From The Sage Gateshead, evolutionary biologist Mark Pagel gives a talk entitled 'evolution and humanity - what next?', for the 2012 Free Thinking festival. Show more

From The Sage Gateshead, columnist Julie Bindel gives a talk arguing that sexuality is a choice, as part of the 2012 Free Thinking festival. Show more

From the 2012 Free Thinking festival, Matthew Sweet chairs a debate on aliens. With a panel including science-fiction writer Stephen Baxter and space scientist John Zarnecki. Show more

From The Sage Gateshead, Samira Ahmed chairs a discussion about revolution, democracy and the Arab Spring, for the 2012 Free Thinking festival. With Jeremy Bowen and Tarek Osman. Show more

Economist Ian Goldin gives a talk entitled Globalisation and the Future at the 2012 Free Thinking festival. Is globalisation the source of an ever more unequal and unstable world? Show more

In an interview recorded at the 2012 Free Thinking festival, Irish writer Colm Toibin talks to Philip Dodd about his own life, his ideas and thoughts on literature. Show more

From The Sage Gateshead, columnist and youth worker Lindsay Johns argues that we should stop listening to the young, in a talk recorded for the 2012 Free Thinking Festival. Show more

Novelist Philippa Gregory talks to Philip Dodd about writing historical fiction and her fascination with the Tudors as part of the 2012 Free Thinking festival. Show more

Former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson delivers the opening lecture of the Free Thinking Festival 2012, on the topic of women leaders. Show more

Live from The Sage Gateshead, Matthew Sweet is joined by guests including Radio 3's New Generation Thinkers and also introduces highlights from the Free Thinking weekend. Show more

On the eve of the US election, the former Leader of the Opposition in Canada, Michael Ignatieff, gives a talk on enemies in politics for the Free Thinking Festival 2012. Show more

From The Sage Gateshead, Anne McElvoy chairs a debate for Free Thinking 2012, asking 'Is social mobility overrated?'. With columnist Polly Toynbee and historian Lawrence Goldman. Show more

For Free Thinking 2012, Samira Ahmed presents a discussion in which historian Tom Holland and theologian Mona Siddiqui debate the difference between Islam and Christianity. Show more

From The Sage Gateshead, Philip Dodd presents a special conversation with Lee Hall, writer of Billy Elliot and The Pitmen Painters, as part of Radio's 3 Free Thinking Festival. Show more

Amos Oz, one of Israel's most influential thinkers, gives a talk on the prospect of future co-existence between Israel and Palestine at the 2012 Free Thinking Festival. Show more

From the 2012 Free Thinking Festival, Rana Mitter chairs a debate about world history, with historian Antony Beevor, broadcaster Andrew Marr and India expert Maria Misra. Show more

From the Sage Gateshead, Anne McElvoy introduces a talk in which Vicky Featherstone discusses the idea of a modern national theatre, as part of the 2012 Free Thinking Festival. Show more

From The Sage Gateshead, Philip Dodd chairs a debate entitled 'immigration and the challenge to belonging', as part of the 2012 Free Thinking festival. Show more