Podcast appearances and mentions of Amol Rajan

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Best podcasts about Amol Rajan

Latest podcast episodes about Amol Rajan

HARDtalk
Reid Hoffman, tech billionaire: AI job revolution

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 22:57


“The change that we're going to see happen with AI does mean that there's going to be some really difficult challenges and times ahead. But the question is, how do we get to both navigating those challenges as humanly and as gracefully as possible, and how do we get to the same kind of benefits of the amplification we got with the Industrial Revolution?“Amol Rajan speaks to tech billionaire Reid Hoffman, about why he thinks artificial intelligence could transform the future of work.Reid Hoffman is best known for co-founding LinkedIn, the largest professional networking platform in the world, and revolutionising the world of work. He wants to do it again with a rapid adoption of AI in the workplace in a way he says is safe and ethical. As one of the world's richest men he also gives his thoughts on tech billionaires and his former relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Thank you to the Radical with Amol Rajan team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with entrepreneur Emma Grede, CEO of Otter.ai Sam Liang, and First Lady of Sierra Leone Fatima Bio. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Cordelia Hemming Editor: Farhana HaiderGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Reid Hoffman Credit: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

On the Time Lash
154. All Talc in His Hair (73 Yards/K9 & Company)

On the Time Lash

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026 87:19 Transcription Available


Send us Fan Mail"Everyone gives Doctor Who shit for sticking some glasses on Millie Gibson but what about Amol Rajan?"Spooky women, sexual deviants and robot dogs abound as Ben and Mark tackle Russell T Davies' A24-lite thriller 73 Yards and Terence Dudley's occult oddity, K-9 & Company.Do either of these companion-centric Doctor Who stories actually have anything to say? Who does Susan Twist's Ncuti Gatwa impression remind us of? And while we're at it, whose house smells of ouzo and johnnies?Support the showFollow us on BlueskyLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

The Today Podcast
Is Social Media Making Young Women Hate Men? (Your Radical Questions with Dr Jilly Kay)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 13:45


With Amol away, Eliza Filby, who an author and historian specialising in generational change, steps in for this week's Q&A on young women and the “femosphere”. Jilly Kay, Professor of media and communications studies at Loughborough University, coined the term “femosphere”), and is here to answer your questions on the divide between young men and women, what role social media algorithms might have, and what men could do to help women avoid the “femosphere”. Plus, why might some people say that “femosphere” as a reasonable response to the patriarchy?GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical are released every Monday. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray with Oscar Pearson and Bella Saltiel. Digital production was by Jonathan Greer. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
The Rise of the Femosphere: Who Are the Women Giving Up on Men? (Dr Jilly Kay)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 51:36


Are young men and women being pushed further apart? Recent polling by Merlin Strategies for the New Statesman suggests a growing divide: Gen Z women are less likely than their male peers to describe themselves as “happy”, “ambitious”, “excited” or “fulfilled, and only 35% of women under 25 say they have a positive view of men. Professor of Media and Communications at Loughborough University, Dr Jilly Kay argues that digital platforms are accelerating a new era of gender polarisation. In this special edition of Radical, guest hosted by historian and academic Dr Eliza Filby, Jilly explains why she coined the term “femosphere” to describe online communities in which women are encouraged to see men as inherently problematic, avoid casual dating, and exploit male attention for financial gain. Jilly and Eliza explore why a generation raised online feels increasingly powerless amid economic insecurity and social fragmentation, and ask what solutions might exist for a culture shaped by pessimism, alienation and division. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.ukRadical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray with Oscar Pearson and Bella Saltiel. Digital production was by Jem Westgate. Technical production was by Jonathan Greer. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
What Are the Tech Billionaires Really Like? (Your Radical Questions with Reid Hoffman)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2026 18:26


Reid Hoffman is one of the founding fathers of the modern technology industry – an early investor and champion of the world of AI and the co-founder of the largest professional network in the world, LinkedIn. In this episode, he answers your questions on whether tech leaders understand the scale of their responsibility over the job market, how politicians will deal with the potential repercussions of tech on the working class, how AI could be used for evil, and what his contemporaries Elon Musk and Sam Altman are really like. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Monday. Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was the BBC's media editor and the editor of The Independent newspaper. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Joe Wilkinson and Beth Pritchard. Technical production was by Stephen Bailey. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
The Jobs Revolution: Is AI Working for You? (Reid Hoffman)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 68:07


This week, Amol is joined by the tech billionaire Reid Hoffman. Hoffman is best known for creating the largest professional network in the world, LinkedIn, and revolutionising the world of work. His radical idea is that he wants to do it again with a rapid adoption of AI in the workplace in a way that is safe and ethical. The question is, how? In this episode we ask one of the world's richest men why he thinks AI could change the workplace for better and for worse, whether billionaires should pay more tax, and his former relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Monday. Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was the BBC's media editor and the editor of The Independent newspaper. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Joe Wilkinson and Beth Pritchard. Technical production was by Stephen Bailey. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

