Podcasts about Cardiff University

Is there any power left in campaigning? Is university worth it? And what's happened to the World Cup song?Joining Carys is  Pat Younge. Pat is a former Chief Creative Officer for BBC Television production and former President/General Manager of US cable network, Travel Channel Media. Pat served on the board as Non Executive Director of ITV Studios Ltd from 2020-2024 and is the Chair of the Council of Cardiff University. He's also one of the founding members of the Over/Under podcast.Pat and Carys discuss how Elon Musk is using X to abuse his power, the bigger story around David Stroud and harassment law, why universities provide a societal benefit, and how Donald Trump's immigration rules are impacting the FIFA World Cup.Support us on ⁠www.patreon.com/OverTheTopUnderTheRadar⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - get bonus episodes, a weekly newsletter and become a part of our members-only WhatsApp community.Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@overunderpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to the newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.overunderpod.com⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on all socials @‌over_under_pod_Links:https://news.sky.com/story/the-x-effect-how-elon-musk-is-boosting-the-british-right-13464445https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jun/02/shrinking-graduate-premium-sours-views-on-university-poll-shows

Thomas had a great conversation with Marc Williams, a Welsh-speaking psychologist from Cardiff University, and one of few psychologists who, like Thomas, blends clinical and environmental psychology. Marc talked about his formative experiences growing up in West Wales and his recent research on environmental identity and evidence-based therapy for climate distress.

What really went down in the Garden of Eden? Was there an apple? Was there a snake? Was the 'original sin' all that bad?To answer these questions and more, Kate is joined by Dr Dylan Johnson, biblical scholar and historian of the Ancient Near East at Cardiff University. His most recent publication is 'Lawgiving in the ancient Near East'.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three months into the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, we find out about the 20,000 sailors trapped on board with dwindling resources and minimal health provision. We hear from Mohamed Arrachedi, Network Co-ordinator for the Arab World and Iran for the International Transport Workers' Federation, and Helen Sampson, Emeritus Professor in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University.News from the World Health Assembly where WHO member countries come together for form health policy for the year ahead. Global Health journalist Andrew Green reports.Lots of us love a video game, but for a few the games can start to take over their lives, and the impact of a gaming disorder can be very serious – especially for children. Our reporter Kate Ferguson reports from a specialist clinic in Western Australia to find out how they have been tackling the issue One in four surveyed doctors thought preservation was likely to work in the future, but how might we be preserved and why would we want to be? We unpack the reality of what's possible now and what might be next.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Hannah Robins, Clare Salisbury, Researcher: Scarlett VictoriaThis programme was edited on 29/05/2026

Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth has been confirmed as Wales' first minister, calling it "the greatest privilege of my life".Born in Tonteg in south-east Wales, ap Iorwerth moved to Anglesey as a young child. His father was a teacher, prominent singer and composer, and an active campaigner for Plaid Cymru. His mother was also a teacher and went on to become president of several organisations promoting the Welsh language.After graduating from Cardiff University ap Iorwerth became a journalist and spent two decades as a reporter and presenter with BBC Wales. But in 2013, following the death of his mother, he left broadcasting and successfully contested the Ynys Môn by-election, winning the Anglesey seat in the Senedd.When the Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price resigned in 2023 ap Iorwerth quickly emerged as the obvious successor for many in the party. He was elected unopposed, at the age of 50. Three years later he has become the first Welsh minister from Plaid Cymru. Presenter: Becky Milligan Producers: Annabel Deas and Bethan Ashmead Editor: Justine Lang Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele, Sabine Schereck Sound Designer: James Beard

With Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting gunning for Sir Keir Starmer's job, Labour's Lord Peter Hain explains how his party got into such a bind. Plaid Cymru's first ever Welsh government has been formed. New culture and sport minister Heledd Fychan joins us in the studio. Reform gained 34 Senedd members in last week's election. Their leader Dan Thomas tells us his plans for the seventh Senedd. Where Reform succeeded, the Conservatives failed. Why? Former Conservative secretary of state for Wales Robert Buckland has ideas what went wrong, and how to put it right. And 100 years after the 1926 general strike came to an end, reader Stephanie Ward of Cardiff University reminds us how it all unfolded, and its significance.Two new Senedd members join us to tell us all about themselves: married couple Gwyn Williams and Safa Elhassan, two of Plaid Cymru's three members for Gwyr Abertawe.

Richard Tait CBE is Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University. Previously he was editor of Newsnight, Channel 4 News, Editor-in-Chief of ITN, and a BBC governor, trustee and chair of the Trust's editorial standards committee. In this episode we talk about the letter of advice he's written to the incoming BBC Director General, Matt Brittin – including the key appointment he believes is essential and how the BBC's priorities need to shift.We also explore how the world of journalism has changed, from navigating fake news and political spin to the reported decline in international coverage on BBC News at Ten and the role of the BBC board. We discuss the importance of the BBC defending itself – and whether, in spite of everything, journalism is still a career worth pursuing. To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @beebwatch.bsky.social@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CrowdScience listeners Dougie and Molly have been wondering what happens to animals when they die, and whether there are animals that hold rituals to mark the passing of one of their kin. Presenter Caroline Steel is on the case, trying to work out what happens to the bodies of animals when they die. Dougie and Molly say they rarely see animal carcasses where they live - so where do they all go? Dr Sarah Perkins of Cardiff University in the UK runs a research project called Roadlab, which logs how quickly the bodies of animals killed by traffic disappear, and she thinks she might have a clue. Caroline joins her on a hunt through the undergrowth for animals, and answers. And when animals lose a member of their flock, herd or school, do they indulge in rituals that look anything like a funeral? Caroline meets Dr Kaeli Swift, an ecologist at the University of Washington in the US, who has some surprising evidence from her research into bereaved crows. Meanhile, in Botswana, Mathale ‘Metal' Mosheti is a safari guide in Chobe National Park. The African Savannah Elephants there demonstrate some remarkable behaviour when another elephant dies. But do animals really grieve for their loved ones? Dr Barbara J. King, Emerita Professor of Anthropology at William & Mary University in the US, has some ideas. But is it enough to answer Dougie and Molly's question? Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Tom Bonnett Editor: Ben Motley(Photo: Little red sick bird canary inside a wheelbarrow pushed by a lizard. Credit: Fernando Trabanco/Getty Images)

What happens when we assume women's presence in film history instead of their absence? This is the question at the heart of Archiving the Past: Women's Film History in France, 1927–1978, the newest addition to the Feminist Media Histories book series at the University of California Press. The first book by Aurore Spiers, Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at Texas A&M University, Archiving the Past is a fascinating account of some of the many women in France whose labor had a decisive role in the formation of cinema history across the twentieth century. Aurore shows that the film-historical archive has always been a site of feminist agency and power, even if women's work in and around the archive has been diminished, interrupted, erased, or ignored. In this conversation with fellow feminist film scholar Alix Beeston, Aurore shares about the historical, methodological, and political stakes of her work, from the archive to the classroom. She describes her process for discerning the traces of women's archival labor, however fleeting, contingent, or speculative they may be. She reflects on how gendered ideas and norms have defined—and limited—our sense of what counts as film-historical labor. And she ruminates on what it means for feminist scholars, in and beyond film and media studies, to collect and recollect the past—for the sake of the feminist present and its still-possible futures. Alix Beeston is Reader in Literature and Visual Culture at Cardiff University. She's the author of In and Out of Sight: Modernist Writing and the Photographic Unseen (Oxford UP, 2018) and the co-editor of the award-winning volume Incomplete: The Feminist Possibilities of the Unfinished Film (University of California Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

What happens when we assume women's presence in film history instead of their absence? This is the question at the heart of Archiving the Past: Women's Film History in France, 1927–1978, the newest addition to the Feminist Media Histories book series at the University of California Press. The first book by Aurore Spiers, Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at Texas A&M University, Archiving the Past is a fascinating account of some of the many women in France whose labor had a decisive role in the formation of cinema history across the twentieth century. Aurore shows that the film-historical archive has always been a site of feminist agency and power, even if women's work in and around the archive has been diminished, interrupted, erased, or ignored. In this conversation with fellow feminist film scholar Alix Beeston, Aurore shares about the historical, methodological, and political stakes of her work, from the archive to the classroom. She describes her process for discerning the traces of women's archival labor, however fleeting, contingent, or speculative they may be. She reflects on how gendered ideas and norms have defined—and limited—our sense of what counts as film-historical labor. And she ruminates on what it means for feminist scholars, in and beyond film and media studies, to collect and recollect the past—for the sake of the feminist present and its still-possible futures. Alix Beeston is Reader in Literature and Visual Culture at Cardiff University. She's the author of In and Out of Sight: Modernist Writing and the Photographic Unseen (Oxford UP, 2018) and the co-editor of the award-winning volume Incomplete: The Feminist Possibilities of the Unfinished Film (University of California Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/film

What happens when we assume women's presence in film history instead of their absence? This is the question at the heart of Archiving the Past: Women's Film History in France, 1927–1978, the newest addition to the Feminist Media Histories book series at the University of California Press. The first book by Aurore Spiers, Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at Texas A&M University, Archiving the Past is a fascinating account of some of the many women in France whose labor had a decisive role in the formation of cinema history across the twentieth century. Aurore shows that the film-historical archive has always been a site of feminist agency and power, even if women's work in and around the archive has been diminished, interrupted, erased, or ignored. In this conversation with fellow feminist film scholar Alix Beeston, Aurore shares about the historical, methodological, and political stakes of her work, from the archive to the classroom. She describes her process for discerning the traces of women's archival labor, however fleeting, contingent, or speculative they may be. She reflects on how gendered ideas and norms have defined—and limited—our sense of what counts as film-historical labor. And she ruminates on what it means for feminist scholars, in and beyond film and media studies, to collect and recollect the past—for the sake of the feminist present and its still-possible futures. Alix Beeston is Reader in Literature and Visual Culture at Cardiff University. She's the author of In and Out of Sight: Modernist Writing and the Photographic Unseen (Oxford UP, 2018) and the co-editor of the award-winning volume Incomplete: The Feminist Possibilities of the Unfinished Film (University of California Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when we assume women's presence in film history instead of their absence? This is the question at the heart of Archiving the Past: Women's Film History in France, 1927–1978, the newest addition to the Feminist Media Histories book series at the University of California Press. The first book by Aurore Spiers, Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at Texas A&M University, Archiving the Past is a fascinating account of some of the many women in France whose labor had a decisive role in the formation of cinema history across the twentieth century. Aurore shows that the film-historical archive has always been a site of feminist agency and power, even if women's work in and around the archive has been diminished, interrupted, erased, or ignored. In this conversation with fellow feminist film scholar Alix Beeston, Aurore shares about the historical, methodological, and political stakes of her work, from the archive to the classroom. She describes her process for discerning the traces of women's archival labor, however fleeting, contingent, or speculative they may be. She reflects on how gendered ideas and norms have defined—and limited—our sense of what counts as film-historical labor. And she ruminates on what it means for feminist scholars, in and beyond film and media studies, to collect and recollect the past—for the sake of the feminist present and its still-possible futures. Alix Beeston is Reader in Literature and Visual Culture at Cardiff University. She's the author of In and Out of Sight: Modernist Writing and the Photographic Unseen (Oxford UP, 2018) and the co-editor of the award-winning volume Incomplete: The Feminist Possibilities of the Unfinished Film (University of California Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications

What happens when we assume women's presence in film history instead of their absence? This is the question at the heart of Archiving the Past: Women's Film History in France, 1927–1978, the newest addition to the Feminist Media Histories book series at the University of California Press. The first book by Aurore Spiers, Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at Texas A&M University, Archiving the Past is a fascinating account of some of the many women in France whose labor had a decisive role in the formation of cinema history across the twentieth century. Aurore shows that the film-historical archive has always been a site of feminist agency and power, even if women's work in and around the archive has been diminished, interrupted, erased, or ignored. In this conversation with fellow feminist film scholar Alix Beeston, Aurore shares about the historical, methodological, and political stakes of her work, from the archive to the classroom. She describes her process for discerning the traces of women's archival labor, however fleeting, contingent, or speculative they may be. She reflects on how gendered ideas and norms have defined—and limited—our sense of what counts as film-historical labor. And she ruminates on what it means for feminist scholars, in and beyond film and media studies, to collect and recollect the past—for the sake of the feminist present and its still-possible futures. Alix Beeston is Reader in Literature and Visual Culture at Cardiff University. She's the author of In and Out of Sight: Modernist Writing and the Photographic Unseen (Oxford UP, 2018) and the co-editor of the award-winning volume Incomplete: The Feminist Possibilities of the Unfinished Film (University of California Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/french-studies

Is the world sitting on a ticking time bomb? CrowdScience listener Christel recently watched a documentary about a volcanic eruption in 536 AD that left her native Sweden under a cloud of ash for three years. It got her thinking, do we know when this could happen again?With more than 300 volcanoes – and 24 of them listed as currently active – the Philippines is a country where trying to predict eruptions has huge real world consequences.Presenter Anand Jagatia travels to Manila to meet the scientists at PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, including the head of their Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, Mariton Antonia Bornas, to find out how they try to predict volcanic activity in the country and help make sure communities are evacuated out of harm's way.He travels with the team to Taal volcano, which experienced violent eruptions in 2020 and has been active again this year, to visit the observatory monitoring for signs of future activity and to hike to the main crater of the volcano with resident volcanologist Paolo Reniva.He also speaks to Dr George Cooper from Cardiff University in the UK about what makes a volcano a supervolcano, and to ask the all important question of if we know when this will happen again.Presenter: Anand JagatiaProducer: Dan WelshEditor: Ben Motley(Photo: Smoke Emitting From Volcanic Mountain Against Sky - stock photo -EyeEm Mobile GmbH via Getty Images)

'A Better Love' is a new book from Living Out that features a range of people who experience same sex attraction, talking about their experience of encountering God. Today's guest is one of the contributors, who helps us think through the issues of community, discipleship, acceptance and confusion that we may navigate when sharing our faith with the LGBT+ community.Adam Curtis is a Curate in Sidcup and oversees evangelism at his church. He loves reading the Bible with non-Christians and Christians alike. He studied his BA in theology at Cardiff University and his MA at Oak Hill College. He is taller than the average door post and enjoys playing the ukulele.

