What's the Point?

We tend to see medicine as a strictly scientific sector, but the arts and humanities are essential when it comes to educating our doctors and caring for patients and the planet. Doctor and Professor of Medical Education Ian Fussell joins me to talk about:What is medical humanitiesHow and why we can use arts and humanities in medical educationThe links between planetary health, medi

Although there has been scientific consensus on the climate crisis for decades, humans have been slow to respond to its urgency. Environmental humanities researcher Conor Brennan joins me to talk about: What is environmental humanities?How can evironmental humanities help to solve the climate crisis?The role of popular culture in communicating the climate crisisThe problems that ar

In this time when "fake news" and "alternative facts" have become buzzwords, arts and humanities are more important than ever. Professional fact checker Sarah Turnnidge from Full Fact joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss:How her humanities background prepared her for being a professional fact checkerAcademic English as a lens to look at different topicsHumanities a

Cybersecurity researcher Dr Andrea Zeffiro joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about:The role of humanities in addressing technological challenges in data science domainsUsing humanities to solve problems surrounding data breachesConsidering the human elements of cybersecurity Understanding cybersecurity as more than a neutral protection of networks and dataThe problems we will have wit

Researcher and upcoming author Madeline Potter joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about:Tackling intergenerational poverty through the arts in Roma communitiesThe importance of knowing your own historyMaddy’s upcoming book, The Roma: A Travelling History (Bodley Head/ Harper Collins, 2025)Why writing and research skills need to be valued and fundedThe role of humanities in combatting

Arts Emergency co-founder Neil Griffiths joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about:How studying arts and humanities helps you to pursue work in culture, politics and activismWhy all minoritised people need the option to study arts and humanitiesThe power of seeing yourself represented in cultureBreaking down the privilege associated with pursuing arts and humanities How reading literatu

Business researcher Dr Ladan Cockshut joins Bryony Armstrong to talk about: What the Creative, Digital and IT (CDIT) sector is and how much it’s growingThe huge array of industries that need creative skillsHow Arts and Humanities academics interact with practitioners in the CDIT sectorHow creativity can lead to incomeCreating changes and measurable economic growth with creativity

Social historian Norma Gregory joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss: Useful skills and knowledge from an arts and humanities educationMaking recorded history representative of the pastThe importance of accessibility in historical researchImproving mental health and wellbeing through heritageBringing people together and building communities through heritage Creating jobs in heritage wo

Lecturer in American literature Dr Xine Yao joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss:Why defunding the humanities limits who has cultural capitalFeeling or unfeeling among minoritised groupsHow researching literature from the past can teach us about the presentThe relationship between humanities and social justiceWhy we can’t turn to the humanities unproblematicallyBringing humanities r

Sensory historian Dr William Tullett joins Bryony Armstrong to discuss:Using smell to engage with the presentThe impact of smell research on political choices and environmental justiceUsing smell to learn about historical experienceChanging up the hierarchies of senses and historical sourcesWhy we need to tackle myths about “bad smells” Why connecting with heritage mattersThe i