The Meridian Podcast

Merry Christmas! The last episode of 2021 is a real treat for you all, as Ollie and Eve sit down with Julie Etchingham of ITV News (@julie_etch). Julie has spent her career at the centre of British broadcasting and has become best known for her role as moderator of ITV's infamous election debates. She has been at the heart of campaign debates, trying to control up to 7 different politicians at once, each with their own agenda and style. We ask her how someone can prepare for such an encounter, and what's running through her head when they're live on air. This conversation covers a huge range of topics, including the differences between ITV and the BBC, the experience of women in the media over the years, and how *that* interview question with Theresa May came about. We hope you enjoy it - please let us know your favourite moments! We will be back in 2022 with more discussion, debate and interviews! Until then, stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas and new year. Hosts & Producers: Ollie Lewis and Eve Bennett Editor: Ollie Lewis @_ollielewis @_evebennett Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information. Introduction music courtesy of Podington Bear on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here. No changes were made to this track and this track is not being used for commercial purposes.

In the penultimate episode of this year, Ollie and Eve review the week's news in true chatty Meridian Podcast style. Hear their thoughts on why the Downing Street Christmas party has become such a huge story, what Labour's recent reshuffle means for their election chances and why the Strictly Come Dancing casting department have nailed it this year. We'll be back in two weeks with our Christmas special interview! Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information

BBC Newsnight's Lewis Goodall joins Ollie this week for an in-depth discussion about his experiences reporting on UK politics over the last 10 years. Lewis (@lewis_goodall), formerly a political correspondent for Sky News, goes into some of his favourite memories from his career: he was reporting from the front line of some of our biggest stories in recent years including multiple elections, the Brexit drama, debates about foreign policy and more recently, coronavirus. In addition, the pair discuss the role of the BBC in political discourse and its doctrine of impartiality & Lewis talks of his 'viral' moments - including an on-camera run in with the now infamous political strategist Dominic Cummings during the height of the Brexit process. We hope you enjoy this absolute treat of an episode that looks at all things politics, media, and includes an insight into how Lewis made his career! Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information. Host, Producer and Editor: Ollie Lewis Introduction music courtesy of Bio Unit on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here. No changes were made to this track and this track is not being used for commercial purposes.

Welcome to a new series of The Meridian Podcast! In this episode, Ollie and Eve host an in-depth discussion about the recent fall of Afghanistan back into the hands of the Taliban. The panel discusses whether President Trump or Biden is more to blame for recent strategic errors; whether western powers have a moral duty to 'liberate' Afghan women from oppression in the country; what this all means for the future of intervention by the US and UK; and the potential implications of this withdrawal for terrorism in the UK. On the panel: Prof. Anthony Glees (@AnthonyGlees), a professor specialising in politics, security and defence at the University of Buckingham Maheen Behrana (@BehranaMaheen), Editor-in-Chief of Backbench magazine, a non-partisan political publication Mike Gaughan (@MikeGaughan6), North America Editor for The Meridian Magazine Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information. Hosts & Producers: Ollie Lewis and Eve Bennett Editor: Ollie Lewis Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here. No changes were made to this track and this track is not being used for commercial purposes.

In the last episode of this series, Eve and Ollie host a discussion about what is slowly becoming the dominant issue in our politics: climate change and our ability to reach net-zero for carbon emissions. They are joined by Alex Thompson (@alexiagrace1305) and Rebecca Carey (@becca_carey_). The panel discusses the types of changes required to meet net-zero and how they can be achieved; should individual choice be jeapoardised for the sake of reducing emissions? Will our relationship with travel have to be overhauled in the next decade? And importantly, how important are major climate summits and treaties such as COP26 due to be held later this year? If you would like to read Alex's article, click here. Thank you for all your support so far - we cannot wait to return later in the year with more debate, analysis and interviews!