How did the far right go from illegitimate fringe to contender for public office, and did Europe have anything to do with it? Europe As Ideological Resource: European Integration and Far Right Legitimation in France and Italy (Oxford UP, 2024) argues that European integration functioned as an ideological resource for far right parties looking for legitimation because it enabled them to refashion their political message in a more acceptable form, while maintaining the allegiance of their existing supporters.Drawing on the qualitative analysis of over 400 documents produced by the Movimento Sociale Italiano/Alleanza Nazionale in Italy (1978-2009) and the Rassemblement National in France (1978-2019), Lorimer identifies the core concepts and discourses the parties used to talk about Europe, and the legitimation mechanisms associated with them. The book's narrative is developed through the analysis of four key concepts: the concept of identity, which enabled the parties to transnationalise their message and create a positive association between themselves and Europe; the concept of liberty, which made it possible for them to foster an image of actors holding uncontroversial positions; the concept of threat, which helped them promote the idea that 'desperate times call for desperate measures; and the concept of national interest, which helped them stress commitment to core principles in their ideology.Ever since its re-emergence on the European political scene, scholars have sought to explain the mainstreaming of the far right. By understanding how the process of European integration facilitated its transition from the margins to the mainstream, this book adds one piece to the puzzle of far right legitimation. Marta Lorimer is a Lecturer in Politics at the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, where she teaches on European politics and populism, and co-editor of the journal Political Research Exchange. Her research on far-right politics and European integration has been published widely, including in the Journal of European Public Policy and the Journal of Common Market Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

How did the far right go from illegitimate fringe to contender for public office, and did Europe have anything to do with it? Europe As Ideological Resource: European Integration and Far Right Legitimation in France and Italy (Oxford UP, 2024) argues that European integration functioned as an ideological resource for far right parties looking for legitimation because it enabled them to refashion their political message in a more acceptable form, while maintaining the allegiance of their existing supporters.Drawing on the qualitative analysis of over 400 documents produced by the Movimento Sociale Italiano/Alleanza Nazionale in Italy (1978-2009) and the Rassemblement National in France (1978-2019), Lorimer identifies the core concepts and discourses the parties used to talk about Europe, and the legitimation mechanisms associated with them. The book's narrative is developed through the analysis of four key concepts: the concept of identity, which enabled the parties to transnationalise their message and create a positive association between themselves and Europe; the concept of liberty, which made it possible for them to foster an image of actors holding uncontroversial positions; the concept of threat, which helped them promote the idea that 'desperate times call for desperate measures; and the concept of national interest, which helped them stress commitment to core principles in their ideology.Ever since its re-emergence on the European political scene, scholars have sought to explain the mainstreaming of the far right. By understanding how the process of European integration facilitated its transition from the margins to the mainstream, this book adds one piece to the puzzle of far right legitimation. Marta Lorimer is a Lecturer in Politics at the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, where she teaches on European politics and populism, and co-editor of the journal Political Research Exchange. Her research on far-right politics and European integration has been published widely, including in the Journal of European Public Policy and the Journal of Common Market Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

How did the far right go from illegitimate fringe to contender for public office, and did Europe have anything to do with it? Europe As Ideological Resource: European Integration and Far Right Legitimation in France and Italy (Oxford UP, 2024) argues that European integration functioned as an ideological resource for far right parties looking for legitimation because it enabled them to refashion their political message in a more acceptable form, while maintaining the allegiance of their existing supporters.Drawing on the qualitative analysis of over 400 documents produced by the Movimento Sociale Italiano/Alleanza Nazionale in Italy (1978-2009) and the Rassemblement National in France (1978-2019), Lorimer identifies the core concepts and discourses the parties used to talk about Europe, and the legitimation mechanisms associated with them. The book's narrative is developed through the analysis of four key concepts: the concept of identity, which enabled the parties to transnationalise their message and create a positive association between themselves and Europe; the concept of liberty, which made it possible for them to foster an image of actors holding uncontroversial positions; the concept of threat, which helped them promote the idea that 'desperate times call for desperate measures; and the concept of national interest, which helped them stress commitment to core principles in their ideology.Ever since its re-emergence on the European political scene, scholars have sought to explain the mainstreaming of the far right. By understanding how the process of European integration facilitated its transition from the margins to the mainstream, this book adds one piece to the puzzle of far right legitimation. Marta Lorimer is a Lecturer in Politics at the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, where she teaches on European politics and populism, and co-editor of the journal Political Research Exchange. Her research on far-right politics and European integration has been published widely, including in the Journal of European Public Policy and the Journal of Common Market Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

How did the far right go from illegitimate fringe to contender for public office, and did Europe have anything to do with it? Europe As Ideological Resource: European Integration and Far Right Legitimation in France and Italy (Oxford UP, 2024) argues that European integration functioned as an ideological resource for far right parties looking for legitimation because it enabled them to refashion their political message in a more acceptable form, while maintaining the allegiance of their existing supporters.Drawing on the qualitative analysis of over 400 documents produced by the Movimento Sociale Italiano/Alleanza Nazionale in Italy (1978-2009) and the Rassemblement National in France (1978-2019), Lorimer identifies the core concepts and discourses the parties used to talk about Europe, and the legitimation mechanisms associated with them. The book's narrative is developed through the analysis of four key concepts: the concept of identity, which enabled the parties to transnationalise their message and create a positive association between themselves and Europe; the concept of liberty, which made it possible for them to foster an image of actors holding uncontroversial positions; the concept of threat, which helped them promote the idea that 'desperate times call for desperate measures; and the concept of national interest, which helped them stress commitment to core principles in their ideology.Ever since its re-emergence on the European political scene, scholars have sought to explain the mainstreaming of the far right. By understanding how the process of European integration facilitated its transition from the margins to the mainstream, this book adds one piece to the puzzle of far right legitimation. Marta Lorimer is a Lecturer in Politics at the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, where she teaches on European politics and populism, and co-editor of the journal Political Research Exchange. Her research on far-right politics and European integration has been published widely, including in the Journal of European Public Policy and the Journal of Common Market Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/italian-studies

How did the far right go from illegitimate fringe to contender for public office, and did Europe have anything to do with it? Europe As Ideological Resource: European Integration and Far Right Legitimation in France and Italy (Oxford UP, 2024) argues that European integration functioned as an ideological resource for far right parties looking for legitimation because it enabled them to refashion their political message in a more acceptable form, while maintaining the allegiance of their existing supporters.Drawing on the qualitative analysis of over 400 documents produced by the Movimento Sociale Italiano/Alleanza Nazionale in Italy (1978-2009) and the Rassemblement National in France (1978-2019), Lorimer identifies the core concepts and discourses the parties used to talk about Europe, and the legitimation mechanisms associated with them. The book's narrative is developed through the analysis of four key concepts: the concept of identity, which enabled the parties to transnationalise their message and create a positive association between themselves and Europe; the concept of liberty, which made it possible for them to foster an image of actors holding uncontroversial positions; the concept of threat, which helped them promote the idea that 'desperate times call for desperate measures; and the concept of national interest, which helped them stress commitment to core principles in their ideology.Ever since its re-emergence on the European political scene, scholars have sought to explain the mainstreaming of the far right. By understanding how the process of European integration facilitated its transition from the margins to the mainstream, this book adds one piece to the puzzle of far right legitimation. Marta Lorimer is a Lecturer in Politics at the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, where she teaches on European politics and populism, and co-editor of the journal Political Research Exchange. Her research on far-right politics and European integration has been published widely, including in the Journal of European Public Policy and the Journal of Common Market Studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/french-studies

