National Museums Liverpool Podcast

S3: Episode 2 - War and Reflection

As we look on across Europe to our Ukrainian allies, how can sharing stories of war help us all?

S3: Episode 1 - Art as an Anchor

Art galleries have always been a space for quiet contemplation, but in the midst of our modern lives, can they still provide solace during life's biggest challenges?

S2: Episode 6 - Sex and empowerment

How has our attitude to sex changed over the generations?

S2: Scandal

Provocative, intriguing, and perhaps salacious – it’s hard to resist a story about a scandal.

Hear a discussion about the legacy of Liverpool losing its World Heritage status, find out what makes a book scandalous and discover why a portrait of Lord Leverhulme caused international outrage.

S2: Underwater

With Liverpool being a maritime city, a strong relationship with the sea is inevitable.

Hear from an open water swimmer about plunging into freezing water and how this can help to free the mind in difficult times and improve mental health.

Dive beneath the waves to find out how to play with an octopus and discover what it feels like to make friends with such an amazing and intelligent creature.

Get an expert’s view on mangrove trees, how they are being affected by pollution and why it's important for us to protect them.

S2: Hair

For centuries we have been cutting, dying, curling, straightening, and braiding our hair.

But is hair just for expressing personal style – or is there more we can discover about society, history and even ethics?

Look back to the Roman period and hear how hairstyle influencers from elite society spread the latest hair trends amongst the masses.

Discover the social and political history surrounding Afro hair and get a personal perspective about the importance of celebrating Black hair today.

Find out how a bizarre dress from our collections - made of human hair extensions - caused mixed reactions from audiences and consider the ethics behind using human hair for fashion.  

S2: My body

All bodies are worthy of love and respect.

**Content warning: this episode explores stories relating to eating disorders and abortion**

Hear the inspiring journey of one Instagrammer, from difficulties with body image to arriving in a place of body acceptance.

Through the etchings in our collections by celebrated artist Paula Rego, discover the personal and political stories behind Rego’s abortion series, with commentary from the artist’s son, Nick Willing.

Look back at sculptures from ancient Greece to discover how body ideals from the ancient world have influenced our thinking about beauty today.

Finally, find out how one artist sets out to challenge representations of male body image and masculinity in the media, creating work from an LGBTQ+ perspective.

S2: Identity

Who are you and how do you express yourself? In this episode, explore how some people reach out to connect with their ancestors and hear a discussion about the complex identity of scousers with African and Afro-Caribbean heritage. Delve into the world of tattooing as we learn about the original sailor tattoos and look at why marking our skin can help shape our identities in the present day.

Season 2 Trailer: National Museums Liverpool Podcast

Subscribe to the National Museums Liverpool Podcast.

Our podcast weaves together stories from our collections with the experiences of people in Liverpool today, exploring connections between the past and the present.

S1: Protest

In episode six of the National Museums Liverpool Podcast, Jane Garvey introduces stories on protest, each with their own unique link to the museums and Liverpool.

Act One: Black Lives Matter

Protesting has been an important factor of the Black Lives Matter movement since it started in 2013 and has helped bring about change and awareness to the cause. We talked to Chantelle Lunt educator, writer, entrepreneur, activist and founder of Merseyside #BLM Alliance about how protests have contributed to positive change and how to avoid protest burn out.

 

Act Two: Pottery of Protest

When Jeff Speakman, Assistant Curator of Archaeology at Museum of Liverpool, went on an archaeological dig at The Manchester Dock, him and his team didn’t know what to expect. Imagine their surprise when, not only did they unearth 3 tonnes of pottery, but found chamber pots with the royal crest on them. Jeff unpacks how they go there, what they mean and what they say about our need for personal protest today, just as it was over 200 years ago.   

Act Three: Liverpool 8 Against Apartheid

In the 80s the people of L8 were tireless in their support of the anti-apartheid struggle. The Museum of Liverpool will host a new display highlighting the history of the community’s role in the anti-apartheid movement, and the fight to free Nelson Mandela and in this story we'll hear some of the voices from the frontline of the fight.