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Start the Week

BBC Radio 4
Claude Monet
Glass
Glassmaking
Errollyn Wallen
Laurence Cummings
Emma Smith
Small States
Climate Change
Stained Glass
Material Science
Art History
Opium
China
Games
Jazz
Classical Music
Compositional Process
Handel
Jephtha
Machine Vision

Weekly discussion programme, setting the cultural agenda every Monday

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes627Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Three prize-winning authors in today's discussion programme hosted by Tom Sutcliffe:

The German Peasants’ War of 1524–1525 was the greatest popular uprising in Western Europe before the French Revolution. Tens of thousands of peasants rose up to dem... more

What can the cosmos tell us about our past and future? Tom Sutcliffe and guests look skyward and deep into the quantum world to ask how much we can really know about the universe - and about ourselves.

Space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, presente... more

What can genetics and palmistry tell us about how we understand identity, character and health? Adam Rutherford is joined by Professor of Zoology Matthew Cobb; the historian Professor Alison Bashford and the geneticist Charlotte Houldcroft.

Matthew ... more

How can we reclaim the internet? Tom Sutcliffe and guests discuss the digital age - its supporters and discontents.

Tech critic Cory Doctorow introduces his new book Enshittification, a blistering diagnosis of how online platforms have decayed — fr... more

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Recent Guests

Alison Bashford
Author of 'Decoding the Hand', exploring the history of palmistry and its connection to science.
Episode: Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Matthew Cobb
Author of 'Crick, A Mind in Motion', a biography of Francis Crick.
Episode: Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Charlotte Houldcroft
Virologist at the University of Cambridge specializing in the history of infectious diseases.
University of Cambridge
Episode: Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Jonathan Slaght
Conservationist and author of Tigers Between Empires
Episode: Saving Tigers, Green Crime and Cli-fi
Juhea Kim
Novelist in the cli-fi genre and author of A Love Story from the End of the World
Episode: Saving Tigers, Green Crime and Cli-fi
Julia Shaw
Criminal psychologist and author of Green Crime
Episode: Saving Tigers, Green Crime and Cli-fi
Jeanette Winterson
Novelist and author of One Aladdin, Two Lamps
Episode: Storytelling: Jeanette Winterson, Rory Stewart and Soweto Kinch
Rory Stewart
Podcaster and professor, author of Middleland
Yale University
Episode: Storytelling: Jeanette Winterson, Rory Stewart and Soweto Kinch
Soweto Kinch
Musician and composer of Soundtrack to the Apocalypse
Episode: Storytelling: Jeanette Winterson, Rory Stewart and Soweto Kinch

Hosts

Tom Sutcliffe
Host known for his insightful questioning and ability to drive discussions effectively.
Adam Rutherford
Host bringing a scientific perspective to cultural discussions, renowned for his thought-provoking inquiries.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 612 ratings
  • För bra att somna till

    Jag brukar somna till poddar om ämnen som intresserar mig, men här är det för intressant och för intresserat - jag vaknar till istället och vill lära mig allt om nattfjärilar eller allergier.

    Initierat, kunnigt, nördigt.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PappaStekman
    Sweden2 years ago
  • So much better since Marr left

    Every week this show delivers an interesting discussion and normally results in more additions to my ‘to read’ pile.

    The new post-Marr format of rotating presenters is refreshing and less egotistical in style. And speaking are even now allowed to be honest about how bad Brexit is going.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Alex_Phillips
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • Excellent but…

    Can someone ask the host to resist the urge to interrupt his guests? We genuinely want to hear what they have to say. That is, we haven’t run out of attention quite as quickly as he has.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MaryCherry75
    Canada4 years ago
  • Variable and a bit pompous but often interesting

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Professor
    5 years ago
  • Intelligent long form journalism

    Great listen well worth subscribing to.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Welger AP 45
    Ireland5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback indicates that guests often provide insightful contributions, and many listeners express a desire for deeper engagements with their perspectives.
Listeners appreciate the stimulating discussions and engaging format, often highlighting that the show presents a rich diversity of topics.
The rotating host format has been positively received, with some considering it a refreshing change from previous hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Q: How did Francis Crick's discovery of DNA change scientific understanding?
It introduced the concept that life is fundamentally information stored in DNA, impacting fields like genetics and evolutionary biology.
Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Q: What was the role of palmistry in the 19th and 20th centuries?
It transitioned from a spiritual practice to being seen as a way to understand personality and health, with significant contributions from medically trained individuals.
Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: What is the dilemma in the drowning child thought experiment?
The experiment illustrates the moral obligation to help those in need, regardless of distance, emphasizing the indistinguishable nature of human lives across geographies.
Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: What is effective altruism?
Effective altruism is a movement that emphasizes not just giving, but giving effectively to maximize the good that can be achieved.
Steven Pinker on common knowledge
Q: How has social media changed common knowledge?
Social media can generate common belief including misconceptions, but it doesn't truly create common knowledge as it lacks universal engagement.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Start the Week

What is Start the Week about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly discussion series that features in-depth conversations on culture, society, and contemporary issues. The sessions typically invite a range of experts, authors, and thought leaders who share insights on diverse topics such as environmental issues, politics, art, literature, and the impact of technology on society. The format encourages dynamic exchanges among participants, often weaving personal anecdotes with broader societal implications. Listeners can expect to engage with complex subjects through accessible dialogue, making it suitable for anyone interested in cultural discourse and intellectual growth.

Where can I find podcast stats for Start the Week?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Start the Week. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Start the Week and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Start the Week get?

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What are the audience demographics for Start the Week?

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How many subscribers and views does Start the Week have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Start the Week has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Start the Week?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Start the Week:

1. Arts & Ideas
2. Great Lives
3. In Our Time
4. Front Row
5. This Cultural Life

How many episodes of Start the Week are there?

Start the Week launched 20 years ago and published 627 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Start the Week?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Start the Week?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Start the Week from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Start the Week?

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What guests have appeared on Start the Week?

Recent guests on Start the Week include:

1. Alison Bashford
2. Matthew Cobb
3. Charlotte Houldcroft
4. Jonathan Slaght
5. Juhea Kim
6. Julia Shaw
7. Jeanette Winterson
8. Rory Stewart

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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