With Parliament now in its Easter recess, focus switches to a very large and very crucial set of elections across the UK next month, with 130 councils in England as well as the Scottish and Welsh Parliament up for grabs.May 7 will likely be the most consequential day in British politics since the last general election, with the results key in deciding not just who ends up governing us, but for the future political direction of this country too.Joining host Alain Tolhurst to look at issues including Labour's potential collapse in key strongholds in the face of a resurgence by nationalist parties and the continued rise of Reform, if the Greens can maintain their momentum and can the Tories show any signs of life, is the journalist and author Will Hayward, who writes an award-winning newsletter on Wales and Welsh politics. Alongside him is Louise Wilson, political editor of Holyrood magazine, our sister title covering the Parliament up in Scotland, as well as the Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster, and Dr Stephanie Luke, Lecturer in Politics at Cardiff University.To sign up for our newsletters click herePresented by Alain Tolhurst, produced by Nick Hilton and edited by Ewan Cameron for Podot

From Spinoza's thinking and the approach of different religions to the Dickens' character Uriah Heep and the "humble brag" - in Radio 4's late night ideas discussion programme Matthew Sweet and guests explore humility.Lamorna Ash is a writer and journalist and the author of Don't Forget We're Here Forever, which explores what it means to be a Christian for young people throughout the UK today and reflected on her own journey into faith.Sir Robert Buckland is the former Conservative MP for South Swindon, a former Lord Chancellor and Solicitor General. He is a practicing barrister with Foundry Chambers, a visiting law professor at the LSE and the Third Church Estates Commissioner.Aaron Reeves is Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics and co author of Born to Rule: The Making and Remaking of the British Elite with Sam Friedman.Ceri Sullivan is a Professor of English Literature at Cardiff University. Her research has encompassed the managerial techniques presented in Shakespeare's history plays, pragmatism in literary texts and devotional poetry.Dr Dan Taylor is Senior Lecturer in Social and Political Thought at the Open University. He is the author of Spinoza and the Politics of Freedom and is involved in long term projects with long-term projects examining inclusion and housing in Barking and Dagenham; unpaid care in Gateshead; and community in the Fens.Producer: Ruth Watts

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with Alexander Molokwu, founder of Loujo, about using memorable, AI-generated songs to help dyslexic children learn curriculum content and improve retention. Alex shares how he discovered his dyslexia while studying neuroscience at Cardiff University, how educational songs helped him memorize complex material, and how supporting his niece's struggles inspired Loujo. He explains how schools and parents can create tailored songs in different genres within 30 seconds, paired with quizzes and curriculum-aligned datasets, and discusses reported results including a 30% retention increase over text-based learning. Alex describes trials in primary and secondary schools, broader applications including autism and language learning, his accelerator experiences and grants, and invites listeners to trial Loujo and connect schools to the platform.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: ⁠⁠https://www.ivvi.app/Links: Ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/ What is Dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia How to Mindmap: https://www.bulletmapacademy.com/mindmap-beginners Luojo X: https://x.com/LearnwithLoujoFacebook: http://facebook.com/LearnwithLoujoInstagram: http://instagram.com/learnwithloujoLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/octananna-ltd-loujoWebsite: https://loujo.ai/British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.ukSEND: https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs SEN Support: https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/special-educational-needs-supportDisabled Students Allowance: https://www.ivvi.app/dsa-for-dyslexia Digital catapult: https://www.digicatapult.org.uk/ innovate UK: https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/ Interested in being a guest? Email us at ⁠jo@ivvi.app

The East Asia region, comprising of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia and Taiwan, is undeniably a key player on the world stage.We go behind the scenes of The Fifth Floor, the programme that brings the news from the BBC World Service language services. We hear how people in Seoul are reacting to the comeback of BTS, the superstar South Korean boyband, whose first tour since 2022 kicks off in April.Hong Kong cinema has influenced film-makers around the world. For a recent In the Studio episode, film-maker Shan Ng followed Kwan Pun Leung, one of the cinematographers of the Hong Kong and 20th Century classic, In the Mood for Love. We hear what Shan learnt following a fellow film-maker and what surprised her about Kwan's process.In November 2025, the BBC World Service launched a new visualised podcast, Asia Specific. Presented by veteran journalist, Mariko Oi, it covers the Asia Pacific region, of which East Asia is part of. Mariko tells Qasa why a podcast for the region was essential and the stories they hope to cover.And finally, in February, the director general Tim Davie warning that the network would run out of funding if a deal was not agreed with the government. His warnings set the Over to You inbox alight with questions and concern. Qasa speaks with the head of the school of journalism, media and culture at Cardiff University, Dr Matt Walsh and explores what all this means for the World Service.

You know those people that you could listen to forever? Well for me, Dr. Matt Morgan is such a person. Like one of those "who would you invite to dinner if you could choose anyone" types. So interesting, so many good stories and such a good human. Also, a brilliant communicator (not always the case with brainiacs). This chat went far and wide from NDE's (near-death experiences) to participating in his own living funeral (sounds morbid but was fascinating), to what happens in the brain the moment people die (and just after), to delivering the news to people that their loved one has just died and an incredibly weird (and unknown by me) fact about kangaroos. So random. BIO: Matt Morgan is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, Honorary Professor at Cardiff University and Curtin University, and a regular columnist for the BMJ. Following a PhD in artificial intelligence, he has authored more than 50 scientific papers and written widely for publications including The Guardian and Esquire. Matt is a sought-after speaker and media commentator, appearing on outlets from BBC and CNN to The Today Programme. His books include Critical, about life inside the ICU, One Medicine, exploring how animal biology informs human health, and A Second Act, about surviving cardiac arrest. He lives in Cardiff with his family and loves ice cream. Enjoy. drmattmorgan.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Azim Ahmed hosts a panel discussion with a live audience recorded on 27th February at BBC Wales in Cardiff Central Square to mark Ramadan 2026. Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, marked by a month of fasting and prayer. But what's it like to work in the media industry during this time? Azim Ahmed is joined by a panel of media professionals to hear first-hand what it is like. Is it difficult to balance fasting with work? Do Muslims face stereotypes in the work place? How do media professionals balance their work with their faith and what can we can we expect from religious broadcasting? On the panel Azim is joined by Mariyah Zaman, the co-founder of 'Now in a Minute Media' an independent media platform for and by Welsh Muslims. Shafin Basheer is an Assistant Producer at Slam Media. Dr Nadia Haq is a research fellow at Cardiff University. She looks at the representation of Muslims and Islam in the press from a journalistic perspective. Shazia Ali studied at the Cardiff School of Journalism and now works as a newsroom journalist at BBC Wales. The programme was recorded on 27th February.

