Podcast appearances and mentions of mary ann ochota

Mary-Ann Ochota is a broadcaster, anthropologist, and writer known for her work on Time Team and books on archaeology and the British landscape. “Archaeology is ultimately about people – the stories of people in the past and how they lived their lives.”Mary-Ann discusses her visits to Chernobyl, British henges and the Australian Simpson Desert; exploring themes of resilience and environmental recovery. “One of the big misconceptions is that archaeology is just about digging things up.”She shares insights on ancient British sites and the broader implications of sustainable development and access to nature. We discuss her role as president of the Countryside Charity and her thoughts on the future of rural development are highlighted, along with her creative writing process and advice for connecting with nature.“We're all living on top of layers of history, whether we realise it or not.”Transcript and links: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2025/4/4/mary-ann-ochota-adventure-resilience-unveiling-hidden-histories-archeology-and-the-ancient-world-podcastSummary Contents:00:31 Exploring Chernobyl's Impact04:59 The Resilience of Nature05:55 Adventures in the Simpson Desert13:56 Ancient Sites in the UK17:10 Access to Nature and Social Barriers31:56 The Ridgeway National Trail38:33 Exploring the Purpose of Henges39:29 Ancient Feasts and Food Waste40:15 Reevaluating Ancient Civilizations44:32 Imagination and Environmental Crisis47:53 Balancing Hope and Realism50:06 Writing Process and Creative Challenges01:04:24 Sustainable Development and Land Use01:11:32  Life Advice 

Welcome to this weeks Wessex Ways Podcast in visual format! This week we talk with Mary-Ann Ochota. All The links mentioned in The Podcast The BBC Radio 4 episode on military veterans doing archaeology https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006dth And signed copies of Mary-Ann's books! https://www.maryannochota.com/books/ The charity behind the work: Breaking Ground Heritage https://breakinggroundheritage.org.uk/ Right to Roam https://www.righttoroam.org.uk/ Recent Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/feb/24/road-to-ruins-how-i-discovered-the-magic-of-archaeology Mary-Ann's Socials and website: https://www.maryannochota.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MaryAnnOchota https://twitter.com/MaryAnnOchota https://www.instagram.com/maryannochota Social Media: Paul Twitter and Instagram: @ PaulWhitewick Hedley @ Thorneh @ Hedley_Thorne

The term “narwhal” derives from the old Nordic for “nár + hvalr”, meaning corpse + whale, which, for these animals, is quickly becoming prophetic. Climate change, with its accompanying increase in human marine activity, has led to the Arctic Ocean becoming noisier. As narwhal rely on sound to communicate and navigate their surroundings, this could result in the extinction of populations like East Greenland's narwhal by as soon as 2025. Mary-Ann Ochota investigates how this issue is at once political, cultural, and environmental and speaks to the scientists, traditional hunters, and activists, who are seeking a solution.

Mary-Ann Ochota joins a group of walkers, riders and horses as in the Scottish Highlands as they follow St Columba's Way, a pilgrim route from St Andrew's to Iona. Starting at the village of Killin, eleven people and four horses – Istia, Kirsty, Moy and Sasha - follow the old ways through Glen Lochay and Glen Lyon to the Bridge of Orchy. It's a trip organised by The Big Hoof, a group which promotes adventure and wellbeing through long journeys travelling with horses, on both new routes and ancient ones. Participants join the journey for as long as they want - on foot, horseback or bicycle. Mary-Ann meets the people who have decided to take part in this secular pilgrimage, discovers the healing power of walking with horses and strangers, learns why it's not about simply riding horses but travelling with them as companions, and hears more about the Venture Trust, the charity the group is raising money for. Produced and presented by Mary-Ann Ochota

Today, we're out for a walk to celebrate an anniversary. The Ridgeway is sometimes referred to as England's oldest road — and this year also marks its 50th anniversary as a designated National Trail. But how far back into history does this track go? What can you find along its route? And what is its link to the summer solstice? Joining us to show us the way are anthropologist, TV presenter and author Mary-Ann Ochota and English Heritage properties historian Dr Jennifer Wexler. To find out more about The Ridgeway or plan your own walk along the National Trail, go to www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway. To find out more about the Uffington Castle — White Horse and Dragon Hill or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/uffington-castle-white-horse-and-dragon-hill. To discover how you can take part in scouring the White Horse, in August 2023, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/white-horse-hill/events/c48bd919-77da-4d2a-9e46-500ef63fcd9b

Mary-Ann Ochota is an anthropologist and broadcaster. She is fascinated by what it means to be human and why we behave as we do. Her work has taken her around the world from the poorest parts of Dhaka and Delhi to the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster zone. She has lived with Yak herders in the high plains of Tibet and sailed across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Closer to home, she's written two books about British archaeology, full of tips on how to read the landscape from ancient burial mounds to medieval woodlands. Landscapes have inspired some of her musical choices – from the Scottish Highlands to Mount Fuji in Japan.

Should we all engage in a radical cull? Listen to find out.Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWe are attached to things. Our dwellings are packed with items we rarely throw out. Things have traditionally given us comfort but they also give us status. The wealthy often collect things for no other purpose than to own them. But in an age when the great majority of us have too much, when cupboards are full of clothes we do not wear, shelves with books we do not read, is it not time to end this obsession? Might the status of the future come from being free of objects and clutter, focusing instead on experience and the natural world? Or are things our only link with the past, and a necessary part of who we are?Behavioural scientist Paul Dolan, senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University Steve Taylor and British broadcaster and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota debate the status of things. Eliane Glaser hosts.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=the-status-of-thingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Take a wander along on of Britain's oldest roads: the Ridgeway. TV presenter, writer and archaeologist Mary-Ann Ochota is the patron of the Ridgeway National Trail, and takes host Fergus on a circular walk from the stone circle at Avebury onto mysterious Fyfield Down before walking along the Ridgeway to magnificent West Kennet Long barrow – where a big surprise is awaiting them in the prehistoric burial mound. Photograph by Oliver Edwards.This is episode 2 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in NatureContact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.comWrite to us:Plodcast, CountryfileEagle HouseBristol BS1 4ST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Storytelling is not just about entertainment. Now, and especially in the past, the purpose of story has also been to educate, to inform, and to place us within our own culture, time, place and landscape.In a new collaboration, TV presenter and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota teams up with professional storyteller Jason Buck to provide historical interpretation of real-world artefacts and archaeological sites through story, blending the facts with creative retellings of possible events which might lie behind them.In the episode of The Folklore Podcast, folklorist Mark Norman discusses the use of folk tale and story in this way with Mary-Ann and Jason. The episode also features four of their stories by way of example.The Folklore Podcast is an official podcast of the Folklore Library and Archive, a volunteer-led organisation dedicated to preserving our folklore for the future. Please help us to continue in this work, please visit www.thefolklorepodcast.com/support to learn about ways that you can assist us.

