Best The Thing About Austen Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 107: The Thing About Manydown Park with guests Prerna Ramachandra and Sarah Rose Kearns 32:59

2d ago32:59

32:59

In December 1802, while visiting family friends at Manydown Park, Jane Austen received and accepted a proposal of marriage from Harris Bigg-Wither. The next day, she withdrew her acceptance. This episode we are joined by guests Prerna Ramachandra and Sarah Rose Kearns to discuss this crossroads moment in Austen's personal and professional life. Tha…

1
Classic Debate: Neville Chamberlain Did The Right Thing 1:07:03

1d ago1:07:03

1:07:03

If ever a politician got a bum rap it’s Neville Chamberlain. He has gone down in history as the British prime minster whose policy of appeasement in the 1930s allowed the Nazis to flourish unopposed. He has never been forgiven for ceding part of Czechoslovakia to Hitler in the Munich Agreement of September 1938, and for returning home triumphantly …

1
Are bureaucrats a force for good? With Michael Lewis and Gillian Tett (Part Two) 40:33

3d ago40:33

40:33

The concept of government is under attack. In the United States, Donald Trump has fired tens of thousands of federal workers; ignored congressional statutes; insulted judges; and allowed Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, access to sensitive government information in a slash-and-burn campaign against the US government. In June 2025 Michael Lewis, …

1
Are bureaucrats a force for good? With Michael Lewis and Gillian Tett (Part One) 40:50

4d ago40:50

40:50

The concept of government is under attack. In the United States, Donald Trump has fired tens of thousands of federal workers; ignored congressional statutes; insulted judges; and allowed Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, access to sensitive government information in a slash-and-burn campaign against the US government. In June 2025 Michael Lewis, …

1
The Specialist | The Rediscovery of Rubens’ The Massacre of the Innocents, with George Gordon 14:52

5d ago14:52

14:52

This is an episode of The Specialist, produced by Intelligence Squared in partnership with Sotheby's. In The Specialist, explore the significance and journey of an extraordinary work through the eyes of those that know it best. Rubens’ early masterpiece The Massacre of the Innocents was hidden away for nearly 250 years. George Gordon, Deputy Chairm…

1
Ctrl, Alt, Delusion: Resetting Reality in the Manosphere 48:05

1h ago48:05

48:05

Today’s episode is the recording of our recent panel Ctrl, Alt, Delusion: Resetting Reality in the Manosphere, live at SXSW London, in partnership with Sage & Jester. Sage & Jester is an impact-led arts production company that exposes manipulation and misinformation. At Sage & Jester, entertainment sparks critical thinking. Their work blends wisdom…

1
The Genius Myth, with Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci (Part Two) 39:36

8d ago39:36

39:36

The tortured poet. The rebellious scientist. The monstrous artist. The tech disruptor. You can tell what a society values by who it labels as a genius. You can also tell who it excludes, who it enables, and what it is prepared to tolerate. Taking us from the Renaissance Florence of Leonardo da Vinci to the Florida rocket launches of Elon Musk’s Spa…

1
Alice's Restaurant (1969) Arlo Guthrie, Arthur Penn, Pat Quinn, & James Broderick 1:10:55

8d ago1:10:55

1:10:55

Book Vs. Movie: “Alice’s Restaurant” Arlo Guthrie’s 1967 18-minute Song Vs the 1969 Movie Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” is an 18-minute satirical folk monologue and song that became an anthem for the 1960s counterculture. Officially titled “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” it was released in 1967 on his debut album. The piece tells a true, albe…

1
The Genius Myth, with Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci (Part One) 40:09

10d ago40:09

40:09

The tortured poet. The rebellious scientist. The monstrous artist. The tech disruptor. You can tell what a society values by who it labels as a genius. You can also tell who it excludes, who it enables, and what it is prepared to tolerate. Taking us from the Renaissance Florence of Leonardo da Vinci to the Florida rocket launches of Elon Musk’s Spa…

1
Yardsticks For Failure, with Ivo Graham (Part Two) 39:20

11d ago39:20

39:20

After coming last by quite such a distance on Taskmaster Series 15, and seeing his emotional frailties laid bare in a series of memes of him with his head in his hands, Ivo Graham is adapting to an increasingly irreversible reputation as a man better known for his chaos than his comedy. His new book Yardsticks For Failure is a map of the brain behi…

1
Yardsticks For Failure, with Ivo Graham (Part One) 36:55

13d ago36:55

36:55

After coming last by quite such a distance on Taskmaster Series 15, and seeing his emotional frailties laid bare in a series of memes of him with his head in his hands, Ivo Graham is adapting to an increasingly irreversible reputation as a man better known for his chaos than his comedy. His new book Yardsticks For Failure is a map of the brain behi…

