What's Your Map?

{"_":"From historians, scientists and writers to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries.
\n
\nWinner of the Gold award at the British Podcast Awards 2025 in the Education category!
\n
\nJoin award-winning expert Professor Jerry Brotton, as in each episode he invites a guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and stories behind it.
\n
\nSo if you’re fascinated by history, art, adventure and culture, why not become part of a global community of fellow explorers as we ask - What’s your map?
\n
\nWhat’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique maps and atlases. For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen.
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\n\n","$":{"audioboom:html":"1"}}

Last refreshed: May 26th, 2026 at 11:11 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

S1 Ep5: Lost Treasures: Reconstructing Al-Idrisi with Adam Lowe

In this episode, Jerry is joined by Adam Lowe, founder of Factum Arte and the Factum Foundation. Factum is a pioneering digital media studio, working to record, preserve, and restore cultural heritage - particularly where it is in a fragile state. Adam’s map is Factum’s re-creation of the world map produced by Muhammad Al-Idrisi for King Roger II of Sicily in the 12th century. The map is two metres wide, and made from pure silver. While this astonishing object was lost to history, Al-Idrisi also...

Nov 20, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 5

S1 Ep4: Tolkien's Pipe: Maps and Fantasy with Roz Kaveney

Content warning: this episode contains references to sexual assault In this episode, our host Jerry Brotton is joined by writer and pioneering LBGTQ+ rights activist Roz Kaveney. Roz is best known for her cultural critiques, poetry, fantasy writing, and editing. From Tolkien's draft map of Rohan from The Lord of the Rings, Jerry and Roz launch into a discussion about the importance of fantasy, adventure, and never giving up – no matter the odds and no matter the times that we live in. To read mo...

Nov 06, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 4

S1 Ep3: The Heart of Maps: Plotting Power with Peter Barber

In this episode we are joined by Peter Barber, the former head of the British Library's map rooms, which hold more than 4.5 million maps! Peter is one of the world's foremost experts on European cartography. He has curated numerous exhibitions, and has written extensively on the history of maps. Exploring a heart-shaped world map created in 1544 by Gemma Frisius, Jerry and Peter unveil the hidden messages from the map maker, who lived at a time of huge upheaval and war. They also revisit Peter's...

Oct 22, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 3

S1 Ep2: A Journey to the Top of the World with Dwayne Fields

In this second episode of What’s Your Map? host and map historian Jerry Brotton is joined by Dwayne Fields, the first Black Briton to reach the magnetic North Pole. Through a map printed in the Times of London in 1909, they recount another journey by African American explorer Matthew Henson, who reputedly was the first person to reach the North Pole back in 1909. To see a high-definition image of the map as it’s discussed, go to: https://oculi-mundi.com/podcast Dwayne Fields has many impressive ...

Oct 09, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 2

S1 Ep1: Do No Harm: Mapping the Jain Cosmos with William Dalrymple

Welcome to the first episode of What’s Your Map? where host Jerry Brotton is joined by historian William Dalrymple, who unfurls a beautiful Jain cosmological map to explore the meaning and history of the ancient Indian religion. To see a high-definition image of the map as it’s discussed, please go to: https://oculi-mundi.com/podcast William untangles Jain beliefs through their cosmological map of the universe. He recounts his visit to a Jain temple where he bore witness to heartbreak and ritual...

Sep 24, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 1

S1: What's Your Map? Coming September 25th

We all want to make sense of this vast and messy world. From etchings on cave walls to sea charts, globes and atlases, humans have been making maps for thousands of years. Join historian Jerry Brotton as he explores the fascinating world of maps. In each episode, we ask our guests to unfold a map that is special to them and tell us the story behind it. Celebrated historian William Dalrymple will join Jerry for our first episode on September 25th to discuss a beautiful map from the ancient Indian...

Sep 03, 2024•47 sec

← Prev

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android