Start the Week

Mind and Body


Listen Later

On Start the Week Andrew Marr talks to Jane McGonigal, a designer of alternate reality games, about her latest innovation SuperBetter. Designed to aid her recovery from a brain injury and subsequent depression, the game reportedly gives people a sense of control over their own health. Harnessing the mind in the fight against chronic illnesses is the subject of Jo Marchant's book, Cure, which looks at the latest research into the science of mind over body. Rational thought and magic went hand in hand in the Renaissance period and the philosopher AC Grayling looks back at the life of John Dee - mathematician, alchemist and the Queen's conjurer. The actor Simon McBurney tests the limits of perception and human consciousness as he recreates what it feels like to be lost in the remote part of the Brazilian rainforest.

Producer: Katy Hickman.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Start the WeekBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

154 ratings


More shows like Start the Week

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

The LRB Podcast

314 Listeners

The Archers by BBC Radio 4

The Archers

1,086 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

376 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

863 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,067 Listeners

The Reith Lectures by BBC Radio 4

The Reith Lectures

159 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,576 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,808 Listeners

Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

Arts & Ideas

303 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,729 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,018 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,952 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

488 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

113 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

73 Listeners

Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

129 Listeners

Daily Politics from the New Statesman by The New Statesman

Daily Politics from the New Statesman

141 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

52 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

75 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,245 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,010 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

100 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,858 Listeners