1
Shakespeare in Love (1998 Movie) 1:06:08

14d ago1:06:08

1:06:08

Kim and Alice are putting on their terrible disguises and having so much fun with this week's pick, the late '90s actor buffet that is Shakespeare in Love. We're talking guyliner, literary Easter eggs and what makes this very smart movie so very dumb. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle Producer: Helen Hamilton Sources https://www.folge…

1
An Evening with Matt Haig: Embracing Hope, Wonder and the Power of the Imagination (Part Two) 38:49

15d ago38:49

38:49

‘A beautiful novel full of life-affirming wonder and imagination’ Benedict Cumberbatch Matt Haig is one of Britain’s most celebrated authors, best known for his internationally bestselling novel The Midnight Library and the critically acclaimed memoir Reasons to Stay Alive. Matt’s newest novel, The Life Impossible, which became an instant Sunday Ti…

1
Episode 106: The Thing About Special Licenses 28:50

17d ago28:50

28:50

Mrs. Bennet would like to ensure that Lizzy's special day is the MOST special. And what better way to do that than by having Darcy and Lizzy marry by special license. This episode we cover the banns, common licenses, and special licenses, and we dig into whether Mrs. Bennet's wedding dreams are likely to come true. You can find us online at https:/…

1
An Evening with Matt Haig: Embracing Hope, Wonder and the Power of the Imagination (Part One) 39:45

17d ago39:45

39:45

‘A beautiful novel full of life-affirming wonder and imagination’ Benedict Cumberbatch Matt Haig is one of Britain’s most celebrated authors, best known for his internationally bestselling novel The Midnight Library and the critically acclaimed memoir Reasons to Stay Alive. Matt’s newest novel, The Life Impossible, which became an instant Sunday Ti…

1
"Pride and Prejudice" & 2022's "Fire Island" Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho & Jane Austen 1:23:59

18d ago1:23:59

1:23:59

Book Vs. Movie: For Pride Month 1813’s “Pride and Prejudice” Vs. 2022's "Fire Island" June is Pride Month worldwide, and the Margos are excited to celebrate with some of the best LGBTQIA-centric books and movies. One highlight is the 2022 film *Fire Island*, directed by Andrew Ahn and written by Joel Kim Booster. This clever and heartfelt adaptatio…

1
An Evening with Deborah Frances-White and David Tennant (Part Two) 41:44

18d ago41:44

41:44

Deborah Frances-White is the writer and comedian best known for hosting The Guilty Feminist podcast. David Tennant is the multi-award-winning actor who has played iconic roles including Doctor Who, Hamlet, Barty Crouch Jr., Rivals’ Lord Tony Baddingham and more. In April 2025 they came to Intelligence Squared to discuss how we can have better and m…

1
An Evening with Deborah Frances-White and David Tennant (Part One) 40:16

20d ago40:16

40:16

Deborah Frances-White is the writer and comedian best known for hosting The Guilty Feminist podcast. David Tennant is the multi-award-winning actor who has played iconic roles including Doctor Who, Hamlet, Barty Crouch Jr., Rivals’ Lord Tony Baddingham and more. In April 2025 they came to Intelligence Squared to discuss how we can have better and m…

1
Is Britain in Denial About the Far Right? With Harry Shukman 50:06

22d ago50:06

50:06

What is happening behind closed doors in Britain’s far right movement? On today’s episode, we’re joined by journalist Harry Shukman, the journalist who spent over a year undercover investigating the British far right. Drawing on his new book, Year of the Rat, Shukman sheds light on the secret meetings, pub gatherings, political canvassing, and neo-…

1
The Power of Good Conversation, with Jefferson Fisher (Part Two) 37:36

24d ago37:36

37:36

‘Embracing the knowledge in The Next Conversation will vastly improve your life.’ – Andrew Huberman, creator of the Huberman Lab Podcast ‘ The Next Conversation gives you the tools to change your life, one conversation at a time.’ – Mel Robbins, bestselling author and host of the Mel Robbins Podcast In a time when conversations often feel more divi…

1
"Breakfast with Scot" (2007) Michael Downing, Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman, & Noah Bernett 1:08:37

25d ago1:08:37

1:08:37

Book Vs. Movie: Breakfast with Scot The 1999 Novel Vs the 2007 Movie Michael Downing’s 1999 novel Breakfast with Scot and the 2007 film adaptation of the same name both follow the story of a gay couple who unexpectedly become the guardians of a precocious and flamboyant eleven-year-old boy named Scot. But while they share a common setup, the tone, …

1
The Power of Good Conversation, with Jefferson Fisher (Part One) 38:19

25d ago38:19

38:19

‘Embracing the knowledge in The Next Conversation will vastly improve your life.’ – Andrew Huberman, creator of the Huberman Lab Podcast ‘ The Next Conversation gives you the tools to change your life, one conversation at a time.’ – Mel Robbins, bestselling author and host of the Mel Robbins Podcast In a time when conversations often feel more divi…

