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
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
Rob Hopkins: Sustainability and Community—Series 2
Wed 15 Feb 2012
Rob Hopkins argues for a new approach to energy, society and our surroundings.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
Clare Allan: Liberation Through Lies—Series 2
Wed 18 Jan 2012
Novelist Clare Allan asks why lying gets such a bad press.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
Anthony McGowan: Seeing Ourselves as Villains—Series 2
Wed 14 Dec 2011
Author Anthony McGowan thinks we should see ourselves as villains, not heroes.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
Angela Saini: Throwaway Technology—Series 2
Wed 30 Nov 2011
Science writer Angela Saini celebrates being a late adopter of new technology.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
Aza Raskin: A Design Renaissance for Healthcare—Series 2
Wed 9 Nov 2011
American designer Aza Raskin proposes a design renaissance in healthcare.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
Cindy Gallop: Embracing Zero Privacy—Series 2
Wed 5 Oct 2011
Advertising guru Cindy Gallop discusses embracing zero privacy.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
Russell M Davies: The Next Technological Revolution—Series 2
Wed 21 Sep 2011
Russell M Davies says the next revolution will unleash individual creativity.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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?
-
![]()
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?'.
-
![]()
Owen Hatherley: The Decline of Architecture—Series 2
Wed 17 Aug 2011
Owen Hatherley attacks the architectural results of recent 'urban regeneration'.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
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.
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.
The Best of Four Thought
Explore some of the best programmes from Radio 4's Four Thought
Change a light bulb, check your emails...
What can you do in 4 minutes? Join us in some intelligent time wasting.
Seriously...
Discover seriously interesting documentaries from Radio 4.