HARDtalk
Emma Grede, entrepreneur: Success needs trade-offs

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 23:01


“There's this idea that you [can] sail your way to success or have some overnight success or kind of come upon success relatively easily. And that has just never, ever been.”Amol Rajan speaks to entrepreneur and businesswoman Emma Grede about the trade-offs we have to make to get to where we want to be in life.Emma Grede is co-founder of the clothing brand Skims, which she created with her husband Jens and Kim Kardashian. From ordinary beginnings in East London to the forefront of global consumer brands and social influence in LA, Emma Grede argues that focus, trade-offs and relentless effort matter more than comfort if you are to succeed. She says that opportunity still exists, if you're willing to chase it.Thank you to the Radical with Amol Rajan team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Arlo Parks, Parmy Olson and Chloé Zhao. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Cordelia Hemming Editor: Damon Rose and Farhana HaiderGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Emma Grede. Credit: Reuters)

The Today Podcast
Is AI Coming for Your Job? (Your Radical Questions with Matt Clifford)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2026 26:06


Amol puts your questions, queries, and concerns about AI to Matt Clifford, co-founder of Entrepreneurs First and former AI adviser to Number 10. Matt is a strong advocate for Britain's rapid uptake of AI to boost the economy, but what are the risks? We asked him about capitalism, tech stifling creativity, universal basic income, how the UK government deals with the speed of AI development, and what the impact on inequality might be. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Monday and Thursday. Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He also hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor of The Independent newspaper. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray and Oscar Pearson. Technical production was by Ricardo McCarthy. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Going for Growth: Can We Make Britain Wealthy Again? (Matt Clifford)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 76:04


This week, Amol speaks to Matt Clifford, co-founder of Entrepreneurs First and former AI adviser to Number 10. Matt's radical idea is simple; he wants to make Britain wealthy again by supercharging economic growth. He argues that economic stagnation has left the UK with flat living standards and wages. In short, he says, Britain needs a pay rise - and the way to get it is through a rapid adoption of AI, and backing entrepreneurs. But what are the challenges? Amol and Matt discuss the potential winners and losers in the AI revolution, the dangers of cutting red tape, and whether economic growth really is the best way of improving our lives.GET IN TOUCH    * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480  * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk    Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and Monday. Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was the BBC's media editor and the editor of The Independent newspaper.Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Ricardo McCarthy. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
How Can More Women Become Business Leaders? (Your Radical Questions with Emma Grede)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2026 19:05


This week, Amol puts your questions to the businesswoman Emma Grede - from opportunity and motivation, to how dyslexia can contribute to our work ethic and the way we approach tasks. Emma Grede is the co‑founder of Skims, created with her husband Jens and Kim Kardashian, and the CEO and co‑founder of Good American, a fashion label known for its focus on inclusivity. She also serves on the board of the Obama Foundation and is an ambassador for The King's Trust. GET IN TOUCH  * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480  * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk  Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday. Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was the BBC's media editor and the editor of The Independent newspaper.  Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made Lewis Vickers, Anna Budd, Rufus Gray, and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davies. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Taking Responsibility: Are We Thinking About Success and Ambition All Wrong? (Emma Grede)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 53:08


This week, the entrepreneur Emma Grede challenges ‘old thoughts' about work-life balance, money, motherhood and success. She argues that focus, trade-offs and relentless effort matter more than comfort. From growing up in East London to building global businesses, she makes the case that opportunity still exists, if you're willing to chase it. But are her ideas liberating - or just unforgiving? Emma Grede is the co‑founder of Skims, created with her husband Jens and Kim Kardashian, and the CEO and co‑founder of Good American, a fashion label known for its focus on inclusivity. She also serves on the board of the Obama Foundation and is an ambassador for The King's Trust. GET IN TOUCH  * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480  * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk   Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday. Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was the BBC's media editor and the editor of The Independent newspaper.  Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers, Anna Budd, Rufus Gray, and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The Senior News Editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Why Are Young People Abandoning the Political Centre? (Your Radical Questions with Adrian Wooldridge)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2026 27:15


Amol puts your Radical questions to Adrian Wooldridge, a Bloomberg columnist and author of ‘Centrists of the World Unite: The Lost Genius of Liberalism'. They discuss individualism and society, a decline in support for the centre ground, the potential dangers of nostalgia, and how the political centre could engage young people. GET IN TOUCH  * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480  * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk  Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday.  Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was the BBC's media editor and the editor of The Independent newspaper.  Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davies. Technical production was by Jonny Baker. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Feedback
Radical with Amol Rajan. Faith, Hope and Glory. Interview of the Year

Feedback

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 28:27


Listeners have been telling us their thoughts about a recent episode of Radical with Amol Rajan, in which he interviewed Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan, a physician specialising in neurology and clinical neurophysiology. It was an in-depth discussion about the potential dangers of "over-diagnosis" - but some listeners felt that Dr O'Sullivan's views could have been challenged more. We get some answers to your questions. A long-running and award-winning Radio 4 drama series has just come to an end. Faith, Hope and Glory has run for 43 episodes since 2021, and has recently wrapped up telling its ambitious, generation-spanning story about the emergence of modern multicultural Britain. Listeners have been in touch with their thoughts about the series, and so Andrea Catherwood sits down with one of the writers, Roy Williams, and director Jessica Dromgoole, to talk about how they weaved the story together. And lastly, there's another nomination for our Interview of the Year award. Listener Maggie nominates the recent interview with legendary photographer Don McCullin on Radio 4's This Cultural Life, who shared his cultural touchstones while reflecting on his challenging experiences in his early life and as a working war photographer. Listen to find out why she thinks it deserves the top spot. Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Pauline Moore Assistant Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Executive Producer: David PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

