BBC Radio Podcasts from Four Thought

Four Thought

What I've Learned from Four Thought

Sheila Cook reflects on what she has learned from producing Four Thought.

Life Without Chilli

Dina Rezk returns to Four Thought to speak about a bereavement.

Care to Care

Farrah Jarral explains why she believes we need to put care at the centre of our society.

Turning to Art

Ted Harrison argues that only art can truly capture the essence of spirituality.

Stand Up for Irish Travellers

Martin Warde talks about his journey to becoming the first Irish Traveller comedian.

I'm not having children to save the planet

Why a woman who had always wanted children has decided not to become a mum.

Life after 'life-changing'

Thought-provoking talks in which speakers explore original ideas about culture and society

I love gaming, but gaming doesn't always love me

Professional gamer Meg Sunshine on how gaming needs to tackle its toxic culture.

Moral Animals

Virginie Simoneau-Gilbert asks us to think differently about our pets.

On Regret

Rachel Genn describes her fascination with regret.

After a Parent Dies by Suicide

Anna Wardley argues that we should better support children whose parents kill themselves.

Piracy on the Page

Author Joe Nutt argues we need to fight back against what he calls 'linguistic piracy'.

From Care to Cambridge

A care leaver who graduated from Cambridge University on why its time to rethink education

Baldness, Beauty and Me

Lizi Jackson-Barrett developed alopecia in her 40s and re-evaluated her idea of beauty.

From Bradford with Love

Bradford-born writer Amit Dhand on how people in his city can lead the way on integration.

What I learnt from Reality TV

Former Love Island contestant Malin Andersson reflects on reality TV and social media.

A Friendship

Novelist Richard Owain Roberts shares a story about a friendship.

Who Tells the Story?

Chloe Juliette argues that we need a wider variety of true stories.

Somewhere, not Nowhere

Jonathan Evershed argues that we should re-imagine how we think of the Irish Sea.

Meeting Up

Laura Simpson argues that online meetings have been good for business.

Asking the right questions about crime

Criminologist Dr Laura Bui wants us to ask the right questions when it comes to crime.

Cities made for our mental health

Psychiatrist Dr Layla McCay asks how our buildings and towns can benefit our mental health

Making Time

Watchmaker Rebecca Struthers warns that this traditional skill is endangered in Britain.

Grief: A Practical Guide

James Helm gives a practical guide to dealing with grief and sudden single parenthood.

Valuing Care

Ai-jen Poo argues that we should all value caring, and carers.

Brain Matters

Beth Stevens talks about the brain cells most people have never heard of.

Painting a different history

Tara Munroe reveals what she learned when she rescued some badly damaged paintings.

Prison Sentence

Philippa Greer discusses the imprisonment of people convicted of genocide.

The Power of Doubt

Nicola Reindorp says we should rehabilitate doubt as a strength rather than a weakness.

Leaving Your Homeland

Eva Hnizdo reflects on the impulses which drive people to emigrate - or not.

Freedom Is a Must

Robyn Travis believes that labelling children as criminals is counter-productive.

And They Said We'd Be Glowing

Laura Dockrill describes her frightening experience of post partum psychosis.

Mum... again

Angela Frazer-Wicks tells her extraordinary story of being a mother.

Who Owns Space?

Simon Morden argues that we should resist the privatisation of space.

And His Wife

Jessica Barker argues that we should rediscover overlooked sculptures of women.

200 Days

Steven Dowd tells the story of how his life changed, and how he regained control of it.

Fear of Finance

Professor Atul Shah argues that we need a healthier relationship with finance.

What is it to Hear?

Joe Friedman, who grew up with deaf parents, reflects on what it means to hear.

The Tyranny of Positivity

Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre argues against the tyranny of positivity.

The Power of Classical Music

Leon Bosch reflects on the power of classical music to transform lives.

When We Were Young

Luke Rigg argues that more young magistrates will improve justice.

Virtually Immortal

Tracey Follows explores how virtual assistants can help us survive after death.

