Why do people decide to be alone for long periods of time?
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Hermits
Songwriting
We discuss the art of songwriting – combining lyrics and music to make a hit song.
The hidden life of buffets
We discuss buffet meals and the history behind them and teach related vocabulary.
Climate change: Are there too many people?
Does the size of your carbon footprint depend on where in the world you were born?
Can AI have a mind of its own?
Hear about the software engineer who became 'friends' with his computer.
Exercise for The Lazy
What's the least amount of exercise you should do to stay healthy?
Doomscrolling: Why do we do it?
We discuss if there is an evolutionary reason why we're attracted to bad news.
Why do we procrastinate?
Do you leave your work until the last minute? If so, this programme is for you!
The health benefits of apples
Could there be some truth in the proverb 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'?
Losing your mother tongue
Hear the story of a woman who replaced her native Czech for English.
How to talk to a climate denier
The dos and don'ts of trying to discuss science with someone who doesn't believe in it.
Food and mood
We look at the link between what you eat and how you feel.
Are you lonely in a crowd?
We discuss the role of crowds in modern life
Do you get jealous easily?
Hear experts talking about jealousy and envy, and learn related vocabulary.
Would you eat a Kalette?
Learn about the world of novelty vegetables.
How culture affects sadness
Could your culture influence sadness? We talk about sadness and teach you vocabulary.
What's the point of museums?
Beth and Neil discuss the controversial role of museums in the 21st century.
Women in politics
We discuss some of the reasons why women make up only 26% of the world's politicians.
Ice and the origins of life on Earth
Sam and Neil talk about an essential element for life to thrive.
Addicted to war
A war correspondent tells his story.
Food shortages
Listen to an expert on the global food system and learn some vocabulary.
Can climate change cause more disease?
Mosquito-borne diseases kill 750,000 annually. Could climate change make it worse?
Ecotourism: good or bad?
Is a style of tourism that respects animals and local communities working well?
The art of subtitling
Hear how subtitles can help bring TV and movies to life.
The benefits of doing nothing
Would being lazy have a purpose in life?
Sonic seasoning
Can sound make your food taste better? Neil and Beth discuss.
Is it wrong to eat plants?
We are kind to animals. What about plants?
Should we fear chatbots?
We talk about chatbots and teach you some useful vocabulary along the way.
Plants fighting pollution
We talk about whether plants can clean up our mess.
Could you live on wild food?
We hear about a new foraging project and the health benefits of eating wild food.
The right way to say sorry
Neil and Beth talk about different ways of apologising.