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Thinking Allowed Episodes

  1. 05/11/2024

    Laurie Taylor explores the latest research into how society works.

  2. Food Systems

    From tin cans to stretch-wrap, the secret life of food packaging.

  3. Meaning of Work

    What makes work meaningful, from nurses to lawyers? Also, cleaners' quest for dignity.

  4. Sea Travelling

    Shipboard travels and maritime maps.

  5. Gender and Radicalisation

    How does gender influence men and women's participation in extremist politics?

  6. Architecture and Hope

    Can building design create hope, from high security prisons to homeless hostels?

  7. Sight and Power

    From Bentham's panopticon and surveillance cameras to conflicts over views of Mount Fuji.

  8. Medical Icons

    Medical revolutions that transformed out relationship to our bodies and the world.

  9. Coffee Culture

    Hipster baristas in Philadelphia and Chinese-run espresso bars in Italy.

  10. The British Elite

    Who runs Britain today? Are they a conservative chumocracy or a different kind of elite?

  11. Shopping

    From the rise of the mall, to the closure of shops during Covid.

  12. The swimming pool

    The swimming pool: its iconic role in our society and culture. Also, pool etiquette.

  13. The politics of the body

    The politics of the body: movement and posture.

  14. Opioids

    Opioids in the US and UK: from illicit drug heroin to pharmaceutical drugs.

  15. Garden Utopias

    Garden Utopias: from the suburban privet hedge to guerrilla gardening.

  16. Richard Sennett

    Richard Sennett: A conversation with a leading cultural and social thinker.

  17. Anonymity - Self-creation

    Laurie Taylor explores hidden and crafted identities.

  18. Capitalism

    Capitalism: the origins of the word and a survey of attitudes to our economic system.

  19. Traditionalism - Russian Orthodox Converts

    Traditionalism and Russian Orthodox converts.

  20. THE ENGLISH

    THE ENGLISH: How the country house became 鈥楨nglish鈥�, and changing notions of England.

  21. The Passport

    The Passport: a cultural history. Also, the trade in 'golden passports'.

  22. The Power of Song

    The power of song: An iconic hymn, and singing and peacebuilding in South Sudan.

  23. Hope and the 'good enough' life

    Hope and the 'good enough' life.

  24. Intersections

    Intersections - how violence impacts some people more than others.

  25. The Grave - Memorial Benches

    Laurie Taylor explores the origins of the grave and the meaning of memorial benches.

  26. Pets

    How the British relationship to companion animals has changed. Also, the dog walk.

  27. Sugar

    Sugar: its social history and meaning in our lives.

  28. Woke

    Laurie Taylor talks to philosopher Susan Neiman about the concept of 鈥榳oke鈥�.

  29. Guns

    Guns: from gun sellers in the US to the impact of the gun on human progress.

  30. Water Ways

    An exploration of human relationships with water.

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