The Critic Podcast

Actor James Dreyfus joins Jo Bartosch to discuss the gender wars, cancel culture and the stifling of individuality in art.

Can Labour's new foreign policy doctrine work in our troubled world? Professor Patrick Porter joins Sebastian Milbank to discuss this, the Chagos Islands, Lebanon and the future of Britain in an increasingly isolated Europe. 

In an age of globalisation could world government be on the horizon? Gal Treger joins Sebastian Milbank to discuss his recent article, and how deeper forms of identity and belonging will always take their revenge on dreams of worldwide hegemony.

Three very sleepy men discuss the election result. In an heroic bit of Critic broadcasting, Richard Johnson, a senior lecturer in politics at Queen Mary University and Sam Bidwell, a Parliamentary researcher and freelance writer join executive editor Sebastian Milbank to talk Reform, sectarian voting, first past the post, and Labour's constitutional plans. 

As Britain goes to the polls, we look at one of the election's untold stories — the emergence of a revived SDP (Social Democratic Party), carrying forwards an Owenite, socially conservative and economically left wing message to British voters. The SDP's leader, William Clouston, joined Executive Editor Sebastian Milbank to explain the party's vision. 

In our latest Critic podcast, we peer over the pond to the American elections. Last night saw the first (and perhaps last) debate between Trump and Biden. Executive Editor Sebastian Milbank was joined by Will Upton, a former US Treasury official and an editor of the National Pulse, to talk about the sorry sight of a man far too frail to run for office. 

The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen. In this episode, Jo speaks with Lord Moonie, a man of the left and a self-described “awkward sod” who resisted the rise of gender ideology and the medicalisation of children.

On the latest Critic election podcast, we're talking Tories. Sebastian Milbank is joined by Henry Hill, Deputy Editor of Conservative Home, and Fred de Fossard, Director of Parliamentary Affairs for the Legatum Institute, to discuss Conservatism past, present and future.  On the agenda are the credibility of the party manifestos, the possible collapse of the Conservative ground game, the likely result of a post-defeat leadership election, and the potential role of Reform as Tory nemesis. 

As populists make gains in the EU elections, and Reform rises in the polls in Britain, we ask if Europe's future, on both sides of the channel, is with the dissident right?  In our latest Critic election special, Sebastian Milbank is joined by Harrison Pitt, a Senior Editor at The European Conservative, and Political Commentator at the New Culture Forum, and by Sam Bidwell, a Parliamentary Researcher and freelance writer, to discuss the EU elections, Friday's TV debate, and whether populism can make the shift from insurgent movement to governing project. 

According to a recent report, 40 per cent of Labour voters can be descried as "blue values voters" — economic and social conservatives who want greater state investment in public services, but also law and order, migration restrictions and a patriotism from their political leaders.  In our first Critic election special, Executive Editor Sebastian Milbank is joined by Professor Adrian Pabst, a writer, academic and Deputy Director of the NIESR (National Institute of Economic and Social Research), and Liam Stokes, an experienced environmentalist and countryside campaigner, to ask if Starmer can take these voters with him, or if he's likely to leave them behind. 

The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen. In this episode, Jo speaks to Keira Bell, who took the Tavistock's Gender Identity Service to the High Court, and Paul Conrathe, a human rights solicitor who represented Bell.

The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen. In this episode, Jo interviews the whistleblowing psychotherapy duo Marcus and Sue Evans about the scandals of the Tavistock Centre, the Gender Identity Development Service, and the problem of ideology in medicine.

The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen. In this episode, Jo speaks to Stephanie Davies-Arai about children, safeguarding and her pioneering work founding Transgender Trend.

The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen.  In this episode, Jo interviews Dr Michael Biggs, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oxford and Fellow of St Cross College, about his early research into young people and gender medicine.

Josephine Bartosch is joined by Charlotte Gill to discuss silly academic research, the right to debate the apportioning of taxpayers' money and our decadent intellectual culture.

An all star panel of Critic editors and contributors, chaired by deputy editor Graham Stewart, addressed the theme of the crisis in the universities. James Orr spoke about the narrowing of speech in the university, and the centralisation of increasingly politicised research at Oxford and Cambridge. Sebastian Milbank discussed the medieval origins of  the university, and its contemporary crisis of purpose. Charlie Bentley-Astor led us into the subterranean world of the modern conservative student, forced to live out their shameful beliefs in secret. And David Butterfield called for a return of the humanistic heart of academia. Our next event will be a discussion of transgenderism held in a central London venue. You can sign up to our mailing list here, to stay informed.

Emma B from Children of Transitioners joins Jo Bartosch to discuss growing up with a trans father and the material and psychological challenges that it can cause.

