Human Intelligence

Épisodes

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  Conversationalists: Homer 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Naomi explores the mind of Homer, the ancient Greek epic poet. She examines how oral tradition, memory, and performance were integral to the imagination of his work, and how storytelling functioned as a shared cultural intelligence long before writing became dominant. Through themes of heroism, fate, and human struggle, Homer’s epics reveal a deeply patterned way of thinking about the world. Naomi investigates how his storytelling mind has influenced countless generations, cultures and societies.Special thanks to Edith Hall, Professor of Classics at the University of Durham.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Conversationalists: Fatema Mernissi 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Fatema Mernissi, a pioneering sociologist and Islamic feminist whose work centred on voice, storytelling, and power. She examined how narrative becomes a tool of resistance and survival. Naomi Alderman explores her belief that who gets to speak, and be heard, shapes societies, identities, and authority structures. Mernissi also recognised early on how emerging digital spaces could amplify women’s voices globally. Her thinking blends sociology, literature, and activism, offering a profound framework for understanding communication, agency, and cultural transformation. Special thanks to Zakia Salime, associate professor of sociology and women's and gender and sexuality studies at Rutgers University.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Conversationalists: Isabella D'este 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Isabella d'Este was one of the most influential cultural figures of the Italian Renaissance. Renowned for her intelligence, political acumen, and refined taste, she shaped the artistic and intellectual life of her time through strategic patronage and correspondence with leading thinkers and artists. Naomi examines how she navigated the complex power dynamics of Italian courts, using curiosity, diplomacy, and aesthetic vision as tools of influence. From her famed studiolo to her extensive letters, Isabella’s thinking reveals a deeply modern mind; shrewd, self-aware, and committed to shaping culture through intellect as much as authority. Special thanks to Sarah Cockrum, lecturer in medieval history at the University of Glasgow.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Conversationalists: Desmond Tutu 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Naomi explores the mind of Desmond Tutu, archbishop and human rights activist, and how his thinking reshaped approaches to justice and reconciliation. As chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he helped pioneer a transformative model of restorative justice grounded in dialogue rather than retribution. Central to his philosophy was Ubuntu, the African idea of a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity, shaping his ethical framework for national healing. Naomi examines how his moral seriousness turned reconciliation into lived practice rather than symbolic performance for a nation rebuilding itself after conflict.Special thanks to Mungi Ngomane, author and activist.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Conversationalists: Voltaire 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Naomi explores the mind of Voltaire, one of the defining intellectual voices of the Enlightenment. Through more than 20,000 letters, Voltaire built a vast network of debate known as the “Republic of Letters,” using wit, scepticism, and relentless curiosity to challenge authority and defend freedom of thought. Naomi examines how his experiences of censorship, exile, and persecution shaped his fierce opposition to religious intolerance and abuses of power. From his famous call to “crush the infamous” to his sharp philosophical style, she unpacks how Voltaire’s provocative thinking transformed public debate and helped define modern intellectual life. Special thanks to David Wooten, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of YorkProduced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Provocateurs: Elinor Ostrom 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Elinor Ostrom, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, challenged one of the most influential assumptions in modern economics: the “tragedy of the commons.” Through extensive field research, Ostrom demonstrated that communities around the world can successfully manage shared resources without destroying them. Her work offered a powerful alternative to the belief that competition and privatisation are inevitable. Naomi examines how her deeply practical ideas continue to shape conversations about cooperation, sustainability, democracy, and how humanity might build a more balanced and livable future. Special thanks to Daniel Cole, emeritus professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Provocateurs: Eugène-Francois Vidocq 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Eugène-Francois Vidocq is often regarded as the father of modern policing. Credited with creating the first private detective agency and pioneering the role of the agent provocateur, Vidocq transformed criminal investigation in 19th-century France. Naomi examines how his first-hand knowledge of the underworld helped revolutionise law enforcement through early forensic methods, detailed criminal records, fingerprint concepts, and visual identification techniques. His innovations laid the foundation for modern detective work and influenced policing methods that are still used around the world today. Special thanks to James Morton, retired criminal defence lawyer and author of ‘The First Detective: The Life and Revolutionary Times of Vidocq’. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Provocateurs: Sigmund Freud 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?From inventing the idea of talk therapy to reshaping how we understand dreams, desire, and behaviour, Sigmund Freud changed psychology forever. But what intellectual qualities did he possess that enabled him to carry out this work? Naomi traces his journey starting with medical fascination, but then how he moved from studying the body to focusing on the mind. Ultimately, Naomi uncovers how both his deeply curious mind and willingness to be wrong were the driving forces behind his breakthroughs and enduring intellectual legacy. Special thanks to Dr Eve Watson, psychoanalyst and academic.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Provocateurs: Salvador Dalí 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí perfected the art of double-meanings in his memorable visual art. What can we learn from the mind who encourages us to find the deeper, hidden sub-text in the world around us?Special thanks to Dawn Ades, Professor Emerita of the History and Theory of Art at the University of Essex.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Provocateurs: Cicero 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? Cicero was the Roman Republic's supreme orator. He used speeches and writing to attack enemies, to define what counted as legitimate power, and force questions of law and legitimacy out into the open. He became the renowned advocate and lawyer that everyone wanted to defend their case as he won the vast majority of his high-profile battles in the legal arena. Largely in part to his incredibly provocative style - but what was it about the brain of Cicero that made him capable of that? He also transformed how the language of Latin was used to produce argument and philosophical thinking. He is our model today for how democracy relies on provocation, where one is willing to say the unsayable and where no one is beyond criticism.Special thanks to  Katherine Tempest, lecturer in Roman history at the University of Leicester.