1
Sotheby's Talks | Shakespeare: A Man For All Time, with Tracy-Ann Oberman 39:41

27d ago39:41

39:41

On today’s episode, an episode from our friends at Sotheby's, exploring the world of Shakespeare. Sam Leith, author, journalist and literary editor of The Spectator, will be joined by Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford, Tracy-Ann Oberman, who most recently starred as Shylock in her adaptation of The Merchant of Venice, and accla…

1
Miss Austen (Series 1, 2025) 1:14:44

28d ago1:14:44

1:14:44

Hello to everyone except Dead Tom! We’re back for a new series and this week we’re covering Miss Austen Series 1. Kim and Alice put their PDMDs to the test as they try to work out what killed Jane Austen. Spoiler: it was probably overly synchronised periods. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen Hamilton / Keith Nagle Producer: Helen Hamilton A…

1
Is Nvidia the most important company in the world? With Stephen Witt 55:06

29d ago55:06

55:06

In June 2024, Nvidia became the most valuable corporation on Earth. In Stephen Witt’s new book ‘The Thinking Machine’ he chronicles the astonishing story of how a designer of videogame equipment conquered the market for AI hardware, and in the process reinvented the computer. He spoke about it with author and Research Director at Demos Carl Miller.…

1
An Evening with Adam Buxton and Caitlin Moran (Part Two) 38:04

1M ago38:04

38:04

*** Click here to see the photograph referred to in the podcast introduction: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/an-evening-with-adam-buxton *** --- Adam Buxton is a comedian, writer, podcaster — and one of the UK’s most beloved cultural figures. Best known for The Adam Buxton Podcast, The Adam and Joe Show on Channel 4, and the distinctive…

1
An Evening with Adam Buxton and Caitlin Moran (Part One) 39:04

1M ago39:04

39:04

*** Click here to see the photograph referred to in the podcast introduction: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/an-evening-with-adam-buxton *** --- Adam Buxton is a comedian, writer, podcaster — and one of the UK’s most beloved cultural figures. Best known for The Adam Buxton Podcast, The Adam and Joe Show on Channel 4, and the distinctive…

1
How has resistance shaped Britain? With Steve McQueen (Part Two) 41:10

1M ago41:10

41:10

Steve McQueen is one of Britain’s most acclaimed filmmakers and artists. He is the recipient of the Academy Award for Best Picture, two BAFTA Awards, the Caméra d’Or, a Golden Globe, and the Turner Prize. McQueen’s work includes his first feature-length film Hunger about Bobby Sands and the 1981 Irish hunger strike, the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Sla…

1
How has resistance shaped Britain? With Steve McQueen (Part One) 39:30

1M ago39:30

39:30

Steve McQueen is one of Britain’s most acclaimed filmmakers and artists. He is the recipient of the Academy Award for Best Picture, two BAFTA Awards, the Caméra d’Or, a Golden Globe, and the Turner Prize. McQueen’s work includes his first feature-length film Hunger about Bobby Sands and the 1981 Irish hunger strike, the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Sla…

1
Understanding Xi: Is China’s President a Threat to the World? (Part Two) 38:14

1M ago38:14

38:14

This event is part of our ⁠Age of the Strongman⁠ series. ⁠Click here⁠ to see the other events in the series. President Xi Jinping has ruled China for more than a decade. He has overseen an era of unprecedented economic prosperity, cracked down on dissidents, reinvented national identity in his own image and adopted a confrontational ‘wolf warrior’ …

1
The Mirror Crack'd (1980) Agatha Christie, Miss Marple, Angela Lansbury, Elizabeth Taylor & Rock Hudson 1:27:07

1M ago1:27:07

1:27:07

Book Vs. Movie: The Mirror Crack’d The 1962 Agatha Christie Novel Vs the 1980 Movie When Agatha Christie published The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side in 1962, it was a haunting tale of guilt, glamour, and murder set in the seemingly quiet village of St. Mary Mead. Nearly two decades later, Hollywood brought the story to life with an all-star cast…

1
Understanding Xi: Is China’s President a Threat to the World? (Part One) 40:20

1M ago40:20

40:20

This event is part of our Age of the Strongman series. Click here to see the other events in the series. President Xi Jinping has ruled China for more than a decade. He has overseen an era of unprecedented economic prosperity, cracked down on dissidents, reinvented national identity in his own image and adopted a confrontational ‘wolf warrior’ styl…

1
How To Cure Your Algorithm, with Jamie Bartlett 51:14

1M ago51:14

51:14

This event is part of Critical Conversations, a new series on the age of misinformation by Intelligence Squared and Sage & Jester, hosted by Sophia Smith Galer. To see other events in this series, click here. Where do we draw the line between free speech and dangerous misinformation? Algorithms not only dictate our data feeds but also reinforce our…

