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Artwork for This Cultural Life

This Cultural Life

BBC Radio 4
London
Doris Salcedo
Theatre
Opera
Frank Auerbach
Trauma
Painting
Cynthia Erivo
Colombian Civil War
Steve Reich
Shakespeare
Photography
Marina Abramović
Turner
Political Violence
Colonialism
Thomas Adès
Jennifer Lawrence
Music Education
Dostoevsky

In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives across theatre, visual arts, music, dance, film and more. Hosted by John Wilson.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes169Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for This Cultural Life

Latest Episodes

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and academic Viet Thanh Nguyen talks to John Wilson about his formative influences and experiences. A child refugee, he moved to the United States with his family at the end of the Vietnam War. He is best known for his 2... more

Pioneering artist Liliane Lijn talks to John Wilson about her formative cultural influences. A leading figure in the development of kinetic sculptures in the 1960s, she is renowned for her use of light and movement, creating sculptures and installati... more

Bestselling Turkish-British novelist Elif Shafak talks to John Wilson about her formative cultural influences. Renowned for epic stories that connect the past and the present, told from multiple perspectives, her novels explore marginalised communiti... more

American photographer Joel Meyerowitz talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences and formative experiences. A pioneer of the artform, he first began capturing life on the streets of his native New York in the early 1960s, and helped to establ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Viet Thanh Nguyen
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor of English and American Studies at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
Episode: Viet Thanh Nguyen
Liliane Lijn
Pioneering kinetic artist known for sculptures and installations using light and movement
Episode: Liliane Lijn
Elif Shafak
Turkish-British novelist
Author
Episode: Elif Shafak
Joel Meyerowitz
Portrait photographer and street photographer, known for Colour photography and Ground Zero work
Independent photographer
Episode: Joel Meyerowitz
Ray Winstone
Actor
Episode: Ray Winstone
Nicholas Hytner
Theatre and film director; former artistic director of the National Theatre
Bridge Theatre; National Theatre
Episode: Nicholas Hytner
Mitsuko Uchida
Renowned pianist and subject of the episode
Pianist, performer
Episode: Mitsuko Uchida
Sebastian Faulks
British author known for historical novels and early success with Birdsong
Episode: Sebastian Faulks
Tania Bruguera
Cuban-born performance and conceptual artist
Independent artist
Episode: Tania Bruguera

Host

John Wilson
Host of This Cultural Life

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 680 ratings
  • Proper Talk

    John W is such a skilled interviewer, quietly getting people relaxed enough to teveal themselves to us. Such a fascinating choice of subjects: who knew Kiefer Sutherland could be so interesting? Kristin ST also a great one. Looking for George Saunders next. No airhead'celebs', thank God. Keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lusaka60
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • South African Listener

    Thank you for this fascinating podcast of a host of interesting & varied, most talented people. I love listening to “ This Cultural Life”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    #stanford#
    South Africa3 months ago
  • Noice

    Great revelations, you are great at your job, John, love your interest…thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cataract 13
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Herzog

    It’s really a shame the host was seemingly unaware that Herzog is an accomplished author of over 20 books and novellas. Made for a quite embarrassing and testy interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    bcsquest
    United States5 months ago
  • The best!

    Best interviewer, best interviewees, best format! A delight!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ms reasonable
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are described as thoughtful, deeply researched, and richly detailed.
Some criticism notes occasional reverence or selective guest focus, but overall the interviews are seen as among the best in arts culture formats.
Listeners praise the host's warmth, curiosity, and ability to draw out guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#45
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#186
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#40
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#18
Ireland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#41
Switzerland/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Viet Thanh Nguyen
Q: Just outline the thesis of Orientalism as laid out by Edward Said then.
Nguyen explains that Orientalism is a Western cultural and political construction of the East that displaces real Asian people with a powerful fantasy, often serving Western power.
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Q: You were four years old at the time living in Vietnam with your parents, how did the family get out?
His family fled their hometown after it was captured, traveled to Saigon, and escaped Vietnam by boat, where a U.S. Navy ship picked them up.
Liliane Lijn
Q: What was the idea behind the work?
Lijn explains that Liquid Reflections developed through experimentation rather than from a fixed concept. Working with liquid acrylic and water led her to make lens-like droplets, while playing with marbles on a water-filled disk unexpectedly suggested a cosmos.
Liliane Lijn
Q: If somebody asks you what sort of art you make, what do you normally say?
Lijn says she finds the question difficult because her work ranges widely, so she usually says that she works with light.
Elif Shafak
Q: You were born in France but spent much of your early childhood in Turkey. What are your earliest memories of home life?
They center on a grandmother-led household that valued women's education and storytelling, shaping my sense of independence and showing that knowledge can come from lived experience and oral tradition rather than formal diplomas.

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 This Cultural Life

What is This Cultural Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features in-depth conversations with leading artists and creatives across theatre, visual arts, music, film, and more. The host guides intimate, long-form discussions that explore influences, craft, and the life behind significant work, often drawing out personal histories, cultural context, and artistic philosophy. Episodes frequently highlight how individual experiences, collaborations, and institutional environments shape creative practice, with guests ranging from writers and actors to painters and directors. A standout trait is the thoughtful, curiosity-driven interviewing style that invites guests to reflect on their journeys, risks, and evolving perspectives. This makes it a compelling listen for those interested in behind-... more

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Which podcasts are similar to This Cultural Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Cultural Life:

1. Private Passions
2. Front Row
3. Desert Island Discs
4. Great Lives
5. A Good Read

How many episodes of This Cultural Life are there?

This Cultural Life launched 5 years ago and published 169 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 This Cultural Life?

Recent guests on This Cultural Life include:

1. Viet Thanh Nguyen
2. Liliane Lijn
3. Elif Shafak
4. Joel Meyerowitz
5. Ray Winstone
6. Nicholas Hytner
7. Mitsuko Uchida
8. Sebastian Faulks

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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