Four Thought

Karl Sharro argues that the only way to overcome the housing crisis is to get rid of all planning regulations and let people build whatever they want.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: Kamin Mohammadi Producer: Estelle Doyle.

The American author Sandra Newman explains why, while most of us would like to be cool, it is best not to try too hard.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: Kamin Mohammadi Producer: Estelle Doyle.

Jono Vernon-Powell wonders why hitchhiking has fallen out of favour, arguing its revival would be good for travellers and good for society.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter:Rohan Silva Producer:Sheila Cook.

Jonathan Rée explains why he's never been happy with the idea of morality and warns against the current fashion for confusing it with politics.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: Rohan Silva Producer: Sheila Cook.

Rachel Armstrong proposes we should harness the computing power of the natural world to create new sustainable ways of living.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: Rohan Silva Producer: Sheila Cook.

Children's author SF Said believes the power of fiction can help to bridge the divide when people identify themselves as "Us" and reject everyone else as "Them".Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: Rohan Silva Producer: Sheila Cook.

Thought-provoking talks with a personal dimension.

Rebecca Mott says we should come to see prostitution exactly as we now see slavery - as an abuse of human rights - and therefore only total abolition is acceptable.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: Ben Hammersley Producer: Sheila Cook.

Philippa Perry explains why story telling is so powerful and how the stories we tell to and about ourselves affect our mental wellbeing. Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society. Presenter: Ben Hammersley Producer: Sheila Cook.

Benet Brandreth argues that our current political discourse is bankrupt, so he proposes a novel solution: a legislature by lot. Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which speakers air their thinking, in front of a live audience, on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter:Ben Hammersley Producer: Sheila Cook.

Becky Manson discusses the meaning of home as homeowning becomes less common.Becky has moved home numerous times over the last decade, and has used art to explore the relationship between the idea of 'home' and the architectural reality of the houses or flats where we live. As houses become increasingly expensive and the average age of homeowning rises, she suggests a different way of thinking about our home.Introduced by Kamin Mohammadi.Producer: Giles Edwards.

Sharon Kinsella explores the Japanese 'cult of girls'.Ranging from the surprising role of schoolgirls in Japanese culture to an unusual encounter with an intriguing figure in the Japanese men's movement, Sharon undermines the idea of a playful Japanese popular culture. Having studied Japan for 15 years, she describes how the almost warlike state of male-female relations instead plays out in unexpected ways.Introduced by Kamin Mohammadi.Producer: Giles Edwards.

Byron Vincent discusses nature versus nurture, and society's obligations to its weakest.In a powerful, personal talk, Byron tells the story of his own childhood on a troubled housing estate, of how his surroundings shaped him, and of the choices he felt forced to make. Faced with similar circumstances he asks who can say they would make different choices. Byron explores the moral consequences of this for the rest of our society.Introduced by Kamin Mohammadi.Producer: Giles Edwards.

Anne-Marie Imafidon argues that we need to think differently about role models. She believes we need to stop looking at them as superhuman and instead embrace their mistakes as well as their successes, their personal foibles as well as their strengths. Once we do that, we can understand that everyone has something to contribute, we can all be members of what she calls the 'role model club'.Presented by David Baddiel.Producer: Giles Edwards.

Heaven Crawley, Professor of International Migration at Swansea University, argues for compassion and curiosity in place of hostility in our attitude towards refugees and asylum seekers.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers tell personal stories that give rise to their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: David Baddiel Producer: Sheila Cook.

Matthew Engel makes a secular case for reclaiming the peace and quiet of the Sabbath, arguing that a proper day of rest will make us healthier, happier and more productive.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers tell personal stories that give rise to their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: David Baddiel Producer: Sheila Cook.

Former soldier Emile Simpson draws on his experience in Afghanistan to argue that we need to rethink the way we fight wars now the boundary with politics has been blurred.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers tell personal stories that give rise to their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Presenter: David Baddiel Producer: Sheila Cook.

Curtis Blanc, a former prisoner turned award-winning sound and music entrepreneur, says prison works, but only if you want it to.Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers tell personal stories that give rise to their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.Producer: Sheila Cook.

Agnes Woolley examines what is missing from the stories told by, and about, refugees. She laments what she calls the 'hard authenticity of testimony' - the way in which refugees to the UK are forced to tell their own stories, and never to change them, despite any number of changes in perspective. And she asks why the stories told about those seeking refuge - by politicians and newspapers - are equally unchanging.Producer: Giles Edwards.

Brian Lavery tells the remarkable story of Mrs Lillian Bilocca, and how a fishwife from Hull changed the country's most dangerous industry. He examines how the fame and misfortune she suffered as a result might have played out in our current social media age and asks how much life has really changed.Producer: Giles Edwards.