A study from Cardiff University is hoping to uncover more information on the potential links between sight loss and visual imagination. Hywel Davies has been finding out more.To take part in the survey, visit the Cardiff University Website - Invitation to participate in research on visual imagination and sight impairment - Cardiff University

Have you ever considered what the role of a Nearest Relative is like?Under the Mental Health Act for England and Wales, any one of us could be thrust into the role, carrying the weight of its legal responsibilities, pressures of supporting our family member, and navigating the ever-complex mental health system. A recent research project funded by UK Research and Innovation conducted with AMHPs and Nearest Relatives has co-created a package of tools and guidance to address these very challenges. The resources have been borne out in-depth research revealing the trauma, distress and isolation that many Nearest Relatives experience.Host Jonny Adamson is joined by Mental Health Advocate and Nearest Relative, Debbie Best, Dr Jeremy Dixon from Cardiff University and Professor Judy Laing from Bristol University Law School to discuss the findings and support being made available. They also explore how else the mental health system could be strengthened and whether the reforms being brought in through the new Mental Health Act will be enough.This episode touches on some difficult themes related to mental ill health, so listener discretion is advised. Details of mental health support are available below for anyone affected by anything raised in the discussion. We've also included links to the research, resources and an upcoming event on this topic being hosted by BASW England.Our thanks to James Ede at Be Heard Productions for producing the episode.- Nearest Relatives Resources: https://nearestrelativeresources.bristol.ac.uk/- Beyond the call of duty: A Qualitative study into the experiences of family members acting as a Nearest Relative in Mental Health Act assessments: https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/52/7/3783/6517149 - BASW England Mental Health Group Webinar: https://basw.co.uk/events/nearest-relatives-resources-empowering-relatives-mental-health-system-basw-england-mental - Samaritans: 116 123 (Free, 24/7) or jo@samaritans.org - Hub of Hope: https://hubofhope.co.uk/ - Mind: 0300 102 1234 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday)- Calm: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day)- Text SHOUT to 85258 for confidential, 24/7 crisis support- National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 0800 587 0800 (6pm to midnight every day)- Papyrus (for under-35s) 0800 068 4141, email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have all heard rumours that ancient religions used children in ritual sacrifice. But did it really happen? To discuss the evidence, Helen and Lloyd are joined in the Time Machine by Dr Eve MacDonald, lecturer at Cardiff University and author of the acclaimed, Carthage: A New History of an Ancient Empire (Penguin, 2025). Dr MacDonald answers questions like: Did human sacrifice really occur in the ancient world, and what does the archaeological evidence actually show?What happened in the Great Death Pit at Ur, and what does it reveal about ancient burial rituals?Why do ancient myths and biblical stories so often centre on the sacrifice of young girls?Did the Carthaginians really practise child sacrifice, and what does the evidence from the Tophet suggest?How did Greeks and Romans use accusations of shocking religious practices to demonise their enemies—and even early Christians?SUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINEIf you enjoy the podcast, please (pretty please!) consider supporting the show through the Time Travellers Club, our Patreon. We are an independent, listener-supported show (no ads!), so please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a monthly subscription.Support the showTheme music written and performed by Dave Roos, creator of Biblical Time Machine. Season 4 produced by John Nelson.

Following questions over the UK's military capability and the Iran conflict we discuss defence with Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis. With conference season well under way, this week it's the turn of Reform and the Liberal Democrats. Reform's James Evans MS and the Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds MS join us. On International Women's Day we discuss gender parity in the Senedd with Cardiff University's Dr Leah Hibbs. Journalist Will Hayward talks about his new book 'Who Cares About Wales?'Reviewing the papers: Plaid Cymru's Kiera Marshall and Bethan Cousins from the Development Bank Wales.

Labour MP for Cardiff West MP Alex Barros-Curtis looks back at the week that was for Labour. James Price, Transport for Wales CEO gives an update on transport plans in Wales. Cllr Aled Davies, Senedd candidate for the Conservatives in Gwynedd Maldwyn reports from their Spring conference. Strategic analyst and researcher with the Arctic Institute Fiona de Cuyper explains why the Arctic is a hot topic. Emeritus Professor E. Wyn James from Cardiff University talks about Wales' historic hymns, in the wake of handing the keys of Capel Rhondda - where Cwm Rhondda was first sung - to the community.Tessa Marshall and Aled Eirug review the papers.

We may have a new name but it's still time for another BIG and BRILLIANT adventure into the world of science on this week’s Science Quest! In Science in the News, scientists discover that Norwegian polar bears are healthier and fatter than ever, old boats are being sunk around the UK to create brand-new habitats for wildlife, and Meganne Christian from the UK Space Agency joins Dan to talk about the importance of women in science ahead of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. It’s time for your questions too. One listener wants to know why cats meow, and language expert Mercedes Durham from Cardiff University explains why our planet is called Earth. Dangerous Dan is back with a strange and mysterious creature called the olm, and in Battle of the Sciences, things get rocky as Shaunna Morrison from Rutgers University makes the case for geoscience and why understanding the Earth beneath our feet really matters. Plus, in Geology Rocks: Earth’s History, join Finley on a journey through time to explore fossils, volcanoes, and how rocks helped form our planet and even our universe. What we learn about: Why cats meow How polar bears in Norway are doing and why it matters How sinking old boats can help wildlife Why women in science are so important The strange underground creature called the olm How rocks, fossils, and volcanoes reveal Earth’s history All that and more on this week’s Science Quest!Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1992, Helen Down's brother Richard was studying for a master's in artificial intelligence at Cardiff University. There, he had a brief side hustle as a sperm donor - a confession he'd only made to his family as an adult. Through a DNA website, the link was made and Helen met her niece and nephew for the first time in 2024 - the product of her brother's sperm donation 30 years ago. So, what exactly happened at at the family reunion? And how did these new family members unlock an even bigger mystery?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Helen Down. Producer: Dave Creasey.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: What happened when a sperm donor met his unknown kidsPhoto: Tim Jobling, Duncan Elliot for The Times Magazine.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The capture of the Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, the attacks on alleged drug-running boats off the Venezuelan coast, the threats to strike the regime in Iran, the determination to take Greenland even though it is the territory of a fellow NATO member, the musings about invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act so that active-service troops can be deployed on the streets of Minneapolis - all of these things raise profound legal and moral questions. Edward Stourton speaks to the Catholic archbishop Timothy Broglio who leads the United States Archdiocese for the Military Services.Sales of the Bible have rocketed according to data from Britain's biggest Christian publisher, SPCK. For most of the 2010s they ran at a reasonably steady rate - between two and a half and three million a year - but they began to take off in 2021, and last year they hit over six million three hundred thousand. This comes amid claims of a religious revival being led by younger people. We begin a mini-series of reports devoted to Gen Z believers. There has been a huge increase in the proportion of imams in this country who are British born, according to new research. A study nearly two decades ago found the figure was just eight percent - a new study, due to be published this autumn, concludes the figure has increased to forty eight percent, or nearly half. The findings form part of Cardiff University's 'Understanding British Imams' research project.PRESENTER: Edward Stourton PRODUCERS: Dan Tierney & Katy Davis STUDIO MANAGERS: Chris Mather, Luke Holmes & Phil Booth EDITOR: Tim Pemberton

