Marie Curie

Summary

You're Dead to Me – Marie Curie (BBC Radio 4)

Episode Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Greg Jenner
Guests: Voice actors as Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, and others

---

Episode Overview

In this snappy, comedic history lesson, Greg Jenner takes listeners on an energetic journey through the extraordinary life and scientific legacy of Marie Curie. Framed with witty banter and dramatized voiceovers, this episode explores Curie as a pioneering scientist, passionate educator, double Nobel laureate, and unsung war hero. The show balances playful humor with serious appreciation for Curie's groundbreaking achievements and her resilience in the face of relentless adversity—from sexist barriers and personal tragedies to the literal dangers of her own discoveries.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life and Education Obstacles (01:10–03:47)

• Marie’s Origins: Born Maria Sklodowska in 1867, Warsaw, Poland (then under the Russian Empire).

• Family Hardships: Youngest of five; suffered the loss of her mother and a sister to tuberculosis.

• School Success—and Barriers: Topped her class but blocked from university education due to her gender.

• Underground Learning: Attended the clandestine “Flying University” (not actually flying!), a movable, illegal school escaping Russian authorities.

  • “Some young people rebel by getting, you know, bits of their body pierced or dyeing their hair. Marie rebelled by studying chemistry.”
    — Greg Jenner (02:53)

• Sisterly Pact & Parisian Dream: Marie worked to fund her sister Bronya's Paris studies, with Bronya later returning the favor.

2. Paris and Meeting Pierre Curie (03:47–05:49)

• Study at the Sorbonne: Finally moves to Paris, studies physics and maths, aces both.
  • "It was like a new world opened to me. The world of science, which I was at last permitted to know in all liberty."
    — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) [04:00]
• Romantic Interlude (Despite Herself): Meets fellow scientist Pierre Curie—a partnership powered by shared passion for science, not just romance.
  • "Babe, you are as attractive as an electromagnetic. Let's bond together like a... like a fluorine compound."
    — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) [04:40]
• Unconventional Wedding: Wore a practical dark blue dress that doubled as her lab outfit.

3. Scientific Breakthroughs and Nobel Glory (05:49–08:57)

• The Uranium Mystery: Inspired by Henri Becquerel’s work on uranium and mysterious “radiation.”
• Discovering Polonium & Radium: Marie and Pierre discover two new elements—polonium (named for Poland) and radium.
  • "And while I'm at it, I will invent the term radioactive."
    — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) [06:55]
• Harsh Working Conditions: Most of their experiments conducted in a makeshift, leaky shed.
• First Doctorate and the Nobel Snub: Marie became the first woman in France to receive a doctorate; initially snubbed for the Nobel Prize, which only included Pierre and Becquerel.
  • Intervention by Swedish mathematician Magnus Mittag-Leffler, and Pierre, led to Marie’s rightful inclusion.
    • "He said, that is as unfair as my name is long."
      — Ad Voice / Magnus Mittag-Leffler [07:39]
    • "More effective allyship than posting a hashtag."
      — Greg Jenner [07:43]
• First Woman Nobel Laureate: Marie is the first woman to win a Nobel, shared with Pierre and Becquerel for radiation research.

4. Personal Tragedy and Unstoppable Resilience (08:57–10:11)

• Pierre’s Accidental Death: In 1906, Pierre was killed in an accident, leaving Marie devastated and alone with two daughters.
  • "Crushed by the blow, I did not feel able to face the future. I could not forget, however, what my husband used to sometimes to say, that even deprived of him, I ought to continue my work."
    — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) [08:25]
• Rises to Teach Again: Becomes the first female professor at the Sorbonne and continues to blaze a trail in science.

