The Very Short Introductions Podcast
by Oxford University Press
A concise and original introduction to a wide range of subjects—from Public Health to Buddhist Ethics, Soft Matter to Classics, and Art History to Globalization—by the expert authors of the Very Short Introductions series. For wherever your curiosity may take you.
Episodes
-
Ancient Greek and Roman Science – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 79
In the last episode of Season 7, Liba Taub introduces the science of ancient Greece and Rome and details the link between poetry, philosophy, and science. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here:...
-
Napoleon – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 78
In this episode, David A. Bell introduces Napoleon Bonaparte and his revolutionary life and career. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VSI-Ep-78-Napoleon-transcript.pdf Learn more about “Napoleon: A Very Short...
-
Condensed Matter Physics – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 77
In this episode, Ross H. McKenzie introduces condensed matter physics, the field which aims to explain how states of matter and their distinct physical properties emerge. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here:...
-
Democracy – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 76
In this episode, Naomi Zack introduces democracy and the challenges posed against such a foundational part of our lives in the 21st century. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/VSI-Ep-76-Democracy-transcript.pdf Learn...
-
Utopianism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 75
In this episode, Lyman Tower Sargent introduces utopianism, an idea that is commonplace in our society and has shaped our politics, literature, and religion. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here:...
-
Nelson Mandela – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 74
In this episode, Elleke Boehmer introduces the world-renowned figure of Nelson Mandela and looks critically at his legacy. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-74-Nelson-Mandela-transcript.pdf Learn more about...
-
The Beats – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 73
In this episode, David Sterritt introduces the Beats, the generation of writers in the 1950s and 1960s who broke taboos and countered conservative culture to change American literature. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here:...
-
Martyrdom – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 72
In this episode, Jolyon Mitchell introduces martyrdom and explores why we view historical martyrdom differently than acts of martyrdom in today’s world. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here:...
-
Bohemians – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 71
In the first episode of Season 7, David Weir introduces what we mean when we refer to the “bohemian” lifestyle and culture, and the way it has influenced spheres such as literature and cinema. A PDF transcript for this episode can be found here:...
-
Japanese Literature – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 70
In the last episode of Season 6, Alan Tansman introduces Japanese literature, a canon that stretches back 1500 years, and includes writers such as Murasaki Shikibu and Haruki Murakami. Learn more about Japanese Literature: A Very Short Introduction here:...
-
The History of Emotions – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 69
In the episode, Thomas Dixon introduces the history of emotions, showing the complex nature of our emotions and how they have developed culturally. Learn more about The History of Emotions: A Very Short Introduction here:...
-
Nutrition – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 68
In this episode, David Bender introduces nutrition, a topic of interest to us all as we try to live healthier lives but one which can prove confusing due to the wealth of information and misinformation available to us. Learn more about Nutrition: A Very Short Introduction here:...
-
Ancient Assyria – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 67
In this episode, Karen Radner introduces Ancient Assyria, a kingdom which grew to be geographically vast, socially diverse, and multicultural. Learn more about Ancient Assyria: A Very Short Introduction here:...
-
Stem Cells – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 66
In this episode, Jonathan Slack introduces stem cells and how they can be used in the treatment of a range of diseases. Learn more about Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/stem-cells-a-very-short-introduction-9780198869290 Jonathan Slack is…
more -
Infinity – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 65
In this episode, Ian Stewart introduces the concept of infinity and discusses its application to mathematics, science, and everyday life. Learn more about Infinity: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/infinity-a-very-short-introduction-9780198755234 Ian Stewart...
-
Marine Biology – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 64
In this episode, Philip Mladenov introduces marine biology, a field whose importance is ever growing as our oceans undergo rapid and profound changes due to human influence. Learn more about Marine Biology: A Very Short Introduction here:...
-
Development – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 63
In the first episode of Season 6, Ian Goldin introduces development, the process by which nations escape poverty and achieve economic and social progress. This crucial process has been the subject of extensive examination for hundreds of years. Learn more about Development: A Very Short...
-
Happiness – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 62
In the final episode of Season 5, Daniel Haybron introduces the emotion most of us aspire to have—happiness—and how our pursuit of it impacts our well-being. Learn more about “Happiness: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
British Cinema – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 61
In this episode, Charles Barr introduces British cinema, the home of Ealing Studios and Alfred Hitchcock, and delves into its global significance. Learn more about “British Cinema: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Behavioural Economics – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 60
In this episode, Michelle Baddeley explores behavioural economics, a field that allows us to understand our own decision-making processes and how this can impact our financial behaviour. Learn more about “Behavioural Economics: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Sexuality – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 59
In this episode, Véronique Mottier introduces and explores what shapes our sexuality. Learn more about “Sexuality: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/sexuality-a-very-short-introduction-9780199298020 Veronique Mottier is a Fellow of Jesus College at Cambridge...
-
The Avant-Garde – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 58
In this episode, David Cottington introduce the Avant-Garde, perhaps the most important and influential concept in the history of modern culture. Learn more about “The Avant-Garde: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Evangelicalism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 57
In this episode, John Stackhouse introduces Evangelicalism, an umbrella term that encompasses many Protestant denominations and has become one of the most significant religious movements in the modern world. Learn more about “Evangelicalism: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Anarchism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 56
In this episode, Alex Prichard introduces anarchism, an ideology often misunderstood and thought to be based on chaos, disorder, and violence. Learn more about “Anarchism: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/anarchism-a-very-short-introduction-9780198815617…
more -
Asian American History – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 55
In this episode, Madeline Y. Hsu introduces Asian American history and details how this community has contributed significantly to the massive transformation of the United States into one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations in the world. Learn more about “Asian American History: A Very...
