Understand Podcast
Understand from BBC Radio 4 - unravelling the complexities of the biggest stories and subjects that really matter right now.
New in Understand: Ten Fights That Made The Green Movement
The modern green movement has been shaped not only by protest, but by conflict within the ranks. Shared ideas are forged through friction - battles over tactics, solutions, or who gets a voice. Justin Rowlatt goes to the heart of these battles - to learn about these dramatic moments from the people who were there. Friends, or sometimes enemies, hashing out big ideas that help define what it means to be green.
Understand from BBC Radio 4 - unravelling the complexities of the biggest stories and subjects that really matter right now.
Episodes to download
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2. The Truman Doctrine—US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
Tue 20 Jan 2026
2/5 What impact did WWII have on US policy towards the rest of the world?
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1. The Pursuit of Happiness—An American Journey
Mon 19 Jan 2026
1/4 How have Americans understood the connection between economic and democratic freedom?
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1. The Monroe Doctrine—US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
Mon 19 Jan 2026
1/5 What is the 1823 doctrine, and how has it been used since by US presidents?
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Trailer—US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
Fri 16 Jan 2026
1/5 Justin Webb looks at five big US foreign policy shifts, from Monroe to Trump.
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10. Unknown unknowns—The Trip
Mon 1 Sep 2025
10/10 What more is there to learn about psychedelics? Tim Hayward makes a case for curiosity.
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9. Sacred plants for sale—The Trip
Mon 1 Sep 2025
9/10 Who stands to profit from the commercialisation of psychedelics?
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8. A tipping point?—The Trip
Mon 11 Aug 2025
8/10 Significant barriers exist for research looking at psychedelics. Is that about to change?
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7. Fascination and taboo—The Trip
Mon 11 Aug 2025
7/10 Psychedelic drugs have a chequered history. How did wonder turn to fear?
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6. Critical periods—The Trip
Mon 11 Aug 2025
6/10 Can psychedelics help the brain to learn things anew?
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1. Altered States—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
1/10 Tim Hayward looks at the science, culture, history - and future - of psychedelics.
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5. Message in a bottle—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
5/10 Tim Hayward travels into the past to better understand today’s psychedelic research.
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4. Looking for a cure—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
4/10 Tim Hayward investigates why people are travelling abroad seeking a psychedelic cure.
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3. Stranger things—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
3/10 Tim Hayward visits the outer reaches of cutting edge psychedelic research.
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2. When the drugs take hold—The Trip
Mon 4 Aug 2025
2/10 Tim Hayward investigates the anatomy of a trip.
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Introducing The Trip—The Trip
Wed 30 Jul 2025
1/10 Tim Hayward looks at the science, history - and future - of psychedelics.
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9. You Can Do One—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Thu 24 Jul 2025
9/10 Rishi Sunak is faced with the decision of what to do about HS2's future.
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8. Help I’m Under a Digger—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Wed 23 Jul 2025
8/10 HS2 begins building, and environmental protestors make their presence felt
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7. Gold Plated—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Tue 22 Jul 2025
7/10 HS2's contracts with major firms become a new focus for critics.
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6. The Only Friend that Mattered—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Mon 21 Jul 2025
6/10 As HS2 faces fresh threats, a new prime minister steps in.
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5. Worry About the Detail Later—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Fri 18 Jul 2025
5/10 Dissent grows within HS2 itself.
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4. Well Done Geoffrey—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Thu 17 Jul 2025
4/10 Costs mount as compromises with protesting locals are struck
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3. That can’t be right—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Wed 16 Jul 2025
3/10 Protest groups begin to organise as the line's route is announced.
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2. Mutually assured exaggeration—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Tue 15 Jul 2025
2/10 HS2 makes its case to ministers, but fault lines rapidly emerge.
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1. The Railwayman—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Mon 14 Jul 2025
1/10 HS2's story begins with a blank piece of paper.
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Trailer—Derailed: The Story of HS2
Mon 7 Jul 2025
1/10 The inside story behind HS2. Has a high speed dream become an almighty mess?
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10. What Happens on Election Day?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
Election Day - from when the polls open, to forming a government
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9. How Does the Election Differ Across the UK?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
How does the political geography of the devolved nations differ
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8. What’s the Media’s Role in an Election?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
Why does the media matter in an election campaign?
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7. What Can Polling Predict?—The UK Election
Mon 10 Jun 2024
What polls can tell us. And what they can’t.