5. Recognition, Exclusion, and Unmatched Legacy (08:57–13:12)

• Persistent Sexism: Still denied full recognition (e.g., blocked from the French Academy of Sciences).
  • "Yeah, not quite. In 1911, the French Academy of Sciences still voted not to give her a membership. Crying out loud..."
    — Greg Jenner [08:57]
• Second Nobel Prize: In 1911, awarded the Nobel in Chemistry—becoming the only person to win Nobels in two sciences.
• Practical Impact—The Radium Institute: Founded in Pierre's honor; radium’s medical applications transform cancer therapy.
• Heroism in WWI: Developed mobile X-ray units—‘Petite Curies’—and operated them at the frontline, training her daughter, Irene.
  • "Petit Curies were game changers for injured soldiers who could now be treated more quickly and accurately... That is a very intense take your kid to work day."
    — Greg Jenner [10:39]

6. Health Costs and Enduring Influence (11:31–13:52)

• Unseen Dangers: Lifelong exposure to radiation led to chronic illness; occupational safety not yet known.
  • "Marie to start your health and safety assessment, I'm going to switch on my Geiger counter. Okay, I'll just tick the everything is dangerously radioactive box. Still, at least your desk posture is good."
    — Ad Voice [12:02]
• Radioactive Relics: Her body, notebooks, and possessions remain dangerously radioactive even today.
  • "Her body is quite literally toxic... Even her notebook is still toxic. It's so radioactive, it glows in the dark and won't be safe to touch for another 1500 years."
    — Greg Jenner [12:32]
• Posthumous Honors:
  • 1944: New element “curium” named after Marie and Pierre.
  • 1995: Marie and Pierre’s coffins moved to the Panthéon—honored among France’s greatest, “Pantheon pals” with Josephine Baker.
• Summary of Legacy: Advocate for Polish liberty, women in science, sustainable fashion (re-wearing her wedding/lab dress!), and life-saving research.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Some young people rebel by... dyeing their hair. Marie rebelled by studying chemistry.”
  — Greg Jenner [02:53]
• “Lab dress. Wedding. Practical and romantic.”
  — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) [05:44]
• "I made a device that sees inside of you."
  — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) parodying Oompa Loompas, re: mobile X-rays [10:31]
• "If this was a movie, I'd be too young to watch it. It's character-building, like an extreme D-I-Y word."
  — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) describing field surgery X-rays [10:55]
• "Okay, dying now. Don't touch my stuff. I mean, really, don't touch my stuff. It'll probably kill you."
  — Marie Curie (Voice Actor) [12:23]
• "I've been to the year 3000. Not much has changed but we can touch Marie Curie's radioactive notebook."
  — Ad Voice (parodying pop song) [12:57]
• "Curium. Sounds like a cure. It’s actually incredibly radioactive and deadly."
  "Oh, way to rub it in, guys."
  — Greg Jenner and Marie Curie (Voice Actor) [13:45–13:49]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:10 – Introduction: Marie’s childhood and education
• 03:02 – Flying University and barriers to women’s education
• 03:47 – Move to Paris; Sorbonne; meeting Pierre Curie
• 05:49 – Discovery of polonium and radium
• 07:11 – Doctorate and Nobel nomination saga
• 08:25 – Pierre's death and Marie’s return to work
• 08:57 – Second Nobel, Radium Institute, ongoing sexism
• 10:19 – World War I, ‘Petite Curies,’ frontline work
• 11:31 – Daughter Irene’s scientific success
• 12:23 – Marie’s declining health and cause of death
• 12:57 – The “radioactive notebook” and legacy items
• 13:38 – Curium discovery, Pantheon honors
• 14:29–14:51 – Quick-fire history quiz (Marie Curie’s birthplace, elements discovered, name of the mobile X-rays)

---

Episode Tone

Playful, witty, and educational—seamlessly blending historical facts with sharp asides, pop culture references, and clever dramatizations.

---

In Summary

Greg Jenner’s “You’re Dead to Me” episode delivers a whirlwind, joyful, and deeply respectful tribute to Marie Curie. It underscores both the magnitude of her accomplishments and the personal costs she bore, leavened with humor and sharp critique of the gender barriers she constantly smashed. The show is as entertaining as it is enlightening—a “history lesson with no homework required," but with plenty to think about and be inspired by.

