100 Best The Open University Podcasts

Economics and Finance Podcasts

OU economics podcasts on markets, money, banking crises, recessions and the forces driving the global economy.

1. 60-Second Adventures in Economics - for iPod/iPhone

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Ever shaken an invisible hand? Been flattened by a falling market? Or wondered what took the bend out of Phillips' curve? David Mitchell helps reveal some of the great dilemmas faced by governments trying to run an economy - whether to save or spend, control inflation, regulate trade, fix exchange rates, or just leave everyone to get on with it and not intervene...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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2. Money and Emotions - Audio

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How do emotions affect financial decisions? Is their impact always bad, or are emotions an important part of making good financial decisions? Can a better understanding of emotion help us avert future financial crises? These are some of the questions being asked by the xDelia project: a European Commission funded research programme being conducted by The Open University and other partners...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.8/5Apple Reviews 29 Avg Length 19 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

3. The banking crisis: cause and effect - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Autumn 2008 witnessed a global financial crisis with governments worldwide taking emergency action to prevent a collapse of the banking system. The aftermath of the worst financial crisis since the 1930s saw economic activity slump. In the UK, higher unemployment, falling house prices and a sharp increase in government debt proved to be the alarming legacy of the near implosion of the banking system. This fascinating insight into the downfall of the global financial markets gives us a clear understanding of where it all went wrong...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3/5Apple Reviews 5 Avg Length 6 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

4. The History of Money - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
Where did money come from? How did people trade before inventing money? Was it a masterstroke or madness (or both) to let banks create money? Today money is generally accepted as payment for goods and services or repayment of debt. But governments still fret about whether there's too much (or too little) in circulation, economists can't agree on what it is, and the enduring popularity of alternative or crypto-currencies shows rumbling discontent with the official version...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. The pensions timebomb - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Over the last three decades major events, scandals and regulations have shocked the pension system. Have the public lost faith in occupational and private pensions? Should the state pension be enough to see us through our old age? And with the non-working to working ratio continuing to rapidly increase, who will pay? We hear from those that were directly affected by the scandals of the 90's and the collapse in private pensions since - and from the experts whose job it is to help us make provisions for old age...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 2 Avg Length 9 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

6. Fiscal Responsibility and Monetary Policy - for iPod/iPhone

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Why do economies go into recession, and what should policymakers do? How do governments use money to influence the economy?Over the past century governments have used a variety of strategies to avoid economic instability, and the current economic crisis has been handled very differently from the Great Depression, the last comparable global downturn...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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7. Global response to the financial crisis - Audio

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What caused the financial crisis of 2007-9 and the recession that followed? How did governments and the international banking system respond? Senior Lecturer William Brown is joined by three course team members to address the key issues that emerged as a result of the financial crisis and what it reveals about shifts in the international system. The album also explores how the principles of game theory could be applied to regulating complex financial problems. This material forms part of The Open University course DU301 A world of whose making?MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Avg Length 7 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

8. The Amartya Sen interviews - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Nobel prize winning economist and philosopher, Professor Amartya Sen is widely regarded as one of the most influential public thinkers of our time, his interest and impact ranging across the key questions facing all societies: how can we promote economic well being, fairness and justice and how do we tackle deprivation and injustice. In this album, he talks about economics, welfare and his most recent book 'The Idea of Justice'. The ideas in this album can be studied further in The Open University course DD309 Doing economics: people, markets and policy.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Engineering and Technology Podcasts

OU engineering podcasts on structures, flight, nanotechnology, cybernetics and the science behind everyday machines.

1. The Science Behind the Bike - for iPad/Mac/PC

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The Science Behind the Bike is a series of films that investigate how science and technology have transformed the sport of cycling. We talk to Olympic gold-medallists Chris Boardman and Rebecca Romero, and Paralympian gold-medallist Sarah Storey, take a trip to a wind tunnel, consult with Team GB physiologists and hear from design experts and cycling legends such as Graeme Obree and Francesco Moser...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.7/5Apple Reviews 210 Get Email Contact

2. Cyborgs and cybernetics - for iPad/Mac/PC

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What are cyborgs? Would a cyborg future deliver positive human advances or a Hollywood-style nightmare in which human beings have become a sub-species? Could we one day download our minds? This album gives an insight into the development of cybernetics and how it is used to fuse technology and humanity. The interfaces that communicate between man and machine are developing rapidly and to Prof. Kevin Warwick at Reading University, cyborgs are a technological evolutionary step forward from humans...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.6/5Apple Reviews 37 Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Rollercoaster design - for iPod/iPhone

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Why is a rollercoaster so exciting and terrifying, yet safe? Modern rollercoasters such as ‘Nemesis’ are engineered very precisely to create an exciting experience for thrill-seekers. This short album visits Alton Towers theme park in England, and explores the part that mathematicians play in rollercoaster design, using mathematical models to calculate the ride's accelerations and forces to obtain the desired experience. This material forms part of The Open University course MST121 Using mathematics.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 2.4/5Apple Reviews 16 Get Email Contact

4. Soaring Achievements - for iPod/iPhone

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How does an aircraft without an engine stay up in the air? What factors affect a glider's performance and how far it can travel? Scientific experiments with gliders have been carried out since the 1930’s, particularly with relation to design. Mathematical modelling is used to make and refine gliders that perform as well as possible. The 8 video tracks on this album describe some of the highly mathematical concepts used by pilots, such as glide angle, the ‘best speed to fly’, and the intricacies of competition flying...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 10Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

5. The Next Big Thing: Nanotechnology - for iPod/iPhone

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How - and why - would you build a machine 10,000 times thinner than a human hair? This album features experts discussing the paradigm shift that is occurring in science. Scientists are learning to manipulate atoms on the scale of a billionth of a metre and control them to perform specific tasks. They can emulate biological and chemical systems to fabricate machines that will destroy cancer cells in the body, giving us nano-drugs of the future; and IBM is using nano-technology for information storage on a molecular scale...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 2.7/5Apple Reviews 10 Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

6. Soaring by Design - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How do you go about designing an aircraft that has no engine? What forces enable a glider to become airborne and quickly reach high altitudes quickly? The tracks in this album look at the aerodynamics of gliders, ask questions relating to the 'Speed to Fly', and explores the consequences of kinetic and potential energy change, providing a useful way of modelling the behaviour of a glider in the air. This material makes up part of the course MST209, Mathematical methods and models.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 9Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

7. Structural Integrity: designing against failure - for iPod/iPhone

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The Kinzua rail viaduct, in Pennsylvania, collapsed when it was hit by a tornado in 2003. First built in 1882 and redesigned 1900, it was at one time the highest bridge in the world. The two video tracks in this album tell the story of the Kinzua catastrophe. The subsequent forensic investigation has cast new light on the failure of Tay rail bridge in Scotland 125 years earlier; with 75 people killed, the worst ever disaster to befall a trestle bridge. This material forms part of the course T357, Structural integrity: designing against failure.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 2/5Apple Reviews 4Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

8. Structural Integrity: Materials Testing - for iPod/iPhone

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How is safety built into the design of new structures? What sort of tests are used to ascertain the safety of proposed designs? Structural integrity, the study of the safe design and assessment of materials and structures under load, has become crucial in engineering design. Concepts within stress analysis have wide applicability, as there are very few manufactured components and products that do not experience any loading during their life. The tracks on this album demonstrate a selection of specialised tests designed to tell us about the behaviour of materials under certain conditions...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 1/5Apple Reviews 2 Get Email Contact

9. Structural Integrity: Silver Bridge - for iPad/Mac/PC

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The 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge over the Ohio River was an engineering mystery and a human tragedy - 46 people died. Why did a suspension bridge built to last a century not make 40 years? Built in 1928, it was a slimmer version of similar bridges built in nearby Pittsburgh. The slimming down was deemed to be safe because of the use of a tougher steel and ‘silver coloured anticorrosion paint’...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

10. Design Behind the Bike - for iPod/iPhone

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The Design Behind the Bike Series explores the effect of science and technology on cycling and explores how the development in technology has changed bike design and build over the last 100 years. The series of five films explores the development of technology, components, materials and innovation used to build and design new bicycles for the current market...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Design Podcasts

OU design podcasts on product design, drawing, modelling, sustainability and how everyday objects are created.

1. Design and Designing - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How do you start to design a product? Can drawing techniques be learned? And why is modelling such a useful technique? This album introduces the basic skills necessary to communicate ideas on paper, as well as revealing the step-by-step processes for making three-dimensional models of objects, showing perspective in drawings and sketching complex objects. It also features a case study of the Strida folding bicycle, an idea taken from initial drawings to marketed product. This material forms part of The Open University course T211 Design and designing.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.4/5Apple Reviews 108Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Design for beginners - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How do you create depth and tone on paper? How do you create a cd case from scratch? Steve Garner, Professor of Design at The Open University answers these questions and others in this introduction to design basics. All design begins with translating ideas on to a canvas, and this collection encourages you to begin thinking about design principles from how letters are shaped to creating three dimensional models. This material forms part of The Open University course U101 Design thinking.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.4/5Apple Reviews 12 Get Email Contact

3. Design and Sustainability - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Are you aware of the environmental impacts of the stuff you buy? Is that chair you bought made from wood from a sustainable forest, or was it illegally logged ? Or perhaps your TV set's inner parts are too difficult to recycle or cause pollution when it’s dismantled at the end of its life. All this adds up to a huge amount of damage to the planet. This album looks at how designers must respond to the increasingly urgent need for sustainability in product design...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 5 Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

4. Innovation Design: Energy and Sustainability - for iPad/Mac/PC

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When you switch on a light or turn the heating on in your home, do you think about where that power has come from? In most of the world, we’re still burning harmful fossil fuels to create energy. However, throughout Europe a growing number of householders have decided to put the environment first, by switching to a “green tariff” with energy suppliers who can guarantee renewable, fossil fuel-free energy...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. Design Essentials: are you sitting comfortably? - for iPod/iPhone

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Theo Zamenopoulos, of the OU design faculty, offers a glimpse into the ideological and historical context of design ideas and principles. With Emma Curtis, curator of the Design Museum, and Nathaniel Hepburn, curator of the Mascalls Art Gallery, Theo looks at the key ideas that emerged as the driving force behind design using specific examples from the history of chair design.This material forms part of The Open University course T217 Design Essentials.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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6. The Art of Rich Pictures - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How can the drawing of images aid communication? How can they help us in business, in our everyday and personal lives? Rich Pictures is a term used to describe a means of communicating, expressing and discussing complex ideas though images. Although the term is primarily used in a modern business setting, the Rich Pictures concept is wide ranging and has evolved over thousands of years. They can be seen on ancient cave walls, are used in therapy and they signal to us in globally understood icon. They are also a way to debate large and significant problems...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Literature Podcasts

OU literature podcasts exploring Dickens, Joyce, the Romantics, women writers and the great works of English writing.

