Monocle 24: The Curator

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.

Andrew Mueller unpacks what we learned from this week’s news, including the latest on the Iran war and the French professor behind the “prestigious” fake Gold Medal of Philology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We report from Salone del Mobile, speak with the founder of ‘Sloft’ magazine and we preview the Venice Biennale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller on what we’ve learned from the Trump administration’s latest indictment of former FBI director James Comey. Plus: the world’s longest tiramisu and the European seagull screeching championship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look into what is really going on in the US-Iran situation. We see why Ethiopia’s superstar singer-songwriter is taking aim at the country’s government. And we find out how building bridges can bring communities together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller on the eight new Republican bills honouring Trump, the gannet standing in the Scottish elections and the insurance fraud scheme involving fake bear attacks on luxury cars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HE Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, explains the impact of the past six weeks. We examine the global reaction to Péter Magyar’s election win. Plus author Catherine Carr.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller finds out what we learned from the news in the past seven days, including failed Iran-US talks, Viktor Orbán losing Hungary’s election and Donald Trump’s Jesus meme.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet a brand championing wines from underrepresented regions. Then: author Maria Semple breaks down the philosophy of stoicism. And: we stop off in Sajos in Finland’s northern Lapland for a tall story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a ceasefire was announced this week between the US, Israel and Iran, Andrew Mueller explains what we learned. Plus: a teleporting US official and Estonia’s first-ever pig impersonation contest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highlights from the past week on Monocle Radio, including: Singer Jessie Ware, publisher Margaret Busby and we follow our nose to Australia’s first luxury fragrance house.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller assesses the fallout from the Conservative Political Action Conference. Plus: what we have learned from Operation Epic Fury this week as the Iran war enters its second month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highlights from the past week on Monocle Radio, including: Argentine duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, the founder and CEO of Knatchbull, Daisy Knatchbull, and the Germany-born British composer Max Richter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Kash Patel and Stephen Miller competed to praise Trump, Trump praised Elvis and the European Tree of the Year was announced. Andrew Mueller finds out what we learned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China resumes travel to North Korea. Then: why Cuba might be next on Donald Trump’s list. Plus: we meet the new mayor of Helsinki, Daniel Sazonov. And: the Passenger Terminal Expo, a trip to Mallorca and Japan’s ‘Brutus’ magazine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump urges allies to secure the Strait of Hormuz and reacts to counterterrorism official Joe Kent’s exit. Meanwhile, Indian farmers’ unusual tactic to protect their crops. Andrew Mueller gives his take on the news this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney on his now-famous Davos speech, Lewes FC’s Karen Dobres on the soft power of football and we head to Mipim to meet Carlos Moedas, the mayor of Lisbon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Iran war enters its second week, Andrew Mueller tells us what we’ve learned. Plus: Trump gifts his cabinet new shoes and the UK defence attaché to the UAE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, we speak with the UAE’s diplomatic advisor. Plus: literature in Ukraine, we visit Oslo’s New Government Quarter and speak with Oliver Laxe, director of Oscar-nominated film ‘Sirât’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week on from the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Andrew Mueller tells us what we learned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller unpacks what we learned from Trump’s State of the Union address, Mumbai’s first musical road and an unusual plan from Thai police to arrest a thief during Lunar New Year celebrations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet the CEO of Arup, Jerome Frost, unveil the new issue of Monocle and celebrate 10 years of Parisian fragrance house BDK Parfums. Plus: Finnair launches its new bespoke soundscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new survey asks what makes people proud of their country, we report from the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics and meet Brazilian cinematographer Adolpho Veloso. Plus: premium retail with the managing director of Harrods, Michael Ward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kid Rock works out with RFK Jr, a Trump ally blows campaign money on his own book and a reporter goes viral at the Winter Olympics. Andrew Mueller unpacks what we learned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We analyse Zohran Mamdani’s first month in office as mayor of New York. Plus: we meet former Italian figure skater Valentina Marchei, unpack “slow” advertising and explore the Sydney Fish Market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller recaps what we learned from this week’s news, including Trump’s threat to Canadian ice hockey, geopolitics at Milano Cortina 2026 and Maga’s reaction to ‘Benito Bowl’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monocle reports from the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Plus: overtourism shadows cherry blossom season in Japan, a look at Oscar-nominated film ‘The Secret Agent’ and Taiwan advises parents on teen K-pop obsession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller tells us what we learned this week, including more public figures implicated in the latest Epstein files release, the US media reacts to ‘Melania’ and ‘The Washington Post’ announces sweeping layoffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear about the efforts to broadcast into Iran using shortwave radio, meet Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao and take the temperature of Paris Fashion Week Men’s. Plus: ‘Vogue Italia’, maximalist textiles and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller tells us what we learned from the Republicans’ response after Alex Pretti’s death, the trailer for Melania Trump’s new documentary and the Doomsday Clock’s new time.TSKTSKSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Highlights from our team in Davos for the World Economic Forum, and insightful reportage from our colleagues on the ground in Nuuk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller reports from Nuuk as Trump’s Greenland threats develop. Plus: why did 2025’s actual Nobel Peace laureate, María Corina Machado, give the US president her award?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifteen years of quarterly magazine Delayed Gratification, US writer EA Hanks discusses her debut memoir, The 10, and we meet the curator of a new exhibition dedicated to celebrated photographer Richard Avedon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.