Running 12500km from the Arctic Circle to the borders of Greece, the European Greenbelt is one of the most ambitious conservation schemes ever devised. The idea was to use the no man's land of the Iron Curtain that divided Communist East from Capitalist West as a wildlife corridor to allow rare and endangered species to travel unimpeded across the continent. On the 20th anniversary of the Greenbelt, the writer and anthropologist, Mary-Ann Ochota takes to the road, from the industrialised peat bogs of Finland through the Baltic states and Germany's dying forests to the peasant farms of the southern Balkans. The wildlife of these borderlands is rich and varied but the conservationists feel that they're battling forces bigger than those that created the Iron Curtain in the first place. Producer: Alasdair Cross

On this episode of Dewbs & Co. Ben Habib & Mary Ann-Ochota join Michelle to look at all the today's big stories.Have the SNP been a failure or a success for Scotland? How should Rishi Sunak or Lizz Truss deal with Nicola Sturgeon when they come into power?With wages falling and record numbers on Universal Credit, is it even worth going into work anymore?Royal Navy are considering stopping patrolling the Channel next year, what effect could this have on the migrant crisis?All that on today's episode of Dewbs & Co. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Dewbs & Co. Mary Ann-Ochota & Alex Deane join Michelle to look at all the today's big stories.Is it right that Rishi Sunak & Liz Truss are being compared to Margaret Thatcher? Is that right or is it a hiding to nothing?Why are people scared of using the word 'women'? Is it the future or just weird and wrong?WIth the planned asylum centre that is no longer, what should we do with asylum seekers? Would you take them into your community?All that on today's episode of Dewbs & Co. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Dewbs & Co. Peter Hitchens, Columnist for Daily Mail & Mary-Ann Ochota, Anthropologist join Michelle to look at all the today's big stories.Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are the final two left in the Conservative leadetship race, but who do you want as your PM?With it being announced 50,000 hours were spent on it, should it be the police's job to deal with mental health issues? And the plan to end the 'postcode lottery' for IVF treatmentAll that on today's episode of Dewbs & Co. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

The borders of the Balkans have been splintered, cracked and remade countless times over centuries. Suspicions and hatreds, ancient and modern, still scar the landscape. Travelling through the southernmost regions bisected by the Iron Curtain, Mary-Ann Ochota meets the conservationists convinced that a shared love of the region's landscape and wildlife can heal division. From Trieste in Italy, a staging post for generations of refugees- including the Ukranian exodus of 2022- she travels south-east to Lake Prespa where North Macedonia, Greece and Albania meet. Conflict and poverty have driven people from this beautiful place but in their absence nature has thrived. Can joint efforts to protect the region's bears, lynx and endemic fish and flora boost the economy and persuade the young people to stay and the diaspora to return? (Photo: Three Cold War borders meet in the centre of Lake Prespa, one of the most wildlife-rich places in Europe)

In May 1952 East Germany sealed its entire border with the capitalist west. Over the next 37 years 75,000 people would be arrested trying to flee the Communist East and hundreds would die in the attempt. Today the barbed wire and machine guns are gone and the old border has been transformed into a protected wildlife zone. It's a home to lynx, wolf and wildcat and a vital corridor for migrating birds and mammals. Mary-Ann Ochota begins her journey along the old border, meeting the people doing their bit to turn a birdwatcher's fantasy into the world's longest nature reserve. (Photo: Mary-Ann Ochota walks the route of the Iron Curtain through central Germany)

Mary-Ann is a broadcaster, anthropologist and lover of the outdoors. She mostly makes TV shows about archaeology and anthropology, and her work has taken her from yak herders' camps on the Tibetan plateau to the slums of Dhaka in Bangladesh, the deserts of Australia and crofters' cottages on the Scottish islands.    She's currently pinned in one place (give or take) by two small children, and is working out ways to live an adventurous life with kids and a mortgage.    Mary-Ann is also passionate about helping people from diverse backgrounds find outdoor adventures, and challenging the systems that mean access isn't equal for all. She's a hillwalking ambassador for the British Mountaineering Council, and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out.    To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.    Show Notes Who is Mary-Ann in her own words Growing up in Cheshire loving outdoors Learning and working with adults as a kid Wanting to be a vet back then How she got into Anthropology Her first research as an Anthropologist Challenges getting on adventures as a mum of two kids Joining a 40-day expedition in the Simpson Desert in Australia Making positive choices rather than missing out Her role as the British Mountaineering Council's hillwalking ambassador 'Finding Our Way' Podcast and what this is about Celebrating people who are making a difference Seeing Sarah Williams as a role model Being inspired by Izzy Lynch and Tessa Treadway of Motherload Getting into more detail about her role as a Royal Geographical Society fellow Future challenges she would like to take on Wanting to hike the Cape Wrath Trail Her goal of travelling more in the east and west of Africa Wishing to go on a long journey with horses Spending time with the yak herders Having deep connections with animals and landscapes Biggest challenges she faced in her 20's Budget and travel with confidence Gender and safety Final words or advice   Social Media   Website: www.maryannochota.com    Instagram: @Maryannochota    Twitter: @MaryAnnOchota   

On this episode of Dewbs & Co. author and political commentator Alex Deane, Professor of Political Economy & International Relations Lee Jones, and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota join Michelle Dewbury to take on the top stories in an authentic, unvarnished and unashamed way on the side of the unheard.Around 8,000 British troops are due to be sent to Eastern Europe in a show of strength against Russia. Yet again, the UK are leading the way - should we be?You might have seen the notes that Jacob Reece Mogg was leaving on the empty desks of civil servants. He's now shared a picture of the offices - it's literally a ghost town. Michelle says, get back to the office!And there's calls to stop expelling kids from primary schools. If a kid in the same class as your child was being unruly, wouldn't you want them out?All that and more on today's episode of Dewbs & Co. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hidden Histories: A Spotter's Guide to the British LandscapeFrom pathways, bridges and old houses, to hedges, churches, graveyards and field patterns left behind by medieval ploughmen, Mary-Ann Ochota helps decipher the story of our environment through the features we see around us and arms the amateur explorer with the crucial information needed to ‘read' the landscape and spot the human activities that have shaped our green and pleasant land. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Knowing how COVID-19 emerged is critical for informing global strategies to prevent future outbreaks. But the story of how it originated can differ wildly depending on who you ask. In this special episode of This Study Shows, our hosts Mary-Ann Ochota and Danielle George, explore what the biggest science story of recent years can teach us about how science communication operates in society. Joining the discussion are Dr Benhur Lee, Professor of Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York; journalist Ian Birrell; psychologist Professor Karen Douglas; and Yanzhong Huang, Senior Fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations.