Transcript

[Ad Voice]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Flu season is here and the in store pharmacy has you covered with a free flu shot with most insurance plans. And as a thank you, get up to $20 off your grocery purchase. Plus it's cough and cold season. Stock up on all the season's essentials and get ready for relief with discounts on items like hall's menthol cough drops, 10 Tylenol cold and flu and Mucinex Fast Max products. Offer ends December 30th. Restrictions apply and offers may vary by location. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details.

[Coca Cola Ad Voice]

Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line, but first, There the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes.

[Greg Jenner]

Hello and welcome to Dead Funny History. I'm Greg Jenner. I'm a historian and I want to tell you about someone cool. Today we are talking about a woman who was as rock and roll as she was clever. Mar Marie Curie discovered brand new elements, won awards, and used physics and chemistry to completely change the way we understand science. Marie was born Mari Sklodowska in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, which at that point was part of the Russian Empire. Marie was the youngest of five kids, Zofia, Joseph, Bronislaw, known as Bronya, and Helena. Both of her parents, Bronislaw and Vladislav, were teachers and cared passionately about their education. But sadly, both her mum and one of her sisters died of TB when Marie was young. When she was 10, Marie went to school and did really well. She ended up top of her class. But when they got older, Marie and her sister Bronya weren't able to go to university because they were women. What I know. Both Marie and Bronya attended an illegal underground school called the Flying University. Not that type of flying. It was also sometimes called the Floating University. It wasn't on a boat either. It meant that they had to keep moving locations to escape detection by the authorities. Hey. Hey. You're looking for some education?

[Coca Cola Ad Voice]

What do you want?

[Greg Jenner]

I got. I got physics, chemistry, biology, sociology.

[Coca Cola Ad Voice]

In fact, I got all the ologies.

[Greg Jenner]

Some young people rebel by getting, you know, bits of their body pierced or dyeing their hair. Marie rebelled by studying chemistry.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

I'm staying in and reading one more chapter of my chemistry textbook and you can't stop me. And I've eaten all my vegetables. So there.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie had big dreams of studying at the Sorbonne University in Paris in France. But Their family couldn't afford it. So Bronya and Marie struck a deal. Marie got a job to fund Bronya's education and then Bronya would return the favor. Now that goes way above and beyond the usual sisterly sharing. Much better than letting her use your game. Pass subscription. In 1894, a 20 year old. 24 year old Marie finally got her chance to go to the Sorbonne in Paris, the city of romance.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Excuse you. I'm here for science, not love.

[Greg Jenner]

Although Marie could only afford to live in a very cold attic room, she was finally living her dream. And she wrote in her diary.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

It was like a new world opened to me. The world of science, which I was at last permitted to know in all liberty.

[Greg Jenner]

And Marie did brilliantly, completing master's degrees in maths and physics with flying colors in just three years. But that wasn't all Paris had in store for Marie. While she was looking for a lab to do her science work in, she met another scientist called Pierre Curie.

[Ad Voice]

Bonjour.

[Greg Jenner]

Like Marie, Pierre was passionate about science and education. Let's just say that they had very good chemistry.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Babe, you are as attractive as an electoral magnet. Let's bond together like a. Like a fluorine compound.

[Ad Voice]

I'm going to call you my adroan because you're my number one.

[Greg Jenner]

They fell in love.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Maybe I am in Paris for love after all. Thanks, city of romance.

[Greg Jenner]

You are welcome. Marie was proud to be Polish and wanted to return home to study at Krakow University. But they still wouldn't give her a place because she was a woman. I know, I know. So Marie decided to stay in Paris. And Marie and Pierre was were married in 1895. A white wedding romantique. Not quite. Not only was it a non religious ceremony, but Marie thought it was silly to spend all that money on a white dress she'd never wear again. So instead she wore a dark blue dress which she famously used as her lab uniform.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Lab dress. Wedding. Practical and romantic.

