Vanessa Heggie

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.

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.

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.