CURIOSITIES AND IDEAS

• The Why Factor (BBC World Service): The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions. 

• Arts and Ideas (BBC Radio 3): Leading artists, writers, thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives & links between past & present and new academic research.

• Four Thought (BBC Radio 4): Series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers air their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society

• The Wired Podcast: Listen every week for an informed and entertaining rundown of the latest technology, science, business and culture news. New episodes every Friday. Episodes cover a huge wealth of compelling and often deeply weird (not to mention unnerving) subject matter, and the result is a podcast that can jump from governments fighting tech giants, such as Huawei and TikTok, to the future of space tourism, to breast milk grown in labs (yep, we have questions too), all within an hour. 

• Teach Me a Lesson: Greg James and Bella Mackie learn a fascinating and fun lesson from Britain's most inspiring teachers.

Brainstorm (RTÉ Radio) Ideas, insights and new thinking giving you the bigger picture on Ireland and the world around us. From RTÉ in co-operation with Irish universities and the Irish Research Council.

• This American Life: Content varies widely by episode. Stories are often told as first-person narratives. The mood of the show ranges from gloomy to ironic, from thought-provoking to humorous. The show often addresses current events, such as Hurricane Katrina. 

• Everything is Alive: an unscripted interview show in which all the subjects are inanimate objects. In each episode, a different thing tells us its life story--and everything it says is true.

• TED radio hour (NPR): Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers.

• Stuff You Should Know (iHeart Radio): Laugh and learn your way through Stuff You Should Know as hosts Chuck and Joe deliver informative content in a light yet engaging manner. The huge range of topics covered in this podcast makes it an easy one to dip in and out of, allowing listeners to pick out episode titles that pique their interest.

• The TED interview: Head of TED Chris Anderson speaks with fascinating individuals to dig into some of the most provocative and powerful ideas of our time.

• TED Talks Daily: TED Talks in audio