1. The Romantics - Audio

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How did Romantic writers address questions of identity? How did their experiences influence the way they expressed themselves? The Romantic period saw a rise in creative, artistic and intellectual pursuits in eighteenth century Europe. The era placed greater emphasis on emotion and intuition as opposed to the scientific rationalisation which had gained prominence during ‘The Age of Enlightenment’...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 4.1/5Apple Reviews 100 Avg Length 8 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Charles Dickens: Celebrity Author - Audio

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Charles Dickens was not only the most famous writer of his day, but, during the second half of his career, also a prominent public figure known through his readings and speeches. He cultivated, and relished, a close relationship with the vast audiences who came to hear him, in towns and cities throughout Britain, and in the USA. His readings appealed to his own deep instinct in support of the development of the imagination of the people, and also acknowledged the common Victorian pastime of domestic literary recitation...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.6/5Apple Reviews 66Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 14 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

3. James Joyce’s Dublin - Audio

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How did the fictional world James Joyce created reflect his own experiences of Dublin? Did Joyce write about a distinct Irish identity that had been ignored by many writers in the past? James Joyce was born in1882 and during the course of his life became one of the most influential Irish poets and novelists of his age...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 15 Get Email Contact

4. Women Writers: Voices in Transition - for iPod/iPhone

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In the last century which women writers have truly challenged the existing forms of literature? How did they make their voices heard using brand new techniques and styles? For centuries there have been women writers who have changed the face of literature, but we tend to talk of their lives and work in very certain terms. This series of video-slideshows reveals how writing and reputation are often forged in transition, uncertainty and change. In these 4 films we re-examine the lives, work and influence of: Virginia Woolf, Jean Rhys, Katherine Mansfield and Jeanette Winterson...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. Othello and apartheid - for iPod/iPhone

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Can a play written in the seventeenth century protest against contemporary issues? Is it possible to use a Shakespearian tragedy draw attention to political injustice? Apartheid was a system of enforced legal racial segregation in South Africa that was imposed on the country's majority non white inhabitants by the minority white population. In 1988 actress and director Janet Suzman took the decision to defy the racist apartheid regime by staging Othello in Johannesburg with a mixed cast of both white and black actors...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 3 Get Email Contact

6. Duchess of Malfi: Deconstructing the play - for iPod/iPhone

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Does the Duchess of Malfi have any resonance with modern-day audiences? Are it’s themes of politics and revenge still relevant today? Since it was originally published in the seventeenth century the play has been interpreted in a variety of ways, each different director examining the story and realising a unique translation of the work...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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7. Wordsworth, De Quincey and Dove cottage - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Can a location inspire great poetry? To what extent can a person’s environment influence their art? After leaving the area as a child the Romantic poet William Wordsworth returned to the Lake District and remained there from 1799 to 1802. Surrounded by scenery he cherished Wordsworth composed some of his best poetry in Dove Cottage, but the building was also the residence of friend Thomas De Quincy whom documented his time with the Wordsworth’s as well as his own experiences in the property. This material forms part of The Open University course A230 Reading and studying literature.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Classics and Mythology Podcasts

OU classics podcasts on Greek heroes, Roman myth and the ancient stories that still shape popular culture today.

1. Greek Heroes in Popular Culture Through Time - for iPad/Mac/PC

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What does ‘2001: a Space Odyssey’ have to do with Odysseus? How does Brad Pitt's Achilles in 'Troy' match up to Homer's original hero? And is Arnold Schwarzenegger the new Heracles? This collection of video animations and audio discussions examines how the heroes of Greek mythology have been represented in popular culture, from ancient times to the modern day. Odysseus is the archetypal questing hero - a blank canvas on which every era has projected its own values. Heracles is the original strongman. And Achilles is the fighter whose sexuality vies with his heel for popular attention...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 3.5/5Apple Reviews 88Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 15 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

2. Exploring Greek vases - for iPad/Mac/PC

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What can you learn about an archaic community from the art they created? Can the way in which their artefacts are displayed enhance the experience of viewing it? Very few remains still exist from Ancient Greek culture on the whole. However because of the durability of the material, pottery is a large part of the archaeological record from this period in Greece’s history, and as a result these vases have exerted a disproportionately large influence on our understanding of Greek society.These films show how you can an insight into Greek civilisation by observing the designs on the ceramics t..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 24Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

3. The Trojan Defence - Audio

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Did you know that by surfing the internet you can lose your privacy, your money and even your identity? Computer viruses and Trojans often arise during the investigation of computer-based crime, such as the downloading of child pornography. But what if you are innocent? Often Trojans are cited as the cause in what’s become known in legal circles as "The Trojan Defence". Ian Kennedy whose OU research forms the basis for this programme uncovers some of the artefacts examined and techniques to support or refute claims of innocence. Somehow losing your privacy doesn't seem so bad at all.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 3/5Apple Reviews 5 Avg Length 7 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

4. A tribute to the world of myth: Ovid and Holkham Hall - for iPod/iPhone

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How do the themes of classical mythology come to be refashioned through the ages? Holkham Hall in Norfolk, England, is the estate of an 18th century gentleman, Thomas Coke - a scholar of epic classical authors and avid collector of the cultural beauties of the past. This album offers an opportunity to explore his house and prolific art collection, including his lavishly illustrated manuscript of Ovid's "Metamorphoses"...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 5 Avg Length 4 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

Philosophy and Ethics Podcasts

OU philosophy podcasts on mind, morality, justice, ethics and big questions about space, time and consciousness.

1. Space, Time and Consciousness - for iPod/iPhone

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Is space just another name for nothing? What is time and how does it relate to space? Will we ever understand the relationship between consciousness and the physical brain? Welcome to the world of The Open University’s Professor Russell Stannard where the big mysteries of the universe are made comprehensible and any possibility is considered in the name of science. This material is supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 4.2/5Apple Reviews 87Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

2. Thought and Experience - Audio

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This album contains fascinating and engrossing interviews with several leading philosophers concerning, primarily, the exploration of four topics: emotion; thought and language; imagination and creativity; consciousness. The interviews contain lively debates from differing philosophical viewpoints, discussions about theoretical thought experiments and the examination of theories developed by philosophers such as Aristotle, Decartes, Galileo, and Hume as well as predictions regarding the future of philosophy. This material forms part of the course AA308 Thought and experience.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.3/5Apple Reviews 44Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. David Hume: 18th Century Philosopher - Audio

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2011 is the 300th anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest figures in Western Philosophy – David Hume. As well as an economist and historian, Hume was specifically known for his scepticism and empiricism, and was also an important figure in the Scottish Enlightenment period in the 18th century. In this audio collection, The Open University’s Nigel Warburton is joined by A.C. Grayling and other philosophers to discuss Hume’s key theories around the self, induction and his argument against miracles...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.3/5Apple Reviews 33 Avg Length 9 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

4. Philosophy: Justice and Morality - Audio

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Although what constitutes justice may vary depending on culture or historical context, all forms of justice are built on a foundation of moral assumptions that include ideas about ethics, fairness and the law. Philosophers have often debated the nature of both morality and justice and their relationship with each other and in this collection we explore some of the most influential ideas on the topics from Kant to Bentham and investigate problems such as can inequalities be justified, provided they are to the benefit of the worst off? This material forms part of The Open University course A22..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.6/5Apple Reviews 19 Avg Length 13 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

5. Ethics in real life - Audio

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Ethical standards play a key role in the conduct of individuals and societies. This audio album contains three tracks that examine the basics of ethical theory and practice. It features interviews with leading figures in the field of ethics and examines codes of ethics, corporate businesses and copyright infringement. This material is taken from The Open University course A181 Ethics in real life.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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6. Environmental Ethics - for iPad/Mac/PC

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To what extent does Man have a right to exploit nature in order to live? Do animals have rights? Should we modify the genes of crops if it allows us to increase production, and even alleviate poverty? This album explores the arguments for and against genetically-modified crops, hearing the views of a dairy farmer competing in the global market, a GM scientist, an activist who believes GM crops are unsustainable, and an organic cultivator...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

7. 360 Degrees of Separation - for iPod/iPhone

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How does Surrealism relate to Freud? What does Freud have to do with the Prisoner's dilemma?Josie Long takes you on a whistle-stop tour and finds the connections between Surrealism, Psychoanalysis, Game Theory, Nuclear Fission and microbes that may have played a key role in the origins of life.In these animations, you’ll learn what Freud has to tell us about sex and cake, whether Nuclear Fission can be demonstrated with peas and sweetcorn and what exactly an Extremophile is.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Sociology and Society Podcasts

OU sociology podcasts on identity, social change, culture, childhood and the forces shaping how we live together.

