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Thinking Allowed

BBC Radio 4
Capitalism
Global Mobility
England
Citizenship
Inequality
Passport
English National Identity
Country Houses
Migration
Cultural History
Heritage
Brexit
Society
Nation State
Surveillance
Cultural Geography
World War II
Pseudonymity
Anonymity
Swiming Pools

New research on how society works

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes576Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

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Artwork for Thinking Allowed

Latest Episodes

What do we learn when a city’s future is defined not by rapid change, but by who leaves and who stays? Laurie Taylor looks at two neighbourhoods in different countries, during different periods in history and explores the human cost of gentrification... more

The winner of the British Society of Criminology Book Award in 2025 was Kate Herrity. Her study looks at the way our different senses contribute to the experience of prison life and is called Sound, Order and Survival in Prison: The Rhythms and Routi... more

How does the environment we move through shape the way we see and experience the world?

Laurie Taylor talks to Alex Prior (London South Bank University) about his research inside Westminster, where he walked alongside MPs and staff to uncover how t... more

How did the arrival of colour and film technology transform cinema and its cultural politics? Laurie Taylor explores the intertwined histories of technology, aesthetics, and identity.

Swarnavel Eswaran, filmmaker and scholar at Michigan State Univer... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Nina Khrushcheva
Professor of international affairs at The New School and great-granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev.
The New School
Episode: Russian Propaganda
Chao Fang
Co-author of the paper in Social Science and Medicine exploring good death in China
Shanghai Quality of Death Project
Episode: Death
Andrea Sangiovanni
Professor of Philosophy at Kings College London
Kings College London
Episode: Solidarity
Jennifer Chudy
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wellesley College
Wellesley College
Episode: Solidarity
Helen Charman
Author of 'Mother State, a Political History of Motherhood'
Clare College, University of Cambridge
Episode: Motherhood
Caitlin Killian
Professor of sociology and author of 'Failing Moms'
Drew University, Madison, New Jersey
Episode: Motherhood
Ivan Markovic
Lecturer in human geography at the University of Durham
University of Durham
Episode: Smoking
Tricia Starks
Distinguished professor of history at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
Episode: Smoking
Sunaura Taylor
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: ECOLOGY

Host

Laurie Taylor
Laurie Taylor is a notable host recognized for his engaging discussions and ability to navigate complex social topics with intelligence and wit. He often brings personal anecdotes into his interviews, contributing to a relatable presentation style.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Thinking Not Allowed

    Interesting topics but always one sided views.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    SamMahony
    United Statesa year ago
  • Trips down memory lane

    Always love Laurie’s anecdotes about his childhood,teens & as a YP re food,going to a dance,hanging out in a coffee bar,music!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jaxvarese
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • A sad decline

    I used to really enjoy this podcast. However, it's become more and more lightweight. The depressingly trivial, lazy and one-sided last straw was the episode on capitalism.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Cerise
    2 years ago
  • The absolute state of the political bias from recent contributors. I remember this programme being an excellent contribution to the Western canon, however that time has long since pasted.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    64bitAtheist
    2 years ago
  • The art of intellectual conversation

    You got to hand it to old BBC radio heads like Laurie — they’ve perfected the form back then and continue to do so in the digital era. Thoughtful conversation without gimmicks, which respects the audience’s intelligence. Moreover Thinking Allowed truly embodies the spirit of old sociology, which not for nothing they used to call the queen of the social sciences. There is no such thing, then, as a bad topic of conversation when it is animated by a sociological imagination and inquiry into the ori... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pvk prasad
    India2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Negative feedback cites a need for less scripted conversations and a broader range of viewpoints.
The host's experiences and anecdotes resonate well with the audience, adding a personal touch.
There is a demand for more diverse perspectives on debated topics.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful exploration of sociological issues.
Quality discussions often include expert insights that enrich the content.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#118
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#174
Finland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#125
Austria/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#130
Ireland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#147
Finland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#152
Poland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dogs
Q: Do you really hope that a better understanding of dogs might encourage us to give them more freedom to live their lives as dogs?
Yes, improving living conditions and understanding their needs can lead to better relationships and welfare for dogs.
Dogs
Q: Tell me about how these developments led to the emergence of what we might call the modern dog.
The expansion of cities repurposed rural dogs as pets, providing solace to urban dwellers amidst the chaos of industrial life.
Learning Disabilities
Q: Why you chose the title for your book?
Simon explained that the title reflects the shocking evolution of language surrounding intellectual disabilities, highlighting how terms once meant to describe individuals with impairments became derogatory over time.
Death
Q: What was your motivation behind writing the book?
I wanted to explore how past practices around engaging with death can provide lessons for us today.
Death
Q: Tell me about some of the main differences you spotted.
In the past, people tended to die at home, cared for by family, but now we mostly die in institutional settings.

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 Thinking Allowed

What is Thinking Allowed about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content typically revolves around critical examinations of societal structures and cultural practices. Notable themes include discussions on the evolution of modern practices, the implications of historical narratives, and the intersections of various social issues such as motherhood, education, migration, and wealth inequality. The podcast is characterized by a thoughtful approach to complex topics, often featuring guest experts who provide in-depth analyses. The exploration of both historical and contemporary issues allows listeners to gain a richer understanding of how societal norms and values have evolved over time, making it appealing for those interested in sociology and cultural studies.

Where can I find podcast stats for Thinking Allowed?

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How many listeners does Thinking Allowed get?

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How many subscribers and views does Thinking Allowed have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Thinking Allowed 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 Thinking Allowed?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Thinking Allowed:

1. Arts & Ideas
2. In Our Time
3. Great Lives
4. More or Less
5. The Life Scientific

How many episodes of Thinking Allowed are there?

Thinking Allowed launched 19 years ago and published 576 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 Thinking Allowed?

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 Thinking Allowed?

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What guests have appeared on Thinking Allowed?

Recent guests on Thinking Allowed include:

1. Nina Khrushcheva
2. Chao Fang
3. Andrea Sangiovanni
4. Jennifer Chudy
5. Helen Charman
6. Caitlin Killian
7. Ivan Markovic
8. Tricia Starks

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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