On the Couch

On this episode, Lucy Beresford speaks to Steve Baker MP about his mental health, the current dangers facing MPs in their constituencies and what the government can do to improve the nation's mental health.

Lucy speaks to Ali Miraj, financier and political commentator, about 2023, what went wrong for Rishi Sunak and why he needs to stand up to the right of the party. 

On this episode, Lucy speaks to Dawn Neesom, GB News presenter and former editor of the Daily Star, about the Covid inquiry and the stories we tell ourselves about what happened during the pandemic. 

Lucy speaks to Jill Rutter about the psychology of economics, the competing narratives around the Autumn Statement and whether Jeremy Hunt is listening to voters or Tory MPs.

Lucy speaks to Kim, Lord Darroch about how Sunak and Starmer are seen to be handling the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On this episode, Lucy speaks to broadcaster and journalist Rachel Johnson about sexual harassment in Westminster and how to change the culture. 

Lucy speaks to Londoners' Diary columnist Robbie Griffiths about the role gossip plays in politics, and especially at Party Conferences. 

This week, Lucy speaks to Baroness Altmann CBE, leading UK pensions expert and former pensions minister, about why it's so hard to get people to focus on pensions, and why nudge theory has been proven to help.

Lucy speaks to James Kirkup, partner of Apella Advisors (and conference addict of 20+ years) who interprets the mood music of party conferences, whether Conference Lurghie is psychosomatic, and the strange cognitive dissonance of the attendees. 

Lucy speaks to James, Lord Bethell of Romford, about stopping children accessing porn and how more hours in the UK are spent watching PornHub than the BBC.

Lucy speaks to Stuart Andrew MP, parliamentary under secretary at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and minister for loneliness, on whether the government is well-placed to address the mental health crisis. 

Lucy speaks to journalist and photographer Laura Dodsworth and behavioural scientist Patrick Fagan, authors of Free Your Mind – the new World of manipulation and how to avoid it about how our politicians are manipulating us and how we can resist.

Lucy speaks to Kulveer Ranger, former advisor to Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London, about what it takes (and takes out of you) to work inside politics.

Lucy speaks to Henry Hill, deputy Editor of ConservativeHome, about how to get better people into politics. 

Lucy talks to Author and journalist Robert Hutton about why Boris is playing The Victim card, and whether we all colluded to create the cartoon figure of Boris. 

Lucy speaks to comedian Neil Mullarkey, about how to make politicians communicate better with voters. 

Lucy Beresford speaks to writer Ed West about the future of Conservatism.

Lucy speaks to royal historian and author Dr Tessa Dunlop, about the coronation, whether it is happening at the wrong time, and whether it will boost UK influence abroad. 

Lucy speaks to TalkTV Political Editor Peter Cardwell about the psychology of the latest bullying allegations within Westminster.

Lucy speaks to Tim Marshall, British journalist and leading authority on world affairs, about the psychology of China, what might solve the Arab-Israeli conflict, and how space will be the new political battleground.  

Lucy speaks to body language expert Judi James, about Boris's body language at the Privileges Committee, and what she would have advised him (and Harriet Harman) to do differently. 

Lucy chats to Reaction Editor Maggie Pagano about the psychological impact of Jeremy Hunt's Budget -and why it wasn't the story we shuld have been paying attention to. 

Lucy talks to businessman and cross bench peer Lord Digby Jones, about what should be in The Budget, windfall taxes, and whether the electorate have become infantilised.

Lucy talks to the Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski about life in Ukraine today, the psychological impact of the war, and what Ukraine needs most of all - and its not weapons.

Lucy Beresford speaks to Sam Olsen, Co-Founder and CEO of The Evenstar Institute about China balloon drama, and the psychology of President Xi and the Communist Party. 

Lucy Beresford speaks to Business Editor Martin Vander Weyer about why the recent high of the FTSE100 matters, how the voter might react to the recent Rishi-uffle, and why the UK needs more high street banks. 

Lucy Beresford chats to Lord Vaizey about culture, whether the Parthenon Sculptures should be returned to Greece, and whether there is too much willy-waving between global cultural institutions.

Lucy talks to writer and broadcaster Mihir Bose about the overlap of sports and politics, the power of sport to create a non-racial world, and whether Nadhim Zahawi would kick a ball better than Ronaldo.

Lucy Beresford speaks to Lord Darroch, former British Ambassador to the US, about the UK's relationships with the world for 2023, Davos, the importance of diplomatic back-channels, and to which country he would send Rishi Sunak tomorrow to make the biggest impact. 

Lucy Beresford speaks to Nigel Nelson, Political Editor of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People about 'bank manager' leaders, when the next election might be, and what 'New Year, New You' mantras Sunak and Starmer ought to adopt for 2023. 