1. Understanding Social Change - Audio

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Change, diversity and uncertainty are unavoidable features of modern life. Collectively, we may be living through a major transformation in society and the traditions that hold it together. Individually, we may face increasing barriers to taking responsibility for our own destinies, exercising power and making our own decisions. The tracks on this album focus on these and other big issues in the contemporary world. The past and the future - the Welfare State through to Globalisation...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.6/5Apple Reviews 54Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Wales: Culture and identity - Audio

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Wales is a vibrant nation with its own language, musical heritage and strong cultural identity. Central to this identity and a source of national pride, is rugby, which is deeply embedded in the national consciousness and explored in ‘Rugby and welsh identity’. Away from the sports pitch, this collection also looks at place and belonging, gender and race, nationalism and language, class, work, and political and cultural representation in Wales.This material forms part of The Open University course D172 Contemporary Wales.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.5/5Apple Reviews 13Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 11 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

3. Understanding Identity - Audio

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Who are we? What shapes us into the people we are? Over the last 50 years advances in society and technology has meant that we can be whoever we want to be. Infertile couples have the chance of conceiving a child; a man can become a woman; if an organ fails, you can get a new one. But is it all for the greater good? There are people in today's society who wouldn't think twice about putting a patent on our biological and genetic heritage...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Death, Dying & Disposal conference - for iPod/iPhone

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The beliefs and traditions that revolve around the meaning of death play an important role in every culture, but how do these ideas vary and what are the implications for those in a society that is forced to confront questions of mortality?The 11th Death, Dying and Disposal conference, held at The Open University under the auspices of ASDS (The Association for the Study of Death and Society) in September 2013, examined how academic research feeds into and influences what practitioners believe and what they do, as well as evaluating how this influences the care and treatment of people at the ..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. Textiles in Ghana - for iPad/Mac/PC

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In Ghana, types of cloth and the design of textiles are about more than just fashion. Woven Kente cloth is a great status symbol, marking wealth and, in the past, office - something to be worn on important occasions and by important people. Adinkra is a printed fabric, hand-made and worn mainly for funerals, which are very important celebrations in Ghana. The tracks on this album introduce the Kente weavers and Adinkra workers, show the creative processes behind the textiles they make, and reveal how traditional designs remain relevant...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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6. Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

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What does the idea of a ‘Cairngorms National Park’ mean to the people who live and work there? In these films we contrast six private lives lived out in a National Park. From park ranger to farmer, shop owner to school student and a young mum to a service station proprietor we explore how living in a national park affects their lives. We learn of the conflicts between preserving the wild beauty of the park – which is home to 25% of the UK’s threatened bird, animal and plant species – and providing new homes for its growing population.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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7. Veiling: Tradition, Identity and Fashion - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Why do Muslim women wear the hijab? How do they reconcile different approaches to veiling between generations, across different geographical regions and in different cultural and social environments? How do they negotiate diverse social and cultural influences, pressures and expectations, legal constraints, practical challenges and fashion trends? In this collection we explore the extraordinary range of different styles of Muslim dress and the emotions people can invest in them...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 5 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

8. Games, Geeks and the Parent's Dilemma - for iPod/iPhone

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Video games are an everyday part of our children’s lives today. But many parents have concerns about the time their children spend gaming, and sometimes perceive games as addictive and unhealthy. Others see games as a creative medium, with positive educational benefits. Presented by science writer Angela Saini, this podcast explores many of the issues surrounding the subject of children and video games, and looks at work in this area by the Open University’s Centre for Childhood, Development and Learning...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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9. Childhood in the Digital Age - for iPod/iPhone

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When it comes to technology are you an optimist or a pessimist? Are social media changing the way that children form relationships? How is technology changing the way that children think, and how will it shape the classroom of the future? The amount of technology available to children today is greater than in any previous generation, and it is more specifically designed to capture their imaginations. There is heated debate as to how the digital influx is shaping children’s development and experience...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Biology and Life Sciences Podcasts

OU biology podcasts on evolution, genetics, microbes, biodiversity and the living world from Darwin to DNA.

1. The Galapagos - for iPad/Mac/PC

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The Galapagos Islands are famous for inspiring Charles Darwin to form his Theory of Evolution based on the biodiversity he'd observed there. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of his "On the origin of species", and the unspoilt islands still fascinate researchers. Some of the plants and animals that live here are found nowhere else on Earth. Today that biodiversity is under threat from an increasing population, tourism and invasive non-native species...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.5/5Apple Reviews 52 Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Seven Wonders of the Microbe World - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
What is a microbe and what have they ever done for us? From Black Death to Cholera, and Syphilis to Typhoid, microbes have been responsible for some of the world’s most devastating diseases. But they have also provided the human race with the technological advances of genetic engineering and nitrogen fixation, the vision of life on Mars, the life-saving properties of antibiotics and food preservation, along with the wonderful taste of beer...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 3.6/5Apple Reviews 11 Get Email Contact

3. Darwin and Inheritance - for iPod/iPhone

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How are genetic traits handed down through generations? How did you inherit your grandfather's red hair whilst your parents are both black-haired? Even Charles Darwin himself never really understood the causes behind this. This album traces the development of our understanding of the laws of inheritance...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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4. Genetic revolutions - Audio

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How have discoveries in modern genetics vindicated Darwin's theories? Does the study of DNA reveal the process of evolution? And how is the modern science of genetics evolving? In this album, Sean Carroll, Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin, reveals how discoveries in contemporary genetics both endorse Darwin's theory of evolution and enable scientists to mount complex investigations into the development of humankind and many other species...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 1/5Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 4 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

5. Investigating spiders: life on a thread - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Whether you find spiders fearful or fascinating, they are to be admired for their web-spinning and prey-catching techniques, and the remarkable methods they use to move from one place to another. In this album, researchers in Denmark and the United States use an 8-legged robot and a virtual spider, high-speed photography, a hot air balloon and a rowing boat to explore the biophysics of spiders. In the audio track, Dr David Robinson of The Open University explains how advances in technology allow advances in scientific knowledge and understanding...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

6. Biodiversity - for iPod/iPhone

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What is biodiversity and why does it matter? How can everyday observations and online databases help to increase our knowledge about the diversity of species? On this album, Jonathan Silvertown, Professor of Ecology at The Open University, presents a guided tour of iSpot, a nature website that gives anybody and everybody a chance to share their observations and learn more about wildlife. In the audio track, Professor Silvertown describes his work in South Africa, protecting the delicate ecosystem of a unique heath-land habitat called 'fynbos'.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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7. Plants and people - for iPod/iPhone

Website Apple YouTube
What techniques are used to keep crops safe from insects? What happens to tomatoes when they ripen? This selection of audio slideshows covers a broad range of topics that relate to the nature of both plants and vegetables. From touring the largest display green houses in the world at the Eden Project to genetically engineering crops for African famers, this collection of case studies reveals fascinating insights into the cutting edge work conservationists and bio-chemists are doing in the field of botany...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 1Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

8. Evolution - for iPod/iPhone

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In the sub-arctic environment in northern Norway and the high arctic climate of Svalbard, reindeer have adapted to their environment in different ways. The five video tracks in this album explore the key concepts of evolutionary science and investigate how these account for the characteristics of arctic reindeer. How do natural selection and other evolutionary processes produce changes in genes? How do new species originate? And how are large-scale evolutionary patterns generated. The material forms part of the course S366 Evolution.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Physics and Space Podcasts

OU space podcasts on the solar system, moons, planets and the astronomy that explains where the Universe came from.

1. Moons of the Solar System - for iPod/iPhone

Website Apple YouTube
How did the solar system form? Are we alone in the Universe? What are alien atmospheres made of? These questions can be answered by studying the solar system's vast family of satellites. This collection of videos looks at five of the most intriguing worlds that we've managed to visit over the last fifty years, including The Moon, Europa, Phobos, Deimos and Titan...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.4/5Apple Reviews 42Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

2. 60-Second Adventures in Astronomy - for iPad/Mac/PC

Apple
Ever wondered where the Universe came from? Or more importantly, where it's headed? Voiced by David Mitchell, this series of 60 second animations examines different scientific concepts from the big bang to relativity, from black holes to dark matter. The series also explores the possibility of life beyond Earth and considers why David Bowie is still none the wiser about life on Mars.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 4.4/5Apple Reviews 30 Get Email Contact

3. Planetary science - for iPod/iPhone

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Our planet is at the centre of a cosmic shooting gallery. This album examines the evidence for and effect of asteroid impacts and meteor explosions on Earth. The 6 video tracks assess the environmental effects caused by bolides of different sizes and trajectories. How do scientists detect that a crater on Earth is the result of an asteroid impact? Ian Gilmour visits an unusual circular feature at Nordingen in Southern Germany and Peter Schultz describes the oblique impact at Rio Quarto in Argentina. When comets collide with planets, the consequences can be catastrophic...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Craters on Moons - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
How are craters formed? What can craters on the Moon tell us about earth? For centuries many have observed the large black markings on the Moon and wondered what they were but we now know that they’re large impact basins or crater that would have formed when a comet or Asteroid collides with a planet. It’s easy to assume that all craters are the same but they can vary wildly depending on the size, shape and the speed of the asteroid or comet that created it...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Sport and Fitness Podcasts

OU sport podcasts on the psychology, science, management and business behind sport, fitness and elite performance.

1. Sport and exercise psychology - for iPod/iPhone

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Psychological factors can play a significant role in sport and exercise. In sport, psychological preparation could mean the difference between winning and losing, whilst in exercise psychological factors could dictate whether or not we decide to even start an exercise programme. What are the links between exercise and mental health and what does it really take to stick to a programme of regular physical activity?This material forms part of The Open University module E233 Sport and exercise psychology: a case study approach.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.7/5Apple Reviews 40Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 8 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Introduction to sport, fitness and management - for iPod/iPhone

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This series of tracks looks at Health and Fitness centres and how they are run as well as providing an insight into the training of future elite athletes in Britain. Material is taken from The Open University course E112 Introduction to sport, fitness and management.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.8/5Apple Reviews 30 Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Working and Learning In Sport and Fitness - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Want to improve your professionalism and effectiveness in the workplace? This album explains how to develop reflective skills and improve leadership techniques. With an emphasis on interpersonal communication, teaching methods and customer care, it’s relevant to those instructing, coaching or managing others in a range of sport and fitness settings. The eight video tracks on this album follow professionals working in a gym, a sports college and an ice-rink...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. The Business of Football - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
Is running a football club part of the entertainment business, a rich man’s hobby, a community asset or all three? And what difference does it make if you’re a club outside the Premiership? Here club chairmen, fans, players and other executives talk about the unusual nature of the football business, seen through the eyes of both a traditional club, Chesterfield and a newer one, MK Dons. We look at how a club is structured, its commercial activities and at aspects of work such as job satisfaction and building team spirit.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 1 Get Email Contact

5. This Sporting Planet - Audio

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Sport is a massive global phenomenon. Events and sporting heroes attract an enormous amount of interest. What’s going on? Why do sporting heroes matter so much and why is the media full of sports news? This album uses interviews with four key people in sport (Ed Smith, Sue Tibballs, Ed Warner and Sunder Katwala) to explore the relationship between sport and the media and considers the role of media representations in constructing our understanding of sport and creating its place in the wider popular culture...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Music Podcasts

OU music podcasts on composing, brass, music printing and musical traditions from Italy to Inuit throat singing.

