Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

Jo welcomes back Dr Emma Yhnell in episode 188 to myth bust stories and topics relating to neuroscience. Emma is a senior lecturer at Cardiff University and a science communicator. Jo and Emma talk about dementia, memory cafes, tips for revising for exams and if you can have a photographic memory. Jo is also joined by Dr Jamie Gallagher, who is a science communicator and public engagement trainer...

In episode 187 Jo's special guest is Steve Darlow, who is a writer of books & theatre, a publisher and documentary consultant. He talks about his interest in history, including the role his grandfather had in the Second World War and he tells Jo about his theatrical productions including 'The Valentine Letters'. Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six. Jo also chats to one of the team from Wakefield Museum...

Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes & Graham O'Dwyer from At The Flicks, in episode 186, to discuss science fiction cinema. They start a new series exploring the books of sci-fi novelists that have been turned into films, beginning with Philip K. Dick. Films discussed include Blade Runner, Total Recall and Minority Report. Plus science journalist and writer Sue Nelson, and writer and narrative designer C...

In episode 185 Jo's special guest is photographer Jack Boskett, from Tewkesbury. He talks about his career, including how his love of railways led to royal photography. Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six.  Jo also visits the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham and finds out the story behind a painting of relatives of Gustav Holst.     Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Pur...

Jo's special guest in episode 184 is Gloucestershire based playwright Lou Beckett. She discusses her latest play 'A Rose By Any Other Name' and how it was inspired by Shakespeare. Plus she talks about the charity she co-founded called Theatre Works. Jo also visits the Museum in the Park in Stroud to find out the story behind a medieval tile featuring the game Nine Men's Morris.     Presented, prod...

In episode 183 Jo's special guest is Joe Hackett, who is the MD of IKP, a Gloucestershire based theatre company. Joe talks about his passion for theatre, making is accessible to everyone and his latest production 'You're Bard' which presents Shakespeare in a unique way. Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six. Jo also chats to one of the team from Wakefield Museums and Castles, to find out the story of an...

Jo's special guest in episode 182 is author Gareth E Rees, who talks about his love of storytelling and how he's combined science with folk tales in his latest book 'Sunken Lands', which explores issues like climate change. Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six.  Jo also visits the Grant Museum in London, which is part of UCL, and has recently reopened after a refurbishment. She finds out the story of tw...

In episode 181 Jo's special guest is Honor Harger who is Vice President of ArtScience Museum in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands. Honor talks about her passion for the intersection of arts & science, her decade at the museum where she is Artistic and Executive Lead and exhibitions including the recent 'Mars: The Red Mirror' and the permanent 'Future World', which features The Crystal Universe. She al...

Jo's special guest in a milestone episode 180 is filmmaker and visual effects designer Paul Franklin. Paul talks about his career including work in the feature film industry, and in particular his involvement in the films 'Inception' and 'Interstellar', which he won Academy Awards for. Plus he answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the Gravity Discovery Centre & Observatory, which is around an hour...

In episode 179 Jo welcomes back Dr Kathryn Harkup, who trained as a chemist and now writes about and communicates science stories. She talks to Jo about her recent book 'The Secret Lives of Molecules', including coffee, tea, naps and how to avoid zombies!  Jo also welcomes back Dr Jamie Gallagher, who is a science communicator, public engagement trainer and chemist. He returns to share another sto...

Jo's special guest in episode 178 is Dee Atkins-Greig who is a maths and meteorology tutor. Dee talks about her career as a weather forecaster, first in the Royal Navy and later on television. She talks about her passion for her subject, including why clouds have certain names, and she answers Jo's Quick Six.  Jo also visits the Grant Museum in London, which is part of UCL, and has recently reopen...

In episode 177 Jo welcomes back Dr Helen Fry, who is a historian and the author of a number of books that focus on intelligence and espionage, in particular during the First and Second World Wars. Helen joins Jo during Women's History Month to talk about her latest book 'Women In Intelligence', in which she has uncovered some incredible stories and hidden histories.  Jo also visits the Holst Victo...

It's the start of Women's History Month and Jo's special guest in episode 176 is Dr Suzy Lishman CBE. Suzy is a consultant histopathologist and a medical examiner and talks to Jo about her passion for this area. She also discusses her public engagement work, including her 'Living Autopsy' demonstration.  Plus she answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum in Lond...

