Understand Podcast
NEW in Understand - The Growth Conundrum
Every UK government says it wants strong and sustained economic growth. But for almost 20 years none have managed it. Ben Chu asks why generating growth seems so difficult?
Episodes to download
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Trailer—The Growth Conundrum
Yesterday
Ben Chu asks why the UK finds it so hard to generate sustained economic growth.
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7. Vittorio Angelone's in his 20s—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Fri 2 Oct 2026
7/8 Can comedian Vittorio Angelone learn to like himself, after his tumultuous 20s?
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6. Marvin Sordell's in his 30s—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Thu 1 Oct 2026
6/8 Former footballer Marvin Sordell opens up about his breakdown and new life after 30.
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5. Lias Saoudi's in his 40s—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Wed 30 Sep 2026
5/8 Fat White Family singer Lias Saoudi reveals how he has transformed in his 40s.
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4. Matthew Todd's in his 50s—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Tue 29 Sep 2026
4/8 Journalist and writer Matthew Todd talks about self-acceptance in his 50s.
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3. David Baddiel's in his 60s—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Mon 28 Sep 2026
3/8 David Baddiel shares the realities of being a man in his 60s.
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2. Colm Tóibín's in his 70s—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Sat 26 Sep 2026
2/8 Colm Tóibín, author and poet, opens up about sexuality and creativity in his 70s.
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1. Michael Palin's in his 80s—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Sat 26 Sep 2026
1/8 Two Michaels talk about masculinity and how being in your 80s is liberating.
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Trailer—Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen
Tue 22 Sep 2026
What does being a ‘man’ mean? Seven men share their experiences through the decades.
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2. We've Been Here Before—The Value Crisis
Mon 21 Sep 2026
2/4 Ros Atkins looks to the past for lessons on navigating great shifts in what we value.
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1. Crisis, What Crisis?—The Value Crisis
Mon 14 Sep 2026
1/4 Ros Atkins asks whether technology has triggered a crisis in what we value.
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Trailer—The Value Crisis
Thu 10 Sep 2026
1/4 Ros Atkins asks whether we're living through a crisis in what we value.
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3. Neurodivergence and Adulthood—All Kinds of Minds
Mon 7 Sep 2026
3/4 Navigating neurodivergence in adulthood.
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2. Growing Up Neurodivergent—All Kinds of Minds
Mon 31 Aug 2026
2/4 What does it mean to grow up neurodivergent in a school system under strain?
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1. The Language of Neurodiversity—All Kinds of Minds
Mon 24 Aug 2026
1/4 How is the language of neurodiversity changing the way we understand difference?
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Trailer—All Kinds of Minds
Thu 20 Aug 2026
Nathan Filer explores the complex and shifting terrain of neurodiversity.
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10. Rival Visions—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Fri 10 Jul 2026
10/11 Where next for the future of the green movement?
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9. Crackdown—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Thu 9 Jul 2026
9/11 Did Just Stop Oil help lead to new laws cracking down on disruptive protest?
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8. Shutdown—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Wed 8 Jul 2026
8/11 Protesters clash on the eve of the shutdown of Germany’s last remaining nuclear plants
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7. Impenetrable—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Tue 7 Jul 2026
7/11 An indigenous community is evicted from its homeland for gorilla conservation.
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6. Arctic 30—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Mon 6 Jul 2026
6/11 A campaign against oil drilling in the arctic takes a dangerous turn
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5. Brokenhagen—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Fri 3 Jul 2026
5/11 The US president gatecrashes a secret rendez-vous at the world’s climate summit
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4. Terror—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Thu 2 Jul 2026
4/11 A pair of environmentalists burn down a ski resort in Colorado, USA.
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3. The Ecologist—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Wed 1 Jul 2026
3/11 The story of an influential green magazine and the man who created it.
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2. The Greenpeace—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Tue 30 Jun 2026
2/11 Environmentalist hippies set sail to stop a nuclear test.
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1. Rebellion—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Mon 29 Jun 2026
1/11 Extinction Rebellion launches one of its early occupations - against Greenpeace.
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Trailer—Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement
Wed 24 Jun 2026
1/11 The story of the power struggles that forged the green movement
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