Arts & Ideas Folgen

Is the idea of counselling as non-judgmental listening flawed? New Generation Thinker Christopher Harding, from Edinburgh University, focuses his talk on attitudes in Japan and the UK. He asks whether prayer involves fewer hidden pressures than a session with a shrink. Recorded on Saturday 26th October 2013 in front of a live audience at Sage Gateshead as part of Radio 3's Free Thinking festival.

As we strive to protect our children’s imaginations from negative influences, are we running an even greater risk – of starving those imaginations altogether? Writer Patrick Ness, author of the ‘Chaos Walking’ trilogy, and Dr Charles Fernyhough, whose writing examines the development of childhood language and memories, join Matthew Sweet to explore what stimulates young minds and how children cope in an unstable world. Recorded on Saturday 26th October 2013 in front of a live audience at Sage Gateshead as part of Radio 3's Free Thinking festival.

Are our policy makers too urban in their outlook? Have we lost touch with nature? On stage at Free Thinking to debate the issue are: Dame Fiona Reynolds, former head of the National Trust; Simon Thurley, CEO of English Heritage and author of The Building of England and The Men from the Ministry; Jon Alexander, reformed ad-man and founder of the newcitizenship project; rural sociologist Professor Mark Shucksmith, Director of Newcastle University's Newcastle Institute of Social renewal and Canon Dagmar Winter, Rural Affairs Officer for the Diocese of Newcastle. Recorded on Sunday 27th October 2013 and chaired by Samira Ahmed in front of a live audience at Sage Gateshead as part of Radio 3's Free Thinking festival.