Spectator Radio

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Owen Matthews says that Venice's residents never stop complaining (1:11); Bijan Omrani reads his church notebook (7:33); Andrew Hankinson reviews Tiffany Jenkins's Strangers and Intimates: The Rise and Fall of Private Life (13:54); as 28 Years Later is released, Laurie Penny explains the politics behind Alex Garland's film franchise (18:25); and, Andrew Watts provides his notes on Angel Delight (25:09). Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

Starmer's war zone: the Prime Minister's perilous positionThis week, our new political editor Tim Shipman takes the helm and, in his cover piece, examines how Keir Starmer can no longer find political refuge in foreign affairs. After a period of globe-trotting in which the Prime Minister was dubbed ‘never-here Keir', Starmer's handling of international matters had largely been seen as a strength. But as tensions escalate in the Iran–Israel conflict, global events are beginning to create serious challenges. They threaten not only to derail the government's economic plans but also to deepen divisions within the Labour party, particularly between the leadership and much of the parliamentary party. Tim joined the podcast alongside The Spectator US editor Freddy Gray. (02:08)Next: is it a mistake to try and topple Iran's Supreme Leader?Justin Marozzi asks if we are seeing ‘an ominous mission creep in Israel's blistering attack on Iran'. Donald Trump has been calling for the ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' of Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been directly addressing the Iranian people. The regime may be unpopular, but how realistic is the expectation of regime change? Marozzi joined the podcast alongside Michael Stephens, a Middle East expert at the defence and security thinktank Rusi. (19:07)And finally: should we embrace feeling shame?Stuart Jeffries reviews a new book by the French philosopher Frédéric Gros in the books section of the magazine this week. A Philosophy of Shame: A Revolutionary Emotion argues that shame should be embraced, rather than avoided. So, in an era of ‘cancel culture' and public shaming – not to mention some of the shamelessness exhibited by social media influencers – can ‘shame' be a good thing? Stuart joined the podcast to discuss. (34:31)Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

My guest on this week's Book Club podcast is the historian William Dalrymple, whose bestselling account of ancient India's cultural and economic influence, The Golden Road, is newly out in paperback. He tells me why the ‘Silk Road' is a myth, how Arabic numerals are really Indian – and how he responds to being Narendra Modi's new favourite author.

Nadine Dorries is one of the most recognisable Conservative politicians from the past two decades. Elected as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire in 2005, she notably clashed with David Cameron and George Osborne (who she called ‘two arrogant posh boys') and lost the whip in 2012 when she took part in the reality show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. Loyal to Boris Johnson, she served in his government and rose to be Culture Secretary. She stood down in 2023 and went on to write about politics in the bestselling books The Plot and Downfall.On the podcast, Nadine tells the Spectator's executive editor Lara Prendergast about her memories of tinned burgers and Sunday lunches as a child, working long shifts as a nurse in Warrington and what it was like spending a year in Zambia. She also explains the ‘relentless' but ‘collegiate' atmosphere of Parliament and how she once saw a mouse at the Commons' salad bar. Nadine explains what it is like to have recently used the weight-loss jab Mounjaro and why, in her family, she is still the ‘queen of the Sunday roast'.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relations between Iran and Israel are deteriorating rapidly, with comparisons being drawn to Israel's 1981 strike on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be advocating for regime change in Tehran, reportedly encouraging the United States to take military action. Donald Trump, who previously came close to authorising a strike, is now said to be more cautious – mindful of the risks of exposing American forces abroad and being drawn into another protracted conflict, contrary to the non-interventionist platform on which he was elected. The Iranian regime, built on a foundation of resistance, is responding to Israel's attacks while also expanding its network of regional proxies, which now extends as far as South America and east Africa. Iran is believed to be only weeks away from producing weapons-grade uranium, meaning that failure to institute regime change may lead Tehran to accelerate its nuclear ambitions – particularly if tensions are eased while the current regime remains in power.Russia, meanwhile, has positioned itself as a strategic disruptor. By maintaining dialogue with both Tehran and Jerusalem, Moscow retains influence over developments without aligning itself fully with either side. Although it has refrained from supplying Iran with its most advanced military technology, its ambiguous stance offers it significant leverage. While global energy prices have thus far remained stable, the possibility of disruption cannot be discounted. Cautious but alert, the Gulf states are keen to avoid direct involvement. The broader question now facing the international community is whether diplomacy can contain the crisis – or whether the region is edging closer to a far more serious and destabilising confrontation.To discuss the conflict, Freddy Gray speaks to Owen Matthews and Charlie Gammell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honour of the author Frederick Forsyth, who died early this week, please enjoy this episode of the Book Club podcast, from the archives, in which he joined Sam Leith in 2021 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his classic thriller The Day of the Jackal.On the podcast Frederick tells Sam about banging it out in a few weeks on a typewriter with a bullet hole in it, the shady characters who informer his research, and how he never realised that – for much of its readers – the Jackal would be the hero… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons is joined by the outgoing boss of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Paul Johnson and the CEO of the Resolution Foundation Ruth Curtice to understand why Britain's economy is in such a bad place. Given it feels like we are often in a doom loop of discussion about tax rises, does this point to a structural problem with the British economy? And why are the public's expectations so out of line with the state's capabilities?Michael, Paul and Ruth talk about whether it's fair for Labour to claim they've been ending austerity, the extent to which the effects of the covid-19 pandemic are still being felt and if tax rises are inevitable. Plus – if Ruth and Paul had the opportunity to be an economic Treasury dictator, what one policy would they enact to make a big change?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Sean Thomas reflects on the era of lads mags (1:07); John Power reveals those unfairly gaming the social housing system (6:15); Susie Moss reviews Ripeness by Sarah Moss (11:31); Olivia Potts explains the importance of sausage rolls (14:21); and, Rory Sutherland speaks in defence of the Trump playbook (18:09). Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OnlyFans is giving the Treasury what it wants – but should we be concerned?‘OnlyFans,' writes Louise Perry, ‘is the most profitable content subscription service in the world.' Yet ‘the vast majority of its content creators make very little from it'. So why are around 4 per cent of young British women selling their wares on the site? ‘Imitating Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips – currently locked in a competition to have sex with the most men in a day – isn't pleasant.' OnlyFans gives women ‘the sexual attention and money of hundreds and even thousands of men'. The result is ‘a cascade of depravity' that Perry wouldn't wish on her worst enemy.In business terms, however, OnlyFans is a ‘staggering success', according to economics editor Michael Simmons. ‘Britain's sex industry brings in far more to the economy than politicians are comfortable admitting'; OnlyFans might just be Britain's most profitable tech start-up. ‘If we are going to wage a moral war on porn,' Simmons argues, ‘we should at least be honest about what we're sacrificing.' Louise and Michael joined the podcast to discuss further (1:21).Next: could Xi Jinping's time be up?Historian Francis Pike writes about the unusual absence of China's President Xi. China-watchers have detected some subtle differences from the norm in Chinese media, from fewer official references to Xi to changes in routine politburo meetings. So, could Xi Jinping be forced to step down? And if so, who is on manoeuvres and why?Francis joined the podcast alongside former diplomat Kerry Brown, professor of China Studies at King's College London (22:31).And finally: is the era of the lonely hearts ad coming to an end?Tony Whitehead provides his notes on lonely hearts columns this week, writing about how, 330 years after they first appeared in print in Britain, they may soon disappear. Francesca Beauman – who literally wrote the book on the subject, Shapely Ankle Preferr'd – and Mark Mason join the podcast to provide their favourite examples, from the serious to the humorous (35:13).Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Book Club podcast I am joined by Lucy Mangan, author of Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives. She tells me what teenagers did before they had Young Adult books to read, the bizarre demise of the author of Goodnight Moon, and the wisdom of forsaking the busy world for an armchair and a good book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Taub, former Israeli Ambassador to the UK, joins Damian Thompson to talk about his new book Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish art of constructive disagreement. In a fast-moving interview, Daniel explains how the art of arguing has shaped Jewish humour and scholarship, and Damian asks him about keeping kosher, life after death – and the influence of the Talmud on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the new edition of Spectator World, author and anthropologist Max Horder argues that the US is experiencing a change in its psyche, and left-wing violence is being normalised. He joins Freddy Gray on the Americano podcast to discuss the various examples attached to this, and what the dereliction of democratic disagreement means for us all.This episode is also available to watch on Spectator TV: https://youtu.be/MPQ-BDTjRDo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Belgian composer César Franck – unfairly associated with kitsch and sentimentality by certain cultural sophisticates – wrote some of the most spiritually inspiring music of the late 19th century. In this episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson talks to the British-Israeli pianist Ariel Lanyi, who has just recorded Franck's late masterpiece Prélude, Aria et Final on the Linn label. Ariel discusses the influence of Catholicism and the anti-Catholic Richard Wagner on the devout Franck, who was organist of a church in Paris for 30 years – but reserved his most profound thoughts for ostensibly secular works. