Jo Durrant's Beautiful Universe

Ep 245 Christopher Edge & 'Escape Room: Game Zero'

Jo welcomes back children's author Christopher Edge, who writes novels that have science themes and ideas running through them. He talks to Jo about his recent books including 'Black Hole Cinema Club' and his latest 'Escape Room: Game Zero' where the main character ends up in a video game for real. Jo also has a highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with children's author and illustrator Kate Pankhurst, who talks about some inspiring women from history and her latest book 'We Are All Inventors'.      Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Ep 244 Prof Adam Hart Myth Busting Misleadingly Named Animals

In episode 244 Jo welcomes back Professor Adam Hart, who is professor of science communication at the University of Gloucestershire. Adam joins Jo regularly to myth bust lots of topics and this time they talk about animals with misleading common names like glow worms, bear cats and whale sharks.  Jo also has another highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with science writer and children's author Isabel Thomas about her recent books 'Frog: A Story of Life on Earth' and 'The Bedtime Book of Even More Impossible Questions'.    Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Ep 243 Gareth Russell & 'Queen James'

Jo welcomes back Gareth Russell in episode 243. Gareth is a historian and the author of a number of books and he discusses his latest 'Queen James'. This tells the story of the life and loves of King James I of England and James VI of Scotland - Britain's first king.   Jo also visits the Museum in the Park in Stroud to find out the story behind two objects in the collection which relate to the Second World War, including one connected to the Spitfire.   Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Ep 242 Dev Joshi & Roland Ellis

In episode 242 Jo's special guests are Dev Joshi and Roland Ellis who have combined design with engineering in their studio Relative Distance. They talk about their careers and how this collaboration came out of a project to create a representation of the Moon. Plus they answer the Quick Six. Jo also has another highlight from the 2025 Cheltenham Science Festival - a chat with Dr Sarah Bearchell about her science shows for children and families, including bubbles.   Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/ 

Ep 241 Rebecca Styles

Jo's special guest in episode 241 is Rebecca Styles, who is a contemporary landscape painter. She talks about how different places have inspired her work and her recent time as artist in residence at Thorp Perrow Arboretum in Yorkshire, which has led to a new exhibition. Plus she answers the Quick Six. 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 focus on a plant that Jo isn't a fan of - ivy.      Presented, produced & edited by Jo Durrant. Music licensed from Purple Planet.   Jo's website: https://jodurrant.co.uk/