In this one we explore the stigma of mental illness, what exactly Mental Health First Aid is, and the importance of expedition leaders who can support mental health as well as deal with broken legs and snake bites. Stu Skinner is an experienced expedition leader, mental health first aid provider and the founder of the charity Changing Horizons. He wants us to normalise conversations about mental health, break the taboo of suicide and is passionate about the mental health benefits of outdoor activity. Content information: In our conversation, Stu talks about experiencing mental health challenges including suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide. He also explains he lost a friend to suicide. There are no details about the events. Stu also talks about recovery, hope and the importance of talking to each other and breaking down stigma. Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast Find Stu on Instagram @OfTalesOnTrails and his charity at www.ChangingHorizons.org If you need to talk to someone, call Samaritans on 116 123 for free, at any time. You can also find help at www.samaritans.org For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/ https://www.mind.org.uk For further information about Mountain Training's courses including Hill & Mountain Skills and the Mountain Leader qualification, please visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/. For information on funding available to support course attendance visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/bursaries-for-our-qualifications. Finding Our Way is sponsored by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch. Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we get some good views and good vibes with founder of outdoor network Steppers UK, Cherelle Harding. We hear how the music of Bob Marley brought her a new appreciation of nature, why outdoor upskilling is key to making change stick, and what needs to be done to improve nature connection in urban areas. Cherelle is the founder of Steppers UK, a community group based in the Midlands, focused on encouraging more people from under-represented backgrounds into outdoor activities including walking.  In this episode of Finding Our Way, Cherelle, a young woman of Black Caribbean ethnicity talks about racism, feeling safe in the countryside and her work to improve the representation and confidence of people from black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities, as well as barriers for people living in urban areas.  Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast-cherelle-harding Find Steppers UK on Instagram @Steppers_UK  For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/discrimination-because-of-race-religion-or-belief/ For further information about Mountain Training's courses including Hill & Mountain Skills and the Mountain Leader qualification, please visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/. For information on funding available to support course attendance visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/bursaries-for-our-qualifications. Finding Our Way is supported by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch. Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we talk about how to make clubs more inclusive, the joy of maps, getting qualified as an outdoor leader and how a supportive community with common interests can build confidence, skills and a lifetime of outdoor connection. Rob Mitchell is a mountain leader for Outdoor Lads, a UK-wide community who run a range of sociable outdoor activities for gay, bi and trans guys. In this episode of Finding Our Way Rob, a gay man, talks about discrimination linked to homophobia. He also talks about the importance of a supportive community to help individuals deal with stress and life challenges.  Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast-rob-mitchell Follow Outdoor Lads on Instagram @OutdoorLads and at www.outdoorlads.com For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit: https://www.stonewall.org.uk For further information about Mountain Training's courses including Hill & Mountain Skills and the Mountain Leader qualification, please visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/. For information on funding available to support course attendance visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/bursaries-for-our-qualifications. Finding Our Way is sponsored by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch. Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we head to the high mountains to discuss the Death Zone, climbing – and falling – on Everest, attempting K2, inspiring non-climbers, and the pressure and dangers of dropping weight to climb harder. Bonita Norris has summited three of the world's 8000m peaks and retains the record as the youngest British woman to climb both Everest and reach the North Pole. She's also written candidly about suffering from bulimia as a teenager. In this episode of Finding Our Way Bonita talks about eating disorders, eating habits and body image amongst climbers. She also describes falling and getting injured on Everest.  Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast-bonita-norris  Follow Bonita on Instagram @BonitaNorris http://www.bonita-norris.com For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/eating-disorders/overview/ https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk Finding Our Way is supported by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch. Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we talk about the importance of decent kit, being paid to do cool stuff, the problem with the term ‘BAME' and why building relationships with the whole community matters with outdoor instructor and community mentor Rehna Yaseen. She discovered a passion for outdoor activities in her teens and now helps other young people find their own passion for the ‘great outdoors' as the leader of the Ashton Youth Club in Greater Manchester.  In this episode of Finding Our Way, Rehna, a young Muslim woman from a British Pakistani community, talks about inequalities linked to gender and ethnic minority communities. She describes some of the pressures that women from South Asian communities can feel.  Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast-rehna-yaseen Follow Rehna on Instagram @outdoors_with_rehna https://www.lindleyeducationaltrust.org/social-investment/ For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/discrimination-because-of-race-religion-or-belief/ For further information about Mountain Training's courses including Hill & Mountain Skills and the Mountain Leader qualification, please visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/. For information on funding available to support course attendance visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/bursaries-for-our-qualifications. Finding Our Way is supported by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch. Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @TeamBMC on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we sit down with Glasgow-based photographer and filmmaker Euan Ryan to talk getting hit by rocks, why climbing is a strange sport full of brilliant people, mental health journeys, chronic illness, hidden disabilities and the taboo of ‘poo issues'. Euan has documented para-climbers on the Eiger, climbing with autism, and the mental healing that climbing can offer in his most recent film, ‘We Need to Talk About Kev'. He also suffers from Crohn's disease, a painful and sometimes debilitating inflammatory bowel condition.  In this episode of Finding Our Way, Euan, who suffers from Crohn's Disease, talks about his chronic illness, managing a diagnosis and treatment.  Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast-euan-ryan Follow Euan on Instagram @FinalCruxFilms & watch his films https://vimeo.com/finalcruxfilms https://www.finalcruxfilms.com For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease  https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk https://www.noteverydisabilityisvisible.org.uk Finding Our Way is supported by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch. Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @TeamBMC on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

The power of the outdoors can be transformative. Connecting with new experiences and like-minded people through walking, climbing and mountaineering creates powerful communities and lifelong memories.  We want to diversify the people we normally hear talking about the outdoors, celebrate their stories, shine a light on their insights, and create a place for discussion, inclusion and practical advice. So welcome to Finding Our Way, a podcast that aims to be thought-provoking, upbeat and entertaining. Finding Our Way is brought to you by the British Mountaineering Council and proudly supported by Berghaus. It's hosted and produced by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The artwork is by Neil Arch. Season 1 launches on 22nd September 2021 – follow now on your podcast app so you don't miss an episode. Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @team_BMC on Twitter and @teamBMC on Instagram with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

