Podcast
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
Hosted by Joanna Durrant · EN
Jo Durrant celebrates and explores arts and science as part of our culture.
Winner of the 2021 Sir Arthur Clarke Award: Space Achievement - Media, broadcast & written.
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 285 Cheltenham Science Festival 2026
1w ago01:42:32Tap to summarizeJo presents a special edition of the podcast in episode 285, recorded on location at the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival. She talks to a variety of speakers on topics including the weather, zoology, cyber security, genetics and space. Guests featured: Jules Howard, Dr Sarah Bearchell, Prof Turi King, Dr Russell Arnott, Clare Nasir & Simon King, Prof Mark Miodownik & Prof Andrea Sella, Sophia McCall and Dame Dr Maggie Aderin. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 284 A-Z of Science Fiction Cinema: D
2w ago01:45:44Tap to summarizeIn episode 284 Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the At The Flicks podcast, to talk about science fiction. They continue their series on the A-Z of science fiction cinema, with the letter D. Jeff suggests a number of contenders for the Hall of Fame and Jo and Graham must decide what's going to be entered, or relegated to Room 101! Themes discussed for D include dinosaurs and dystopia, plus films like Dune, Donnie Darko and The Day The Earth Stood Still. Plus John Putley shares some of his favourites for this letter. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 283 Dr Russell Arnott
May 2601:19:05Tap to summarizeJo's special guest in episode 283 is Dr Russell Arnott, an ocean science communicator and director of Incredible Oceans. He talks about his career, passion for his subject and what he'll be doing at the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival. Plus we learn why we should all appreciate plankton and Russell answers the Quick Six. Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Professor Helen Czerski about oceans, climate change and new technology. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 282 Simon Mason
May 2001:18:18Tap to summarizeIn episode 282 Jo is joined by Simon Mason, author of a number of books - for children and young people, literary fiction and more recently crime fiction for adults. He talks about his books in particular the DI Wilkins novels and the Finder Mysteries. Plus he answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits Gloucestershire Archives in Gloucester to find out about a little known story of a nursery in Cheltenham which grew orchids in the early 1900s that were sent to Japan. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 281 Dr Emma Yhnell Myth Busting Dreams, Dehydration & Dopamine
May 1201:07:09Tap to summarizeJo welcomes back Dr Emma Yhnell in episode 281 to myth bust biomedical and brain based science. Emma is a reader in neuroscience at Cardiff University and talks to Jo about a range of topics including the neurotransmitter dopamine, sleep, dreams and dehydration. Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Raechel Kelly from the Planet Cheltenham project about how to future fit our homes. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 280 Dr Darren Freebury-Jones & Theatre History: Shakespeare
May 501:15:49Tap to summarizeIn a milestone episode 280 Jo welcomes Dr Darren Freebury-Jones, a Shakespeare scholar, public speaker and author of 'Shakespeare's Borrowed Feathers'. They begin a new series on the history of theatre, and start during the time of Shakespeare, looking at playhouses, costumes, audiences and plays. Jo also continues her series on the A-Z of Plants with Faith Douglas, curator at Thorp Perrow Arboretum and author of The Nature Remedy. They've reached the letter S - which is for a herb. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 279 Essie Fox
Apr 2801:27:50Tap to summarizeJo's special guest in episode 279 is historical novelist Essie Fox. She talks about her career, passion for gothic literature and her recent books 'Dangerous', about Lord Byron and 'Catherine', which is a retelling of 'Wuthering Heights'. Plus she answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham to find the story behind the range, which is in the kitchen. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 278 Prof Susan Amussen
Apr 2101:19:50Tap to summarizeIn episode 278 Jo is joined by Prof Susan Amussen, who is professor of history at the University of California Merced. They celebrate William Shakespeare's birthday by talking about Susan's book: 'What's In A Name: How Historians Know Shakespeare Was Shakespeare'. Plus she answers the Quick Six. Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Prof Mark Miodownik and Prof Andrea Sella about the science of coffee and the science of cocktails. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 277 A-Z of Science Fiction Cinema: C
Apr 1401:32:23Tap to summarizeJo's special guests in episode 277 are Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the At The Flicks podcast, who return to talk about science fiction. They continue their series on the A-Z of science fiction cinema, with the letter C. Jeff suggests a number of contenders for the Hall of Fame and Jo and Graham must decide what's going to be entered, or relegated to Room 101! Themes discussed for C include clones and computers, plus films like Capricorn One, Contact, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Children of Men. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 276 Dr Sarah Bearchell & 'The Future of Agriculture'
Apr 701:17:19Tap to summarizeIn episode 276 Jo welcomes back Dr Sarah Bearchell, who presents science shows for children. This time she talks to Jo about her new book 'The Future of Agriculture', including how climate change and technology are affecting farming. Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Prof Kit Yates, who was speaking about maths and predictions. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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