Lisa Townsend, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, joins Jo Bartosch to discuss attempts to have her removed from her position for opposing the principle of “self-ID”, and to talk about how ideology can damage institutions

Curator and critic Pierre d'Alancaisez joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the delusions of the art world and the opportunities for independent creativity.

Former Braverman special advisor David Scullion joins Sebastian Milbank to discuss the Home Secretary's departure, what a SpAd is, and the ongoing battle between elected ministers and civil servants. 

Writer and researcher Ellen Pasternack joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss telling people off on the tube and the fluctuating nature of social cohesion.

Barry Norris joins Graham Stewart to discuss his new Critic cover story “Britain, goner with the wind” and the fallacies behind the growth of wind power.

Jo Bartosch interviews comedy writer and author Graham Linehan about his new book Tough Crowd and what led him to write it. 

Writer and commentator Rod Dreher in conversation with Critic executive editor Sebastian Milbank, to talk about Israel-Palestine, Viktor Orbán, and the dangers of romanticising victimhood. 

Writer and researcher Christopher Snowdon joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss smoking, vapes, obesity and all kinds of prohibitionism.

The writer Samuel Rubinstein joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss historical controversies, political controversies and where the two meet.

Dr David Butterfield, Literary Editor of The Critic, joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss his new article on Glastonbury, the different identities of the festival, and the decline of live music.

Ben Sixsmith is joined by the writer Patrick Galbraith to talk about hunting, endangered ways of life and what opinion columnists can learn from gamekeepers.

Writer Charlie Bentley-Astor joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss Cambridge cancel culture, declining birth rates, decolonisation and the diminished prospects of the young.

Opinion columnists are experts at picking through ashes, and here Nick Timothy joins Ben Sixsmith to do it in a more literal sense as they discuss the ongoing Ashes series, their favourite Ashes moments and the recent report on equity in cricket.

Writer and researcher James McSweeney joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss a future of energy shortages, institutional dysfunction, and why the beliefs, not the tactics, of Just Stop Oil are the real problem.

Jo Bartosch interviews India's most provocative feminist filmmaker, Vaishnavi Sundar, on her work on gender issues and the ensuing controversy

Graham Stewart and Dr Radomir Tylecote debate and discuss the extent to which the civil service has been politicised and obstructs democratic processes in Britain. 

Deputy director of the NIESR (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) Professor Adrian Pabst joints executive editor Sebastian Milbank to discuss the impact of the National Conservative conference, and the place of the nation in the modern world. 

Jo Bartosch joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the trials and triumphs of freelance writing, the state of the gender wars and the even darker side of pornography.

Tom Jones joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the impoverished prospects for British youth, Conservative self-harm and the need for major national reform.

The author and commentator Ed West joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the right-wing media, the pathologies of progressivism and the greying of British life.

Kittie Helmick joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss equality in education and the dangers of treating inclusion as an end in itself.

Journalist Charlotte Gill joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss London under Sadiq Khan, the classism of environmental regulations, and the politicisation of everything.

Journalist Poppy Coburn joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the charity sector, Conservative failings and her problems with the concept of post-liberalism.

Victoria Smith joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss her new book "Hags", the intersection of ageism and misogyny, and why J.K. Rowling makes people lose their marbles.

Ben Sixsmith and Sebastian Milbank discuss the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the ongoing consequences of the war, and why Alastair Campbell has a place in public life.

Lola Salem joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss gender politics, parenthood and the workplace, and the right-wing critique of art.

Online Editor Ben Sixsmith takes a wry look at the week's events with Online Editor Ben Sixsmith

Online Editor Ben Sixsmith speaks to Fred Skulthorp about his new print piece "The keyboard secret army", online disinformation, the journalists who have been so obsessed with it and how to reverse declining trust in media and politics.

Ben Sixsmith talks to Charlie Peters about his new “GB News Investigates” documentary Grooming Gangs: Britain's Shame and the multi-layered scandal of grooming gangs.

Ben Sixsmith speaks to Henry Jeffreys, the author of Empire of Booze, The Home Bar and the forthcoming Vines in a Cold Climate, about alcohol and all its implications.

Sebastian Milbank and Ben Sixsmith join forces once again to discuss Americanisation, commercialisation, the real roots of Christmas and the ideal present for the whole family.

Ben Sixsmith and Sebastian Milbank discuss social media, Elon Musk, the corruption of online spaces and their least favourite Twitter accounts.

Ben Sixsmith and Sebastian Milbank discuss the American midterms, their implications for the rest of the world, and why the hell Britons are so obsessed with the USA in the first place.