Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

In 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/

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 Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

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 licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

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: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

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 Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/