Podcasts about bellaigue

Henry VIII lorded it over England. Francis I dominated France. Charles V was the main man in central Europe. Yet arguably none was as powerful as Ottoman sultan Suleyman the Magnificent – a true heavyweight of the 16th century. Speaking to Spencer Mizen, author Christopher de Bellaigue discusses a man who had designs on becoming 'world emperor', only to be hamstrung by bloody infighting among his own family. (Ad) Christopher de Bellaigue is the author of The Golden Throne: The Curse of a King (Bodley Head, 2025). Buy it now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Throne-Curse-King/dp/1847927424/?tag=bbchistory045-21&ascsubtag=historyextra-social-histboty. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I spoke to Christopher before about his book the Lion House. That was part 1 of a trilogy on the life of Suleiman the Magnificent. Christopher is back to talk about part 2: The Golden Throne - the Curse of a King.Suleiman is older and perhaps wiser now. The Turks have unleashed Barbarossa on Christendom and just when they need to act together Francis I of France enters into an alliance with Suleiman. Suleiman seems to be winning on all fronts but the curse of the king lurks at the heart of his rule!We talk about harems, eunuchs and some of the most tragic episodes of the day. And perhaps I shouldn't laugh but the story of Barbarossa's fleet eating the French out of house and home was irresistibly funny to me. As ever Christopher has a fascinating story to tell and tells it beautifully.You can send a message to the show/feedback by clicking here. I can't reply so if you need one please include your email.

Considérée comme une référence par ses alliés de Fratelli d'Italia en Italie ou Républicains aux États-Unis, la politique familiale hongroise s'adresse à une frange restreinte de la population et coûte très cher à l'État ; le résultat n'est pas à la hauteur, le président l'a lui-même reconnu. Reportage. La politique nataliste hongroise n'a pas porté ses fruitsEn France, le recul de la natalité devrait être moins fort cette année qu'en 2023, mais il se poursuit comme dans la quasi-totalité de l'Union européenne. Manque d'espoir face à l'instabilité économique et aux conflits dans le monde ou encore manque de crèches, manque d'aide sociale : les causes de cette désaffection sont nombreuses.En Hongrie, pour encourager les naissances, Viktor Orban a mis en place de nombreuses mesures à son retour au pouvoir en 2010. Un modèle dont voudrait s'inspirer l'équipe de Donald Trump aux États-Unis... Mais voilà,  malgré les crédits à prix doux, carrément transformés en dons, si les parents s'engagent sur papier à avoir 3 enfants, force est de constater que cette politique hongroise n'a pas le succès attendu : le taux de fertilité de la population continue à diminuer. Reportage, Florence La Bruyère.  Allemagne / Proche-Orient, relations sous tensionAlors que tous les regards sont tournés vers la Syrie après la chute du régime de Bachar al-Assad, la guerre au Proche-Orient se poursuit ; malgré le cessez-le-feu annoncé, l'armée israélienne poursuit ses frappes au sud Liban.  Au fil des guerres et des crises, des millions de Libanais ont choisi l'exil. En Afrique, bien sûr, mais aussi en Europe. Journaliste de dessin de presse reconnu dans son pays, Bernard Hage est parti après avoir tout perdu dans l'explosion du port de Beyrouth en 2020. Et comme beaucoup de Libanais, il a choisi Berlin. Une ville qui fait figure d'exemple pour avoir su guérir ses traumatismes et regarder son passé en face. Mais aujourd'hui dans la communauté libanaise, le soutien sans concession de l'Allemagne au gouvernement israélien suscite un malaise. Et perturbe le travail du journaliste. Portrait signé Julien Méchaussie et Noémie de Bellaigue. L'héritage controversé de Gori en GéorgieEn Géorgie, la répression des rassemblements favorables au rapprochement avec l'Union européenne se poursuivent depuis deux semaines, de plus en plus durement réprimés. Des centaines de personnes ont été arrêtées à quelques jours du scrutin présidentiel. Accents d'Europe vous emmène à Gori, ville natale du Géorgien le plus célèbre de l'histoire : tristement célèbre : il s'agit de Joseph Staline, dirigeant de l'URSS pendant près de 25 ans. Et à Gori, l'héritage du révolutionnaire devenu dictateur fait débat, comme l'a constaté Robin Dussenne. La chronique musique de Vincent Théval : Train Schedule, de la compositrice et chanteuse biélorusse Chikiss.

