Thinking Allowed

Guests Emma Casey and Katie Appleford discuss the impact of the MetroCentre shopping mall in Gateshead and the changing shopping habits of UK mothers post-COVID. They delve into the history of malls, consumer behavior shifts during the pandemic, and the future of shopping experiences.

Former swimming champion and Assistant Professor, Piotr Florczyk, discusses the cultural significance of swimming pools, from Hollywood films to racial segregation issues. Susie Scott analyzes social norms in pool behavior. The podcast explores the history of swimming pools, art representations, and future challenges such as water shortages and climate change.

Exploring the connection between body movements and freedom, guests Matthew Beaumont and Beth Linker discuss how race, class, and politics influence posture panic. They delve into the societal implications of maintaining good posture, the political symbolism of walking, and the impact of posture on power dynamics and racialization. An intriguing look at the relationship between the body and societal structures.

Helena Hansen discusses the surprisingly white face of the US opioid crisis, highlighting structural racism in drug policy. Alex Stevens provides a UK perspective on the rise of synthetic opioids. The podcast explores the devastating impact of OxyContin and the racial disparities in opioid treatment programs.

Garden Utopias: Michael Gilson, Associate Fellow of the School of Media, Arts and Humanities, University of Sussex, takes Laurie Taylor behind the privet hedge, to explore the suburban garden and the beautification of Britain. How did millions of British people develop an obsession with their own cherished plot of land? Although stereotyped as symbols of dull, middle class conformity, these gardens were once seen as the vanguard of progressive social change, a dream of a world in which beauty would be central to all of our lives. Also, JC Niala, anthropologist, allotment historian and writer, discusses 36 months of fieldwork on allotment sites and guerrilla gardened streets across Oxford and suggests these are places where urban gardeners imagine, invent, and produce a hopeful future within their city.Producer: Jayne Egerton

Richard Sennett, renowned sociologist and former cellist, explores the complex nature of performance in art, politics, and everyday life. From unemployed dockworkers competing for jobs in NYC to defiant AIDS patients staging Shakespeare readings, he delves into the power and ambiguity of performance. Reflecting on his transition from music to sociology, Sennett discusses the influence of captivating speakers like Foucault and the impact of performance on personal identities and societal dynamics.

Thomas DeGloma, a Professor of Sociology, discusses anonymity and hidden identities throughout history, from the Ku Klux Klan to Banksy and QAnon. He explores motivations and implications of anonymity. Tara Isabella Burton explores personal branding and the origins of self-determination. They discuss the impact on personal identity and society, including protection from discrimination and the monetization of attention in American professional life.

Michael Sonenscher, Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge, discusses the evolution and meaning of the word 'capitalism' and its association with Britain. They explore the complexities of capitalism, public perception, debunk myths, and analyze inequality. They also study capitalism in Venezuela and its consequences. A fascinating historical analysis sheds light on political problems and attitudes towards our economic system.

The podcast discusses traditionalism, a philosophy advocating a return to ancient teachings and its influence on global politics. It explores the impact of traditionalist thinkers like Alexander Dugin on figures like Steve Bannon. The podcast also dives into the growth of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia convert community in the Appalachian Mountains and explores the political motivations of American converts to Russian Orthodox Christianity.

Exploring topics such as the changing notions of Englishness over the past 60 years, the representation of suburbia in England, the significance of the Country House in England, the emotional language and imagery in the Brexit campaign, and the endurance of the English temperament.