Catharism

Melvyn Bragg examines the Cathars, a medieval European Christian sect accused of heresy.

• 45 mins

Happiness

Melvyn Bragg considers whether 'happiness' means living a life of pleasure or of virtue.

• 45 mins

Yeats and Mysticism

Melvyn Bragg explores the strange and mystical world of the Irish poet W B Yeats.

• 45 mins

The Universe's Shape

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the shape, size and topology of the universe.

• 45 mins

Anatomy

The 2000 year old history of mankind's quest to understand the human body.

• 45 mins

The Celts

Melvyn Bragg examines what we really know about the Celts of pre-Roman Britain.

• 45 mins

Virtue

Melvyn Bragg explores the meaning and purpose of the philosophical concept of virtue.

• 45 mins

Milton

Melvyn Bragg examines both the literary and political careers of the poet John Milton.

• 45 mins

The Buddha

The life of Siddhartha Gautama and the legacy of his teachings.

• 45 mins

Marriage

The history of marriage from ancient Greek and Babylonian times to today.

• 45 mins

The Artist

Melvyn Bragg explores the history and changing the status of the artist.

• 45 mins

Extra Terrestrials

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss our chances of ever discovering life on another planet.

• 45 mins

Bohemia

The history of the ancient kingdom and its religious, national and ethnic ideologies.

• 45 mins

Tolstoy

Melvyn Bragg explores the life and work of the 19th century Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy.

• 45 mins

The Physics of Reality

Melvyn Bragg examines the attempt to reconcile Quantum Theory and classical physics.

• 45 mins

The Examined Life

Melvyn Bragg investigates how our preoccupations about how to live have altered over time.

• 45 mins

Chaos Theory

Melvyn Bragg examines how Chaos Theory has affected our understanding of the universe.

• 45 mins

Drugs

Melvyn Bragg examines the role of narcotics and stimulants in the history of medicine.

• 45 mins

The Grand Tour

The origins and cultural impact of 18th century tourism.

• 45 mins

The Soul

The history of thought on immortality, the self and the afterlife.

• 28 mins

The American West

Melvyn Bragg explores the myths and harsh reality of the 19th century American pioneers.

• 45 mins

Wagner

Melvyn Bragg examines the position of Richard Wagner and his music in German culture.

• 45 mins

Cultural Imperialism

Melvyn Bragg examines how a dominant power can exert a cultural influence on its empire.

• 45 mins

Freedom

Melvyn Bragg considers what it is to be free and how freedom became such a powerful value.

• 45 mins

Psychoanalysis and Democracy

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the impact of politics on psychoanalysis.

• 41 mins

Heritage

Melvyn Bragg explores the relationship between heritage culture and the study of history.

• 45 mins

Slavery and Empire

Melvyn Bragg examines British imperialism and its captives, both slaves and Britons.

• 45 mins

The Scientist

Melvyn Bragg explores the origin of the concept and the historical role of the scientist.

• 45 mins

Architecture and Power

Melvyn Bragg explores the ideas architecture expresses about our past and identity.

• 45 mins

Human Nature

Melvyn Bragg examines whether our natures are innate or defined by unbringing.

• 45 mins