Explore the extensive earthworks or Knowlton Circles in Dorset and the eerie ruined church at their centre. Archaeologist, anthropologist and broadcast Mary-Ann Ochota looks for answers in this ancient landscapes and meets local people with tales of strange encounters within the circles. Find out more in Mary's new book: Secret Britain: Unearthing Our Mysterious Past See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join archaeologist, anthropologist and broadcaster Mary-Ann Ochota on the Dorset downs as she ventures across an ancient landscape of mysterious pathways, burial mounds and unexplained earthworks. She's on a quest to explore the secrets of enigmatic Knowlton Circles - a little-known neolithic henge. Mary-Ann is the author of Secret Britain: Unearthing Our Mysterious Past. Afterwards, join the Plodcast team to talk about the adventure and a very special listeners' Sound of the Week. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join us for 13 thrilling adventures of discovery as we head out into the countryside to explore ancient sites, hear haunting tales and enjoy atmospheric walks in strange and beautiful places.Guests includes archaeologist Mary-Ann Ochota, walker and writer Christopher Somerville, nature writer Nicola Chester, treasure hunter Lara Maiklem, writer Tom Cox and many See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is sponsored by The North Face®️. In episode 18 we speak to Mary-Ann Ochota, she is a broadcaster and anthropologist who spends a lot of time outdoors! She's a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a hiking ambassador for the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and likes nothing more than exploring the British countryside – whether that's rolling farmland trails, remote archaeological remains or a scrambly mountain ridge line. Over the past couple of years, she's particularly focused on trying to help improve diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. You can read some of her thoughts here: https://www.advnture.com/features/diversity-in-the-outdoors and check out the ideas that a panel of outdoor influencers (including BTR cofounder Marcus!) came up with following a panel event hosted by Arcteryx: https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_lN7DQKo=/. Later this year she'll also be launching Finding Our Way, a new podcast from the BMC, championing diverse voices. Keep an eye out for it! Mary-Ann's also written books on history and archaeology, including Hidden Histories: A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape which helps you puzzle out all those lumps and bumps and historical features you might spot on your trail runs. Follow Mary-Ann on twitter and instagram @MaryAnnOchota or at www.MaryAnnOchota.com

We celebrate the 100th episode of The Folklore Podcast with special guest Mary-Ann Ochota who joins us to discuss the theme of folklore in the landscape. We cover archaeology, anthropology, the importance of communal spaces and much more. Please visit our website at www.thefolklorepodcast.com where you will find a variety of ways to support all of The Folklore Podcast's projects and we move into our next 100 shows.

Welcome back to My Seven Wonders with Clive Anderson! Each week, Clive welcomes a famous guest and dives into the depths of their character with a simple question: if you could choose your own seven wonders of the world, what would they be?Anthropologist and broadcaster Mary-Ann Ochota is Clive’s guest this week. Mary-Ann lives an adventurous life, and her range of wonders show it. In this episode, Clive finds out about toilet twinning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the chocolate bar that got Mary-Ann through a particularly arduous sailing trip.If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How many times have you been out for a walk and spotted intriguing shapes in the landscape? Your instinct tells you that these dips, hollows, lumps, bumps and oddly shaped stones aren’t natural features, but what on (and under) the earth are they? Mary-Ann Ochota is an anthropologist who writes about these curious archaeological forms and how to understand them. In her book, Hidden Histories, she shows how anyone can become a landscape detective, and start to read the history of the countryside from the clues around them. On today’s Ramblings she takes Clare Balding for a walk around the Pegsdon Hills on the Hertfordshire-Bedfordshire border, and through 6000 years of British history. Grid Ref for where we parked: TL133301 Producer: Karen Gregor

The whole Podcast Radio Hour team - Amanda Litherland, Chris Pearson, Moy McGowan and Laura Grimshaw - come together to share the podcasts that give them hope, happiness and inspiration. Laura speaks to comedian Charlie George and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota about Happiness and How To Get It, an Audible Original series where they test out happiness tips designed by experts. Moy recommends The Jane Goodall Hopecast, where the world reknowned primatologist and anthropologist speaks to individuals who are helping to create a better world. Chris speaks to Alex Melia about Our Voices In The NHS, a podcast celebrating healthcare workers and their inspirational stories. And we read out some listeners suggestions of podcasts that bring them hope and happiness: The Horne Section Podcast Nobody Panic Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe's Lockdown Parenting Hel‪l‬ 39 Ways To Save The World Whiterabbitpresents - How To Be Hopeful Seize Your Adventure The Offcuts Drawer Creative Sauce with Andi Osho email the team with your suggestions - podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk

For the vast majority of the 200,000 years humans have been on the earth, let alone its first 4.6 billion years of existence, the sonic story has been a fleeting, unrepeatable live show. Miss it, and you missed out. But now, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated cohort of scientists, historians and musicians, some of the world's most weird and wonderful ‘lost sounds’ are making a comeback. Mary-Ann Ochota meets the people who are bringing sounds of the past to life through the technology of the present. Professor Julia Clark of Texas University takes issue with Hollywood’s presentation of dinosaur sounds and has been reconstructing the sound of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. She’s identified a voice box in an early bird fossil, revealing clues about vocal structures in dinosaurs. By studying crocodilians, she has a partial glimpse at dinosaur sound-making. Combining them together, then adjusting the frequency to match the size of the massive T-Rex, Julia has given us a better understanding of how the world’s largest land carnivore may have sounded. Domenico Vicinanza is a scientist and music composer at Anglia Ruskin University who is pioneering data sonification: a computer modelling process that turns data into sounds to give voice to inaudible vibrations from the Earth’s atmosphere. We hear about his latest project creating music from infrasonic measurements captured at Yellowstone National Park in America. Oscillations of the Earth's eruptions are translated into a frequency range we can actually hear, as flute music pieces. It wasn’t until the 19th century that we first began to capture sounds, but those early efforts were also lost to time, until recently. Patrick Feaster and David Giovannoni have been at the forefront of discovering the oldest sound recordings of the human voice. When they began, the earliest sound anyone could hear was from 1888. In 2008 they pushed that date back 28 years and in so doing showed that it wasn’t the American Thomas Edison who first recorded sound on his phonograph as previously thought, but the Frenchman Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, who made the world's first recordings of airborne sounds in Paris on a machine he called a phonautograph. Finally, Emily Thompson is a member of a growing community of historians who’ve turned their attention to the aural landscape, interrogating the materiality and texture of our sonic worlds. Emily explains how she brought alive the soundscape of 1920s New York City through a multimedia database of audio recordings, video and documented noise complaints from the Roaring Twenties, breathing new life into a lost world. Special thanks to the University of South Carolina and the Municipal Archives, City of New York for use of their archives. To hear more sounds from the Roaring Twenties, visit nycitynoise.com. Cover Image: www.firstsounds.org Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota Produced by Melissa FitzGerald A Blakeway production for BBC Radio 4