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Damian Thompson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Spectator's editor Michael Gove and assistant editor Madeline Grant interview Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth and notorious Westminster provocateur. Earlier this year, Lowe was suspended from the Reform party amid claims of threats towards the party's then-chairman Zia Yusuf, and a souring relationship with Nigel Farage. Following his political ‘assassination', he now sits as an independent MP and continues to be one of the most energetic parliamentarians in challenging the Westminster orthodoxy.During the discussion – recorded before Zia Yusuf resigned as party chairman on Thursday – Lowe diagnoses the issues that have blighted Reform and its bid to ‘professionalise'; challenges Michael on the then-Tory government's mismanagement of an 80-seat majority and its record on Covid; addresses his interview with Emily Maitlis and her questioning on the grooming gangs scandal; but admits, in spite of it all, that he would still prefer Nigel Farage to be Prime Minister over Keir Starmer.Watch the interview in full on Spectator TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Billionaire Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump have had a very public falling out. Musk, whose time running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) came to an end last month, publicly criticised Trump's spending bill (the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act'). The row then erupted onto social media with Trump expressing his disappointment with Musk, Musk accusing Trump of ‘ingratitude' – and even making insinuations about Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Tesla's stock has taken a hit, Trump and Musk are yet to speak and there could be implications for the government contracts that Musk's companies have, but the full consequences are yet to be understood.What do this tell us about Trump 2.0, and American politics more generally? Freddy Gray and Kate Andrews discuss.Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Max Jeffery tracks down the Cambridge bike bandit (1:10); Tanya Gold says that selling bathwater is an easy way to exploit a sad male fetish (5:38); Madeline Grant examines the decline of period dramas (10:16); a visit to Lyon has Matthew Parris pondering what history doesn't tell us (15:49); and, Calvin Po visits the new V&A East Storehouse (23:08). Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Reform plans to winJust a year ago, Nigel Farage ended his self-imposed exile from politics and returned to lead Reform. Since then, Reform have won more MPs than the Green Party, two new mayoralties, a parliamentary by-election, and numerous councils. Now the party leads in every poll and, as our deputy political editor James Heale reveals in our cover article, is already planning for government.The party's chair, tech entrepreneur Zia Yusuf, describes the movement as a ‘start-up'; and like a start-up, Reform is scaling up at speed. Among the 676 councillors elected last month, a number are considered more than ready to stand as MPs. James also interviewed Reform's deputy leader, the MP Richard Tice, who said that the Reform movement cannot be thought of within the traditional left-right political spectrum.James joined the podcast to discuss further; you can also hear an extract from his interview with Richard. (1:01)Next: are young people turning to religion?A recent survey by the UK's Bible Society has found that over the past six years, Church attendance has risen by 50 per cent. There are signs that this is being driven by younger people – why are Gen Z turning to religion? A new book by Lamorna Ash, Don't Forget We're Here Forever: A New Generation's Search For Religion, seeks to answer this question and is reviewed in the magazine this week by Rupert Shortt.To unpack this potential Church revival, Rupert – the author of The Eclipse of Christianity and Why It Matters – joined the podcast, alongside Georgia Clarke, director of youth ministry at St Elizabeth of Portugal Roman Catholic Church in London. (21:25)And finally: is experimental fiction truly novel?Philip Hensher writes in the magazine this week about the modern trend of ‘experimental literature'. For Philip, not only do these novels have incredibly rigid rules, but they are far from ‘experimental' as he feels many of their components aren't truly new.To discuss further, Philip – who has been writing his own history of the novel – joined the podcast, alongside Simon Okotie. Simon, author of The Future of the Novel, is also a judge for the Goldsmiths Prize, which awards a novel which ‘breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form'. (33:11)Plus: extracts from Tanya Gold's article on selling bathwater (17:54) and Madeline Grant's on the decline of period dramas (19:35).Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this week's Book Club podcast is the historian Alice Loxton, whose new book is Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives. In it, she tells the story of young individuals as disparate as the Venerable Bede and Vivienne Westwood. On the podcast, she explains how she selected which characters to include and why – in a post-Rest is History world, where history is more exciting and accessible than ever – there is still a place for the fusty old historians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun Tanaka is a Japanese-British chef with over 30 years' experience in some of London's most famous restaurants, including La Gavroche, Restaurant Marco Pierre White and The Square. In 2016 he opened the Ninth, which was awarded a Michelin star two years later.On the podcast, Jun tells Lara why the smell of baking brings back early food memories, how Japanese packed lunch is superior to English packed lunch, and why, in his view, you still can't get a good ramen in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the decline of meritocracy to the rise of anti-Western ideology, author Heather Mac Donald joins Freddy Gray to discuss race, merit, and victim hierarchy. Why is the West so desperate to self-cancel? And is now a moment of reckoning considering we're five years on from the BLM protests? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bijan Omrani joins Damian Thompson to talk about his new book God is an Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England. They discuss the spiritual and cultural debt the country owes to Christianity. The central question of Bijan's book is ‘does it matter that Christianity is dying in England?'. The faith has historically played a disproportionate role in many areas of English life that we take for granted now – for example, by shaping both charity and the welfare state. Yet this is influence is often ignored as congregations shrink and the UK slides into secularism. But are there unexpected grounds for hope? The publication of God is an Englishman has coincided with a modest but surprising revival of traditional worship among Millennials and members of Generation Z. Is there, as the book puts it, a ‘weariness of the young' with what secular society is offering them?' And could we see the eventual flourishing of a smaller but purer English Christianity?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has called for possession of small amounts of cannabis to be decriminalised following a report by the London Drugs Commission. The report has made 42 recommendations, which include removing natural cannabis from the Misuse of Drugs Act.Former cabinet minister, now Labour peer, Charlie Falconer and Tory MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst join Lucy Dunn to discuss whether now is the time to decriminalise cannabis. For Lord Falconer, who chaired the Commission, the present law doesn't work and he explains the principles behind the review; Neil, however, believes that the proposals send the wrong message that cannabis is harmless. He argues that a balance needs to be found between robust enforcement and compassion for families and friends also affected by the behaviour of drug users. They both agree on the diagnosis, but how do you combat the issue?Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Arabella Byrne on the social minefield of private swimming pools (1:13); Sean Thomas says that not knowing where you are is one of the joys of travel (5:34); reviewing Helen Carr's Sceptred Isle: A New History of the 14th Century, Mathew Lyons looks at the reality of a vivid century (11:34); reviewing Tim Gregory's Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World, Bryan Appleyard analyses the three parties debating global warming (16:07); and, Chas Newkey-Burden looks back to the 1980s nuclear drama that paralysed his childhood, Threads (20:42). Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

