A Mold with a Grudge
It started with a messy lab and a mysterious mold. But turning “mold juice” into the world’s first antibiotic would take a sick policeman, a market cantaloupe, and an extraordinary…
Song Exploder: Episode 305: Air “Playground Love” (feat. Gordon Tracks)
The band Air is a duo from Versailles, France. Their first EP came out in 1995, followed by their critically acclaimed debut album, Moon Safari, which was an international hit.…
99% Invisible: Sax Appeal
In the 19th century, Western Europe experienced a gold rush in musical innovation. It was a time of unprecedented opportunity, when your improvement to an ancient instrument—like the trumpet or…
Imaginary Worlds: Searching for Cryptids
When I was growing up, Bigfoot appeared regularly on the covers of supermarket tabloids, so I assumed he was a joke. But I’ve discovered that he’s part of a larger…
Not Just the Tudors: How Poets Spoke Truth to Power
Throughout history, the words of poets have often ignited change or unsettled those in power. In England particularly, poetry has both celebrated and criticised the country's greatest triumphs and darkest hours. Professor…
Arts & Ideas Podcast: Marriage
Why marry? Jane Austen began her novel Pride and Prejudice with the observation "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must…
Marc Maron Is Glad He’s Not a ‘Greedy Whore Who’ll Sell Out for Clickbait’
A chat with the outgoing WTF host about the changing state of media, sticking to principles, and why he’s walking away from his history-making show
On This Day in Working Class History: 1 December 1919: Trinidad and Tobago general strike
On This Day in Working Class History
The Moving Walkway Is Ending
People once dreamed of sidewalks that could whisk them across cities. Somehow, that dream ended up at the airport.
Imaginary Worlds : This Animated Life
As longtime listeners know, I worked in the animation industry before switching careers and going into broadcasting. Today’s episode features a trio of conversations that trace the history of animation…