Ep 267 Dr Elizbeth Norton
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
Jo'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...
info_outline
Ep 266 Phil Downing - Harvington Hall
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
In 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...
info_outline
Ep 265 Amelia Thomas
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
Jo'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:
info_outline
Ep 264 A-Z of Science Fiction Cinema: B
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
In 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...
info_outline
Ep 263 Dr Camilla Stokholm
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
Jo'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 &...
info_outline
Ep 262 James Mayhew Top Ten Theatre
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
In episode 262 Jo welcomes back James Mayhew who is a children's author and illustrator. He takes part in Jo's new series where a guest chooses their Top Ten Theatre shows. His choices include some opera, ballet and musicals like Chicago. 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 N and it's something with a festive connection - the Nandina domestica. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's...
info_outline
Ep 261 Annie Garthwaite
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
Jo's special guest in episode 261 is Annie Garthwaite, who is a historical novelist. They talk about her passion for history, in particular writing about the women of the Wars of the Roses. They delve into her debut novel 'Cecily' about Cecily Neville - the matriarch of the House of York. Plus Annie answers the Quick Six. Jo also welcomes back Dr Jamie Gallagher, who is a science communicator, public engagement trainer and chemist. He shares another story from the Periodic Table - this time how elements are named and why in the mid 1990s a number of elements were discovered but there was...
info_outline
Ep 260 Dr Nicola Tallis
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
In episode 260 Jo is joined by Dr Nicola Tallis who is an author and historian of the Tudor period. She talks about her passion for history, some of the women she has written about and her latest book 'Young Elizabeth', which is about the dramatic early life of Queen Elizabeth I. Plus she answers the Quick Six. Jo also visits the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham to find out the story of a gramophone that belonged to the Holst family, which plays one of The Planets. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's...
info_outline
Ep 259 Prof Adam Hart Myth Busting Extinction & De-extinction
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
Jo's special guest in episode 259 is Professor Adam Hart, who is professor of science communication at the University of Gloucestershire. Adam returns to do a new edition of myth busting, and he and Jo tackle the topic of extinction, as well as the issues around the idea of de-extinction. Jo also visits the Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL to learn more about one extinct species - the dodo. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website:
info_outline
Ep 258 Charlie Creed
Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe
In episode 258 Jo's special guest is Charlie Creed, a writer from Bristol. He talks about his career and his latest book 'The Cat's Tales: Feline Fairy Tales and Folklore', including famous cats and magical cats. Plus 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 M and it's the oldest plant in the world - moss. Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet. Jo's website:
info_outlineJo'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/