Monocle 24: The Curator

We meet Italian fashion designer Margherita Missoni, learn about the art of foley (making sound effects for film) and take a wild ride through one of the world’s largest urban parks as a Munich rite of passage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A faux pas at the Asian Games 2026, President Trump’s new plan for his triumphal arch and a Republican senator’s anti-furry posting spree. Andrew Mueller unpacks this week’s news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Ruthie Rogers discusses her new book, Table 4 at The River Café; Then: the British Fashion Council’s CEO, Laura Weir, previews London Fashion Week. And: we meet designer Tina Charad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller finds out what we learned from Trump’s trip to Ireland, including his thoughts on reunification and the Falklands. Plus: why a town in Oxfordshire voted to leave the UK.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Vince Cable on the changing global economic landscape. Then: we head to Paris as Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche opens its doors to more than 100 Japanese brands and recall when and how Easter Island became Chilean.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s speech honouring September 11 first responders, the US president’s financial incentive to voters and the strengthening relationship between the far right in France and the UK.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head to Lisbon for Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference. Then: director of Frieze Seoul Patrick Lee discusses this year’s event and we look back at the life and legacy of Gloria Steinem, who died this week aged 92.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A robot cleaner catches a cheating wife in Taiwan and President Trump threatens to rename even more bodies of water as his spat with Canada continues. Andrew Mueller on what we learned from this and more of the week’s news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We pay tribute to Dolly Parton and Yayoi Kusama, then discuss the best stationery for the return to school. Plus: a lesson on business failures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What we learned this week as Canada and the US enter a trade war, President Trump hosts a back-to-school event at the White House and Dan Sullivan stands in Alaska.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We preview the upcoming Brazilian presidential elections, hop aboard the Freedom Plane as it tours the US and meet Silva – the artist behind Monocle’s album of the summer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What we learned this week from President Trump’s latest tour of the White House to his order for the Navy on the future of aircraft-carrier design. Plus: Mozart’s birthday celebrations gone wrong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We tour Bombardier's Global 8000, the world’s fastest civil aircraft. Then: we head to Basel for the Swimmable Cities Summit and hear how soldiers are using pack animals to carry supplies through tough terrain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate change threatens Italy’s cheese banks, the enduring magic of Harry Potter fans and President Trump abandons his press corps for a catering truck. Andrew Mueller unpacks the week’s news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Muller unpacks the news this week, including a mislabeled map of Africa, Trump’s latest AI Truth Social post and one Brazilian state legislature’s unexpected furry visitors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Palestinian-Italian pop singer Tära discusses her new EP, “Zefiro”. Then: we look at how a trio of Australian cities fit different stages of life and examine the rise of the “supermarket tourists”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does India’s Cockroach party have legs? Then: we speak to the head of The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation about expanding into Abu Dhabi and preview Monocle’s summer newspaper, ‘Med, Mountains & More’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller unpacks what we learned this week as world leaders attended Lindsey Graham’s funeral, a British MP accused the French of “attempted intimidation” and an awkward AI moment in Canadian parliament.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sit down with English designer Thomas Heatherwick to discuss the redevelopment of Olympia. Then: We head to Japan to meet producer Todd Eckert; and take a look at the Spanish charts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we learned that (almost) everyone is Spanish, the US continues to strike Iran and another White House administrator used prediction markets illegally. Andrew Mueller unpacks the week’s news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hit the final for the Global Countdown’s World Cup, learn about Japan's new intelligence agency, then head to the bar to meet an award winning Ukrainian bartender and sample some chilled red wine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Count Binface challenges Nigel Farage in a UK by-election, Trump reacts to his $1 coin and football is, unfortunately, not coming home after all. Andrew Mueller on what we learned this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet Mexican architect and academic Fernanda Canales. Then: the museum known as the little Louvre and we hear from the Japanese pianist Yumiko Morioka.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US president Donald Trump lobbies Fifa over a red card and says that the ceasefire with Iran is “over”. Plus: Neil the Seal wrecks havoc in Tasmania.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor Robert de Niro tells us why his luxury hotel chain Nobu is opening in Egypt. Then: Mexican chef Santiago Lastra discusses the rise of Mexican cuisine in London and we meet the founders of One Track Club.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Hollywood to the League of Nations, this special Fourth of July edition of ‘The Curator’ looks at how the US became a hegemon and those first halting steps towards superpower status. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller unpacks this week’s America 250 shenanigans, including Vanilla Ice, the reflecting pool and Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair. Plus: how a Swiss yodel festival tackled Europe’s heatwave.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leo Varadkar, former taoiseach of Ireland, reveals how the leaders of Europe felt when the Brexit referendum results were announced 10 years ago. And: we pay tribute to former Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, UK prime minister Keir Starmer resigned; the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool became increasingly opaque; and we found out who was crowned the loudest person on Earth. Andrew Mueller discusses what we learned. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer on how to make electric vehicles more affordable. Then: journalist and author Lyse Doucet discusses her debut book, ‘The Finest Hotel in Kabul’, and we meet Thai musician Notep. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller reflects on president Trump’s birthday bash and how it compares to the celebrations of previous White House tenants. Plus: Trump gives a lesson in the art of the backhanded compliment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We learn how a perfumery is turning memories and smells of Icelandic nature into scents, we toast the launch of a new champagne vintage from Maison Perrier-Jouët and Tim Wu discusses his new book.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week US president Donald Trump attended a Knicks game, pledged peace in the Middle East for the 37th time and the people of New Zealand went bananas at the supermarket.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US special presidential envoy for tourism, exceptionalism and values Nick Adams discusses how to sell America in 2026. Plus: Sue Tilley, one of Lucien Freud’s main muses, recalls her time with the artist in the 1990s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller discusses what we learned from this week’s news, including the empty line-up for Freedom 250 and Poland’s new bus route from Krakow to Hel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highlights including: Estonian prime minister Kristen Michal on the threat from Russia; musical legend Jack White discusses his new exhibition; and writer Judy Blume raises concerns over book bans in the US.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An albino buffalo named Donald Trump, the UFC fight-night venue at the White House and a shock win at Gloucestershire’s cheese-rolling competition. Andrew Mueller discusses the week that was. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, tells us of print’s renewed importance in the age of AI. Then, Dutch couture designer Iris van Herpen discusses a new retrospective on her career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller unpacks what we gleaned from US president Donald Trump’s “weaponisation” fund. Plus: avocado farmers break the guacamole record and the legacy of Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Mulry previews the Santa Fe International Literary Festival. Then we head to Vietnam to explore the country’s booming tourism industry and discuss how the revival of gerrymandering is hurting democracy in the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Coast Guard intercepts a drug boat, UFO files released and Trump Mobile’s updated pre-order terms signal more delays. Andrew Mueller tells us what we learned from the news this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highlights including: The editor in chief of the new Esquire France, Bruno Danto; the legacy of CNN’s founder, Ted Turner; and we take a tour inside 40 Duke, Selfridge’s latest and most ambitious project.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.