1. Composing with MIDI - for iPod/iPhone

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In the last 50 years, developments in technology have had a profound effect on the production, recording and manipulation of music. The 8 video tracks in this album introduce Simon Whiteside, a television and film composer, explore his recording studio and explain how he uses MIDI to create music for films and television programmes. Using an example of one of the programmes he has worked on, Simon illustrates the technical and creative processes involved. This material forms part of TA212 Technology of Music.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.8/5Apple Reviews 39 Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. The Italian Cantastorie - for iPod/iPhone

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Italians are world renowned as passionate people, and their passion feeds through to their music and story telling. This album explores the tradition of the Cantastorie - the Italian Storyteller. Cantastorie Mauro Geraci explains the intricacies of the music, the paintings, the instruments and the drama of the performance. This material is drawn from The Open University course AA317, Words and music.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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3. Inuit Throat Singing - for iPod/iPhone

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In many cultures, song is perhaps one of the most important traditions. What is extraordinary about the Inuit musical tradition is the way they create their songs - with notes originating from their throats. The song isn't interrupted even when a breath has to be taken. The 6 tracks in this album focus on Tanya Tagaq, who describes the amazing art of throat singing and how her heritage and culture, carried in her heart forever, has driven her to continue with this unique tradition. This material is drawn from The Open University course AA317, Words and music.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Brass Instruments - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Technology and music have been closely associated since the very first musical instruments were constructed, and in the 19th century an explosion of invention revolutionised the way brass instruments could be played. The 14 video tracks on this album introduce the basic acoustical principles of brass instruments and how technical developments have affected the way they are designed and played. The album explores the latest scientific research, performers' perspectives and the manufacturing process. This material forms part of TA212 The Technology of Music.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. James Berry: Windrush songs - Audio

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How does a poet represent two distinctly different cultures in their work? How did James Berry interpret his experience and those of other Jamaican’s that migrated to England in the late 1940’s into his writing? James Berry was born in Jamaica in 1924, but moved to England during the wave of immigration from the West Indies led by the Empire Windrush. From a young age Berry had an interest in language, and showed an aptitude for spoken word and through writing soon realised he could explore the world from different perspectives...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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6. Music Printing - for iPad/Mac/PC

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From the middle of the 15th century onwards, the intellectual and cultural life of the West was revolutionised by the development of the printing press. This album explores the technological problems and solutions specific to the printing of music and shows how technology has transformed the way music scores are produced today. The five video tracks examine early music printing processes, 20th century photo lithography and the invention Sibelius, the music programme that changed everything. This material forms part of TA212 Technology of Music.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Language and Linguistics Podcasts

OU language podcasts on English worldwide, postcolonial English and learning German for everyday life and travel.

1. Postcolonial English - for iPod/iPhone

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The dominance of the English language around the world dates back to the era of British colonialism. English spread across the globe as a consequence of the British Empire and was often imposed on countries as a result of colonialism. But what is the attitude of post-colonial countries to the language now? And how has the legacy of colonialism affected the way that English exists around the world? The short films in this collection examine the roles and attitudes towards English in various postcolonial countries.This material forms part of The Open University course U214 Worlds of English.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 3.4/5Apple Reviews 34 Get Email Contact

2. Rundblick: beginners' German second edition - for iPod/iPhone

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How do you discuss the weather or make a hotel reservation in German? This second edition of Rundblick: beginners' German contains a variety of short conversations covering topics as varied as healthy eating and recommending restaurants. The following audio and video collection was devised for those beginning to learn German and touches upon many everyday situations and scenarios that will be interesting to learn while feeling familiar.This material forms part of The Open University course L193 Rundblick: beginners' GermanMORE Producer/Network The Open University
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3. English: Personal Experiences - for iPod/iPhone

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How has the English language influenced your life? How would you define your relationship with English? In this collection these questions are explored by Poet Benjamin Zephaniah, writer Sindiwe Magona, and author Jung Chang amongst others. They discuss the impact of the language; and describe the part English has played in their life. For many of us the language can broaden experiences and opportunities, for others it can create obstacles and become a hindrance...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 6Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

4. Auftakt: intermediate German - for iPod/iPhone

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Do you want to improve your German while learning about life and culture in Germany and Austria? The 20 tracks in this album are devised as a revision of some post-beginners structures and vocabulary as well as an introduction to different aspects of everyday life in German speaking countries. The tracks contain recordings of German and Austrian native speakers and have been taken from the audio-visual materials for the Open University module L130 Auftakt, intermediate German.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. English: Language of controversy - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Is English a force for good? What have been the ramifications of this language’s dominance in ex colonies and also throughout the world?We debate how local languages have suffered as a result of the spread of English and investigate the consequences of its influence on indigenous communities. Language campaigner Neville Alexander provides a South African perspective on the negative aspects of a language when it begins to represent economic and political power and a panel of linguists debate some of the controversies caused by English and whether they believe it still has a future.This mate..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 3/5Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 16 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

6. Worlds of English - for iPad/Mac/PC

Website Apple YouTube
How has the English language spread internationally - and is the worldwide influence of English a cause for celebration or concern? How is it changing in response to social, cultural, and technological developments? ‘Worlds of English’ investigates these notions by looking at the expansion of English in China since the 1970s, how it is now the dominant language used at the European Parliament and how a local vernacular in Singapore, known as 'Singlish' is causing controversy...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
Estimated listeners
Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

Art and Visual Culture Podcasts

OU art podcasts on painting, architecture, mosaics, film and visual culture from the medieval era to the modern day.

1. Art and architecture - for iPod/iPhone

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The Louvre was designed to house a great art collection for the people of France. Was there a plan from the outset to build a canon of work where the relationships between artists, their origins, their schools and faiths could be traced across centuries? And how did architect I.M.Pei persuade President Mitterrand to allow a pyramid to be built at the Louvre? The album goes on to explore how architecture can reflect relationships between different traditions...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. Digital Film School - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Have you ever wanted to pick up a video camera and make a short video or film, but felt intimidated by your lack of knowledge? The explosion of film-making for websites and mobiles gives people and organisations the opportunity to tell their stories and show what they have to offer, at low cost. This collection of exciting videos features The Open University’s experienced team of filmmakers, who will show you some of the craft secrets that underpin good filmmaking, and how professionals stay up to date...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 3.5/5Apple Reviews 7Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

3. The Arts Past and Present: Ireland - for iPod/iPhone

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Do we use our buildings to declare who we are? How far does our heritage influence our collective identity? This insightful album reveals Ireland's shifting attitudes towards its cultural heritage. In 1922 when it broke free of British rule to become an independent nation state, the Irish nationalists abandoned high-profile buildings like Dublin Castle as it was symbolic of their British oppressors, and it fell into ruin. Yet they proudly restored older sites like Cashel and New Grange, which is even older than the pyramids, to emphasise an earlier romantic Irish past...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. The Arts Past and Present: Mosaics - for iPod/iPhone

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How can we read an image to tell us more about its ancient maker? In this album a mosaic artist, Catherine Parkinson, visits the splendidly-preserved ancient Roman mosaics at Brading Villa on the Isle of Wight. With the help of two archaeologists she discovers that the iconography reveals important clues about the villa inhabitants' world view, taste, and aspirations. Their leisure pursuits, the value placed on learning, and their views on men and women are just some of the themes revealed in the mythological narratives...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. Art history: early modern - for iPod/iPhone

Website Apple YouTube
The world of the early modern period (C10th - C16th) was one of religious obsession, power struggles and plunder. But it was also a world of stunning artistic endeavour. This collection shows how, encoded in the art and architecture of the time, you can find stories of political machinations, female influence and surging movements of people. We may think our own era has a monopoly on long-distance travel, but in the mediaeval period it was perfectly possible for Western Catholic artists to encounter Eastern Orthodox or Islamic cultures...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 5Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

6. Art and Visual Culture: Medieval to Modern - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
Have you ever wondered about the visual remains of past centuries that still survive in our cities and countryside today? Are you baffled by modern art? This collection provides you with insights into different aspects of art and visual culture between the Middle Ages and the present day. You will discover the wonders of medieval stained glass and learn how East meets West in a Byzantine icon. You will be introduced to the splendours of Baroque architecture and be taken on a tour of a spectacular display of Neo-classical sculpture in an English country house...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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7. Art history: C17th to C19th - for iPad/Mac/PC

Apple
This collection transports you to Europe of 1600 to 1850. Many of the foundations of European culture were being laid: commerce, arts institutions, art displays, terraced houses … even tattooing. Things we now take for granted in the fabric of our lives. Yet here we glimpse them through the eyes of a society for whom they weren’t yet set in stone. The shape of the urban environment was being defined. Yet there was a burgeoning nostalgia for all things rural, and a hunger for the trappings of other cultures. The decisions of this era still have an impact on our culture today...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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History Podcasts

OU history podcasts on the Cold War, world wars, money and the events and turning points that shaped the modern world.

