The Bunker

Bidding wars, rent caps and queues just to view homes. What is going on with rented housing? Far from being a fringe aspect of housing used by students, it's now used by a significant proportion of our population. Ahir Shah is joined by Pete Apps, deputy editor at Inside Housing and author of forthcoming book Show Me the Bodies, on the Grenfell Tower disaster, to discuss navigating the lettings market.     “We are seeing a supply-demand perfect storm.” “With house prices rising, most people really are trapped. They have no option but to rent at extortionate rates.” “The private rental sector isn't some fringe part of the economy only used by students, it's the main way that many house themselves.”  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ahir Shah. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz Truss has taken her robotic speaking style too far as she trundles around like a Dalek yelling “deregulate, deregulate!” What red tape are she and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng actually going to cut? Plus, we discuss the Overton Window of protest. Will tighter crackdowns on demonstrators persist as the mourning period ends? And, finally we discuss outdoor brand Patagonia's owner giving away the company – what's that all about? “The focus on growth seems completely mad. We've had growth – but that didn't lead to people being better off.” – Miatta Fahnbulleh “The public has high expectations but the government is going to experiment with something that has been tried and failed.” – Miatta Fahnbulleh  “They think leaving money sloshing at the top will have a halo effect on the rest of the economy.” – Alex Andreou “I wouldn't go as far as saying this is the wrong time, but I'm not saying it is the right time to protest either.” – Alex Andreou  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou, Gavin Esler and Miatta Fahnbulleh. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Politics restarts as the Queen's Funeral ends the mourning period. Liz Truss heads off to the UN Summit and Kwasi Kwarteng prepares his banker-fluffing Fiscal Event as the Government tries to reboot itself. Plus, we look at the latest from Ukraine, and the increasing pressure Putin faces for his miscalculations. Justin Quirk talks to Arthur Snell to lay out the days ahead.  “Truss has really struggled to live up to the historical importance of this moment.” “I think with Kwarteng's plans there'll be plenty to criticise, but plenty more to chew over.”  “The Government just hasn't been doing governing for the last week.” “The UN agenda is going to be Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine.” “China really doesn't need the chaotic, pre-Westphalian world that Putin is trying to bring back.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Arthur Snell and Justin Quirk. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should we welcome artificial intelligence in healthcare – or is it the stuff of dystopian nightmares? Jelena Sofronijevic is joined by James Zou, assistant professor of biomedical data science at Stanford University and David Leslie, director of ethics and responsible innovation research at the Alan Turing Institute, to discuss the potentials of AI and the future of health.    "We're building AI to augment, not replace, doctors." – James Zou "We need to work hard to create trust in health data sharing." - David Leslie “Just as like how we as humans are not neutral, algorithms should also not be neutral” - David Leslie  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend pop culture! We discover The Beatles' new spruced-up ‘Revolver' with Giles “Son Of George” Martin. Guest Will Hodgkinson of The Times extols the chirpy-chirpy glories of '70s bubblegum pop from his new book In Perfect Harmony. And we check out A24 gore-fest Bodies Bodies Bodies and Netflix's latest Korean import, Narco Saints.  “Revolver is a punk record. The Beatles played hard.” – Giles Martin  “Try writing a song as catchy as ‘Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep' – it's not easy.” – Will Hodgkinson “When you listen to ‘Revolver' you can hear the past, present and future of music.” – Siân Pattenden Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Presented and produced by Siân Pattenden and Alex Andreou. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)' by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a new monarch and PM, Britain faces stark change. How will these incoming figureheads handle this? What will this mean for the future of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth? Historian Sir Anthony Seldon joins author and former BBC journalist Gavin Esler to discuss the turmoil we face. “The United Kingdom is actually a relatively new concept.” “The Monarchy, unlike Prime Ministers, embodies continuity.”  “If the call comes to become a republic, it will be hard for Australia to resist it.”  “The United Kingdom is actually a relatively new concept.” “We've lost a huge force which was holding the UK together.” “We've almost forgotten there's a new prime minister, in the wall-to-wall reporting.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Gavin Esler. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Alex Rees. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six months into the Ukraine crisis, are western sanctions imposed on Russia really working? Dr Richard Connolly, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, joins Ahir Shah to explain the economic war sparked by Putin's invasion, the effectiveness of Western sanctions, and why this hidden conflict isn't going as well as expected.  “Russia is quite happy to sell oil cheaply to friendly countries, not so much the West.” “The Rouble is strong at the moment, but that doesn't mean sanctions aren't working.” “Russia have been preparing for this, we have not.” “Russia will get poor, but Europe will be getting a hell of a lot poorer because of the downgrading of energy relations.” “Regime change is always implicit behind sanctions.” Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ahir Shah. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pubs are a cornerstone of British culture. But with increasing numbers closing, and a long winter ahead, what can we do to save them? Ros Taylor is joined by Michelin star chef and hospitality champion Tom Kerridge to discuss how pubs are under threat and ways they may change in the future.    "Even if pubs look busy, they are working to incredibly tight profit margins." "As people have become more health conscious, they don't go to pubs during the day – so pubs really need to change." "The days where pubs open at 12pm, turn on the fruit machines and wait for people to come are gone." https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Queen Elizabeth II's reign coincided with huge cultural and social shifts, so how did she respond to these changes? Following the Queen's death, Ros Taylor is joined by Stephen Bates, former royal correspondent for The Guardian and author of Royalty Inc. Britain's Best-Known Brand to discuss changes seen in the Elizabethen era.    “The Queen had to be persuaded to do things, and then she went along with them.”  “The monarchy is very careful about its resources.” “There was a huge backlash against the monarchy in the 90s, especially around them not paying tax.” “The royals want to preserve the succession, so Charles will be a small c conservative king.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pageantry, pomp and poignancy have flowed in abundance since the Queen's death, while mourning has put democracy on ice. The panel unpacks the nation's reaction – and tries to decipher what it all really means. Plus, the latest from the Ukraine counter-offensive, as it firmly appears the tide is turning against Russia.  “We rarely knew The Queen's feelings on anything, a tough act for Charles to follow.” – Arthur Snell “There has been a lot of self-policing, but as far as I can tell there has been very little McCarthyism around The Queen's death.” – Marie Le Conte “Truss's speech about The Queen was really bad, but I have sympathy for her.” – Marie Le Conte “Russia has had a terrible war, it's a war they can't even admit they're in.” – Arthur Snell Presented by Ros Taylor with Arthur Snell, Justin Quirk and Marie Le Conte. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison.  The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the nation in mourning following the death of the Queen, what can we expect to happen in the next few days? A state funeral will be held next week, and hundreds of thousands are due to visit London. Elsewhere, we discuss the situation in Ukraine, and the counter offensive there. Plus, the Met faces scrutiny after the shooting of Chris Kaba by a firearms officer. Alex Andreou and Yasmeen Serhan lay out the week ahead.  “People seemed to be more shocked by how it had hit them, they perhaps weren't expecting to be as moved as they were.” – Yasmeen Serhan “It's exposed quite how emotional the connection is to the monarchy, it's a bond formed very early from childhood.” – Alex Andreou  “Liz Truss is going to be doing a lot in recent days, but the crises are not going to wait for a period of mourning to pass.” – Yasmeen Serhan  "You don't need to be a monarchist to understand the impact the Queen had." – Yasmeen Serhan www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Alex Andreou with Yasmeen Serhan. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Kwasi Kwarteng becomes Britain's latest Chancellor, how much power really lies behind the door of No.11? Howard Davies, chairman of the NatWest Group and author of The Chancellors: Steering the British Economy in Crisis Times, joins Alex Andreou to discuss the influence of previous Chancellors, and the challenges facing Kwarteng as he takes his place at the Treasury. “The treasury is unique in that it's the only department not solely focused with spending Government money.” “A good Chancellor will be prepared to stand up to the Prime Minister.” “Sunak came into the treasury thinking Brexit was a good idea. That was a problem.” patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American society is in crisis, but can the iconic story Gone with the Wind explain the divisions ripping the US apart today? Professor Sarah Churchwell talks to Arthur Snell about her new book The Wrath to Come, which re-examines the controversial legacy of Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel, and what it tells us about American history and culture today. “Gone with the Wind does reject the idea that war is romantic, that is where it's more modern.” “During the insurrection a white supremacist flag was carried in the US Capitol for the first time since the civil war.” “Anyone outside of the US sees Biden as centre-right. In America he's painted as a socialist.“ “Democracy in America hasn't been achieved. It's something we have to constantly fight for.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Arthur Snell. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop pinching yourself, this isn't a bad dream – Liz Truss will be Prime Minister. She's sworn she'll deliver – but how? And will she stick to her campaign stances or, unlike her icon Thatcher, will she be for turning? Plus, we look across the pond and assess Biden's new combative stance. From being set for a midterm wipeout, has the tide turned?   - “Truss has a litany of things she has to deal with in a relatively short period of time.” – Yasmeen Serhan  - “Truss is going to have a very modern work honeymoon – it'll be one week long.” Yasmeen Serhan - “People that worked for Theresa May are saying Truss has an awful in-tray.” – Yasmeen Serhan - “We aren't in for the most scintillating PMQs over the next two years.” – Justin Quirk   https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast    Presented by Alex Andreou with Ahir Shah, Justin Quirk and Yasmeen Serhan. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Groundhog Day of the Tory leadership race is over and Liz Truss is due to become Prime Minister. Does she truly gasp the size of the task at hand? And is there any hope for competence in her Cabinet? Plus, more strikes and protests are due this week. And we take a look at the latest from the conflict in Ukraine. Arthur Snell lays out the week ahead with Ros Taylor. “If you could think of the worst time to become Prime Minister, this would be it.” – Arthur Snell  “Even Liz Truss in a terrible economic climate will get a bit of a bounce.” – Arthur Snell "You'd think she'd want to hit the ground running, instead, she's just going to hit the ground, as she said.” – Arthur Snell "Britain has reached that stage on the international arena, where we're just the guy who's going through a midlife crisis.” – Arthur Snell  “Liz Truss has said there will be no rationing of energy – that's fine until we're having blackouts later in winter.” – Arthur Snell  www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Ros Taylor with Arthur Snell. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally, it's time to say it… Good riddance, Boris Johnson. With the egomaniac-in-chief due to leave Number 10, Ros Taylor is joined by LBC's James O'Brien to pick through the wreckage. What will be his legacy? Could things have ever gone differently? Join us for a cathartic farewell to the man who wanted to be king – but failed resoundingly as Prime Minister.  “In terms of personal political performance Johnsonism is very similar to Trumpism. It's opportunism devoid of conscience.” – James O'Brien  “It's an absence of shame that I think defines him.” – James O'Brien  "He pursued monuments to his ego – like the Garden Bridge – but these also acted as distractions from his utter failures." – James O'Brien "Even on his way out of the door, he's detonating explosives that will be felt for a generation to come." – James O'Brien https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your pop culture update: We are joined by Brett Anderson and Mat Osman of resurgent rock'n'roll noir institution Suede to discuss their upcoming new album Autofiction, how it feels to return to the delinquent racket of their teenage years, and life as music's most literate band. Plus we armour up for Amazon's new adaptation of Lord of the Rings, and the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, now well into its run on Sky.   “This is our punk record, not a punk record.” - Brett Anderson “Every few years we have to burn it all down and start again.” - Mat Osman  “I wanted to make the rock record of a 55 year old man. It's not a record about the arrogance of youth, but the vulnerability of being middle aged.” - Brett Anderson “I'm determined not to become comfortable and irrelevant.” - Brett Anderson “I experience just as much anxiety as a 50 year old as when I was a teenager. The problems are just different.” - Brett Anderson “When you're an audience member, you've got a role in the performance.” - Brett Anderson Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Presented and produced by Siân Pattenden, Andrew Harrison and Alex Andreou. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)' by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Bunker Gold, listen back to an episode from December 2020. BBC Radio producer and author of The Ex-Men: How Our Former Presidents and Prime Ministers are Still Changing the World, Giles Edwards talked to Ros Taylor about what ex-leaders get up to when they leave office. They discussed what happens behind the closed doors of members-only clubs – and how these ex-men (and women) still shape public life without us even knowing. “You can get more done in fifteen minutes as Prime Minister than fifteen months as a former Prime Minister.” “Clinton touched something in the Democratic Party soul that Obama didn't.” Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1970s is frequently referenced as a period of turmoil – and one we must avoid Britain returning to. But is our memory of the decade accurate? And why is it continually referenced by politicians and newspapers? Historian Lawrence Black, co-editor of Reassessing 1970s Britain, joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss why the era is so maligned. “For better or worse, it was much easier to go on strike in the 1970s.” “Thatcher won the political battles of the 1970s - but she lost the culture wars.” “It's in no political, or popular press interest to change the image of the 1970s.” “There was a crisis in the political economy, for many the system just wasn't working – and isn't today.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Sting music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. Additional sounds and music from Epidemic Sound. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Liz Truss set to be crowned Prime Minister – who will be in the backbench Tory cabal keeping her on her toes? What will they pressure her on? Plus, we assess how Boris Johnson and his fellow journalists-turned-politicians have warped the media during his time in office. And ahead of the return to school, we discuss what education changes we'd make. This week's guest is actress, screenwriter and author Emma Kennedy.  “For somebody who's said she's going to stand up to Putin it's strange Truss is scared of Nick Robinson.” – Emma Kennedy  “The list of Truss's failures are extensive, I can't think of anything she has done that has improved my life.” – Gavin Esler “You can't balance people who tell the truth with people who lie. The BBC has to take that seriously.” – Gavin Esler  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Justin Quirk with Arthur Snell and Gavin Esler. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Energy saving tips roll in ahead of a coming bill tsunami – what cost of living omens await this week? Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has warned middle earners will struggle with payments, and broke with colleagues by suggesting that people limit their usage. Plus, the latest from Ukraine, amid a counter-offensive in the Kherson region. And, back home, further strikes are due to be held. Justin Quirk and Yasmeen Serhan discuss the week ahead. "It feels like there hasn't really been much of a Government the last few weeks.” – Yasmeen Serhan  "You put people in this precarious position where they ask, ‘Am I going to heat my flat or put it towards other groceries?'” – Yasmeen Serhan  “Boris Johnson made a point wanting to stay on, but in that time it hasn't felt like he's wanted to lead.” – Yasmeen Serhan “If you're going to have a leadership contest this long, you need to have plans in place so government continues.” – Yasmeen Serhan https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Justin Quirk with Yasmeen Serhan. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is failure always bad – or should we look at it as an essential on the path to innovation? Samuel West is the director of the Museum of Failure, which exhibits unsuccessful products and services from across the world. He speaks to Ahir Shah about how accepting when things don't work out, being brave enough to fail and going through the dustbin of history. “Most charities are terrified of failing at things - but the paradox is that if they don't innovate they are probably doing the wrong things.” “There are thousands of solutions - many of which will fail but we must take risks to answer huge questions.” “Some CEOs keep projects alive through artificial respiration ,sometimes you need to know when to bail.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was recorded prior to the Mar-a-Lago search affidavit being released on Friday... The FBI raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort made headlines worldwide. What will the fallout be – legally and politically? Julia Azari, professor of Political Science at Marquette University, joins Justin Quirk to discuss what the raid means for Trump and US politics more widely, and why it has taken so long for the law to catch up with America's 45th President. “This has somewhat overshadowed the January 6th hearings.” “How do we find political peace but also ensure people are equal under the rule of law?”  “Even if Trump is given the Nixon treatment, the debates around Trumpism won't go away.” “Even if the Republicans take control of Congress, this won't go away.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Justin Quirk. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our always-on digital world is changing how we read, which means it's altering how our minds work. Literary critic Sven Birkerts, author of Changing the Subject: Art and Attention in the Internet Age, tells Andrew Harrison how the act of reading is fundamentally different when the printed word is just part of an ever-changing multiplex – and why the state reading puts you in is more important than the words on the page (or the screen).  “A book used to be an escape, but now the outside world is always insistently present.” “It's harder to get inside your own head when there is so much to escape from.”  “Audiobooks are fine but you can't process a literary sentence at the speed of a voice.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen back to an edition from our archives with The Bunker Gold. This week we've chosen an episode from April, 2020.  It's the end of the world as we know it and… some people are quite into that, it seems. Why are so many people so keen on the end of everything? What do doomsday preppers, alt.right catastrophists and billionaire plutocrat antidemocrats like Peter Thiel have in common? And is the communal response to COVID proving their worst ambitions wrong? We talk to Mark O'Connell – author of book Notes From An Apocalypse: A Personal Journey to the End of the World and Back – about the dark fantasy of the End Times.  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Electric cars have been sold as an answer to green, clean travel. But is the reality that clear-cut? Henry Sanderson, author of Volt Rush: The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green, joins Ahir Shah to discuss whether they're really a climate-friendly solution, resource mining and de-coupling energy reliance from China. “A lot of green products mask dirty supply chains.” – Henry Sanderson “China is present at all stages of the supply chains: from mine to processing.” – Henry Sanderson “With mining resources - nothing comes for free.” – Henry Sanderson “The DRC is the Saudi Arabia of cobalt – they know they have one chance to get this right.” – Henry Sanderson https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ahir Shah. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After replacing Angela Merkel at the end of last year, how is German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's tenure going? Alex Andreou discusses the problems he faces with German author and journalist Annette Dittert.  “Scholz has come to power by imitating Merkel, by promising no surprises.”  “Scholz doesn't seem to be able to make decisions when they need to be done.”  “He is coming from this old school, appeasement policy towards Russia.”  “People are still missing Merkel, Scholz cannot pull the EU together the way she could.” “In such a time of crisis, there is just not room for populism.”  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All work and no play makes… the basis of Truss's Thatcherite utopia. We unpack the likely PM-to-be's “graft” remarks. Plus, six months since the invasion of Ukraine, how is the conflict shaping up? And, with the end of the £10 flight inbound, award-winning transport journalist John Walton joins us to discuss the future of the aviation industry. “On Brexit, Truss will always be the great political half-and-half scarf.” – Tom Peck “It doesn't really matter what Truss believes in, because the main thing she believes in is herself.” – Tom Peck “The dystopian leadership contest nightmare has been so bad that voters might even remember it in two years!” – Tom Peck https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Justin Quirk with Arthur Snell, Marie Le Conte and Tom Peck. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How will Russia react after the car bomb killing of a key Putin ally's daughter? Is Ukraine set for intensified attacks, despite denying involvement? Plus, sewage spewed across beaches dirties the Government's record further as the Tory leadership contest dribbles on. Is it too late for them to clean up their act and the country – even slightly? Gavin Esler lays out the week ahead with Andrew Harrison. "Just because you don't want to sound like Russian state media, doesn't mean there aren't conspiracies involved."  "You could do a decline of man cartoon from David Cameron to Boris Johnson."  "It's Armando Iannucci I feel sorry for. How do you satirise this lot?" “The Conservatives seem to be keen on finding someone they think is even worse than Boris Johnson.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Andrew Harrison with Gavin Esler. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apparently, all you need is love – but why? What makes it fundamental to our survival, and why doesn't heartbreak put us off it? Jacob Jarvis speaks to Dr. Anna Machin, an evolutionary anthropologist and author of Why We Love: The New Science Behind Our Closest Relationships.  “The reason we crave love is that it fulfils a fundamental survival need which is to meet other people.”  “Humans are the most cooperative species on the planet. That's the basis of love.”  “To love at the cost of somebody else, while damaging for them, doesn't harm you.”  “In the first weeks of a relationship, your brain can't notice a bad partner. Love is blind.” “There has to be an unpredictable nature to keep us on our toes.”  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your pop culture update: We are joined by the rhyme-nocerous himself, one half of Flight of the Conchords, Bret McKenzie! New Zealand's finest joins us to talk about making music with the Muppets and the Simpsons, and his debut solo album 'Songs Without Jokes'. Justin Quirk joins to chew on Hot Chip's new album, FREAKOUT/RELEASE and Bolton's answer to Black Mirror, Red Rose, out now on BBC Three.    “I like the juxtaposition between sweet melodies, and saying the world is screwed.” - Bret McKenzie “Winning the Academy Award was the one night that Hollywood felt glamorous and not depressing.” - Bret McKenzie “FOTC was a student film production that just ended up on HBO.” - Bret McKenzie “The Simpsons is almost the fabric of television.” - Bret McKenzie “There's always something about Hot Chip that feels a bit like an academic exercise to me.” – Justin Quirk “Red Rose captured the duality between our lives online and our lives offline.” - Bret McKenzie Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Presented and produced by Jelena Sofronijevic and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)' by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Bunker Gold, listen back to Arthur Snell's discussion with one of his contacts in Afghanistan in the aftermath of Kabul's fall in August 2021. Originally released a year ago today, the pair discussed what the situation was like after the Taliban's astonishingly swift takeover–while the person, who we chose not to identify, was in hiding.   https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  “Kabul has been left without anything.” “Everything is closed down. You would think it is the Stone Age in Kabul. You wouldn't have seen this a week ago.”  “This was a win-win for Russia.” “The Taliban have made fake promises to the international community. Of course they have not changed.” Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Greensill Capital collapsed it brought down a multi-billion dollar empire and exposed David Cameron's greed. Alex Andreou talks to financial journalist Duncan Mavin about the failed project, which is covered in his new book The Pyramid of Lies.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Lex Greensill was very good at understanding what motivated politicians.” “Greensill Capital was trying to be disruptive.” “David Cameron brought huge credibility to Greensill Capital.”  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Jacob Archbold. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As tensions between ethnic Serbs and Albanians rise in Kosovo – how will this situation develop? With fears over an escalating conflict in the Balkans, journalist Una Hajdari joins Jelena Sofronijevic to discuss the latest. "Poisonous nationalist rhetoric is being spread by political leaders in Serbia, Croatia, and Kosovo." "Putin is Serbia's ally, but he's accidentally advocating for Kosovo." "Comparing past events to ethnic cleansing now leads to deadly incidents." “Rhetoric can lead to isolated but deadly incidents.” “Any time you hear a leader talking about expanding a country's territory outside of its borders, you know that's bad news.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Producer: Jacob Archbold. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The murder attempt on Salman Rushdie continues to reverberate. What does it mean for tensions with Iran – and for free speech? Plus, the economy's in the toilet and the Prime Minister's on a Greek beach. Will anyone get a grip of the cost of living crisis? And if TikTok becomes the dominant social media platform, how do we feel about China owning the arena of political debate? Our special guest is Helena Wadia of the Mediastorm podcast.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Iran's capacity to stir up trouble remains. Even if they're not responsible for this attack, they set the tone.” – Gavin Esler “We usually equate emergency with urgency. Somehow that message didn't get through.” – Helena Wadia “The energy crisis feels like the straw that broke the camel's back… A big shift has to come because the alternative is unthinkable.” – Ahir Shah “Rushdie has a very wicked sense of humour. And some people, especially the very religious, don't get the joke.” – Gavin Esler “Didn't Dominic Raab already prove that you can't do your job from the beach? When Kabul fell?” – Ahir Shah https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Justin Quirk with Ahir Shah and Gavin Esler. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coming up in the next seven days: The attack on Salman Rushdie continues to reverberate. Will Keir Starmer's plan to freeze the energy cap burst Truss and Sunak's tax-cuts bubble? And Trump's worries mount as more details emerge of what the FBI found in Mar-a-Lago. Alex Andreou looks at the next seven days with Justin Quirk.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Sunak just needed to sit back and let Truss reveal herself for the idiot she is – but he blew it spectacularly.”  “When it comes to Trump zealots, you're not dealing with logic but religious fervour.” “It's getting harder and harder for the government to call these strikers communist loons.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou and Justin Quirk. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Lead producer: Jacob Archbold. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's 75 years since British India was split in two, but what does Partition mean today? Signalling the end of British colonial rule in the subcontinent, and leaving thousands dead and millions displaced – why are we not taught about it in schools? Ahir Shah discusses family histories and second generation identity with fellow British-Asian comedian Eshaan Akbar.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “All you are taught at school is: Henry VIII was a bit of a legend, then World War Two.” – Ahir Shah “Wounds created in 1947 remained open and festering for decades.” – Ahir Shah “You have these two senses of us in your head - I can't believe WE did this to US.” – Ahir Shah https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Ahir Shah. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Jade Bailey. Audio production by Jade Bailey The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your pop culture update: Does Netflix smash The Sandman only make sense if you're a comics geek? Super-producer Danger Mouse's return to hip hop leaves our panel “totally blown away.” And why does Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 leave such a nasty taste in the mouth? Music business writer Eamonn Forde joins Alex and Andrew.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Tom Sturridge as Dream has an incredibly striking look, like a terribly deprived version of Bernard from Black Books…” – Eamonn Forde “Sandman puts a bunch of myths in a bag and shakes them.” – Alex Andreou “This is a fantastic album… Danger Mouse has done Pop 101 for hip hop and just written bangers.” – Eamonn Forde Get yer free opera classics: https://www.mariacallasmuseum.org/_cetra/cetra.htm Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Alex Andreou. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)' by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Bunker Gold, listen back to Jude Rogers in conversation with Donald Trump's niece, Mary Trump, from January 2021.  On the last day of Trump's warped presidency, his niece Mary – psychologist and author of Too Much And Never Enough: How My Family Created The World's Most Dangerous Man – reflected on the making of a man who impressed his psychopathologies on a nation. How does a person get like this? What is it like when a family member places the entire world in peril? And could a defeated Trump represent an even worse danger to American democracy? “For the first time in his life he can't spin a loss into a win. And it's driving him crazy.” “At a very deep level, Donald knows he's never been truly successful and has no skills.” “When Donald was elected I knew he would do to my country what he and his father had done to my family.” “What shocks me is that there are people on this planet who are weaker than Donald. I didn't think that was possible” “In the election, if he was going down, he would try to take the rest of us with him. And that's exactly what he did.” “Failure to live up Fred Trump's demands got you destroyed. And that's what happened to my dad.” “If the cameras disappear, Donald ceases to exist.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB Presented by Jude Rogers. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With workers on strike and services cancelled, why are Britain's railways such a mess? And how can they be fixed? Tom Haines-Doran, research fellow at Leeds University and author of Derailed: How to Fix Britain's Broken Railways, joins Ros Taylor to discuss the problems with the UK's train system, and what needs to happen for our railways to get back on track. “Once a new Prime Minister is in place we could see a lot more strike action take place.” “The Government has deliberately shifted the cost of running the railways onto passengers.” “It's extraordinary the Government would put up prices 13% after a year of turmoil on the railways.” “Railway workers really do have some power.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB  Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Additional sound effects from www.zapsplat.com and AlienXXX via Freesound.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last week has ignited tensions around the island, but why does China want to crush Taiwan? Cindy Yu, host of the Chinese Whispers podcast, joins Alex Andreou to explain the status of Taiwan, why Pelosi's visit has angered Beijing, and how the situation could develop in the months ahead. “If Taiwan declared independence they would incur the wrath of Beijing.” “The national security law has made a peaceful reunification with Taiwan almost impossible.” “If the West doesn't want to get into a decoupling situation with China, it needs to be strong on Russia.” “Xi has made it part of his legacy to reunite China with Taiwan.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB  Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Sunak and Truss argue over cutting taxes, what about emissions? Madeleine Cuff, i's environment correspondent joins us to pick apart the pair's climate credentials. Do they have any? Plus, healthcare commentator Roy Lilley takes us through what you need to know about the state of the NHS staffing crisis. And, as spiders are reanimated in an experiment akin to a David Cronenberg movie, we ask… why? "The NHS has the biggest carbon footprint of any institution in Europe." - Roy Lilley "15% of the UK population takes 70% of its flights." - Madeleine Cuff “We should frame environmentalism as the militant wing of the National Trust” - Justin Quirk "Truss and Sunak's campaigns are simply fantasy island economics." - Justin Quirk ​​"It's really macabre. Some of the language around the utility of the spiders is quite stomach churning. They say they can get about a thousand 'repetitions' out of the carcass." - Madeleine Cuff  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Arthur Snell and Justin Quirk. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the cost of living crisis bites, will this week's Truss U-Turn be “handouts” or an emergency budget? Can the Mail nobble the Privileges Committee before it nobbles Johnson? Tensions rise over Taiwan and the Russians are shelling nuclear plants in Ukraine. Just another week, then… Alex Andreou looks at the next seven days with Jacob Jarvis.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB  “The Government has checked out – not just the ministers but civil servants too… Most departments are on skeleton staff.”  “Their whole goal is to pretend that this is a brand new Government – and that's hard to do if your first months are consumed with the Partygate probe.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis and Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Lead producer: Jacob Archbold. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Come 2035, what will a trip away look like? Where will we visit when the planet is undergoing increasingly violent change? Siân Pattenden speaks with Tom Hall, vice president at Lonely Planet, about where our travel plans are headed.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Maybe the job of travel writers is different to what it was in the past. We need to have a range of voices.”  “People need different experiences and exposure to as many perspectives as they can.”  “I'm less convinced that the traditional idea of what a holiday is is what people need.”  “The enthusiasm for travel that doesn't prick your conscience is really strong.”  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB Presented by Siân Pattenden. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your pop culture update: “Quentin Tarantino meets Agatha Christie” in Brad Pitt action comedy Bullet Train. Icon of the 80s Clare Grogan joins us for the first Altered Images album in 39 years, Mascara Streakz. And movie monster the Predator goes up against Native Americans in hyperkinetic prequel Prey, out now on Disney+. DJ and journalist Anthony Teasdale completes the panel.  Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Turns out that the 80s revival has lasted longer than the 80s themselves…” – Clare Grogan “Bullet Train's great fun… but the problem is, it's got a never-ending ending.” – Anthony Teasdale “I kept an emergency copy of Hong Kong Garden in my handbag… What do you mean you haven't heard it? Play it now!” - Clare Grogan Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)' by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen back to an archive Bunker from Jan 2022. London's restaurants are now closing at nearly the double the normal rate as rising VAT, rent, and energy costs add to the weight of COVID, post-Brexit labour issues and supply chain shortages. Corey Mintz, author of The Next Supper, and Eater London's Adam Coghlan joined Jelena Sofronijevic to chew on why haute cuisine is cooling off, whether takeaway food is really so democratic…and if COVID has called time on the all-you-can-eat buffet.