[Greg Jenner]

The Curies became interested in the work of French scientist Henri Becquerel, who was doing fascinating experiments with an element called uranium. And he had discover that it gave off its own strange energy called radiation. Marie's own research into uranium fundamentally changed people's thoughts about science. Previously, the atom was thought to be the smallest possible thing. Couldn't possibly divide it into anything smaller. But Marie disproved that. And as if that wasn't enough, Marie and Pierre also discovered two brand new elements. You cannot underestimate the significance of discovering not one, but two new elements. It was like that moment When Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube, combined with the discovery that peanut butter and jam go really well together. Marie Ampere called these new elements polonium.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

After my beloved Poland, and radium, because it's radioactive. And while I'm at it, I will invent the term radioactive.

[Greg Jenner]

This was huge. And since they didn't get much support from the university, Marie and Pierre Curie did most of that work in a leaky shed. Not ideal.

[Ad Voice]

Oh, I worked my handsome leg into a bucket.

[Greg Jenner]

In 1903, Marie received her doctorate, becoming the first woman in France to get one. Her research was declared to have done more for science than any any previous thesis. And she was rewarded by not being nominated for the Nobel Prize alongside her husband, Pierre and Henri Becquerel for their work on radiation.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Oh, for goodness sake.

[Greg Jenner]

But a Swedish mathematician named Magnus Josta Mittag Leffler found out about it and.

[Ad Voice]

He said, that is as unfair as my name is long.

[Greg Jenner]

He and Pierre insisted that Marie's name be included too. More effective allyship than posting a hashtag.

[Ad Voice]

You're welcome.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. And the award changed the lives of the Curies. Things were looking up, but then things were looking down. In 1906, Pierre tragically died after falling under a horse drawn cart, leaving behind a devastated Marie and their two daughters, Ev and Irene. Marie was heartbroken, but went back to work to become the first woman physics professor at the Sorbonne University. She wrote in her diary, crushed by.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

The blow, I did not feel able to face the future. I could not forget, however, what my husband used to sometimes to say, that even deprived of him, I ought to continue my work.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie continued to do groundbreaking science and rack up loads of impressive accolades. By 1909, she had finally got her own lab in Paris. No more leaky sheds.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Goodbye mock buckets. Hello professional respect of my peers.

[Greg Jenner]

Yeah, not quite. In 1911, the French Academy of Sciences still voted not to give her a membership. Crying out loud, but remember our Marie was a scientific rock star. And despite these setbacks, later in 1911, she was awarded a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry. She remains the only person ever to win two Nobel Prizes in two scientific fields. Marie may have lost Pierre, but she was determined to use her work to save lives and to keep the memory of Pierre alive too. She opened the Radium Institute in Pierre's memory.

[Ad Voice]

Oh, thanks babe. It's what hot Pierre always wanted.

[Greg Jenner]

Radium can damage living flesh. And the Curie's research, which still carries on today at their institute completely changed how we treat diseases like cancer. But that wasn't all. Marie's work became really important when World War I began. Now, after years of playing second fiddle to men, she could easily have just.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Said, oh, look who's coming crawling now to girly Marie from Poland.

[Greg Jenner]

But instead, Marie used her knowledge to develop a fleet of mobile X ray units called Petite Curies. What?

[Ad Voice]

Lots of little Marie curies? Like Oompa Loompas?

[Greg Jenner]

No. Although that would have been cool, though.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Petite Curie do Petit Do. I made a device that sees inside of you.

[Greg Jenner]

Petit Curies were game changers for injured soldiers who could now be treated more quickly and accurately. Marie operated the X ray machines herself on the front line, training her daughter Irene to do the same. That is a very intense take your kid to work day.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

The bone is sticking out of the flesh. We'll take an X ray to make sure no bits are in the eye. FYI, if this was a movie, I'd be too young to watch it. It's character building, like an extreme D of Y word.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie was a war hero. Go Marie. And go Irene. Who became a scientist just like her mum and dad. In 1934, Irene was up for a Nobel Prize. As celeb kids achievements go, it's a world away from Brooklyn Beckham's photos.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Take your lens cap off, Brooklyn.

[Greg Jenner]

Sadly, Marie didn't get to see Irene get her award, as on the 4th of July 1934.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Oh, I'm feeling quite ill. In fact, I've been feeling ill since the 1920s.