End of the rainbow: Pride's fallWhat ‘started half a century ago as an afternoon's little march for lesbians and gay men', argues Gareth Roberts, became ‘a jamboree not only of boring homosexuality' but ‘anything else that its purveyors consider unconventional'. Yet now Reform-led councils are taking down Pride flags, Pride events are being cancelled due to lack of funds, and corporate sponsors are ‘withdrawing their cold tootsies from the rainbow sock'. Has Pride suffered from conflation with ‘genderism'? Gareth joined the podcast to discuss, alongside diversity consultant Simon Fanshawe, one of the six original co-founders of Stonewall. (0:59)Next: people are forgetting how to readPhilip Womack ‘can hear the rumblings of disaster, as if the foundations of western culture, eroded for decades, are teetering into collapse'. The reason? We are forgetting how to read. Today's children ‘hardly read; their tech-blinded parents don't care; their teachers don't have the resources'. American students participating in a study requiring them to parse the first paragraph of Bleak House ‘were unable to elicit a scintilla of sense' from Charles Dickens's prose. What or who is to blame? Philip joined the podcast to discuss. (23:29)And finally: the social minefield of swimming pool seasonArabella Byrne writes in the magazine this week that while she has ‘always loved English swimming pools', the arrival of the summer season always presents her ‘with an annual etiquette conundrum'. If you're lucky enough to know one of the 200,000 Brits who have a private swimming pool, she asks: how acceptable is it - really - to ask to use a friend's pool? Arabella joined the podcast, alongside the Spectator's very own Dear Mary, Mary Killen. (32:46)Hosted by William Moore and Gus Carter.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freddy Gray speaks to writer and author Karen Hao, whose new book Empire of AI looks at a new, ominous age of empire with OpenAI. On the podcast they discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on society and democracy and how Open AI founder Sam Altman has become a controversial figure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freddy Gray speaks to writer and author Karen Hao, whose new book Empire of AI looks at a new, ominous age of empire with OpenAI. On the podcast they discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on society and democracy and how Open AI founder Sam Altman has become a controversial figure. 