1. Exploring History: Medieval to Modern 1400 - 1900 - for iPod/iPhone

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Ever wanted to understand the key themes driving over five hundred years of European history? In this album, architecture reveals the social, religious and economic fortunes of some of the most influential people between 1400 and 1900. By the end of the 19th century Queen Victoria presided over the vast British Empire. She looked out from London, the heart of her empire, with its buildings echoing Imperial Rome. Brussels’ architecture, like London’s, was also designed to show the world the power and imagination of its 19th century king, Leopold the 1st...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. Origins of The Cold War - for iPod/iPhone

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How was The Cold War fought? What types of evidence do historians use to understand the events that took place?The Cold War was a state of political and military tension between the USA and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies in the Western and Eastern Blocs.As The Cold War was 'fought' in so many different ways, it gives historians the opportunity to discuss the many ways that you can study the time period...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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3. 9/11: Attack on the Wires - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
What happens when one of the worst terrorist attacks in history strikes the densest cluster of networks on the planet? How did the largest communications provider in the United States handle the surge in demand? Despite surviving earthquakes, hurricanes and other man-made and natural disasters, the staff at AT and T struggled to cope with the flood of calls that followed the tragic events of September 11th. Over the course of the day they handled in excess of 400 million calls as people in America, and all over the world tried to contact friends and family in New York...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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4. Digging up Spain's dead - for iPod/iPhone

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General Franco’s authoritarian dictatorship lasted for almost forty years. When he died in 1975, political parties of both the left and the right agreed to draw a line under the past for the sake of Spain’s peaceful transition to democracy. So why now, over 30 years later, is Spain breaking its self-imposed silence about its past?MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

5. Myth at the heart of the Roman Empire - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How and why did ancient Romans use myth to validate their power? Emperor Augustus legitimised his rule by entwining his own ancestry with the mythical stories of Rome's foundation, and created a divine aura around Rome as capital of the vast empire. This album visits key emblems associated with Rome's beginnings: the Forum and the Capitoline Hill with its statue of the she-wolf and Romulus and Remus; the Emperor Augustus's palace and ceremonial altar, and the 17th Century D'Arpino frescos of foundation myths commissioned by Pope Innocent X to underpin his authority...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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6. Understanding shell shock - for iPod/iPhone

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What was the impact of World War I on those who took part? How has the trauma of World War 1 been depicted in art and literature? And what can we learn from the past to help treat combat stress reactions and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? 2014 marks the centennial year of the beginning of World War 1. It was a war of unprecedented scale and brutality, with countless casualties. It also left a poisonous legacy for the 20th century and beyond...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

Mental Health Podcasts

OU mental health podcasts on the science of the mind, lived experience and how care and understanding have evolved.

1. The science of the mind: investigating mental health - for iPod/iPhone

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How do biology, psychology and social science contribute to our understanding of mental health and mental illness? How do the biomedical and biopsychosocial models compare when it comes to diagnosis and treatment? This album reveals the importance of the perspective scientists and health professionals take, and the difference it can make to treatment outcomes. The Blackthorn Garden case study illustrates a holistic approach to helping people with mental health conditions integrate themselves back into society...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. Mental Health: Lennox Castle - for iPod/iPhone

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What was it like living and working in the largest mental deficiency hospital in Britain? And what changes led to its relatively recent closure? In it's heyday in the 1970s, Lennox Castle Hospital in Scotland housed over 1600 patients in purpose built multi-occupancy villas, and most staff lived on site or in nearby Lennoxtown. Oral historian Howard Mitchell started his working life there, as a member of the hospital's nursing staff...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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3. Diverse Perspectives on Mental Health - Audio

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What causes mental distress and what can be done about it? What factors in the external environment affect mental health? This album examines the ways in which social, environmental, economic and political factors shape and constrain our understandings and experiences of mental health and distress. It explores the wide range of diverse and frequently competing perspectives that characterise the world of mental health and looks at the impact of these perspectives on mental health practice and service provision...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. An Untimely Death on Passchendaele Ward - for iPod/iPhone

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Everyone has their own perspective on mental health, especially those who have experienced it. 'An untimely death on Passchendaele Ward' is written and performed by members 'The Orphans of Beulah' - a theatre group consisting of mental health service users and survivors. It is a modern day farce focusing on life in a Mental Health Institution. A death on the the ward leads to a lot of questions being asked. There are nurses self-medicating, patients acting as nurses, commissioners turning a blind eye...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Health and Medicine Podcasts

OU health podcasts on long term conditions, screening, pain, breathing and how the body and modern medicine work.

1. The Art of Breathing - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How does your body control your breathing unconsciously? This album explores this complex process in fascinating detail using a battery of detectors attached to human guinea-pigs to monitor their breathing, blood flow and heartbeats. How does an anxious mind affect this system during a stressful situation? Whether stress is physical or emotional, the ancient “fight or flight” response is triggered...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. Rheumatoid arthritis - a long term condition - for iPod/iPhone

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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic long term condition that principally attacks flexible joints, causing painful swelling, stiffness and fatigue. The risk of developing RA is associated with ageing but it also affects adults of working age and is three times more common in women. 56 year old Liz noticed her first symptoms in 1996, when her son was just 2 years old. In this collection, she shares her experiences of living with RA, from early symptoms to drug-controlled remission.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 16Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 4 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Mind the Medicine Gap - Audio

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Vanessa lives in London. She has cancer. Lemlem lives in rural Ethiopia. She has typhoid. Most people would agree that both women should have similar access to the medicines they need. But why is this harder for Lemlem? And why are fewer drugs developed for common diseases in Lemlem's part of the world? Is it that the pharmaceutical companies are driven only by a profit motive? Is it because of failing infrastructure in developing countries? Or are there more subtle answers? In this feature Keren Bright of The Open University investigates the idea that the patent system is too blunt an inst..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Introducing Health Sciences: COPD - for iPod/iPhone

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) is an extremely debilitating disease. For the sufferer, everyday activities become impossible - from walking to the shops, to cleaning their teeth - because they can't get enough oxygen into their lungs. The 4 video tracks on this album look at the possible causes of COPD, how it is diagnosed, and the inspirational stories of people dealing with the disease. This material forms part of The Open University course SDK125, Introducing health sciences: a case study approachMORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 3 Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

5. Chance, Risk and Health - for iPod/iPhone

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Apple Episodes
The Human Genome Project, the cutting edge of 21st century science, involves a unique collaboration between biologists, geneticists and statisticians, using the latest information technology. Today we stand on the brink of a new era, and the work of one man prepared the way. But few people today know of the achievements of Ronald Aylmer Fisher. The four video tracks on this album investigate the enduring legacy of a largely unknown genius. The material forms part of the course SMK184 Chance, Risk & Health.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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6. Introducing Health Sciences: Breast Screening - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Apple Episodes
Most women share a common fear - breast cancer. From the age of 53, they are invited by their GP to have a mammogram - a procedure that screens the breast for any abnormalities. But many women don't understand what this involves. The 3 video tracks on this album explain why it is important to have a mammogram, hear from women being screened, show the processes involved and demonstrate what happens should an abnormality be found.This material forms part of The Open University course SDK125 Introducing health sciences: a case study approach.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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7. Introducing Health Sciences: Visual Impairment - for iPod/iPhone

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Partial or total loss of sight affects millions of people worldwide. Many cases are preventable or curable, but simple interventions are not available in some poorer countries. The 15 video tracks in this album explore the impact of visual impairment and corrective treatments. Derek Child explains how he learned to adapt to losing his sight and the training that helps him stay mobile and independent. Experts from Contamac reveal the science behind lens production...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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8. Phenylketonuria - a long term condition - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Phenylketonuria is an inherited long term condition where, from birth, the person is unable to break down an amino acid called phenylalanine, a component of proteins found in many common foods. If undiagnosed or untreated, the condition can disrupt normal brain development and lead to severe learning difficulties. There is no cure for PKU, but early diagnosis and a strict dietary regime allow both normal brain development and a full life span. In this collection, 18 year old Clair and 17 year old Jack share their knowledge and experience of living with PKU.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 4 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

9. Introducing Health Sciences: The Pain Clinic - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Apple Episodes
We are all likely to experience pain at some stage in our lives. But, how do you deal with constant, chronic pain? Learning to manage severe pain on a daily basis takes a phenomenal amount of mental and physical strength. The 7 video tracks in this album introduce patients and doctors at the Royal Free Hospital's Pain Clinic and the Real Health Institute in London...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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10. Breaking Bad News - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
How do you tell someone that they're dying? And how will they respond to the news? This series explores different ways of breaking bad news and looks at the impact of how the news is delivered has upon the person hearing it.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Business and Management Podcasts

OU business podcasts on management, leadership, marketing, e-business and how organisations and supply chains work.

1. Entrepreneurial Lives - Audio

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We hear much about eureka moments that launched exciting new businesses. But what happens after taking that bold step to become your own boss? Juggling family and work demands, running businesses from home, the role of friends and family members, lifestyle, resource acquisition, and the fascinating, messy realities of entrepreneurs are themes explored in this series by Dr. MariaLaura Di Domenico of The Open University.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 3.5/5Apple Reviews 16Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 16 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

2. Mergers and Acquisitions - for iPod/iPhone

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Why do Mergers and acquisitions happen? What are the factors that motivate companies to buy sell and incorporate other organisations? In these uncertain economic times it is of paramount importance for companies to be able to weather financial instability while maintaining a profitable business model...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.2/5Apple Reviews 10Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

3. Management: Perspectives and Practice - Audio

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HR, Marketing, Finance, Operations and Project Management are all key functions of an organisation. These short audio perspectives give an insight into the roles in these areas and how they interact with the rest of the organisation, with examples of common problems, challenges and difficulties that are faced. This material forms part of The Open University course B716 MBA stage 1: Management: Perspectives and Practice.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 9Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 6 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

4. Integrated health, safety and environmental management - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Apple Episodes
Just how dangerous is the everyday workplace? What can be done to mitigate risks and avoid hazards? And what trade-offs have to be made between the competing demands of safety, efficiency and wider social responsibility? This album looks at three very different case studies - farming, food manufacturing and urban redevelopment - and explores the varying approaches to risk management within each different sphere...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.5/5Apple Reviews 5 Get Email Contact

5. Online market research - for iPod/iPhone

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Website Apple YouTube Episodes
How has the arrival of the internet changed the nature of marketing research? Can doing market research with online participants be as effective as with real people?Every company knows good market research is a key factor in getting an advantage over their competitors, knowing specific information about target demographics can be essential for a company’s success. In recent years the internet has revolutionised the way in which modern companies collect and gather data but can these contemporary methods be relied on to provide honest, accurate information about consumer tastes...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 4Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 5 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

6. International Management - Audio

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Apple Episodes
How should you address the President of a French Company? Should you reward workers in Turkey by giving them envelopes full of money? Why are so many good international managers coming out of Eastern Europe? Few enterprises nowadays remain untouched by global influences. Few managers can expect to go through their professional lives without the need to interact with people from other cultures; as a result it has become essential to understand the culture and social and economic institutions of other countries in order to maintain and run a successful business...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Reviews 4 Avg Length 11 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