We chat with Mary-Ann Ochota about life as an Anthropologist and Broadcaster. Anthropology is is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, and societies, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of behaviour and cultural anthropology studies cultural meaning, including norms and values. Mary-Ann had originally wanted to become a vet but after watching a documentary about mountaineering archaeologists finding an Incan human sacrifice she was hooked on the idea of uncovering peoples stories and the differences between cultures. Mary-Ann has had some amazing opportunities in her career so far such as working on a number of tv shows, one being Time Team, making radio documentaries and writing three books, her latest being "Secret Britain" which explores the mysteries behind more than 70 of Britain's most intriguing ancient places and artefacts. Mary-Ann makes a very good point about the need to develop good communication skills whatever career you go into, even those in academia and research where the need to convince organisations or the government to fund projects is just as important as doing the work itself. Brilliant advice for anyone thinking of going into Broadcasting or an academic subject like Anthropology. A real pleasure to chat with Mary-Ann.

Clive Anderson and Nikki Bedi are joined by Adrian Lester, Mary-Ann Ochota, Alice Levine and Nina Sosanya for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Colorama and Loony.

A geographical exploration of Britain's mysterious past | Mary-Ann Ochota by Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

The journey to change someone's mind is a long and winding road. It takes passion, resilience, and hope, as we learn from Juliana Chan, founder of Asian Scientist Magazine, Per Espen Stoknes, author of What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming, and James Honeyborne, producer of Blue Planet. Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota and Professor Danielle George. Produced by Listen Entertainment.

This week we're joined by anthropologist and author Mary-Ann Ochota to discover the history hiding in plain sight in the English landscape. These features include everything from burial mounds, hill forts and stone circles, to figures carved into chalk hills and the network of ancient paths that crisscross the country. Listen on to learn about the relics the Romans left behind, the legacy of the enclosures and how easy it is to ‘read' the landscape today. To order a signed copy of Mary-Ann's book, Hidden Histories: A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape, go to www.maryannochota.com/apps/webstore To discover more about how England has been shaped by different influences over time, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/voicesofengland

Vulnerability gives us power. Sharing science openly while embracing failure and critique is what makes research strong. Listen to what Rackeb Tasfeye, founder of Broad Science, Chris Banks, Director of Library Service at Imperial College London, and Kathryn Sharples, Senior Open Access Director at Wiley, have to say. Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota and Professor Danielle George. Produced by Listen Entertainment. 

Can laughter and research go hand in hand? Are creativity and imagination central to helping the public understand research? Dominic Walliman, author of Professor Astro Cat, Sophie Scott, neuroscientist and stand up comic, and Sathyaraj Venkatesan, a contributor to Graphic Medicine, are here to say yes.  Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota and Professor Danielle George. Produced by Listen Entertainment. 

You're standing in the wings, waiting to take the stage and share your story and your research with the world. Are you scared? After talking with Liz Neeley, Executive Director of the Story Collider, Kat Kerlin, press officer at UC Davis, and Irene Robles, creator of PubHD, we think that fear will turn into excitement. Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota and Professor Danielle George. Produced by Listen Entertainment. 

Our hypothesis: when people have the chance to participate in research, they understand it better and trust it more. Do the secrets to a more engaged public lie with Kolbi Brown, of the NIH's All of Us program, or Els Baeten, a citizen scientist at Galaxy Zoo, or with Sarah McAnulty, the founder of Skype a Scientist? Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota and Professor Danielle George. Produced by Listen Entertainment. 

We're back for season two and we want to know how science communication makes you feel. Empathy is the name of the game this season, as we explore why research sometimes makes people angry, why emotional connections lead to greater understanding, and why we should never forget about hope. We've all had those frustrating conversations about whether or not the facts are the facts. Whether arguing over evidence feels like an interrogation or makes you feel like screaming into a pillow, our guests Naomi Oreskes, author of Why Trust Science, Rick Potts, Director of the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program, and Jim Hilbert, of the Expert Witness Training Academy, have tips to help you win over your critics. Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota and Professor Danielle George. Produced by Listen Entertainment. 

