Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

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/

In episode 294 Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the At The Flicks podcast, to talk about science fiction. This time they look at sci-fi film remakes and ask if a remake can be better than the original?

Films discussed include The Day The Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds and The Omega Man/I Am Legend. Plus listeners and guests share their thoughts.

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

Jo welcomes back Prof Adam Hart in episode 293. Adam is Professor of Conservation Ecology at the University of Gloucestershire and joins Jo to myth bust a variety of subjects. This time it's the topic of ecotourism - they discuss what it is, the challenges and issues, and also the potential benefits.

Jo also continues her series on the A-Z of Plants with Faith Douglas, author of The Nature Remedy. They've reached the letter V - which is for a fragrant smelling plant.

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

In episode 292 Jo welcomes back Lucy Jane Santos, who is a historian, presenter and consultant, researching the unexpected places where science, culture and consumerism meet. They discuss her new book 'Nobody's Perfect: The Making Of Some Like It Hot', including busting a few myths about some of the stories to come out of that film, especially those about Marilyn Monroe.

(Content warning: Includes mention of baby loss)

Jo also has a highlight from the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival, which is her chat with Prof Amanda Daley, Professor of Behavioural Medicine at Loughborough University, about the science of a short walk.

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

Jo's special guest in episode 291 is Prof Eileen G'Sell, who is a poet, culture critic and professor at Washington University. She is also the author of the book 'Lipstick', so on National Lipstick Day they talk about the history and cultural evolution of lipstick. Plus she answers Jo's Quick Six.

Jo also visits the Museum in the Park in Stroud to find out the story behind some samples of moss in the collection, which are incredibly rare.

Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.

Music licensed from Purple Planet.

Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/