7. Ebusiness technologies: foundations and practice - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Apple Episodes
Major retailers today face a major challenge to manage and distribute goods from suppliers around the world. What systems enable big business to keep in touch with latest sales information from their stores? How are Internet and Web technologies and their associated applications used in practice? This album explores how these technologies are changing the way businesses operate internally and externally...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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8. Unlikely Leaders - for iPad/Mac/PC

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What do you imagine when you think of a leader? Is the customary vision of the powerful politician or business leader still entirely relevant today? In these recent times of massive political and economic upheaval, it appears that society’s faith in its traditional leaders is at its lowest ebb: for many they're no longer a source of support or trust, and as a result people have started looking elsewhere...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

9. Critical Reflection - for iPod/iPhone

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Is management a personal or collaborative process? What outside factors affect managers on a day-to-day basis? Traditional thinking can often give the impression that being objective, rational, dispassionate and independent are prerequisites for being a manager. However it’s quite possible many managers could be caught in a whirlwind of outside influences, affecting their every action and it’s these pressures that critical reflective approaches seek to expose by questioning many of the invisible and informal structures that exist within companies...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

10. Supply chains: healthcare - for iPad/Mac/PC

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From surgical tools to obstetric instruments, personalised colostomy bags to hip implants, the UK's National Health Service requires an astonishing number of products to be manufactured, delivered and routinely managed. What happens behind the scenes to ensure the systems function smoothly? This album focuses on the different roles of B.Braun, a large supplier of medical equipment which also provides customised services for patients. In this time-critical setting, their supply chain processes must be organised with scrupulous efficiency...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

Social Work and Social Care Podcasts

OU social work podcasts on care, the law, professional practice and supporting people across health and social services.

1. Social care, social work and the law - Audio

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Apple Episodes
The law and aspects of the legal system have a massive impact on the lives of social workers, from defining policy and procedure to the actual process of day-to-day working. This album presents an encompassing and engrossing look at the interaction between legal and social teams, and how different professions and groups interact to ensure equality and representation for all members of society...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 2/5Apple Reviews 16 Avg Length 12 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

2. Leadership in Health and Social Care - for iPod/iPhone

Website Apple YouTube
These six managers, from frontline roles across health and social care in the UK, are real people in real roles. By sharing their experiences through short videos, they help to bring alive the ideas studied in the course and help you to explore how they might play out in real-life situations.This material forms part of The Open University course K313 Leadership and management in health and social care.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 4Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

3. Applied social work practice - for iPod/iPhone

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Apple Episodes
Making the move to residential care is one of the biggest decisions most people have to make in their lives. Focusing on staff and residents at Drummond Grange, the five video tracks in this album explore the organisational and personal aspects of the transition from independent living to residential care. It addresses the importance of selecting the right place for your needs and interests, finding ways to maintain contact with your family and adjusting to life in a new community. The material forms part of the course K216 Applied Social Work Practice.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Making Social Worlds - for iPod/iPhone

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Apple Episodes
How does society create and control our social world? How do passports and passbooks function as agents of government control? And what are the purposes of citizenship tests and ceremonies? This album provides insight into how large communities are organised to regulate their social behaviour. People who lived under Apartheid in South Africa describe how their passbook governed their social world, from alcohol consumption to medical health...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. Community Social Care - for iPod/iPhone

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Apple Episodes
People throughout the community are affected by social issues, and it is the job of social workers to ensure that they are getting the best care, help and support that they need. The 16 tracks on this album look at numerous circumstances within the community - from the different ways of schooling young people with visual impairment, to fuel poverty, homelessness and the charity Mencap. The material forms part of The Open University course K202 Care, welfare and community.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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6. Practitioner research - for iPod/iPhone

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How does a researcher collate and analyse information? What are the best methods of investigating/examining a question? Despite not always being well received within the academic community many practitioner researchers would argue that their research is unique as it brings an insider perspective to educational research and it’s particularly valid as it comes directly from source...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 4 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

7. Introducing professional practice - Audio

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This series of tracks looks at several aspects of health work including child protection services, hospitals and mental health providers with an aim to explaining everyday practices and ideas for the future. Material is taken from The Open University course K114 Introducing professional practice.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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8. Social Care: Past and Present - for iPod/iPhone

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Issues surrounding care and welfare affect people in many different ways - it may depend on individual circumstances or on the location and nature of the community. The tracks on this album look at welfare issues faced by different communities across the UK, focusing mainly on care of the elderly, and people with physical or mental disabilities. The album also explores how care and welfare in the community has changed over the years. This material was part of The Open University course K202 Care, welfare and community.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

9. In conversation with Terry Waite - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How was Terry Waite able to build rapport with an Islamic extremist group? After being held captive for nearly four years, the former hostage has spent his life reconciling for peace. He talks to Open University Professor John Wolffe about how his incarceration in Beirut profoundly influenced his view that conflict resolution is rooted in cultural understanding not just religious differences. Terry Waite also discusses how academics could potentially influence politics and policy making.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Politics and International Relations Podcasts

OU politics podcasts on multiculturalism, migration, conflict, development and how a globalised world is governed.

1. Multiculturalism Bites - Audio

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Multiculturalism is one of the most vexing political issues of our day. How can people with very different values and customs live alongside each other? What is the history of multiculturalism? What are the arguments for and against its various forms? Has it failed? Does it have a future? The Open University's Nigel Warburton interviews ten leading thinkers about the meaning and implications of multiculturalism. David Edmonds introduces each episode.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 10 Avg Length 19 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

2. World in transition: Migration and Trade - for iPod/iPhone

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What does it mean to be poor, or an immigrant? What form should Aid take? This album begins to explore the complex issues of international development in a globalised world, starting with a look at schemes which attempt to alleviate poverty. Small business owners are empowered by micro-financing in Glasgow, while in Argentina a disastrous economic collapse has led to people taking matters into their own hands by creating an alternative social exchange currency...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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3. Living in a globalised world - for iPod/iPhone

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What are borders for? Who controls them, and why might people risk their lives to cross them? This album examines the border between Mexico and the United States as a symbolic place which both connects and divides people, highlighting complex issues about cultural belonging and national identity. Many disturbing aspects of border control are revealed through the stories of migrants, border guards, factory workers, factory bosses and activists...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 3Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

4. Thailand: The Politics of Blood - for iPad/Mac/PC

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In Thailand, the international media is the battleground for political ideas. Protests have become increasingly dramatic and well organised. In October 2008, Red-shirts, in their thousands, donated their own blood and poured it on the walls and under the gates of Government House while Yellow-shirted protesters staged a sit - in at Bangkok airport stranding thousands of tourists and bringing Thailand’s political turmoil to television screens around the world...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 2.5/5Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

5. War, Intervention and Development - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How can we prevent a country from returning to civil war? When and how should external parties intervene in serious conflicts? This album looks at the decade of violence and destruction that occurred in Sierra Leone in the 1990's. Now that peace has finally come about through the efforts of the international community, it's time to debate whether the root causes of war have been adequately addressed, and what lessons can be learned. 50% of Sierra Leoneans are under 15 and unskilled...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 2/5Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

6. Globalisation and health - for iPod/iPhone

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Apple Episodes
What is the future for global health policy? How are the old paradigms being replaced by new ones? What are the key issues in the new globalised world? Ilona Kickbusch reviews the rapidly changing world of global health. In the past there were relatively few organisations involved and there was a hard dividing line between the public and private spheres. Today there are many more players and the issues are much more complex...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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7. Opinion Polls in a Nutshell - for iPod/iPhone

Website Apple
Ever wondered how opinion polls work? As election fever grows - so does the importance of opinion polls which today are an essential part of modern political life. Political strategists, voters and the media all lap up the data generated - but where does it come from? How many people do you need to interview to get trustworthy data? and just how easy is it to predict the future based on the opinions of the present?MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Mathematics Podcasts

OU maths podcasts on everyday mathematics, models, Fourier series and the surprising places numbers turn up.

1. Maths as others see it - for iPod/iPhone

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Apple Episodes
Visiting a hospital you'd expect to find doctors and nurses, but what about mathematicians? This album illustrates how mathematics is used throughout the Whittington Hospital in London, as well as in every day life. This material forms part of the course MU120 Open mathematics.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. The Wizard of Oz: From Fractions to Formulas - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Apple Episodes
Maths in movies has often been used creatively as a method by which to engage students in formulas and numerical theory. The 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz features a maze of potential mathematical problems – not least the Scarecrow’s incorrect pronunciation of Pythagoras’ theorem. Presented by The Open University’s David Brannan and Phil Rippon, ‘From Fractions to Formulas’ is a light-hearted parody of the Wizard of Oz (pronounced "Oh-Zed"), in which the traditional characters are replaced by mathematical concepts, including fractions and Pi, that come together in an enactment of..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3/5Apple Reviews 6 Get Email Contact

3. Starting with Maths - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Apple Episodes
How many times have you used mathematics today? Starting with Maths takes a detailed look into the history behind numbers and how mathematics has evolved into something we use in everyday life. We hear the experiences of people who rely heavily on accurate calculations for the success of their jobs. In addition to this we look into the lives of 12 OU students as they explain how studying makes them feel ‘on top of the world’. This material forms part of the course: Y162 Starting with maths.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Grad, Div and Curl - for iPod/iPhone

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Apple Episodes
Have you ever wondered what causes cyclones, and why it's always calm in the centre of the storm? Well, vector calculus holds the key. The tracks on this album introduce you to the scalar and vector fields of gradient, divergence and curl. This material makes up part of the course MST209, Mathematical methods and models.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. The Fourier Series - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Fourier analysis encompasses a vast spectrum of mathematics which is often deemed confusing and sometimes frightening to those studying it. The tracks in this album aim to de-mystify the ideas behind the Fourier series and illustrate some of the numerous applications that exist, from telephony to stocking supermarket shelves. This material makes up part of the course MST209, Mathematical methods and models.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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6. Open Mathematics - for iPad/Mac/PC

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The Severn Valley Railway is one of Britain's best known steam railways. Over much of its length, there is only a single track, with passing points at various points along the line. As with any commercial rail operation, the timetable needs to meet passenger needs and health and safety requirements. The five video tracks in this album follow the work of railway employees as they monitor and develop the service to suit passenger demand and ensure safety systems are in place. The material forms part of the course MU120 Open Mathematics.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

7. Mathematical models: from sundials to number engines - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Since the dawn of civilisation, humans have used everyday materials to create mathematical models of the world around them. This album explores the ancient Greeks' astrolabe as a model of the skies; the sundial, to tell the time; Babylonian clay tablets to record wages and trading of sheep; wooden tallies for bulk-buying beer, the Incas' use of knots and string, and the sophisticated number-engine invented by Charles Babbage. This material forms part of The Open University course MST121 Using mathematics.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Archaeology Podcasts

OU archaeology podcasts on how experts investigate ancient sites and interpret lost civilisations.

