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Manhattan Project: J Robert Oppenheimer

20250317

Naomi Alderman explores the multifaceted mind of J Robert Oppenheimer, scientific lead on the Manhattan Project, a vast, top secret scheme to build the world's first atomic bombs in World War II.

The Project was a remarkable feat of human intellect with a real, devastating human cost. It required close cooperation between the US military and a group of world-leading scientists. In many ways, Oppenheimer was a puzzling candidate for the job. He was brilliant, but fuelled by self-loathing. A physicist, he was also a student of philosophy and mysticism, interested in left-wing radical politics. Oppenheimer built the bomb, but later called the weapon's industry 'the devil's work'. His legacy, like the Manhattan Project itself, is infinitely complex.

Special thanks to Alex Wellerstein, historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, and author of The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age (HarperCollins, 2025).

The father of the atom bomb who longed to be an all-American hero.

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
	01	Manhattan Project: J Robert Oppenheimer	20250317		Naomi Alderman explores the multifaceted mind of J Robert Oppenheimer, scientific lead on the Manhattan Project, a vast, top secret scheme to build the world's first atomic bombs in World War II. The Project was a remarkable feat of human intellect with a real, devastating human cost. It required close cooperation between the US military and a group of world-leading scientists. In many ways, Oppenheimer was a puzzling candidate for the job. He was brilliant, but fuelled by self-loathing. A physicist, he was also a student of philosophy and mysticism, interested in left-wing radical politics. Oppenheimer built the bomb, but later called the weapon's industry 'the devil's work'. His legacy, like the Manhattan Project itself, is infinitely complex. Special thanks to Alex Wellerstein, historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, and author of The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age (HarperCollins, 2025). The father of the atom bomb who longed to be an all-American hero. [LISTEN NOW]
	13	Collectors: Pamphila	20250122		Naomi Alderman examines the intelligence and sharp humour of an ancient Greek historian known as Pamphila of Epidaurus. She was a female historian working in a society that believed women were constitutionally unsuited to the rational and peculiarly masculine task of recording facts for posterity. She wrote thirty-three volumes of her famed Historical Commentaries from her home. She wrote for fun, organising her material in a free and easy mix, like ‘embroidery'. We have none of her original writings, just reported fragments, but she gave us cultural history as we know it today, centuries ahead of time. Special thanks to Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at Durham University. A prolific historian from ancient Greece - female, freelance and working from home. Naomi Alderman examines the intelligence and sharp humour of an ancient Greek historian, a woman known as Pamphila of Epidaurus. [LISTEN NOW]
	14	Collectors: Samuel Johnson	20250123		Samuel Johnson was living proof that a person can be extremely messy and disorganised but still do work of great worth. He compiled and almost single-handedly wrote an English dictionary that changed the language for good. ‘Dictionary Johnson' established the spelling and meaning of many words; he looked at etymology; he poked fun and cracked jokes. He lived hand to mouth, writing for money, and helped establish the modern literary world. Special thanks to Judith Hawley, Professor of Eighteenth-Century Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London. Working in chaos at a desk strewn with papers, 'Dictionary Johnson' left a great legacy. Samuel 'Dictionary' Johnson was living proof that a person can be extremely messy and disorganised but still do work of great worth. Naomi Alderman finds out how. [LISTEN NOW]
	15	Collectors: Charles Darwin	20250124		Darwin asked big questions. His theory of evolution transformed our understanding of life on Earth. But Naomi Alderman discovers that he did it by looking at small things and tiny changes that other people had overlooked. From earliest childhood, he'd been a collector – pocketing shells, coins, minerals, bits of pottery and rooftiles – and his travels on HMS Beagle allowed him to amass a vast collection of specimens and observations that he and others would puzzle over for decades. Special thanks to Dr John van Wyhe, historian of science at the National University of Singapore and the Director of The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: James Cook Assistant producer: Sarah Goodman Researcher: Harry Burton Production coordinator: Amelia Paul Script consultant: Sara Joyner A life-long collector of curiosities, Darwin saw massive significance in tiny changes. Darwin's theory of evolution transformed our understanding of life on Earth. Naomi Alderman looks at the way he paid diligent attention to tiny, overlooked details. Darwin asked big questions. His theory of evolution transformed our understanding of life on Earth. But Naomi Alderman discovers that he did it by looking at small things and tiny changes that other people had overlooked. From earliest childhood, he'd been a collector – pocketing shells, coins, minerals, bits of pottery and roof tiles – and his travels on the Beagle allowed him to amass a vast collection of specimens and observations that he and others would puzzle over for decades. [LISTEN NOW]
	18	Manhattan Project: Niels Bohr	20250318		Niels Bohr said, 'Anyone who is not shocked when they first come across quantum theory cannot possibly have understood it.' Naomi Alderman investigates the remarkable insights of a scientific genius. Bohr is the man who figured out the structure of the nucleus at the centre of the atom, recognising that the quantum world of tiny particles behaves very differently to the tangible, everyday world around us. He built a scientific family around him, mentoring some of the greatest theoretical physicists of the twentieth century. Special thanks to Jim Al-Khalili, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey. A scientific genius who saw poetry in the subatomic world [LISTEN NOW]
	19	Manhattan Project: John Von Neumann	20250319		Naomi Alderman dives into the amazing intellect of John von Neumann, physicist, mathematician, economist, computer scientist – a visionary who predicted the rise of artificial intelligence decades ahead of time. As a child, von Neumann could recite the telephone directory and crack jokes in Ancient Greek. He waltzed into the Manhattan Project and solved a problem that had frustrated other top scientists for months. His work on game theory underpins the modern world, from defence strategies to dating apps. But, for all his serious intellectual contributions, von Neumann was a party animal, who did his best thinking surrounded by people and noise. Special thanks to Ananyo Bhattacharya, chief science writer at the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences and author of The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann (Allen Lane, 2021). The game theory pioneer who made the information age possible. Naomi Alderman dives into the amazing intellect of John von Neumann, physicist, mathematician, economist, computer scientist and visionary. [LISTEN NOW]
	20	Manhattan Project: Lise Meitner	20250320		Lise Meitner was a world-class physicist, who saw what others could not. She recognised nuclear fission – the splitting of the atom, the powerful energy released – before anyone else. Naomi Alderman finds out how. Women weren't even allowed to attend lectures at the University of Berlin, when Meitner moved there in 1907. She began her career in a basement workshop, kept away from male students, and went on to build an unimpeachable reputation for scientific precision and brilliance. Her discovery of fission made the atom bomb possible, but she refused to have anything to do with the Manhattan Project. Special thanks to Frank Close, Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford and author of Destroyer of Worlds: The Deep History of the Nuclear Age: 1895-1965 (Allen Lane, 2025). Thanks also to Alex Wellerstein, historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. The woman who discovered nuclear fission but would have nothing to do with the bomb. Lise Meitner was a world-class physicist, who saw what others could not. She recognised nuclear fission – the splitting of the atom – before anyone else. Naomi Alderman meets her. [LISTEN NOW]
	21	Manhattan Project: Albert Einstein	20250321		Albert Einstein was an international pop star of science who urged the US government to build an atom bomb. Naomi Alderman gets into one of the most famous brains of all time. Einstein rewrote our understanding of universe. He imagined hitching a ride on a light beam and pursued his famous 'thought experiments' to remarkable ends. He was a man who never swam with the tide. Despite a lifelong commitment to pacifism, in 1939, Einstein signed a letter urging the US government to speed up work on the development of a nuclear bomb. Naomi finds out why. Special thanks to Janna Levin, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: Philip Sellars Series producer: Sarah Goodman Script editor: Sara Joyner Researchers: Harry Burton and Miriam O'Byrne Production coordinator: Amelia Paul How a world famous pacifist jump-started the Manhattan Project and revolutionised science. [LISTEN NOW]
	22	Travellers: The Buddha	20250324		Naomi Alderman explores the thinking of the Buddha, who, as a young prince, ventured outside the palace walls and began his journey towards enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama lived in a life of rarefied luxury until an encounter with suffering changed everything for him. He became the Buddha, the awakened one, urged self-transformation and profoundly shaped the world we live in. But did his many insights come from thinking, as such, or something else altogether? Special thanks to Kate Crosby, Numata Professor of Buddhist studies at the University of Oxford. A young prince who journeyed towards enlightenment [LISTEN NOW]
	23	Travellers: Jean Rhys	20250325		Jean Rhys' sequel to Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, changed the way we think about stories forever. Naomi Alderman meets a fellow novelist who put a marginalised character at the centre of the action. Rhys left Dominica to go to school in cold, grey England, but she had always felt out of place. A perfectionist who needed every word in the right place, she took decades to publish her masterpiece, but she was thinker ahead of her time, who crammed the whole world and its injustices into her writing. Special thanks to Sophie Oliver, Senior Lecturer in Modernism at the University of Liverpool. A novelist whose sequel to Jane Eyre turned storytelling on its head Rhys left Dominica to go to school in cold, grey England, but she had always felt out of place. A perfectionist who needed every word in just the right place, she took decades to publish her masterpiece. She was a thinker ahead of her time, who crammed the whole world and its injustices into her writing. Jean Rhys's sequel to Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, changed the way we think about stories forever. Naomi Alderman meets a fellow novelist. [LISTEN NOW]