Artemis II is entering its final preparations! This weekend, NASA rolls out the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad for the first crewed mission to lunar orbit in over 50 years. We cover the crew, timeline, challenges, and what to expect in the coming weeks.Plus: The European Space Agency suffers a major cyberattack with over 700 GB of sensitive data stolen. We discuss what was compromised, how it happened, and the broader cybersecurity implications for the space industry.Also in this episode: China's successful dual satellite launches kick off an ambitious 2026, scientists discover Jupiter has 1.5 times more oxygen than our Sun, a mysterious iron bar is found hidden in the Ring Nebula, and we explore the fascinating legacy of the Apollo 14 Moon Trees.New episodes every weekday!---## EPISODE TIMESTAMPS**[00:00]** Intro  **[01:15]** Story 1: Artemis II Final Preparations  **[04:45]** Story 2: European Space Agency Cyberattack  **[08:30]** Story 3: China's Satellite Launches  **[11:45]** Story 4: Jupiter's Oxygen Surprise  **[14:30]** Story 5: Ring Nebula Iron Mystery  **[17:00]** Story 6: Apollo 14 Moon Trees Legacy  **[19:30]** Outro---## STORIES COVERED### 1. NASA Enters Final Preparations for Artemis II MissionNASA is entering the final stages of preparation for Artemis II, the first crewed mission beyond Low Earth Orbit in over fifty years. The Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will roll out to Launch Pad 39B this Saturday, January 17th.**Key Points:**- **Launch Window:** February 6 - April 2026 (subject to readiness)- **Crew:** Reid Wiseman (Commander, USA), Victor Glover (Pilot, USA), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist, USA), Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist, Canada)- **Mission Duration:** 10 days circumlunar flight- **Rollout:** 6.5 km journey takes ~12 hours on crawler-transporter-2- **Recent Updates:** Valve replacement on Orion hatch pressurization system (Jan 5), leak repair on ground support hardware- **Upcoming:** Wet dress rehearsal end of January with 2.65 million liters of cryogenic fuel- **Next Steps:** Flight readiness review, final crew walkdown at pad- **Historical Context:** First crewed deep space mission since Apollo 17 (1972)- **Looking Ahead:** Artemis III lunar landing scheduled for 2028**Why It Matters:**This mission is a crucial stepping stone for returning humans to the lunar surface and eventually sending astronauts to Mars. It will validate all systems needed for deep space exploration and demonstrate international cooperation through the Canadian Space Agency's participation.**Read More:**- [Universe Today: NASA Enters Final Preparations for Artemis II Mission](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/nasa-enters-final-preparations-for-artemis-ii-mission)- [NASA Artemis II Mission Page](https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/)---### 2. Cyberthieves Hit European Space Agency in Major Data BreachThe European Space Agency suffered significant cyberattacks over the Christmas period, resulting in over 700 gigabytes of potentially sensitive data being leaked to dark web forums.**Key Points:**- **Initial Attack:** Boxing Day 2025 - Hacker "888" dumps 200+ GB of data- **Second Attack:** One week later - "Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters" claims 500+ GB more- **Data Compromised:** Proprietary software, authorization credentials, access tokens, project documentation, operational procedures, spacecraft details, contractor data- **Affected Contractors:** SpaceX, Airbus Group, Thales Alenia Space- **ESA Response:** Criminal investigation launched, cooperating with authorities- **Root Cause:** Possible "infostealer malware" harvesting browser-stored credentials- **Broader Issue:** Email credentials of ESA and NASA employees frequently found on dark web- **Security Gap:** Solar conjunction prevented communications blackout- **Expert Warning:** Data could be combined with future breaches to enable attacks on space systems**Industry Context:**Cybersecurity researcher Clémence Poirier warns that cyberattacks against space agencies are common and will continue. NASA faces similar threats with vulnerabilities disclosed almost daily via BugCrowd platform.**Why It Matters:**As space infrastructure becomes increasingly critical for communications, navigation, and national security, cybersecurity vulnerabilities represent a major threat to space operations and international cooperation.**Read More:**- [Space.com: Cyberthieves hit European Space Agency](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/esa-email-credentials-on-dark-web)---### 3. China's Long March Rockets Launch Key Satellites to Start 2026China successfully launched two Long March rockets on January 13, 2026, deploying the Yaogan-50 01 remote sensing satellite and multiple Guowang constellation satellites, marking an ambitious start to their space program's busiest year yet.**Key Points:**- **Launch Date:** January 13, 2026- **Launch Site:** Wenchang Space Launch Center- **Mission 1:** Yaogan-50 01 remote sensing satellite (Long March 6A rocket)- **Mission 2:** Guowang satellite constellation expansion (low Earth orbit)- **Yaogan-50 01 Features:** Unusual orbit design for enhanced Earth observation, unique viewing angles, applications in agriculture, disaster monitoring, resource management, scientific research- **Guowang Constellation Purpose:** Telecommunications enhancement, high-speed data transmission, improved global connectivity, support for future Moon/Mars missions- **Strategic Importance:** Part of China's expanding Earth observation capabilities- **2026 Outlook:** Expected to be record-breaking year for Chinese space launches**Why It Matters:**China continues to expand its space infrastructure at a rapid pace, positioning itself as a major player in Earth observation, telecommunications, and future deep space exploration. The Guowang constellation will provide crucial communication support for ambitious lunar and Mars missions.**Read More:**- [Daily Galaxy: China's Long March Rockets Propel Satellites Into New Orbits](https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/01/china-yaogan-50-01-guowang-satellites/)---### 4. Scientists Discover Surprising Amount of Oxygen in Jupiter's AtmosphereA groundbreaking study reveals Jupiter contains approximately 1.5 times more oxygen than our Sun, fundamentally changing our understanding of the gas giant's composition and formation.**Key Points:**- **Discovery:** Jupiter has ~1.5x more oxygen than the Sun- **Research Team:** University of Chicago and Jet Propulsion Laboratory- **Publication:** The Planetary Science Journal- **Previous Estimates:** Some recent studies suggested much less oxygen than the Sun- **Methodology:** Most comprehensive atmospheric model of Jupiter to date, integrating chemistry and hydrodynamics- **Additional Finding:** Molecular diffusion is 35-40 times slower than previously assumed- **Diffusion Impact:** Single molecule takes weeks (not hours) to move through one atmospheric layer- **Data Source:** Juno spacecraft measurements of upper atmosphere- **Significance:** Provides clues about Jupiter's formation and solar system evolution- **Broader Implications:** Understanding oxygen distribution helps explain habitable planet formation**Scientific Impact:**Lead researcher Jeehyun Yang calls this a "long-standing debate in planetary studies." The precise oxygen quantity offers crucial insights into how gas giants form and how planetary systems evolve.**Why It Matters:**Oxygen is a key element in water formation. Understanding its abundance and behavior on Jupiter helps scientists better understand the conditions necessary for potentially habitable worlds both in our solar system and around other stars.**Read More:**- [Daily Galaxy: Scientists Discover Surprising Amount of Oxygen in Jupiter's Atmosphere](https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/01/surprising-oxygen-jupiter-atmosphere/)---### 5. Mysterious Iron Bar Discovered Hidden in Famous Ring NebulaEuropean astronomers have discovered a massive bar-shaped cloud of iron inside the iconic Ring Nebula—a structure that went completely unnoticed for decades despite this being one of the most studied objects in astronomy.**Key Points:**- **Discovery Team:** UCL (University College London) and Cardiff University-led international team- **Publication:** Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society- **Instrument:** WEAVE (WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer) on William Herschel Telescope- **Structure Size:** ~500 times the distance of Pluto's orbit around the Sun- **Mass:** Comparable to Mars' mass in iron atoms- **Location:** Bar-shaped strip fitting within Ring Nebula's elliptical inner region- **Detection Method:** Spectroscopy across entire nebula at all optical wavelengths simultaneously- **Previous Observations:** Missed by decades of studies, including JWST images- **Ring Nebula Background:** Planetary nebula in constellation Lyra, discovered 1779, formed ~4,000 years ago**Possible Explanations:**1. Reveals new information about nebula ejection process (uneven/directional outflow)2. Plasma arc from vaporization of destroyed rocky planet caught in star's expansion**Next Steps:**- Higher spectral resolution observations planned- Searching for other chemical elements alongside iron- Survey of additional planetary nebulae to find similar structures**Researcher Quotes:**- Dr. Roger WessBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click HereThis episode includes AI-generated content.

