Since first airing in 2001, TVO’s Big Ideas has held a unique place in the Canadian broadcast industry. This lecture-style program features academics, authors and other luminaries who deliver thought-provoking talks that are accessible to the general public.
According to Producer Wodek Szemberg , Big Ideas offers a “civilized understanding of the world in which we live.” Judging from feedback from fans across the globe, the program has found a successful formula that packages passionate, subject-matter expertise for the knowledge-seeking general public. And although viewers may not have a Ph.D. in cosmology, theoretical physics, economics, or information technology, they still have questions and are curious to know about the big issues of the day.
Each 45-minute lecture serves as a platform for some of the greatest minds to share their ideas. Past speakers include Julie Payette, Noam Chomsky, Michael Ignatieff, Malcolm Gladwell and Susan Sontag. Upcoming lectures feature new technology analyst Clay Shirky, science fiction writer Rob Sawyer, psychologist Daniel Kahneman, and writer Adam Gopnik among many others.
The program has been enjoying a surge in popularity through video and audio podcasts. Big Ideas podcasts regularly rank at the top of the iTunes chart in the Higher Education category in both Canada and the United States. As of this writing, Big Ideas ranked the 10th most popular podcast in Canada on iTunes.
If you miss Big Ideas on-air Saturday and Sunday at 5pm, you can download podcasts on TVO.org or through iTunes.