Welcome to ‘The Bakery Bears Video Show' featuring ‘Walking the Dales Ep. 1' Join us in this episode for:  (1 min 16 secs) “Welcome”   Kay mentioned Finally by CeCe Peniston https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finally_(CeCe_Peniston_song) Kay mentioned her ‘My Favourite Colourways' show which debuted last episode https://youtu.be/c8QEeYHFFHQ  Watch Kays complete yarn dying series here https://www.patreon.com/posts/bakery-bears-1-8264448  We mentioned the ‘Fairywings' sock pattern https://bakerybears.com/fairywings/ Watch Kays Design Diary here https://www.patreon.com/posts/design-diary-1-28048329  The Bakery Bears Radio Show will be back in July https://bakerybears.com/listen/  2. (10 mins 09 secs) “Whats on YOUR needles” https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-bakery-bears/2955474/976-1000#1000  Kay was knitting :  Granny Square Blanket https://bakerybears.com/fairywings/ in yarn from http://sherryiris.com   Learn to hand wind yarn Kays way https://www.patreon.com/posts/tutorial-special-29309318  Find out how Kay is joining her squares in this tutorial https://www.patreon.com/posts/crochet-tutorial-21511559  Find out how Kay creates her squares in this tutorial https://www.patreon.com/posts/tutorial-special-33005337  Snuggle Down Cowl https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snuggle-down-cowl  Watch Kays Sherry Iris yarn review here https://www.patreon.com/posts/knit-along-with-30749947  Cowboys and Angels https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cowboys-and-angels  Watch Kays ‘Life in the Long Grass' yarn review here https://www.patreon.com/posts/review-life-in-6473961  Watch Kays ‘Hiya Hiya Interchangeables Review' here https://www.patreon.com/posts/26567295  Dan was knitting :      Clayoquot https://www.ravelry.com/projects/ObiwanKnitter/clayoquot  Watch ‘Return to the Centre of the Yoke' here https://www.patreon.com/posts/25642771  Watch our Spit Splice tutorial special here https://www.patreon.com/posts/tutorial-special-16712072  Nutkin Socks in https://theuncommonthread.co.uk/collections/our-fingering-weight-yarns/products/tough-sock  Watch our ‘Blocking' tutorial series here https://www.patreon.com/posts/4433963  Dan mentioned ‘The Village fete' socks https://bakerybears.com/village-fete/  3. (48 min 39 secs) “Walking the Dales” - Episode 1 ‘The Stang Forest'  Find out more about Arkengarthdale here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkengarthdale  Dan referenced Hidden Histories by Mary Ann Ochota https://www.maryannochota.com/hidden-histories  4. (1 hr 12 min 52 secs) “Whats OFF your Needles” https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-bakery-bears/2955477/2901-2925#2925  Queen Marys Cowl https://www.ravelry.com/projects/ObiwanKnitter/peano-no1  Watch our ‘Kitchener Stitch' tutorial special https://www.patreon.com/posts/magic-loop-sock-19749451  Fairywings Socks https://bakerybears.com/fairywings/ 5. (1 hr 25 min 33 secs) “Walking the Dales” - Episode 1 ‘The Stang Forest'  Watch the extended edition of the show here : coming at 9am BST 12/6/20  Catch up with the Pudding Club here https://www.patreon.com/posts/bakery-bears-32999411  6. (1hr 40 mins 41 secs) “Endy Bits!”    Knitability Issue 26 due out in the next week! https://bakerybears.com/read/  Watch Kays TedKnits UK yarn review here https://www.patreon.com/posts/review-ted-knits-36772903  Our DPN Socks Course is now underway here https://www.patreon.com/posts/dpn-socks-course-36772088  Kay showed yarn from https://rustyferretyarn.co.uk  HELP KEEP US ON AIR and become a Bakery Bear Patron - You could receive a subscription to our electronic magazine Knitability, exclusive patterns, over 200 tutorials, a monthly live Patron only show, Dan's Garment Knitting shows, Kay's review series and so much more, to find out more visit our Patreon Page : http://www.patreon.com/bakerybearspodcast For a whole new way to engage with the Bakery Bears visit https://bakerybears.com - All Kay's patterns can be found here https://bakerybears.com/patterns/ - Find our brand new radio show here https://bakerybears.com/listen/  Thank you so much for watching, we'll see you in two weeks for ‘The Bakery Bears featuring Pudding Club Ep.7!' If you wish to download the show, access it here : http://bakerybears.podbean.com - Apple users will find the show here : https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bakery-bears-podcast/id1051276128?mt=2 Follow the Bakery Bears on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bakerybears/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/bakerybears

This Study Shows is the new podcast from Wiley. The everyday world goes about its business ignoring research. But we need research – it can help us find big answers to the big questions our world is facing.  By transforming how we tell the story of science and building a foundation of trust and empathy, we can create a world where research captures the hearts of everyone. Hosted by Danielle George and Mary-Ann Ochota, each of our six episodes will ask the tough science communication questions: how? why? and so what? Subscribe to this feed now and you won't miss an episode.

Mary-Ann Ochota joins Archaeologist of the Year, Richard Osgood and his team of veterans and local archaeologists as they unearth Saxon artefacts and develop life changing skills. An idyllic site in Gloucestershire has yielded some important 6th Century artifacts and is vulnerable both to ploughing and ‘night hawking’. But what’s going on above ground is just as valuable as what lies beneath it. Lead by former Marine Dickie Bennet, ‘Breaking Ground Heritage (BGH)’ uses archaeology and heritage to develop projects that encourage physical and psychological well-being amongst former members of the armed forces. Working alongside trained archaeologists, participants bring their skills of attention to detail and resilience whilst also building their own recovery pathways, empowering them to regain control of their lives. Produced by Nicola Humphries Presented by Mary-Ann Ochota Photography by Harvey Mills More information on Breaking Ground Heritage can be found at www.breakinggroundheritage.org.uk

Achieve a level of outdoor awareness that will enable you to understand the landscape around you. Tristan Gooley shows how it is possible to sense direction from stars and plants, forecast weather from woodland sounds and predict the next action of an animal from its body language – instantly. Mary-Ann Ochota shares her archaeological expertise … Continue reading Reading the Landscape: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

Achieve a level of outdoor awareness that will enable you to understand the landscape around you. Tristan Gooley shows how it is possible to sense direction from stars and plants, forecast weather from woodland sounds and predict the next action of an animal from its body language – instantly. Mary-Ann Ochota shares her archaeological expertise … Continue reading Reading the Landscape: Stanfords Travel Writers Festival 2019

It is almost a year since Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain and their allies cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar. BBC Arabic journalist Owen Pinnell reveals how allegations of hacked websites, bot armies and other online dirty tricks have fuelled the ongoing tensions between the two sides. Fans of Harry Potter have been asking - just how many wizards live among us? We follow a trail of clues in J K Rowling's best-selling books to provide the definitive estimate of the wizarding population. And why do we believe complete strangers can guide us in improving every aspect of our lives? Mary-Ann Ochota explores whether the self-help industry really makes a difference. Photo Credit: Reuters

Why do we believe complete strangers can guide us in improving every aspect of ourselves. Mary-Ann Ochota explores whether the self-help industry really changes peoples' lives. Mary-Ann visits a self-improvement workshop, talks to the owner of an Indian finishing school and to two academics who spent a year in bitter competition as each attempted to outdo the other in self-improvement. (Image: Yes you can, Credit: Shutterstock)

Why do we have such a close and complex relationship with dogs? No matter whether you love or hate them, it's undeniable they've built up a special relationship with us that most animals haven't. On this episode of The Why Factor, we find out why dogs are so special. Mary-Ann Ochota delves into the emotion, science and history that sets them apart - be they friend, foe or food. (Image: Essex Search and Rescue, Credit: Gabriela Jones/BBC)

As Britain hosts the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markel, The World's Marriage Story asks why so many people across the world continue to place their faith in this old-age institution. While rates are falling across Europe, in south Asia and China, marriage is near-universal. Mary-Ann Ochota asks, are today's weddings are a one-to-one expression of romantic love? An explicit message to offspring already born? A sign that cultural and religious orthodoxy is being adopted by today's young? Or are marriages a desire to please parents and wider family?