The crusade movement needed women: their money, their prayer support, their active participation, and their inspiration. Helen J. Nicholson's book Women and the Crusades (Oxford UP, 2023) surveys women's involvement in medieval crusading between the second half of the eleventh century, when Pope Gregory VII first proposed a penitential military expedition to help the Christians of the East, and 1570, when the last crusader state, Cyprus, was captured by the Ottoman Turks. It considers women's actions not only on crusade battlefields but also in recruiting crusaders, supporting crusades through patronage, propaganda, and prayer, and as both defenders and aggressors. It argues that medieval women were deeply involved in the crusades but the roles that they could play and how their contemporaries recorded their deeds were dictated by social convention and cultural expectations. Although its main focus is the women of Latin Christendom, it also looks at the impact of the crusades and crusaders on the Jews of western Europe and the Muslims of the Middle East, and compares relations between Latin Christians and Muslims with relations between Muslims and other Christian groups. Helen J. Nicholson is Professor of Medieval History at Cardiff University, UK. She has published extensively on the crusades, the military orders, and various related subjects, including a translation of a chronicle of the Third Crusade and an edition of the Templar trial proceedings in Britain and Ireland. She has just completed a history of Queen Sybil of Jerusalem (1186-1190). Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Many Christians will be familiar with the practice of praying for and visiting those from their own church who might be sick in hospital. But the role of the hospital (or hospice) chaplain can allow for ministry to all kinds of people. What are the challenges, joys, and opportunities experienced in this unique role? This time on PEP Talk, we hear from a hospital chaplain who himself spent eight months in hospital after a car crash which left him permanently paraplegic.Kelvin Burke is the author of "Lake of Tears", a compelling book with a unique application of God's partaking in the face of suffering. Kelvin is an Anglican minister and Healthcare Chaplain. After his time as Priest-in-charge at St Andrew's Wakefield Kelvin was called to Minister in Healthcare Chaplaincy, starting out as Honorary Chaplain at Wakefield Hospice and then Pinderfields Hospital where he had been an inpatient for nine months in 1979/80 following a Road Traffic Accident which left him paraplegic. He was appointed Chaplain at Leeds Teaching Hospital during which time he studied for and attained a Masters in Theology at Cardiff University. In 2010 he moved with his wife Jennie and three teenage daughters (Chloé, Katie and Ellie) to the Isle of Wight, and after a short time as Chaplain at Mountbatten Hospice and St Mary's Hospital, he was appointed Senior Chaplain of Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

Patrycja Maciejewicz, dziennikarka serwisu Wyborcza.biz, rozmawia z Wojciechem Paczosem, makroekonomistą związanym z Cardiff University, adiunktem w Instytucie Nauk Ekonomicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk, prezesem Fundacji Dobrobyt na Pokolenia. Co dobrego można powiedzieć o budżecie na 2026 rok? Jaka wysokość deficytu budżetowego jest bezpieczna? I które rozwiązanie dla ograniczenia deficytu jest lepsze – cięcie wydatków, czy podwyższanie podatków? Więcej podcastów na: https://wyborcza.pl/podcast. Piszcie do nas w każdej sprawie na: listy@wyborcza.pl.

The crusade movement needed women: their money, their prayer support, their active participation, and their inspiration. Helen J. Nicholson's book Women and the Crusades (Oxford UP, 2023) surveys women's involvement in medieval crusading between the second half of the eleventh century, when Pope Gregory VII first proposed a penitential military expedition to help the Christians of the East, and 1570, when the last crusader state, Cyprus, was captured by the Ottoman Turks. It considers women's actions not only on crusade battlefields but also in recruiting crusaders, supporting crusades through patronage, propaganda, and prayer, and as both defenders and aggressors. It argues that medieval women were deeply involved in the crusades but the roles that they could play and how their contemporaries recorded their deeds were dictated by social convention and cultural expectations. Although its main focus is the women of Latin Christendom, it also looks at the impact of the crusades and crusaders on the Jews of western Europe and the Muslims of the Middle East, and compares relations between Latin Christians and Muslims with relations between Muslims and other Christian groups. Helen J. Nicholson is Professor of Medieval History at Cardiff University, UK. She has published extensively on the crusades, the military orders, and various related subjects, including a translation of a chronicle of the Third Crusade and an edition of the Templar trial proceedings in Britain and Ireland. She has just completed a history of Queen Sybil of Jerusalem (1186-1190). Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

The crusade movement needed women: their money, their prayer support, their active participation, and their inspiration. Helen J. Nicholson's book Women and the Crusades (Oxford UP, 2023) surveys women's involvement in medieval crusading between the second half of the eleventh century, when Pope Gregory VII first proposed a penitential military expedition to help the Christians of the East, and 1570, when the last crusader state, Cyprus, was captured by the Ottoman Turks. It considers women's actions not only on crusade battlefields but also in recruiting crusaders, supporting crusades through patronage, propaganda, and prayer, and as both defenders and aggressors. It argues that medieval women were deeply involved in the crusades but the roles that they could play and how their contemporaries recorded their deeds were dictated by social convention and cultural expectations. Although its main focus is the women of Latin Christendom, it also looks at the impact of the crusades and crusaders on the Jews of western Europe and the Muslims of the Middle East, and compares relations between Latin Christians and Muslims with relations between Muslims and other Christian groups. Helen J. Nicholson is Professor of Medieval History at Cardiff University, UK. She has published extensively on the crusades, the military orders, and various related subjects, including a translation of a chronicle of the Third Crusade and an edition of the Templar trial proceedings in Britain and Ireland. She has just completed a history of Queen Sybil of Jerusalem (1186-1190). Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Get ready for another BIG and BRILLIANT journey through time, space, and the human mind on this week’s Science Weekly! We’re heading back to Ancient Egypt to unlock the secrets of hieroglyphics, a mysterious language that was lost for thousands of years. Then we zoom inside your head to explore the incredible science of the brain and how this squishy, sparky organ really works. In Science in the News, robotic dogs could soon be helping to fight wildfires, scientists in India have discovered a galaxy that’s an incredible 12 billion years old, and Dr Matilda Brindle joins Dan to investigate the science behind the very first human kiss, believed to date back millions of years. We also answer your questions... Charlie wants to know how race cars go so fast, and Mercedes Durham from Cardiff University explains why the Ancient Egyptians wrote in hieroglyphics. Dangerous Dan returns with a tiny dinosaur with a big reputation, the Compsognathus. And in Battle of the Sciences, Daniel Glaser makes the case for neurology, revealing the electrifying science that powers your brain. Plus, we head back to Deep Space High for Space For All, discovering what kinds of space careers are perfect for people who love languages. This week, we learn about: How hieroglyphics worked in Ancient Egypt How the human brain sends messages Robotic dogs and fighting wildfires A galaxy older than most of the universe The surprising history of the first kiss How race cars reach extreme speeds All that and more on this week’s Science Weekly!Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Passmore, professor of History at Cardiff University and author of The Maginot Line: A New History, joins the show to talk about the most elaborate fortification system of the 20th century and why it failed. ▪️ Times 02:03 Attacking the Maginot Line 05:53 Fortifications and Warfare 11:48 Flexibility vs Depth 15:38 A Total Commitment to War 19:49 French Defensive Concepts 22:42 Living in the Line 27:31 Decision in Belgium  36:22 Breaking the Enemy's Will  39:36 Ukrainian Fortifications Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