Mums in Prison

Dr Shona Minson argues that we shouldn't punish children if their parents go to prison.

Climate Consultations

Dr Tamsin Ellis explains how to improve health and climate outcomes.

The Meaning of Statues

Jak Beula says statues and memorials matter because they show who a society values.

What's In a Name?

Helena Goodwyn challenges the practice of giving children their father's surname.

Defeat Don't Repeat

Sergeant Rhys Rutledge explains why he thinks people deserve a second chance.

Making a Friend of Fear

Dina Rezk describes how she made a friend of fear following the murder of her mother.

Our Lost Food Culture

Alastair Hendy explains why he thinks we've lost our food culture.

Being a Carer

Penny Wincer reflects on what it means to be a carer.

Coffee with an Imam

Sabah Ahmedi, one of Britain's youngest imams, is on a mission to overcome Islamophobia.

Seeing Differently

Adam Morse, who is registered blind, tells how he directed a film by seeing differently.

Selfhood

Ranjit Saimbi explains why he doesn't want to be defined by his cultural heritage.

The Empathy Equation

Anne-Marie Douglas discusses the need for more empathy in provision of services.

More Than a Game

Lydia Furse looks at the personal and political benefits of playing women's rugby.

Class of 2020

Rufaro Mazarura discusses what the class of 2020 have learned from the pandemic.

Reading Outside Your Comfort Zone

Ann Morgan commends the challenge of reading outside your comfort zone.

Craftivism: Gentle Protest

Sarah Corbett explains the power of 'craftivism' as a form of gentle protest.

In Defence of Embarrassment

Tiffany Atkinson rehabilitates the concept of embarrassment.

Writing Black British History

Stephen Bourne thinks we need to teach children more about the history of black Britons.

Telford, Little Yugoslavia

Jelena Sofronijevic tells a story of Serbia, Yugoslavia - and Telford.

The Other Mother

Claire Lynch describes how she navigated motherhood.

The Craft of Surgery

Sam Gallivan examines the similarities between surgery and sculpture.

War on Two Wheels

Lois Pryce argues that cycling needs to be uncool again.

The Power of Mentoring

Reggie Nelson believes in the importance for young people to find a mentor.

Embracing Uncertainty

Caoilinn Hughes discovers the power of embracing uncertainty.

Ending Ageism

Carl Honoré thinks we're all missing out by stereotyping older people as 'over the hill'.

Change Through Engagement

Mahamed Hashi, a youth worker and gun crime victim, says we must listen to communities.

Making Sense of the World

Nwando Ebizie describes how she experiences the world, through her 'visual snow'

Good and Clever

Sammy Wright asks why we put such weight on exam results.

Depolarizing

Ali Goldsworthy explains why campaigns that succeed by polarising can cause long-term harm

Fit and Finished

Emma Hayes explains why the fit of our clothes matters.

Digital Sadness

Alice Moloney discusses how best to express negative emotions in the digital realm.

A Boy Who Died

Andrew Hankinson tells the story of a boy who died, and his parents, who wanted him alive.

Living With Gods

Anna Della Subin takes a journey with a man once worshipped as a living god.

Tidying Up

Sarah Gristwood is worried that the vogue for tidying will make history harder to uncover.

The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword

Ashley Hickson-Lovence argues black boys need to read books that reflect their own lives.

The Romance of Train Travel

Monisha Rajesh says the romance of train travel is not dead.

Recovery After Rape

Winnie M Li talks about her traumatic experience as a survivor of sexual violence.

Life In Transit

Novelist Louise Doughty discovers her own past sheds light on the experience of others.

Grief, and Starscape

Lora Stimson uses sky and starscape to navigate her grief.

Digging Deep

Rabab Ghazoul makes the case for Wales as a place of post-colonial possibility.

Working Class Women

Rachael Gibbons discusses class, social mobility and Imposter Syndrome.

Politics Fans

Penny Andrews argues that thinking of political supporters as fans helps explain politics.

An Empathy Machine

Emmanuel Ordóñez-Angulo asks whether virtual reality could be an 'empathy machine'.