The Today Podcast
Reclaiming the Centre: Is the Old Political Order Dead? (Adrian Wooldridge)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 61:40


This week, the columnist and author Adrian Wooldridge joins Amol to argue that liberalism is not only the best ideology for the future, but that it's also under serious threat. Wooldridge sees populist movements on the right and identity-focused politics on the left as potentially fatal to liberal principles. The once dominant post-war philosophy has had a bad rap recently, so why should we bring it back? Has liberalism itself grown complacent? Is it now an out-of-touch establishment, failing to address modern challenges like social cohesion and corporate power? To survive, Wooldridge says, we must take radical steps to renew liberalism for the modern age and embrace the political centre again. GET IN TOUCH    * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480  * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk    Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and Monday. Amol Rajan presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was the BBC's media editor and the editor of The Independent newspaper.  Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Rufus Gray and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davies. Technical production was by Jonny Baker. The editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Can Technology Rescue Reading? (Your Radical Questions with James Marriott)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2026 21:46


Amol runs through your questions with the Times columnist James Marriott. They take on whether we could use technology to encourage people to do more reading, pessimism on social media, and whether we risk changing our sense of what it means to be human when we lose our connection to imaginary worlds in books. James's Radio 4 series ‘How Reading Made Us' is available now on BBC Sounds. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday. Amol presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and hosts University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor of The Independent newspaper. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers and Rufus Gray with Anna Budd, Cordelia Hemming and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davies. Technical production was by Johnny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

In this episode, Gyles is charmed and fascinated by Amol Rajan, the podcaster, broadcaster and host of Radical and Radio 4's Today programme. Amol tells Gyles about his family background - his parents moved to the UK from India when he was three years old. He talks about his father's insatiable love of English literature, his mother's brilliant cooking, and his own love of cricket. He talks about decline and opportunity, and why he has chosen to leave Radio 4. And finally, Amol and Gyles discuss bereavement, grief and Hamlet.Amol Rajan's podcast Radical is available to download here.Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube here. Join The Rosebud Family here. And visit our website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HARDtalk
Simukai Chigudu, African Politics Professor: I support reparations

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 23:01


“The European empires are guilty of a great many sins and horrors. And I actually think they should all be taking on a very serious project of decolonisation and reparative justice.”Amol Rajan speaks to Simukai Chigudu, Associate Professor of African Politics at Oxford University about the legacy of empire and how to reckon with the past. A member of the first generation born after the end of colonial rule in Zimbabwe, Simukai Chigudu came to the UK as a teenager and later became one of the founding members of a campaign to try to get the statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes moved from Oriel College in Oxford.Now an associate professor of African politics at the University of Oxford, he's written a memoir called Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire.He discusses the legacy of the Rhodes Must Fall campaign, why he thinks we should be decolonising the curriculum and whether countries like Britain should pay reparations for slavery.Thank you to the Radical with Amol Rajan team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Helen Thompson, professor of political economy at Cambridge University, and acclaimed author Sir Salman Rushdie. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Cordelia Hemming Editor: Damon RoseGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Simukai Chigudu Credit: BBC)

The Today Podcast
The Reading Recession: Are We Making Ourselves Less Intelligent? (James Marriott)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 58:16


This week, the columnist and writer James Marriott argues that reading is essential to the rise and fall of liberal democracy. He proposes that reading helps the spread of information, encourages critical thinking, and forces people to structure their ideas logically. But he's concerned the shift from deep reading to digital skim-reading - driven largely by screens - is weakening our ability to think in complex, reflective ways. He suggests the decline has political consequences - that a less literate, more screen-dependent public may be more vulnerable to misinformation and less capable of meaningful democratic participation. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday. Your Radical Questions is released every Monday. Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, and he's the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and the editor of The Independent newspaper. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers and Rufus Gray with Anna Budd, Cordelia Hemming and Oscar Pearson. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Johnny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Could All Government Decisions Be Made Through an App? (Your Radical Questions with Hélène Landemore)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 18:59


Yale political theorist and author of Politics Without Politicians, Professor Hélène Landemore, answers your questions about her radical vision for replacing electoral politics with citizen‑led democracy. She answers questions on app‑based referendum systems, how to persuade politicians to embrace open democracy, and why ‘de‑bundling' policies could lead to decisions that better reflect the public. They also explore how the architecture of parliamentary buildings shapes, and sometimes limits, effective governance. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Monday and Thursday. Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers, Anna Budd and Rufus Gray. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Rethinking Democracy: Would Citizens Do a Better Job than Politicians? (Hélène Landemore)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 55:03


