Painfully boring discussion punctuated by an unprofessional coughing host too dim to use a mute switch that would spare listeners from hearing his annoyingly gross smokers cough.

Melvyn, Simon, and Virginia have crafted the greatest educational podcast for adults that exists. Experts explain and then discuss an enormous range of topics for 40ish minutes. Melvyn is the greatest presenter (ever, of all time) a treasure for all the world to share. The best bits are when the academic philosophers start to argue, some really priceless moments. I recommend the art, philosophy, and history episodes are my favorite, but the discussions about books and authors have taught me a ton as well. And there’s a reading list available!

Trttt

Can’t fault this show for lack of ambition, words or enthusiasm. The conversational, meeting of the minds dimension of it is truly unique. But sometimes you wish you could pick and choose one theme and disregard just about all the rest. At those times (and they are not infrequent) you might as well be listening to a different show altogether…

I enjoy the programs, but the Twelfth Night discussion was lacking. Gender and class were at the fore, but the great language of the play was hardly touched on.

This is a general comment. Melvyn Bragg is by far the best host of any Podcast series.The topics are incredible and he is essential in keeping the experts on track. Experts are so immersed in their expertise that they easily wonder off at a tangent. Keep it up

I really enjoy the deep intellectual conversations on a variety of topics. I would like less interruptions from Melvin Bragg, as he’s not the expert to any of these topics and we’re here to listen to the guests. Asking guests to summarize a complex topic in one minute is unnecessary. When Melvin isn’t talking, all I can hear is his breathing, coughing, shuffling papers, etc. His mic is extra hot because he’s the host, but a pop filter and sound editing software can split the channels and kill out all the plosives. I understand that he’s ill and it’s not his fault, but it’s the BBC for God’s sake. You have a metric ton of sound editors that could fix this.

Breggs is condescending and constantly interrupts particularly female guests. I listen because the guests are intelligent and interesting but god Breggs makes it difficult.

My favorite type of podcast is one from which I can learn. So many of these episodes sound incredibly compelling and they are subjects I’m deeply interested in. But for crying out loud— I can NOT get past Melvyn Bragg’s incessant interrupting. Each time I am constantly surprised by the patience of his guests because I cringe and seethe through the whole experience. When he is not rudely cutting his guests off and talking over them, he is breathing heavily open-mouthed into the mic. It’s a misophonia nightmare. It’s 2023, we can edit better, can’t we? I haven’t lasted one full episode yet, and now I’m simply unsubscribing. What a disappoint. Please send Braggs gently into retirement.

Instead of playing this episode, I get “Something went wrong. Try again later!” Thanks again for producing this great podcast.

Of the latest five “available” episodes, only one is available to non paying subscribers. I’m inclined to unfollow and save myself the frustration. I only listen to aid in falling to sleep. There are better alternatives.

I love to hear experts talk knowledgeably about subjects that they have considered deeply.

Kids

Veritas Unitas & Caritas I think I have listened to 800 of these episode's Some of them more than twice, they really make you think. Command you to listen, I find myself taking notes as if I’m back in university. Melvin, congratulations on finding your stride and for another 1,000 steps into the beyond.

Thanks for a wonderful podcast. The breadth of topics, the guests, and the pace/format is terrific. The additional reading gives an opportunity for a deeper dive if so inclined. Melvyn is fabulous. I learn so much and it’s inspiring to listen to the subjects being covered so clearly. Sincere gratitude.

This a tremendous show, covering so many different topics. However, Melvyn’s patience seems to wear out and becomes impatient. I understand it’s a radio show but some of the subjects are so complex and comprehensive like green myth, there should be a part 2. Trying to get 3 scholars to sum up a Melvyn’s question in one minute doesn’t do the topic Justice, ultimately the answer. He’s looking for an exact answer but he can’t phrase the question to get what he wants… Melvyn is never the expert, he’s simply reading from the professor’s notes sent before the show. He needs to show patience and allow the discussion to evolve instead of acting out and treating these as job interviews. Sadly, Melvyn is quite rude, a bit narcissistic and a kind of a jerk at times… It is a brilliant show if you can shrug off Melvyn.