The P Word

Richard Lynch-Smith argues that social workers need to better acknowledge poverty.

Life in Letters

Helen Cullen makes the case for the art of letter writing.

A Pleasure Culture of War

Historian Kasia Tomasiewicz discusses how to commemorate war.

How poker teaches decision making

Liv Boeree explains how playing poker teaches good decision making.

Preserving the Home Visit

Dr Mark Williams believes we need to preserve the traditional GP home visit.

Taking Humour Seriously

Harriet Beveridge says we don't take humour seriously enough.

The Inside of Being

Bex Burch explores the difference between 'doing' and 'being' as a source of creativity.

House Buying Agony

Kevin Carr charts the agony of the first-time house buyer.

Social Media Snooping

Harleen Nottay says snooping and spying via social media is bad for our mental health.

Facing Death Creatively

R.M. Sánchez-Camus describes how art can help us to talk about death and dying.

Identity Through Reading

Author Zoë Strachan charts her journey of self-discovery as a gay woman through reading.

The Last Poets

The Last Poets discuss why they're still performing after 50 years.

Play the game, lads

Ewan Flynn argues that grassroots football is more than just a game on a Sunday afternoon.

Rediscovering Human Connections

Julia Unwin asks if we have lost the human touch in a world of automation.

All The Music We'll Never Hear

Grammy award-winning producer Ian Brennan talks about all the music we may never hear.

Back to the Land

John Connell speaks about how the connection to land can heal the modern urban soul.

The Magic of the Forest

Folk singer Mari Kalkun tells us why we should stop and listen to the forest.

Going sober

Clare Pooley tells us how her love of wine got in the way of her love of life.

Future First

Sophie Howe explains how she tries to get politicians in Wales to put the future first.

Mental Health Crisis?

Ann John examines the current discussion around young people's mental health.

Belonging, On Hold

Author Lloyd Markham shares a dystopian tale about belonging.

To Absent Friends

Blogger Gemma Louise Bond asks us to think about how we grieve the end of friendship.

Thinking Differently about Difference

Maura Campbell asks us to think differently about difference.

A Toast To The Bridesmaids

Actress and comedian Diona Doherty proposes that bridesmaids should be seen AND heard.

Aesthetic Labour

Chris Warhurst reveals that how good-looking you are may determine if you get a job.

Married Life

Laiba Husain discusses life before, and after, marriage.

Exceptional

David Baker asks what happens to the families of people shot by the police.

Screened out?

Felicity Boardman discusses genetic screening for 'serious conditions'.

Being a Muslim Dad

Zia Chaudhry reflects on his role as a Muslim dad to help his children to feel British.

Learning Outdoors

Julie White shares her passion for young children learning outdoors in the natural world.

The AI Ethics Challenge

David Reid warns of the dangers of encoding unconscious bias into artificial intelligence.

The Invisible Entrepreneurs - Women

Maggie O'Carroll calls for action to encourage more women to become entrepreneurs.

Dreams of Public Resting Spaces

Theatre maker Raquel Meseguer has a vision for public resting spaces.

Achieving Dreams

Young entrepreneur Bejay Mulenga tells the story of his business success.

Philosophy on the Battlefield

Former army intelligence officer Andy Owen explains how philosophy can help in battle.

Gardening, Roses and Cultural Identity

Artist Zarah Hussain reflects on gardening, roses and cultural identity.

Am I a Gentrifier?

Karen Chapple discusses gentrification and how to keep our cities diverse.

Socially Mobile?

Michael Merrick challenges how we think about social mobility.

Being Muslim in America

Dalia Elmelige tells the story of her life as a Muslim in America after 9/11.

Truth and Reality

Geoff Colman discusses truth and reality in acting.

You're A Musician Too

Dan Mayfield explains why he believes everyone is capable of making music.

How to Be Optimistic (Despite Everything)

Comedian Nick Revell explains why he manages to be optimistic - despite all the evidence.

The Power of Singing Together

Natalie Maddix explains why she believes in the power of singing together.