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB   “Restaurants were told to diversify and prepare themselves for the rise of takeaways. But they didn't until the pandemic.” - Corey Mintz “The major delivery companies in the UK are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable.” - Corey Mintz “Today I discovered, ordered, and ate the food from a new restaurant within 30 minutes. Once you've tasted that, you can't go back.” - Adam Coghlan “If you hired an architect to build a restaurant today, they'd ask you where you'd like the Instagram wall.” - Corey Mintz “The £6k given to restaurants which closed over Christmas was mere chicken feed.” - Adam Coghlan https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With strike action in Britain set to intensify over the coming months, what is the state of our trade unions? Can they really force the Government's hand over the cost of living crisis? Jane Holgate, Employment Relations professor at the University of Leeds, joins Alex Andreou to unpack what unions want, who supports them, and the challenges they face. “Trade unionism is all about the imbalance of power in the employment relationship.” “The Government is involved whether it likes it or not.” “Google searches for trade union membership have increased dramatically.” “Thatcher came to power with the purpose of curbing union power, voted in by millions from the working class.” “Given the huge profits companies are making, what workers are asking for isn't unreasonable.” “If Labour wants to be the party of the working class then it must reflect their interests.” “If you annoy workers enough then you'll see productivity fall.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Jade Bailey. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thatcher famously proclaimed that inflation is the parent of unemployment. But as shop prices soar, energy bills rocket, and interest rates rise, we've all become more aware of the everyday impacts of inflation. So how unique is the crisis we face now? Director of the LSE and former vice-president of the World Bank Baroness Minouche Shafik joins Ros Taylor to unpack inflation. “COVID has caused upward inflation because of how it has affected global supply chains.”  “The Bank of England can only control the demand, not supply, side of the economy.” “To get inflation under control, you have to have a period of restraint.” “Inflation is a regressive tax on the population that hurts the poor most.” “There's more room to grow in encouraging women in work.”  “Rich countries spend 10% of their income on food. Poorer countries spend as much as 75%.”  “The last time we had an economic crisis, we saw mass unrest.”  “The term recession is used very loosely. But regardless, we have a difficult year ahead.”  https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lionesses' victory in the Euros inspires a generation of girls. Can it transform football… and society? Meanwhile Sunak flails to out-loon Truss. With popular culture pulling in one direction and a regressive Tory gerontocracy pulling in another, is there any space for a unifying national story any more? Historian Alex von Tunzelmann – author of Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Changed History – is our special guest. “The Labour Party loves nothing more than hating the Labour Party… A fight between left and right has to happen every new moon.” – Marie le Conte “No wonder Truss and Sunak are promising anything and everything. They are dealing with a membership of Home Counties mad bastards with an average age of ‘ghost'.” – Ahir Shah “If you want to sort the two halves of Britain easily, just ask the question ‘Would you bring back hanging?'” – Alex von Tunzelmann “Anyone who spends 24 hours in France while not being white will know that no, France is not better at decolonising than Britain…” – Marie le Conte https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Marie le Conte and Ahir Shah. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reset the Years of Hurt Clock… England's women bring football home at last. Have the Lionesses changed football forever? Meanwhile Rishi Sunak goes down in the most craven manner possible, Johnson aims to pack the Lords with cronies, and everything's on fire. But never mind! The football! The football! Gavin Esler puts aside his Scottishness for a moment to revel in the pure joy of an historic victory with Andrew Harrison.  Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “As someone who is male, Scottish, and a bit jaded about football, the final restored my faith in the Beautiful Game.”  "Maybe male spectators will learn that booing the other teams' national anthem isn't a good look." “The scandal is that we allowed Boris Johnson to happen… he is taking advantage of a system full of weaknesses.” “There's no such thing as Conservative values any more. They're just what you say to make headlines.” “The lasting legacy of the Johnson years is that you can say anything because no one believes that you mean it.” Presented by Andrew Harrison. Producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 666 of The Bunker, we're talking all things Satan. Where does our idea of the Devil come from? And why are we so obsessed with him? Jelena Sofronijevic talks to Erin Cülff of the Myth Monsters podcast and Dr. Michael David Barbezat, a research fellow at Australia Catholic University, to explore Satan in pop culture, from the snake in the Garden of Eden, via Dante's Inferno and heavy metal, to a modern gay icon. “Villains are always easy to work with in storytelling.” – Michael David Barbezat “You see the Devil as an anti-hero in a lot of the stories we tell.” – Michael David Barbezat “I think everyone likes a bad boy.” – Erin Culff “Some of the business we see with devils and demons is also reinvention.” - Michael David Barbezat “The Devil has been drafted to serve many functions of social control." - Michael David Barbezat "Angels are hes, Demons are shes." - Michael David Barbezat https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices