Understand

James Naughtie examines the ideas tying America's founding to the modern United States.

Radio 4,80 episodes

Episodes

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An American Journey
1. The Pursuit of Happiness
How have Americans understood the connection between economic and democratic freedom?
19 Jan 2026,42 mins
An American Journey
2. A More Perfect Union
What does it mean to be an American?
26 Jan 2026,42 mins
An American Journey
3. Establishing Justice
How has 'justice' been understood by different generations of Americans?
02 Feb 2026,42 mins
An American Journey
4. Life and Liberty
The idea of freedom is foundational to America, but whose freedom, and what kind?
09 Feb 2026,42 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
Trailer
Justin Webb looks at five big US foreign policy shifts, from Monroe to Trump.
16 Jan 2026,1 min
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
1. The Monroe Doctrine
What is the 1823 doctrine, and how has it been used since by US presidents?
19 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
2. The Truman Doctrine
What impact did WWII have on US policy towards the rest of the world?
20 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
3. The Nixon Doctrine
How did the Vietnam War change America’s foreign policy?
21 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
4. The Reagan Doctrine
How US policy changed towards the Soviet Union and the challenge of communism.
22 Jan 2026,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines
5. The Bush Doctrine
How the September 11 attacks led to conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
23 Jan 2026,17 mins
The Trip
Introducing The Trip
Tim Hayward looks at the science, history - and future - of psychedelics.
30 Jul 2025,3 mins
The Trip
1. Altered States
Tim Hayward looks at the science, culture, history - and future - of psychedelics.
04 Aug 2025,15 mins
The Trip
2. When the drugs take hold
Tim Hayward investigates the anatomy of a trip.
04 Aug 2025,14 mins
The Trip
3. Stranger things
Tim Hayward visits the outer reaches of cutting edge psychedelic research.
04 Aug 2025,15 mins
The Trip
4. Looking for a cure
Tim Hayward investigates why people are travelling abroad seeking a psychedelic cure.
04 Aug 2025,14 mins
The Trip
5. Message in a bottle
Tim Hayward travels into the past to better understand today’s psychedelic research.
04 Aug 2025,15 mins
The Trip
6. Critical periods
Can psychedelics help the brain to learn things anew?
11 Aug 2025,15 mins
The Trip
7. Fascination and taboo
Psychedelic drugs have a chequered history. How did wonder turn to fear?
11 Aug 2025,14 mins
The Trip
8. A tipping point?
Significant barriers exist for research looking at psychedelics. Is that about to change?
11 Aug 2025,14 mins
The Trip
9. Sacred plants for sale
Who stands to profit from the commercialisation of psychedelics?
01 Sep 2025,14 mins
The Trip
10. Unknown unknowns
What more is there to learn about psychedelics? Tim Hayward makes a case for curiosity.
01 Sep 2025,14 mins
US Foreign Policy in Five Doctrines - Omnibus
Justin Webb looks at five big US foreign policy shifts, from Monroe to Trump.
24 Jan 2026,57 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
Trailer
The inside story behind HS2. Has a high speed dream become an almighty mess?
07 Jul 2025,4 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
1. The Railwayman
HS2's story begins with a blank piece of paper.
14 Jul 2025,14 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
2. Mutually assured exaggeration
HS2 makes its case to ministers, but fault lines rapidly emerge.
15 Jul 2025,14 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
3. That can’t be right
Protest groups begin to organise as the line's route is announced.
16 Jul 2025,14 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
4. Well Done Geoffrey
Costs mount as compromises with protesting locals are struck
17 Jul 2025,14 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
5. Worry About the Detail Later
Dissent grows within HS2 itself.
18 Jul 2025,14 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
6. The Only Friend that Mattered
As HS2 faces fresh threats, a new prime minister steps in.
21 Jul 2025,14 mins
Derailed: The Story of HS2
7. Gold Plated
HS2's contracts with major firms become a new focus for critics.
22 Jul 2025,14 mins