The Sound of Syria

Syrian qanun virtuoso Maya Youssef on the healing power of music. Recorded at WOMAD.

Get Fit, Do Good

Ivo Gormley tells the story of his bright idea to combine getting fit with doing good.

Being Bereaved

Annie Broadbent shares her experience of being bereaved.

Cash Not Card

Andrew Martin explains his passion for paying by cash rather than by card.

Understanding Drug Addiction

Hanna Pickard says we need to understand the reasons why people become addicted to drugs.

Being Transgender

Juno Dawson thinks we should get over our prurient obsession with transgender people.

Intelligent Kindness in Healthcare

John Ballatt says we need 'intelligent kindness' to transform the culture of healthcare.

Fragmented Landscape

Hugh Warwick calls for reconnection of our fragmented landscape to preserve our wildlife.

The Cyber Effect

Cyberpsychologist Mary Aiken fears an evolutionary blip from our internet obsession.

Captain Trouble

Richard Gillis challenges the myth of sports leadership.

Regulation Nation

Josie Appleton argues that petty rules stifle our human responses and damage society.

Football for Good

Andrea Cooper explains why she believes that football can change the world.

A Speck of Dust

Jay Owens argues that we should pay more attention to dust.

Capturing Moonlight

Astrid Alben explains how art and science together can explain phenomena like moonlight.

A Good Book

Daniel Hahn discusses what makes a 'good' book.

Building for a new life

Mark Breeze asks what architects can do for refugees.

The Curse of Confidence

Rowland Manthorpe explains why he thinks confidence is overrated.

Co-Art

Ellen Mara De Wachter explores the insights offered by collaborative art or "co-art".

Stereotypes

Franklyn Addo describes how witnessing a murder transformed his life.

Ghost Stories

Writer Jonathan Stroud explains why he thinks ghost stories are good for you.

Digital Millennial

Jonnie Bayfield on being the last generation to grow up in an analogue childhood.

Performance Teaching

Matt Hood says we need to treat teaching like a performance profession.

Listening to Street Children

Sarah Thomas de Benitez says it's time to listen to street children.

Dealing With Dementia

Tommy Whitelaw calls for more support and respect for people living with dementia.

Straight from the Root

VV Brown explains why she has embraced her natural hair.

A Lonely Society

Lucy Hurst-Brown asks why so many learning disabled people are so lonely.

Magazine Renaissance

Jeremy Leslie explains why reports of magazines dying have been greatly exaggerated.

Sensitive Souls

Hannah Jane Walker makes the case for being a bit sensitive.

Change for the Better

Katz Kiely argues that we should all learn to better manage change.

Property Ownership

Chris Pierson makes the case for a radical rethinking of private property.

Supporting Mothers

Kerry Littleford argues that mothers who have children taken into care need help.

Stories with Food

Annie Zimmerman and James Wheale argue that food is the perfect storytelling medium.

Other People's Stories

Anna Derrig asks who has the right to tell someone else's story.

Liberating Men

Dave Pickering makes the case for a men's liberation movement.

The Art of Diary Writing

Sally Bayley traces the art of diary writing from Pepys to today's culture of blogging.

The Pull of the Land

Nick Ivins explains how the pull of the land turned him into a homesteader.

Funny Politics

Ayesha Hazarika explains why she thinks humour is so important in our political discourse.

In Praise of Parks

Travis Elborough explores the role of public parks in British life.

The Social Media Poet

Brian Bilston on becoming an accidental Twitter poet.

Are Pornographers Anti-Sex?

Melissa Raphael explains why she sees pornographers as anti-sex.

Father and Son

Laurence Anholt describes how his dying father revealed his traumatic past experiences.

Being Turkish

Writer Elif Shafak describes how being Turkish means always worrying about your country.

Citizen Diplomacy

Former ambassador Tom Fletcher argues that the future of diplomacy will be citizen-led.

The Muslim Soldier

Adnan Sarwar discusses being a Muslim in the British Army.

Dead White Composers

Simon Zagorski-Thomas thinks we fail to value the study of pop music.

