Undercurrent Stories
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Discovering the hidden depths of the people and world around us.
Documentary interview show with an eclectic mix of people and subjects including: history, music, philosophy, the outdoors, wildlife, food and drink, sport, personal achievements, spirituality and many more.
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186 Episodes
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It started with a walk… and a few unusual stones in a field. In the smallest county in England, a chance discovery during lockdown led to one of the most remarkable Roman finds in recent years—a mosaic hidden beneath the soil for nearly 2,000 years. In this episode, I’m joined by Jim Irvine, the man who found it, as we walk the very ground where the discovery was made. From oyster shells and satellite images to uncovering a Roman villa, this is the story of how curiosity uncovered history. If...
What does it mean to inherit one of the most famous family legacies in the world? In this episode of Undercurrent Stories, Bob speaks with Ned Guinness, the current head of the Guinness family, 4th Earl of Iveagh, and author of Guinness: The Family Succession. Drawing on private family archives, Ned reflects on legacy, responsibility, Irish history, philanthropy, and the small decisions that shape generations — revealing the human story behind the Guinness name beyond the brand. Quote “It’s t...
How has religion shaped civilizations — and where is belief heading next? In the final episode, Professor Robin Dunbar examines how religion helped build societies, fueled conflict, responded to crisis, and continues to influence the modern world. From ancient empires to modern secular life, we explore whether religion is declining, transforming, or preparing for a resurgence — and what that means for humanity’s future. A thought-provoking conclusion to the mini-series. Guest Professor Robin ...
Why does religion bring people together? In Part Two of this three part mini-series on the history of religion, Professor Robin Dunbar explores how rituals like singing, prayer, music, and shared worship strengthen social bonds and create deep feelings of belonging. We examine the science of endorphins, Dunbar’s Number, friendship layers, and why humans seem wired for community — revealing religion as a powerful social technology. A fascinating look at belief as connection, not just faith. Gu...
Where did religion come from — and why did humans start believing? In Part One of this three-part mini-series, evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar explores how religion may have emerged from early human cognition, language, imagination, and our awareness of death. We look at early spirituality, trance, symbolic thinking, and the evolutionary foundations of belief — long before organised religion or sacred texts. A science-led journey into the origins of faith and what it reveals ...
In this episode , we speak with author Sonia Daccarret about her memoir The Roots of a Guava Tree — a deeply personal exploration of childhood, identity, memory, and belonging . Growing up in Colombia in the 1980s, Sonia reflects on a life shaped by cultural hybridity, political change, and family history — with a Jewish mother and a Christian Palestinian father, and no single religious label to claim . She shares what it meant to come of age during a time of violence and transforma...
In this episode, I’m joined by musician and songwriter Francis Dunnery for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation. Francis Dunnery is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the British prog-pop band It Bites. After leaving the band in 1990, he launched a diverse solo career, releasing over ten original albums spanning progressive rock, pop, folk, R&B, and blues. A versatile musician, Dunnery has also worked extensively as a sideman and musical contributor for major...
What if sound could help you switch off, slow down, and reset your nervous system? In this episode of Undercurrent Stories, I'm joined by Cherub Sanson, sound healer and co-founder of the Academy of Integrated Sonic Medicine. We explore why sound can calm the nervous system more quickly than many other well-being practices, how vibration influences stress, sleep, and focus, and why sound healing has moved from the margins into the mainstream. Drawing on science, lived experience, and an...
How to Listen to Animals: What They’re Really Trying to Tell Us: Amelia Thomas In this episode of Undercurrent Stories, host Bob Wells explores animal communication, listening to animals, and the lost human ability to hear what the natural world is telling us. Bob is joined by Amelia Thomas, journalist, author, and naturalist, whose book What Sheep Think About the Weather: How to Listen to What Animals Are Trying to Say examines how animals speak through sound, behaviour, movement, subtle sig...
What happens when a world war collides with centuries of unresolved tension? In the final episode of our mini-series on the Irish Troubles, Dr Thomas Leahy guides us from the outbreak of the First World War through to the conditions that ignited what we now call the Troubles. This is the turning point — where long-standing fears, loyalties, and political gambles harden into something far more dangerous. We explore how Home Rule was postponed by global conflict, why armed movements emerg...
How did centuries of history shape the Irish Troubles? In this second episode about the history of 'The Troubles' Dr Thomas Leahy traces the roots of the conflict from the 17th century to the eve of the First World War. From Cromwell and the plantations to rebellion, famine, and the fight for Home Rule, this episode reveals how power, religion, and identity became deeply entangled in Ireland. Rather than starting with violence, this conversation shows how division was built slowly — through l...
In today’s episode, (the first of 3), we take a deep dive into one of the most defining and emotionally charged chapters of modern British and Irish history — the Troubles. With the anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration approaching, this is a timely and gripping dive into the people, politics, and centuries-long tensions that shaped the conflict. Many of us, myself included, were brought up during 'The Troubles' and never fully understood the long history of division and conflict asso...
Why is English always changing—and why does that change so often make us uneasy? In this fascinating conversation, we're joined by linguist, author, and University of Michigan Dean Professor Anne Curzan to explore how English evolves, who influences that change, and what our reactions to new words and usages reveal about culture, identity, and power. Anne shares insights from her latest book Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words, and unpacks everything from...
'Beer built the fortune but the stories and legacy that the Guinness's left behind are far richer.' Most people know the beer few know the people or the houses. Join me in conversation with historian, Adrian Tinniswood as he takes us on a lavish journey through the Houses of Guinness. Footmen, lavish parties, eccentric rituals—Adrian takes us inside the world most of us only see in period dramas. The Houses of Guinness weren't just beautiful homes, they were engines of power. Adrian reveals w...
Have you ever wondered why some people always seem to get the best opportunities — the ideal job, the perfect house, or even a place for the kids in the school everyone wants — while others, just as qualified, miss out? It’s tempting to call it luck. But what if luck isn’t random at all — what if it’s designed? My guest today, Judd Kessler, is a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and one of the leading thinkers in behavioural economics and market design. His new...
Today, on Undercurrent Stories, we turn our attention to the grand sweep of human history — from the hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic to the great empires of Egypt and Rome, and onward to our interconnected, fragile world of today. At the heart of our discussion lies a question as old as civilisation itself: why do societies rise — and why do they fall? My guest is Dr Luke Kemp, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk and author of Goliath’s C...
For centuries, humans have looked to the sky in search of signs. Today, our tools are satellites and data models rather than clouds and folklore. In this episode, we hear from Thomas Weber about the people and technology transforming meteorology, and how accurate forecasts are reshaping lives across the globe. About Thomas; Thomas E. Weber is an American journalist and author known for exploring the intersection of science, technology, and society. A Princeton graduate, he began h...
Paleontologist and author Armin Schmitt returns to the show where we explore two remarkable dinosaur discoveries that are reshaping what we know about life millions of years ago. From the longest dinosaur trackway ever uncovered in Oxfordshire, England, to the first-ever discovery of fossilised gut contents inside a sauropod in Australia, Armin shares the science — and the stories — behind these once-in-a-lifetime finds. We hear how ancient footprints reveal the daily lives of long-necked gia...
In this episode, we explore the the biggest question of all: How did we get here? Joining me is Professor Tim Coulson, biologist and zoologist at the University of Oxford and author of A Little History of Everything: From the Big Bang to You. Tim traces our story from the birth of the universe to the emergence of life and consciousness — touching on physics, chemistry, biology, and the scientific method that ties it all together. It’s an enlightening, accessible, and awe-inspiring conversatio...
In this episode I'm delighted to welcome musician, producer and sound pioneer Martyn Ware to the show. Martyn takes us back to his Sheffield roots and shares how the experimental beginnings of The Human League led to the formation of Heaven 17. He opens up about the split with Phil Oakey, the creation of groundbreaking tracks like Being Boiled, and how Heaven 17 carved out their place in 80s synthpop history. Beyond the hits, Martyn reflects on his production work — including helping relaunch...
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