	24	Travellers: Sir Patrick Manson	20250326	20250327 (R4)	Sir Patrick Manson shook the medical world when he first understood the infection route for vector-borne diseases like malaria. Naomi Alderman dissects the thinking of a scientific pioneer. In the late 1800s, no one knew how this kind of illness was spread. Manson, a Scottish physician working in China and later in a home laboratory in London, doggedly pursued the answer. Known as the father of tropical medicine, his understanding has undoubtedly saved lives, although he hoped it would also further the Empire. Where might his discovery take us in future? Special thanks to Kristen Hussey, Lecturer in Environmental History at Newcastle University and author of Imperial Bodies in London (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2021). Mosquito Manson' found a travelling parasite and unravelled the secrets of malaria. Sir Patrick Manson shook the medical world when he first understood the infection route for vector-borne diseases like malaria. Naomi Alderman dissects his thinking. Mosquito Manson' found a travelling parasite and unravelled a medical mystery. [LISTEN NOW]
	25	Travellers: Ida Pfeiffer	20250327	20250328 (R4)	Naomi Alderman looks at the mindset and legacy of Ida Pfeiffer, a woman who changed the very idea of travel, who is allowed to do it and why. Traditionally, travelling had always had a purpose – conquering, discovering, negotiating, pilgrimaging. Women were always accompanied by men – husbands, fathers, brothers, guardians. But in the mid-nineteenth century, a separated mother of two upped sticks and travelled twice around the world, all because she wanted to. Ida Pfeiffer went on bush expeditions with tiger hunters in India and had dinner with Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti. She spent her fiftieth birthday riding camels through Iran. So many people must have yearned for this kind of adventure, thought about it, but never turned the idea into reality. Pfeiffer made it happen. But what was so different about her thinking? Special thanks to John van Wyhe, historian of science at the National University of Singapore and author of Wanderlust: The Amazing Ida Pfeiffer, the First Female Tourist (National University of Singapore Press, 2020). A 19th-century solo female traveller who opened up the idea of travel for everyone. Naomi Alderman looks at the mind and legacy of Ida Pfeiffer, a woman who changed the very idea of travel, who's allowed to do it and why. Naomi Alderman looks at the mindset and legacy of Ida Pfeiffer, a woman who changed the very idea of travel, who's allowed to do it and why. Traditionally, travelling had always had a purpose – conquering, discovering, negotiating, pilgrimaging. Women were always accompanied by men – husbands, fathers, brothers, guardians. But Pfeiffer, a separated mother of two, upped sticks and travelled twice around the world, all because she wanted to. She went on bush expeditions with tiger hunters in India and had dinner with Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti. She spent her fiftieth birthday riding camels through Iran. So many people must have yearned for this kind of adventure, thought about it, but never turned the idea into reality. Pfeiffer made it happen. But what was so different about her thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
	26	Travellers: Aristotle	20250328	20250330 (R4)	Aristotle was a philosopher, teacher, collector and all-round polymath. He was also, importantly, a traveller, who allowed new places, especially the rich biodiversity he encountered on the island of Lesbos, to shape his thinking profoundly. Aristotle's observations about the natural world were remarkably accurate. Many were proved correct by modern science thousands of years later. He dissected animals, not as his contemporaries did, to understand the will of the gods, but to understand animals for their own sakes. He believed – and encouraged us to consider – that everyone has an innate curiosity about the world, that everyone can try to understand its wonder. Special thanks to Sophia Connell, Reader in Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: Philip Sellars Series producer: Sarah Goodman Script editor: Sara Joyner Researchers: Harry Burton and Miriam O'Byrne Production coordinator: Amelia Paul The very first scientist, who thought every part of the world could be a place of learning Aristotle was a philosopher, teacher, collect and all-round polymath. He was also a traveller. Naomi Alderman discovers how new places profoundly shaped his thinking. [LISTEN NOW]
01	11	Collectors: Sei Sh\u014dnagon	20250120	20260422 (R4)	Naomi Alderman wonders at lady-in-waiting, writer and all-round entertainer Sei Shŀ?nagon, who wrote The Pillow Book over a thousand years ago in the Japanese imperial court. The Empress and her entourage lived in a closed world, glimpsed through half-shut blinds, while political machinations went on all around them. Poetry and wit were highly prized; and Sei Shŀ?nagon was unmatched. In dark times, she picked out the beauty and absurdity in everyday life; and pulled together poetry, anecdote, essays and lists to create a whole new genre in Japanese – miscellany. Special thanks to Naomi Fukumori, Associate Professor and Director of The Institute for Japanese Studies at The Ohio State University. Excerpts from The Pillow Book translated by Meredith McKinney (Penguin Classics 2006). The author of a Japanese masterpiece who saw the beauty and absurdity in everyday life. [LISTEN NOW]
01	12	Collectors: Denis Diderot	20250121	20260429 (R4)	Naomi Alderman looks at the remarkable way Denis Diderot connected ideas and people. In 18th-century Paris, he edited one of the very first encyclopaedias: twenty-eight volumes with tens of thousands of articles on everything from the concept of liberty to cutting-edge medical research, the manufacture of silk stockings and a recipe for apricot jam. Diderot was the perfect man for the job – energised by veering from one subject to the next and undeterred by fierce opposition from the Church or even a government ban on the entire project. Special thanks to Kate Tunstall, Professor of French and Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones Fellow in Modern Languages at Worcester College, University of Oxford. The Enlightenment encyclopaedist; the ultimate interdisciplinary thinker. Naomi Alderman looks at the remarkable way Denis Diderot connected ideas and people. In 18th-century Paris, he edited an early and vast encyclopaedia, despite fierce opposition. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	01	Socrates	20250106	20250723 (R4) 20250724 (R4)	The ancient Athenian Socrates encourages us to think about what are the most important things in life and to bring real clarity to the ideas, concepts and beliefs that we use every day. He was persistent, brilliant, possessed of an intellectual curiosity and rigour that few have matched. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of this mercurial and fleeting figure – he has left us with no written work and our only sense of him is through the experiences and writings of others. Special thanks to Dr Frisbee Sheffield, Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Socrates, the original disruptor. Naomi Alderman explores the brilliant and mercurial mind of Socrates – the founder of Western philosophy as we know it – who asks us to consider what's really important in life. The series kicks off with the founder of western philosophy as we know it. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	02	Disruptors: George Washington	20250107	20250730 (R4) 20250731 (R4)	Washington may be better known as a man of action rather than ideas. However, he gave the world one idea of huge power, an idea that was also about power. As a military General, Washington won the American War of Independence. Then, as the first ever US president, he helped establish a nation and guide it through its early life. And then he did something extraordinary – he voluntarily gave up his power and returned to his farm. The idea of the peaceful transfer of power has been at the heart of the American system ever since. Special thanks to Dr Tom F Wright, Associate Professor in Rhetoric at the University of Sussex. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of the first US president, George Washington. George Washington was known as a man of action, but he came up with an extraordinary idea – the peaceful transfer of power. Naomi Alderman investigates. Voluntarily giving up immense power - the president with an extraordinary idea. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	03	Disruptors: Mary Wollstonecraft	20250108	20250806 (R4) 20250807 (R4)	Mary Wollstonecraft argued with passion and moral certainty in her great work, A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Naomi Alderman meets the first modern woman, who lived the ideas she espoused – travelling to revolutionary France, living unmarried to her lover, arguing, debating, persuading and showing, with the quality of her arguments, the justice of her own cause. She died tragically young, giving birth to her daughter Mary, known now as Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Special thanks to Dr Corin Throsby, who teaches English at the University of Cambridge. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of the brilliant feminist pioneer, Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary Wollstonecraft argued with passion and moral certainty in her great work, A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Naomi Alderman meets the first modern woman, who lived the ideas she espoused – traveling to revolutionary France, living unmarried to her lover, arguing, debating, persuading and showing, with the quality of her arguments, the justice of her own cause. She died tragically young, giving birth to her daughter Mary, known now as Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: James Cook Assistant producer: Sarah Goodman Researcher: Harry Burton Production coordinator: Amelia Paul Script consultant: Sara Joyner The mind behind the first feminist manifesto. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	04	Disruptors: Martin Luther	20250109	20250813 (R4) 20250814 (R4)	Luther's vivid, wild words – powered by new printing technology – set in motion a chain reaction that split the Catholic Church, powered the Reformation and changed the world forever. Naomi Alderman meets this determined thinker. Famously, Luther walked up to a church in a backwater town and nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door. The son of a metal smelter, he knew how rough and dangerous life could be; and he was prepared to question, argue and openly insult powerful authorities in defence of his explosive theology. Special thanks to Lyndal Roper, Regius Professor of History at the University of Oxford. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Martin Luther, who inspired the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther's vivid words – powered by the new printing technology – helped split western Christendom. Naomi Alderman explores his uncompromising intellect. Naomi Alderton explores the mind of Martin Luther, who inspired the Protestant Reformation The uncompromising intellect behind an explosive theology that split the Church forever. Luther's vivid, wild words – powered by new printing technology – set in motion a chain reaction that split the Catholic Church. Naomi Alderman meets this determined thinker. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	05	Disruptors: Malcolm X	20250110	20250820 (R4) 20250821 (R4)	While in prison, Malcolm X read furiously after lights-out and changed his entire life trajectory. Naomi Alderman looks at his extraordinary capacity for learning. Prominent as a black nationalist, skilled orator and remarkable organiser in the black freedom struggle in mid-20th century America, Malcolm X was, above all, a learner – a thinker prepared to change his mind. He left hustling behind for a Spartan, ascetic existence, dedicated to the cause. Special thanks to Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and Professor of African American studies at Penn State. Excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (Penguin Modern Classics 2001). Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: James Cook Assistant producer: Sarah Goodman Researcher: Harry Burton Production coordinator: Amelia Paul Script consultant: Sara Joyner Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Malcolm X and his role in black nationalism in the US. The black nationalist thinker and voracious reader. [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	01	Karl Marx	20260105		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground=breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to Bruno Leipold Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle An exploration into the mind of a revolutionary political thinker and philosopher. Naomi Alderman explores the mind that revolutionised our view of capitalism and originated political theories that shape our world. How did multiple exiles influence his thinking? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity, and inspiration? Karl Marx's ideas caused revolutions, toppled governments, and re-made the political map of the world. He was exiled again and again - fleeing Prussia for France, then to Brussels, eventually living in London where he completed his masterwork Capital. How did exile influence his thinking? Exploring the mind of Karl Marx, a revolutionary political thinker and philosopher. Naomi Alderman explores the mind that revolutionised our view of work, money and power and created political theories that shape our world. How did exile influence his thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	02	Ishi	20260106		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to Dr Cutcha Risling Baldy, Associate Professor of Native American Studies and department chair of Native American studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How one man is responsible for preserving the knowledge of an entire community. What can we learn from the mind of the man who was the sole survivor of his Yahi community, Native American California, and his bold work to preserve the knowledge of his people? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? When Ishi walked from the Californian wilderness into one of the settler's towns, he became known as “the last wild Indian ?. He was the last survivor of the Yahi people, who had been massacred by white settlers during the Gold Rush in about as complete a genocide as mankind had ever inflicted. But Ishi was resourceful and intelligent - he fought for ways to preserve his people's ways of life, language and culture. So that it wouldn't die with him. The mind of Ishi: how one man worked to preserve the knowledge of an entire community. Ishi was the sole survivor of the Native American Yahi people of California. He had to use all his skill and intelligence to make sure their knowledge didn't die with him. [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	03	Marie Curie	20260107		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to award-winning science writer and journalist, Dava Sobel. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle What can we learn from the mind that pioneered the way for radiotherapy to treat cancer? Inside the mind of the only scientist in history to win two Nobel Prizes in different scientific fields, and why she continues to inspire generations of scientists today. Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? For Marie Curie, understanding was everything. It was her drive for understanding that saw her seeking an illegal education in Russian occupied Warsaw, attending classes held in apartments and shop rooms. And it was her drive for understanding that ultimately drove her into exile. Her legacy includes untold lives saved by radiation therapy; it is a legacy made possible by her unceasing need to explore and understand the world in which she lived. Marie Curie had to go into exile to do her work, but she never forgot where she came from. Marie Curie was the only person ever to win Nobel Prizes in both Physics and Chemistry. She worked tirelessly. How does her brilliant thinking continue to inspire scientists today? [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	04	Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz	20260108		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to a Elisa Sampson Vera Tudela, reader in Latin American culture at King's College London. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle The mind of a self-taught intellectual and pioneering early feminist. Naomi Alderman explores the journey of the intellectual thinker and her self-imposed exile as there was no other route to education. Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? In a world that held few spaces for women, Sor Juana found her own. Born in 1648 near the town of Nepantla, she was the daughter of a Spanish coloniser and an indigenous mother. A woman of considerable intelligence, she yearned for a university education, but that was a privilege reserved for men. She learned all she could, and poured forth her learning in plays, in poetry, and in prose, exploring theological thought and questioning the hypocrisy of the male thinkers who claimed that, as a woman, she had no right to think at all. How did exile enable a self-taught intellectual and proto-feminist to do her best work? Sor Juana was perhaps the most brilliant woman in the 'New World'. But to do her best thinking, she had to exile herself from life at court and the possibility of marriage. [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	05 LAST	Ovid	20260109		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to Gail Trimble Fellow in Classics at Trinity College Oxford. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How was the mind of the poet Ovid shaped by exile? Insight into the mind of the great Roman poet that connected the classical and modern world for generations of readers. And how does his humour give us insight into his thinking? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? The poet Ovid was a brilliant thinker. His masterwork, the Metamorphoses, effortlessly weaves together hundreds of myths into a coherent narrative - it's because of Ovid that we know of these myths, and we wouldn't have the mythological richness in later writers including Shakespeare without him. But Ovid's life contains a mystery and a tragedy. Without warning, the Emperor Augustus decided to send him into exile - to Tomis on the Black Sea, in modern-day Romania. And it changed Ovid's thinking. Ovid turned his image into one that has endured: a man who was martyred for free speech. Ovid was Rome's funniest, wittiest poet. How was his mind shaped by exile? The poet Ovid was the toast of Rome, celebrated for his humour and deft retellings of mythology. But the emperor Augustus exiled him. How did exile change Ovid's thinking forever? [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	OMNI		20260110		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle What can we learn from our group of thinkers who all experienced exile in some way? How is the mind shaped by exile? How does being uprooted and having to re-establish your home impact the way you do your thinking? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? These five thinkers were all shaped by exile. Karl Marx was forced into exile more than once, pursued by governments trying to suppress his thinking, which only made him more radical. Ishi decided to exile himself among the people who had killed his family, to ensure their legacy was preserved. Marie Curie had to leave her home in Poland to be educated, which the occupying army had made illegal for girls. Sor Juana decided on an exile from court and the possibility of marriage in exchange for some intellectual freedom. And Ovid was exiled by the Emperor Augustus for writing a saucy book - but turned the tables on the Emperor when his writing exposed Augustus' sheer vindictiveness. Each of them did thinking in exile which they couldn't have done at home. Each of them remained in relationship with where they'd come from, thinking perhaps always of home. Exile shaped all these thinkers - and they never forgot where they'd come from. How are brilliant minds shaped by exile? Can you think better when forced to leave your home or even your country? Is exile always damaging, or can it open new possibilities? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	01	Isambard Kingdom Brunel	20260112		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? A highly skilled engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was driven by a desire to be the best, to achieve perfection in everything he built. From the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Paddington Station, Brunel's work left indelible stamps on Britain. Unconcerned with cost and willing to put himself and his workers at risk to achieve his goals, his need for perfection perhaps went too far, by today's standards. He had a vision for a future that, in his own time, seemed impossible: one where people could travel by smooth, comfortable, fast railways. Special thanks to Tim Bryan Brunel curator at the SS Great Britain in Bristol. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-Ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Isambard Kingdom Brunel wanted all his work to be the best, but it came at a cost. One of Britain's greatest engineers, who revolutionised our railway network. But how did perfectionism affect his thinking and those who worked for him? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	02	Simone Weil	20260113		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Raised in an environment of deep, committed learning, Weil studied Marx and Descartes. But by adulthood she was frustrated with the intellectualisation of the plight of the poor. It was not enough, for Weil, to learn about or to discuss the lives of factory workers – she felt it was crucial to experience their lives first-hand. Weil's was a perfectionism of the spirit, a demand to understand every human life in the ways in which it is unlike every other. But did her perfectionism lead her astray? Special thanks to Professor Anna Rowlands at the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Simone Weil was a perfectionist of ethics, calling on us to attend to others' suffering. Simone Weil worked in a factory, although she was frail, to understand more perfectly the plight of the poor. How did these lived experiences impact her philosophical thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	03	Al-khwarizmi	20260114		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? In the early 9th century Baghdad was the centre of the world, and within Baghdad the Bayt al-Hikma – the House of Wisdom – was the centre of scholarship. And in that centre, the Al-Khawarizmi was working to revolutionise our understanding of mathematics. This revolution would be outlined in his book, Al-Jabr, from which we get the word algebra. While arithmetic and geometry date back to the ancient Greeks and Babylonians, Al-Khawarizmi sought to outline a recipe that could be applied to multiple situations. A formula that would unlock a greater understanding of calculation. In his own lifetime his impact was immense, from popularising the use of Hindu numerals, to large infrastructure projects. But his impact today is even greater. He laid the foundations on which we all walk. Special thanks to Jim Al-Khalili, professor of theoretical physics and chair in public engagement in science at the University of Surrey. