The Essay Podcast
Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.
Episodes to download
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Chorus girls in Paris—Music Rediscovered
Fri 27 Sep 2024
Adjoa Osei has been delving into the personal archives of some 1930s Plaza Tiller dancers.
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Esther Inglis's musical self portraits—Music Rediscovered
Thu 26 Sep 2024
Eleanor Chan delves into the world of a Huguenot bookmaker who used music as a code.
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The Star-Spangled Banner, Jacobins and Abolitionists—Music Rediscovered
Wed 25 Sep 2024
Oskar Jensen on what links Liverpool politics, a street ballad and the American anthem.
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Tudor music and politics—Music Rediscovered
Tue 24 Sep 2024
Christina Faraday tells us how Robert Cecil used a song to curry favour with Elizabeth I.
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Teresa del Riego's suffrage anthem—Music Rediscovered
Mon 23 Sep 2024
Naomi Paxton shares research on a suffrage song with a special performance by Lucy Stevens
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Poems of Love and Ageing—Michael Longley's Life of Poetry
Fri 12 Jul 2024
In a 2024 interview, Michael Longley talks about his love poems and 60 years of poetry.
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Poems of Mayo—Michael Longley's Life of Poetry
Thu 11 Jul 2024
In a 2024 interview, the late poet Michael Longley talks about his nature poems.
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Poems of the Troubles—Michael Longley's Life of Poetry
Wed 10 Jul 2024
Belfast poet Michael Longley speaking in 2024 on writing about the Troubles.
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Poems of World War 1—Michael Longley's Life of Poetry
Tue 9 Jul 2024
In a 2024 interview, the late poet Michael Longley talks about his World War 1 poetry.
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The Early Years—Michael Longley's Life of Poetry
Mon 8 Jul 2024
In a 2024 interview, the late poet Michael Longley talks about Belfast and the classics.
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Don't You Think We're Forever—Forever Songs
Fri 5 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Couldn't Love You More—Forever Songs
Thu 4 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Banks of Sicily—Forever Songs
Wed 3 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Time Has Told Me—Forever Songs
Tue 2 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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How Happy I Am—Forever Songs
Mon 1 Jul 2024
Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.
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Elizabeth Elliott—A Different Way to Listen
Fri 31 May 2024
Elizabeth Elliott, a talented musician who became deaf, shares her inspiring journey.
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Paul Whittaker OBE—A Different Way to Listen
Thu 30 May 2024
Paul Whittaker is a deaf sign language performer for classical and musical performances
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Chisato Minamimura—A Different Way to Listen
Wed 29 May 2024
Chisato Minamimura, a deaf artist with a fascination for sound gives us her take on music
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Nigel Braithwaite—A Different Way to Listen
Tue 28 May 2024
Hard of hearing musician Nigel Braithwaite takes a wry look at his musical career.
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Ruth Montgomery—A Different Way to Listen
Mon 27 May 2024
Ruth Montgomery reflects on growing up deaf but determined to be a professional flautist.
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12/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Fri 12 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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11/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Thu 11 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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10/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Wed 10 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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09/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Tue 9 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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08/04/2024—Watching from the Wings
Mon 8 Apr 2024
Michael Goldfarb remembers his theatrical life as an actor.
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Unravelling plainness—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Fri 29 Mar 2024
Isabella Rosner explains why needlework challenges our idea of Quaker simplicity.
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Unravelling plainness
Fri 29 Mar 2024
Isabella Rosner explains why needlework challenges our idea of Quaker simplicity
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What does feminist art mean?—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Thu 28 Mar 2024
Ana Baeza Ruiz shares reflections from artists in the 70s women's liberation movement.
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Rock, Paper, Saints and Sinners—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Wed 27 Mar 2024
Gemma Tidman describes a board game created by a Jesuit seeking Mohawk converts.
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Arteries of tomorrow—New Generation Thinkers 2023
Tue 26 Mar 2024
Dan Taylor considers the way communities along the A13 are looking to the future.
Death in Trieste
A 1760s murder still informs ideas about aesthetics, a certain sort of sex, and death.
Watch: My Deaf World
Five compelling experiences of what it is like to be deaf in 21st-century Britain.
The Book that Changed Me
Five figures from the arts and science introduce books that changed their lives and work.
Download The Essay
Download all the episodes from the series and listen at your leisure.