My husband already agreed to this, and after listening to the most recent Iliad episode he asked for him to be his hall pass too. Permission granted.

The conversations among the scholar guests are incredibly fascinating and if it weren’t for the host’s breathing and inane comments this would be my new favorite podcast. eta- i feel a little bad after learning that he has a collapsed lung and cancer, but nonetheless, the breathing is still distracting and could be fixed in post or even just muting his mic when others are speaking.

So many interesting topics, but cannot stand the voice of the host. Please open your mouth and enunciate your words. At times I cannot hear the guests over his heavy breathing. Let’s not even get into how often the guests get cut off while speaking. I want to love this show because the topics really are interesting, but I just can’t make it through listening to that voice.

Nah just got my phone here but my wife got my nails cut here kind thing but my husband got my haircut he got my order he got my

Lots of good topics, super guest experts, and excellent production.

Fantastic erudite conversation and exploration of interesting topics. Quickly has become one of my favorite podcasts.

I consistently enjoy this podcast except when they’re talking philosophy. But that’s just me. It’s engaging and I always learn something. The recent episode on Mitochondria was brilliant. Like Melvin, I found the experts’ explanations fascinating and astonishing!

I’m a huge fan of the show, but I was displeased to see that certain episodes have been placed behind a paywall recently. This only seems to be the case here on Apple Podcasts and potentially other podcast apps, since those same episodes are available online for free. The website version also does not contain ads. So essentially they’re charging Apple Podcasts listeners for the convenience of listening within the app where they are already running ads. Seems like a decision that will alienate users and put a dent in ad revenue rather than sell subscriptions.

Knowledgeable guests well moderated by M Bragg. The conversation is lovely and engaging. I’ve enjoyed podcasts on subjects that I thought I had zero interest in EG King Cnut, as the panel always bring them to life. The outtakes are particularly engrossing.

Great topics, moderator and guests

I love this show but hate the new subscription thing. It’s not that expensive but ALL these subscriber fees just add the heck up, and I just can’t pay; this means the show always hovers at the top of recently released pods and I rarely even listen to eps once they’ve come out from behind the pay wall, because they’re so far down the list. Is this really necessary? I mean Bragg is worth money but I’m poor and confused.

Incredibly interesting and informative podcasts with great guests. The reason for only 4 stars is that the host interrupts the guest so often

For an 83 year old Melvyn Bragg still produces one of the best podcasts with the occasional jewel that is literally world class , the most recent one being on Cnut. He shows his displeasure for guests who waffle or refuse to answer this question and unlike most podcasts of the sort isn’t just about producing a book. We will miss him when he retires at 106 !

I just realized I’ve been listening to this podcast since 2011 and I still love it. There are so many episodes that I’ve heard time and time again and I feel like I keep learning new things. This show has been with me through thick and thin. Thank you to the BBC, its producers, and Mr. Bragg for this jewel of a podcast.

It is a shame that greed has taken over a podcast I have been listening to for so long. 4 out of 5 episodes are now subscription only. Absolutely shameful.

This used to be my favorite podcast of the many podcasts that I listen to. I used to vote it as the “best podcast” when BBC sent the survey. Now, the podcast media, probably after forming conferences and listening to the attending consultants who see the wide and developing audience of podcast listeners now they have constructed a market of us and transformed podcasts into a tool for monetization. Well, understandably that is the productivity of the Internet. However, for me, the good from this now will be that I’ll listen less to podcasts, and I will pull the books from my library and read the classics. Thank you conferencing consultants for the stimulus to return to reading books.

Great podcast I like and value a lot. Unfortunately- I can't hear what your saying. There are not that many ways to make a podcast audible, especially for mumbling and the elderly. Please fix this. Thank you.

