The Very Short Introductions Podcast

The Very Short Introductions Podcast


Latest Episodes

Ancient Greek and Roman Science – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 79
December 14, 2023

In the last episode of Season 7, Liba Taub introduces the science of ancient Greece and Rome and details the link between poetry, philosophy, and science. A PDF transcript for this episode can be foun

Napoleon – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 78
December 07, 2023

In this episode, David A. Bell introduces Napoleon Bonaparte and his revolutionary life and career. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/u

Condensed Matter Physics – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 77
November 30, 2023

In this episode, Ross H. McKenzie introduces condensed matter physics, the field which aims to explain how states of matter and their distinct physical properties emerge. A PDF transcript for this epi

Democracy – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 76
November 16, 2023

In this episode, Naomi Zack introduces democracy and the challenges posed against such a foundational part of our lives in the 21st century. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https:

Utopianism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 75
November 09, 2023

In this episode, Lyman Tower Sargent introduces utopianism, an idea that is commonplace in our society and has shaped our politics, literature, and religion. A PDF transcript for this episode can be f

Nelson Mandela – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 74
November 02, 2023

In this episode, Elleke Boehmer introduces the world-renowned figure of Nelson Mandela and looks critically at his legacy. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.b

The Beats – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 73
October 26, 2023

In this episode, David Sterritt introduces the Beats, the generation of writers in the 1950s and 1960s who broke taboos and countered conservative culture to change American literature. A PDF transcri

Martyrdom – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 72
October 19, 2023

In this episode, Jolyon Mitchell introduces martyrdom and explores why we view historical martyrdom differently than acts of martyrdom in todays world. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found

Bohemians – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 71
October 12, 2023

In the first episode of Season 7, David Weir introduces what we mean when we refer to the bohemian lifestyle and culture, and the way it has influenced spheres such as literature and cinema. A PDF t

Japanese Literature – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 70
June 08, 2023

In the last episode of Season 6, Alan Tansman introduces Japanese literature, a canon that stretches back 1500 years, and includes writers such as Murasaki Shikibu and Haruki Murakami. Learn more abou