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Al-Khwarizmi laid the groundwork for the modern world in setting down the rules of algebra Mathematician and engineer Al-Khwarizmi's writings led to the creation of algebra. What were the origins of his thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	04	Leonardo Da Vinci	20260115		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Da Vinci had insatiable curiosity, a deep desire to observe and understand the world around him. The curiosity that drove him to learn everything he could and brought a depth of understanding to the works he produced. His obvious genius put him in high demand – but Da Vinci was a careful man, taking years to complete each commission and frequently never finishing them at all. He was looking for perfection and seemed not to mind taking years to achieve it. Special thanks to Catherine Fletcher, Professor of History at Manchester Metropolitan University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle The quintessential Renaissance man, artist Leonardo da Vinci was curious about everything. Leonardo Da Vinci was a brilliant painter and studied widely, but his perfectionism made it hard for him to let go and deliver a painting even when it had been commissioned. [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	05 LAST	Martha Graham	20260116		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Against the wishes of her family, American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham pursued a career on the stage, touring the United States as a vaudeville star, even making it to Broadway. But the classic traditions of dance weren't enough for her. She sought perfection – the perfect encapsulation of the human experience, in movement. Modernist ideals were changing artistic expression across mediums, and the Graham technique distilled those ideals for dance. Her visceral work catapulted her to fame. As her reputation grew she never stopped exploring, looking to everything from Greek myth to Jungian psychology for inspiration, pushing to explore the passions and pains of the human experience. Special thanks to Paul Jackson, Reader in Choreography and Dance at the University of Winchester and Choreography Instructor at the Central School of Ballet. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Martha Graham was to modern dance what Picasso was to painting. Dancer Martha Graham drove herself and her dancers hard in search of perfection. She revolutionised modern dance. How did her unique mind work? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	OMNI		20260117		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? These five thinkers all sought perfection in different ways. For the engineer Brunel, his work on the railways needed to be safe and reliable, but he also wanted his work to be ‘the best' to the point that he drove his railway workers too hard. Simone Weil put her own body on the line in search of philosophical perfection; she calls on us to give perfect attention to the suffering of those around us. Mathematician Al-Khwarizmi introduced algebra to the world, and his methods in mathematics underline much of modern life. Leonardo Da Vinci was interested in everything around him, but he found it hard to declare a painting finished before it was perfect. Martha Graham was a dance genius whose choreography shows how the mind is always present in the body. Perfectionism is a luxury commodity, one which societies can only aspire to at a certain level of wealth, with the ability to give freedom to work to their greatest minds. And there has to be a need for that kind of work. For each of these thinkers, their work endures, as does the price they and their co-workers paid for their quest for perfection. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Thinkers who searched for perfection weren't always easy to work with. What are the benefits of perfectionism? How does a society manage to nurture thinkers who seek perfection? And what price does the search take from them and for those around them? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	01	Emily Bronte	20260119		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights sent shockwaves through Victorian society when it was published, and it is a novel that continues to stir debate and discussion today. What can we learn of the mind that conjured up such a piece of work? And how did her reclusive nature bring greater depth and focus to her writing? Special thanks to Dr Claire O'Callaghan, Senior Lecturer in Victorian Literature at Loughborough University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How did the writing of accomplished author Emily Bronte benefit from her reclusive nature? Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights sent shockwaves through Victorian society, and it is still a hugely debated and much-loved novel. What can we learn from the mind that wrote it? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	02	Ibn Khaldun	20260120		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Centuries ago, philosopher Ibn Khaldun had time and space to reflect on the world around him. By soaking up the available historical knowledge at his disposal and casting a keen eye on how power evolved, he produced a theory that explained why there was a pattern of dynasties rising and falling. How did retreating from society enable him to do his greatest thinking? Special thanks to Hugh Kennedy, Professor of Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How did philosopher Ibn Khaldun invent a theory to explain the rise and fall of dynasties? How did retreating from society enable philosopher Ibn Khaldun to do his greatest thinking, and produce a theory that explained the rise and fall of dynasties? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	03	Michel De Montaigne	20260121		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? French philosopher Michel de Montaigne was fascinated by the study of his own mind - with its changing nature and lack of fixed ideas. He would spend days and days rewriting his thoughts, questioning himself and challenging his own opinions. How did he do his thinking, and what can the study of his mind reveal about how we view ourselves? Special thanks to David Wooton Emeritus Professor of History at the University of York. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle What can we learn from the mind of Montaigne who invented the concept of the essay? Philosopher Michel de Montaigne's work set in motion the idea that we can be interested in the study of our own individual minds. How did he arrive at that unique way of thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	04	Li Qingzhao	20260122		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Li Qingzhao is still celebrated today as one of China's greatest literary figures, and arguably the most famous female Chinese poet. However, her talents in writing are just the beginning of where her intelligence lies. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of a woman who was fascinated with game play, and who worked tirelessly to preserve important artefacts of history which were in danger of being lost forever. Special thanks to Penny Ding, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Inside the mind of China's greatest female poet: Li Qingzhao. Li Qingzhao is still celebrated today as one of China's greatest poets, but Naomi Alderman investigates the unique quality of her mind which extends far beyond her writing. [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	05 LAST	Nikola Tesla	20260123		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Engineer Nikola Tesla had grand plans to change the world. One of his inventions did forever change our relationship with electricity, and the way we move through the world, but he also left us with another long-lasting legacy that is problematic. He was utterly obsessed with convincing the world that he was a reclusive genius. Someone who did not need colleagues or teammates to achieve greatness. Was he right to do it all alone? And how does the image of the reclusive genius still affect society today? Special thanks to Professor Iwan Rhys Morus, a Professor of history at Aberystwyth University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Is the mind of Nikola Tesla worthy of such an extensive legacy? Engineer Nikola Tesla was determined to make his mark on the world, and he did. What can we learn about the mind behind the inventions? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	OMNI		20260124		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? These five thinkers were all shaped by either voluntarily or forcible retreating from society. They did their greatest pieces of work often in complete isolation. Naomi Alderman asks whether we need to shield ourselves from outside opinion in order to do our greatest thinking, or whether problems arise when we stop collaborating and consulting with others. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Naomi Alderman examines whether being a recluse has an impact on how we do our thinking. Do brilliant minds become even greater when one retreats from the world and does all their thinking in isolation? Naomi Alderman explores the brains of five reclusive thinkers. [LISTEN NOW]
TEACHERS	01	Michael Faraday	20250113	20250827 (R4) 20250828 (R4)	The modern world is inconceivable without this son of a blacksmith and his meticulous, relentless brain. Naomi Alderman meets the mind behind huge scientific advances – who made breakthroughs in the understanding of electricity, changed the technology by which we live and contributed to our theoretical understanding of the forces underpinning the universe. Faraday also devoted his life to spreading the understanding of science into public life via his lectures at the Royal Institution. Special thanks to Frank James, Professor of the History of Science at University College London. An obsessive, meticulous intellect that gave us ideas behind world-changing technology. An obsessive, meticulous intellect that gave us the ideas behind world-changing technology [LISTEN NOW]
