Thinking Allowed

Laurie Taylor talks to Kip Jones about his research on the challenges faced by older gay men and lesbians who live in rural areas in England and Wales. Laurie also discusses protests over art and culture in America with US sociologist, Steven Tepper and Jo Glanville, the editor of Index on Censorship.

Laurie Taylor talks to Dr Daniel Burdsey about race and the British seaside. And Laurie examines the limits of science and the machine age with writer Bryan Appleyard and philosopher John Gray and asks whether we are in danger of losing the essence of what it is to be human.

Laurie Taylor talks to Dr Lee Miller about her paper 'Hazards of Neo-Liberalism: Delayed Electric Power Restoration after Hurricane Ike'. He also explores new research examining the motives of middle class parents who deliberately send their children to failing or under-performing schools with Professor Diane Reay and journalist Melissa Benn.

Laurie also examines an apparent rise in heterosexual men kissing other men, with Professor Eric Anderson; Laurie also explores Professor Steven Pinker's notion of a decline in human violence with Professor Anthony O'Hear.

Samaya Farooq tells Laurie on her new study of muslim sports women who combine faith and fitness. Also, Henrietta Moore with a positive take on globalisation.

Laurie Taylor explores impartiality in TV political interviewing with Professor Ian Hutchby and Lis Howell. Laurie also talks to Professor Michael Keevak about his new book Becoming Yellow: A short history of racial thinking.

Laurie Taylor talks to Dr Ian Goldin about his book on immigration which argues that successful societies need immigrants. Laurie also talks to Thierry Côté author of 'Popular Musicians and Their Songs as Threats to National Security; Prof John Street, author of Music and Politics joins in the discussion.

Laurie Taylor talks to Marc DiPaolo and Matthew Sweet about war politics and comic strip superheroes. He also examines the importance of surnames especially for children, explored in a new article by Dr Hayley Davies from Kings College London.

Laurie Taylor explores new research into income mobility and the dynamics of poverty with Stephen Jenkins and John Holmwood. Also, the ups and downs of New York tour guides with Jonathan Wynn.

Professor Laurie Taylor examines the history and motivation of suicidal people with sociologists Ben Fincham from the University of Sussex and Dr Mike Shiner from the London School of Economics.Laurie also talks to Professor Carol Smart From Manchester University about family secrets and memories.

Does being beautiful help your career? Laurie hears about two new studies from Daniel Hamermesh and Catherine Hakim. Also Louise Westmarland on tales from criminologists.

In the third of Laurie's sociological inspections of listeners' homes he visits the house of a nuclear family in Preston. Sociologists Jacqui Gabb and Peter Bramham accompany him.

In the second of Laurie's sociological inspections of listeners' homes he visits the house of someone living alone in the countryside of Argyll and Bute. Sociologists Roona Simpson and Bren Neale accompany him.

How do modern listeners live? In a sepcial edition Laurie and two experts conduct a sociological inspection of a multi generational family home.

Are parents to blame for children being involved in gangsd? Laurei hears new research from Judith Aldridge and Jon Shute. Also, Gordon Matthews' study of Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong.