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Artwork for Stories in Colour

Stories in Colour

The National Gallery
Gold
Color
Art History
Arsenic
Emerald Green
Sheila's Green
Rainbows
Contemporary Art
William Morris
National Gallery
History Of Art
Ancient Rome
Pop Culture
Bert Morisot
Victorian England
Ancient Times
Byzantine Art
Napoleon Bonaparte
John Constable
Angelica Kauffman

These are the stories of how colour has changed the world. 'Stories in Colour’ is a vibrant new podcast from the National Gallery in London. In each episode, we uncover the hidden mysteries woven into colour from antiquity to the present day. Along the way, you'll hear from curators, scientists, historians, artists, and more experts, looking at humanity’s efforts to make colour and make meaning wi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes16Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Visual ArtsArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Stories in Colour

Latest Episodes

Travel with us beyond the sea to look at ultramarine, a pigment that was once even more precious than gold.

In this episode, writer Victoria Finlay joins Beks for a discussion on how researching ultramarine took her to Afghanistan. She journeyed to ... more

Welcome back to a new series of 'Stories in Colour'. To kick off, we’re tackling one of the topics we received the most questions about − synaesthesia.

Join Beks and this week’s guests, composer Dr Deborah Pritchard and leading expert on synaesthesi... more

YouTube

What does colour sound like? Why was mauve the brat green of the Victorian era? And is pink really just for girls?

Welcome back to another series of 'Stories in Colour', the National Gallery's vibrant podcast. Join us on a journey that travels from ... more

When the artist Louise Nevelson immigrated to America as a child, she was told that ‘the streets... would be paved in gold’. Obviously, they weren’t, but that hasn’t stopped modern artists turning pretty much everything else golden. Even a toilet.

more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jamie Ward
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
Episode: What is synaesthesia? Can you hear colour?
Deborah Pritchard
Award-winning British composer known for her synesthesia work
Independent musician/composer
Episode: What is synaesthesia? Can you hear colour?
Greta Mutlu
Violinist
National Gallery performance ensemble
Episode: What is synaesthesia? Can you hear colour?
Richard Harwood
Cellist
Performer accompanying Deborah Pritchard
Episode: What is synaesthesia? Can you hear colour?
Caroline Miller
Courses and Events Programmer at The National Gallery, specializing in expanding audience engagement through art education.
The National Gallery
Episode: The story of gold: modern imaginations (part three)
Priyesh Mistry
Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Projects at The National Gallery, focusing on integrating contemporary art with historic collections.
The National Gallery
Episode: The story of gold: modern imaginations (part three)
Laura Llewellyn
Curator of Italian Paintings before 1500 at the National Gallery
National Gallery
Episode: The story of gold: devotion and design (part two)
Ben Street
Art historian and educator
Episode: The story of gold: devotion and design (part two)
Nelly von Aderkas
Conservation Scientist at the National Gallery
The National Gallery
Episode: The story of gold: ancient origins (part one)

Host

Beks Leary
Host of Stories in Colour; affiliated with The National Gallery and its Digital Department.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 105 ratings
  • Interesting and Knowledgeable Podcast

    I really love this podcast. It has really knowledgeable expert guests and has made me stop and think about art and colour.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    detectivebenson21
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • Good one

    Beautifully crafted and delivered

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LucasC19
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • A good listen on interesting subject

    I like learning about the names, the attributes, and the feelings attached to colors. The green episode was surprising to me- it is the first time I learned of deadly green. The interviewers did a good job.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sugan56
    United States7 months ago
  • Not for me because…

    I couldn’t get on with the presenter’s voice. It’s a shame because potentially this was going to be interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Moseley Deb
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • A podcast with ❤️

    I loved the interesting subject matter and engaging presenters and guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Barb M R
    Australia9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Production quality is strong, though some listeners note audio issues on occasion.
The show offers insightful history with clear expert commentary.
Guests are consistently described as knowledgeable and engaging.
Guests and hosts bring a wide range of color-related topics to life.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#2
United States/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#101
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#1
United Kingdom/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#2
Canada/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#8
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#71
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What is synaesthesia? Can you hear colour?
Q: How does Deborah translate her synesthetic experiences into music?
Her color-space intervals and the relationships between notes guide her compositional decisions, aiming to evoke the same color qualities listeners with synesthesia perceive, sometimes collaborating with performers to realize these colours sonically.
What is synaesthesia? Can you hear colour?
Q: Is synesthesia common or specific to certain senses, and can it be measured scientifically?
It varies per individual and type; certain forms are more common (like color for letters or numbers), and scientists use behavioral tests and brain imaging to demonstrate stability and neural correlates of the experiences.
The story of gold: ancient origins (part one)
Q: How is yellow gold converted into different colors for jewelry?
Gold is alloyed with other metals, such as copper or nickel, to alter its properties and colors for jewelry.
The story of gold: ancient origins (part one)
Q: What is it about the chemistry of gold that makes it so precious?
Gold is unique because it is malleable, does not tarnish or rust over time, and has various applications due to its conductivity.
The fear of colour: chromophobia
Q: Do you still see Chromophobia in Western society?
We are all both drawn to colour and probably repelled from it in some respects too.

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 Stories in Colour

What is Stories in Colour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Color-focused discussions explore how pigments, materials, and optical effects have shaped art across history and into contemporary practice. Episodes frequently feature curators, conservation scientists, historians, and artists, offering deep dives into subjects like gold and rainbow color, dye chemistry, and color psychology. The format tends to blend historical context with scientific insight and studio-facing technical detail, often drawing on National Gallery expertise. Listeners can expect thoughtful, expert-led conversations that illuminate how color drives meaning, technique, and cultural perception across eras. A notable strength is the range of guests—from conservation scientists to authors and artists—providing both rigorous anal... more

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How many listeners does Stories in Colour get?

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How many subscribers and views does Stories in Colour have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Stories in Colour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Stories in Colour:

1. The Great Women Artists
2. ill-advised by Bill Nighy
3. The Week in Art
4. Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
5. A brush with...

How many episodes of Stories in Colour are there?

Stories in Colour launched a year ago and published 16 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 Stories in Colour?

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What guests have appeared on Stories in Colour?

Recent guests on Stories in Colour include:

1. Jamie Ward
2. Deborah Pritchard
3. Greta Mutlu
4. Richard Harwood
5. Caroline Miller
6. Priyesh Mistry
7. Laura Llewellyn
8. Ben Street

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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