TEACHERS	02	Maimonides	20250114	20250903 (R4) 20250904 (R4)	Naomi Alderman explores one of the greatest minds of the medieval world and in the history of Jewish thought. His work, The Guide for the Perplexed, is among the most influential works of medieval philosophy. In his efforts to reconcile faith and reason, Maimonides was having parts of the Enlightenment in his head 600 years early. Special thanks to Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum, Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies and the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought. The celebrated medieval philosopher who reconciled faith and reason. Naomi Alderman explores one of the greatest minds of the medieval world, who sought to reconcile faith and reason, centuries ahead of the Enlightenment. [LISTEN NOW]

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
	01	Manhattan Project: J Robert Oppenheimer	20250317		Naomi Alderman explores the multifaceted mind of J Robert Oppenheimer, scientific lead on the Manhattan Project, a vast, top secret scheme to build the world's first atomic bombs in World War II. The Project was a remarkable feat of human intellect with a real, devastating human cost. It required close cooperation between the US military and a group of world-leading scientists. In many ways, Oppenheimer was a puzzling candidate for the job. He was brilliant, but fuelled by self-loathing. A physicist, he was also a student of philosophy and mysticism, interested in left-wing radical politics. Oppenheimer built the bomb, but later called the weapon's industry 'the devil's work'. His legacy, like the Manhattan Project itself, is infinitely complex. Special thanks to Alex Wellerstein, historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, and author of The Most Awful Responsibility: Truman and the Secret Struggle for Control of the Atomic Age (HarperCollins, 2025). The father of the atom bomb who longed to be an all-American hero. [LISTEN NOW]
	13	Collectors: Pamphila	20250122		Naomi Alderman examines the intelligence and sharp humour of an ancient Greek historian known as Pamphila of Epidaurus. She was a female historian working in a society that believed women were constitutionally unsuited to the rational and peculiarly masculine task of recording facts for posterity. She wrote thirty-three volumes of her famed Historical Commentaries from her home. She wrote for fun, organising her material in a free and easy mix, like ‘embroidery'. We have none of her original writings, just reported fragments, but she gave us cultural history as we know it today, centuries ahead of time. Special thanks to Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at Durham University. A prolific historian from ancient Greece - female, freelance and working from home. Naomi Alderman examines the intelligence and sharp humour of an ancient Greek historian, a woman known as Pamphila of Epidaurus. [LISTEN NOW]
	14	Collectors: Samuel Johnson	20250123		Samuel Johnson was living proof that a person can be extremely messy and disorganised but still do work of great worth. He compiled and almost single-handedly wrote an English dictionary that changed the language for good. ‘Dictionary Johnson' established the spelling and meaning of many words; he looked at etymology; he poked fun and cracked jokes. He lived hand to mouth, writing for money, and helped establish the modern literary world. Special thanks to Judith Hawley, Professor of Eighteenth-Century Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London. Working in chaos at a desk strewn with papers, 'Dictionary Johnson' left a great legacy. Samuel 'Dictionary' Johnson was living proof that a person can be extremely messy and disorganised but still do work of great worth. Naomi Alderman finds out how. [LISTEN NOW]
	15	Collectors: Charles Darwin	20250124		Darwin asked big questions. His theory of evolution transformed our understanding of life on Earth. But Naomi Alderman discovers that he did it by looking at small things and tiny changes that other people had overlooked. From earliest childhood, he'd been a collector – pocketing shells, coins, minerals, bits of pottery and rooftiles – and his travels on HMS Beagle allowed him to amass a vast collection of specimens and observations that he and others would puzzle over for decades. Special thanks to Dr John van Wyhe, historian of science at the National University of Singapore and the Director of The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: James Cook Assistant producer: Sarah Goodman Researcher: Harry Burton Production coordinator: Amelia Paul Script consultant: Sara Joyner A life-long collector of curiosities, Darwin saw massive significance in tiny changes. Darwin's theory of evolution transformed our understanding of life on Earth. Naomi Alderman looks at the way he paid diligent attention to tiny, overlooked details. Darwin asked big questions. His theory of evolution transformed our understanding of life on Earth. But Naomi Alderman discovers that he did it by looking at small things and tiny changes that other people had overlooked. From earliest childhood, he'd been a collector – pocketing shells, coins, minerals, bits of pottery and roof tiles – and his travels on the Beagle allowed him to amass a vast collection of specimens and observations that he and others would puzzle over for decades. [LISTEN NOW]
	18	Manhattan Project: Niels Bohr	20250318		Niels Bohr said, 'Anyone who is not shocked when they first come across quantum theory cannot possibly have understood it.' Naomi Alderman investigates the remarkable insights of a scientific genius. Bohr is the man who figured out the structure of the nucleus at the centre of the atom, recognising that the quantum world of tiny particles behaves very differently to the tangible, everyday world around us. He built a scientific family around him, mentoring some of the greatest theoretical physicists of the twentieth century. Special thanks to Jim Al-Khalili, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey. A scientific genius who saw poetry in the subatomic world [LISTEN NOW]
	19	Manhattan Project: John Von Neumann	20250319		Naomi Alderman dives into the amazing intellect of John von Neumann, physicist, mathematician, economist, computer scientist – a visionary who predicted the rise of artificial intelligence decades ahead of time. As a child, von Neumann could recite the telephone directory and crack jokes in Ancient Greek. He waltzed into the Manhattan Project and solved a problem that had frustrated other top scientists for months. His work on game theory underpins the modern world, from defence strategies to dating apps. But, for all his serious intellectual contributions, von Neumann was a party animal, who did his best thinking surrounded by people and noise. Special thanks to Ananyo Bhattacharya, chief science writer at the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences and author of The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann (Allen Lane, 2021). The game theory pioneer who made the information age possible. Naomi Alderman dives into the amazing intellect of John von Neumann, physicist, mathematician, economist, computer scientist and visionary. [LISTEN NOW]
	20	Manhattan Project: Lise Meitner	20250320		Lise Meitner was a world-class physicist, who saw what others could not. She recognised nuclear fission – the splitting of the atom, the powerful energy released – before anyone else. Naomi Alderman finds out how. Women weren't even allowed to attend lectures at the University of Berlin, when Meitner moved there in 1907. She began her career in a basement workshop, kept away from male students, and went on to build an unimpeachable reputation for scientific precision and brilliance. Her discovery of fission made the atom bomb possible, but she refused to have anything to do with the Manhattan Project. Special thanks to Frank Close, Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford and author of Destroyer of Worlds: The Deep History of the Nuclear Age: 1895-1965 (Allen Lane, 2025). Thanks also to Alex Wellerstein, historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. The woman who discovered nuclear fission but would have nothing to do with the bomb. Lise Meitner was a world-class physicist, who saw what others could not. She recognised nuclear fission – the splitting of the atom – before anyone else. Naomi Alderman meets her. [LISTEN NOW]
	21	Manhattan Project: Albert Einstein	20250321		Albert Einstein was an international pop star of science who urged the US government to build an atom bomb. Naomi Alderman gets into one of the most famous brains of all time. Einstein rewrote our understanding of universe. He imagined hitching a ride on a light beam and pursued his famous 'thought experiments' to remarkable ends. He was a man who never swam with the tide. Despite a lifelong commitment to pacifism, in 1939, Einstein signed a letter urging the US government to speed up work on the development of a nuclear bomb. Naomi finds out why. Special thanks to Janna Levin, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: Philip Sellars Series producer: Sarah Goodman Script editor: Sara Joyner Researchers: Harry Burton and Miriam O'Byrne Production coordinator: Amelia Paul How a world famous pacifist jump-started the Manhattan Project and revolutionised science. [LISTEN NOW]
	22	Travellers: The Buddha	20250324		Naomi Alderman explores the thinking of the Buddha, who, as a young prince, ventured outside the palace walls and began his journey towards enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama lived in a life of rarefied luxury until an encounter with suffering changed everything for him. He became the Buddha, the awakened one, urged self-transformation and profoundly shaped the world we live in. But did his many insights come from thinking, as such, or something else altogether? Special thanks to Kate Crosby, Numata Professor of Buddhist studies at the University of Oxford. A young prince who journeyed towards enlightenment [LISTEN NOW]
	23	Travellers: Jean Rhys	20250325		Jean Rhys' sequel to Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, changed the way we think about stories forever. Naomi Alderman meets a fellow novelist who put a marginalised character at the centre of the action. Rhys left Dominica to go to school in cold, grey England, but she had always felt out of place. A perfectionist who needed every word in the right place, she took decades to publish her masterpiece, but she was thinker ahead of her time, who crammed the whole world and its injustices into her writing. Special thanks to Sophie Oliver, Senior Lecturer in Modernism at the University of Liverpool. A novelist whose sequel to Jane Eyre turned storytelling on its head Rhys left Dominica to go to school in cold, grey England, but she had always felt out of place. A perfectionist who needed every word in just the right place, she took decades to publish her masterpiece. She was a thinker ahead of her time, who crammed the whole world and its injustices into her writing. Jean Rhys's sequel to Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, changed the way we think about stories forever. Naomi Alderman meets a fellow novelist. [LISTEN NOW]
	24	Travellers: Sir Patrick Manson	20250326	20250327 (R4)	Sir Patrick Manson shook the medical world when he first understood the infection route for vector-borne diseases like malaria. Naomi Alderman dissects the thinking of a scientific pioneer. In the late 1800s, no one knew how this kind of illness was spread. Manson, a Scottish physician working in China and later in a home laboratory in London, doggedly pursued the answer. Known as the father of tropical medicine, his understanding has undoubtedly saved lives, although he hoped it would also further the Empire. Where might his discovery take us in future? Special thanks to Kristen Hussey, Lecturer in Environmental History at Newcastle University and author of Imperial Bodies in London (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2021). Mosquito Manson' found a travelling parasite and unravelled the secrets of malaria. Sir Patrick Manson shook the medical world when he first understood the infection route for vector-borne diseases like malaria. Naomi Alderman dissects his thinking. Mosquito Manson' found a travelling parasite and unravelled a medical mystery. [LISTEN NOW]