1. World Archaeology - Audio

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How do archaeologists investigate and understand ancient sites and civilisations? Interpreting archaeological evidence accurately and methodically is the key to obtaining a critical perspective on the development of the human race. This album provides an introduction to archaeology and its methodologies for excavation of sites that can be more than 12000 years old. Like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle but without a picture guide, archaeologists can establish how cities and civilisations developed, why humans started farming, and how empires formed and collapsed...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 8Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

Computing and Cybersecurity Podcasts

OU computing podcasts on ICT, online safety, botnets and the technology connecting and protecting our digital lives.

1. Computer technology: robotic milking and interactive mirrors - for iPod/iPhone

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What have computers got to do with cows? Can a wooden mirror help us understand the computing behind digital image capture? Neil Rowse is the first dairy farmer in the UK to use a computerised system that gives cows control over when they are milked, and allows him to remotely monitor the welfare of individual animals. Daniel Rozin has created an computer operated mirror made from 835 tilting wooden tiles. With the help of a digital camera and a computer programme, the wooden tiles mimic the digital pixel information and tilt themselves into a ‘reflection’...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. Digital Nepal - for iPod/iPhone

Website Apple YouTube
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, so just how has it managed to develop a wireless network and promote innovation? This collection explores how Nepal has developed its digital technological infrastructure, how it is still developing from a complex political background and gives a sense of how different cultures around the world relate to digital technology. The videos look at the country's recent history, with particular focus on education, health, language and the economy.This material forms part of The Open University course TU100 My digital life.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 3Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

3. Keeping Ahead in ICT - for iPod/iPhone

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The legacy of apartheid in South Africa left people in urban townships and rural areas without access to basic communication technology that defines the digital age. Today, the latest mobile phone technology has changed everything. To reach the poorest communities, the government has had to adapt the technology and build new commercial partnerships. The six video tracks in this album introduce the size of the challenge, government policy and initiatives and the businesses that benefit. This material forms part of the course T324, Keeping Ahead in ICT.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. How to Survive a Botnet Attack - for iPad/Mac/PC

Apple
Have you ever clicked on a link you were unsure of, or downloaded a risky attachment? If so, then you are in danger of becoming part of a Botnet, also known as a ‘zombie army'. The term ‘zombie army’ is used to refer to a number of computer networks that have become infected as a result of malicious third party software sneaking onto a user’s computer and then linking it to others to send spam to, or steal data from. ‘How to Survive a Botnets Attack’ is a short animation that explains how to work safely on the internet and avoid your computer joining the ranks of the un-dead.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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General Science Podcasts

OU science podcasts that show how to think like a scientist, from chemistry and spectrometry to science communication.

1. Molecular Science: Spectrometry - for iPod/iPhone

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Chemistry is of enormous importance in everyday life: almost everything that exists, and all that we see, make and eat is composed of molecules. The unravelling of molecular structure is a key activity of chemists. In these three video tracks, Dr Mike Bullivant looks briefly at three of the spectroscopic techniques that are used to determine the structure of chemical compounds - infrared spectroscopy, proton (1H) and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. This material is taken from The Open University course S205 The molecular world.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 6Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Science Communication and Public Engagement - for iPad/Mac/PC

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The adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel ‘The War of The Worlds’ in 1938 showed the power of radio to capture listeners’ imagination through science-fiction - and in doing so demonstrated how mass media could be used to communicate science to different audiences. For decades, print and broadcast media have used different genres to portray the sciences, and the popularity of TV programmes like the BBC’s Blue Planet and the longevity of Horizon illustrates a current demand for science broadcasting...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 3.7/5Apple Reviews 5 Avg Length 10 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Think like a scientist - for iPod/iPhone

Apple
Learn to think like a scientist. In this collection we demonstrate a series of hands-on experiments that you can carry out in your own kitchen. We'll explore some key aspects of life on Earth such as why water is so important to all living organisms, how matter behaves at different temperatures and what are the best conditions for life to flourish...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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4. Serendipity of Science: Saving Lives - for iPod/iPhone

Website Apple
Can you think like a scientist? Can you turn a bad result into a good hypothesis? Scientific thinking changes the way you look at the world. Science generally involves long hours of painstaking lab work as researchers refine their carefully designed experiments in response to their results. However, occasionally, it all goes wrong and the outcome isn’t quite what was expected. That’s when thinking like a scientist can help turn a bit of bad luck into a new discovery...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Environment and Sustainability Podcasts

OU environment podcasts on climate change, renewable energy, pollution and living more sustainably on a changing planet.

1. Culture and Climate Change - Audio

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Every generation faces challenges that previous generations could scarcely imagine. Twenty years ago, few people were talking about climate change, now it's one of the most hotly-contested areas in politics.How do artists, writers, musicians and broadcasters respond when a new subject appears that is as large and significant as this? What kind of novels, plays, paintings, sculptures, movies and music begin to emerge?‘Mediating Change’ is a four-part series, chaired by BBC Radio 4’s Quentin Cooper, which looks at what happens when culture meets climate change...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. Living without oil - for iPod/iPhone

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What is Peak oil? Will we ever have vehicles that produce zero emissions? The debate rages on as to when fossil fuels will eventually run out, but many scientists are in little doubt that these natural resources are limited. In this audio collection we investigate some of the methods of energy creation our society might have to rely on in the future when oil reserves decrease and academics examine a variety of different energy sources from electricity to hydrogen, and evaluate whether these alternatives offer practical solutions to a world without oil.This material is taken from The Open Uni..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 5 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Innovation: The Environment - for iPad/Mac/PC

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With global warming and climate change increasing, what can we do to tackle this problem? This album explores the economics of lowering carbon emissions and how Britain is tackling this problem, through expert analysis and opinions on carbon taxes, carbon reduction, renewable energy and environmental damage. This material forms part of The Open University course DD309 Doing economics: people, markets and policy.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Environment: habitat and conservation - for iPod/iPhone

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The relationship between sea and land has always been one of dynamic change. Yet, as rising sea levels threaten habitats for wildlife and humans alike, we are today more vulnerable than ever. The 11 video tracks on this album address the complexities of environmental change, focusing on the Blackwater Water Estuary in Essex where a coastal retreat scheme is in operation, managed biodiversity at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, and the search for sustainable forms of development along the River Severn. This material forms part of the course U216 Environment.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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5. Air Pollution - for iPod/iPhone

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How we can be sure our air is safe to breathe? This album introduces the principles and concepts of air quality management and looks at how we analyse pollution control problems. Five video tracks review the nature and characteristics of air pollution today and demonstrate how air quality data is interpreted. They include a comparison between shipping and car emission levels, the processes used to remove pollutants from the air, and ways in which British Aerospace could limit its Volatile Organic Compound emissions in the future...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

6. Renewable Energy and the UK - for iPod/iPhone

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The EU has set ambitious targets for both renewable energy and carbon reduction, but the UK has been reluctant to sign up to new targets beyond 2020. How does the UK Government plan to tackle this problem and what targets is it considering?MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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7. Environmental Science in the Field - for iPad/Mac/PC

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This is a one-week residential course which introduces a range of practical skills appropriate to the study of environmental science. You visit a variety of sites where you apply your knowledge of biology, chemistry, earth sciences and physics to study interactions and feedback in the environment, including landforms, soils, water and vegetation. These field studies are supported by tutorials and laboratory sessions in which you analyze your observations and the data that you have gathered; the course includes an introduction to statistical analysis...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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8. Environmental responsibility - for iPod/iPhone

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Complex questions of environmental responsibility are increasingly raised in times of change and uncertainty. The tracks on this album illustrate the need for nurturing a fresh sense of care for our environment as well as more appropriate forms of accountability. We demonstrate the necessity of addressing issues of entitlements, rights, obligations and duties if we are to critically and carefully shape our values in doing environmental responsibility and being environmentally responsible. This material is taken from the course: TD866 Environmental responsibility: ethics, policy and action.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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9. Bottled Water - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Have you ever wondered where bottled water comes from and what impact this has on the environment? This informative, animated video looks at the complete process of producing bottled water and strives to answer the question, 'Bottled water - who needs it?' Highlighting the effects this has on the carbon footprint, we learn how bottled water is disseminated worldwide. This material forms part of the course U116 Environment: journeys through a changing world.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 1Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

10. World in transition: Managing Resources - for iPod/iPhone

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Do you take your access to water for granted? The Peruvian and Tanzanian communities featured in this album certainly don’t. This album examines how development agencies can empower communities to help themselves by introducing simple technologies, and facilitate the sharing of ideas through education. In the Andean mountains, scarce supplies of water and agricultural challenges give rise to conflict; but the changes engineered by development agencies can start to show a way out of poverty...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

Psychology Podcasts

OU psychology podcasts on behaviour, relationships, addiction, ageing and the experiments behind the science of mind.

