Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

Jo's special guest in episode 304 is Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall who is a historian specialising in women in the history of Britain's secret intelligence services through the 20th century. She talks about her passion for this subject and her book 'Her Secret Service' and the women she has researched.  Plus she answers Jo's Quick Six. Jo also visits Gloucestershire Archives, to find out the story behind some volumes of books relating to the War Agricultural Committee during World War One.   Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

In episode 303 Jo is joined by Jon Chase, who is a science communication practitioner, an author and science rapper. He talks about his career, including shows and books exploring the science of Doctor Who and Star Wars. Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six. Jo reaches the penultimate part of her series on the A-Z of Plants with Faith Douglas, author of The Nature Remedy and curator at Dawyck Botanic Garden in Scotland. They've reached the letter Y - which is for a long lived historic tree.   Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Jo's special guest in episode 302 is Will Lawton, who is a musician, singer-songwriter and a music therapist. He talks to Jo about his career, how he moved into music therapy and his collaborations with other musicians, including how Lawton & Mack came about.  Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six. Jo also has a highlight from the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Sleep Physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski, who busts some common sleep myths.    Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

In episode 301 Jo welcomes back Dr Meganne Christian, who is an ESA Reserve Astronaut, and also Mission Manager for in Space Manufacturing at Satellite Applications Catapult. She talks about this new role and her recent astronaut training, including space law and another parabolic flight.  Jo also visits the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham to add an item into her virtual museum, which is from an exhibition relating to Gustav Holst's brother who was a famous Hollywood actor.       Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

It's the three hundredth edition of the award-winning arts & science podcast and also the six year anniversary. In this feature length extended episode Jo welcomes back a host of guests and discusses a range of subjects including space, science fiction, theatre, history, illustration, plants, the weather, museums, sensory science and much more. Guests featured in order of appearance: Dallas Campbell, Isabel Thomas, Dr Jamie Gallagher, Stefan Gates, Briony Hudson, Prof Adam Hart, Dr Emma Yhnell, Dee Atkins-Greig, Jeff Downes & Graham O'Dwyer, Dr Nicola Tallis, Gareth Russell, Annie Garthwaite, Prof Barry Smith, Faith Douglas, Corey Brotherson & Paul Scott and James Mayhew.   Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Jo presents a special edition of the podcast, recorded for the first time on stage in front of a live audience - at the 2026 Gloucester History Festival.  Her special guests are Professor Janina Ramirez, who is an author, broadcaster and academic, and is the Lifetime President of the Festival, along with Andrew Armstrong, who is the City Archaeologist for Gloucester. They share their passion for their subjects and do some myth busting along the way.  Plus Jo learns a bit of the history of Blackfriars Priory, home to the festival; and shares some highlights of other historians who have previously been on the podcast.    Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

In episode 298 Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the At The Flicks podcast, to talk about science fiction cinema. In this special edition they all go to the cinema together again, this time to watch 'The End Of Oak Street'. Hear their initial thoughts and what they make of it a few weeks on, including how this film compares to other dinosaur movies and just how much horror is in it! (There will minimal spoilers but you might want to watch the film before listening.) Jo also visits the Museum in the Park in Stroud, to find out about some objects from a new display telling stories of home and migration.        Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Jo's special guest in episode 297 is Luke Sherlock, who is an author, pilgrim and owner of the independent book shop 'Sherlock & Pages' in Somerset. He talks about his love of visiting historic churches which led to his book 'Forgotten Churches', including some of his favourites and how they transport us back to the past. Plus he answers Jo's Quick Six. Jo also continues her series on the A-Z of Plants with Faith Douglas, author of The Nature Remedy and curator at Dawyck Botanic Garden in Scotland. They've reached the letter W - which is for a very large, prehistoric tree.   Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

In episode 296 Jo's special guest is Jo Ward, who is a crime scene co-ordinator with West Midlands Police. She talks about her career, including memorable cases, her book 'Every Contact Leaves A Trace' and being part of the TV series 'Forensics: The Real CSI'. Plus she answers Jo's Quick Six.  Jo also has a highlight from the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival, which is her chat with Ben Giles, who is a professional crime scene cleaner and has written the book 'The Specialist'. (Content warning: Episode includes discussions of death, violent crimes, suicide, PTSD and descriptions of crime scenes and decomposition)      Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Jo welcomes back Jackie Kabler in episode 295. Jackie is a presenter and a best selling crime writer. She talks to Jo about her latest thriller 'Run For Your Life', which was inspired by her love of running.  Jo also visits the Museum in the Park in Stroud to find out the story behind a new item in the collection which relates to Stroud's railway history.     Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/