1
Truth Hurts: From Conflict to Connection, with Dr Julia Ebner 50:17

1M ago50:17

50:17

This event is part of Critical Conversations, a new series on the age of misinformation by Intelligence Squared and Sage & Jester, hosted by Sophia Smith Galer. Have you ever clashed with someone on social media or even a loved one? Conversations can easily escalate in a time where everyone is consuming different media with wildly different messagi…

1
Tricks, Trolls, and LOLs: Comedy’s Crash Course in Spotting Lies, with Rachel Parris 57:28

2M ago57:28

57:28

This event was part of Critical Conversations, a new series on the age of misinformation by Intelligence Squared and Sage & Jester, hosted by Sophia Smith Galer. Sometimes the best way to expose a lie is to laugh at it. Satire is a force to be reckoned with in any democracy and artists are essential in shedding light on the truth. Comedy has long b…

1
"See How They Run" (2002) Agatha Christie, "The Mousetrap", Sam Rockwell & Saoirse Ronan 1:21:56

2M ago1:21:56

1:21:56

Book Vs. Movie: See How They Run The 1947 Agatha Christie Play (Three Blind Mice) Vs the 2022 Sam Rockwell Film Agatha Christie’s radio play Three Blind Mice was introduced in 1947 and was the basis for 1952’s The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in theater history. See How They Run (2022) is a clever, stylish murder mystery set in 1950s London.…

1
Can we have prosperity without growth? With Tim Jackson 56:02

2M ago56:02

56:02

Is prosperity possible without growth? And in an age of environmental crisis and rising inequality, is our obsession with economic expansion doing more harm than good? On the podcast today, renowned economist Professor Tim Jackson challenges the very foundations of our economic thinking. In his groundbreaking book 'Prosperity Without Growth', Jacks…

1
Is Your Phone Controlling Your Life? With Kaitlyn Regehr (Part Two) 40:19

2M ago40:19

40:19

The ‘Smartphone-free Childhood’ movement has alerted many of us to the dangers inherent in our – and our kids’ – use of devices. But while we can shield children from technology in their early years, withdrawing from the online world is not an option for most of us in adult life. So how do we ensure that we – and our children when they grow up – de…

1
Episode 105: The Thing About Marianne's Music with guest Dr. Elizabeth Weybright 54:49

2M ago54:49

54:49

Marianne has a lot of feelings, and what better way of expressing them than through her music? Dr. Elizabeth "Elly" Weybright joins us for this episode to discuss Marianne as a musician and the ways in which Marianne's musicianship is central to her character. We also get into a bit of Austen's own history of piano ownership and music playing. If y…

1
Is Your Phone Controlling Your Life? With Kaitlyn Regehr (Part One) 38:03

2M ago38:03

38:03

The ‘Smartphone-free Childhood’ movement has alerted many of us to the dangers inherent in our – and our kids’ – use of devices. But while we can shield children from technology in their early years, withdrawing from the online world is not an option for most of us in adult life. So how do we ensure that we – and our children when they grow up – de…

1
Harper Valley PTA (1978) Barbara Eden, Ronny Cox, Nanette Fabray, Tom T. Hall & Jeannie C. Riley 55:46

2M ago55:46

55:46

Book Vs Movie: “Harper Valley PTA" The 1968 Song Vs the 1978 Movie (really!) (It's one of our favorite episodes from the past!) The song was written by Tom T. Hall and performed by country singer Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. The story about a “widowed bride” who is slut-shamed by her daughter’s junior high school PTA (Parents Teachers Advisory) and gi…

1
Tariff Special: The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook with Helen Thompson (Part Two) 40:59

2M ago40:59

40:59

‘The world as we knew it is gone’ – UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s response to Trump’s tariffs President Donald Trump recently announced a 90-day pause for his monumental ‘liberation day’ tariffs while at the same time escalating a dangerous trade war with China. Trump’s announcement came just weeks after import taxes on all goods entering th…

1
Tariff Special: The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook with Helen Thompson (Part One) 42:46

2M ago42:46

42:46

‘The world as we knew it is gone’ – UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s response to Trump’s tariffs President Donald Trump recently announced a 90-day pause for his monumental ‘liberation day’ tariffs while at the same time escalating a dangerous trade war with China. Trump’s announcement came just weeks after import taxes on all goods entering th…

1
Can Mathematics Fuel Creativity? With Marcus du Sautoy (Part Two) 38:00

2M ago38:00

38:00

From the earliest stone circles to Mozart’s obsession with numbers to the radically modern architecture of Zaha Hadid, maths and creativity are interwoven across time and space. Whether we are searching for meaning in an abstract painting or finding patterns in poetry, there are blueprints everywhere: symmetry, prime numbers, the golden ratio and m…

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The Thing About Austen Podcasts

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