	25	Travellers: Ida Pfeiffer	20250327	20250328 (R4)	Naomi Alderman looks at the mindset and legacy of Ida Pfeiffer, a woman who changed the very idea of travel, who is allowed to do it and why. Traditionally, travelling had always had a purpose – conquering, discovering, negotiating, pilgrimaging. Women were always accompanied by men – husbands, fathers, brothers, guardians. But in the mid-nineteenth century, a separated mother of two upped sticks and travelled twice around the world, all because she wanted to. Ida Pfeiffer went on bush expeditions with tiger hunters in India and had dinner with Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti. She spent her fiftieth birthday riding camels through Iran. So many people must have yearned for this kind of adventure, thought about it, but never turned the idea into reality. Pfeiffer made it happen. But what was so different about her thinking? Special thanks to John van Wyhe, historian of science at the National University of Singapore and author of Wanderlust: The Amazing Ida Pfeiffer, the First Female Tourist (National University of Singapore Press, 2020). A 19th-century solo female traveller who opened up the idea of travel for everyone. Naomi Alderman looks at the mind and legacy of Ida Pfeiffer, a woman who changed the very idea of travel, who's allowed to do it and why. Naomi Alderman looks at the mindset and legacy of Ida Pfeiffer, a woman who changed the very idea of travel, who's allowed to do it and why. Traditionally, travelling had always had a purpose – conquering, discovering, negotiating, pilgrimaging. Women were always accompanied by men – husbands, fathers, brothers, guardians. But Pfeiffer, a separated mother of two, upped sticks and travelled twice around the world, all because she wanted to. She went on bush expeditions with tiger hunters in India and had dinner with Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti. She spent her fiftieth birthday riding camels through Iran. So many people must have yearned for this kind of adventure, thought about it, but never turned the idea into reality. Pfeiffer made it happen. But what was so different about her thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
	26	Travellers: Aristotle	20250328	20250330 (R4)	Aristotle was a philosopher, teacher, collector and all-round polymath. He was also, importantly, a traveller, who allowed new places, especially the rich biodiversity he encountered on the island of Lesbos, to shape his thinking profoundly. Aristotle's observations about the natural world were remarkably accurate. Many were proved correct by modern science thousands of years later. He dissected animals, not as his contemporaries did, to understand the will of the gods, but to understand animals for their own sakes. He believed – and encouraged us to consider – that everyone has an innate curiosity about the world, that everyone can try to understand its wonder. Special thanks to Sophia Connell, Reader in Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: Philip Sellars Series producer: Sarah Goodman Script editor: Sara Joyner Researchers: Harry Burton and Miriam O'Byrne Production coordinator: Amelia Paul The very first scientist, who thought every part of the world could be a place of learning Aristotle was a philosopher, teacher, collect and all-round polymath. He was also a traveller. Naomi Alderman discovers how new places profoundly shaped his thinking. [LISTEN NOW]
01	11	Collectors: Sei Sh\u014dnagon	20250120	20260422 (R4)	Naomi Alderman wonders at lady-in-waiting, writer and all-round entertainer Sei Shŀ?nagon, who wrote The Pillow Book over a thousand years ago in the Japanese imperial court. The Empress and her entourage lived in a closed world, glimpsed through half-shut blinds, while political machinations went on all around them. Poetry and wit were highly prized; and Sei Shŀ?nagon was unmatched. In dark times, she picked out the beauty and absurdity in everyday life; and pulled together poetry, anecdote, essays and lists to create a whole new genre in Japanese – miscellany. Special thanks to Naomi Fukumori, Associate Professor and Director of The Institute for Japanese Studies at The Ohio State University. Excerpts from The Pillow Book translated by Meredith McKinney (Penguin Classics 2006). The author of a Japanese masterpiece who saw the beauty and absurdity in everyday life. [LISTEN NOW]
01	12	Collectors: Denis Diderot	20250121	20260429 (R4)	Naomi Alderman looks at the remarkable way Denis Diderot connected ideas and people. In 18th-century Paris, he edited one of the very first encyclopaedias: twenty-eight volumes with tens of thousands of articles on everything from the concept of liberty to cutting-edge medical research, the manufacture of silk stockings and a recipe for apricot jam. Diderot was the perfect man for the job – energised by veering from one subject to the next and undeterred by fierce opposition from the Church or even a government ban on the entire project. Special thanks to Kate Tunstall, Professor of French and Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones Fellow in Modern Languages at Worcester College, University of Oxford. The Enlightenment encyclopaedist; the ultimate interdisciplinary thinker. Naomi Alderman looks at the remarkable way Denis Diderot connected ideas and people. In 18th-century Paris, he edited an early and vast encyclopaedia, despite fierce opposition. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	01	Socrates	20250106	20250723 (R4) 20250724 (R4)	The ancient Athenian Socrates encourages us to think about what are the most important things in life and to bring real clarity to the ideas, concepts and beliefs that we use every day. He was persistent, brilliant, possessed of an intellectual curiosity and rigour that few have matched. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of this mercurial and fleeting figure – he has left us with no written work and our only sense of him is through the experiences and writings of others. Special thanks to Dr Frisbee Sheffield, Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Socrates, the original disruptor. Naomi Alderman explores the brilliant and mercurial mind of Socrates – the founder of Western philosophy as we know it – who asks us to consider what's really important in life. The series kicks off with the founder of western philosophy as we know it. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	02	Disruptors: George Washington	20250107	20250730 (R4) 20250731 (R4)	Washington may be better known as a man of action rather than ideas. However, he gave the world one idea of huge power, an idea that was also about power. As a military General, Washington won the American War of Independence. Then, as the first ever US president, he helped establish a nation and guide it through its early life. And then he did something extraordinary – he voluntarily gave up his power and returned to his farm. The idea of the peaceful transfer of power has been at the heart of the American system ever since. Special thanks to Dr Tom F Wright, Associate Professor in Rhetoric at the University of Sussex. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of the first US president, George Washington. George Washington was known as a man of action, but he came up with an extraordinary idea – the peaceful transfer of power. Naomi Alderman investigates. Voluntarily giving up immense power - the president with an extraordinary idea. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	03	Disruptors: Mary Wollstonecraft	20250108	20250806 (R4) 20250807 (R4)	Mary Wollstonecraft argued with passion and moral certainty in her great work, A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Naomi Alderman meets the first modern woman, who lived the ideas she espoused – travelling to revolutionary France, living unmarried to her lover, arguing, debating, persuading and showing, with the quality of her arguments, the justice of her own cause. She died tragically young, giving birth to her daughter Mary, known now as Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Special thanks to Dr Corin Throsby, who teaches English at the University of Cambridge. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of the brilliant feminist pioneer, Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary Wollstonecraft argued with passion and moral certainty in her great work, A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Naomi Alderman meets the first modern woman, who lived the ideas she espoused – traveling to revolutionary France, living unmarried to her lover, arguing, debating, persuading and showing, with the quality of her arguments, the justice of her own cause. She died tragically young, giving birth to her daughter Mary, known now as Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: James Cook Assistant producer: Sarah Goodman Researcher: Harry Burton Production coordinator: Amelia Paul Script consultant: Sara Joyner The mind behind the first feminist manifesto. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	04	Disruptors: Martin Luther	20250109	20250813 (R4) 20250814 (R4)	Luther's vivid, wild words – powered by new printing technology – set in motion a chain reaction that split the Catholic Church, powered the Reformation and changed the world forever. Naomi Alderman meets this determined thinker. Famously, Luther walked up to a church in a backwater town and nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door. The son of a metal smelter, he knew how rough and dangerous life could be; and he was prepared to question, argue and openly insult powerful authorities in defence of his explosive theology. Special thanks to Lyndal Roper, Regius Professor of History at the University of Oxford. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Martin Luther, who inspired the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther's vivid words – powered by the new printing technology – helped split western Christendom. Naomi Alderman explores his uncompromising intellect. Naomi Alderton explores the mind of Martin Luther, who inspired the Protestant Reformation The uncompromising intellect behind an explosive theology that split the Church forever. Luther's vivid, wild words – powered by new printing technology – set in motion a chain reaction that split the Catholic Church. Naomi Alderman meets this determined thinker. [LISTEN NOW]
