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Vanessa Heggie

Associate Professor in the History of Science and Medicine at the University of Birmingham's Department of Applied Health Science. Author of Higher and Colder on the history of extreme exploration.

Top 5 podcasts with Vanessa Heggie

Ranked by the Snipd community
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32 snips
Aug 22, 2025 • 59min

Kellogg Brothers: a family feud and the creation of a cereal empire

Join historian Vanessa Heggie and comedian Ed Byrne as they unravel the fascinating saga of the Kellogg brothers, John and Will. From their challenging childhood to inventing cornflakes, their story is a mix of sibling rivalry and health fads. Discover the bizarre medical treatments at the sanatorium and how their Seventh-day Adventist beliefs influenced their dietary ideologies. Delve into their contrasting legacies—one focused on philanthropy and the other on eugenics—while enjoying a mix of humor and insightful anecdotes throughout their tumultuous journey in the cereal industry.
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16 snips
Jun 27, 2025 • 29min

Arctic Exploration (Radio Edit)

Join Vanessa Heggie, a science columnist and author of 'Higher and Colder', alongside comedian Stu Goldsmith as they dive into the thrilling yet perilous history of Arctic exploration. They discuss the infamous search for the Northwest Passage, including the tragic Franklin expedition and its mysterious fate. Expect tales of explorers getting lost, the comical challenges of packing tinned food, and even the darker topics of survival and cannibalism. Their witty banter makes complex history relatable and engaging!
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6 snips
May 5, 2023 • 55min

Victorian Bodybuilding

Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Darren Harriot to learn about the bodybuilding boom of the 19th and 20th centuries.The latter part of the 19th century saw the beginning of a fitness craze where the seeds of the modern-day gym and fitness culture were sown. But physical fitness also tapped into other parts of the psyche of British society at the time. From concerns over the fighting fitness of the British army to the racist pseudoscience of eugenics, this novel leisure activity tells us a surprising amount about the societal and intellectual currents that existed in this period.Research by Caitlín Rankin-McCabe Written by Emma Nagouse, Caitlín Rankin-McCabe and Greg Jenner Produced by Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Assistant Producer: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow Project Management: Isla Matthews Audio Producer: Steve HankeyYou’re Dead To Me is a production by The Athletic for BBC Radio 4.
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5 snips
Mar 28, 2025 • 59min

Arctic Exploration: the fatal quest for the Northwest Passage

Join Dr. Vanessa Heggie, an expert in the history of science and author of 'Higher and Colder', and comedian Stu Goldsmith as they unravel the perilous past of Arctic exploration. Discover the harrowing tales of explorers, including the infamous Sir John Franklin, who vanished with his crew in search of the elusive Northwest Passage. Fascinating anecdotes blend with discussions of indigenous knowledge and the modern implications of climate change, all interspersed with Goldsmith's comedic insights, making for an engaging dive into a frosty history filled with intrigue and tragedy.
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Sep 30, 2023 • 29min

Victorian Bodybuilding (Radio Edit)

Dr Vanessa Heggie and comedian Darren Harriot join Greg Jenner to explore the fascinating history of bodybuilding in the 19th and 20th centuries. They discuss the rise of fitness culture during the Industrial Revolution, anxieties about health and physique, the pseudoscience of eugenics, and societal expectations. An intriguing dive into the surprising societal and intellectual currents of the time.

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