The Spectator Podcast

Toby Young is the Spectator's No Sacred Cows columnist and founder of the Free Speech Union. On the podcast, he talks to Andy and Benedict about getting coronavirus, the worst WHO gaffes, and the hardy 70-somethings down his street.That's Life is a sideways look at the events, people, words and ideas that shape the news agenda. Presented by Spectator Life’s satirist Andy Shaw and political commentator Benedict Spence. Find previous episodes here.

In this week's episode, the Coronomics panel discuss the confusions of Italy's lockdown easing; Hong Kong's large-scale repatriation of residents from South Asia; the potential watershed moment of American news outlets accepting federal funds; and whether China is looking down the barrel of a second wave.With Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli in Rome, former Italian Correspondent for Politico; Jennifer Creery in Hong Kong, Managing Editor of the Hong Kong Free Press; Nick Gillespie in New York, Editor at Large for Reason magazine; and guest appearance from Cindy Yu, Broadcast Editor at the Spectator.Presented by Kate Andrews.Read the articles discussed in the episode here:Italy: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccahughes/2020/04/29/italians-angered-by-chaotic-and-confusing-phase-2-lockdown-lift/Hong Kong: https://asiatimes.com/2020/04/hk-to-repatriate-5200-citizens-from-india-pakistan/USA: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/29/business/news-media-federal-aid-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=HomepageChina

Carbon offsetting refers to the suite of schemes that compensate for the emissions we put out, by making up for them elsewhere. Included in those schemes are so-called 'nature-based solutions' - initiatives designed to protect and transform land, like tree planting. But with offsetting in the news for all the wrong reasons - like Harry and Meghan's private jet-setting lifestyle - is it a medieval indulgence, allowing the rich to absolve their environmental sins; or is it the way to Net Zero, which the government has committed to achieve by 2050? Do nature-based solutions work, and how should their performance be measured?With Tony Juniper, Head of Natural England, Robert Courts, Conservative MP for Witney, and Harvonne Yap, Global Origination Lead for Environmental Products at Shell, which is sponsoring this podcast.Presented by Kate Andrews.

This week's episode features Rachel Johnson's diary, in which she talks about becoming an aunt again; Paul Wood on why mass testing isn't good enough - we need to test everyone; and Simon Barnes on the point of boxing.

Charles Moore recently published Herself Alone, the final volume of an authorised biography of Margaret Thatcher. When writing, he realised that the story is half-tragedy, half-Whodunnit. Many of those involved in her fall had a motive. This podcast is a narrative of the events leading up to Mrs Thatcher's fall, voiced by Charles Moore and Kate Ehrman, who assisted with all three volumes of the biography.

With the Prime Minister back, the government is pivoting towards a South Korean model on coronavirus. So what's taken them so long (00:45)? Plus, how does oil complicate the pandemic in Russia (14:50)? And last, why weddings will be over-subscribed in 2021 (26:55).With James Forsyth, Adrian Wooldridge, Owen Matthews, Isabelle Khurshudyan, Katy Balls and Katrina Otter.Presented by Cindy Yu.Produced by Cindy Yu and Gus Carter.

In this week's books podcast I'm joined from across the Atlantic by the eminent Shakespearean James Shapiro to talk about his new book Shakespeare in a Divided America, which discusses the myriad ways in which America has taken Britain's national playwright up as its own; and then used him as a lightning-rod for the deepest issues about its own national identity - issues of masculinity, race relations, immigration and assassination. Jim talks about why a country founded by theatre-hating, Brit-hating Puritans fell in love with a British playwright; how Lincoln was the greatest reader of Shakespeare in American history; about whether America is the purest repository of Shakespeare's language; about how a beef between two Shakespeare actors once led to light artillery being deployed in downtown Manhattan - and how Ulysses S Grant may have been the greatest Desdemona the theatre never quite had.The Book Club is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, fro

This six-part series is the latest addition to Spectator Radio. Each week, our panellists from around the world each select a story that gives you an inside look at what's happening outside their windows.In this episode, we take a look at Italy's route to freedom, Boris's return to work, intergenerational tensions in New York, and Hong Kong's non-Covid patients.With Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli in Rome, former Italian Correspondent for Politico; Jennifer Creery in Hong Kong, Managing Editor of the Hong Kong Free Press; and Nick Gillespie in New York, Editor at Large for Reason magazine.Presented by Kate Andrews.Read the articles discussed here:https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/italy-coronavirus-phase-ii-may-4/2020/04/23/3bb47b52-84ae-11ea-81a3-9690c9881111_story.htmlhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/the-bearer-of-good-coronavirus-news-11587746176https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1522723-20200425.htmhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/04/26/boris-johnson-could-ease-lockdown-may-7-deadline/

Ryan Riley is a chef and entrepreneur, whose organisation Life Kitchen gives free cookery classes to people with cancer. On the podcast, he talks about his own mother's struggle with cancer, how the best ideas always come on Tuesday nights (and with a drink), and why umami is the key to cooking for people with taste. Ryan's cookbook with favourite recipes from Life Kitchen is out now.Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to high profile guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it. Listen to past episodes here.

