Podcast Summary: Welcoming Misha Glenny to the In Our Time Studio

Podcast: In Our Time
Host: BBC Radio 4
Episode: Welcoming Misha Glenny to the In Our Time studio
Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Misha Glenny
Interviewer: Simon

Overview

This episode introduces Misha Glenny as the new presenter of "In Our Time," BBC Radio 4's celebrated program spanning history, philosophy, science, and culture. Host Misha Glenny reflects on his predecessor Melvyn Bragg’s legacy and shares his vision and excitement for taking on the role, discussing his multidisciplinary background and what makes "In Our Time" unique in its approach to intellectual curiosity. Glenny previews upcoming topics and offers insight into how he plans to steer the program forward while keeping listeners engaged and enlightened.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Misha Glenny’s Appointment as Host

• Personal Reaction to Role
  • Glenny expresses genuine excitement and gratitude, stating:
    • “I have to pinch myself sometimes when I tell people that I'm the new presenter of In Our Time because certainly from my perspective, this is the best job in radio. There's nothing to compare with it.” (02:16)
• Legacy of Melvyn Bragg
  • Glenny acknowledges the long-standing legacy of former host Melvyn Bragg and describes his support:
    • “I'm sitting in the studio where Melvyn Bragg himself broadcast almost all of the over 1000 episodes of this program hitherto. I'm very grateful to Melvin's support… he gave me his blessing when it was announced that I was taking on this job.” (02:38)

Glenny’s Background and Fit for the Role

• Academic and Professional Journey
  • Humanities degree, BBC foreign correspondent, books on the Balkans, Brazil’s favelas, and hacking.
  • Cross-disciplinary interests in history, culture, technology, and science.
  • Quote: “I think it might have to do with that cross disciplinary interest and ability that I may have.” (03:55)
• Motivation for Taking the Job
  • Willingly prioritizing “In Our Time” over other projects due to the prestige and intellectual reward of the role.
  • “I'm dropping things in order to take this role on because there is nothing better… every week I come into the studio and it'll be a different subject.” (04:09)

The Show’s Unique Format and Value

• Expert Panel Discussions
  • Glenny highlights the value of having three topic specialists:
    • “There's not much I can learn in a week compared to a lifetime of the three guests around me.” (05:30)
  • Emphasizes open, civilized debate:
    • “What's interesting for me is when those guests who are all steeped in a subject actually disagree about something… we can have a creative, civilized conversation…” (05:34)
• Never Dumbing Down
  • Audience enlightenment is central:
    • “Because one thing we never want to do on In Our Time is dumbed down… after 48 or 50 minutes... I am much the wiser and I hope that I will be able to bring the listeners along with me.” (04:38)
• Channeling the Listener
  • Glenny sees himself as the “voice of the listener” amidst experts, asking questions the audience would want answered. (04:53)

Upcoming Episodes Preview

• First Subject: John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty"
  • Discussion on pluralism and the impossibility of a single “truth”:
    • “John Stuart Mill argues early on that there is no monopoly on truth. And you always get closer to the truth if you listen to different opinions.” (05:47)
• Other Forthcoming Topics
  • The Mariana Trench: “the deepest point of the ocean, two kilometers deeper than Mount Everest is high.” (06:29)
  • The Roman Arena:
    • “Great fun because... it's really fascinating to hear actually what Hollywood got right and what Hollywood got wrong about the Roman Arena… these games lasted for over 500 years.” (06:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Scope of the Show:
  • “It could be plate tectonics, it could be the rise of Adolf Hitler, it could be dragons, it could be anything under the sun, really.” (04:16)
• On Debate and Truth:
  • “You always get closer to the truth if you listen to different opinions.” (05:47)
• On the Roman Arena:
  • “That's half of a millennium of people beating the hell out of each other and being devoured by lions or killing leopards and baboons.” (07:07)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [02:11] – Simon welcomes Misha; Glenny discusses taking on the role
• [03:10] – Glenny details his background and qualifications
• [04:09] – Glenny explains his motivation for joining “In Our Time”
• [05:30] – The significance of having three guest experts per episode
• [05:47] – Reference to John Stuart Mill, pluralism, and intellectual debate
• [06:26] – Preview of upcoming episodes: On Liberty, the Mariana Trench, Roman Arena
• [07:21] – Announcement of the new series’ release date and platform

Conclusion

In this warm, accessible, and intellectually engaging conversation, Misha Glenny shares his enthusiasm for leading “In Our Time,” reflecting on the show's high standards and commitment to fostering deep, wide-ranging discussions. With a diverse background and a clear commitment to audience engagement and scholarly debate, Glenny promises to continue the program’s legacy while bringing his own multidisciplinary perspective to new subjects.