What's Your Map?

In the first episode of series six, Jerry speaks with Dr. Jost Schmid, the Head of Maps and Panoramas at the Zentralbibliothek Zürich (Zürich Central Library). Jost is a specialist in historical geography and this year marks his 20th year working at the Library! He has chosen a 500-year-old map that is both one of the earliest printed maps bound into a bible and the first map to be printed in Zürich, Switzerland. 
The map, which has been printed in mirror image, depicts the biblical stories of the Old Testament set in the Holy Land - a region in Western Asia covering modern-day Syria, Palestine and Israel, and parts of Jordan and Egypt. Crafted by Swiss humanist scholar, cartographer and prominent figure in the Protestant Reform Joachim Vadian (1484-1551), this remarkable map draws directly from a six-sheet original by Renaissance painter and printmaker Lucas Cranach the Elder (1473-1553). Printed by the renowned Swiss publisher Christopher Froschauer (1490-1564) for inclusion in his 1515 Bible, it stands as one of three known surviving copies! 
In their conversation, Jost and Jerry explore the convergence of real and fantastical cartography, maps of sacred spaces, and the emergence and evolution of borders in early mapmaking. They also discuss the imaginary realms depicted in legendary tales, and how maps served as useful tools on metaphysical pilgrimages or journeys.
Follow along with this episode at oculi-mundi.com/jost-schmid
From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. 
Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it.
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?
The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography.
For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest.
Image detail: ©Zentralbibliothek Zurich
All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

In this special episode, live from Hay Festival 2026, Jerry was joined by former diplomatic editor at Sky News and author Tim Marshall; award winning historian, broadcaster and author David Olusoga OBE; and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter and novelist Emma Jane Unsworth.
To explore the maps as you listen visit Oculi-Mundi.com/wym-live-hay-2026
From historians, scientists and writers to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. Join us in this award winning podcast (Gold in Education at the British Podcast Awards 2025) as Jerry Brotton invites a guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and stories behind it.
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?
What’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.
Producer: Emma Jones (Hay Festival)
Recording: George Tarplee (Hay Festival)
Technical: Nia Thomson, Lewis Jones (Hay Festival)
Music: Eric de Broche des Combes
Animation: João "Daxter" Pinheiro Camacho

All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection, Hay Festival or Whistledown Productions.

In this episode we have a roar-some treat: our intrepid host Jerry Brotton journeys to the legendary Barbaric Archipelago with best-selling children's author and illustrator Cressida Cowell.
Cressida’s chosen map shows the landscape she created for her acclaimed children’s series, How to Train Your Dragon (2009-2015), which charts the adventures of the young Viking, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his dragons Toothless and Windwalker. This map comes from her latest book How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike (June 2026).
We hear about Cressida's childhood summers spent on the wild and remote Scottish island of Little Colonsay, off the Isle of Mull. She reflects on the creative process - the joy of getting lost and the act of creation - and we hear about some of the influential literary maps that shape her creative vision… we also learn a spot of Dragonese!
To explore the map as you listen, visit: https://oculi-mundi.com/cressida-cowell
From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. 
Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it.
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?
The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography.
For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest.
Image detail: ©Cressida Cowell / Hachette UK
All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

In this episode, Jerry meets master navigator, sailing expert and award-winning author David Barrie. Together, they discuss a British Admiralty chart of the North Atlantic Ocean that tracks David’s incredible 1973 Transatlantic voyage aboard a 35-foot yacht named Sæcwen, from Halifax in Nova Scotia east across the Ocean to Falmouth in Cornwall, UK
We learn about David’s fascination with celestial navigation and the remarkable optical instrument called a sextant that he and his crew mates used during the 24-day adventure to find their positions at sea. A sextant is an extraordinary optical instrument that identifies the angle between the horizon and a celestial body - such as the Sun, the Moon or a star - to assist in the determining of latitude and longitude at sea. 
During the episode, we also hear about David's transition from the field of experimental psychology to his exploration of animal behaviour and wayfinding, and a glimpse into the world of supernavigators.
To explore the map as you listen, visit: https://oculi-mundi.com/david-barrie
From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. 
Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it.
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?
The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography.
For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest.

Image courtesy of David Barrie.
All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.

In this episode, Jerry meets master craftsperson, globemaker and conservator Jonathan Wright. Jonathan brings with him a twelve-inch celestial globe produced by Scottish firm James Kirkwood & Sons from 1810.
For Jonathan, this globe marks a significant career milestone: it was the first one he ever restored. In his discussion with Jerry, we hear about some of the intricate conservation methods he used, the challenges he encountered - and the rather peculiar items he discovered inside the globe…
Jerry also explores Jonathan's professional journey. We hear about his personal motivations, dream commissions, and the artistic and historical influences that shape his work and practice. Above all, Jonathan reflects on the profound personal meaning for him in keeping this essential traditional craft alive.
To explore the globe as you listen, visit: https://oculi-mundi.com/jonathan-wright
From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. 
Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart - and unfurl the ideas, inspirations, and personal stories behind it.
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?
The award-winning What’s Your Map? is brought to you by Oculi Mundi (‘eyes of the world’), the online home of The Sunderland Collection of antique cartography.
For a fully immersive experience, visit Oculi-Mundi.com/podcast to explore each of the maps as you listen, and find more information and rabbit-holes about each guest.
Image detail: ©Jonathan Wright
All views and opinions expressed by guests on the podcast are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Sunderland Collection or Whistledown Productions.