This week, Ollie and Eve look into two specific aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has affected marginalised groups in society. They are joined by Izzie Jani-Friend (@ijanifriend) to discuss how work and socialising being moved online during the pandemic has been of real benefit to many disabled people, and how elements of this can continue post-Covid. Zesha Saleem (@zeshasaleem) also joins the podcast to discuss vaccine hesitancy among ethnic minority groups: why it persists and how it can be combatted. Links to articles by Zesha and Izzie: Zesha's Times article on the race to reach vaccine hesitants before anti-vaxxers Zesha's gal-dem article on the susceptibility of PoC communities to conspiracies Zesha's VICE article on vaccine conspiracy theorists Izzie's VICE article about discrimination against disabled people in the workplace Izzie's Independent article about shielding since March 2020 Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Thanks to DELL for sponsoring this podcast episode. To find out more about DELL advantage for students, click here. Introducing...Headline Highlights! This week, Eve and Ollie have decided to introduce a new format for the podcast that will return every few episodes. Headline Highlights is nothing more than a casual, chatty and generally light-hearted discussion about some of the big (and more obscure) stories that have hit the headlines that week. In today's episode, they discuss Line of Duty and its appearance during PMQs; the BBC's coverage of the death of HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh; the first easing of lockdown in England; and the mind-boggling news of the first aircraft flight on Mars. If you enjoyed the new format, let us know! Our Twitter handles and email addresses are in the podcast description. We'll be back soon with an episode more like what you're used to, but we're always looking for ways to make the podcast more varied in style, and ultimately more enjoyable to listen to! Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

In this episode, Eve and Ollie are joined by Jay Gardner (@jaygardner_19) and Sophia Anderson (@soph_and12) to discuss the controversy surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup that is planned to go ahead in Qatar. The panel reacts to a report that found over 6500 migrant workers have died during the preparation, considers the things FIFA could be doing to better prepare countries that host the tournament, and discusses whether Qatar's conservative culture will clash with the ethos of the World Cup. Please hit 'follow' if you'd like to hear more from us...we hope you enjoy! Want to read Jay's article? Click here or head to the MENA section on our website. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

This week, Ollie and Eve host a discussion about Alexei Navalny - a Russian investigator and political figure who is an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin. They are joined by Leeza Isaeva (@leeza_i) and Alexandra Brody, both of whom have Russian heritage and expertise on the issue of opposition in the Russian political system. In the episode, the panel discusses Navalny's poisoning, his subsequent arrest and the way in which he and his team use social media to promote public protest. We hope you enjoy! Want to read the 'Russia Protests' series of articles in The Meridian Magazine? Click here, or head to the Europe section of our website. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

This week, Eve and Ollie had the pleasure of speaking with the BBC's North America Editor, Jon Sopel (@BBCJonSopel). In Jon's almost 40-year career at the BBC, he has held positions including Chief Political Correspondent at Westminster and Paris Correspondent. He has interviewed prime ministers and presidents, and reported on some of the world's biggest breaking news stories. Since 2014, Jon has served as the BBC's North America Editor, meaning he covered the jaw-dropping 2016 presidential election campaign, and had a front-row seat for every twist and turn of Donald Trump's presidency and the election that brought it to an end. His new book 'Unpresidented: politics, pandemics and the race that Trumped all others' is a diary account of the whirlwind that was 2020, and his experience of why it ended the way it did. In this episode, Jon discusses the post-truth era in America, the consequences of the January 6th riot, and how he prepares for an interview with the President of the United States (plus much much more!). If you enjoy the episode, please do leave us a review! Alternatively, tweet us @_evebennett & @_ollielewis If you want to read Jon's new book (we recommend it!), click here to buy from Amazon or head to your preferred book retailer. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Ollie and Eve talk to Rodrick Reed (@BringRodneyHome), the brother of American death row inmate Rodney Reed & Billie Melissa (@billiemelissa_), a campaigner and filmmaker. This hard-hitting discussion goes over the details of Rodney's case and why he has attracted global support from stars including Kim Kardashian and Rihanna. In addition, the panel talk about racism in the US justice system, how presidents Trump and Biden will take different approaches to capital punishment and what the Reed family's hopes are for the future. To view the Reed Justice Initiative YouTube channel, click here. Rodrick politely asks that you subscribe and enable notifications to be kept up to date with all communications on the channel. To donate to the Reed Justice Initiative, click here. A petition to which Rodrick would like to draw your attention is to stop the execution of Ramiro Ibarra on 4th March. To view Billie Allen's website, click here. Billie is "an artist, author and innocent on federal death row where he has spent 23 years for a crime he did not commit". On Billie Melissa's website, there is a page with resources including videos, articles, stories and organisations that she used to learn more in her journey of education about capital punishment. Click here to view. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