Spice In Prison

Stuart J Cole warns of the crisis in UK prisons posed by 'spice', a synthetic cannabis.

Healing Minds

Rachel Kelly believes there needs to be a more nuanced approach to mental illness.

The Meaning of North

Alex Beaumont questions the meaning of 'the north'.

Best of Four Thought: Hinge Moments in History

Another chance to hear three of the best recent episodes of Four Thought.

Reaching Out

Charlie Howard argues that public services should find their users, not wait to be found.

Positively Medieval

Lucy Allen argues that medieval society had a conflicted attitude towards women.

The Whirlpool Economy

Charles Leadbeater argues that we are living in a whirlpool economy.

Big Charity, Big Business

David Russell asks whether backing big charities is the best way of improving the world.

The End of the Age of Ideas

Robert Rowland Smith argues that we are coming to the end of the age of ideas.

Passports for a Price

Katy Long argues that we should think differently about citizenship.

National Pride

Alex Marshall discusses patriotism and nationalism.

On Being Ignored

John Osborne discusses what it means to be ignored.

Democratising Education

Rachel Roberts argues that education needs a democratic revolution.

Economists' Lost Literary Touch

Adam Kelly argues that economics needs to get back in touch with its literary side.

A Boat of One's Own

Michelle Madsen makes the case for life on Britain's rivers and canals.

D Is for Diagnosis

Ann York discusses diagnoses - her own, and ones she gives to others.

Stories of Terrorism

Benedict Wilkinson challenges how we think about terrorism.

Changing Laws of War

Muna Baig argues that forced displacement should be taken seriously as a war crime.

Lessons in Development

Alpa Shah argues that tribal people need a better development model.

Trust Me, I'm a Magician

Magician Paul Hyland explains that he is not a trickster. At least, not a dishonest one.

The Best of Four Thought: Matt Haig, Tim Meek, Adjoa Andoh

Another chance to hear three great talks combining personal stories and new ideas.

Why Run?

Adharanand Finn provides a subtle answer to a simple question: why run?

A Scaredy-Cat's Guide to Moving Abroad

Sarah Bennetto shares her tips for starting a new life in a strange land.

The Unequal Past

Jim Smallman says society treats men and women differently when it comes to their pasts.

Saving the Skyline

Barbara Weiss says we must act fast to save London's skyline from ugly buildings.

Cold Calling

Ian McDowell experiences misery in a cold-calling centre raising money for charities.

The Power of Dreams

Shane McCorristine thinks that people are losing out by not talking about their dreams.

Writing Myself into the Script

Playwright Bola Agbaje on why black women are still under-represented on British TV.

Matt Haig

The writer Matt Haig describes how words helped him live with depression.

Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer on reconciling art and motherhood. Recorded at the Hay Festival.

Caroline Ingraham

Caroline Ingraham, founder of a new approach to animal welfare, on giving animals choices.

Tim Meek

Tim Meek on using the precious resource of time more wisely. Recorded at the Hay Festival.

Brian Lobel

Brian Lobel says surviving cancer does not mean you have to be heroic.

Huda Jawad

Huda Jawad describes reconciling her deeply held Islamic faith with her feminism.

Baraa Shiban

Baraa Shiban, stranded in London by the conflict in Yemen, on how his life has changed.

John Williams: Unexpected Joy

Comedian John Williams finds unexpected joy in his autistic son's view of life.

Agata Pyzik

Polish writer Agata Pyzik on what she sees as prejudice against eastern European migrants.

Peter Bleksley

Peter Bleksley, a former undercover policeman, argues that drugs should be legalised.

Jamie Bartlett

Jamie Bartlett meets online trolls and finds out that they can be surprisingly human.

Amy Golden

Amy Golden, who is severely disabled, shares what life is like through her eyes.

Keeping It Personal

Paralympian Darren Harris argues for a person-centred approach in the age of big data.

Art, Design and Politics

Paola Antonelli explores the politics in art and design.

The Shadow of the Cold War

Jeffrey Sachs argues that many global problems were caused by mistakes at the end of wars.

