Tin cans, cutlery and sewing

New research into the history of stainless steel cutlery, tinned food and sewing machines.

• 44 mins

Sesame Street and Soviet culture

Anne McElvoy on Russian punk protest and a version of US TV's Big Bird, Bert and Ernie.

• 1 min

Concrete poetry

Matthew Sweet and guests on the career of poet and monk Dom Sylvester Houédard (1924-92).

• 44 mins

Anarchism and David Graeber

Matthew Sweet and guests look at the ideas of the American anthropologist (1961-2020)

• 44 mins

Making your voice heard

Dina Nayeri, Kirsty Sedgman, Michelle Assay and Alberta Whittle join Shahidha Bari.

• 44 mins

Emigration

Laurence Scott finds out about 'Bad Bridgets', bush-ranger history and 'Home Children'.

• 44 mins

Debt

As Budget day approaches, Anne McElvoy looks at debt from the South Sea Bubble to Sunak.

• 44 mins

Decadent Art

New research into ideas about decadence and connections with France, England and Iran.

• 44 mins

The wicked? stepmother

Ahead of Mother's Day Matthew Sweet and guests discuss new ways of looking at stepmothers.

• 1 min

Busking and Billy Waters

The early 19th century street performer Billy Waters, Streetwise Opera and street ballads.

• 44 mins

Wild Isles and nature writing

Writers Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, Horatio Clare and Jacob Polley.

• 44 mins

The culture of Albania

Matthew Sweet is joined by Lea Ypi, Adela Demetja, Ani Kokobobo and Aurel Qirjo.

• 44 mins

East Germany

Katja Hoyer on East Germany, behind the Berlin Wall and the Cold War caricature.

• 44 mins

Translating cultures

Composer Alex Ho, novelist Xiaolu Guo, curator George Young and director Anthony Lau.

• 44 mins

Introducing New Generation Thinkers 2023

Christopher Harding finds out about the research done by ten academics chosen this year.

• 44 mins

The Rossettis and Walter Pater

Matthew Sweet and guests visit a Tate Britain show and look at Pater's Renaissance ideas.

• 44 mins

Religion and Science

Is the idea that religion and science are at odds a myth?

• 44 mins

Pirates

From Treasure Island to Kynance Cove, Anne Bonney to Captain Pugwash. Anne McElvoy hosts.

• 44 mins

Ginger Rogers

Matthew Sweet and guests discuss Ginger Rogers's dancing, comic timing and 'sass'.

• 44 mins

Caruso, Elsie Houston, Peter Brathwaite

Exploring the flow of cultural influences in both directions across the Atlantic.

• 44 mins

Galatea and Shakespeare

Trans narratives in pre-Shakespearian drama, plus Twelfth Night and the First Folio.

• 44 mins

Tartan, Kidnapped and Highland writing

Tartan at V&A Dundee, RL Stevenson's Kidnapped on stage, and the Highland Book Prize 2022.

• 44 mins

Hilma af Klint

The spiritual paintings of the Swedish artist are discussed by Matthew Sweet and guests.

• 44 mins

Queen Charlotte, fashion and music

Shahidha Bari and guests on a Royal Collection exhibition and the new Bridgerton spin-off.

• 44 mins

Ireland's Hidden Histories and Secret Stories

With poet Majella Kelly, historian Jackie Uí Chionna and memoirist Carmel McMahon.

• 44 mins

Lady Antonia Fraser

Rana Mitter talks to Antonia Fraser about the art of writing historical biography.

• 44 mins

Sound, conflict and central heating

Matthew Sweet finds out how extreme temperatures changed Erland Cooper's music

• 44 mins

Kingship and ceremony

Anne McElvoy looks at royalty, pomp and glory in opera, ancient Persia and Tudor England.

• 44 mins

Sidney Poitier

Matthew Sweet and guests discuss the career of Bahamian-American actor Sidney Poitier.

• 44 mins

Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe

Historian Hetta Howes, novelists Claire Gilbert and Victoria MacKenzie join Shahidha Bari.

• 44 mins