A PODCAST FOR THE SHEER LOVE OF LEARNING
Does the world really need another podcast? Considering the vast content already available online, adding another to your playlist may seem pointless. In my case, I currently subscribe to 47 different podcasts, which means I am constantly weighing opportunity costs.
That said, there is one I can and do recommend wholeheartedly to everyone, regardless of interests or personal preferences.
If you’re curious, which I hope you are, the podcast has been around for more than 20 years and covers topics ranging from History, Science, Literature, Philosophy, Art, Music, and Technology.
It’s called “In Our Time,” produced by the BBC, and is hosted by Melvyn Bragg, an Oxford-educated broadcaster and writer who, among many other works, co-wrote the script for the 1973 movie, Jesus Christ Superstar. If that weren’t enough, he also served in the House of Lords and was Chancellor of the University of Leeds for 18 years.
At first glance, you may incorrectly believe that “In Our Time” will be dry, dull, pretentious, and academic. After all, the format of the show is Bragg interviewing three scholars, most of whom are professors at universities and colleges in the UK and Europe. For 30 minutes he peppers them with questions about their subject of research or expertise.
Ironically, the show turns out to be more spectator sport than academia because the participants are required to address a general audience who are assumed to know little to nothing about the topic. If the subject happens to be about Fungi, for example, a fascinating episode from last February, three professors explain why fungi are important to ecosystems, how fungi cause materials to decay, and why life on earth would be significantly worse without them – think: no wine, no bread, and no antibiotics. It’s not something I would otherwise have given any thought to, but it was interesting - I’m glad I listened.
Or take, for another example, last week’s show. I had scarcely heard of Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Jesuit priest and arguably the greatest poet of the Victorian age, but now that gap in my education is solidly filled. True, I will probably never delve any further into Hopkins' life or work, but the point is that I now have a better appreciation for who he was. Thirty minutes was just about right – I got the high points of his life and career but never got bogged down in details that are of consequence only to scholars.
The beauty of the show is that each of the three panelists cares passionately about the subject matter, and each has probably spent many decades learning intricacies and nuances. You don’t need to know anything about Fungi, or Gerard Manley Hopkins, or Marie Antoinette, or Middlemarch to appreciate what three smart and well-educated people who study such things have to say about them.
Because the guests chosen for the show are all noted scholars in their field, it’s a safe assumption that whatever they say is probably reliable and accurate. If someone states something that is borderline incorrect, one or both other panelists will quickly jump in to correct them. Bragg is a good-natured referee, making sure that the show moves along quickly, and that no one gets too far into the weeds.
If you’re looking for a podcast featuring stand-up comedians or American sports professionals, “In Our Time” is not for you. But if you’re insatiably curious about life, science, history, and literature, I strongly encourage you to check it out.
Many thanks to my friend, Mark Beach, for introducing me to the show!
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