In Our Spare Times

Nov 01 2021 18 ep. 48 mins 3.7k
In Our Spare Times Podcast artwork

An academic podcast in which a panel of Oxford students and young researchers join hosts Jan-Willem Prügel, Aled Walker and Alice Harberd to discuss their academic and intellectual passions. Each episode will have a different theme, ranging from Marxism to Medieval Song, Cicero to Sondheim -- a tribute to the astonishing diversity of thought which takes place in Oxford. Twitter: @Oxford_IOST

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Conservatism

Nov 01 2021 106 mins  
In this episode, Jan-Willem Prügel discusses the historical origins and philosophical characteristics of Conservatism with two brilliant Oxford students of the humanities. Some say Conservatism is not even a proper political belief, some think of it as shorthand for the politics of the Tory or Republican party. Alas, it is so much more than that and so much more difficult to grasp

Number Systems

Oct 28 2021 75 mins  
Jan-Willem Prügel questions three Oxford mathematicians about the mythical entities known as numbers. What are they? And perhaps even more importantly, why are they? Show notes: https://media.podcasts.ox.ac.uk/ball/in_our_spare_time/sparetimes-number-systems-show-notes.pdf

The Problem of Evil

Jul 26 2017 48 mins  
Oxford students discuss the problem posed by the existence of evil in the world to the Christian and Hindu gods.

Nuclear Fusion

Jun 13 2017 39 mins  
Aled Walker, Justin Ball, Valerian Chen, Jason Parisi discuss nuclear fusion as part of the In Our Spare Time series.

Language, Mobility and Belonging

Mar 20 2017 42 mins  
A new episode of of in our spare time, this time looking at the social aspects of language.

Criminology

Jan 20 2017 44 mins  
Oxford graduate students discuss Criminology, and the societal affects of real-life crime documentaries. In the final months of 2014, the most downloaded podcast on iTunes wasn't on politics or on current affairs, it was no grand historical narrative, and it certainly wasn't a comedy. The podcast was called 'Serial', by now downloaded over 80 million times, and it told, over the co

Évariste Galois

Jan 18 2017 42 mins  
Oxford graduate students discuss the life and work of 19th century French mathematical prodigy Évariste Galois To appear on a commemorative stamp is surely the greatest stamp of fame. Évariste Galois -- 'Révolutionnaire et Géomètre', as the French stamp says -- was one of the most unusual and enigmatic mathematicians in history. He died when he was just 20 years old, in dramat

Clytemenstra

Dec 02 2016 45 mins  
Host Alice Harberd discusses Clytemnestra, a fascinating character from Greek Tragedy, with Emily Clifford and Lily Aaronovitch.

Science and Politics

Nov 04 2016 34 mins  
Oxford DPhil students discuss the relationship between scientific advice and government policy The relationship between scientists and politicians has never been an easy one. These days scientists advice our government on anything from run-of-the-mill policy decisions, to cyber-warfare, to natural disasters, to taxation, and on the future of our energy needs; but, with only 10% of

The American election of 1896

Oct 20 2016 40 mins  
Host Aled Walker is joined by DPhil students Nonie Kubie and Daniel Rowe to discuss the American presidential election of 1896, a fascinating and pivotal moment in American history. "Having behind us the commercial interests and the labouring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them: 'You shall not press down upon the