In Our Time artwork

History · BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

by BBC Radio 4

A world-class seminar, every week. In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped our world, spanning history, philosophy, religion, science, literature, art and culture. On Thursdays, hear brand-new episodes hosted by Misha Glenny and leading academics. On Mondays, discover Misha's Archive Picks: classic conversations from the In Our Time archive, originally presented by Melvyn Bragg. Recent episodes have featured topics as wide-ranging as the Roman Arena, Handel's Messiah, John Keats, On Liberty and the Mariana Trench, bringing expert insight to pivotal events, influential thinkers and remarkable discoveries. Throughout the archive, you can hear discussions on historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, Nefertiti, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx and Albert Einstein; explore great works of literature such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the poetry of John Donne; uncover the stories behind cultural masterpieces including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel; or journey from Jupiter and the death of stars, to the theories of Plato and Aristotle. In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Archive: Emma

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His ninth choice is the episode on Jane Austen’s novel Emma, first rele

Oct 1
50 min

Archive: The War of 1812

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His eighth choice is The War of 1812, which was first released in Janua

Sep 24
44 min

Archive: Rosalind Franklin

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His seventh choice is the pioneering scientist Rosalind Franklin (1920

Sep 17
51 min

Archive: Plato's Republic

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His sixth choice is Plato's Republic, an episode first released in June

Sep 10
50 min

In Our Time Returns for a New Series

In Our Time returns for a new series with host Misha Glenny. A world class seminar, every week. In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped o

Sep 7
2 min

Archive: Empress Dowager Cixi

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His fifth choice, first released in May 2024, is the Empress Dowager Ci

Sep 3
51 min

Archive: Plate Tectonics

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His fourth choice, first released in January 2008, explores how the sci

Aug 27
44 min

Archive: Hatshepsut

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His third choice, first released in November 2014, is the Egyptian phar

Aug 20
47 min

Archive: Coffee

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His second choice, first released in December 2019, is the history and

Aug 13
56 min

Pockets (from Here For The History)

To the frustration of many, a lot of women’s clothes don’t have pockets. But why on Earth is that the case? Especially when men’s clothing seems to be full of pockets. O

Aug 7
37 min

Archive: Aphra Behn

Widely regarded as the first professional woman writer in English literature, Aphra Behn (1640-1689) is best known for her plays and her novel Oroonoko, she's been an ins

Aug 6
52 min

Seashells

Misha Glenny and guests discuss a familiar feature of our beaches: seashells, from their astonishing shapes and patterns that teach us about Earth’s oceans, to the ways t

Jul 30
53 min

Vigée Le Brun

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the French portrait painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755 - 1842). From her teens she delighted her high society subjects in and around Pa

Jul 23
56 min

The Delian League

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the origins and evolution of an alliance which transformed the geopolitics of the classical world: the Delian League. Since the start of t

Jul 16
54 min

Machado de Assis

Misha Glenny and guests discuss one of the towering figures of Brazilian and world literature, Machado de Assis (1839 - 1908). He was the descendant of slaves and built h

Jul 9
53 min

The Evolution of Trees

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the earliest evidence we have of the existence of trees and how even plants we might have on windowsills or as vegetables in gardens can a

Jul 2
54 min

The Welsh Marches

At the Hay Festival, Misha Glenny and guests discuss the impact of the Norman invasion on the people and land of Wales and across the modern border with England in what b

Jun 25
52 min

The Levellers

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the group which came to be known as the Levellers and emerged during what would become arguably one of the bloodiest and most turbulent pe

Jun 18
55 min

The Garamantes

Misha Glenny and guests discuss an ancient civilisation who lived over 2000 years ago in the southwest of modern-day Libya. During prehistoric times, the Sahara Desert wa

Jun 11
57 min

Joseph Roth

Misha Glenny and guests discuss one of the great writers on Central Europe after the first world war and on the dying of the old orders with the collapse of the Austro-Hu

Jun 4
55 min

Chart trend

Position in the History chart (US), last 90 days.

#1
all-time peak
11
days in the top 3 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where In Our Time ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 1, 2026).

#35 ▼ 3 History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Lots of good topics, super guest experts, and excellent production. And Misha Glenny is superb as the new host!

Tim_MN · Jul 2026

Love the new host - he has injected a new energy and tone to the podcast which is a welcome and needed change. Thank you for providing excellent topics and guests.

TrailRunner_3 · May 2026

it has been illuminating for me not just the material covered, but how scholars can ardently disagree with each other in a direct but appropriate way. I’m keenly aware nowadays that this is a lost art for many in public discourse. I never thought I would be so interested, in say, the 10th 11th and 12th centuries and why i’ve come to believe that history really matters. I can get so lost in an episode that I’ll get 8000 steps in without realizing it! Cheers and thanks😎

JohnnyLew2 · Jan 2026

This show has been an absolute joy of learning from so many scholars and Mr. Braggs brilliant interview skills and insane level of preparation. I think he needs to be Sir Braggs! Enjoy your retirement. You have given us a lifetime of episodes to listen to over and over for decades.

Shadwell von Bernstein · Nov 2025

I enjoy the panelists and topics in this show but Melvin is frequently a misogynist bully to women in this show. Most obviously he was revolting in his treatment of Helen Foxhall Forbes, from what I recall. He should be ashamed of himself and his producers or someone should educate him on how to treat women. Aside from basic politeness, he needs to do better as a presenter and a human being. He’s talking to people who know more than he does and regardless should show them respect

He better Melvin · Aug 2024

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About In Our Time on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of In Our Time, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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