In this week's episode, Amol sits down with Yale political theorist and author of ‘Politics Without Politicians', Professor Hélène Landemore, to discuss her argument to revive citizen‑led governance. She explains why she believes our current electoral systems fall short of representing the full diversity of the population and lays out a practical roadmap for what she calls an “open democracy.” Hélène also addresses the most common critiques of her approach and highlights real-world examples of citizen assemblies – how would they work at scale? Who would (and wouldn't) be allowed on them? And what if people simply aren't interested? GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and Monday. Previous episodes are available on BBC iPlayerhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers, Anna Budd and Rufus Gray. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Who Is Responsible For Over-Medicalisation? (Your Radical Questions with Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2026 21:42


Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan, neurologist and author of The Age of Diagnosis, answers your questions about her book, what it means for women who are under-diagnosed and how she deals with criticism of her work. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Monday and Thursday.Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Cordelia Hemming. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Jonny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham.

The Today Podcast
Over-Diagnosis: Are Too Many People Being Given Medical Labels? (Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 64:25


Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan thinks that we are getting diagnosis wrong. In this episode the neurologist and author of The Age of Diagnosis explains how advances in screening have led to certain diseases being over-detected and why she thinks giving a condition a label can sometimes do more harm than good. And Amol asks about some of the criticism she's faced since her book was published last year.GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Cordelia Hemming. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Jonny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Should Former Colonial Powers Pay Reparations? (Your Radical Questions with Simukai Chigudu)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2026 23:31


Simukai Chigudu, author of ‘Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire' and associate professor of African politics at Oxford University, answers your questions about statues, reparations for slavery and decolonising the curriculum.GET IN TOUCH* WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.ukEpisodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajanAmol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd and Cordelia Hemming. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Philip Bull. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
The Legacy of Empire: How to Reckon with the Past (Simukai Chigudu)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 56:56


Is removing statues and decolonising the curriculum the answer? A member of the first generation born after the end of colonial rule in Zimbabwe, Simukai Chigudu came to the UK as a teenager and later became one of the founding members of a campaign to try to get the statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes moved from Oriel College in Oxford. Now an associate professor of African politics at the University of Oxford, he's written a memoir called Chasing Freedom: Coming of Age at the End of Empire. In this episode he discusses the legacy of the Rhodes Must Fall campaign and whether countries like Britain should pay reparations for slavery. TIMECODES: (00:03:00) The history of colonialism in Zimbabwe (00:05:10) Cecil Rhodes' role in Zimbabwe and the ‘Rhodes Must Fall' campaign (00:09:35) Attitudes to England (00:16:37) Decolonising the curriculum (00:18:47) Statues (00:34:53) Experiencing racism (00:44:40) The case for reparations GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd and Cordelia Hemming. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Philip Bull. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Do Polls Influence Public Opinion? (Your Radical Questions with James Kanagasooriam)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 27:15


Leading pollster James Kanagasooriam answers your questions about how his idea of agency could advance social mobility, how it might be used by politicians and whether there are any reasons to be cheerful at a time of global instability. He also explains how voters might be influenced by the reporting of opinion polls. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dave O'Neill. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Naked Week: Ep1. War, Law, and Operation Amol Rajan.

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026 27:56


The Naked Week team dive into war, flout the law and enjoy a real life Town Crier performing selected highlights from Amol Rajan's Instagram feed.From The Skewer's Jon Holmes and host Andrew Hunter Murray comes The Naked Week, a fresh way of dressing the week's news in the altogether and parading it around for everyone to laugh at.With award-winning writers and a crack team of contemporary satirists - and recorded in front of a live audience - The Naked Week delivers an topical news-nude straight to your ears.Written by: Jon Holmes Katie Sayer Gareth Ceredig James Kettle Jason HazeleyAdditional Material: Karl Minns Ali Panting Helen Brooks Pete Redfern Cooper Mawhinny Sweryt Joe ToppingInvestigations Team: Cat Neilan Emily ChannonGuests: Rachel Parris, Mark Stephens CBE, Alan Myatt.Production Team: Tony Churnside, Jerry Peal, David Riffkin.Production Coordinator: Molly Punshon Assistant Producer: Katie Sayer Executive Producer: Philip AbramsProduced and Directed by Jon HolmesAn unusual production for BBC Radio 4

The Today Podcast
Taking Back Control: Why ‘Agency' Could Be The Next Big Idea In Politics (James Kanagasooriam)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 55:03


On this week's episode, leading pollster James Kanagasooriam explains how a sense of powerlessness amongst voters is shaping politics. His research suggests that people who feel like they have control over their lives are more likely to vote for traditional parties whereas those who don't tend to vote for populists promising to change the status quo. So what can we learn from this and how could the idea of ‘agency' help solve some of Britain's problems? TIMECODES (00:04:12) Why James thinks agency is the next big idea in politics (00:11:34) What does agency say about politics today? (00:16:30) Degradation of civic institutions and cultural loss (00:29:29) Cultural pessimism (00:34:41) The attention economy (00:40:17) Trade-offs (00:45:19) The impact of Covid (00:48:29) James' radical solutions (00:52:06) Amol's reflections GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis and Jem Westgate. Technical production was by Dave O'Neill. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Does Marriage Need Modernising? (Your Radical Questions with Ed Davies)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 26:04