Black in America

Christina Greer asks what it means to be black in America today.

Writing for a Living

Elizabeth Wurtzel explores the relationship between writing and the need to pay the bills.

Esther Woolfson

Esther Woolfson controversially argues it may be time to stop owning pets?

Kenneth Steven

Kenneth Steven considers the damage cruise ships do to fragile indigenous communities.

Andy Kirkpatrick

Mountaineer Andy Kirkpatrick considers the importance of managed risk for our children.

Claire Cunningham

Disabled dancer Claire Cunningham considers why she would never want to be 'fixed'.

Killing the Consumer

Jon Alexander argues that consumer power has become an idea which is damaging society.

Risk and Reward

Robyn Scott argues that accepting more risk will improve public services.

Migration, Separation and Wales

Wyn James tells the story of the Welsh settlements in Patagonia.

High Street Revival

We are trying to revive our high streets the wrong way, argues Clare Richmond.

Making Drugs Today

Sunil Shaunak argues that pharmaceuticals could, and should, build social capital.

A World for Children

Daniel Hahn argues that more children's books should be translated into English.

Judgement at Last

Tiffany Jenkins argues that we need more judgement about quality in art, culture and life.

Creative Women

Anna Beer asks why we do not hear more music composed by women.

The Trouble with Paradise

Carrie Gibson argues that we need to rethink our notion of paradise.

In Defence of Anger

Philosopher Amia Srinivasan makes the case for anger.

A New Currency of Commitment

Comedian Rosie Wilby proposes the end of monogamy.

Americans Abroad

Mara Oliva argues that we need to think differently about Americans and foreign policy.

Philip North

Philip North argues that poor people have been held back by the professional middle class.

Adjoa Andoh

Adjoa Andoh on raising a transgender child.

Rupert Goodwins

Technology writer Rupert Goodwins asks what has gone wrong with internet discourse.

Noreena Hertz

Noreena Hertz argues that it is sometimes very dangerous to put your trust in experts.

Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde asks whether humans have reached the limit of creative thought.

Serena Kutchinsky

Serena Kutchinsky reflects on a fateful obsession with the Faberge egg.

Karl Sharro

Karl Sharro wants people to be allowed to build whatever they want.

Sandra Newman

Sandra Newman argues that genuinely cool people are a liability.

Jono Vernon-Powell

Jono Vernon-Powell argues for a revival in the lost art of hitchhiking.

Jonathan Ree

Jonathan Ree warns against the current fashion for confusing morality with politics.

Rachel Armstrong

Rachel Armstrong proposes we should harness the computing power of the natural world.

SF Said

SF Said believes fiction can help to bridge the divide between 'us' and 'them'.

Mark Graham

Thought-provoking talks with a personal dimension.

Rebecca Mott

Rebecca Mott calls for the abolition of prostitution.

Philippa Perry

Philippa Perry explains why the stories we tell to and about ourselves are so powerful.

Benet Brandreth

Benet Brandreth criticises the bankruptcy of current political discourse.

Making a Home

Becky Manson discusses the meaning of home, as home ownership becomes less common.

Cult of Girls

Sharon Kinsella explores the Japanese 'cult of girls'.

Nothing to Lose

Byron Vincent discusses nature versus nurture, and society's obligations to its weakest.

Role Modelling

Anne-Marie Imafidon argues that we need to think differently about role models.

Heaven Crawley

Heaven Crawley argues for a different approach in our attitude towards asylum seekers.

Matthew Engel

Matthew Engel makes a secular case for reclaiming the peace and quiet of the Sabbath.

Emile Simpson

Former soldier Emile Simpson argues we need to rethink the way we fight wars.

Curtis Blanc

Former prisoner turned entrepreneur, Curtis Blanc, says prison only works if you let it.

Refugee Stories

Agnes Woolley examines what is missing from the stories told by, and about, refugees.

Courage and Effect

Brian Lavery on how a fishwife from Hull changed the country's most dangerous industry.

