logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2023
55m 48s

Vital Electricity

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Greg Jenner is joined by guests Prof Iwan Rhys Morus and comedian Olga Koch in the 17th century to learn all about "vital electricity". From elaborate party tricks to questionable medicinal claims, we’ll explore the downright bizarre ways that the force of electricity has been harnessed and developed throughout the years.

Research by Roxy Moore Written by Emma Nagouse, Roxy Moore and Greg Jenner Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Project Management: Isla Matthews Audio Producer: Steve Hankey

You’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.

Up next
Nov 21
Kellogg Brothers (Radio Edit)
<p>Greg Jenner is joined in 19th-century America by historian Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Ed Byrne to learn all about the feuding Kellogg Brothers.</p><p>John and Will Kellogg were born into a large family in Battle Creek, Michigan, in the middle of the 1800s. Following a chil ... Show More
28 m
Nov 14
Alexandre Dumas (Radio Edit)
Greg Jenner is joined in 19th-century France by historian Professor Olivette Otele and comedian Celya AB to learn about acclaimed novelist Alexandre Dumas.Alexandre was born to an innkeeper’s daughter and a legendary Black general who fought for Napoleon. After his father’s death ... Show More
27m 56s
Nov 7
Empress Matilda (Radio Edit)
Greg Jenner is joined in twelfth-century England by Dr Gabrielle Storey and comedian Cariad Lloyd to learn all about Empress Matilda and the medieval civil war known as the Anarchy.A granddaughter of William the Conqueror, Matilda was born into England’s new Norman royal family. ... Show More
28m 14s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison loved electricity almost as much as he loved publicly electrocuting animals.Scumbags of History is a production of Voyage Media and Enthusiast Gaming. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, and Dan Benamor (Voyage Media), J.B. Elliott, Roarke Boes, and Amanda Scherke ... Show More
34m 20s
Jul 2022
Dead Ringers - 17th June
Since the last series there’s been Sue Gray’s report, tractorgate, a war in Europe, 1970s-style inflation, Liz Truss has become foreign secretary and Michael Gove still exists. Such calamities are the life blood of satirists. The supply chain of human folly is functioning better ... Show More
27m 52s
Oct 2019
5G: Welcome to the Revolution?
How should we feel about 5G? Is it a breakthrough technology that will revolutionize our world, or in a bid to get new gadgets, are we risking our health? To find out, we spoke with electrical engineer Prof. Jeff Andrews, biologist Prof. Henrik Mouritsen, radiology safety expert ... Show More
37m 6s
Dec 2023
10. Epidurals, Embroidery, Play, Death
Joining Kiri this week are historian Dr Paul Craddock who unravels how vascular surgery owes a debt to 19th century Parisian embroiderer Marie-Anne Leroudier, historian Subhadra Das unearthing stories of death prevention, comedian Ria Lina pushing epidurals as the best medicine, ... Show More
28m 38s
May 2022
A Mystery in the Air
When a little girl, Ella Kissi-Debrah, suddenly got sick and landed in the hospital, doctors were stumped. In this episode, her mom, Rosamund, takes on the fight to find out what exactly happened to Ella. And the answer has BIG implications — for us all. We’ll hear from Rosamund ... Show More
37m 39s
Feb 2024
Egyptian Mummies
Brian Cox and Robin Ince peel back the layers to explore mummification and the science of Ancient Egypt. They are joined by comedians Russel Kane, Lucy Porter and bio-medical Egyptologists Rosalie David and Lidija McKnight from the University of Manchester, as they learn about th ... Show More
42m 24s
Oct 2023
Being Blonde
What links “the British Marilyn” Diana Dors, the last women to be hanged in Britain Ruth Ellis, the artist Pauline Boty and the soap and film star Barbara Windsor? Professor Lynda Nead is giving a series of lectures this Autumn exploring Blondes, attitudes to desire and technolog ... Show More
44m 46s
Feb 2024
S20 Ep19: NoSleep Podcast S20E19
<div>It’s Episode 19 of Season 20. Come join us around the campfire for tales about scary schooling.<br> <strong><br> “Detention”</strong> written by Jordan Underhill (Story starts around 00:03:25)<br> Produced by: <a href="http://www.philmichalski.com/">Phil Michalski</a><br> Ca ... Show More
1h 9m