Why we read

Shahidha Bari and guests discuss the value of reading fiction and of writing history.

• 57 mins

Childhood and innocence

Katherine Rundell, Emily Baughan, Grace Lockrobin, Miriam Cates, Andrew Cooper

• 57 mins

Insiders & Outsiders

Matthew Sweet and guests explore the secret languages of the internet and beyond.

• 57 mins

Are we all American now?

Freddy Gray, Dr Katie McGettigan, Amanda Taub, Kit Davis and Rana Mitter join Anne McElvoy

• 57 mins

Ghosts, death and ecstatic states

Shahidha Bari with Irving Finkel, Simon Critchley, Chris Harding and Hetta Howes.

• 57 mins

Milton and our modern world

It is 350 years since the death of Milton. We discuss ideas of Puritanism and divorce.

• 57 mins

Cosy comfort reading or Nietzsche?

Alexander McCall Smith, Susannah Clapp, Tom Shakespeare, Deborah Sugg Ryan & Hugo Drochon

• 57 mins

Diplomacy from Ancient Greece to Trump

Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Professor Clare Jackson, Bronwen Maddox, Dr Holly Furneaux

• 57 mins

Gifts and Gratitude

Following Thanksgiving, and as Christmas approaches, Shahidha Bari on giving and receiving

• 57 mins

How we think about evil

Matthew Sweet and guests pick up from this year's Reith lectures and look at ideas of evil

• 57 mins

Luck, predictability and superstition

Dr Christian Busch, Bobby Seagull, Sharron Davies, Dr Kate Tomas and Timandra Harkness.

• 57 mins

Beer, crisps and the British pub

Tim Martin, Natalie Whittle, Professor Philip Howell, Dr Marianne Hem Eriksen, Ben Wright.

• 57 mins

Knowing when to stop

From art to activism, campaigning to cabaret, Shahidha Bari asks when is enough enough?

• 57 mins

Common Sense

Ann Widdecombe, Rachael Wiseman, Sarah Jilani and Tiffany Watt Smith with Matthew Sweet.

• 57 mins

Diaries and the day to day

Michael Crick, Irving Finkel, Sophie Coulombeau and Oliver Burkeman join Matthew Sweet.

• 57 mins

Decision making

From think tanks and tallies to tarot, what tools do we use to help us choose our actions?

• 57 mins

Repetition

Matthew Sweet and guests discuss routine, repetition and our sense of time

• 57 mins

All we need is love

Susie Orbach, Armand D'Angour, Vittoria Fallanca, Mary Harrod and Catherine Wheatley.

• 57 mins

Malcolm X, life changes and flexible thinking

Timandra Harkness, Ekow Eshun, Sophie Grace Chappell, Richard Bett and Stephen Bush.

• 57 mins

A pinch of salt

A key preservative, the subject of taxes, a danger to plant-life - how much salt is good?

• 57 mins

Uncertainty

Chris Lintott, Margaret Heffernan, Liam Halligan, Tim Garton Ash, Victoria Donovan

• 57 mins

Evidence

Lord Sumption, Danny Robins, Dr Sarah Dillon Dr Jonathan Egid and Dr Anthony Milligan.

• 57 mins

Isolation

Matthew Sweet explores ideas about being on your own.

• 57 mins

The Middle Classes

Muriel Zagha, Prof Sam Friedman, Lord Willetts, Lisa Holdsworth and Prof Melinda Mills.

• 57 mins

Decadence and Declinism

Matthew Sweet assesses the state of contemporary culture.

• 57 mins