Ed Davies, research director at the right-leaning anti-poverty think tank Centre for Social Justice, answers your questions about modern family life and relationships. He also discusses why young men are falling behind in work and education, how economic pressures are reshaping marriage rates, and why he argues that we need to re-prioritise social connection and community. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Tom Smithard, Anna Budd and Lewis Vickers. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dafydd Evans. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
The Decline of Marriage: Why We Need to Prioritise Family Life (Ed Davies)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 66:52


Marriage rates in the UK have fallen to historic lows, but what are the consequences? Ed Davies, research director at right‑leaning anti‑poverty think tank the Centre for Social Justice, explains what has led to this shift and argues that it has caused a decline in family stability with profound consequences for society. To deal with it he says we need to modernise marriage and adopt a range of policies that promote family life. TIMECODES (00:04:29) The decline of marriage in the UK (00:06:33) Why is the marriage decline happening? (00:19:10) Delayed adulthood and rise in autonomy (00:21:52) Are there benefits to the decline in marriage? (00:24:49) The consequences of the decline in marriage and family stability (00:32:37) Can marriage be modernised? (00:34:57) Feminism and motherhood (00:47:04) How this affects the UK's welfare bill (00:53:37) The impact of Andrew Tate on young boys (00:58:57) Ed's radical ideas (01:03:57) Amol's Reflections GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davies. Technical production was by Dafydd Evans. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
How Can Families Limit the Ultra‑Processed Foods Their Kids Eat? (Your Radical Questions with Thomasina Miers)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 24:08


MasterChef winner and founder of Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca, Thomasina Miers, answers your questions about the quality of kids' meals in restaurants, how to make hospitality an attractive career and whether cooking should be made a compulsory part of the curriculum in schools. She also tells Amol about the virtues of worm salt! GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Health and Hospitality: When Does Food Stop Being Food? (Thomasina Miers)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 51:32


The UK is one of the world's largest consumers of ultra-processed foods, so Wahaca restaurants founder Thomasina Miers thinks the government should cut the taxes of businesses that serve healthy alternatives. In fact, she challenges the idea that ultra‑processed products should be called ‘food' at all. From social canteens that teach people to cook simple meals to zero percent business rates for greengrocers, the MasterChef winner tells Amol how she would reform Britain's food system. And she warns that the hospitality sector is facing a “bloodbath” after Chancellor Rachel Reeves increased employer national insurance contributions. A government spokesperson said: “We're backing hospitality with a £4.3bn support package to limit business rate bill rises, alongside capping Corporation Tax at 25%, cutting red tape and investing £1.5 billion to create 50,000 more apprentices and foundation apprenticeships.” “The fair and necessary decisions we made at this Budget and the last mean we can deliver on the country's priorities – cutting waiting lists, cutting debt and borrowing and cutting the cost of living.” TIMECODES (00:03:35) Why Thomasina believes ultra‑processed food shouldn't be considered “real” food (00:08:27) The role of supermarkets (00:17:14) School meals (00:21:37) The state of the UK hospitality sector (00:31:24) Why every high street needs a greengrocer (00:35:38) Cutting VAT for restaurants (00:39:37) Valuing well‑grown, high‑quality produce (00:41:45) Weight‑loss drugs (00:44:02) Tackling food waste (00:48:08) Amol's reflections GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Is Capitalism Holding Back Social Mobility? (Your Radical Questions with Joe Seddon)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 23:28


Founder of the tech driven social enterprise Zero Gravity, Joe Seddon answers your radical questions about boosting social mobility in the UK and helping talented young people from low opportunity areas realise their potential. Amol and Joe explore how volunteering can become a powerful engine for skill building, discuss the rise in youth unemployment, and unpack Joe's prediction that the next 15 years could bring a “blue collar rebellion” as AI reshapes white collar work. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by James Piper. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Social Mobility: How to Break the Link Between Background and Opportunity (Joe Seddon)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 64:24


Joe Seddon, founder of Zero Gravity, thinks “geography is destiny in the UK” which is why he has built a tech platform to do something about it. In this week's episode, Amol and Joe dig into the barriers facing young people across the country, from stalled social mobility to uneven access to opportunity. Growing up in a single‑parent household in Morley, West Yorkshire, he went on to study at the University of Oxford, but he thinks those opportunities are still too rare for people from a similar background. That's why his platform connects people from low-opportunity areas with top universities and employers. But Joe argues that there needs to be “radical transparency” in how university degrees are advertised so people know the value of the course they're applying to. And in a blunt message to ambitious people from disadvantaged backgrounds, he admits that the economic reality means that “you should think seriously about leaving your hometown.”TIMECODES (00:03:46) Social mobility in the UK (00:11:24) The impact of AI on social mobility (00:16:49) Can government policy improve social mobility? (00:18:14) The broken social contract for Gen Z (00:21:00) Student loan repayments (00:27:24) Are too many people going to university? (00:30:49) Joe's RADICAL ideas (00:36:19) Joe's journey from West Yorkshire to Oxford University (00:40:37) Accent bias (00:46:55) Why “geography is destiny” in the UK (00:54:36) What is Zero Gravity? (01:36:44) Amol's reflections GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by James Piper. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