*SPOILERS AHEAD!* This week, Ollie and Eve focus their discussion on the new Channel 4/HBO series It's A Sin. With Robyn Eugene (@Robyn_Eugene) and Alys Parsons (@AlysParsons), the panel discuss the heartbreaking tragedy that is the AIDS pandemic, how it was exacerbated by political forces in the 1980s, and why Russell T Davies' series has struck such a chord with audiences. To read Robyn's article, click here. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Eve and Ollie host a discussion about UK 'influencers' and the choices they've made during the Covid-19 pandemic. They are joined by YouTuber Molly Thompson (Beauty Spectrum) plus journalist and student Ruby Frost (@rubylfrost_) to grapple with the moral question of whether it is right for online stars to be jetting off to sun-soaked destinations whilst the rest of the UK is confined at home. To read Ruby's article, click here. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Ollie and Eve host a discussion about the fast fashion industry; the harm it does, why it continues to exist and what can be done to mitigate the damage it does. They are joined by The Meridian's Europe Editor Rebecca Carey and Spanish radio journalist Marta Niza. Want to read Marta's article? Find it here: https://meridian-magazine.com/why-fast-fashion-in-spain-is-as-popular-as-ever/ Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

*TRIGGER WARNING AT START OF EPISODE* Ollie is joined by UK/Ireland Meridian Editor Nia Thomas, writer Caitlin Chatterton and writer and poet Alison Rumfitt. The panel discuss recent debates about transphobia within feminism and the influence of so-called Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists ('TERFs'), including Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. If you are affected by the issues discussed, the following organisations will be able to offer you support: Stonewall Freephone: 0800 0502020 (9:30 - 4:30 Monday to Friday) Galop (an LGBT+ anti-violence charity) 0207 704 2040, referrals@galop.org.uk National Trans 24 Helpline Call 07527 524034 or send a WhatsApp message to the same number Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Hello 2021! In this episode, Ollie and Eve lead a discussion about the scenes of violence and destruction that took place in Washington DC on 6th January. With The Meridian Magazine's US Editors, they consider why the events occurred and the political consequences for Republicans and Democrats alike. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Ollie and Eve are joined by freelance journalists Izzie Jani-Friend, Charlotte Colombo and Jonny Moynihan to discuss the UK's post-lockdown rules and arrangements for a Coronavirus Christmas. The panel discuss the ethics of the Christmas rule-relaxation, the festive economic trade and vaccine rollout. Enjoy! Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Eve and Ollie have an in-depth chat about the ins and outs of the 2020 US presidential election, and the course of events that led to Joe Biden's victory! In addition, they discuss what the immediate and long term future looks like for America. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Ollie chats to a panel of guests about the issues affecting the US presidential election, gives an overview of how the Electoral College system works and discusses how election night might play out. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Eve and Ollie speak to Caitlin Talbot and Zesha Saleem about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. In particular, is Sweden's response to the virus an ideal model, or are claims about its brilliance overblown? What questions has the pandemic raised about the role of the state in the UK, and the health of the union itself? Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Eve and Ollie are joined by Anmol Irfan, Asyia Iftikhar and Ayhan Sahani to discuss women's rights and the persistence of sexual assault in Pakistan. If you are affected by any of the issues in this episode, please reach out to the following resources: UK National Domestic Abuse Helpline by Refuge: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour freephone) Rape Crisis national freephone: 0808 802 9999 (12-2.30pm and 7-9.30pm every day of the year) Pakistan Punjab Women's Toll-Free Helpline: 1043 (24-hour, managed by PCSW) Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

Eve and Ollie are joined by The Meridian's North America Editor Nimo Omer to discuss Tuesday's presidential debate and the overall state of the race. Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at meridianpodcast@gmail.com Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information.

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