Thi Nguyen
Associate Professor of Philosophy and author specializing in the philosophy of games
University of Utah
Episode: Fun and games
Keza MacDonald
Video games editor at The Guardian and author of 'Super Nintendo'
The Guardian
Episode: Fun and games
Stephen Bush
Associate Editor and Columnist at the Financial Times, avid gamer
Financial Times
Episode: Fun and games
Ai Weiwei
Artist and activist known for his work on human rights and freedom of speech
Independent
Episode: Censorship
Baroness Helena Kennedy
Notable campaigner for media freedom and human rights
Independent
Episode: Censorship
Rosina Buckland
Lead curator of the British Museum's Samurai Exhibition
British Museum
Episode: Censorship
Peter Fretwell
Scientist at the British Antarctic Survey
British Antarctic Survey
Episode: Animals and Meaning
Marianne Hem Eriksen
Professor of Viking Studies at the National Museum of Denmark
National Museum of Denmark
Episode: Animals and Meaning
Justin Gregg
Researcher with the Dolphin Communication Project
Dolphin Communication Project
Episode: Animals and Meaning

Hosts

Tom Sutcliffe
Host known for his insightful questioning and ability to drive discussions effectively.
Adam Rutherford
Host bringing a scientific perspective to cultural discussions, renowned for his thought-provoking inquiries.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 614 ratings
  • För bra att somna till

    Jag brukar somna till poddar om ämnen som intresserar mig, men här är det för intressant och för intresserat - jag vaknar till istället och vill lära mig allt om nattfjärilar eller allergier.

    Initierat, kunnigt, nördigt.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PappaStekman
    Sweden3 years ago
  • So much better since Marr left

    Every week this show delivers an interesting discussion and normally results in more additions to my ‘to read’ pile.

    The new post-Marr format of rotating presenters is refreshing and less egotistical in style. And speaking are even now allowed to be honest about how bad Brexit is going.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Alex_Phillips
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Excellent but…

    Can someone ask the host to resist the urge to interrupt his guests? We genuinely want to hear what they have to say. That is, we haven’t run out of attention quite as quickly as he has.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MaryCherry75
    Canada4 years ago
  • Variable and a bit pompous but often interesting

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Professor
    5 years ago
  • Intelligent long form journalism

    Great listen well worth subscribing to.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Welger AP 45
    Ireland5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback indicates that guests often provide insightful contributions, and many listeners express a desire for deeper engagements with their perspectives.
Listeners appreciate the stimulating discussions and engaging format, often highlighting that the show presents a rich diversity of topics.
The rotating host format has been positively received, with some considering it a refreshing change from previous hosts.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fun and games
Q: Stephen, you wrote a piece in the Financial Times last year with the headline, If you don't understand Nintendo Switch 2, you won't understand the modern world. Is that an exaggeration?
No, I think it's important because video games shape people's perceptions and how they interact with the world.
Censorship
Q: Are there controls on what can be said about?
Yes, strict prohibitions exist against criticism of the government and can lead to imprisonment.
Censorship
Q: Do you think she was an activist journalist?
Yes, Anna Politkovskaya had a relentless commitment to speaking truth to power and suffered the consequences as a result.
Censorship
Q: Do you think a government and authoritarian governments have a particular fear of art, of culture?
Yes, authoritarian states desire absolute control over voices and cannot tolerate questioning of their authority.
Censorship
Q: What form does censorship take here, in your view?
Censorship exists everywhere, not just in authoritarian regimes, and it can be found in media regulations that enforce hate speech laws.

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 Start the Week

What is Start the Week about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly discussion series that features in-depth conversations on culture, society, and contemporary issues. The sessions typically invite a range of experts, authors, and thought leaders who share insights on diverse topics such as environmental issues, politics, art, literature, and the impact of technology on society. The format encourages dynamic exchanges among participants, often weaving personal anecdotes with broader societal implications. Listeners can expect to engage with complex subjects through accessible dialogue, making it suitable for anyone interested in cultural discourse and intellectual growth.

Where can I find podcast stats for Start the Week?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Start the Week. 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 Start the Week and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Start the Week get?

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What are the audience demographics for Start the Week?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Start the Week, 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 Start the Week have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Start the Week 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 Start the Week?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Start the Week:

1. Arts & Ideas
2. Great Lives
3. Thinking Allowed
4. Front Row
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of Start the Week are there?

Start the Week launched 20 years ago and published 636 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 Start the Week?

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 Start the Week?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Start the Week from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Start the Week?

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What guests have appeared on Start the Week?

Recent guests on Start the Week include:

1. C Thi Nguyen
2. Keza MacDonald
3. Stephen Bush
4. Ai Weiwei
5. Baroness Helena Kennedy
6. Rosina Buckland
7. Peter Fretwell
8. Marianne Hem Eriksen

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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