HARDtalk
Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist: We're at a tipping point for kids and technology

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 22:59


"There is a public health disaster. There is an education disaster. It all can be traced to the same cause, which is the change technology has made in our kids' childhood."Amol Rajan speaks to the American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. In 2024 his book The Anxious Generation sparked a fierce debate about the impact of social media and technology on young people. Haidt believes it's behind the soaring number of mental health problems but social media companies claim this oversimplifies a deeply complex issue.Now he says we are at a tipping point in our relationship with technology, with countries moving towards much greater regulation of social media use for children.Thank you to the Radical team for its help in making this programme.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Microsoft AI boss Mustafa Suleyman and Annika Wells, the minister in charge of Australia's social media ban for under-16s. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Amol Rajan Producers: Anna Budd and Lucy Sheppard Editor: Justine LangGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Jonathan Haidt Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)

The Today Podcast
Can A ‘Repair Not Replace' Culture Be Revived In Fashion? (Your Radical Questions with Josephine Philips)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 20:03


Tech entrepreneur and founder of tailoring and repair company SOJO Josephine Philips answers your questions on fast fashion, manufacturing and scaling the repair economy. She also discusses how big retailers are beginning to invest in repairs, the craft of making a garment and why we need to invest more in manufacturing clothing in the UK. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

Not Today, Thank You
Ratcliffe and the Rat

Not Today, Thank You

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 17:07


Sir Jim Ratcliffe feels like the UK has been colonised. NOT BY HIM. Meanwhile, my workroom has been colonised, by an Actual Rat. LOLS APLENTY. Plus an imaginary conversation with an LBC presenter, The Muppets Shawshank Redemption, and your latest Amol Rajan programme formats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Today Podcast
Consumer Culture: Why We Need to Buy Less (Josephine Philips)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 57:25


The fashion industry is the world's second‑largest contributor to carbon emissions, surpassed only by agriculture. With such a significant impact on the climate, the question is: what can we actually do about it? Tech entrepreneur and founder of SOJO, Josephine Philips, wants you to stop throwing clothes away and think about what you're buying. In her conversation with Amol, they explore the wider issues tied to fast fashion, including exploitative labour practices, overflowing landfills, and the relentless pace of production. They also look at the rise of second‑hand shopping, from charity shops to online resale platforms, and how this shift is reshaping consumer habits. She says legislation can play a major role in holding large companies accountable for their product life cycle and Josephine shares practical, everyday steps we can all take to reduce our impact on the environment. TIMECODES (00:02:17) What is SOJO? (00:06:22) How the fashion industry impacts people and communities globally (00:11:03) Corporate responsibility and legislation (00:13:38) The environmental impact of the fashion industry (00:21:45) Josephine's RADICAL solutions (00:23:38) The growth of second-hand fashion (00:26:55) Learning to repair our clothes instead of throwing them away (00:32:20) The downside of overconsumption (00:35:30) Affordability in sustainable fashion (00:38:38) Practical advice to help you consume less (00:50:41) Learning from past generations (00:54:24) Amol's Reflections GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Mike Regaard. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
How Do We Reduce Political Polarisation Online? (Your Radical Questions with Jonathan Haidt)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 20:31


Social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation Jonathan Haidt answers your questions on social media bans for under‑16s, the influence of YouTube, and the risk of restricting access to certain online platforms.He also talks about Donald Trump's second presidency and how technology is changing the nature of political debate.GET IN TOUCH* WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.ukEpisodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajanAmol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dafydd Evans. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Social Media Bans: Are We at a Global Turning Point? (Jonathan Haidt)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 56:17


Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt is at the forefront of the campaign to ban social media for under-16s and end what he calls “phone-based childhoods”. His book, The Anxious Generation, sparked a global reckoning that has led countries like Australia and Spain to introduce laws restricting access to social media platforms. He spoke to Amol ahead of a meeting with UK health secretary Wes Streeting about why he thinks we're at a tipping point, whether technology is making us “stupider” and how parents can reduce their child's smartphone use by organising local “play-bourhoods”. A Meta spokesperson said: “We agree with Jonathan Haidt that keeping teens safe online is critical. That's why we've made meaningful changes - like Teen Accounts - to limit who can contact teens, what they see, and their time on our apps. However, two recent independent, large-scale studies in the UK and Australia, including one from Oxford, show the complexity of teen mental health and that many factors beyond social media influence it. Any serious conversation should reflect all the evidence and social media's positive role for teens: friendship, skill-building and finding community." Snapchat and TikTok were approached for comment. TIMECODES(00:03:45) Are we reaching a global turning point in how children interact with technology? (00:05:58) Understanding why governments have been slow to respond (00:10:23) How Meta has reacted to Jonathan Haidt's research (00:12:35) Exploring the claim that we are becoming ‘stupider' (00:15:58) Phone-free schools (00:19:13) The rise and impact of the loneliness epidemic (00:24:38) Jonathan presents his evidence on the ‘correlation vs. causation' debate (00:34:09) How Jonathan addresses criticism of his work (00:35:17) What the science shows about social media, smartphones and developing brains (00:37:44) Why children benefit from facing adversity (00:40:18) Jonathan Haidt's message to children (00:42:47) Jonathan Haidt's message to parents (00:49:48) Examining the argument that kids will always find ways around social media restrictions (00:53:08) Meta's response GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dafydd Evans. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Will There Be A Revolt Against AI Music? (Your Radical Questions with Panos A. Panay)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2026 17:48


