This week’s episode of BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time explores Jataka Tales: Stories of the Buddha’s Many Births, an ancient collection of stories recounting the Buddha’s previous lives in both human and animal forms.
Broadcast on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 9.00am, the programme is hosted by Misha Glenny and brings together leading experts to discuss the significance, history and enduring influence of these important Buddhist narratives.
The guests are:
- Professor Mahinda Deegalle, Bye-Fellow at St Edmund’s College
- Professor Naomi Appleton, University of Edinburgh
- Dr Alexandra Green, British Museum
The Jataka stories have played a central role in Buddhist traditions across Asia for centuries, offering moral lessons and insights through accounts of the Buddha’s many past lives.
Listen to the programme on the BBC’s In Our Time website.