Lucy speaks to CityAm Editor Andy Silvester about whether World Cups can affect general elections and stock markets.

Lucy Beresford speaks to journalist Marie Le Conte about how art and culture - even I'm A Celebrity - help us deal with uncomfortable, or traumatic experiences. 

Lucy speaks to Professor and author Matt Goodwin, about the origins of the current migrant crisis, the psych of the British voter on this issue, and provides a scoop on the latest polling which will not make happy listening for Conservative voters. 

In this week's episode I talk to Sarah Elliott, Spokeswoman for Republicans Overseas UK and Chair of The Hamilton Society about the US midterms, the pysche of the American voter, and what the elections might mean for the UK's relationship with the US. 

In a week of big reset vibes (new PM, new cabinet, new moon, partial solar eclipse, Diwali), Lucy Beresford talks to Conservative MP for Cities of London & Westminster Nickie Aiken, about the arrival of Rishi Sunak, why her Comprehensive school background makes her a Conservative, and her work in government highlighting issues around the Menopause and IVF.

Lucy Beresford talks to Political Analyst and journalist Michael Crick about the Tory party meltdown, why MPs are procrastinating, the historical precedent for a coup, and Michael's prediction for the timing of the next general election.

Welcome to On the Couch, the weekly political podcast from Reaction hosted by broadcaster and psychotherapist Lucy Beresford. In each episode, Lucy is joined by Reaction editor, Maggie Pagano, and former parliamentary candidate, Mark Fox - and sometimes a special guest or two - to take a deep dive into the world of politics.   With the economy in crisis, they discuss whether Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng were really to blame for the mayhem and whether that the departure of her chancellor would restore some credibility with the financial markets and voters. And why the new PM has learnt to her cost that you can never buck the markets.  Shock, horror they also suggest the Tories could still win the next election - if they are smart. Hang on to your hats.

This week, on the Couch, Lucy Beresford is joined by Reaction's publisher and founder Iain Martin. They discuss the current state of the British economy, the boom and bust cycle, how public panic often stems from being kept in the dark and why they're holding onto a sliver of hope that, in the long term, Kwasi Kwarteng's budget might just be a good thing...

This week, on the Couch, Lucy Beresford is joined by contemporary historian Sir Anthony Seldon. They talk about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, how Britain will respond to King Charles III and why, despite having had decades to imagine it, being King might be a little different to what he might have expected. 

On the Couch with Lucy Beresford this week is Reaction editor, Maggie Pagano. They talk about how Boris Johnson's short reign as Prime Minister already feels like a dream and whether Liz Truss is made of the right stuff to handle the many crises we face. And they conclude that so far she is off to a good start and that Sir Keir Starmer has a tougher job than he thought in challenging her.  

This week on the couch, Lucy Beresford is joined by John Rentoul, chief political commentator for The Independent. They discuss political downfalls — in particular, Boris Johnson's — and how the personality traits (such as ambition and risk-taking) that help politicians rise to the top are often the very same traits that lead to their demise.

This week On the Couch, Lucy Beresford is joined by broadcast journalist Adam Boulton. They discuss Tory sleaze, toxic work cultures in Westminister, why Boris Johnson's leadership has caused so many scandals and ask the all important question: does Westminster attract damaged people or damage them?

This week On the Couch, Lucy Beresford is joined by journalist, columnist and author Susie Boniface, otherwise known as Fleet Street Fox. They discuss the role (and possible influence) of the Prime Minister's spouse, why some partners are more popular than others, the Lady Macbeth complex, whether Boris Johnson only does what Carrie tells him to and whether it's time the nation had more compassion for Boris?

This week On the Couch, Lucy Beresford is joined by Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, politician and former civil servant who served as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee from 1993 to 1994. They discuss diplomacy, intelligence and the history of trying to psychoanalyse leaders such as Putin or Saddam Hussein to determine their intentions and next moves. Baroness Neville-Jones also discusses what it is like being a woman in the civil service, then and now, and how female intuition and observation are under-estimated skills when working in intelligence.

This week On the Couch, Lucy Beresford is joined by journalist and author Robert Hutton. They discuss political personality clashes, whether Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson could ever get on (and if it matters that they don't), and ask whether the jock/nerd principle will influence who becomes Prime Minister next?

Lucy Beresford is joined by Foreign Policy columnist and American Enterprise Institute (AEI) fellow Elisabeth Braw. They discuss the psychology of security, the current conflict in Ukraine, how NATO expansion plays on Putin's mindset and how much of the waging of war was influenced by the belief that Europe hadn't paid much attention to security in recent years.

Lucy Beresford is joined by Talk Radio's political editor Peter Cardwell ahead of Britain's local elections. They discuss the psychology behind making political choices, how the electorate behaves differently in local and general elections and what motivates politicians behind closed doors (spoiler: there's a lot of ego involved).