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researcher: Sasha Edye-Lindner Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Executive Producer: Paul Smith Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Recluses: Nikola Tesla 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Engineer Nikola Tesla had grand plans to change the world. One of his inventions did forever change our relationship with electricity, and the way we move through the world, but he also left us with another long-lasting legacy that is problematic. He was utterly obsessed with convincing the world that he was a reclusive genius. Someone who did not need colleagues or teammates to achieve greatness. Was he right to do it all alone? And how does the image of the reclusive genius still affect society today?Special thanks to Professor Iwan Rhys Morus, a Professor of history at Aberystwyth University. Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Recluses: Li Qingzhao 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Li Qingzhao is still celebrated today as one of China’s greatest literary figures, and arguably the most famous female Chinese poet. However, her talents in writing are just the beginning of where her intelligence lies. Naomi Alderman explores the mind of a woman who was fascinated with game play, and who worked tirelessly to preserve important artefacts of history which were in danger of being lost forever.Special thanks to Penny Ding, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University. Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Recluses: Michel de Montaigne 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?French philosopher Michel de Montaigne was fascinated by the study of his own mind – with its changing nature and lack of fixed ideas. He would spend days and days rewriting his thoughts, questioning himself and challenging his own opinions. How did he do his thinking, and what can the study of his mind reveal about how we view ourselves?Special thanks to David Wootton Emeritus Professor of History at the University of York.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Recluses: Ibn Khaldun 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Centuries ago, philosopher Ibn Khaldun had time and space to reflect on the world around him. By soaking up the available historical knowledge at his disposal and casting a keen eye on how power evolved, he produced a theory that explained why there was a pattern of dynasties rising and falling. How did retreating from society enable him to do his greatest thinking?Special thanks to Hugh Kennedy, Professor of Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Recluses: Emily Brontë 10.08.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights sent shock waves through Victorian society when it was published, and it is a novel that continues to stir debate and discussion today. What can we learn of the mind that conjured up such a piece of work? And how did her reclusive nature bring greater depth and focus to her writing?Special thanks to Dr Claire O’Callaghan, Senior Lecturer in Victorian Literature at Loughborough University.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Perfectionists: Martha Graham 05.01.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Against the wishes of her family, American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham pursued a career on the stage, touring the United States as a vaudeville star, even making it to Broadway. But the classic traditions of dance weren’t enough for her. She sought perfection – the perfect encapsulation of the human experience, in movement. Modernist ideals were changing artistic expression across mediums, and the Graham technique distilled those ideals for dance. Her visceral work catapulted her to fame. As her reputation grew she never stopped exploring, looking to everything from Greek myth to Jungian psychology for inspiration, pushing to explore the passions and pains of the human experience.Special thanks to Paul Jackson, Reader in Choreography and Dance at the University of Winchester and Choreography Instructor at the Central School of Ballet.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Perfectionists: Leonardo Da Vinci 05.01.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Da Vinci had insatiable curiosity, a deep desire to observe and understand the world around him. The curiosity that drove him to learn everything he could and brought a depth of understanding to the works he produced. His obvious genius put him in high demand – but Da Vinci was a careful man, taking years to complete each commission and frequently never finishing them at all. He was looking for perfection and seemed not to mind taking years to achieve it. Special thanks to Catherine Fletcher, Professor of History at Manchester Metropolitan University.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Perfectionists: Al-Khwarizmi 05.01.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration? In the early 9th century Baghdad was the centre of the world, and within Baghdad the Bayt al-Hikma – the House of Wisdom – was the centre of scholarship. And in that centre, the Al-Khawarizmi was working to revolutionise our understanding of mathematics. This revolution would be outlined in his book, Al-Jabr, from which we get the word algebra. While arithmetic and geometry date back to the ancient Greeks and Babylonians, Al-Khawarizmi sought to outline a recipe that could be applied to multiple situations. A formula that would unlock a greater understanding of calculation.In his own lifetime his impact was immense, from popularising the use of Hindu numerals, to large infrastructure projects. But his impact today is even greater. He laid the foundations on which we all walk.Special thanks to Jim Al-Khalili, professor of theoretical physics and chair in public engagement in science at the University of Surrey.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Perfectionists: Simone Weil 05.01.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?Raised in an environment of deep, committed learning, Weil studied Marx and Descartes. But by adulthood she was frustrated with the intellectualisation of the plight of the poor. It was not enough, for Weil, to learn about or to discuss the lives of factory workers – she felt it was crucial to experience their lives first-hand. Weil’s was a perfectionism of the spirit, a demand to understand every human life in the ways in which it is unlike every other. But did her perfectionism lead her astray? Special thanks to Professor Anna Rowlands at the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle
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  Perfectionists: Isambard Kingdom Brunel 05.01.2026 14min

  Naomi Alderman returns with her series that explores the minds of the greatest thinkers in history. From political theorists to scientists to inventors, authors and artists. Our world is based on their ideas and innovations. How did they do their work, what did they struggle with, where did they find their dedication, creativity and inspiration?A highly skilled engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was driven by a desire to be the best, to achieve perfection in everything he built. From the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Paddington Station, Brunel’s work left indelible stamps on Britain. Unconcerned with cost and willing to put himself and his workers at risk to achieve his goals, his need for perfection perhaps went too far, by today’s standards. He had a vision for a future that, in his own time, seemed impossible: one where people could travel by smooth, comfortable, fast railways.Special thanks to Tim Bryan Brunel curator at the SS Great Britain in Bristol.Produced by BBC Studios in partnership with The Open University.Presenter: Naomi Alderman Executive Editor: Philip Sellars Production Co-Ordinator: Amelia Paul Researchers: Harry Burton, Martha Owen and Victoria Brignell Mix Engineer: Nigel Appleton Series Producer: Anishka Sharma Production Manager: Jo Kyle