Considérée comme une référence par ses alliés de Fratelli d'Italia en Italie ou Républicains aux États-Unis, la politique familiale hongroise s'adresse à une frange restreinte de la population et coûte très cher à l'État ; le résultat n'est pas à la hauteur, le président l'a lui-même reconnu. Reportage. La politique nataliste hongroise n'a pas porté ses fruitsEn France, le recul de la natalité devrait être moins fort cette année qu'en 2023, mais il se poursuit comme dans la quasi-totalité de l'Union européenne. Manque d'espoir face à l'instabilité économique et aux conflits dans le monde ou encore manque de crèches, manque d'aide sociale : les causes de cette désaffection sont nombreuses.En Hongrie, pour encourager les naissances, Viktor Orban a mis en place de nombreuses mesures à son retour au pouvoir en 2010. Un modèle dont voudrait s'inspirer l'équipe de Donald Trump aux États-Unis... Mais voilà,  malgré les crédits à prix doux, carrément transformés en dons, si les parents s'engagent sur papier à avoir 3 enfants, force est de constater que cette politique hongroise n'a pas le succès attendu : le taux de fertilité de la population continue à diminuer. Reportage, Florence La Bruyère.  Allemagne / Proche-Orient, relations sous tensionAlors que tous les regards sont tournés vers la Syrie après la chute du régime de Bachar al-Assad, la guerre au Proche-Orient se poursuit ; malgré le cessez-le-feu annoncé, l'armée israélienne poursuit ses frappes au sud Liban.  Au fil des guerres et des crises, des millions de Libanais ont choisi l'exil. En Afrique, bien sûr, mais aussi en Europe. Journaliste de dessin de presse reconnu dans son pays, Bernard Hage est parti après avoir tout perdu dans l'explosion du port de Beyrouth en 2020. Et comme beaucoup de Libanais, il a choisi Berlin. Une ville qui fait figure d'exemple pour avoir su guérir ses traumatismes et regarder son passé en face. Mais aujourd'hui dans la communauté libanaise, le soutien sans concession de l'Allemagne au gouvernement israélien suscite un malaise. Et perturbe le travail du journaliste. Portrait signé Julien Méchaussie et Noémie de Bellaigue. L'héritage controversé de Gori en GéorgieEn Géorgie, la répression des rassemblements favorables au rapprochement avec l'Union européenne se poursuivent depuis deux semaines, de plus en plus durement réprimés. Des centaines de personnes ont été arrêtées à quelques jours du scrutin présidentiel. Accents d'Europe vous emmène à Gori, ville natale du Géorgien le plus célèbre de l'histoire : tristement célèbre : il s'agit de Joseph Staline, dirigeant de l'URSS pendant près de 25 ans. Et à Gori, l'héritage du révolutionnaire devenu dictateur fait débat, comme l'a constaté Robin Dussenne. La chronique musique de Vincent Théval : Train Schedule, de la compositrice et chanteuse biélorusse Chikiss.

We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2019: Countries around the world are making it easier to choose the time and manner of your death. But doctors in the world's euthanasia capital are starting to worry about the consequences. By Christopher de Bellaigue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

This lecture was delivered at the University of St Andrews on 31 January 2024. 