1. Investigating addiction - for iPod/iPhone

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What makes some people develop an addiction while others don't? Could genes or social environment influence addictive behaviours? In this album, scientists in the US and the UK explore the psychology and biology of addiction by subjecting a recovering alcoholic and his sister, a non-addict, to a range of physiological, psychological and genetic studies. The results raise interesting questions about brain patterns underlying addictions, and how addiction should be treated. This material forms part of The Open University course SD805 Issues in brain and behaviour.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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2. Enduring Love - for iPad/Mac/PC

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With ever-increasing divorce rates and relationship break-ups, how do some couples manage to stay together for years, sometimes forever? In this collection of audio and video podcasts, we reflect on the adult couple relationship in the UK, how couples perceive love and commitment, and the 'relationship work' that people do to sustain their enduring love.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 2 Avg Length 8 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. John Broadus Watson and Behaviourism - for iPod/iPhone

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What is most cited experiment in the history of psychology? Where did ideas like sending children to the naughty step and using time-out’s originate?According to John Broadus Watson, psychology should be the science of observable behavior. He saw psychology as the study of people's actions with the ability to predict and control those actions and it was this belief that set the stage for behaviorism, which soon rose to dominate psychology for many years...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Investigating ageing - for iPad/Mac/PC

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We might think we know what ageing is, but it’s surprisingly difficult to pin down. In this album a 70-year-old fashion model and her 17-year-old grand-daughter take part in a series of scientific tests to see whether it is possible to distinguish between them. The results give an insight into what contemporary science can tell us about what happens at the molecular, genetic, cellular, physiological and psychological level during the ageing process. This material forms part of The Open University course SD805 Issues in brain and behaviour.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Law Podcasts

OU law podcasts on human rights, international law, online rights and the legal questions that shape modern life.

1. Exploring Law - Audio

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Should we have the right to die? Should lawyers be passionate? Why are women still poorly represented in law? And since when did judges decide become of such interest to the public? These are just some of the topics covered in this fascinating compilation of discussions of law by Professor Gary Slapper of The Open University, and Frances Gibb, Legal Editor of The Times.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 5 Avg Length 12 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

2. International Law - for iPod/iPhone

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The framework of rules that serve to bind relations between states is referred to as Public International Law. It primarily concerns itself with the actions carried out by or on behalf of states as opposed to private citizens, but how effective is this global system in the 21st century? What are the challenges facing international law? Do states only engage with international courts when it serves their interests?In this audio discussion Open University Lecturers in Law; Olga Jurasz and Rosemarie McIlwhan assess some of the issues that face any institution that attempts to enforce these rule..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 1Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 6 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Rights Enshrined - for iPod/iPhone

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What is the role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the nature of its relationship with the UK Government? What impact does it have on UK law? With British membership of the European Union at the heart of the political agenda, the role of its Court of Human Rights and its influence on UK law has inevitably come under scrutiny. The coalition Government has pledged to withdraw the UK from the European convention of human rights, and to give Parliament the right to veto ECHR rulings. In these 4 films we hear from people who have taken cases to the Strasbourg court...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Online Rights and the Law - for iPad/Mac/PC

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How does the law stand in relation to web privacy? Do we have the same rights online as we do in life? The online revolution has moved rapidly but has the law managed to keep up with it and what has been the impact on our legal rights? These two films touch upon issues that have emerged as a result of a growing online community like the complications that arise when attempting to reconcile how various countries use different laws to police an individual’s omnipresent profile on the net...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Comedy Podcasts

OU comedy podcasts on the origins of comedy and the funny side of politics, science and everyday life.

1. The Birth of Comedy - for iPod/iPhone

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Take the topical satire of Have I Got News For You and mix thoroughly with the adolescent humour of The Inbetweeners, add in a healthy dose of Monty Python-esque absurdity and finish off with lashings of songs and dances. Then serve it all up to a baying crowd in an atmosphere more like a football match than a theatre stage. Welcome to the world of Aristophanes, ‘the father of comedy’. The rise of democracy in ancient Greece produced one of the greatest ever flowerings of culture and gave birth to history, philosophy, science … and fart gags...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 4 Avg Length 12 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

2. The Funny Thing About... - for iPod/iPhone

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Is the world of politics anything like "Yes Minister" or "The Thick Of It"? Are scientists all as geeky as Denzil Dexter from "The Fast Show"? This collection of videos looks at the funny side of different professions and the stereotypes within them, through the best of British comedy. Using clips from "Harry Enfield" to "That Mitchell and Webb Look"  this series will give you an idea of where careers might lead you - from IT to social work.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 1/5Apple Reviews 1 Get Email Contact

3. The Z files with Benjamin Zephaniah - for iPod/iPhone

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Can a driven individual shatter academic stereo-types through a passion for education? How does a love of science or engineering help you overcome educational difficulties, or even poverty? Writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah talks with acclaimed figures in the areas of science, technology and engineering from the Afro-Caribbean community about their experiences within their particular fields. They discuss their work, inspiration and the obstacles of pursuing careers in subjects that have been traditionally occupied by white men...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Email ****@open.ac.uk
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Apple Rating 2/5Apple Reviews 1 Get Email Contact

Disability Podcasts

OU disability podcasts on living with disability, visual impairment and growing up with long term conditions.

1. Living with Disability - for iPod/iPhone

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How does living with disability and chronic illness impact on a person's quality of life? What are the consequences of physical limitations and treatment regimes? The tracks on his album explore real-life case studies in a variety of care environments. From domestic homes to residential and hospital settings, we explore physical, social and psychological impacts and investigate the extent to which care environments are enabling or disabling. The album also contains a fictional case study which explores some of the issues facing people who are carers in their own homes...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 3 Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Living with visual Impairment - for iPod/iPhone

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What does the world look like to a person with a visual impairment? How does restricted vision impact on everyday life? How can you offer assistance without taking control? The video tracks on this album simulate what the world looks like to people with a range of visual impairments, and show good practice when acting as a sighted guide. The audio tracks offer personal perspectives from two people living with severe visual impairment. This material forms part of The Open University's Pre-registration nursing programme.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 3 Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Growing up with Disability - for iPad/Mac/PC

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In todays world growing up is tough - making friends, fitting in, changing schools. And it's even harder for children with disabilities. This album looks at PLUS, an organisation working towards the inclusion of disabled children and young adults in social activities and organisations, encouraging friendships and fun. It looks at PLUS from the view of the children, the carers and the families.This material forms part of The Open University course KE312 Working together for children.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 1Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

Earth Sciences Podcasts

OU earth science podcasts on volcanoes, geology, lakes and the dynamic forces that shape our planet.

1. Fire and Ice - Audio

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How are volcanoes created? And how can scientists re-construct eruptions from many thousands of years ago? On a field trip to Iceland, Dr Dave McGarvie visits a range of volcanoes. These include Askja, a particularly spectacular and active volcano in Iceland’s remote interior, and the valley where astronauts once trained to land on the Moon. Dave is joined by scientists from Iceland, the USA and Open University PhD student Anne Forbes as they explore exciting lava formations that have never been reported before.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 2 Avg Length 14 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

2. Earth and Life - for iPad/Mac/PC

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This series of tracks focuses on geological phenomena, Gaia theory and volcanoes. Included is a discussion on Climate Change and whether the uplift of Tibet caused global cooling. Material is taken from The Open University Course S269 Earth and Life.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 2Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

3. Getting your Bearings - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Learn how an ordinance survey map is produced before following three ramblers on a field trip in the Peak District. This material makes up part of the course MU120 Open mathematics.
Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Environment: Lake Baikal - for iPad/Mac/PC

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Should natural resources be exploited to support economic development? In Siberia, Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and contains one fifth of the world’s freshwater. It has developed over 25 million years to be a truly unique eco-system - yet this lake is now an environment at serious risk. This album focuses on the growing environmental threats to the region, which was named a World Heritage Site in 1996...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
Estimated listeners
Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Avg Length 2 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

Religion Podcasts

OU religion podcasts on faith in the modern world and pioneering figures such as the first female rabbi.

1. Religion Today - for iPod/iPhone

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Religion is a powerful force in today’s world, as almost any newspaper or news broadcast will make clear. Inextricably linked with nationalism, popular culture, social norms and the lives of individuals, it touches almost every area of public and private life. This course examines many of the most exciting and controversial issues in religion today, including the impact of globalisation/Evangelicalism, feminism and environmentalism, and whether secularisation might mean the eventual death of religious practices and institutions, or whether New Age, Wicca and other alternative spiritualitie..MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Rating 1.5/5Apple Reviews 2 Avg Length 1 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. Regina Jonas: the first female rabbi - for iPod/iPhone

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Regina Jonas (1902-1944), who is now widely recognised as the world’s first female rabbi, was ordained in Nazi Germany in 1935. However, for many years after her death at Auschwitz, she remained a largely forgotten figure until the discovery of her papers in the early 1990s. This collection explores Jonas’ story, which raises important issues in relation to the role of women in historiography and the connection between processes of remembering, forgetting and identity formation...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

Education and Teaching Podcasts

OU education podcasts on teaching, classroom collaboration, research and the future of learning.

1. Learning to Teach - for iPod/iPhone

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Would you give up a successful broadcasting career to become a teacher? What are the challenges facing modern teachers? Becoming a teacher requires learning a variety of skills, from reflective learning to mentoring, and in this series we follow two student teachers currently on the Open University PGCE course as they learn about their profession. We hear personal testimony and actuality from classrooms, mentoring and tutoring sessions, giving an insight into how teachers can develop their skills throughout their careers...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 1 Avg Length 9 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

2. University of the Future - for iPad/Mac/PC

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What does the future of learning look like? For over 40 years The Open University has pushed the boundaries of teaching and learning to deliver a dynamic learning experience to people all over the world. ‘University of The Future’ shows how the OU has harnessed new and emerging technologies to enable students to study from their computers, mobile phones, mp3 players and tablet devices – without necessarily having to open a book.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Apple Reviews 1Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5K Get Email Contact

3. Collaboration in the classroom - for iPod/iPhone

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What teaching methods can be used to improve a school’s performance? What are the benefits of collaborating within an educational institution?Victoria school for the arts in Canada is ranked amongst the best performing in the country. Maths is now one of the school’s most successful subjects; however three years ago the department was underachieving. The appointment of Kevin Bissoon to the position of head of maths is credited with helping to turn around the school’s fortunes in that subject...MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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4. Research at the Open University - for iPod/iPhone

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Pro Vice Chancellor Brigid Heywood discusses the foundations on which The Open University research is based with a focus on an interdisciplinary approach and the importance of collaboration with other higher education colleagues in the UK and internationally. Brigid also looks at the School of Excellence's collaboration with NASA and The Open University's global connections.MORE Producer/Network The Open University
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Facebook 453.8KTwitter 169.5KInstagram 115K Get Email Contact