Psychologists have typically believed that we become less curious as we age, but recent research has shown curiosity actually becomes more targeted and specific in our later years. In this episode from September, Madeleine Finlay hears from Dr Mary Whatley, an assistant professor of psychology at Western Carolina University, and Dr Matthias Gruber of Cardiff University's Brain Research Imaging Centre to find out why we change in this way, and how maintaining broad curiosity into older age can help keep our brains young. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Azim Ahmed considers the cultural and religious significance of stars across many different faiths.Professor George van Kooten from the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge discusses the Star of Bethlehem and the journey of the Magi, while Conwy Fisherman, Carl Davies, explains celestial navigation.Author and Mathematician, Professor Sarah Hart, describes what a hexagram is.Dr Jaclyn Granick from the School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff University, tells us the origins of the Star of David and how its identity has changed over time.Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at Cardiff University, Dr Mansur Ali, explains why stars feature prominently in Islam.Plus, Author and Welsh Witch, Mhara Starling, reveals the magic behind the pentagram.Presented by Azim Ahmed. Produced by Stuart Russell. Audio Supervision by Searle Whittney.

400 thousand years ago our early human cousins dropped a lighter in a field in the East of England; evidence that was uncovered this week and suggests that early neanderthals might have made fire 350 thousand years earlier than we previously thought. Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes is honorary researcher at the universities of Cambridge and Liverpool and author of Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art. She explains what this new discovery could mean for our own ancestors.Should we genetically modify our farmed salmon to prevent it breeding with their wild relatives? Dr William Perry from Cardiff University thinks this could help the endangered wild Atlantic salmon recover it's numbers. And Lizzie Gibney, Senior Physics Reporter at Nature joins Tom Whipple to dig into the new science released this week.Think you know space? Head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science, and follow the links to the Open University to try The Open University Space Quiz.

Infant Repo: In Infant Repo, government organisation Herauder flirt to tame alien beast 1NK20 – but when wizened specialist soldier Dad is tasked with offering 1NK20 a morally questionable payload, he and a band of likewise renegades turn the tide.Aeronwy Withers and Marcus Yeatman-Crouch are twice-graduated Cardiff University creative writing alums. Aeronwy writes experimental fiction, voices the inanimate, and loves video games. You can find Aeronwy at @Ronowy on twitter, and find some of her work at aer0nwy.com .Marcus writes speculative fiction and poems on urban wildlife. He knows far too much about car insurance. Find Marcus at @marcusyeatman on instagram or email him at marcusyc12@gmail.com.

Thinking of the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, it is hard to think of him without imagining him in very particular contexts. One will likely imagine him in a Parisian cafe working through a pack of cigarettes and coffee, working on his latest play while waiting for his friend Pierre to arrive. His theories of freedom against the temptations of bad faith are thought to be theories of writers and activists, resisters of occupation. But while this is no doubt a central part of his thinking, it misses another context he was very much interested in: the clinic. While he was not an orthodox Freudian or trained analyst, he was deeply interested in many of the questions that psychoanalysts are also interested in, and this intersection proved to be very productive, generating thousands of pages of lesser known works. This is what Mary Edwards, philosophy lecturer at Cardiff University, has written about in her new book Sartre's Existential Psychoanalysis: Knowing Others (Bloomsbury, 2022). Working through Sartre's output from beginning to end, it first sets the stage with his early claims about the nature of the self and the possibility of knowing a person. From there, it works to his later works, in particular his voluminous yet unfinished biography of Gustave Flaubert, where Edwards finds Sartre developing and applying a very particular method of understanding a person while nonetheless maintaining a respect for their free nature. While Sartre never completed his intended project, Edwards finds his attempt suggestive for rethinking life both in and beyond the clinic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by advice to “hack your dopamine,” or wondered why traditional approaches feel incomplete, this interview with Dr. Miguel Toribio-Mateas, “The Creative Scientist,” delivers refreshing insights and compassionate tools for thriving as a neurodivergent human. ADHDers often spend years trying to “fix” themselves from the outside in—through medication, planners, routines, and hacks—only to discover that true thriving might come from learning to listen to and trust their bodies. Dr Miguel introduces the concept of embodied neuroscience and explains why ADHD is far more than a brain-based disorder, unraveling the complex interplay between our nervous system, gut health, hormones, and emotional regulation.Get ready to rethink what it means to support ADHD—from the inside out.Episode Highlights:It's Not Just Dopamine: Sure, dopamine's part of the story. But Dr Miguel reminds us it's just one instrument in a much bigger orchestra of brain and body chemistry. ADHD isn't just a “brain disorder”—it's an embodied experience, affected by everything from our gut health to our hormones and daily rhythms.Stop Trying to “Hack” Yourself: Instead of endless hacks, planners, and productivity tools, what if we tuned into our internal signals? Think: listening to hunger cues, taking movement breaks, honoring our need for rest—a holistic approach that begins on the inside.Self-Trust Is Everything: If you've ever struggled to trust your thoughts, feelings, or impulses, you're not alone. The conversation offered hope: as we learn to regulate (and accept!) our unique internal ecosystem, intuition and awareness can flourish.Bringing it Back Home: Instead of survival mode, Dr. Miguel encourages us to “come back home” to ourselves—filling our cups with connection, nourishment, movement, and acceptance, rather than burning out on outside fixes. There's no quick hack for radical self-acceptance, but embracing all facets of our ADHD is a powerful start.ADHD as an Advantage: Messy, complex, and beautifully curious—these traits can be assets in business and life. Don't let anyone oversimplify you! Meet Our Guest Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas is a clinical neuroscientist, applied microbiologist, and nutritionist whose work bridges brain, body, and lived experience. For over 2 decades, he has explored how the gut, nervous system, and microbiome shape mood, focus, and emotional balance. Miguel is an Honorary Research Fellow at Cardiff University's School of Psychology and lectures in nutrition at the University of West London. His forthcoming book, “ADHD Body and Mind” (Jessica Kingsley Publishers) will be published in 2026. Website - LinkedIn - Instagram - Substack - Thrive With ADHD Course Make it Practical: Practice Tuning Into Your Body: Notice and respond to basic bodily needs (hunger, thirst, bio breaks, rest, or movement) instead of ignoring or suppressing them during hyperfocus or stress; and pay attention to signals of over- or understimulation Shift from External Fixes to Internal Awareness: Take time to notice what your body and emotions are asking for and explore...

From the late 1960s to 1998, Northern Ireland was gripped by "The Troubles" - three decades of bloodshed, resulting from competing visions for its future. This week, we're releasing a two-part series that explores why this conflict erupted and how it played out. For this, Dan is joined by Dr Thomas Leahy, Lecturer in British and Irish Politics and Contemporary History at Cardiff University.In this second episode we chart the turbulent 20th century, from the Irish War of Independence to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the late 1960s to 1998, Northern Ireland was gripped by "The Troubles" - three decades of bloodshed, resulting from competing visions for its future. This week, we're releasing a two-part series that explores why this conflict erupted and how it played out. For this, Dan is joined by Dr Thomas Leahy, Lecturer in British and Irish Politics and Contemporary History at Cardiff University.In this first episode, we trace more than 750 years of British-Irish history to uncover how centuries of religious tension, social division and political strife laid the foundations for this conflict.Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.