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.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 272 Dr Shelia Kanani MBE
Mar 1101:16:03Tap to summarizeAs Jo continues her celebration of Women's History Month, she is joined in episode 272 by Dr Shelia Kanani MBE. Shelia is a planetary scientist, space educator and author. She talks about her passion for space, studying Saturn and her recent book 'The Starspotter's Guide'. Plus she answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the Museum in the Park in Stroud to find out the story behind a small silver spoon and why it links Stroud to a town in the Netherlands in World War Two. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 271 Annie Garthwaite & 'The King's Mother'
Mar 401:33:17Tap to summarizeJo begins a new series celebrating Women's History Month, and in episode 271 welcomes back historical novelist Annie Garthwaite. They discuss the sequel to her debut book 'Cecily' - 'The King's Mother'. This centres on the later life of Cecily Neville, mother of Edward IV and Richard III, and we also learn about three other powerful women of the Wars of the Roses. 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 Q - which is for a famous English tree. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 270 Paul Scott Top Ten Theatre
Feb 2501:25:31Tap to summarizeIn a milestone episode 270 Jo welcomes back Paul Scott, who has worked in theatres and arts centres for many years. He takes part in Jo's series where a guest chooses their Top Ten Theatre shows. His choices include some Shakespeare, Alan Bennett and Gilbert & Sullivan. Jo also visits the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham to find out about a harp that helps to tell a story about Gustav Holst's grandfather. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 269 Science Fiction B Movies
Feb 1801:41:35Tap to summarizeJo's special guests in episode 269 are Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the At The Flicks podcast, who return to talk about science fiction. This time they pause their A-Z of sci-fi films, to shine the spotlight on B Movies. Films discussed include Starcrash, The Blob, Mad Max and Santa Claus Conquers The Martians. Plus Paul Scott shares some of his favourite science fiction B Movies. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 268 Dr Daniel Swift
Feb 1101:27:53Tap to summarizeIn episode 268 Jo's special guest is Dr Daniel Swift, Associate Professor in English at Northeastern University and the author of the book 'The Dream Factory: London's First Playhouse and the Making of William Shakespeare'. He talks about his passion for his subject, the role The Theatre had in shaping Shakespeare and he answers the Quick Six. 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 P - the primrose. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 267 Dr Elizbeth Norton
Feb 401:32:54Tap to summarizeJo's special guest in episode 267 is Dr Elizbeth Norton, who is a historian specialising in queenship. She shares her passion for her subject and discusses her recent book 'Women Who Ruled The World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy'. Queens they discuss include Matilda of England, Merneith of Egypt and Wu Zetian of China, as well as Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Plus Elizabeth answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the Museum in the Park in Stroud to find out the story behind 10,000 year old, rare elk bones. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 266 Phil Downing - Harvington Hall
Jan 2801:25:22Tap to summarizeIn episode 266 Jo is joined by Phil Downing who is the manager of Harvington Hall - a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor in Worcestershire. They talk about his passion for history, why Harvington is known as 'The House of Secrets', has more surviving priest hides than any other house in the country and why Phil has spent a considerable amount of time in some of them. Phil also tells Jo about a special wall painting project and they look ahead to the Harvington History Festival in July 2026. Plus he answers the Quick Six. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 265 Amelia Thomas
Jan 2101:19:39Tap to summarizeJo's special guest in episode 265 is Amelia Thomas, who is an author, journalist and naturalist. She talks about her career and why she spent a year learning to listen to animals, for her book 'What Sheep Think About The Weather'. Plus she answers the Quick Six. Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Dr Russell Arnott, Director of Incredible Oceans CIC, about oceans and marine life. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 264 A-Z of Science Fiction Cinema: B
Jan 1401:44:25Tap to summarizeIn episode 264 Jo is joined by Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the At The Flicks podcast, who return to talk about science fiction. They continue their new series on the A-Z of science fiction cinema, with the letter B. Jeff suggests a number of contenders for the Hall of Fame and Jo and Graham must decide if it's going to be entered, or relegated to Room 101! Themes discussed for B include black holes and B Movies, plus films like Back To The Future and Blade Runner and the TV show Babylon Five. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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Ep 263 Dr Camilla Stokholm
Jan 701:30:15Tap to summarizeJo's special guest in her first edition of 2026, episode 263, is Dr Camilla Stokholm. Camilla is a lifestyle medicine doctor and the author of 'What Your Doctor Eats'. She talks about the importance of our microbiome, why eating 30 different plant foods a week is good for it, her own health journey and she answers the Quick Six. 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 O - a plant with lots of health benefits - the olive tree. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/
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