Understand

Understand from BBC Radio 4 - unravelling the complexities of the biggest stories and subjects that really matter right now.

Radio 4,94 episodes

Episodes

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Rinsed
Trailer
A sewage scandal and a centuries old battle between public good and private profit
06 May 2026,2 mins
Rinsed
1. The Bridge
After watching their local river grow murky and lifeless, two neighbours fight back.
11 May 2026,14 mins
Rinsed
2. Water Works
The centuries-old battle between public good and private profit still being fought today.
12 May 2026,14 mins
Rinsed
3. Turd Nerds
The 'Dossier of Despair' that reveals what's happening to some of Britain’s rivers.
13 May 2026,15 mins
Rinsed
4. Inkblot
We can all look the same picture, but what you make of it depends on who you are.
14 May 2026,15 mins
Rinsed
5. The Camel's Humps
Rivers work when everything is in balance, but what happens when that’s disrupted?
15 May 2026,15 mins
Rinsed
6. The Lion's Cage
The view from inside the Environment Agency.
18 May 2026,15 mins
Rinsed
7. The Eureka Moment
The data scientist, the ex-detective and the politician trying to clean up our rivers.
19 May 2026,15 mins
Rinsed
8. Sorry?
New legislation promises to slash the sewage released into rivers, but will it become law?
20 May 2026,14 mins
Rinsed
9. Vultures
As Thames Water’s finances deteriorate, “vultures” circle.
21 May 2026,15 mins
Rinsed
10. New Tricks
Could the water industry be nationalised?
22 May 2026,17 mins
How Reading Made Us
Trailer
The story of how reading made us and what might happen if we stop - with James Marriott.
05 Mar 2026,1 min
How Reading Made Us
1. How Reading Made Our Brains
Did learning to read rewire your brain? With James Marriott.
09 Mar 2026,41 mins
How Reading Made Us
2. How Reading Made Our Feelings
Did reading make us lonely, set us free, and even end torture? James Marriott investigates
16 Mar 2026,42 mins
How Reading Made Us
3. How Reading Made Our Politics
Did reading create democracy? And what does it mean for our politics if reading dies out?
23 Mar 2026,42 mins
An American Journey
1. The Pursuit of Happiness
How have Americans understood the connection between economic and democratic freedom?
19 Jan 2026,42 mins
An American Journey
2. A More Perfect Union
What does it mean to be an American?
26 Jan 2026,42 mins
An American Journey
3. Establishing Justice
How has 'justice' been understood by different generations of Americans?
02 Feb 2026,42 mins
An American Journey
4. Life and Liberty
The idea of freedom is foundational to America, but whose freedom, and what kind?
09 Feb 2026,42 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
Trailer
Justin Webb looks at five big US foreign policy shifts, from Monroe to Trump.
16 Jan 2026,1 min
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
1. The Monroe Doctrine
What is the 1823 doctrine, and how has it been used since by US presidents?
19 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
2. The Truman Doctrine
What impact did WWII have on US policy towards the rest of the world?
20 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
3. The Nixon Doctrine
How did the Vietnam War change America’s foreign policy?
21 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
4. The Reagan Doctrine
How US policy changed towards the Soviet Union and the challenge of communism.
22 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
5. The Bush Doctrine
How the September 11 attacks led to conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
23 Jan 2026,17 mins
The Trip
Introducing The Trip
Tim Hayward looks at the science, history - and future - of psychedelics.
30 Jul 2025,3 mins
The Trip
1. Altered States
Tim Hayward looks at the science, culture, history - and future - of psychedelics.
04 Aug 2025,15 mins
The Trip
2. When the drugs take hold
Tim Hayward investigates the anatomy of a trip.
04 Aug 2025,14 mins
The Trip
3. Stranger things
Tim Hayward visits the outer reaches of cutting edge psychedelic research.
04 Aug 2025,15 mins
The Trip
4. Looking for a cure
Tim Hayward investigates why people are travelling abroad seeking a psychedelic cure.
04 Aug 2025,14 mins