Panos A. Panay, president of the Grammy Awards and Recording Academy, answers your questions about how governments can better support musicians and whether an AI-free music platform could exist in the future.He also explores whether royalties paid to artists' estates could be redirected to help fund the next generation of musicians.GET IN TOUCH* WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.ukEpisodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajanAmol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dave O'Neill. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
The Night Manager: How To Make Great British Drama (Simon Cornwell)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 50:16


Executive producer and son of John le Carré, Simon Cornwell, speaks to Amol about how The Night Manager was revived a decade after its first season and how his father's work was reimagined for a new generation. They also discuss the shifting realities of producing for linear TV versus streaming, the risk of losing distinctive British storytelling, and whether there should be a ‘streamers' tax'. And as the second series comes to an end, Simon offers Amol a tantalising hint of what's to come in series three. GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dafydd Evans. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Inside the Music Business: The Grammys President on the Fight to Protect Artists (Panos A. Panay)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 48:18


As president of The Recording Academy, which organises the Grammy Awards, Panos A. Panay is grappling with how artificial intelligence and streaming is transforming the music industry, often at the expense of artists. A former agent who worked with the likes of Leonard Cohen and Nina Simone, Panos tells Amol about his love of music and how that led to him becoming one of the most influential figures in the industry. And against the backdrop of record-breaking tours from Beyonce and Taylor Swift, he reflects on why the next generation of artists like Sabrina Carpenter are forging real connections with audiences through live performances. (00:04:16) What is the Recording Academy? (00:05:17) How did he want to change the Academy as president? (00:07:10) Finding his love for music growing up in Cyprus (00:10:39) Panos' career in the music industry (00:17:01) What does an agent look for in an artist in 2000 vs 2026? (00:22:19) Are artists being unfairly paid by music streaming companies? (00:25:55) How do you get a better deal for artists? (00:27:45) The threat of AI to the music industry (00:33:11) Panos' RADICAL ideas (00:37:32) The rise of live music (00:39:20) The popularity of music in different languages (00:45:51) Amol's Reflections GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dave O'Neill. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

HARDtalk
Helen Thompson, Professor of Political Economy: A new era of global power politics

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 22:59


“Regardless of whether it's Trump or anybody else in the White House, we should expect something quite significant to be going on in terms of the United States' relationship with the rest of the world.”Amol Rajan speaks to Helen Thompson, Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University, about a new era of global power play. In this conversation, she traces the roots of the re-birth of US expansionism back to the 19th century, and America's early presidents. She also explains how the dynamics of geopolitics are tied to the control of resources, in particular oil.Professor Thompson is an expert on the history of globalisation who has taught at Britain's Cambridge University for more than 30 years. Her current research looks at the geopolitics of energy, and the long history of this century's global disruptions.Thank you to the Radical team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with the Colombian president Gustavo Petro, New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Amol Rajan Producers: Anna Budd, Lucy Sheppard Editor: Justine LangGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Helen Thompson Credit: Anna Budd/BBC)

The Today Podcast
What Does It Take To Be A Foster Carer? (Your Radical Questions with Louise Allen)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2026 20:13


Louise Allen answers your questions about the rewards and challenges of being a foster carer.She also discusses reports that a new government strategy will back a scheme that helps foster carers expand their properties to give more young people a home.GET IN TOUCH* WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.ukEpisodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajanAmol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Jonny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Children in Care: How to Fix the Fostering Crisis (Louise Allen)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026 56:23


As the government prepares to introduce a strategy to boost fostering in England, Amol speaks to foster carer and author Louise Allen about the crisis in the system and what it will take to fix it. At the end of March 2024 there were 83,630 children in care in England, of whom 56,390 were being fostered, but there is a shortfall of around 6,000 foster carers nationwide. In this episode Louise explains why we need to be more honest about the realities of caring for often vulnerable kids and focus on retaining foster carers rather than recruiting new ones. She also explains why there needs to be more practical support like providing a cleaner for every fostering household so that they can focus on emotionally supporting the children in their care. (00:03:10) Why is there a fostering crisis? (00:06:20) Why do we have so many children in care? (00:08:49) Louise's story: growing up in care (00:16:13) The effect of smartphones (00:20:08) Why is there a shortage of foster carers? (00:23:37) Why do people foster? (00:27:28) The recruitment process (00:30:33) Foster care v residential care (00:33:10) What is the fostering allowance? (00:39:09) Louise's RADICAL ideas (00:45:06) The government's fostering reforms (00:47:30) The importance of giving children social capital (00:52:19) Amol's reflectionsGET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dave O'Neill. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
How Will The Shift To Green Energy Reshape Global Politics? (Your Radical Questions with Professor Helen Thompson)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2026 22:15