Sam Leith's guest on this week's Book Club podcast is Robert Macfarlane. In his new book Is A River Alive? he travels from the cloud forests of Ecuador to the pollution-choked rivers of Chennai and the threatened waterways of eastern Canada. He tells Sam what he learned along the journey – and why we need to reconceptualise our relationship with the natural world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Pope Francis died, it took the Roman Catholic Church just 17 days to choose a successor in Pope Leo XIV. It has been well over 6 months since Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned and we are only just making sense of those chosen to sit on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), that will recommend his successor. Even then, it's unlikely we will know more until the autumn. Why has it taken so long? Journalist, commentator – and quite frankly expert – Andrew Graystone joins Damian Thompson and William Moore, the Spectator's features editor, to take listeners through the process. From committees to choose committees and confusion about the rules, as William comments, even acclaimed Conclave writer Robert Harris would struggle to make a fast-paced and riveting story out of the Anglican succession. That's not to say there isn't plenty of intrigue though: from bishops effectively ruling themselves out, to opaque appointments, and even a former head of M15 appointed to lead the CNC.  Andrew, Damian and William discuss the process, the problems plaguing it and unpack those in contention to be the next Primate of All England. The chosen successor will ultimately lead the third largest Christian communion, with around 100 million members worldwide, and play a prominent role in British society with a seat in the House of Lords and as a spiritual advisor to King and country – no pressure.   Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This spring marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark judgment in the infamous Irving v Lipstadt Holocaust denial case. David Irving sued American academic Deborah Lipstadt after she had described him as a Holocaust denier in her 1994 book, for his claims that Jews had not been systematically exterminated by the Nazis. Given the burden of proof in English libel law being on the defence, it was up to Lipstadt and her publisher Penguin to prove her claims were true that Irving had deliberately misrepresented evidence. In 2000, the Judge found in her favour. Deborah Lipstadt and the lawyers that represented her, Anthony Julius and James Libson, join Michael Gove for this special edition of Coffee House Shots to provide their reflections: on the trial, on what it's like to go to court over something that's widely accepted as settled historical truth, and to discuss why they think antisemitism flourishes in so many forms. They also talk about why the principles of the case are ever more important today as they were 25 years ago. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: James Heale analyses the splits in Labour over direction and policy (1:27); Angus Colwell asks if the ‘lanyard class' are the new enemy (6:21); Alice Loxton explains why bize-sized histories have big appeal (9:58); Lloyd Evans reports on how Butlin's is cashing in on nostalgia (15:00); Richard Bratby on Retrospect Opera, the non-profit record label that resurrects the forgotten works of British opera (20:40); Christopher Howse provides his notes of typos (27:27); and, Catriona Olding reflects on the death of her partner, the Spectator's Jeremy Clarke, two years ago this week (32:15).  Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

