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Thinking Allowed

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

New research on how society works

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes572Founded18 years ago
Categories
ScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Thinking Allowed

Latest Episodes

DOGS – Laurie Taylor explores the making of the modern companion animal, from working animals to pampered pets. Chris Pearson, Professor of Environmental History at the University of Liverpool, charts the changing fortunes of hunting dogs, street dog... more

Laurie Taylor talks to Simon Jarrett, Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London, about the social history of people with learning disabilities, from 1700 to the present days. Using evidence from civil and criminal court-rooms, joke books, sla... more

Laurie Taylor talks to Louise Ryan, Professor of Sociology at the London Metropolitan University, about her oral history of the Irish nurses who were the backbone of the NHS for many years. By the 1960s approximately 30,000 Irish-born nurses were wor... more

Laurie Taylor talks to Nina Khrushcheva, Professor of International Affairs at The New School in New York City about her research into the propaganda formulas deployed by Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin over the last two decades. As the great granddau... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host

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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
Host of discussions exploring contemporary social issues; notable for engaging dialogues with experts across various fields including sociology, history, and political science.

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 States8 months 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
    a year 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
    a year 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
    Indiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The host is praised for thoughtful discussion styles, promoting intellectual engagement without sensationalism.
Listeners appreciate the thought-provoking and diverse topics that provide deeper insights into societal challenges.
Critiques mention the audio quality and episode pacing as areas for improvement, while still valuing the content quality.
Some listeners express concerns about the sometimes one-sided perspectives on complex issues, suggesting a need for more diverse viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#238
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#77
Finland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#108
Chile/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#123
South Korea/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#239
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.

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?

Exploring the complexity of societal dynamics, a diverse range of topics is addressed, often anchored in recent academic research. With a strong emphasis on themes such as migration, cultural identity, motherhood, and the societal implications of death, discussions frequently feature expert guests who offer valuable insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of social issues. The unique format encourages critical thinking about contemporary society while blending elements of sociology, history, and culture, resulting in a compelling resource for listeners interested in understanding the fabric of human interactions and institutional influences. Notable episodes feature discussions on the historical context of minority health care contribu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Thinking Allowed?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Thinking Allowed:

1. In Our Time
2. Start the Week
3. More or Less: Behind the Stats
4. From Our Own Correspondent
5. Great Lives

How many episodes of Thinking Allowed are there?

Thinking Allowed launched 18 years ago and published 572 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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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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