Professor Helen Thompson, an expert on oil and global politics, answers your questions about Europe's energy security, whether America would intercept Russian-flagged tankers carrying oil to Cuba and what uncomfortable truth she would inject into political debate. She also explains how the shift away from burning gas and oil and towards electricity and renewable energies will affect geopolitics? GET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Jonny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

The Today Podcast
Trump v China: How Oil Is Defining Great Power Politics (Professor Helen Thompson)

The Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 60:52


The capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro by the United States feels like confirmation that we are in a new era of global politics, but what has caused this shift and where does it leave Europe? Amol speaks to Professor Helen Thompson, an expert on the history of globalisation and author of Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century, about how oil is fuelling competition between the US and China. They explore how it's reshaping global power politics, whether it's possible for Europe to decouple from the US and why high levels of national debt threaten to undermine Western economies. And Helen, who is Professor of Political Economy at the University of Cambridge, explains why she thinks there is a case for potentially reversing the independence of central banks like the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England to give politicians more control. (00:05:11) What is the Western Hemisphere? (00:07:45) The importance of Venezuela (00:11:05) How and why Washington is putting pressure on China (00:19:30) Why Trump is inspired by the US in the late 19th century (00:25:08) The rules based international order (00:29:00) Where does Europe fit into this new world? (00:30:52) Can Europe break away from the US? (00:33:30) Oil and the Western Economic Crisis (00:37:40) How is oil effecting power politics today? (00:40:40) What about renewable energy? (00:43:58) The coming debt emergency (00:46:30) Helen's RADICAL ideas (00:56:02) Amol's reflectionsGET IN TOUCH * WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480 * Email: radical@bbc.co.uk Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent. Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Jonny Hall. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

HARDtalk
Mustafa Suleyman, Artificial Intelligence pioneer: people should be healthily afraid of AI

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026 22:59


'As somebody who's deeply techno-optimistic, I invite people to be also healthily afraid and sceptical'BBC presenter Amol Rajan speaks to the British artificial intelligence entrepreneur Mustafa Suleyman, Chief Executive of Microsoft AI.He believes in the enormous potential of AI to be a force for good in the world, changing how we live and work for the better. He's committed to developing a humanist superintelligence, one that always works to serve people and never vice versa. But he remains clear about what he sees as the risks, issuing a warning that without the right ethical safeguards, AI could grow powerful enough to overwhelm humanity.The son of a London taxi-driver and a nurse, he dropped out of Oxford University and by his mid-twenties had co-founded DeepMind, the pioneering artificial intelligence research lab. By the time it was sold to Google four years later in 2014, it was worth a reported $400 million.Thank you to the Today team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Amol Rajan Producers: Kate Collins, Ollie Stone-Lee and Lucy Sheppard Editor: Justine LangGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

HARDtalk
Sir Nick Clegg: Social media's power paradox

HARDtalk

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 22:59


Amol Rajan speaks to Sir Nick Clegg - former deputy Prime Minister of the UK and, more recently, former President of Global Affairs at Meta - about big tech, AI and the future of social media.Sir Nick first appeared on the world stage back in 2010, when he became the UK's deputy prime minister after his Liberal Democrats party went into a coalition government with David Cameron's Conservatives.After leaving Westminster in 2017, he surprised many political observers when he was hired by Facebook, now known as Meta, to head up their global affairs and communications. In 2022, Sir Nick was then promoted to become the company's president of global affairs, where he oversaw policy and government relations.Sir Nick subsequently worked closely with Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg for several years, but decided to step down at the beginning of this year.And now, amid growing concerns over the regulation of big tech, the growth of AI and the future of the internet itself, he's drawing on his vast experience from both Westminster and Silicon Valley to offer insight into what could be ahead.Thank you to the Radical with Amol Rajan team for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Amol Rajan Producer: Ben Cooper, Anna Budd and Lewis Vickers Editor: Justine LangGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Sir Nick Clegg. Credit: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe's Lockdown Parenting Hell

Joining us this episode to discuss the highs and lows of parenting (and life) is the brilliant journalist, writer and broadcaster - Amol Rajan. Formerly the media editor of BBC News, he has been a presenter on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 since 2021 and University Challenge on BBC Two since 2023. You can listen to Amol's podcast 'Radical' wherever you get your podcasts. Parenting Hell is a Spotify Podcast, available everywhere every Tuesday and Friday. Please subscribe and leave a rating and review you filthy street dogs... xx If you want to get in touch with the show with any correspondence, kids intro audio clips, small business shout outs, and more.... here's how: EMAIL: Hello@lockdownparenting.co.uk Follow us on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@parentinghell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A 'Keep It Light Media' Production  Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices