The Very Short Introductions Podcast

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: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/VSI-Ep-79-Ancient-Greek-and-Roman-Science-transcript.pdf Learn more about Ancient Greek and Roman Science: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/ancient-greek-and-roman-science-a-very-short-introduction-9780198736998 Liba Taub is Professor of … Continue reading Ancient Greek and Roman Science – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 79 →

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 Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/napoleon-a-very-short-introduction-9780199321667 David A. Bell is the Sidney and Ruth Lapidus Professor in the Department of History at Princeton. He is … Continue reading Napoleon – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 78 →

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: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/VSI-Ep-77-Condensed-Matter-Physics-transcript.pdf Learn more about “Condensed Matter Physics: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/condensed-matter-physics-a-very-short-introduction-9780198845423 Ross H. McKenzie is an Emeritus … Continue reading Condensed Matter Physics – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 77 →

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 more about “Democracy: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/democracy-a-very-short-introduction-9780192845061 Naomi Zack is Professor of Philosophy at Lehman College, CUNY. Her … Continue reading Democracy – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 76 →

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: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-75-Utopianism-transcript.pdf Learn more about “Utopianism: A Very Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/utopianism-a-very-short-introduction-9780199573400 Lyman Tower Sargent is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at … Continue reading Utopianism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 75 →

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 Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/nelson-mandela-a-very-short-introduction-9780192803016 Elleke Boehmer is Professor of World English at the University of Oxford and Director of … Continue reading Nelson Mandela – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 74 →

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: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-73-The-Beats-transcript.pdf Learn more about The Beats: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-beats-a-very-short-introduction-9780199796779 David Sterritt is Professor Emeritus … Continue reading The Beats – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 73 →

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: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-72-Martyrdom-transcript.pdf Learn more about Martyrdom: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/martyrdom-a-very-short-introduction-9780199585236 Jolyon Mitchell is Principal of St John's College, Durham University and a … Continue reading Martyrdom – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 72 →

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: https://oxfordacademic.blubrry.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/VSI-Ep-71-Bohemians-transcript.pdf Learn more about Bohemians: A Very Short Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/bohemians-a-very-short-introduction-9780197538296 … Continue reading Bohemians – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 71 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/japanese-literature-a-very-short-introduction-9780199765256 Alan Tansman is Professor and Louis B. Agassiz Chair in Japanese at the University of California, … Continue reading Japanese Literature – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 70 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-history-of-emotions-a-very-short-introduction-9780198818298 Thomas Dixon is Professor of History and Director of the Centre for the History of the Emotions at Queen … Continue reading The History of Emotions – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 69 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/nutrition-a-very-short-introduction-9780199681921 David Bender is Emeritus Professor of Nutritional … Continue reading Nutrition – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 68 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/ancient-assyria-a-very-short-introduction-9780198715900 Karen Radner holds the Alexander von Humboldt Chair of the Ancient History of the Near and Middle East at LMU Munich. Her research focuses on … Continue reading Ancient Assyria – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 67 →

In this episode, Jonathan Stack 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 Emeritus Professor at the University of Bath and the University of Minnesota. His work specialises in embryonic development and … Continue reading Stem Cells – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 66 →

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 is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University. He is a well-known and highly successful writer on mathematics and its applications and has authored … Continue reading Infinity – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 65 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/marine-biology-a-very-short-introduction-9780198841715 Philip Mladenov has 40 years of professional experience in marine and environmental research, teaching and exploration and … Continue reading Marine Biology – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 64 →

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 Introduction here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/development-a-very-short-introduction-9780198736257 Ian Goldin is Director of the Oxford … Continue reading Development – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 63 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/happiness-a-very-short-introduction-9780199590605 Daniel Haybron is is the Theodore R. Vitali C.P. Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University. His research focuses … Continue reading Happiness – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 62 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/british-cinema-a-very-short-introduction-9780199688333 Charles Barr worked for many years at the University of East Anglia, helping to develop one of the first UK programmes in … Continue reading British Cinema – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 61 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/behavioural-economics-a-very-short-introduction-9780198754992 Michelle Baddeley is an expert in behavioural economics and behavioural finance. She is currently a Professor in … Continue reading Behavioural Economics – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 60 →