Last month, ten people were killed in Toronto after a man drove a van into pedestrians. In a Facebook status before the attack, the suspect referred to an "Incel Rebellion”. "Incel" is short for "involuntarily celibate" and refers to groups of men who feel that they can't enter into sexual relationships. They frequently vent anger against sexually successful men ("Chads") and attractive women ("Stacys"). Incel forums include rants aimed at feminism and women, and some encourage violence. We take a closer look at this dark online subculture. The story goes that Amsterdam in the 1630s was gripped by a mania for tulip flowers, but then there was a crash in the market. People ended up bankrupt and threw themselves into canals. This story is still being trotted out as a financial market comparison to buying and selling bitcoin. But how much of what we know of the tulip craze is a myth? Why do people marry themselves? Is self-marriage the last resort for the lonely and self-obsessed? Or could a commitment to self-love be a radical new rite of passage? Mary-Ann Ochota finds out why this emerging phenomenon is so popular amongst women in particular, and why self-marriage can be either a meaningful act of self-love, or the ultimate cosplay, and sometimes both. (Photo Caption: Alek Minassian, the 25-year-old suspect in the Toronto van attack. Photo Credit: LinkedIn)

Why do people marry themselves – and what even is self-marriage? The Why Factor meets the self-married, who argue if marriage is about committing to an individual - to love and cherish, in sickness and in health - who better to commit to… than yourself? Mary-Ann Ochota finds out why this emerging phenomenon is so popular amongst women in particular. And why self-marriage can be either a radical act of self-love, or the ultimate cosplay. And sometimes both. (Image: Grace Gelder, Credit: Amy Grubb)

London’s murder rate is on the rise – and for the first time ever it has just overtaken New York’s, according to a number of media outlets. But is it true, and is it appropriate to compare between the two cities? North Korea has strict regulations about what types of information can be accessed by citizens inside the country, so why is it allowing overseas photographers to set up YouTube channels about some aspects of everyday life there? Plus, why is the internet being cut off again and again in the disputed north Indian state of Kashmir? According to one expert, a majority of restaurants fail in their first year. So why do so many people dream of opening a restaurant when the odds are stacked against them? Mary-Ann Ochota reports. (Photo: Police officers inspect the scene of a knife attack in London. Credit: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Why do so many people decide to open a restaurant? Mary-Ann Ochota speaks to the people who have been through the joys and stresses of serving fine food around the globe, those who are just embarking on the journey, and those who are exploring new and modern ways to serve food. However, according to Restaurant Consultant Linda Lipsky, a majority of restaurants fail in their first year. So why do so many people still dream of opening a restaurant when the odds are stacked against them? Can the reality ever match the fantasy? And why are so many people willing to risk it all to chase their dream? Presenter Mary-Ann Ochota Producers: Priscilla Ng'ethe & Chloe Hadjimatheou (Image: Restaurant Interior: Credit: Shutterstock)

Male circumcision is one of the oldest and most common surgical procedures in human history. Around the world, 1 in 3 men are cut. It’s performed as a religious rite in Islam and Judaism; in other cultures it’s part of initiation, a social norm or marker of identity. Some individuals think it’s cleaner, sexier or safer. In this documentary, anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota explores the reasons we cut men. She meets people who passionately promote the practice – and others who protest against it. Across sub-Saharan Africa, medical circumcision is endorsed in the fight against HIV – research shows it reduces the risk of a man getting infected if he has sex with an HIV-positive woman. More than 10 million men and boys have been circumcised so far; officials plan to reach another 25 million by 2020. In rural Uganda, Mary-Ann visits a mobile clinic to watch 21-year-old Wajuli undergo the operation. She meets another young man in Kampala who reveals his regret about getting cut. The United States is the only western country where most boys are circumcised for non-religious reasons – $270 million a year is spent on infant circumcision. In downtown New York, Mary-Ann meets ‘Intact-ivists’ who believe male circumcision is genital mutilation. She speaks to members of the public confronted with the protest, and interviews a leading US paediatrician who reflects on the reasons US doctors keep cutting. With contributions from Uganda’s national VMMC coordinator Dr Barbara Nanteza, Dr Marc Cendron (Boston Children’s Hospital) and Georganne Chapin, Intact America. Picture: Intactivist van in Union Square, New York, Credit: Nick Minter

How do you fake a trend on Twitter? “Grilled Lamb Delivery” was trending recently – but why would so many people talk about something so routine and mundane? As it turns out, one of the top trends in Saudi Arabia was being promoted by automated accounts – or “bots”. And it wasn’t an isolated occurrence.This week we find out how companies make it look like lots of real people are talking about a subject online. And what it means for Twitter’s list of top trends. Are Hollywood films ignoring women? In the 90th year of the Academy Awards we find out how many ‘Best Picture’ winners pass the Bechdel Test: are there at least two named female characters in the cast? Do those two women speak to each other? And do they have a conversation about something other than a man? We reveal the answer in collaboration with the BBC’s 100 Women team. Why are we so fascinated by dinosaurs and will our love affair with them endure? Mary–Ann Ochota finds out why this reptile beast has become part of our popular culture, as well hooking us into science. (image: Oscar Winners at the 2017 Academy Awards. Credit Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

They roamed our planet for millions of years before most of them were wiped out. So what's our fascination with the dinosaur? And will our love affair with them endure? Not only is this reptile beast loved by children across the world but it also fires our imagination and has become part of our popular culture, as well hooking us into science. Mary–Ann Ochota talks to Professor Paul Barrett, Natural History Museum, London about the history of the dinosaur; Dr Laverne Antrobus on why kids love this creature so much; Dr Ben Garrod, a self-confessed dinosaur Geek; Randy Kohl who has collected over 10,000 Dinosaur toys in his 63 years as well as Serena Korda, an artist inspired by the dinosaur. Presenter: Mary-Ann Ochota Producer: Smita Patel (Photo: Two dinosaurs fighting each other Credit: Shutterstock) Credit: “Apeing the Beast” music by Grumbling Fur (aka Alexander D Tucker and Daniel O'Sullivan)

Is the US census under threat? The United States are due to run their next nationwide census in 2020, but already critics are warning that under funding and a proposed question about citizenship could affect the accuracy of its results. Some conspiracy theories spread like wildfire online, despite the truth really being out there (and easily searchable) so what makes people continue to share conspiracies on social media? Why are more and more people giving up all food produced from animals? Mary-Ann Ochota explores the rise in veganism. She looks at how social media is helping spread the vegan message, the pros and cons of a solely plant based diet and whether eating meat today is ethical. (Photo: Concerned woman holding a clipboard and a pen. Credit: Nicolas McComber/Getty Images)

