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Understand

by BBC Radio 4
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Latest episodes

  • The Growth Conundrum: 1. Growing Pains

    October 26, 2026 · 43 min

    Economic growth is something every UK government, up to and including the current one, claims to want above all else. But for almost 20 years, not a single one has been able to deliver sustained national economic expansion. BBC Verify's…

  • The Growth Conundrum: Trailer

    October 22, 2026 · 2 min

    Every UK government, up to and including the current one, claims to want to achieve economic growth. But for almost 20 years not a single one has delivered sustained economic expansion. BBC Verify's Policy and Analysis Correspondent, Ben…

  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: 7. Vittorio Angelone's in his 20s

    October 9, 2026 · 16 min

    In the final episode of Michael Rosen’s series on masculinity and manhood, can comedian and podcaster Vittorio Angelone, following his tumultuous 20s, find his way to being a man that he actually likes. At the start of his 20s, Vittorio…

  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: 6. Marvin Sordell's in his 30s

    October 9, 2026 · 15 min

    What’s it like to be a man in your 30s? In Episode 6 of Michael Rosen’s series about masculinity and manhood, filmmaker and former Premier League footballer Marvin Sordell puts darkness behind him to write a new chapter in his life. By the…

  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: 5. Lias Saoudi's in his 40s

    October 2, 2026 · 15 min

    What’s it like to be a man in your 40s? In Episode 5 of Michael Rosen’s series about masculinity and manhood, singer and author Lias Saoudi reflects on his transition from chaos to fatherhood. As the lead singer of the notoriously…

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  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: 4. Matthew Todd's in his 50s

    October 2, 2026 · 15 min

    What’s it like to be a man in your 50s? In Episode 4 of Michael Rosen’s series about manhood and masculinity, journalist, activist and writer Matthew Todd talks about his experience. Matthew grew up feeling completely alienated from…

  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: 3. David Baddiel's in his 60s

    September 25, 2026 · 15 min

    What’s it like being a man in your 60s? In Episode 3 of Michael Rosen’s series about manhood and masculinity, comedian and writer David Baddiel shares his experience. Like all of us, David has always ‘known’ he was going to die, but it’s…

  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: 2. Colm Tóibín's in his 70s

    September 25, 2026 · 15 min

    What is it like being a man in your 70s? In Episode 2 of Michael Rosen’s series about manhood and masculinity, celebrated author and poet Colm Tóibín shares how he feels less and less sexual energy as he ages, especially after surviving…

  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: 1. Michael Palin's in his 80s

    September 25, 2026 · 15 min

    Michael Palin doesn’t feel like a ‘man’ anymore in his 80s. But what does that mean and does it bring a new freedom? In conversation with Michael Rosen – who has recently turned 80 himself – Palin reflects on the fading of those…

  • Seven Ages of Man, with Michael Rosen: Trailer

    September 22, 2026 · 3 min

    What does being a ‘man’ really mean? From Michael Palin in his 80s to comedian Vittorio Angelone, just turned 30, seven men share their deeply personal experiences of manhood. After almost dying of covid-19, our host and guide Michael…

  • The Value Crisis: 2. We've Been Here Before

    September 16, 2026 · 42 min

    Technology is transforming what we value at breakneck speed. But is this really new? In this episode, Ros Atkins looks to four moments when earlier technologies forced a reckoning with value: the printing press, which flooded the world…

  • The Value Crisis: 1. Crisis, What Crisis?

    September 16, 2026 · 43 min

    Ros Atkins thinks technology is dramatically shifting what we value in the worlds of friendship, culture, finance and work. In this episode, he sets out to test whether that shift amounts to a crisis - or something else. He examines how…

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About the show

NEW in Understand - Seven Ages of Man with Michael Rosen What does being a 'man' really mean in each decade of life? From Michael Palin in his 80s to comedian Vittorio Angelone, just turned 30, seven men share their personal experiences.