The Conversation Documentaries

A podcast on extremes: from far-right politics, to life in conflict zones and the extreme weather of Australia.

From wealth, to the natural world, to genes and intelligence, a podcast exploring the theme of inheritance.

A podcast all about nothing. From the importance of doing nothing to the ill-effects of time spent in solitary confinement and what nothing means in space.

A podcast about confidence – from how it works in our brains and whether it can get us ahead at work to how confidence tricksters fool people into falling for their scams.

A podcast on twins, including why stereotypes about their relationship are so damaging, and why they are so useful to scientists.

A podcast on intuition: from how it works in the body, to how to harness it, and the story of two scientists who followed a hunch – about quantum biology.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland, this episode of the podcast looks at its history, its legacy and the impact of Brexit on its future.

This episode is all about bitcoin. Will it be the currency of the future? Who’s trying to capitalise on the legal loopholes of cryptocurrencies? And is it possible to make mining them more green.

This podcast explores the latest sexology research – including the topics that are still too taboo to get funding. We talk to sex robot experts and find out how sex work has moved online.

In this episode of The Anthill podcast, we bring you stories on helicopter parenting, early puberty, and what it's like to grow up as a Muslim in Britain.

We're pouring cold water on old ideas in this episode: from why the population of Easter Island really declined and what makes a good urban legend.

Pain is something everyone experiences. This episode of The Anthill podcast explores how and why it works in our brains, what kinds of drugs are being developed to reduce pain, and whether or not robots of the future should be built so that they experience pain.

It’s been 100 years since revolution swept through Russia and we have dedicated The Anthill 18 to this seminal moment in world history.

From the man who gave away his genome under open consent, to the 'Mathematikado', this episode of the podcast features highlights from the British Science Festival in Brighton.

In this episode of the podcast, we take in the history of Victorian humour, why kids find poo so hilarious and whether academics should try and be funny.

In this episode of The Anthill podcast we are off exploring: land, sea and space.

A podcast on what music does to our brains, and why it moves us.

In this month's episode of The Anthill, we are playing games – computer games, grammar games and real life games, too.

This episode of The Anthill podcast delves into the world of memory. We talk to psychologists, historians and political scientists about how and why we remember some things and forget others.

This episode explores how one person's waste can be another's treasure. We talk to scientists trying to eke something useful out of big piles of rubbish and discuss making the economy more circular.

In this episode we look at historical visions of the future and how accurate they were, the future of work, and what it's like to predict the future for a day job.

Three stories about researchers who have dabbled in self-experimentation – with varying results. To complete a short survey about the podcast, please click here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QR7WVMF

Where do we go from here? After a dramatic year, we look ahead to some key economic and political trends that will influence our lives over the next 12 months.

Four stories on belief: from the allure of cults and conspiracy theories, to the effect of trauma on faith, to the way dogma has influenced science – and if technology can actually shift our beliefs.

A podcast on darkness: from why it makes us scared, to what kind of nightlife can thrive in the modern city and an update on the hunt for dark matter.