Broadcaster Jo Coburn stepped down from Politics Live this week and has left the BBC after 28 years. To mark the occasion, here's a special edition of Women With Balls – from the archives – where Jo joined the Spectator's former political editor Katy Balls in 2019, shortly after launching Politics Live.  On the podcast, Jo tells Katy about starting her career through multi-ethnic radio, being poached by the BBC and what it was like to be a political correspondent during the Blair era. They also discuss rows over the BBC gender pay gap, viral moments on social media and what it was like working with infamous 'wallflower' Andrew Neil.

Former Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor David Gauke joins James Heale to talk about his review into prison sentencing. The former Tory minister was appointed by the current Labour Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, but says there is a clear centre-right argument for prison reform. He talks James through his policy proposals and the political reaction to them, the thinking behind expanding chemical castration for sex offenders and why deportation is complicated when dealing with the very worst foreign criminals. Ultimately his review is designed to reduce what is currently the highest incarceration rate in Europe. Produced by Patrick Gibbons. 

The real Brexit betrayal: Starmer vs the workers ‘This week Starmer fell… into the embrace of Ursula von der Leyen' writes Michael Gove in our cover article this week. He writes that this week's agreement with the EU perpetuates the failure to understand Brexit's opportunities, and that Labour ‘doesn't, or at least shouldn't exist to make the lives of the fortunate more favourable'. Michael makes the argument that ‘the real Brexit betrayal' is Labour's failure to understand how Brexit can protect British jobs and industries and save our manufacturing sector. Historian of the Labour Party Dr Richard Johnson, a politics lecturer at Queen Mary University writes an accompanying piece arguing that Labour ‘needs to learn to love Brexit'. Richard joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside Conservative peer Dan Hannan. Both Brexiteers, they disagree over the approach the government should take and what tools it should be using. (1:02) Next: the big appeal of bite-sized history Why are so many readers turning to short histories? The historian Alice Loxton writes in the magazine this week about the popularity of books with titles like ‘the shortest history of…', ‘a brief history of…' or ‘a little history of'. Some may argue these are designed to satisfy generations of distracted readers, but Alice defends them, saying ‘there is something liberating about how noncommittal they are'. Should we embrace the ‘short history'? Alice, author of Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives, joined the podcast to discuss further alongside Professor Simon Heffer – himself the author of A Short History of Power. (24:40) And finally: is being a bridesmaid ‘brutal'? A Northern Irish bride chose to have 95 bridesmaids when she married earlier this month. While it might be understandable to not want to choose between friends, Sophia Money-Coutts writes in the magazine this week that, once chosen, the reality of being a bridesmaid is brutal. Sophia joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside the journalist Francesca Peacock. (36:22) Hosted by William Moore and Gus Carter. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is Geoff Dyer, who's talking about his memoir Homework, in which he describes growing up as an only child in suburban Cheltenham, and how the eleven-plus and the postwar settlement irrevocably changed his life – propelling him away from the timid and unfulfilled world of his working-class parents. Geoff, in this new book, bids fair to be the Proust of Airfix models and prog rock.

To mark the second anniversary of the death of Jeremy Clarke – one of the Spectator's most loved writers – we've compiled some of his Low Life columns, as read by Jeremy in 2016, for this special episode of Spectator Out Loud. Included in this compilation are: New Man (00:42); Virgin (5:16); Debauchery Competition (9:32); Buddhism (14:12); The Beach (18:58); and, Memory (23:40). Read by Jeremy Clarke, with an introduction from William Moore.  Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Daria Lavelle was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and raised in New York. Her work explores themes of identity and belonging and her short stories have appeared in The Deadlands, Dread Machine, and elsewhere. Daria is the author of the critically acclaimed new novel Aftertaste which explores food, grief and the uncanny.  On the podcast she tells Liv about her 'inexplicable' love of olives as a child in Ukraine, trying to make it as a writer in New York and how to write about food without it feeling contrived.