… but I absolutely find the interruptions by the host unbearable. The scholars slated for the podcast are just that … scholars. I’d love to hear more from them and less from the host. If one looks through the reviews, it is quite obvious that there is a history here. To the producer, your audience is pleading with you to do something about this obnoxious and patronizing behaviour …

Though this is a very-interesting BBC podcast, with interesting subjects, and clean language (all of which I do appreciate much), its co-host ruins it, by being dismissive, and quite rude to his (female) co-hostess. He does not do the same to his male guests, and/or co-host. It is set in a “panel discussion” format, with the co-hosts (apparently 3 of them, one of whom is a female), this (apparently) main host frequently cuts off and interrupt the co-hostess in mid-thought, and mid-sentence. I don’t think she’s ever truly allowed to finish a sentence. His behavior makes clear he is dismissive of the (female) co-hostess, doesn’t care for what she thinks, or is (at the very least) an ill-bred man. I want to LIKE this Podcast, but his behavior towards her is an annoyance. Since I listen to Podcasts to both be informed, and for idle-time entertainment, his behavior makes this otherwise good podcast, intolerable to me. I’m unsubscribing🙁

The topics are very unique and interesting. The host, however, cannot seem to stop interrupting the female speakers on the show. Somebody, please, tell the host to show some respect to the female experts on the show!

This podcast is amazing and the included reading list on their website is growing my library exponentially. I’ve learned so much from listening to this podcast and have discovered so many topics I never would have explored on my own. I wish the episodes were 2 hours long. 10 stars!!!!

I appreciate the variety of topics, especially regarding history and culture, as well as the expertise the guests bring to the discussion.

Please focus on discoveries and accomplishments of greatest impact toward a sustainable and healthy future. Discard demands of favoritism by sex or other genetic factors—especially such demands that are self-serving from women or persons of non- European ancestry. Focus on the best regardless of their genomes, and ignore the noise from mental runts.

More episodes about women please.

Goddess! I listen to your podcast frequently and the interviewer MALE keeps interrupting women who appear as guests. It is rare to hear him do that to his male speakers. Just stop it. It’s rude, unacceptable and incredibly obvious.

My go to podcast. Melvvyn Bragg is a masterful interviewer, and his guests are top scholars and authors in their fields. Generally , the discussion is brisk and to the point,and when a guest occasionally veers off or falls into obfuscating professional jargon, Melvyn jumps in with a lightly-worn erudition that seems to match his guests to get the conversation back on track.

Is it me or does there need to be better audio equipment bought for this show? I listened to the Knights Templar episode and sounds like it was recorded by a old man breathing heavily into his budget microphone. A little difficult to listen to and remain focused.

It’s a nice show. But I am constantly baffled by the disclaimer “supported by advertising outside the UK”. That does not tell me anything about advertising. It tells me more than I wanted to know about strange relationship between BBC and its UK audience. It’s all the more puzzling since I have never heard an advertisement included in the podcast, other than for other BBC shows.

Always fascinating and enlightening. I have learnt so much from these episodes. Thank you for all the hard work and preparation that must go into each episode.

Stuffy, closed minded stuffed shirts.

What was purported to be a program about the emperor Constantine the Great is, I’d say, a journalistic hit piece on said Roman emperor with very little fact and a whole lot of opinion or, if I didn’t want to be charitable, and I don’t feel like being charitable to these silly fools with theirGentlemen Marxist voices,one hour of anti-Christian screed. I had long known the more caustic elements of liberalism held sway in the formerly scepter isle, I suppose we better call it fairyland now.But the barely concealed hatred in the voices of the presenters, and the fact that they accord a great Christian man only the slightest respect for those non-Christian things he did, and then only a method to again attack Christianity, Makes this program and indeed this whole series deplorable filth. A pox on the presenters and their supporters until the 50th generation.

Melvyn Bragg’s voice is just as soothing as when he was on TV with the South Bank Show. In this series of podcasts his topics are ever so fascinating ! Things I would love to look up or read about - him and his guests serve it up in each hour.

This a very informative podcast with a new topic every episode. The only deficiency is the host’s frequent interruptions of the guests, his know it all attitude an his constant smacking of his lips while others are talking. Even so, the guests and their content make this four stars.

This is always a wonderful way to spend an hour. I only wish that the producer still came in to offer coffee or tea at the end. So many things were lost to COVID.