In a special bonus mini edition of the podcast, Jo visits ArtScience Museum in Singapore to see the exhibition 'Mars: The Red Mirror'. She talks to Honor Harger who is Vice President and Artistic & Executive Lead for ArtScience Museum. She is also Vice President for Attractions at Marina Bay Sands, which is where the museum is based.  The exhibition is split into three sections which looks at 12,0...

In episode 175 Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes & Graham O'Dwyer from At The Flicks, to explore science fiction cinema. This time they shine the spotlight on prequels, including discussions on the prequels to Alien, Planet of the Apes, X-Men and Star Wars. Plus science journalist and writer Sue Nelson, and video game and graphic novel writer and editor Corey Brotherson share their favourite sci-fi pre...

Jo welcomes back philosopher and sensory scientist Professor Barry Smith in episode 174. He is from the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London and talks about his latest research, how sound plays a part in our enjoyment of food and he has some tips for super tasters like Jo.  Jo also chats to one of the team from Wakefield Museums and Castles, to find out the story of a cof...

In episode 173 Dr Emma Yhnell returns to myth bust stories and topics relating to neuroscience. Emma is a senior lecturer at Cardiff University and a science communicator. Jo and Emma discuss how motion capture is being used in medicine, the impact of handwriting on the brain, and the subject of love, hormones and neurotransmitters.  Jo also visits a new museum on the podcast - the Holst Victorian...

Jo's special guest in episode 172 is writer and photographer John Gilbey. He talks about his background in environmental research, writing for the Country Diary column in the Guardian newspaper and about his own book 'Country Diary Wales'. Plus he answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the John Moore Museum in Tewkesbury to find out the story behind one of John Moore's most popular books 'The Seaso...

In episode 171 Jo is joined by Dhara Patel, Space Expert at the National Space Centre in Leicester. She talks about her career and passion for space, as well as the 20th anniversary of the Beagle 2 Mars Lander and why it's so significant for the UK. Plus she answers the Quick Six.  Dhara also puts an item into Jo's virtual museum, which is a scale model of Beagle 2 at the National Space Centre.   ...

Jo's special guest in a milestone episode 170 is Dr Tracy Borman, who is an author, historian and joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces. She talks to Jo about her career, passion for history and her books including 'Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I'. Plus she answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the John Moore Museum in Tewkesbury to find out the story behind two chamber pots, which would have b...

In episode 169 Jo is joined by Emma Pears, who is an author, songwriter and entrepreneur, and has written the book 'What Does It Matter?'. Emma talks to Jo about her career and explains her philosophy of how we can all live with less stress and more joy. Plus she answers the Quick Six.  Jo also welcomes back Dr Jamie Gallagher, who is a science communicator, public engagement trainer and chemist....

Jo welcomes back science writer Paul Rincon in episode 168. Paul is commissioning editor for science and technology at The Conversation, and returns to discuss space stories that have been in the news recently. Topics include the latest on the Osiris-Rex mission that returned from asteroid Bennu, Starship, sub-Neptunes and space debris. Jo also visits Gloucestershire Archives to find out why there...

In the first episode of 2024 (167), Jo is joined once more by Jeff Downes & Graham O'Dwyer from At The Flicks, to explore science fiction cinema.  In this edition they review sci-fi films and TV shows from 2023, including some prequels, sequels and movies that focus on artificial intelligence. They also look ahead to what we can enjoy in the next 12 months and science journalist Paul Rincon reveal...

In episode 166 Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes & Graham O'Dwyer from At The Flicks, to explore science fiction cinema. They focus on films that have the themes of alternate realities and parallel universes, including Back To The Future 1 & 2, Source Code, Groundhog Day, Sliding Doors and Everything Everywhere All At Once. Plus science journalist Paul Rincon shares some of his favourite multiverse mov...

For the Christmas Special 2023 Jo welcomes back Faith Douglas, who is the author of The Nature Remedy and the curator of Thorp Perrow Arboretum. They conclude their series celebrating each season, and focus on Winter. They talk about folklore associated with the Winter Solstice, what we can be doing in the garden, how to embrace this time of year, Christmas trees and how Faith celebrates the festi...