Four Thought Podcast
Series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers air their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society
Episodes to download
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Robin Gorna: Are We Losing the Fight Against AIDS?—Series 2
Wed 22 Feb 2012
Robin Gorna fears the world is losing the political will to deal with the problem of AIDS.
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Rob Hopkins: Sustainability and Community—Series 2
Wed 15 Feb 2012
Rob Hopkins argues for a new approach to energy, society and our surroundings.
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Gordon Bridger: Re-thinking Foreign Aid—Series 2
Wed 8 Feb 2012
Economist Gordon Bridger says we should change the way in which we spend overseas aid.
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Bali Rai: Stop Talking About Race—Series 2
Wed 1 Feb 2012
Author Bali Rai argues that stopping talking about race is the best way to stop racism.
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Gerard Darby: Science and Creativity—Series 2
Wed 25 Jan 2012
Writer Gerard Darby argues that creativity is just as vital as science in education.
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Clare Allan: Liberation Through Lies—Series 2
Wed 18 Jan 2012
Novelist Clare Allan asks why lying gets such a bad press.
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Judith Clegg: Pay it Forward—Series 2
Wed 11 Jan 2012
Judith Clegg argues that start-up culture can make the world a dramatically better place.
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Paul Flatters: Childhood is Better Than Ever—Series 2
Wed 4 Jan 2012
Social trends analyst Paul Flatters argues that childhood today is better than ever before
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Tim Smit: Britain's Not Broken—Series 2
Wed 28 Dec 2011
Tim Smit argues that if we learn to trust one another, Britain could be great again.
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James Lange: YouTube and Scientific Research—Series 2
Wed 21 Dec 2011
James Lange argues that YouTube videos can be a vital tool for sociology - and science.
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Anthony McGowan: Seeing Ourselves as Villains—Series 2
Wed 14 Dec 2011
Author Anthony McGowan thinks we should see ourselves as villains, not heroes.
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David Perks: Re-thinking Science in Schools—Series 2
Wed 7 Dec 2011
Physics teacher David Perks says current science teaching is short-changing children.
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Angela Saini: Throwaway Technology—Series 2
Wed 30 Nov 2011
Science writer Angela Saini celebrates being a late adopter of new technology.
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David Bainbridge: Celebrating Middle Age—Series 2
Wed 23 Nov 2011
David Bainbridge sees the evolution of middle age as central to our species' success.
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James Daunt: In Defence of Bookshops—Series 2
Wed 16 Nov 2011
James Daunt argues libraries and bookshops should be vital social and cultural spaces.
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Aza Raskin: A Design Renaissance for Healthcare—Series 2
Wed 9 Nov 2011
American designer Aza Raskin proposes a design renaissance in healthcare.
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Dreda Say Mitchell: Family, Faith and Community—Series 2
Wed 2 Nov 2011
Author Dreda Say Mitchell says we have overlooked the cultural element to social mobility.
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Christie Watson: What's Worse than Death?—Series 2
Wed 26 Oct 2011
Christie Watson asks if there are some things worse than death for some very ill children.
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Ed Yong: The Philosophy of Bacteria—Series 2
Wed 19 Oct 2011
Science journalist Ed Yong explores the implications of being host to billions of microbes
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Kate Fox: Understanding Alcohol—Series 2
Wed 12 Oct 2011
Kate Fox argues we need to re-learn what we think we know about the effects of alcohol.
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Cindy Gallop: Embracing Zero Privacy—Series 2
Wed 5 Oct 2011
Advertising guru Cindy Gallop discusses embracing zero privacy.
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Matthew Goodwin: An Electable Far Right?—Series 2
Wed 28 Sep 2011
Matthew Goodwin argues the well of potential support for the far right in Britain is deep.
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Russell M Davies: The Next Technological Revolution—Series 2
Wed 21 Sep 2011
Russell M Davies says the next revolution will unleash individual creativity.
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Charles ffrench-Constant: Regenerating the Human Body—Series 2
Wed 14 Sep 2011
Charles ffrench-Constant on a new wave of drugs which could help the body heal itself.
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Jim Crumley: A New Dance with Wolves—Series 2
Wed 7 Sep 2011
Nature writer Jim Crumley asks if it is time to reintroduce wolves to the UK.
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Ed Howker: Do Young People Deserve a Bad Reputation?—Series 2
Wed 31 Aug 2011
Ed Howker asks if young people deserve the bad reputation given to them?
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Andrew Robinson: What Can We Learn from Geniuses?—Series 2
Wed 24 Aug 2011
At the Edinburgh Festival, Andrew Robinson asks: 'What can we learn from geniuses?'.
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Owen Hatherley: The Decline of Architecture—Series 2
Wed 17 Aug 2011
Owen Hatherley attacks the architectural results of recent 'urban regeneration'.
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Dominic Hobson: Sport is a Zero Sum Game—Series 2
Wed 10 Aug 2011
Dominic Hobson argues that organised competitive sport harms rather than builds character.
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Musa Okwonga: Life without Facebook—Series 2
Wed 3 Aug 2011
Poet Musa Okwonga explores the downside of living a life on Twitter and Facebook.
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