Why are more and more people giving up all food produced from animals? Mary-Ann Ochota explores if it's natural for us to eat meat, and the impact on our health and the environment. She looks at how social media is helping spread the vegan message, the pros and cons of a solely plant based diet and whether eating meat today is ethical. (Image: Selection of Vegan dishes, Credit: Shutterstock)

Two statistics from Nigeria: do lawmakers really get paid $1.7 m – much more than the American President and does eating yams give Yoruba communities a record number of twins? We talk to the fact checkers at Africa Check. We investigate connections between Moscow and “Calexit” groups that want to break up the United States. Also, the list of "sexual predator" professors that has sparked an online debate in India. Millions of people every year visit sites of death, tragedy and destruction, from nuclear disaster zones to genocide memorials. Is it an effort to understand the darker parts of our history, or are we just indulging our morbid curiosity? Mary-Ann Ochota investigates dark tourism. (Photo: Seven-year-old twin sisters Seye and Sayo on their way to a party in the south-western Nigerian town of Igbo-Ora. Photo credit: Pius Utomi Ekpei/Getty Images)

Millions of people every year visit sites of death, tragedy and destruction, from nuclear disaster zones to genocide memorials. Why do we go? Is it an effort to understand the darker parts of our history, or are we just indulging our morbid curiosity? Mary-Ann Ochota becomes a dark tourist herself to try and find out, visiting the former Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. She also goes to Grenfell Tower in west London, the scene of a deadly fire that tore through a residential apartment in the summer of 2017. Since the night the fire started, people with smartphones congregated to capture the moment and they are still coming. Mary-Ann speaks to local residents to find out about the impact and ethics of their visits. We also hear from Peter Hohenhaus, who is perhaps the ultimate dark tourist, having visited around 700 dark sites all over the world. (Image: Teenage tourists at Auschwitz, Credit: Getty Images)

Aasmah Mir and the Rev Richard Coles are joined by chef, restaurateur and TV presenter Rick Stein whose latest culinary journey has taken him to California and Mexico. Showjumper Nick Skelton went on to win Olympic Gold after breaking his neck in a fall. After 60 years, Lin Sunderland has fulfilled her ambition to become a lighthouse keeper. Mary-Ann Ochota has been travelling the waterways of Britain, discovering how boats have shaped our lives. Plus, Inheritance Tracks from musician Nitin Sawhney. Nitin chooses So What by Miles Davis and Mustt Mustt by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Massive Attack remix). The Road to Mexico by Rick Stein is published by BBC Books. Gold by Nick Skelton is published by Orion. Britain Afloat presented by Mary-Ann Ochota is currently on BBC 2 , Saturdays at 8.00pm. Nitin Sawhney's latest project is the score for the film Breathe which is released on the 27th October.

A recent study says that male sperm count has declined by 50 per cent since 1973, so how worried should we be? We investigate claims that posts by Rohingya activists are being unfairly deleted by social media companies. And, some people condemn surrogacy as a dangerous industry that exploits the vulnerable, while others see it as a welcome solution to the heartache of infertility. Mary-Ann Ochota reports. (Image: Father with his daughter at breakfast time. Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Why would any woman choose to carry a baby for a total stranger? Modern medicine has enabled the childless to have a baby that's blood-related, by using another woman to carry the pregnancy to term. But what does it feel like to hand over a child that's been growing in your womb? And should money be involved? Some people condemn surrogacy as a dangerous industry that exploits the vulnerable. Others see it as a welcome solution to the heartache of infertility. Mary-Ann Ochota explores the emotional and ethical complexities of surrogacy and meets women from around the world who've chosen to give birth to babies for others. (Photo: Nadine, Credit: Nadine Burger)

Raising children is demanding. It takes time, money and devotion. So, why would anyone want to raise another person's child? In this edition of the Why Factor, Mary-Ann Ochota, explores what it means to be a parent. Can mothers who adopt or foster have the same connection to their children as a birth mother would? And, what does it say about human society that we choose to take in the offspring of others? (Photo: Family, Credit: Pressmaster/Shutterstock)

We discover how every shot at the Wimbledon tennis championships is counted, analysed and makes its way to our phones, desktops and TV screens. How useful is this information for players and their coaches? The statistics prove and disprove some of the received wisdom of the game. New Chinese regulations have resulted in a crackdown on online videos. Chinese censors have banned around 84 categories of material including prostitution, drug addiction, and extra marital affairs, and the classification of homosexuality as an 'abnormal' sexual activity has caused anger online. What drives women – and men – to choose to be childless, especially as they often face suspicion, abuse even, for being selfish or materialistic. Women, in particular, who decide not to have children can experience the full force of this near-universal stigma. Mary-Ann Ochota reports. (image: Venus Williams plays a backhand during the Ladies Singles at Wimbledon. Credit: Getty Images)

With increasing numbers of Westerners opting to have smaller families, some go one step further and decide to have no children at all. As a result they often face suspicion, abuse even, for being selfish or materialistic. Women, in particular, who decide to go childless, experience the full force of this near-universal stigma. Mary-Ann Ochota speaks to people who've made this often lonely decision. Presenter: Mary-Ann Ochota Producer: Rose de Larrabeiti (Photo: Empty old swings, Credit: Chailuk Chalathai/Shutterstock)

Edition 28 of the Walks Around Britain podcast features writer Gary Holpin on his South West Coast Path book, presenter & writer Mary-Ann Ochota chats about her book "Hidden Histories - A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape" and explorer Paul Rose talks about his new TV series about the South West Coast Path. For more information, visit the Walks Around Britain website - www.walksaroundbritain.co.uk Every edition of Walks Around Britain is available on demand on our "Netflix for Walking" Subscription website - with new editions added monthly.  Visit https://walksaroundbritain.vhx.tv (https://walksaroundbritain.vhx.tv/) for a free trial. Listen to our monthly walking and outdoors podcast - visit us at https://podfollow.com/walksaroundbritain or search for "Walks Around Britain" on your favourite podcast provider. To keep in touch with all our news, follow us on Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/WalksBritain Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WalksBritain and Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/WalksBritain

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from around the globe. This week, Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem recollects his last meeting with Shimon Peres, and assesses the late president's legacy; John Sweeney, trying to cover the bloody conflict in Syria, calls on unorthodox sources in Aleppo to do it; Mary-Ann Ochota explores the reality of contemporary life amid the yaks and motorbikes in the thin air and vast expanses of Tibet; Nick Thorpe in Budapest considers this Sunday's referendum in Hungary on EU migrants and how likely it is the country's prime minister will win the vote he has called; and Mary Margaronis travels to the Western Pyrenees to learn about the language which has so many words for rain.