PODCAST
David Baddiel Tries to Understand
by BBC Radio 4
David Baddiel tries to make sense of some apparently puzzling topics.
Episodes
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Crying
David Baddiel tries to understand crying: why does water come out of our eyes when we get emotional? David sets off to meet two experts who have each studied this. They have lots of theories, but is there an answer? Producer: Giles Edwards
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Global Trade
David Baddiel tries to understand global trade. With trade in the headlines - from both Brexit and President Trump - David is keen to understand how world trade works (or doesn't), and where the World Trade Organisation fits in. With help from Dr. Meredith Crowley, an expert in international…
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Fashion
David Baddiel tries to understand how the fashion industry works: what makes things fashionable? David is challenged by a listener from Wigan to explain why, when he needed to attend a family party a few years ago, the only trousers available to buy then were pleated. This sets David off on an...
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TV Broadcasting
David Baddiel tries to understand TV broadcasting. In the last episode of the current series, David helps broadcaster Danny Baker understand TV broadcasting. Both of them have spent decades in and around TV, but neither quite understands how it works. Danny wonders if there is a 'magic room'…
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The Constitution
David Baddiel tries to understand the United Kingdom's constitution. What does a constitution do? Does not having a written constitution mean we don't really have a constitution at all? Should we? And where does the Royal Family fit in? David speaks to Lord Lisvane, a former Clerk of the House of...
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Hacking
David Baddiel tries to understand computer hacking. Is hacking just about people being careless with their passwords, or do hackers sit in darkened rooms, furiously tapping away at keys like in the movies? David wants to understand what hacking actually is, and how it works, and he speaks to two...
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Fracking
David Baddiel tries to understand fracking. David asks how it differs from traditional drilling, what kind of gas it produces, and if it is bad for the environment. Speaking to two experts: Francis Egan of fracking company Cuadrilla, and Hannah Martin of Greenpeace, David gets to the bottom of...
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The Kardashians
In the first episode of a new series, David Baddiel tries to understand the Kardashians. David starts by unpicking the Kardashian family tree, explores how they became ubiquitous, and asks what it is about Kim Kardashian in particular which inspires such devoted support. But can he explain what…
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Rugby
In the last episode of this series, David sets out to understand the rules of rugby union. Producer: Giles Edwards.
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The US Electoral System
David Baddiel tries to get to grips with the US electoral system. 2016 has seen lots of twists and turns in American politics, and David isn't the only one to have found them confusing. So after a tweet from Susie Dent, David sets out to understand what has been going on. He starts by speaking to...
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The IMF
David Baddiel tries to understand what the International Monetary Fund actually does. He starts by speaking to the former Chancellor, Alastair Darling, and rapidly discovers that he might first need a quick course on basic macroeconomics. But even once he's got through that, can he figure out…
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Pi
David is asked by a member of the public to try and understand Pi, and what it means for its digits to continue infinitely. He starts out with a mathematician and the biggest circle he can find, and then tracks down a philosopher. But can he understand it well enough to explain it himself - to…
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The Cloud
After receiving suggestions of topics that merit explanation through social media, David Baddiel sets out to make sense of The Cloud (as in computing, rather than meteorology). David speaks to the head of IT for the Chartered Institute of Information Technology, and visits an IBM data centre as…
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Nuts
David Baddiel sets out to make sense of some apparently puzzling topics. In the first programme of this series, after receiving suggested topics on social media, David tries to understand why nuts have hard shells. He visits the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew to meet the head of the arboretum, and…
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Sunni and Shia Islam
In the final episode in the series, David Baddiel tries to understand the difference between Sunni and Shia Islam. David speaks to senior theologians from both traditions, but can he navigate his way through the complicated theological, political and social distinctions? Producer: Giles Edwards.
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Derivatives
Continuing his quest for understanding, David Baddiel explores derivatives. What are they and how do they work? David begins by meeting journalist Janice Turner, who initially suggested the subject, and she explains why she believes we should all try to understand derivatives. Then David visits…
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Cryptic Crosswords
Continuing his new series where he tries to make sense of apparently puzzling matters, David Baddiel seeks to understand something which is meant to be puzzling: cryptic crosswords. David gets help from a crossword champion and and also from a leading compiler who sets him a special crossword.…
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Electricity
In a new series, David Baddiel sets out to make sense of some apparently puzzling topics. In this first programme, and after hearing suggestions from his followers on social media, David seeks to understand electricity. He travels to Manchester to learn the basics from a professor of high voltage...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
David Baddiel tries to make sense of some apparently puzzling topics.
HOSTED BY
BBC Radio 4
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does David Baddiel Tries to Understand have?
David Baddiel Tries to Understand currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is David Baddiel Tries to Understand about?
David Baddiel tries to make sense of some apparently puzzling topics.
How often does David Baddiel Tries to Understand release new episodes?
David Baddiel Tries to Understand has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to David Baddiel Tries to Understand?
You can listen to David Baddiel Tries to Understand on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts David Baddiel Tries to Understand?
David Baddiel Tries to Understand is created and hosted by BBC Radio 4.
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