Sideways

Raven Saunders, an extraordinary shot put athlete and mental health advocate, shares their journey of self-discovery. They reflect on their memorable Olympic experience in Tokyo while wearing a Hulk mask, symbolizing resilience and non-binary identity. The discussion unveils the dual nature of masks—used historically for expression and identity, especially during the pandemic. Raven opens up about the emotional highs and lows of competition, emphasizing the importance of mental health and therapy, advocating for personal authenticity and support in the sports world.

Jen Simonic and Masey Kaplan, passionate knitters, share their journey of creating a global movement for completing unfinished knit projects. They discuss how their endeavor helps others process grief while challenging societal norms that equate success with completion. The duo explores the emotional and creative significance of unfinished works, revealing how they foster connections and inspire creativity. They also highlight the beauty of imperfection, encouraging listeners to embrace the journey rather than just the result.

Astronauts reveal the life-changing 'overview effect' experienced during space travel, inspiring altruism and a new connection to Earth. The discussion shifts to the ambitious dreams of colonizing Mars and what it means for humanity's future. Ethical dilemmas arise as billionaires lead the charge in space exploration, raising questions of morality and international collaboration. Insights from former astronauts and space philosophers shed light on the complexities of our cosmic ambitions and responsibilities.

Delve into the new era of space exploration with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin allowing more people to travel into space. Explore the ambitions of spacefaring billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to settle on celestial bodies like Mars, raising questions about land ownership and governance. Join the conversation with astronaut Ed Dwight, anthropologist Deana Weibel, NASA consultant Linda Billings, and space lawyer Michelle Hanlon on the ethical dilemmas and challenges of space exploration.

Matthew Syed explores the ethics of space exploration by looking back at the origins of the space race between the USA and the USSR. He questions the benefits of space exploration for all humankind, highlighting the nationalistic aspects of the Apollo moon landing and America's exceptionalism. The podcast discusses NASA's ethical dilemmas, historical influences on the American space program, and the collaboration and ethical considerations in space exploration, including the Artemis Program.

In this special series from Sideways, called A New Frontier, Matthew Syed explores the most out of this world ethical questions posed by the evolution of human space exploration. He takes us into the cosmos with stories from astronauts who’ve been there and those who can only dream of going, to explore the moral debates that have permeated space exploration since before the moon landings, and are evolving dramatically today in a new era of commercial space flight, of asteroid mining and almost daily satellite launches. Matthew begins the series by diving into the ethics of humanity’s search for extra-terrestrial life. In 1974, Richard Isaacman was a young graduate, studying to become an astronomer, from some of the field's biggest names - like Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. At just 21-years-old, he’s asked to contribute to humankind's first ever deliberate attempt to send a targeted radio transmission to a cluster of stars in the outer reaches of the galaxy. A rudimentary picture, designed to be intercepted and decoded by aliens. Delving into our obsession with aliens, science fiction and the vastness of space, Matthew discovers how asking questions about space ethics can often lead us to answers that tell us much more about the ways we treat our own environment, other animals, and each other, than it does about little green men.With former NASA astronaut John Herrington, York University astronomer Sarah Rugheimer and space ethicist, podcaster and author Erika Nesvold. Presenter: Matthew Syed Producer: Leona Hameed Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey Sound Design and Mix: Rob Speight Theme music by Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Travel into the cosmos for a four-part series about the ethics of space exploration. Matthew Syed invites you to enter the vast wilderness of the galaxy to explore the moral dilemmas that sit at the heart of space exploration, and why they should matter to you.When the space race began in the 1960s, the United States and the Soviet Union dominated. Today, multiple commercial entities and many more governments vie for space in the skies above us. Now we may go to other planets not in order to bring back knowledge that will benefit humankind on earth, but potentially to stay and make a new life for the human race… out there. Exploration is turning to colonisation. In this series, Matthew Syed explores the moral underpinning of space exploration beginning with the space race and early attempts to send a message to little green men. He will ask who gets to go to space, how should we behave when we're there, and whether we have the ethical and legal framework to avoid replicating the conflicts we face on earth, up in the skies above us.Despite all the complexities and necessary moral questions to be wrangled with in this new era, Matthew explores the profound experiences to be had by standing outside our planet. It may offer a unique vantage point to ask questions about who we are, what we owe to each other, where we’re going, and why.Producers: Leona Hameed, Julien Manuguerra-Patten, Vishva Samani Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey Sound design and mix: Rob Speight Theme tune by Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

In 1984, on the eve of the Winter Olympics, Joe Boylan gets lost in a blizzard on an Austrian mountainside. Joe will have to fight with everything he has to survive and be reunited with his family. How he does it reveals often typical patterns of behaviour exhibited by lost people in similar situations.Through the story of Joe’s extraordinary 48-hour battle against the wilderness, Matthew Syed examines the fascinating area of study called Lost Person Behaviour, which has changed the way search and rescue teams operate, world over.Featuring Joe Boylan, Robert J Koester, mathematician and author of Lost Person Behavior, Alistair Read from Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Neil Balderson of Lowland Rescue and Maura O'Connor, science journalist and author of Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World.Presenter: Matthew Syed Producer: Leona Hameed Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey Sound Design and Mix by Daniel Kempson Theme Tune by Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Exploring cognitive dissonance through a college student's unyielding support for Nixon during Watergate. Delving into the psychological impact of conflicting beliefs and values. Real-life examples and research on cognitive dissonance and its influence on decision-making and behavior. Encouraging self-reflection and rational thinking to address ideological resistance.

As a child, Kate Ertmann starred in commercials, in soap operas and on Broadway. But acting wasn’t her first love - mathematics was. She considered it to be “a balm" for her brain. And yet societal and teenage pressures made her turn away from maths.Growing up in Sweden, Sebastian Nillson Qvist loathed maths and found it a real struggle. But he still challenged himself to study it as part of a Political Science and Economics degree. It did not go well.But still, maths came back into their lives. In this episode of Sideways, we find out what led them back to mathematics and the impact it had on them. Something host Matthew Syed experienced first hand when a desire to understand inflation and economics led him back to studying for a maths A-Level in his own time and finding it actually enjoyable, rather than a chore as he had at school.We hear how determination to dominate in the sport of darts can lead to incredible mastery of mental arithmetic from Professor Marcus du Sautoy, who also suggests a novel approach to maths education which he believes could inspire and motivate children. And Field’s Medal winner Professor Efim Zelmanov introduces us to a brilliant young mathematician who was killed in a duel 150 years ago but left behind a theory which keeps all online banking safe.With Kate Eartmann of katelovesmath.com, Sebastian Nillson-Qvist, Professor Marcus du Sautoy - Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics, and Professor Efim Zelmanov - Field’s Medallist and Director of the Shenzhen International Center for Mathematics.Presented by Matthew Syed Producer: Marilyn Rust Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey Sound Design and Mix: Daniel Kempson Theme Tune: Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4