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 University and also Professor in Sociology at the University of Lausanne. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the next episode of The Very Short … Continue reading Sexuality – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 59 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-avant-garde-a-very-short-introduction-9780199582730 David Cottington is Emeritus Professor of Art History at Kingston University London, he has published widely on the Cubist movement and the artistic … Continue reading The Avant-Garde – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 58 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/evangelicalism-a-very-short-introduction-9780190079680 John G. Stackhouse Jr. is Mikolaski Professor of Religious Studies at Crandall University. An award-winning scholar, teacher, … Continue reading Evangelicalism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 57 →

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 Alex Prichard is Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Exeter. His research on anarchism has shed new light on old problems … Continue reading Anarchism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 56 →

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 Short Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/asian-american-history-a-very-short-introduction-9780190219765 Madeline Y. Hsu has served … Continue reading Asian American History – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 55 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/philosophy-of-science-very-short-introduction-9780198745587 Samir Okasha is Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Bristol, where … Continue reading Philosophy of Science – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 54 →

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 Introduction” here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/negotiation-a-very-short-introduction-9780198851400 Carrie Menkel-Meadow is Distinguished Professor of Law and Political Science … Continue reading Negotiation – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 53 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/abolitionism-a-very-short-introduction-9780190213220 Richard S. Newman is Professor of History at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is the author of The Transformation … Continue reading Abolitionism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 52 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/revolutions-a-very-short-introduction-9780199858507 Jack A. Goldstone is Virginia E. and John T. Hazel, Jr. Professor of Public Policy and Eminent Scholar, School … Continue reading Revolutions – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 51 →

With over 1 billion speakers, English is an incredibly diverse language. Dozens of countries around the world have their own varieties, many of which have not historically seen adequate representation in English dictionaries. This past April, the Oxford English Dictionary hosted the Oxford World English Symposium 2022, a two-day event featuring a series of parallel … Continue reading Oxford World English Symposium 2022 Recap – Episode 72 – The Oxford Comment →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/alexander-the-great-a-very-short-introduction-9780198706151 Hugh Bowden is is Professor of Ancient History at King's College London. He is an internationally recognised … Continue reading Alexander the Great – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 50 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/environmental-law-a-very-short-introduction-9780198794189 Elizabeth Fisher is Professor of Environmental Law in the Faculty of Law … Continue reading Environmental Law – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 49 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/epicureanism-a-very-short-introduction-9780199688326 Catherine Wilson is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at York University and a member of the … Continue reading Epicureanism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 48 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/violence-a-very-short-introduction-9780198831730 Philip Dwyer is Professor of History and the founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Violence at … Continue reading Violence – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 47 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/mary-shelley-a-very-short-introduction-9780198869191 Charlotte Gordon is the Distinguished Professor of English at Endicott College. An award-winning author, her work has appeared in the … Continue reading Mary Shelley – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 46 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/modern-china-a-very-short-introduction-9780198753704 Rana Mitter is Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China and Director of the University China … Continue reading Modern China – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 45 →

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: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/documentary-film-a-very-short-introduction-9780195182705 Patricia Aufderheide is a professor in the School of Communication at American … Continue reading Documentary Film – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 44 →

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:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/ageing-a-very-short-introduction-9780198725329 Nancy A. Pachana is a Professor of Geropsychology at the University of Queensland, Australia. She … Continue reading Ageing – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 43 →

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:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/pakistan-a-very-short-introduction-9780198847076 Pippa Virdee is a reader in Modern South Asian History at De Montfort University. Virdee is the author … Continue reading Pakistan – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 42 →

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:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/henry-james-a-very-short-introduction-9780190944384 Susan L. Mizruchi is William Arrowsmith Professor in the Humanities, Boston University and … Continue reading Henry James – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 41 →

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:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/secularism-a-very-short-introduction-9780198747222 Andrew Copson is the Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association, where he was previously Director of … Continue reading Secularism – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 40 →

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 “Demography: A Very Short Introduction” here:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/demography-a-very-short-introduction-9780198725732 Sarah Harper is Professor of Gerontology … Continue reading Demography – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 39 →