Polish émigré Zbigniew Brzezinski – known as ‘Zbig' – rose to prominence in America during the Cold War as a key intellectual architect of US foreign policy. He was National Security Advisor to President Carter and was a trusted advisor to many US presidents from John F Kennedy onwards. Yet, despite helping to shape American foreign policy during critical moments, he is not as well-known or celebrated as his lifelong rival Henry Kissinger.   The Financial Times' chief US columnist Edward Luce joins Freddy Gray on this episode of Americano to talk about his new book Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America's Cold War Prophet. The book aims to bridge the gap in the historiography of the Cold War and looks at Zbig's legacy – from preventing a Soviet invasion of Poland, to strengthening relations with China, to shaping America's response to 9/11. Was Zbig a Cold War prophet? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Michael Gove interviews Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (1:17; Max Jeffery shadows the police as they search for the parents of three abandoned babies (14:41); Paul Wood asks if this is really the end of the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (20:57); Susannah Jowitt reports that death has come to the Chelsea Flower Show (28:55); and, Leyla Sanai reviews Graham Swift's new anthology of short stories, Twelve Post-War Tales (34:23). Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

Kemi Badenoch has come in for criticism since becoming leader of the opposition – for her energy, her performances at PMQs and her inability to galvanise her shadow cabinet. On this podcast, James Heale hosts the trial of Kemi Badenoch and asks whether someone else might be better placed to take the Tories into the next election and – more importantly – who that prince (or princess) across the water could be. The Spectator's assistant content editor William Atkinson makes the case for the prosecution, while Michael Gove sets out why the Tories should stick with Kemi. Lara Brown, our new commissioning editor, acts as the jury. ‘If your house is on fire you don't wait a year to call the fire brigade,' says William. But Michael argues that political leaders – much like football managers – should be given time and patience in order to implement their direction, philosophy and, ultimately, to become successful. So should she stay or should she go? ... Or should the Tories give it to ‘Big Sam' until the end of the season? Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Have your say, by emailing us at: podcast@spectator.co.uk

President Trump is an America Firster, but he has an undeniable affinity for the Arab world. He would have made a good sheik: he doesn't drink, he loves developing flashy properties to show off his power and wealth, and he's brutally realistic about the role of oil (and other commodities) in world politics. On his tour of the Middle East, he signed an enormous arms deal with Saudi Arabia and announced all US sanctions on Syria would be lifted. Historian and former diplomat Charlie Gammell joins Freddy Gray to discuss what Trump really wants in the Middle East.

The great escape: why the rich are fleeing Britain Keir Starmer worries about who is coming into Britain but, our economics editor Michael Simmons writes in the magazine this week, he should have ‘sleepless nights' thinking about those leaving. Since 2016, nearly 30,000 millionaires have left – ‘an outflow unmatched in the developed world'. Tax changes have made Britain a ‘hostile environment' for the wealthy, yet we are ‘dangerously dependent' on our highest earners: the top 0.01 per cent pay 6 per cent of all income tax. If the exodus is ‘half as bad' as those he has spoken to think, Simmons warns, a 2p hike to income tax looms. Michael joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside private wealth specialist James Quarmby from advisory firm Stephenson Harwood. (1:04) Next: Michael Gove interviews justice secretary Shabana Mahmood ‘There's a moment of reckoning to come' Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood tells The Spectator's editor Michael Gove in a wide-ranging interview in the magazine this week. Gove writes that he has a degree of sympathy for her, given he occupied her post for 15 months several years ago; ‘it's the most glamorous and least attractive job in the cabinet' he writes. The interview touched on grooming gangs, AI and the oath she swore on the Quran. You can hear an extract from the interview on the podcast but, for the full interview, go to Spectator TV (16:08) And finally: ‘pond terfs' versus the ‘right on' Zoe Strimpel highlights a schism that has emerged over Hampstead ladies pond in the magazine this week: whether trans women should be allowed to swim in the ladies pond. The division, between older ‘pond terfs', who are against their inclusion, and younger ‘right on' women, has only widened following the Supreme Court ruling. Far from solving the issue, the fight has only intensified.   Zoe joined the podcast alongside Julie Bindel to discuss further. (27:48) Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

My guest on this week's Book Club podcast is the writer, activist and Spectator contributor Julie Bindel. In her new book Lesbians: Where Are We Now?, Julie asks why lesbian liberation seems – as she sees it – to have taken one step forward and two steps back. She traces the history of lesbian activism, explains why we're wrong to assume that lesbians and gay men are natural allies, confronts the ‘progressive' misogyny she identifies in a younger generation – and tells me whether she thinks the Supreme Court's recent decision marks an end to the trans wars.