This month Iszi presents the Members' exclusive lecture from Sir Barry Cunliffe and wonders how and why humans became seafarers. The human impulse to conquer the sea stems from an inbuilt urge to explore and is perhaps the driving force in human history.

The British Museum Membercast is a monthly podcast made available to ‘all studious and curious persons’. Comedian, podcaster and super-fan Iszi Lawrence (The Z List Dead List) presents snippets from exclusive Members’ lectures at the Museum, artfully woven together with interviews and her own musings.

Please share your comments and feedback about the podcast! You can talk to us on Twitter @britishmuseum using the hashtag #membercast or email friends@britishmuseum.org

021 The seaside (Part 1)