A bonus episode with Hannah Lucinda Smith, Christopher de Bellaigue and Misha Glenny

The aviation industry has the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but the development of existing technologies that can get us there is lagging far behind. In his new book Flying Green: On the Frontiers of New Aviation (https://globalreports.columbia.edu/books/flying-green/), Christopher de Bellaigue explains why flight and carbon consciousness are not mutually exclusive. He joins host Richard Aldous to sketch out the long slog involved in such a convergence.

One of the great ironies of the world today is that while the problems we face, particularly with respect to climate, must, if they're ever to be solved, bring the world closer together in seeking solutions. One of the ways that we can come together via travel or in person is also one of the supreme carbon-intensive things that we do to harm the planet. And yet, the airline industry has committed to at least making the effort towards zero emissions by 2050. Like so much of what must save us from the ravages of climate change, technology lies at the heart of the solution. Along with it, the forces of the market, of innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and scientists, must move with the same vision that the Wright brothers took to create the idea of flying itself. Telling this modern story is renowned British journalist Christopher de Bellaigue, a historian, and journalist, known for his reporting and books on the Middle East and environmental and ethical issues. His latest is Flying Green: Flying Green: On the Frontiers of a New Aviation. My WhoWhatWhy conversation with Christopher de Bellaigue:

Tackling climate change requires urgent action and the race to reach net zero is on. One single flight from London to New York produces roughly 986 kilograms of carbon dioxide, that's more than most people in Africa, Asia or South America produce in an entire year. But with everybody's love for travel and the need for international mobility, how can this industry adapt to help save our planet?This panel features Christopher de Bellaigue, Author of ‘Flying Green: On the Frontiers of Aviation'; Cait Hewitt, Policy Director at the Aviation Environment Federation; Sergey Kiselev, Chief Business Officer at ZeroAvia; Maja Rosén, Co-Founder of We Stay On The Ground; and Aaron Munetsi, Chief Executive Officer of Airlines Association of Southern Africa.This event was recorded as part of a live webinar on 25 April 2023.

EPISODE 1427: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of FLYING GREEN, Christopher de Bellaigue ,about the inventors, visionaries, entrepreneurs and marketers pioneering what they claim is a new, environmentally more responsible airline industry. Christopher de Bellaigue writes books and articles and makes radio and TV programmes. A lecturer, moderator and journalist who has reported from four continents, he has addressed subjects as diverse as loneliness and the environment, colonial legacies and religious radicalisation. Building on the success of The Lion House, his history of the rise of Suleyman the Magnificent, Christopher is currently writing the second part of a projected trilogy on the great Ottoman Sultan, while in April 2023 Columbia Global Reports will publish Flying Green, his book about the decarbonisation of aviation, a subject that combines his interest in climate science, technology and ethics. Uniting these varied threads is his role as a conciliator: between the past and the present, between adversaries, cultures and ideas. Christopher de Bellaigue is a regular contributor to some of the world's most trusted media outlets, has held fellowships at Oxford and Harvard and has lectured in boardrooms and universities around the world. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher de Bellaigue's book The Lion House is a brilliant history of the first part of Suleiman the Magnificent's reign. I love history and I can't remember loving a history book more that this one. As I say in the podcast, I think it is an unabashed masterpiece and such a pleasure to read. Christopher tells the story in particular of two men at the court of Suleiman and their struggle to rise and prosper in extraordinarily difficult times. And it is the story also of Suleiman's love for his concubine (and later wife) Hurrem. Christopher is not only a great writer, he is also a superb conversationalist and I think this is an episode that everyone will enjoy.

In today's episode, Christopher de Bellaigue writes about how the world's most successful politician has never fought clean, in an UnHerd article called Will Erdoğan survive Turkey's earthquake?

