Delve into the intricate themes of morality and power in 'Middlemarch', a novel set in 1829-32 that challenges Nietzsche's moralistic label. Explore how personal relationships in the book reveal deep political undertones. Stay tuned for part 2 on marriage, hypocrisy, guilt, and redemption.

Helen Lewis joins to discuss Mesmerism, delving into its origins, societal impacts, and connections to modern phenomena. Topics include Franz Mesmer as a healer or charlatan, the evolution of Mesmerism, gender bias in medical research, psychological influences on health, and parallels to social contagion and hypnotherapy.

Kathleen Stock discusses Roland Barthes's Death of the Author, exploring how readers interpret texts, AI-generated content, and the impact on authorial intent and reader empowerment. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of authorship and responsibility, urging a nuanced approach to understanding and judgment.

Writer and broadcaster Helen Lewis discusses the history of anti-suffragettes, exploring why women were against female enfranchisement, the failings of men, and where these arguments can still be heard today. The podcast delves into the fear and suspicion surrounding women's suffrage, the radical actions of suffragettes, the influence of anti-suffrage movements on modern American politics, and the resurfacing of past arguments in contemporary gender debates.

Geneticist Adam Rutherford discusses the harmful impact of Linnaean taxonomy, from scientific racism to SEO. The conversation covers human evolution theories, genetics, AI biases, and language evolution. Can we break free from taxonomy's influence?

Historian Christopher Clark discusses the complexities of antisemitism throughout European history, exploring the unique nature of discrimination against Jews, the historical roots of anti-Semitic beliefs, and the connection between Jewish identity and capitalism. The conversation also delves into the impact of emancipation on the Jewish community, the historical discourse on Israel, and explores possible historical outcomes in 1914.

Philosopher and journalist Kathleen Stock discusses the performative nature of online friendship on Facebook. The episode explores how social media impacts relationships, mental well-being, and academic susceptibility to its madness. Are the failings of online friendship more about Facebook or us? Stay tuned for future episodes on bad ideas and discussions on antisemitism.

Political economist Helen Thompson discusses the rise and fall of the gold standard, its instability, and the transition to fiat money. Topics include why gold was chosen, the source of instability, and the impact of quantitative easing. Explore the evolution of the gold standard, political shifts in the 1930s, and the challenges of moving away from commodity-backed currency.

Adam Rutherford, a geneticist and science broadcaster, discusses the controversial topic of eugenics throughout history. They cover its origins, biases in data interpretation, the evolution of genetics, and modern reproductive technologies. They explore the complexities of genetic traits, the link between genetics and sports, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding eugenics.

Lea Ypi discusses liberation movements, from post-colonial to women's and gay liberation. They debate if liberation is about equality or difference and speculate on liberating children next. Bonus episode on AI and technology available. Next series: The History of Bad Ideas starting with eugenics.