Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

In episode 303 Jo is joined by Jon Chase, who is a science communication practitioner, an author and science rapper. He talks about his career, including shows and books exploring the science of Doctor Who and Star Wars. Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six.
Jo reaches the penultimate part of her series on the A-Z of Plants with Faith Douglas, author of The Nature Remedy and curator at Dawyck Botanic Garden in Scotland. They've reached the letter Y - which is for a long lived historic tree.
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

Jo's special guest in episode 302 is Will Lawton, who is a musician, singer-songwriter and a music therapist. He talks to Jo about his career, how he moved into music therapy and his collaborations with other musicians, including how Lawton & Mack came about.  Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six.
Jo also has a highlight from the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Sleep Physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski, who busts some common sleep myths. 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

In episode 301 Jo welcomes back Dr Meganne Christian, who is an ESA Reserve Astronaut, and also Mission Manager for in Space Manufacturing at Satellite Applications Catapult. She talks about this new role and her recent astronaut training, including space law and another parabolic flight. 
Jo also visits the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham to add an item into her virtual museum, which is from an exhibition relating to Gustav Holst's brother who was a famous Hollywood actor.
 
 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

It's the three hundredth edition of the award-winning arts & science podcast and also the six year anniversary. In this feature length extended episode Jo welcomes back a host of guests and discusses a range of subjects including space, science fiction, theatre, history, illustration, plants, the weather, museums, sensory science and much more.
Guests featured in order of appearance: Dallas Campbell, Isabel Thomas, Dr Jamie Gallagher, Stefan Gates, Briony Hudson, Prof Adam Hart, Dr Emma Yhnell, Dee Atkins-Greig, Jeff Downes & Graham O'Dwyer, Dr Nicola Tallis, Gareth Russell, Annie Garthwaite, Prof Barry Smith, Faith Douglas, Corey Brotherson & Paul Scott and James Mayhew.
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

Jo presents a special edition of the podcast, recorded for the first time on stage in front of a live audience - at the 2026 Gloucester History Festival. 
Her special guests are Professor Janina Ramirez, who is an author, broadcaster and academic, and is the Lifetime President of the Festival, along with Andrew Armstrong, who is the City Archaeologist for Gloucester. They share their passion for their subjects and do some myth busting along the way. 
Plus Jo learns a bit of the history of Blackfriars Priory, home to the festival; and shares some highlights of other historians who have previously been on the podcast. 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/