Arts & Ideas Folgen

What does the phrase 'Victorian values' conjure today? Matthew Sweet and guests explore what we have inherited from that formative era in relation to political ideas, civic culture, aesthetics, and social and sexual mores. How does our view of the Victorian age match the historical reality? And can we move beyond stereotypes of repression and the stiff upper lip?AN Wilson, writer, biographer and historianGisela Stuart, Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston, crossbench peer in the House of LordsSarah Williams, Research Professor in the History of Christianity at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada and author of When Courage Calls: Josephine Butler and the Radical Pursuit of Justice for WomenFern Riddell, historian and writer. Her latest book is Victoria’s Secret: The Private Passion of a Queen (2025)And Matthew Stallard, Research Associate from the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slavery at University College London.Producer: Eliane Glaser

Are we addicted to novelty? What are the cultural settings that allow innovation to flourish? And are novelty and innovation things we've always valued? Matthew Sweet is joined by writer and entrepreneur Margaret Heffernan, Professor of Innovation Tim Minshall, and historians Agnes Arnold-Forster, and Christina Faraday.Tim Minshall is the author of Your Life is Manufactured. Margaret Heffernan's most recent book is Embracing Uncertainty Agnes Arnold-Foster has written Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion Christina Faraday is the author of The Story of Tudor Art Nick Hilton, presenter of The Ned Ludd Radio Hour podcastProducer: Luke Mulhall

Are you planning your summer holiday? The first Saturday in January is called Sunshine Saturday because typically more holidays are booked on that day than on any other in the year. Today, planning a trip might involve consulting AI rather than reading a travel guide or visiting a travel agent. And the trip itself is more likely to involve an airplane than a stagecoach. But it's not just the practicalities of travel that have altered over the years. Reasons for travelling have changed, so have the meanings assigned to it. Was it ever a good vehicle for self discovery? Shahidha Bari is joined by award-winning travel journalist Mary Novakovich, TV globe trotter Bettany Hughes, historian Alun Withey, literary historian Lucy Powell and philosopher Julian Baggini.Producer: Luke Mulhall