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Start the Week

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

Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes623Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Start the Week

Latest Episodes

Threats to the natural world are the focus of today’s conversation. Adam Rutherford talks to wildlife biologist Jonathan Slaght, novelist Juhea Kim and criminal psychologist Julia Shaw.

Jonathan Slaght discusses Tigers Between Empires, his account o... more

In her latest novel, One Aladdin Two Lamps, the writer Jeanette Winterson takes inspiration from the legendary story of Shahrazad in One Thousand and One Nights. But she calls on the reader to look again at stories we think we know, unpick how fictio... more

The internationally renowned choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor swaps stage for gallery in a landmark exhibition exploring his multifaceted career at Somerset House (from 30 Oct 2025–22 Feb 2026). ‘Infinite Bodies’ investigates how Wayne McGregor has c... more

The Library of Lost Maps by James Cheshire, Professor of Geographic Information and Cartography, tells the story of the discovery of a treasure-trove at the heart of University College London. In a long-forgotten room James found thousands of maps an... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jeanette Winterson
Novelist and author of One Aladdin, Two Lamps
Episode: Storytelling: Jeanette Winterson, Rory Stewart and Soweto Kinch
Rory Stewart
Podcaster and professor, author of Middleland
Yale University
Episode: Storytelling: Jeanette Winterson, Rory Stewart and Soweto Kinch
Soweto Kinch
Musician and composer of Soundtrack to the Apocalypse
Episode: Storytelling: Jeanette Winterson, Rory Stewart and Soweto Kinch
James Cheshire
Cartographer and professor of geographic information, author of The Library of Lost Maps.
Episode: Maps – lost, secret and revealing
Jenny Uglow
Author of A Year with Gilbert White, a book tracking natural history through Gilbert White's observations.
Episode: Maps – lost, secret and revealing
Jerry Brotton
Historian, author of Four Points of the Compass, discussing secret maps and their implications.
Episode: Maps – lost, secret and revealing
Yanis Varoufakis
Economist and author of Raise Your Soul, which explores Greece's history through his family's experiences.
Episode: Yanis Varoufakis on Greece’s civil war
Mary Vincent
Professor of modern European history at the University of Sheffield, expert on the Spanish Civil War.
University of Sheffield
Episode: Yanis Varoufakis on Greece’s civil war
Paul Cartledge
Classicist and historian discussing Thucydides and his relevance to current wars.
Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge
Episode: Yanis Varoufakis on Greece’s civil war

Hosts

Tom Sutcliffe
Host of Start the Week
Adam Rutherford
Host of Start the Week
Shahid Abari
Host of Start the Week

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 610 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
    Sweden2 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 Kingdom3 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.

Listeners appreciate the diverse range of topics and the intellectual depth of the discussions.
The rotating host format has been positively received, bringing fresh perspectives to each episode.
The podcast is viewed as an essential platform for thoughtful discourse on cultural and societal issues.
Some have noted interruptions by the host can detract from guest insights but acknowledge valuable content overall.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: What is the dilemma in the drowning child thought experiment?
The experiment illustrates the moral obligation to help those in need, regardless of distance, emphasizing the indistinguishable nature of human lives across geographies.
Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: What is effective altruism?
Effective altruism is a movement that emphasizes not just giving, but giving effectively to maximize the good that can be achieved.
Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: How has social media changed common knowledge?
Social media can generate common belief including misconceptions, but it doesn't truly create common knowledge as it lacks universal engagement.
Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: What is the difference between common knowledge and common sense?
Common knowledge is a concept where everyone knows not just the information but also knows that others know it, while common sense is more intuitive knowledge shared among people without this depth of awareness.
Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: What is common knowledge?
Common knowledge refers to the state in which a piece of information is known by everyone involved, and everyone knows that everyone else knows it.

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?

The episodes cover a variety of cultural and societal themes, often featuring discussions on significant historical and contemporary topics such as migration, mental health, privacy, and the evolution of societal norms. Guests typically include well-respected authors, academics, and experts from diverse fields, leading to intellectually stimulating conversations that challenge mainstream narratives. The format allows for a dynamic exploration of ideas, often linking art, science, history, and social issues in a way that encourages listeners to think critically about the world around them. This broad-ranging approach is likely to appeal to those interested in deep, thoughtful discussions about pressing cultural matters and social justice.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Start the Week, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

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. In Our Time
4. Front Row
5. Private Passions

How many episodes of Start the Week are there?

Start the Week launched 20 years ago and published 623 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.

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 Start the Week?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Start the Week. 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 Start the Week?

Recent guests on Start the Week include:

1. Jeanette Winterson
2. Rory Stewart
3. Soweto Kinch
4. James Cheshire
5. Jenny Uglow
6. Jerry Brotton
7. Yanis Varoufakis
8. Mary Vincent

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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