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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes163Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsPersonal JournalsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for This Cultural Life

Latest Episodes

One of the world’s greatest living pianists, Mitsuko Uchida, talks to John Wilson about her cultural influences and her career in music. Born in Japan, and a British citizen for over 25 years, she is renowned for her interpretations of work by Schube... more

Author Sebastian Faulks talks to John Wilson about his influences and formative cultural experiences. Faulks won huge acclaim for his First World War novel Birdsong, which – along with The Girl At the Lion D’or and Charlotte Gray – forms part of a tr... more

Cuban performance and conceptual artist Tania Bruguera talks to John Wilson about her career and cultural influences. Her work explores freedom of speech, political oppression and social justice, often encouraging her audiences to become active parti... more

The artist and sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor talks to John Wilson about his career and cultural influences. Renowned for his innovative, often monumental works, Kapoor gained international recognition in the late 1980s. He represented Britain at the Veni... 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

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
Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Writer known for Millions, A British Childhood, and work with Danny Boyle
Writer
Episode: Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Kiefer Sutherland
Actor and musician
Actor and musician
Episode: Kiefer Sutherland
Liam Young
Australian-born artist and filmmaker described as a speculative architect
Episode: Liam Young
Kristin Scott Thomas
Actor and director/writer
Actor, director, writer
Episode: Kristin Scott Thomas
George Saunders
Booker Prize–winning American author
Author, Syracuse University
Episode: George Saunders
Felicity Lott
British soprano known for opera and concert performances
British soprano; associated with Royal Opera, Vienna, etc.
Episode: Felicity Lott

Host

John Wilson
Host of This Cultural Life

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 663 ratings
  • 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 Africaa month ago
  • Noice

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cataract 13
    United Kingdom2 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 States3 months ago
  • The best!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ms reasonable
    Australia9 months ago
  • Fascinating!

    Superb interviewer and subjects alike. I’ve listened to so many already and delighted to have discovered such a back catalogue. Marvellous stuff!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cambridge listener
    United Kingdoma 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.

Apple Podcasts
#224
United States/Arts
Spotify
#41
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#14
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#157
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#41
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#97
Germany/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sebastian Faulks
Q: Did Birdsong start with a single image in your mind or did the whole story coalesce around a moment?
It began from a theme—how far you can go—and I built the main characters around that idea, allowing the story to reveal itself rather than forcing a preordained scene. This approach helped avoid cliché and gave the narrative room to breathe as it moved between time periods and perspectives.
Liam Young
Q: Blade Runner influenced your visual language. What is it about that film that continues to resonate with your work?
He discusses world-building as a core practice and how Blade Runner's integration of city design, technology, and social anxieties informs his approach to creating immersive futures with social and political relevance.
Liam Young
Q: Planet City is based on a theory from Edward O. Wilson's Half Earth. How do you translate dense urban living into something that feels possible, not just provocative?
Young explains that Planet City is an extreme but practical model to spark discussion about dense, vibrant life in cities, using existing technologies and a thought experiment to reveal narratives that can inform real-world policy and design.
Liam Young
Q: You work across a really broad range of art forms. How do you describe what you do? What are you?
Liam describes himself as a world builder who crafts visions of futures and uses a variety of media to engage audiences beyond traditional museum settings, emphasizing storytelling over fixed architectural objects.
Michael Frayn
Q: How do you approach blending research with fiction?
He emphasizes that extensive research fuels ideas, but then the characters take on a life of their own, sometimes diverging from the original plan, which is both a help and a challenge to the writer.

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. A Good Read
5. Great Lives

How many episodes of This Cultural Life are there?

This Cultural Life launched 5 years ago and published 163 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. Mitsuko Uchida
2. Sebastian Faulks
3. Tania Bruguera
4. Frank Cottrell-Boyce
5. Kiefer Sutherland
6. Liam Young
7. Kristin Scott Thomas
8. George Saunders

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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