Ep 55 Dr Freya Harrison

It's the start of Women's History Month and Jo's special guest in episode 176 is Dr Suzy Lishman CBE. Suzy is a consultant histopathologist and a medical examiner and talks to Jo about her passion for this area. She also discusses her public engagement work, including her 'Living Autopsy' demonstration.  Plus she answers the Quick Six.

Jo also visits the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Museum in London to find out why a crocodile used to be the symbol of pharmacy. 

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

In a special bonus mini edition of the podcast, Jo visits ArtScience Museum in Singapore to see the exhibition 'Mars: The Red Mirror'.

She talks to Honor Harger who is Vice President and Artistic & Executive Lead for ArtScience Museum. She is also Vice President for Attractions at Marina Bay Sands, which is where the museum is based. 

The exhibition is split into three sections which looks at 12,000 years of history of the red planet, how Mars was viewed in the 20th century and asks questions around the idea of moving to Mars. 

Honor will be the special guest in episode 181.

Music licensed from Purple Planet. 

Presented, produced and edited by Jo Durrant.

In episode 175 Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes & Graham O'Dwyer from At The Flicks, to explore science fiction cinema. This time they shine the spotlight on prequels, including discussions on the prequels to Alien, Planet of the Apes, X-Men and Star Wars.

Plus science journalist and writer Sue Nelson, and video game and graphic novel writer and editor Corey Brotherson share their favourite sci-fi prequels. 

Presented, produced and edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet. 

Jo welcomes back philosopher and sensory scientist Professor Barry Smith in episode 174. He is from the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London and talks about his latest research, how sound plays a part in our enjoyment of food and he has some tips for super tasters like Jo. 

Jo also chats to one of the team from Wakefield Museums and Castles, to find out the story of a coffee set found in Castleford, and why the person who designed it was so influential. 

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

In episode 173 Dr Emma Yhnell returns to myth bust stories and topics relating to neuroscience. Emma is a senior lecturer at Cardiff University and a science communicator. Jo and Emma discuss how motion capture is being used in medicine, the impact of handwriting on the brain, and the subject of love, hormones and neurotransmitters. 

Jo also visits a new museum on the podcast - the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham. 2024 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Gustav Holst and Jo finds out the story behind a piano he composed some of The Planets on.

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

Jo's special guest in episode 172 is writer and photographer John Gilbey. He talks about his background in environmental research, writing for the Country Diary column in the Guardian newspaper and about his own book 'Country Diary Wales'. Plus he answers the Quick Six.

Jo also visits the John Moore Museum in Tewkesbury to find out the story behind one of John Moore's most popular books 'The Season Of The Year'.

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

In episode 171 Jo is joined by Dhara Patel, Space Expert at the National Space Centre in Leicester. She talks about her career and passion for space, as well as the 20th anniversary of the Beagle 2 Mars Lander and why it's so significant for the UK. Plus she answers the Quick Six. 

Dhara also puts an item into Jo's virtual museum, which is a scale model of Beagle 2 at the National Space Centre. 

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

Jo's special guest in a milestone episode 170 is Dr Tracy Borman, who is an author, historian and joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces. She talks to Jo about her career, passion for history and her books including 'Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I'. Plus she answers the Quick Six.

Jo also visits the John Moore Museum in Tewkesbury to find out the story behind two chamber pots, which would have been used in Tudor times. 

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

In episode 169 Jo is joined by Emma Pears, who is an author, songwriter and entrepreneur, and has written the book 'What Does It Matter?'. Emma talks to Jo about her career and explains her philosophy of how we can all live with less stress and more joy. Plus she answers the Quick Six. 

Jo also welcomes back Dr Jamie Gallagher, who is a science communicator, public engagement trainer and chemist. He returns to share another story from the Periodic Table, and this time it's a very colourful element.

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

Jo welcomes back science writer Paul Rincon in episode 168. Paul is commissioning editor for science and technology at The Conversation, and returns to discuss space stories that have been in the news recently.

Topics include the latest on the Osiris-Rex mission that returned from asteroid Bennu, Starship, sub-Neptunes and space debris.

Jo also visits Gloucestershire Archives to find out why there are over 100 photograph albums in the collection, relating to the Gloucestershire Railway Carriage and Wagon Works. 

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.