The Spectator Podcast

This week Sam's guest on the Book Club podcast is the journalist Ed West, whose new book Small Men On The Wrong Side of History (published next month by Constable) asks whether the long and honourable history of conservative thought is doomed. Have liberals won the day? Why are their guys cooler than our guys? And how conservative is the current government anyway?The Book Club, what used to be known as Spectator Books, 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.

Julia Hartley-Brewer is a journalist and TalkRadio host. On the podcast, she talks to Benedict and Andy about Philip Schofield, British things, and why the Democrats just can't get rid of Trump.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.

With Stephen Bush, Political Editor at the New Statesman, and Katy Balls.Presented by Cindy Yu.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

This week, as Sinn Fein enters coalition talks with Fianna Fail, is Ireland’s election result a sign of a European trend (00:40)? Plus, No 10 is going to war over the deportation of a number of Jamaican detainees – so is citizenship a privilege, or a right (15:40)? And last, what makes South Korea’s pop culture quite so successful (29:15)?With Fraser Nelson, Anne McElvoy, Bella Sankey, Mercy Muroki, Rana Mitter and Andrew Heskins.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Gus Carter.

Sam's guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is Olivia Fane — who argues in her new book Why Sex Doesn’t Matter that, well, sex doesn’t matter. She says that the idea that sex and love are related is a damaging twentieth-century invention, and that if we could just recognise that sex was no more significant than scratching an itch we’d all be wiser and happier. They talk about how she reaches that conclusion — and what, if she’s right, we ought to do about it.The Book Club, what used to be known as Spectator Books, 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.

With Amber Athey, Spectator USA's Washington Editor, and Matt McDonald, Spectator USA's Managing Editor.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.

Skye Gyngell is an Australian chef best known for her work as food editor for Vogue and for winning a Michelin star at the Petersham Nurseries Cafe. She is now the founder of Spring at Somerset House and the culinary director of Heckfield Place. On the podcast, she talks to Lara and Livvy about being subjected to a 'macro-biotic' diet as a child, how winning a Michelin star wasn't such a blessing for Petersham Nurseries, and how a 20th century Austrian philosopher influences her work now.Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to celebrity guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it. Listen to past episodes here.

In February 1945, the Allies, led by Sir Arthur Harris and Bomber Command, destroyed the historic city of Dresden, killing 25,000, most of them civilians. For the 75th anniversary, Sinclair McKay, author of the newly released Dresden: The Fire and The Darkness, talks to A.N. Wilson on whether it should be regarded as a war crime. The full conversation is here - and you can read an edited version in the magazine this week.Presented by William Moore.

Ayesha Hazarika is a journalist and comedian, and a former Labour advisor to Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband. On the podcast, she talks about growing up in Glasgow, vetting Ed Miliband for Prime Minister's Questions, and the stand-up jokes that bombed the most.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.

In the aftermath of the Streatham attack, we take a look at how our prisons became finishing schools for extremists (00:40). Plus, what on earth happened in the Iowa caucus (11:25)? And last, is there anything true in the stories about Calamity Jane (22:50)?With James Forsyth, Haras Rafiq, Freddy Gray, Karin Robinson, and Karen R Jones.Presented by Lara Prendergast and Cindy Yu.Produced by Cindy Yu and Gus Carter.

This week's Book Club stars the food historian and broadcaster Annie Gray, whose new book Victory In The Kitchen excavates the life and world of Georgina Landemare - Winston Churchill's cook. From the shifting roles of household servants, and the insane food of the Edwardian rich - everything jellied and moulded and forced through sieves - to the inventive ways that haute cuisine responded to rationing, Georgina's is a story that gives a fascinating new insight into 20th century culture and society. Annie makes the case that without Georgina's cooking, Churchill might never have achieved the political success he did. Hear what Andrew Roberts got wrong, how Churchill simultaneously saved his cook's life and ruined pudding, and what's wrong with Woolton Pie. Allergy warning: contains jellied consomme, plover's eggs, roast beef and stilton.The Book Club, what used to be known as Spectator Books, is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry thro

The UK’s aviation industry has today pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But how can it achieve this goal, while also matching Britain’s post-Brexit ambitions on connectivity and trade? One major reform could be the modernisation of British airspace, to make flight routes more fuel-efficient. On this podcast, Kate Andrews talks to a panel of experts on what modernisation means, the pitfalls along the way, and its impact on climate change and trade.With Mark Swan, Head of the Airspace Change Organising Group, Conor Burns, Minister of State for International Trade; and David Learmount, veteran aviation journalist.Sponsored by Our Future Skies.

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson.Presented by Katy Balls.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

With Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson.Presented by John Connolly.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

With Michael Tracey, journalist and contributor to Spectator USA.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.

It’s finally Brexit day. So has the country’s healing process begun (00:55)? Plus, what does the coronavirus tell us about modern China (11:35)? And last, is it time we start talking about death (20:50)?With Rod Liddle, Stefanie Bolzen, Cindy Yu, Alex Colville, Kate Chisholm and Sharon Young.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Gus Carter.

In this week’s podcast, Sam is joined by two writers to talk about the perennially fraught issue of race. There’s a wide consensus that discrimination on the basis of race is wrong; but what actually *is* race? Does it map onto a meaningful genetic or scientific taxonomy? Does it map onto a lived reality - is it possible to generalise, say, about 'black' experience? And can we or should we opt out of or ignore it? Adam Rutherford and Thomas Chatterton Williams approach these issues from very different angles: the former, in How To Argue With A Racist, brings genetic science to bear on the myths and realities of population differences; while the latter describes in Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race how after half a lifetime strongly attached to the idea of his own blackness, the arrival of his blonde haired and blue eyed daughter made him rethink his worldview.The Book Club, what used to be known as Spectator Books, is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in th

Russian-British comedian Konstantin Kisin joins journalist Benedict Spence and comedy club founder Andy Shaw on the latest episode of That’s Life - a sideways look at the events, people, words and ideas that shape the news agenda. Andy and Benedict talk to Konstantin about whether we’re witnessing the end of woke-ism and the many foxes that have hit the headlines recently - from Laurence Fox to the unfortunate fox in Jo Maugham’s garden.  Konstantin made headlines of his own in 2018 when he refused to sign a university ‘behavioural agreement’ form before a gig requiring his humour be ‘respectful and kind’. He has been named Jewish comic of the year and is a regular contributor to the BBC, ITV and Radio 5 Live.

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.Presented by Katy Balls.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

With Policy Exchange's David Goodhart, author of The Road to Somewhere, and Kate Andrews.Presented by Katy Balls.