explore words discover worlds

Updated: 24 Dec 2025 • 142 episodes
rss.com/podcasts/bradfordlitfest

Expand your horizons with 'explore words discover worlds', the podcast that brings the world of Bradford Literature Festival to your ears. From the classics to the cutting edge, we'll introduce you to the most exciting and thought-provoking authors, poets, and thinkers.

Show episodes

Why did our grandmothers stir turmeric into hot milk at bedtime? Why did they eat with their hands, or instinctively pair yoghurt with rice on a hot day? In this rich and reflective talk, culinary storyteller and author Radhika Howarth explores the intuitive food wisdom passed down through generations – and what it sti

49 min
00:00
49:41
No file found

Sudan is facing one of the world’s most devastating — and least reported — crises. Since April 2023, brutal conflict between rival military factions has torn the country apart, displacing millions and unleashing a humanitarian catastrophe.  In this urgent and illuminating panel, we explore the roots of the conflict, th

53 min
00:00
53:36
No file found

What does freedom of expression mean in 2025? From hate speech and identity politics to digital censorship and protest bans, the boundaries of free speech are more contested than ever. This timely event explores the forces shaping public debate today: the line between speech and harm, the influence of tech platforms, a

66 min
00:00
01:06:49
No file found
03 Dec 2025 • EN

The World Today 2025

Professor Paul Rogers returns to lead a panel of expert commentators in our annual current affairs event, offering a 360-degree view of the most urgent issues shaping the world in 2025. From ongoing conflict and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, to escalating tensions in the Red Sea and South China Sea, and the global

68 min
00:00
01:08:17
No file found

Islamophobia isn’t just a slur or a spike in hate crime — it’s a system. From counterterrorism policy and surveillance to media narratives and foreign wars, Muslims are routinely positioned as threats. This panel examines how Islamophobia is being mobilised today in the UK and across the globe. Who gains from it, and h

69 min
00:00
01:09:27
No file found

Shaykh Dr Ahmed Saad Al-Azhari joins us to launch Parables from the Qur’an, the much-anticipated follow-up to Contemplating the Qur’an. This talk offers a unique opportunity to delve into the thematic depth and metaphorical beauty of the Qur’an, drawing on classical scholarship and contemporary insight. While Contempla

56 min
00:00
56:14
No file found