Beaty Rubens, an author and former BBC radio producer, dives into the transformative power of radio in British homes from 1922 to 1939. She shares touching stories about how families connected over their radios, shaping dynamics between generations and genders. Rubens highlights radio's pivotal role during the 1926 general strike and its influence on women's evolving roles in society. As contemporary audio consumption evolves, she reflects on radio's journey from beloved companion to a crucial source of news and community engagement.
52:57
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Radio's Original Purpose
Broadcasting was not the initial intent of radio technology, which was for ship-to-shore communication.
The concept of broadcasting emerged later and revolutionized mass home entertainment.
insights INSIGHT
Radio's Rapid Growth and Research
Radio in 1922 started with 150,000 listeners, growing to 34 million by 1939.
Advertisements, cartoons, and rare audience research reveal real listener experiences and perceptions.
question_answer ANECDOTE
General Strike Boosted Radio
During the 1926 General Strike, the BBC was allowed to broadcast news multiple times daily, breaking previous restrictions.
People shared wireless sets publicly, finding new trust and reliance on radio news.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
B.D. Rubens's "Listen In" offers a captivating exploration of radio's transformative impact on British homes between 1922 and 1939. The book delves into the personal experiences of listeners, showcasing their adoption of this revolutionary technology and how it reshaped family dynamics, gender roles, and national identity. Through anecdotes and historical analysis, Rubens reveals how radio became an integral part of daily life, influencing everything from news consumption to entertainment and social interactions. The narrative highlights the evolution of radio broadcasting, from its initial use as a communication tool to its role as a primary source of information and entertainment. Ultimately, "Listen In" provides a rich and nuanced understanding of radio's profound influence on British society.
Radio, today, can feel like a faithful old companion, but its early history was sensational. Between 1922 and 1939, British life was transformed by what was known as the Radio Craze. Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home(Bodleian Library, 2025) expresses what the radio's arrival signified at a personal level. This narrative history recounts the perspective of listeners who adopted the then radical form of communication technology, invested in their first-ever gadgets, and tuned in by their firesides to outside voices, music, SOS calls, the Pips, news, sports, royalty, and innovative radiogenic comedy. Listen In also traces how radio affected family life by exploring whether it altered dynamics between children and adults, changed relationships between women and men, as well as affected class and a wider sense of nationhood.
Packed with touching stories and anecdotes, Listen In comes at a timely moment when traditional linear radio is shifting, and the experience of how people consume audio is once again transforming.
New Books in Sociology