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Artwork for The Forum
Single-Use Items
Etiquette
Supermarkets
US Dollar
Throwaway Culture
Environmental Impact
Mountaineering
Politeness
Cross-Cultural Communication
Plastic Bags
Plastic Waste
Consumer Behavior
Food Shopping
Cultural Norms
Childhood Lessons
Insomnia
Disposable Diapers
Grocery Stores
Gender Roles
Social Stratification

The programme that explains the present by exploring the past.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes399Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for The Forum

Latest Episodes

Are we entering an era when robots will finally liberate people, and particularly women, from the drudgery of housework? There is certainly a buzz around domestic robots right now and every month seems to bring us a new autonomous machine that can fo... more

One of the first recorded examples of a marriage ceremony is dated more than 4000 years ago in Mesopotamia. And it seems that through the ages, weddings have never lost their appeal. The global wedding industry is today worth billions of dollars, and... more

When magazines first emerged, they were the preserve of an elite who could afford to pay for them. But as time went on, the cost of paper fell, printing technology became more streamlined, literacy improved and would-be publishers spotted an opportun... more

The speed with which cinema caught the public’s imagination is remarkable. The first film screenings took place in the 1890s and just two decades later, in the US alone there were thousands of nickelodeons and other spaces where you could watch a mov... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4
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Arts & IdeasBBC Radio 4
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Great LivesBBC Radio 4
Witness History
Witness HistoryBBC World Service

Recent Guests

Ben Russell
Curator of mechanical engineering at the Science Museum in London.
Science Museum
Episode: Robots and reality
Usman Roshan
Professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and designer of household robots.
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Episode: Robots and reality
Emma Braslavsky
German novelist and author known for her work on robotic futures.
Episode: Robots and reality
Maartje de Graaf
Professor of Human-Computer Interaction studying human-robot relationships.
Utrecht University
Episode: Robots and reality
Shanaya Arora
Wedding photographer and host of WED FM India
Nitin Arora Photography
Episode: Weddings: Romance and ritual
Vicki Howard
Visiting fellow in the Department of History at the University of Essex
University of Essex
Episode: Weddings: Romance and ritual
Marie Haverly
Deputy Head of the Business School and Senior Lecturer in Event Management at the University of Winchester
University of Winchester
Episode: Weddings: Romance and ritual
Jo Causon
CEO of the Institute of Customer Service, an independent professional body in the UK
Institute of Customer Service
Episode: Customer service: The rise of the doom loop
Matthew Marino
A service designer from France with experience in both private and public sectors
Episode: Customer service: The rise of the doom loop

Host

Iszi Lawrence
Host with a strong focus on cultural commentary, drawing from historical contexts.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 828 ratings
  • Excellent

    Podcast Addict
    5
    OSCAR ORO
    8 months ago
  • Great podcast- Very entertaining !

    I enjoyed the history of the teenagers

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Palunargar
    United Statesa year ago
  • Not what used to be

    What’s happened to The Forum? We used to hear expert discussion and now it’s at least half a call-in show with listeners. What a disappointment, but the archive is still available, thankfully.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    LolaMackerel
    United States2 years ago
  • What about Chinese history

    The recent forum on Telling the time was quite interesting but did not cover the Chinese day, week, month, years.

    A huge oversight when the forum is usually careful to be not too westernised.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Buid prince
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Change of topics?

    Mobile phones, deep fakes and pets isn’t exactly why I listen to this pod. Those topics seem better suited to other programmes. I’m missing famous historical figures, writers, politicians etc.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    cybersnails
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some have voiced concerns over a shift in content quality, suggesting a desire for a return to more robust academic discussions.
Positive feedback highlights the engaging and informative nature of episodes, calling it a fantastic way to learn about cultural and societal issues.
Critics feel certain recent topics diverged from expectations, indicating a split in audience interest based on personal preferences for content.
Listeners appreciate the wide variety of topics covered, with many expressing enjoyment for the insightful historical perspectives provided.
Overall, the discussions tend to provoke thoughtful reflection, making it a compelling option for those who enjoy intelligent, animated conversations.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Shawn Ryan Show
Shawn Ryan ShowShawn Ryan
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
I've Had It
I've Had ItJennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan
The Viall Files
The Viall FilesNick Viall

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Weddings: Romance and ritual
Q: How have businesses in the US taken advantage of same-sex weddings?
Businesses adjusted to the growing numbers of same-sex unions before they were legalized, reflecting changing societal norms around marriage.
Weddings: Romance and ritual
Q: Was the Christian Church always involved in weddings, or was it more of a private affair?
Christianity didn't become involved in weddings until about the 12th to 16th century, before which it was a civil agreement between families.
Customer service: The rise of the doom loop
Q: What do you think consumers should remember when dealing with customer service representatives?
Customers should understand that the representative is trying to help them and that a two-way understanding is essential for resolution.
Customer service: The rise of the doom loop
Q: How would you redesign this kind of phone tree?
From a service design perspective, we would actually try to ensure that you never really got there, focusing on clear communication and expectations for customers.
Libraries in the digital age
Q: Randa, what is the most unusual request you've had when it comes to looking for a book?
Randa shares an experience where a student asked for a book based only on its color, which led to a lengthy search before they could identify it correctly.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Forum

What is The Forum about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content typically revolves around the exploration of societal issues through historical lenses, with discussions highlighting the evolution of various cultural phenomena. Commonly, episodes address themes including the significance of nostalgia, the impact of customer service, and the role of public libraries in the digital age. Notable features of the content include expert insights and the inclusion of listener anecdotes, fostering a rich dialogue around the relevance of historical context in understanding contemporary issues. This podcast is particularly marked by its diverse range of topics, ensuring engaging content that appeals to listeners interested in history, culture, and social commentary.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Forum?

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

How many listeners does The Forum get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Forum?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Forum, 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 The Forum have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Forum 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 The Forum?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Forum:

1. In Our Time
2. Arts & Ideas
3. Great Lives
4. Witness History
5. From Our Own Correspondent

How many episodes of The Forum are there?

The Forum launched 17 years ago and published 399 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 The Forum?

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 The Forum?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Forum 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 The Forum?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Forum. 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 The Forum?

Recent guests on The Forum include:

1. Ben Russell
2. Usman Roshan
3. Emma Braslavsky
4. Maartje de Graaf
5. Shanaya Arora
6. Vicki Howard
7. Marie Haverly
8. Jo Causon

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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