Within a decade and a half, Ottoman Sultan Suleyman, who reigned form 1520 to 1566, held dominion over twenty-five million souls, from Baghdad to the walls of Vienna, and with the help of his brilliant pirate commander Barbarossa placed more Christians than ever before or since under Muslim rule. He launched voyages into the Indian Ocean, threatened to conquer all of Europe, and took firm control over the Mediterranean Sea. And yet the real drama takes place in close-up: in small rooms and whispered conversations, behind the curtain of power. His confidantes include the Greek slave who becomes his Grand Vizier, the Venetian jewel dealer who acts as his go-between, and the Russian consort who becomes his most beloved wife.Today's guest Christopher de Bellaigue, author of The Lion House. He tells not just the story of rival superpowers in an existential duel, nor of one of the most consequential lives in human history, but of what it means to live in a time when a few men get to decide the fate of the world.

A história da batalha pela Tradição Católica no Brasil narrada por um dos integrantes neste mesmo combate, S.E.R. Dom Tomás de Aquino. De tal ardor foi a resistência efetuada por Dom Marcel que podemos, sem exageros, dizer que toda a resposta ao Vaticano II foi apenas uma continuidade de sua obra, direta ou indiretamente. Tal como o escudo de Aquiles imaginado por Homero, a fé do arcebispo de ferro, erigiu-se como o centro, do qual emanam todas as verdadeiras resistências às imposições modernistas. E nosso convidado, um dos participantes ativos deste mesmo combate pela fé, "a vida sobre a terra é uma guerra" (Jó 7, 1), tratará de nos apresentar a linha de ouro que o conduz: "Aqueles que escutaram Dom Lefebvre são os legítimos vencedores." Link para a compra do livro, "Vencedores e Vencidos" de Dom Tomás de Aquino

The Lion House by Christopher de Bellaigue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're talking about the Chalke Valley History Festival, the biggest festival in the world devoted entirely to history, which runs from 20th to the 26th of June at its beautiful Wiltshire home near Salisbury. On the podcast with us is the festival director, Jane Pleydell-Bouverie and two historians who'll be talking there, Christopher de Bellaigue and Tracy Borman. Christopher tells us about his book The Lion House, The Coming of a King, which has received rave reviews and depicts the great Ottoman ruler, Suleyman the Magnificent, and his rise to becoming the most feared and powerful man of the 16th Century. Tracy talks about her book, Crown and Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II, which explores the institution as far back as 1066 and gives us her views on the future of the monarchy. Jane gives us the rundown on all the exciting events happening at the festival this year from The Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room, where Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir are rediscovering women in history to Bill Browder on his book Freezing Order: A True Story of Russian Money-Laundering, State-Sponsored Murder and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath.

The Ottoman Sultan Suleyman I - known as "Suleyman the Magnificent" in the West - was the most feared and powerful man of the sixteenth century. His journey to power was built on brutal choices and intimate relationships - with the Greek slave who became his closest friend, the Venetian plutocrat who sold him gems and won him allies and the Russian consort who stole his heart. Within a decade, Suleyman reached the walls of Vienna, while his pirate admiral Barbarossa dominated the Mediterranean. In this episode of Not Just the Tudors, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to award-winning author Christopher de Bellaigue, about his acclaimed new book The Lion House which recounts the first third of Suleyman's reign, a remarkable rise to power which led to his domination of the Middle East, large swathes of north Africa and the Mediterranean.Keep up to date with everything early modern, from Henry VIII to the Sistine Chapel with our Tudor Tuesday newsletter > If you would like to learn more about history, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit >To download, go to Android > or Apple store > See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In The Age of the Strongman, the journalist Gideon Rachman explores how populist and authoritarian leaders have become a central feature of global politics. Since Vladimir Putin took power in Russia at the beginning of the new millennium, self-styled strongmen have emerged across the globe, from Trump and Bolsonaro to Orbán, Xi and Modi. Rachman tells Tom Sutcliffe how these leaders have taken power and the challenge they pose to liberal democracy. Judy Dempsey is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and editor in chief of the Strategic Europe blog. She explains how Viktor Orbán has tightened his grip on power in Hungary, while the EU has dragged its heels. And how Putin's war in Ukraine has not only exacerbated pre-existing global divisions but divided Europe as well. History is littered with powerful leaders, and Christopher de Bellaigue, tells of the rise of one of the most feared – Suleyman the Magnificent. In The Lion House: The Coming of a King the 16th century Ottoman Sultan dominates the lives of those from Baghdad to the walls of Vienna. Producer: Katy Hickman

