Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan tell the wild stories of some of the most extraordinary men and women ever to have lived – and ask whether they have the reputation they deserve.
Should Nina Simone’s role in the civil rights movement be more celebrated than it is?
When you find out what Picasso got up to in his studio, can you still admire his art?
And ... Show More
Dec 29
168. A Climate Special: Populism, Security, and Leadership
Can the planet sustain infinite economic growth, or is GDP a flawed metric? Is the UK genuinely decarbonising, or is it simply outsourcing its pollution? How can politicians defeat the populist narrative that Net Zero is too expensive? In this Climate Special, we hear the best bi ... Show More
59m 55s
Jan 2024
Blazing Ambition: the Life of Margaret Cavendish
Born near Colchester, England in 1623, Margaret Cavendish was a writer blazing a trail for women during a time when the world was dominated by men. Her writing ranges from philosophy to poetry, plays and also includes what is now considered to be a proto-science fiction novel, Th ... Show More
54m 34s
Jul 2023
Scottish Kings' Sex Lives
<p>One thing royal families strive for is the common touch. Whilst some have struggled with it, King James IV and V in the 15th and 16th centuries excelled in it. </p><br><p>It could be said, however, they took the term ‘common touch’ too literally, as it wasn’t uncommon for ... Show More
47m 17s
Jul 2021
Honoring the Wives of the Movement.
While I'm away on vacation, the staff at The North Star will be playing some of our favorite episodes from some of our other podcast series. Today,
Here's a replay of a special time when my wife, Rai King, took over The Breakdown to talk about the lives and legacies of Myrlie Ev ... Show More
23m 8s