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Artwork for Start the Week

Start the Week

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

Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes634Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Start the Week

Latest Episodes

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

If trust in politicians is broken and the political system isn't delivering, then how might we go about fixing things? Can we revive faith in democratic government by doing things differently? The political scientist Hélène Landemore argues that elec... more

What is the purpose of the Arts? Can music, literature and visual art change our lives physically and socially, as well as personally? Adam Rutherford explores the power of the arts and how it might be defined and explained.

Engaging with the arts i... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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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

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
Lyndal Roper
Regius Professor of History at Oxford and author of Summer of Fire and Blood.
Oxford University
Episode: Histories, emotions and identity
Masud Husain
Practicing neurologist and author of Our Brains, Our Selves, exploring the mechanisms of identity through neuroscience.
Episode: Histories, emotions and identity
Hannah Durkin
Author of Survivors, telling the stories of the last survivors of the transatlantic slave trade.
Episode: Histories, emotions and identity
Alison Bashford
Author of 'Decoding the Hand', exploring the history of palmistry and its connection to science.
Episode: Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Matthew Cobb
Author of 'Crick, A Mind in Motion', a biography of Francis Crick.
Episode: Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Charlotte Houldcroft
Virologist at the University of Cambridge specializing in the history of infectious diseases.
University of Cambridge
Episode: Genes and hands: mapping character and health

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 613 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 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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Biology, technology and the future
Q: Should we be afraid that as a novelist you might be replaced by AI?
Joanna believes it's highly unlikely and focuses on the importance of human interaction and experience that AI lacks.
Biology, technology and the future
Q: How do you feel as a novelist about the mechanistic approach to something as simple as feeling thirsty or something more complicated like writing a novel?
Joanna Kavenna expresses that while AI can replicate surprise, the complexity of human emotions and interactions surpasses AI's capabilities.
Histories, emotions and identity
Q: Can you explain the case study of David in your book?
David underwent a significant personality change after suffering strokes, showcasing how brain function relates to motivation and action.
Histories, emotions and identity
Q: What is the main theme of your book?
My book explores how modern neuroscience informs our understanding of personal and social identities.
Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Q: How did Francis Crick's discovery of DNA change scientific understanding?
It introduced the concept that life is fundamentally information stored in DNA, impacting fields like genetics and evolutionary biology.

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. More or Less
4. This Cultural Life
5. Front Row

How many episodes of Start the Week are there?

Start the Week launched 20 years ago and published 634 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?

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. Peter Fretwell
2. Marianne Hem Eriksen
3. Justin Gregg
4. Lyndal Roper
5. Masud Husain
6. Hannah Durkin
7. Alison Bashford
8. Matthew Cobb

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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