Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

Jo's special guest in episode 287 is Jenny Wicks, the founder and director of Jenny Wren Productions and the Theatre Manager at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham. She shares her theatre journey with Jo, including some the most memorable shows she's put on, and talks about the open air summer production for 2026. Plus she answers the Quick Six. 
Jo also has a highlight from the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with science journalist and author Emma Young who was part of the schools programme, talking about sleep, volcanoes and blood. 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

In episode 286 Jo welcomes back Dr Daniel Swift, Associate Professor at Northeastern University and author of the book 'The Dream Factory'. He takes part in Jo's series where a guest chooses their Top Ten Theatre shows. His choices include Les Miserables, The Woman In Black and a few Shakespeare plays including King Lear and Othello.
Jo is also joined by Faith Douglas, author of The Nature Remedy, as they continue their series on the A-Z of plants. T is for Turmeric. 
 
 
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 in episode 285, recorded on location at the 2026 Cheltenham Science Festival. She talks to a variety of speakers on topics including the weather, zoology, cyber security, genetics and space. 
Guests featured: Jules Howard, Dr Sarah Bearchell, Prof Turi King, Dr Russell Arnott, Clare Nasir & Simon King, Prof Mark Miodownik & Prof Andrea Sella, Sophia McCall and Dame Dr Maggie Aderin. 
 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

In episode 284 Jo welcomes back Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the At The Flicks podcast, to talk about science fiction. They continue their series on the A-Z of science fiction cinema, with the letter D.
Jeff suggests a number of contenders for the Hall of Fame and Jo and Graham must decide what's going to be entered, or relegated to Room 101! 
Themes discussed for D include dinosaurs and dystopia, plus films like Dune, Donnie Darko and The Day The Earth Stood Still. Plus John Putley shares some of his favourites for this letter.
 
 
 
Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant.
Music licensed from Purple Planet.
 
Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/

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/