Chemophobia

Chemistry lecturer Mark Lorch asks why we are all so afraid of chemicals.

Ambivalence: For and Against

Mark O'Connell argues that in an age of strong opinions, we should embrace ambivalence.

Putting Profit in Its Place

Jane Burston argues that we should put profit in its place: as a means to an end.

How to Remember

Sam Edwards argues that we should think again about how we memorialise war.

Learning from our teenage selves

Molly Naylor explores what we can learn from our teenage selves.

Empires of Attention

Matt Locke examines how our attention has shaped our culture.

Hello Cheeky

Farrah Jarral puts the case for more cheekiness.

Drugs in Sport

Paul Dimeo argues that drugs have made modern sport what it is today.

Language Is Power

Lindsay Johns says language is power, and makes the case for speaking English properly.

Mona Siddiqui

Prof Mona Siddiqui considers the importance of friendship in a divided world.

Danny Dorling

Prof Danny Dorling on why he thinks the population bomb has already been diffused.

Emily Bell

Emily Bell considers the affect of cyberspace on actual space.

Alan Bissett

Author Alan Bissett on his journey from lad to feminist.

Greg Votolato

Greg Votolato confesses his addiction to cars, while arguing for more sustainable designs.

Yasmin Hai

Yasmin Hai gives her personal perspective on the radicalisation of young British Muslims.

Jad Adams

Jad Adams thinks we are dealing with homelessness less well than in the 1930s.

Andrew Graystone

Andrew Graystone argues that we are using the wrong language to talk about cancer.

Kevin Allen

Kevin Allen explains how missing airline cutlery shows where business leaders go wrong.

Jamie Tehrani

Social anthropologist Jamie Tehrani dissects our obsession with celebrity culture.

Judith Shapiro

Economist Judith Shapiro believes the next steps towards women's equality will be harder.

Dick Moore

Dick Moore calls for urgent action to tackle the problems of adolescent mental health.

Steven Poole: Think for Yourself

Steven Poole argues that we should resist the idea that humans are irrational.

Anna Woodhouse: Windows to the Soul

Anna Woodhouse explores what looking through glass and glasses means for us.

Henry Stewart: Choose Your Boss

Henry Stewart argues that we should choose our own bosses.

Emma Byrne: Why We Swear

Science writer Emma Byrne explores the benefits of swearing.

Stewart Henderson: Poetry in Politics

Stewart Henderson makes the case for putting poetry back in political rhetoric.

Daniela Papi: The Problem with Volunteering

Daniela Papi explores the dark side of volunteering overseas.

Mat Paskins: The future in history

Mat Paskins tells a story of black sand conjuring emotions, which bring history to life.

Emma Woolf: Explaining Anorexia

Emma Woolf explores the prospects for a proper explanation of anorexia.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy: Forget Impartiality

William Dalrymple introduces Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy in Four Thought in Jaipur.

Ranjini Obeyesekere: Lost in Translation?

William Dalrymple introduces Ranjini Obeyesekere in Four Thought in Jaipur.

Anwar Akhtar: The Meaning of Pakistan

Anwar Akhtar says British Pakistanis can help Pakistan face its future as an Asian nation.

Sally Kettle: Does hope help?

Adventurer Sally Kettle argues that hope is not helpful.

Tom Armitage: The Coded World

Tom Armitage says learning to write computer code means learning to think in a modern way.

Georgie Fienberg: Saying No to Pity

Georgie Fienberg argues that charities doing development work should want to close.

Nancy Lublin: 21st-Century Social Activism

Nancy Lublin argues that the web has transformed social activism for the better.

Amber Dermont: The Benefits of an Unhappy Childhood

Amber Dermont explains the benefits of an unhappy childhood.

Sara Ziff: The Problem with Fashion

Model and activist Sara Ziff discusses the problems with fashion and modelling.

Maria Popova: The Architecture of Knowledge

Maria Popova asks how we can find more information we don't know we want to know.

Ismail Einashe: The Challenge for British Somalis

Ismail Einashe reflects on the causes of violent gang culture among young Somali men.