When Suleyman the Magnificent became Sultan of the Ottoman empire in 1520, he was proclaimed the world's most powerful man, who could use his armies to smite Christendom. But behind the facade, scheming favourites pulled the strings and worked tirelessly to fulfil their own endless ambitions. Rhiannon Davies spoke to Christopher de Bellaigue to uncover the truth about Suleyman's fascinating reign. (Ad) Christopher de Bellaigue is the author of The Lion House: The Coming of A King (Vintage, 2022). Buy it now from Waterstones:https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-lion-house%2Fchristopher-de-bellaigue%2F9781847922397 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ecoutez ce nouveau numéro de Radio Balances, avec Mathias Moncorgé-Gabin, Patrick Glâtre, Fathi Rojbani, de STC Horse France, Dominique de Bellaigue, Maître Blanche de Granvilliers et nos... Bonne écoute

In this week's Book Club podcast, I'm joined by the historian Christopher de Bellaigue to talk about The Lion House, his scintillating and idiosyncratic new book about the great Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. It's all here: massacres, sieges, over-mighty viziers, Venetian perfidy, and… true love?

In this week's Book Club podcast, Sam is joined by the historian Christopher de Bellaigue to talk about The Lion House, his scintillating and idiosyncratic new book about the great Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. It's all here: massacres, sieges, over-mighty viziers, Venetian perfidy, and… true love?

This week we travel back to the Islamic year 941 which straddles 1534/5 of our own calendar, a particularly deadly year in the reign of the Ottoman Emperor, Suleyman the Magnificent.  There was no shortage of extraordinary rulers in the sixteenth century: Ivan the Terrible towered over Russia, England had its own Gloriana, Elizabeth I, Charles V governed the vast Holy Roman Empire, while in India, the Emperor Akbar transformed Mughal culture. But every one of these mighty potentates cowered in the shadow of the man who ruled the Ottoman Empire between 1520 and 1566 - Suleyman the Magnificent. In his compelling new book, The Lion House, the award-winning writer and expert on the Islamic world, Christopher de Ballaigue takes us deep inside the Ottoman corridors of power in this dramatic period of their history. Show Notes Scene One: Transylvania. The death of Alvise Gritti, son of the Venetian Doge, merchant, millionaire and chief procurer of everything from guns to parmesan at the Ottoman Court, at the hands of the Hungarians. Scene Two: Baghdad. Having recently taken the city, Suleyman awakes from a nightmare in which his treasurer Iskender Celebi, who has recently been hung on the Sultan's order, tries to strangle him.  Scene Three: Baghdad. Suleyman receives a letter from his beloved wife Hurrem, back in Istanbul, reminding him of the delights of home. Memento: the extraordinary solid gold quadruple crown made in Venice for the Sultan, valued at 144,000 ducats and dripping with unimaginable jewels.  People/Social Presenter: Violet Moller Guest: Christopher de Ballaigue Production: Maria Nolan Podcast partner: Unseen Histories Follow us on Twitter: @tttpodcast_ Or on Facebook See where 1534 fits on our Timeline 

