Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

Jo's special guest in episode 283 is Dr Russell Arnott, an ocean science communicator and director of Incredible Oceans. He talks about his career, passion for his subject and what he'll be doing at the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival. Plus we learn why we should all appreciate plankton and Russell answers the Quick Six. 
Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Professor Helen Czerski about oceans, climate change and new technology. 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

In episode 282 Jo is joined by Simon Mason, author of a number of books - for children and young people, literary fiction and more recently crime fiction for adults. He talks about his books in particular the DI Wilkins novels and the Finder Mysteries. Plus he answers the Quick Six.
Jo also visits Gloucestershire Archives in Gloucester to find out about a little known story of a nursery in Cheltenham which grew orchids in the early 1900s that were sent to Japan.
 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

Jo welcomes back Dr Emma Yhnell in episode 281 to myth bust biomedical and brain based science. Emma is a reader in neuroscience at Cardiff University and talks to Jo about a range of topics including the neurotransmitter dopamine, sleep, dreams and dehydration. 
Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Raechel Kelly from the Planet Cheltenham project about how to future fit our homes. 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

In a milestone episode 280 Jo welcomes Dr Darren Freebury-Jones, a Shakespeare scholar, public speaker and author of 'Shakespeare's Borrowed Feathers'. They begin a new series on the history of theatre, and start during the time of Shakespeare, looking at playhouses, costumes, audiences and plays. 
Jo also continues her series on the A-Z of Plants with Faith Douglas, curator at Thorp Perrow Arboretum and author of The Nature Remedy. They've reached the letter S - which is for a herb.
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

Jo's special guest in episode 279 is historical novelist Essie Fox. She talks about her career, passion for gothic literature and her recent books 'Dangerous', about Lord Byron and 'Catherine', which is a retelling of 'Wuthering Heights'. Plus she answers the Quick Six.
Jo also visits the Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham to find the story behind the range, which is in the kitchen. 
 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/