-
Philosophy of Science – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 54
In this episode, Samir Okasha introduces the philosophy of science, a field that looks to address key questions such as the issue of scientific change and ethics in science. Learn more about “Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Negotiation – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 53
Welcome back to The Very Short Introductions Podcast, now in its fifth season. In this episode, Carrie Menkel-Meadow introduces negotiation, a tool essential for international relations, trade, business, and for problem-solving skills in everyday life. Learn more about “Negotiation: A Very Short...
-
Abolitionism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 52
In this episode, Richard Newman introduces abolitionism, a global human rights movement during the 18th and 19th centuries aimed at ending slavery in the Atlantic world. Learn more about “Abolitionism: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Revolutions – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 51
In this episode, Jack A. Goldstone introduces revolutions, which, from 1789 in France to 2011 in Cairo, have shaken the world and dominate the popular imagination. Learn more about “Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Alexander the Great – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 50
In this episode, Hugh Bowden introduces Alexander the Great, a legendary figure whose legacy permeates modern culture but about whom we still have much to discover. Learn more about “Alexander the Great: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Environmental Law – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 49
In this episode, Elizabeth Fisher introduces environmental law, a wide-ranging area of law that can operate at both a local and global level and is an area of complexity and hard-fought cases. Learn more about “Environmental Law: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Epicureanism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 48
In this episode, Catherine Wilson introduces Epicureanism, a school of thought based on the teachings of Epicurus, that promotes modest pleasure and a simple life—ideals that still hold relevance today. Learn more about “Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Violence – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 47
In this episode, Philip Dwyer introduces the difficult but important topic of violence and addresses the truth behind the claims that society is becoming less violent. Learn more about “Violence: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Mary Shelley – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 46
In this episode, Charlotte Gordon introduces Mary Shelley, an author known for the seminal Frankenstein but whose body of work extends beyond one novel. Learn more about “Mary Shelley: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Modern China – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 45
In this episode, Rana Mitter introduces modern China, a country full of contradictions that continues to make global headlines as it balances its past with its future. Learn more about “Modern China: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Documentary Film – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 44
In this episode, Patricia Aufderheide introduces documentary film, a diverse genre that encompasses films from March of the Penguins to Fahrenheit 9/11 but is always rooted in the desire to represent reality. Learn more about “Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Ageing – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 43
In this episode, Nancy A. Pachana introduces ageing, an activity with which we are familiar from childhood, and the lifelong dynamic changes in biological, psychological, and social functioning associated with it. Learn more about “Ageing: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Pakistan – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 42
In this episode, Pippa Virdee introduces Pakistan, one of the two nation-states of the Indian sub-continent that emerged in 1947 but has a deep past covering 4,000 years. Learn more about “Pakistan: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Henry James – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 41
In this episode, Susan Mizruchi introduces American author Henry James, who created a unique body of fiction that includes Daisy Miller, The Portrait of a Lady, and The Turn of the Screw. Learn more about “Henry James: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Secularism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 40
In this episode, Andrew Copson introduces secularism, an increasingly hot topic in public, political, and religious debate across the globe that is more complex than simply ‘state versus religion.’ Learn more about “Secularism: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Demography – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 39
In this episode, Sarah Harper introduces demography, the study of people, which addresses the size, distribution, composition, and density of populations, and considers the impact certain factors will have on both individual lives and the changing structure of human populations. Learn more about...
-
Psychopathy – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 38
In this episode, Essi Viding introduces psychopathy, a personality disorder that has long captured the public imagination. Despite the public fascination with psychopathy, there is often a very limited understanding of the condition, and several myths about psychopathy abound. Learn more about...
-
Modern Drama – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 37
In this episode, Kirsten Shepherd-Barr introduce modern drama, the tale of which is a story of extremes, testing both audiences and actors to their limits through hostility and contrarianism. Learn more about “Modern Drama: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
Slang – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 36
In this episode, Jonathon Green introduces slang. Slang has been recorded since at least 1500 AD, and today’s vocabulary, taken from every major English-speaking country, runs to over 125,000 slang words and phrases. Please note that this episode contains a few instances of explicit language....
-
Creativity – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 35
In this episode, Vlad Glăveanu introduces creativity, a term that emerged in the 19th century but only became popular around the mid-20th century despite creative expression existing for thousands of years. Learn more about “Creativity: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
American Business History – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 34
In this episode, Walter A. Friedman introduces American business history and its evolution since the early 20th century when the United States was first described as a ‘business civilization’. Learn more about “American Business History: A Very Short Introduction” here:...
-
The Animal Kingdom – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 33
In this episode, Peter Holland introduces the animal kingdom and explains how our understanding of the animal world has been vastly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study of evolution and development in recent years. Learn more about The Animal Kingdom: A Very Short Introduction here:...
-
The Gothic – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 32
In this episode Nick Groom introduces the Gothic, a wildly diverse term which has a far-reaching influence across culture and society, from ecclesiastical architecture to cult horror films and political theorists to contemporary fashion. Learn more about The Gothic: A Very Short Introduction…
more -
Samurai – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 31
In this episode, Michael Wert introduces samurai, whose influence in society and presence during watershed moments in Japanese history are often overlooked by modern audiences. Learn more about Samurai: A Very Short Introduction here:...
-
Consciousness – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 30
In this episode, Susan Blackmore introduces the last ‘great mystery for science’ – consciousness and the questions it poses for free will, personal experience, and the link between our mind and body. Learn more about Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction here:...
About this show
A concise and original introduction to a wide range of subjects—from Public Health to Buddhist Ethics, Soft Matter to Classics, and Art History to Globalization—by the expert authors of the Very Short Introductions series. For wherever your curiosity may take you.
Hosted by
Oxford University Press