It's the 10,000th edition. This week's episode features historian Tom Holland on the Spectator's winning recipe; Douglas Murray on why he loves journalists; Mary Wakefield on coronavirus uncertainty; and Tanya Gold on what it's like to be the magazine's restaurant critic.

Ruby Wax is an actress, comedian, and mental health campaigner, for which she received an OBE. On the podcast, she tells Katy about her difficult upbringing which put Carrie Fisher's to shame, the moment she realised she couldn't act, and her campaigning work, especially during these stressful times.Women With Balls is a podcast series where Katy Balls speak to women at the top of their respective games. To hear past episodes, visit spectator.co.uk/balls.

This week, the Spectator celebrates it's 10,00th edition - we discuss the magazine's history of the last two centuries (26:15). Also on the podcast, we discuss Boris's difficult decision on lockdown (00:40) and the pandemic reaching Africa (12:15).With James Forsyth, Craig Oliver, Aidan Hartley, Ama Fenny, David Butterfield, and Fraser Nelson.Presented by Cindy Yu.Produced by Cindy Yu and Gus Carter.

‘Things that would have seemed utterly improbable now happen on a daily basis’, Sir Salman Rushdie said to Sam when they spoke in an interview for the Spectator's 10,000th edition. Sam met Salman in New York a few weeks ago, before coronavirus struck down the city. This episode is a recording of that interview, where they discuss everything from his latest book Quichotte, to his relationship with his father, who we learn made up the surname 'Rushdie', and how he feels about The Satanic Verses now. Sam's full interview is out in this Thursday's issue.The Book Club is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes here.

This six-part series is the latest addition to Spectator Radio. Each week, our panellists from around the world select a story that gives you an inside look at what's happening outside their windows.This episode, we take a look at Italy's cautious reopening, the political blame game stateside, and Hong Kong's second wave worries.With Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli in Rome, former Italian Correspondent for Politico; Jennifer Creery in Hong Kong, Managing Editor of the Hong Kong Free Press; and Nick Gillespie in New York, Editor at Large for Reason magazine.Presented by Kate Andrews.

With Eitan Hersh, political scientist and author of Politics Is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change.Americano is a series of in-depth discussions on American politics with the best pundits stateside. Presented by Freddy Gray, editor of Spectator USA. Click here to listen to previous episodes.

This week's Audio Reads are from Matthew Parris, who writes about using coronavirus to support your own ideological cause; Isabel Hardman, who reveals the extent of domestic abuse during the crisis; and Toby Young, who is bonding with his new puppy.

On the podcast this week: the geopolitics of coronavirus (00:55), Conservatism after the crisis (19:30), and the new class divide between the have-gardens and the have-not-gardens (35:25).With Niall Ferguson, Gerard Baker, James Forsyth, Jeremy Hunt, Melanie McDonagh and Freddy Gray.Presented by Cindy Yu and Katy Balls.

In this week's Book Club podcast, Sam talks to the reporter Toby Muse about the vast, blood-soaked and nihilistic shadow economy that links a banker's 'cheeky little line of coke' to the poorest peasants in Colombia. Toby's new book Kilo: Life and Death inside the Cocaine Cartels traces cocaine's journey from that unremarkable-looking shrub to its entry into a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise, interviews farmers, prostitutes, pious assassins and cartel capos - and along the way describes how it has transformed Colombia's whole politics and way of life.The Book Club is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes here.

This six-part series is the latest addition to Spectator Radio. Each week, our panellists from around the world select a story that gives you an inside look at what's happening outside their windows.With Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli in Rome, former Italian Correspondent for Politico; Jennifer Creery in Hong Kong, Managing Editor of the Hong Kong Free Press; and Nick Gillespie in New York, Editor at Large for Reason magazine.Presented by Kate Andrews.

The Spectator is meant for sharing. But in the age of coronavirus, that might not be possible. This new podcast will feature a few of our columnists reading out their articles from the issue each week, so that you don't miss out. It's a new format, so tell us what you think at podcast@spectator.co.uk.Toby Young on why Britain needs Boris; Douglas Murray on what he finds heartening about the national response to coronavirus; and Melissa Kite's Real Life column.