Big Ideas (Audio)
322 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 10 years ago - ★★★★★ - 76 ratingsBig Ideas offers lectures on a variety of thought-provoking topics which range across politics, culture, economics, art history, science.... By nature of its lecture format, pacing and inquisitive approach, it is the antithesis of the prevailing sound-bite television norm. The simple, bold concept is a victory of substance over style. Big Ideas airs Saturdays and Sundays at 5:00 PM EST on TVO - Canada's largest educational broadcaster.
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Episodes
Umberto Eco on Beauty and Ugliness
January 17, 2009 21:00 - 15.2 MBInternationally renowned author and philosopher, Umberto Eco, gives "An Illustrated Presentation on the History of Beauty and Ugliness", based on his two recent books "On Beauty" and "On Ugliness".
Margaret Atwood's 2008 Massey Lecture
January 10, 2009 21:00 - 16.1 MBAuthor Margaret Atwood delivers the 2008 Massey Lecture, "Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth".
Ernesto Spinelli on death anxiety
December 13, 2008 21:00 - 12.3 MBDr. Ernesto Spinelli delivers a lecture "Exploring Death Anxiety" at an International Conference on Personal Meaning
Kirk J. Schneider on the mystery of being
December 13, 2008 21:00 - 13.2 MBDr. Kirk Schneider explores therapeutic approaches to the mystery of being in a lecture delivered at an International Conference on Personal Meaning.
Thomas Homer-Dixon on the stresses that could lead to the breakdown of world economies and political systems
December 06, 2008 21:00 - 16 MBAuthor and scholar, Thomas Homer-Dixon, explores the convergence of natural, social, and economic stresses that could lead to the breakdown of world economies and political systems.
Ron Deibert on Hacking Back: The Battle for Human Rights Online
November 22, 2008 21:00 - 15.5 MBPolitical science professor Ron Deibert looks at the issue of internet censorship and surveillance around the world.
Richard Florida on how the creative class is impacting cities and society at large
November 15, 2008 21:00 - 16.3 MBBest-selling author, Richard Florida, describes how the creative class is impacting cities, business and society at large.
Mark Kingwell and Malcolm Gladwell on social change
November 01, 2008 22:00 - 16.1 MBUniversity of Toronto philosophy professor and author, Mark Kingwell, and journalist Malcolm Gladwell square off in a lively debate about social change and how best to achieve it.
Norman Doidge on The Brain That Changes Itself
June 28, 2008 22:00 - 15.6 MBPsychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and best-selling author, Dr. Norman Doidge, discusses the findings in his latest book, The Brain that Changes Itself, an examination of brain neuroplasticity.
Hamida Ghafour on The Sleeping Buddha: Portraits of a Changing Afghanistan
June 07, 2008 22:30 - 6.51 MBJournalist Hamida Ghafour on her book "The Sleeping Buddha: Portraits of a Changing Afghanistan".
Marina Nemat on her book Prisoner of Tehran
June 07, 2008 22:00 - 8.17 MBA lecture by Marina Nemat, author of "Prisoner of Tehran".
Charles Jencks on Critical Modernism: Where is Post-Modernism Going?
May 24, 2008 22:00 - 15.5 MBArchitect and author, Charles Jencks, presents a lecture based on his recent book "Critical Modernism: Where is Post-Modernism Going?"
Paul Collier on The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It
May 17, 2008 22:00 - 11.5 MBPaul Collier, Professor of Economics at Oxford University, delivers the 2008 Lionel Gelber Public Lecture on his award-winning book, ?The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It?.
Margaret MacMillan on History: The Next Secular Religion Part 2
May 11, 2008 22:00 - 13.1 MBAuthor and historian Margaret MacMillan delivers this year's Trinity College Larkin-Stuart Lecture. The topic of her 2-part lecture is "History: The Next Secular Religion?"
Margaret MacMillan on History: The Next Secular Religion Part 1
May 10, 2008 22:00 - 12.3 MBAuthor and historian Margaret MacMillan delivers this year's Trinity College Larkin-Stuart Lecture. The topic of her 2-part lecture is "History: The Next Secular Religion?"
John English on Trudeau’s World: The Making of an Internationalist
April 19, 2008 22:00 - 7.93 MBIn his lecture entitled "Trudeau's World: The Making of an Internationalist", historian and author John English, discusses Trudeau's path to political prominence and influence, particularly in the domain of international affairs.
Daniel Bell on China’s New Confucianism
April 12, 2008 22:00 - 12.5 MBDaniel Bell, Professor of Philosophy at Tsinghua University in Beijing presents a lecture on "China's New Confucianism".
Oliver Sacks on his book Musicophilia
February 23, 2008 21:00 - 12.6 MBWorld-famous neurologist and author, Oliver Sacks, discusses his latest book, Musicophilia, a look at how music can impact on the brain. Sacks' love of music is well known, and now he turns his attention to his patients for whom music can be both treatment and affliction. He describes the power of music to move us, to heal, and to haunt us.
Steven Pinker on The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature
February 02, 2008 21:00 - 14.4 MBHarvard psychology professor, Steven Pinker, presents a talk on his latest book, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature.
Ariel Garten on the neuroscience of conflict
November 17, 2007 21:00 - 7.36 MBPsychotherapist and artist, Ariel Garten, explores the neuroscience of conflict.
Bruce Kuwabara on emerging models of urbanization and sustainability
November 12, 2007 17:00 - 12.2 MBAward-winning architect, Bruce Kuwabara, discusses emerging models of urbanization and sustainability that are transforming Toronto and other major Canadian cities.
J. Reid Meloy and Donald Carveth on A Psychoanalytic View of the Psychopath
October 20, 2007 22:00 - 116 MB VideoJ. Reid Meloy discusses A Psychoanalytic View of the Psychopath. Meloy's research draws upon his experience working with incarcerated killers as well as with the families and victims of psychopaths. Donald Carveth critiques Meloy's paper.