How To Invent A Country

An eleganza extravaganza of gossip and an intimate kiki. 

Salman Rushdie and the British Muslim experience. 

Real stories told for the first time. 

Where did the name 'Israel' come from? Listen to this week's session to find the answer. 

Where in in the world did we come from? How in the world did we get here? Who in the world were our ancient ancestors? Join Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas as they travel back in time to discover the history of our big Homo sapien family! Also, how in the world can we help our human fam ... Show More

How do the histories of countries set up the greater context in which they become rich or poor? Daron Acemoglu believes it boils down to whether or not they’ve been organized according to extractive or inclusive institutions. He joins to discuss his book, Why Nations Fail. 

Biting the bullet, cats got your tongue and a dime a dozen; these are all regular sayings we often quote, but where do we get them from, and why do some sound so strange?Dr Stephen Lucek, Assistant Professor in Linguistics in UCD joins Kieran to discuss. 

Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got friends. But what happens if you leave them all behind? Uproot your entire life and move to a new country? To Denmark of all places! Where people are notoriously reserved and will do almost anything to avoid making eye contact with ... Show More

You've heard of mooning -- the practice of bearing one's butt as an insult -- but where did it come from? Join Ben and Noel as they dive into the deadly story of the world's first recorded mooning, along with some other notable moments in keister history.See omnystudio.com/listen ... Show More

Weaving is one of the most complex and sophisticated examples of First Nations technology and culture. It produces objects of beauty, and the process itself has deep cultural significance. Weaving is a way to share knowledge, connect to people and country, invite mindfulness, and ... Show More

In 1970, a woman was found dead in Bergen, Norway’s remote Ice Valley — burned, unidentified, and surrounded by a trail of strange clues. Decades later, no one knows who she was, why she came, or what really happened in those final hours. Today, we only refer to her as The Isdal ... Show More