DISRUPTORS	05	Disruptors: Malcolm X	20250110	20250820 (R4) 20250821 (R4)	While in prison, Malcolm X read furiously after lights-out and changed his entire life trajectory. Naomi Alderman looks at his extraordinary capacity for learning. Prominent as a black nationalist, skilled orator and remarkable organiser in the black freedom struggle in mid-20th century America, Malcolm X was, above all, a learner – a thinker prepared to change his mind. He left hustling behind for a Spartan, ascetic existence, dedicated to the cause. Special thanks to Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and Professor of African American studies at Penn State. Excerpt from The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (Penguin Modern Classics 2001). Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive editor: James Cook Assistant producer: Sarah Goodman Researcher: Harry Burton Production coordinator: Amelia Paul Script consultant: Sara Joyner Naomi Alderman explores the mind of Malcolm X and his role in black nationalism in the US. The black nationalist thinker and voracious reader. [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	01	Karl Marx	20260105		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground=breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to Bruno Leipold Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle An exploration into the mind of a revolutionary political thinker and philosopher. Naomi Alderman explores the mind that revolutionised our view of capitalism and originated political theories that shape our world. How did multiple exiles influence his thinking? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity, and inspiration? Karl Marx's ideas caused revolutions, toppled governments, and re-made the political map of the world. He was exiled again and again - fleeing Prussia for France, then to Brussels, eventually living in London where he completed his masterwork Capital. How did exile influence his thinking? Exploring the mind of Karl Marx, a revolutionary political thinker and philosopher. Naomi Alderman explores the mind that revolutionised our view of work, money and power and created political theories that shape our world. How did exile influence his thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	02	Ishi	20260106		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to Dr Cutcha Risling Baldy, Associate Professor of Native American Studies and department chair of Native American studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How one man is responsible for preserving the knowledge of an entire community. What can we learn from the mind of the man who was the sole survivor of his Yahi community, Native American California, and his bold work to preserve the knowledge of his people? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? When Ishi walked from the Californian wilderness into one of the settler's towns, he became known as “the last wild Indian ?. He was the last survivor of the Yahi people, who had been massacred by white settlers during the Gold Rush in about as complete a genocide as mankind had ever inflicted. But Ishi was resourceful and intelligent - he fought for ways to preserve his people's ways of life, language and culture. So that it wouldn't die with him. The mind of Ishi: how one man worked to preserve the knowledge of an entire community. Ishi was the sole survivor of the Native American Yahi people of California. He had to use all his skill and intelligence to make sure their knowledge didn't die with him. [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	03	Marie Curie	20260107		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to award-winning science writer and journalist, Dava Sobel. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle What can we learn from the mind that pioneered the way for radiotherapy to treat cancer? Inside the mind of the only scientist in history to win two Nobel Prizes in different scientific fields, and why she continues to inspire generations of scientists today. Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? For Marie Curie, understanding was everything. It was her drive for understanding that saw her seeking an illegal education in Russian occupied Warsaw, attending classes held in apartments and shop rooms. And it was her drive for understanding that ultimately drove her into exile. Her legacy includes untold lives saved by radiation therapy; it is a legacy made possible by her unceasing need to explore and understand the world in which she lived. Marie Curie had to go into exile to do her work, but she never forgot where she came from. Marie Curie was the only person ever to win Nobel Prizes in both Physics and Chemistry. She worked tirelessly. How does her brilliant thinking continue to inspire scientists today? [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	04	Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz	20260108		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to a Elisa Sampson Vera Tudela, reader in Latin American culture at King's College London. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle The mind of a self-taught intellectual and pioneering early feminist. Naomi Alderman explores the journey of the intellectual thinker and her self-imposed exile as there was no other route to education. Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? In a world that held few spaces for women, Sor Juana found her own. Born in 1648 near the town of Nepantla, she was the daughter of a Spanish coloniser and an indigenous mother. A woman of considerable intelligence, she yearned for a university education, but that was a privilege reserved for men. She learned all she could, and poured forth her learning in plays, in poetry, and in prose, exploring theological thought and questioning the hypocrisy of the male thinkers who claimed that, as a woman, she had no right to think at all. How did exile enable a self-taught intellectual and proto-feminist to do her best work? Sor Juana was perhaps the most brilliant woman in the 'New World'. But to do her best thinking, she had to exile herself from life at court and the possibility of marriage. [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	05 LAST	Ovid	20260109		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Special thanks to Gail Trimble Fellow in Classics at Trinity College Oxford. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How was the mind of the poet Ovid shaped by exile? Insight into the mind of the great Roman poet that connected the classical and modern world for generations of readers. And how does his humour give us insight into his thinking? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? The poet Ovid was a brilliant thinker. His masterwork, the Metamorphoses, effortlessly weaves together hundreds of myths into a coherent narrative - it's because of Ovid that we know of these myths, and we wouldn't have the mythological richness in later writers including Shakespeare without him. But Ovid's life contains a mystery and a tragedy. Without warning, the Emperor Augustus decided to send him into exile - to Tomis on the Black Sea, in modern-day Romania. And it changed Ovid's thinking. Ovid turned his image into one that has endured: a man who was martyred for free speech. Ovid was Rome's funniest, wittiest poet. How was his mind shaped by exile? The poet Ovid was the toast of Rome, celebrated for his humour and deft retellings of mythology. But the emperor Augustus exiled him. How did exile change Ovid's thinking forever? [LISTEN NOW]
EXILES	OMNI		20260110		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that examines the myriad ways in which humans think, by diving into the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. These are the stories of the messy magic behind some of the most ground-breaking ideas that define the world we live in today. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle What can we learn from our group of thinkers who all experienced exile in some way? How is the mind shaped by exile? How does being uprooted and having to re-establish your home impact the way you do your thinking? Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? These five thinkers were all shaped by exile. Karl Marx was forced into exile more than once, pursued by governments trying to suppress his thinking, which only made him more radical. Ishi decided to exile himself among the people who had killed his family, to ensure their legacy was preserved. Marie Curie had to leave her home in Poland to be educated, which the occupying army had made illegal for girls. Sor Juana decided on an exile from court and the possibility of marriage in exchange for some intellectual freedom. And Ovid was exiled by the Emperor Augustus for writing a saucy book - but turned the tables on the Emperor when his writing exposed Augustus' sheer vindictiveness. Each of them did thinking in exile which they couldn't have done at home. Each of them remained in relationship with where they'd come from, thinking perhaps always of home. Exile shaped all these thinkers - and they never forgot where they'd come from. How are brilliant minds shaped by exile? Can you think better when forced to leave your home or even your country? Is exile always damaging, or can it open new possibilities? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	01	Isambard Kingdom Brunel	20260112		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? A highly skilled engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was driven by a desire to be the best, to achieve perfection in everything he built. From the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Paddington Station, Brunel's work left indelible stamps on Britain. Unconcerned with cost and willing to put himself and his workers at risk to achieve his goals, his need for perfection perhaps went too far, by today's standards. He had a vision for a future that, in his own time, seemed impossible: one where people could travel by smooth, comfortable, fast railways. Special thanks to Tim Bryan Brunel curator at the SS Great Britain in Bristol. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-Ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Isambard Kingdom Brunel wanted all his work to be the best, but it came at a cost. One of Britain's greatest engineers, who revolutionised our railway network. But how did perfectionism affect his thinking and those who worked for him? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	02	Simone Weil	20260113		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Raised in an environment of deep, committed learning, Weil studied Marx and Descartes. But by adulthood she was frustrated with the intellectualisation of the plight of the poor. It was not enough, for Weil, to learn about or to discuss the lives of factory workers – she felt it was crucial to experience their lives first-hand. Weil's was a perfectionism of the spirit, a demand to understand every human life in the ways in which it is unlike every other. But did her perfectionism lead her astray? Special thanks to Professor Anna Rowlands at the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Simone Weil was a perfectionist of ethics, calling on us to attend to others' suffering. Simone Weil worked in a factory, although she was frail, to understand more perfectly the plight of the poor. How did these lived experiences impact her philosophical thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	03	Al-khwarizmi	20260114		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? In the early 9th century Baghdad was the centre of the world, and within Baghdad the Bayt al-Hikma – the House of Wisdom – was the centre of scholarship. And in that centre, the Al-Khawarizmi was working to revolutionise our understanding of mathematics. This revolution would be outlined in his book, Al-Jabr, from which we get the word algebra. While arithmetic and geometry date back to the ancient Greeks and Babylonians, Al-Khawarizmi sought to outline a recipe that could be applied to multiple situations. A formula that would unlock a greater understanding of calculation. In his own lifetime his impact was immense, from popularising the use of Hindu numerals, to large infrastructure projects. But his impact today is even greater. He laid the foundations on which we all walk. Special thanks to Jim Al-Khalili, professor of theoretical physics and chair in public engagement in science at the University of Surrey. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Al-Khwarizmi laid the groundwork for the modern world in setting down the rules of algebra Mathematician and engineer Al-Khwarizmi's writings led to the creation of algebra. What were the origins of his thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	04	Leonardo Da Vinci	20260115		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Da Vinci had insatiable curiosity, a deep desire to observe and understand the world around him. The curiosity that drove him to learn everything he could and brought a depth of understanding to the works he produced. His obvious genius put him in high demand – but Da Vinci was a careful man, taking years to complete each commission and frequently never finishing them at all. He was looking for perfection and seemed not to mind taking years to achieve it. Special thanks to Catherine Fletcher, Professor of History at Manchester Metropolitan University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle The quintessential Renaissance man, artist Leonardo da Vinci was curious about everything. Leonardo Da Vinci was a brilliant painter and studied widely, but his perfectionism made it hard for him to let go and deliver a painting even when it had been commissioned. [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	05 LAST	Martha Graham	20260116		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Against the wishes of her family, American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham pursued a career on the stage, touring the United States as a vaudeville star, even making it to Broadway. But the classic traditions of dance weren't enough for her. She sought perfection – the perfect encapsulation of the human experience, in movement. Modernist ideals were changing artistic expression across mediums, and the Graham technique distilled those ideals for dance. Her visceral work catapulted her to fame. As her reputation grew she never stopped exploring, looking to everything from Greek myth to Jungian psychology for inspiration, pushing to explore the passions and pains of the human experience. Special thanks to Paul Jackson, Reader in Choreography and Dance at the University of Winchester and Choreography Instructor at the Central School of Ballet. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Martha Graham was to modern dance what Picasso was to painting. Dancer Martha Graham drove herself and her dancers hard in search of perfection. She revolutionised modern dance. How did her unique mind work? [LISTEN NOW]
PERFECTIONISTS	OMNI		20260117		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? These five thinkers all sought perfection in different ways. For the engineer Brunel, his work on the railways needed to be safe and reliable, but he also wanted his work to be ‘the best' to the point that he drove his railway workers too hard. Simone Weil put her own body on the line in search of philosophical perfection; she calls on us to give perfect attention to the suffering of those around us. Mathematician Al-Khwarizmi introduced algebra to the world, and his methods in mathematics underline much of modern life. Leonardo Da Vinci was interested in everything around him, but he found it hard to declare a painting finished before it was perfect. Martha Graham was a dance genius whose choreography shows how the mind is always present in the body. Perfectionism is a luxury commodity, one which societies can only aspire to at a certain level of wealth, with the ability to give freedom to work to their greatest minds. And there has to be a need for that kind of work. For each of these thinkers, their work endures, as does the price they and their co-workers paid for their quest for perfection. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Thinkers who searched for perfection weren't always easy to work with. What are the benefits of perfectionism? How does a society manage to nurture thinkers who seek perfection? And what price does the search take from them and for those around them? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	01	Emily Bronte	20260119		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights sent shockwaves through Victorian society when it was published, and it is a novel that continues to stir debate and discussion today. What can we learn of the mind that conjured up such a piece of work? And how did her reclusive nature bring greater depth and focus to her writing? Special thanks to Dr Claire O'Callaghan, Senior Lecturer in Victorian Literature at Loughborough University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How did the writing of accomplished author Emily Bronte benefit from her reclusive nature? Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights sent shockwaves through Victorian society, and it is still a hugely debated and much-loved novel. What can we learn from the mind that wrote it? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	02	Ibn Khaldun	20260120		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Centuries ago, philosopher Ibn Khaldun had time and space to reflect on the world around him. By soaking up the available historical knowledge at his disposal and casting a keen eye on how power evolved, he produced a theory that explained why there was a pattern of dynasties rising and falling. How did retreating from society enable him to do his greatest thinking? Special thanks to Hugh Kennedy, Professor of Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle How did philosopher Ibn Khaldun invent a theory to explain the rise and fall of dynasties? How did retreating from society enable philosopher Ibn Khaldun to do his greatest thinking, and produce a theory that explained the rise and fall of dynasties? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	03	Michel De Montaigne	20260121		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? French philosopher Michel de Montaigne was fascinated by the study of his own mind - with its changing nature and lack of fixed ideas. He would spend days and days rewriting his thoughts, questioning himself and challenging his own opinions. How did he do his thinking, and what can the study of his mind reveal about how we view ourselves? Special thanks to David Wooton Emeritus Professor of History at the University of York. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle What can we learn from the mind of Montaigne who invented the concept of the essay? Philosopher Michel de Montaigne's work set in motion the idea that we can be interested in the study of our own individual minds. How did he arrive at that unique way of thinking? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	04	Li Qingzhao	20260122		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Li Qingzhao is still celebrated today as one of China's greatest literary figures, and arguably the most famous female Chinese poet. However, her talents in writing are just the beginning of where her intelligence lies. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of a woman who was fascinated with game play, and who worked tirelessly to preserve important artefacts of history which were in danger of being lost forever. Special thanks to Penny Ding, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Inside the mind of China's greatest female poet: Li Qingzhao. Li Qingzhao is still celebrated today as one of China's greatest poets, but Naomi Alderman investigates the unique quality of her mind which extends far beyond her writing. [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	05 LAST	Nikola Tesla	20260123		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Engineer Nikola Tesla had grand plans to change the world. One of his inventions did forever change our relationship with electricity, and the way we move through the world, but he also left us with another long-lasting legacy that is problematic. He was utterly obsessed with convincing the world that he was a reclusive genius. Someone who did not need colleagues or teammates to achieve greatness. Was he right to do it all alone? And how does the image of the reclusive genius still affect society today? Special thanks to Professor Iwan Rhys Morus, a Professor of history at Aberystwyth University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Is the mind of Nikola Tesla worthy of such an extensive legacy? Engineer Nikola Tesla was determined to make his mark on the world, and he did. What can we learn about the mind behind the inventions? [LISTEN NOW]
RECLUSES	OMNI		20260124		Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? These five thinkers were all shaped by either voluntarily or forcible retreating from society. They did their greatest pieces of work often in complete isolation. Naomi Alderman asks whether we need to shield ourselves from outside opinion in order to do our greatest thinking, or whether problems arise when we stop collaborating and consulting with others. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle Naomi Alderman examines whether being a recluse has an impact on how we do our thinking. Do brilliant minds become even greater when one retreats from the world and does all their thinking in isolation? Naomi Alderman explores the brains of five reclusive thinkers. [LISTEN NOW]
TEACHERS	01	Michael Faraday	20250113	20250827 (R4) 20250828 (R4)	The modern world is inconceivable without this son of a blacksmith and his meticulous, relentless brain. Naomi Alderman meets the mind behind huge scientific advances – who made breakthroughs in the understanding of electricity, changed the technology by which we live and contributed to our theoretical understanding of the forces underpinning the universe. Faraday also devoted his life to spreading the understanding of science into public life via his lectures at the Royal Institution. Special thanks to Frank James, Professor of the History of Science at University College London. An obsessive, meticulous intellect that gave us ideas behind world-changing technology. An obsessive, meticulous intellect that gave us the ideas behind world-changing technology [LISTEN NOW]
TEACHERS	02	Maimonides	20250114	20250903 (R4) 20250904 (R4)	Naomi Alderman explores one of the greatest minds of the medieval world and in the history of Jewish thought. His work, The Guide for the Perplexed, is among the most influential works of medieval philosophy. In his efforts to reconcile faith and reason, Maimonides was having parts of the Enlightenment in his head 600 years early. Special thanks to Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum, Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies and the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought. The celebrated medieval philosopher who reconciled faith and reason. Naomi Alderman explores one of the greatest minds of the medieval world, who sought to reconcile faith and reason, centuries ahead of the Enlightenment. [LISTEN NOW]

Human Intelligence

Episodes