[Greg Jenner]

Tragically, even though radium has the power to do amazing things, it's also extremely dangerous. Throughout their lives, both Marie and Pierre were constantly unwell. But they didn't know that radium exposure was so bad. For them, occupational health obviously wasn't a thing in those days.

[Ad Voice]

Marie, to start your health and safety assessment, I'm going to switch on my Geiger counter. Okay, I'll just tick the everything is dangerously radioactive box. Still, at least your desk posture is good.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie Curie died aged 66, probably from a blood disease caused by too much exposure to radium.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Okay, dying now. Don't touch my stuff. I mean, really, don't touch my stuff. It'll probably kill you.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie dedicated so much time to studying radium, she became radioactive herself. Her body is quite literally toxic. Marie even had to be buried in a coffin lined with lead to keep other people safe from her. Even her notebook is still toxic. It's so radioactive, it glows in the dark and won't be safe to touch for another 1500 years.

[Ad Voice]

I've been to the year 3000. Not much has changed. But we can touch Marie Curie's radioactive notebook. And your great, great great granddaughter probably has a Nobel Prize.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

A Nobel Prize.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie Curie's legacy is amazing. A groundbreaking scientist, an advocate for Polish liberty, for women's education. A double Nobel Prize winner, a war hero and an innovator whose discoveries have saved countless lives. And as she didn't let her wedding dress go to waste in the attic. Also an advocate for sustainable fashion. In 1944, Marie and Pierre even had a newly discovered element named after them.

[Ad Voice]

Oh, thank you, baby.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

It's what we've always wanted.

[Greg Jenner]

Curium. Sounds like a cure. It's actually incredibly radioactive and deadly.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Oh, way to rub it in, guys.

[Greg Jenner]

And in 1995, Marie and Pierre's coffins were moved very carefully because, you know, toxic. And they were placed in Paris pantheon of heroes.

[Ad Voice]

Hang on, Greg, you've already covered a woman immigrant war hero who is honoured in the pantheon of heroes in the Josephine Baker episode.

[India RACKERSON]

Yeah.

[Greg Jenner]

Marie is national hero. Pantheon pals with Josephine Baker legends both. So how much do you remember from today's speedy history lesson? Let's find out. Pencils at the ready. Question 1. Where was Marie Curie born?

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Warsaw, Poland.

[Greg Jenner]

Question 2. Name one of the two elements that Marie and Pierre Curie discovered.

[Ad Voice]

Radium and polonium.

[Greg Jenner]

Question 3. What were the mobile X ray units that Marie and Irene used to help out in World War I?

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Petite curies.

[Greg Jenner]

Well done. Join us next time for another snappy history lesson. Thanks for listening. Bye. This was a BBC Studios audio production for Radio 4 Dead Funny History was written by Gabby Hutchison Crouch, athena Kublenu and Dr. Emma Nagus. The researcher was Dr. Emmy Rose Price Goodfellow. It was hosted by me, Greg Jenner, and performed by Mally Anne Reese and John Luke Roberts. The script consultant was Professor Ewan Morris.

[India RACKERSON]

Hi, Cynthia.

[Marie Curie (Voice Actor)]

Here.

[India RACKERSON]

I'm very excited to bring you the Return of Child. So we've been on the journey of an embryo all the way to a baby's first birthday, and now we are going to enter the extreme explosive life of the toddler, because this is the perfect place to unpick the very complicated world of emotions, the emotions that affect us all. So come with us as over eight episodes, we fall through the abundant and dizzying world of happiness, descend into the depths of fear and the gendered and dangerous world of anger, and then crawl, wobble and bounce our way through or love, anxiety and surprise. From BBC Radio 4, this is Child with me. India RACKERSON Listen first on BBC Sounds.

[Greg Jenner]

And Doug here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company Affiliates excludes Massachusetts.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day.

[Greg Jenner]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Give it a [e-mail] save upfront payment.

[Coca Cola Ad Voice]

$45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first 3 months only speed flow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra see mintmobile.com.