This Cultural Life artwork

Arts · BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

by BBC Radio 4

In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives across theatre, visual arts, music, dance, film and more. Hosted by John Wilson.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Joel Meyerowitz

American photographer Joel Meyerowitz talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences and formative experiences. A pioneer of the artform, he first began capturing lif

Sep 24
43 min

Ray Winstone

Actor Ray Winstone talks to John Wilson about his formative cultural influences and inspirations. A schoolboy boxing champion, he built a reputation playing tough, workin

Sep 17
43 min

Nicholas Hytner

Theatre and film director Sir Nicholas Hytner talks to John Wilson about his formative cultural influences. Over a career spanning four decades, he has directed Shakespea

Sep 11
43 min

Mitsuko Uchida

One of the world’s greatest living pianists, Mitsuko Uchida, talks to John Wilson about her cultural influences and her career in music. Born in Japan, and a British citi

Sep 3
43 min

Sebastian Faulks

Author Sebastian Faulks talks to John Wilson about his influences and formative cultural experiences. Faulks won huge acclaim for his First World War novel Birdsong, whic

Aug 27
43 min

Tania Bruguera

Cuban performance and conceptual artist Tania Bruguera talks to John Wilson about her career and cultural influences. Her work explores freedom of speech, political oppre

Jul 9
43 min

Anish Kapoor

The artist and sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor talks to John Wilson about his career and cultural influences. Renowned for his innovative, often monumental works, Kapoor gained

Jul 2
43 min

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

The writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences and career. He started out as a screenwriter on the television soaps Brookside and Coro

Jun 25
42 min

Kiefer Sutherland

John Wilson talks to the actor and musician Kiefer Sutherland. The son of Canadian actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, he first made his mark in the 1980s and 9

Jun 18
43 min

Liam Young

Australian-born artist, filmmaker and speculative architect Liam Young discusses his work and cultural influences with John Wilson. Young creates imaginary future worlds

Jun 11
43 min

Kristin Scott Thomas

Award-winning actor Kristin Scott Thomas talks to John Wilson about her career and cultural influences. After a breakthrough role in the Evelyn Waugh film adaptation of A

Jun 4
43 min

George Saunders

The Booker Prize winning American author George Saunders talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences. He made his name as a writer of satirical or absurdist short

May 28
43 min

Felicity Lott

The soprano Dame Felicity Lott talks to John Wilson about her distinguished career and cultural influences. One of Britain's best-loved sopranos, her breakthrough role wa

May 21
41 min

Michael Frayn

Over a seven-decade career, Michael Frayn has been acclaimed as a novelist, playwright, journalist, translator & memoirist. From his comedies – including the stage farce

May 14
42 min

Lubaina Himid

Turner Prize-winning Artist Lubaina Himid talks to John Wilson about her formative influences. She made her name in the mid-1980s as a pioneering member of the British bl

May 7
43 min

Robert Icke

Theatre director and writer Robert Icke talks to John Wilson about his formative creative influences. Described by Variety magazine as ‘the great hope of British theatre’

Apr 30
42 min

David Szalay

Booker Prize-winning author David Szalay talks to John Wilson about his creative influences. His 2009 debut novel London and The South East, based on his experience of wo

Apr 23
43 min

Danielle de Niese

John Wilson talks to the Australian born opera singer Danielle de Niese. A soprano renowned for her vibrant stage presence, she made her professional operatic debut with

Apr 16
43 min

Don McCullin

Award-winning photographer Sir Don McCullin talks to John Wilson about his cultural influences and formative experiences. He started out in the late 1950s documenting the

Apr 9
43 min

Julian Barnes

The novelist, essayist and critic Julian Barnes talks to John Wilson about his career and formative cultural influences. One of the most acclaimed and distinctive British

Feb 19
43 min

Chart trend

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

#114
all-time peak
25
days in the top 200 since Mar 2025

Chart positions

Where This Cultural Life ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 29, 2026).

#182 ▼ 28 Arts US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

John Wilson is a brilliant interviewer. I particularly love that so many of his subjects are older, and having led such full lives in their art, their stories are so rich, varied and inspiring.

TrustyVS · Nov 2024

I was sad to hear that John Wilson was leaving Front Row, so it’s wonderful to hear him again with his gentle and insightful questions exploring the arts and culture.

cloudhand1 · Nov 2021

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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About This Cultural Life on Reason.fm

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

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