The Islamic Enlightenment: The Modern Struggle Between Faith and ReasonThe Muslim world has often been accused of failing to modernise, reform and adapt. But, from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the present day, Islamic society in its Middle Eastern heartlands has in fact been transformed by modern ideals and practices. Acclaimed author Christopher de Bellaigue covers 200 turbulent years of Middle Eastern history to tell the forgotten story of the Islamic Enlightenment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The pandemic has devastated global tourism, and many will say ‘good riddance' to overcrowded cities and rubbish-strewn natural wonders. Is there any way to reinvent an industry that does so much damage? By Christopher de Bellaigue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Since the pandemic put a sudden stop to foreign travel, places around the world that were once overrun by tourists have had a chance to breathe. And the people living in them have started to realize what life is like without all those extra people. For some, the break has been nice — a chance to finally visit the monuments that were always just around the corner, but never empty enough to enjoy. For others, it's revealed a deep-rooted dependency on an industry that doesn't always love them back. As travel restrictions start to ease in Europe and other parts of the world, are we going to revert to our old habits or look for ways to create new experiences? GUEST: Christopher de Bellaigue, writer for The Guardian.

In dieser Folge dürfen wir Susan willkommen heißen, die uns an ihrem Wissen über den Iran teilhaben lässt. Susan kann als Halbiranerin auf einen breiten Wissensschatz zurückgreifen und taucht mit uns in dieses vielfältige Land ein. Elias führt uns kurz mit einem Beitrag über die Qizilbāš in diese Episode ein, die die Geschichte Persiens maßgeblich geprägt haben. Wollt ihr mehr zum Thema wissen, empfehlen wir euch folgende Werke: - Baykal, Hakan: Vom Perserreich zum Iran. 3000 Jahre Kultur und Geschichte, Stuttgart 2007. - de Bellaigue, Christopher: Im Rosengarten der Märtyrer. Ein Portrait des Iran, München 2006. - Hutter, Manfred: Iranische Religionen. Zoroastrismus, Yezidentum, Baha'itum, Berllin/Boston 2019. - Roemer, Hans Robert: Die turkmenischen Qizilbāš. Gründer und Opfer der safawidischen Theokratie, in: Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen Gesellschaft 135 (1985), S. 227-240. - Schweizer, Gerhard: Iran verstehen. Geschichte, Gesellschaft und Religion, Stuttgart 2017. Historia Universalis ist ein kostenloser Podcast. Eine Spende per Paypal oder Liberapay erhält das Angebot am Leben und motiviert uns noch mehr, euch regelmäßig Einblick in spannende Geschichtsthemen zu geben.

For decades, the way we farm has been degrading land and destroying wildlife. Now there's a revolution coming – but is it going to create more problems than it solves? By Christopher de Bellaigue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

*Apologies for some slight sound issues this week*Dolly's lost her passport and Michael Gove's nose is feeling regretful. We talk Sally Challen, humpback whales and why sleep apps could make your sleeping worse. And we deep-dive into pride month and discuss the fallacy that is the proposed straight pride march, particularly in the wake of recent homophobic hate crimes in the UK. Also, the euthanasia that never was: after the false news story about 17 year old Dutch teenager, Noa Pothoven, did the rounds, we discuss the complexity and implications of euthanasia, social media and the suicide contagion.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet@thehighlowshowLinksEasy on NetflixQueer Intentions, by Amelia AbrahamFlorence Welch on self-sabotage, for the July issue of British Vogue - on sale nowThe Age of the Internet 'Wife Guy', by Amanda Hess for The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/arts/internet-wife-guy-robbie-tripp.htmlSloane Crosley on the Longform Podcast https://longform.org/posts/longform-podcast-343-sloane-crosleyThe Pleasure Podcast https://thepleasurepodcast.comEmma Jane Unsworth on post natal depression https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/08/lie-health-visitor-lie-friends-truth-postnatal-depression?CMP=twt_b-gdnweekendWhat does childbirth feel like? By Nell Frizzell for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/18/what-does-childbirth-feel-like-googleWhen will homophobes learn that lesbians aren't their playthings? By Sophie Wilkinson for The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/sophie-wilkinson0/Death on demand: has euthanasia gone too far? By Christopher de Bellaigue for Guardian Long Reads https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/18/death-on-demand-has-euthanasia-gone-too-far-netherlands-assisted-dying See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Christopher de Bellaigue presents an exploration of loneliness – told through a conversation with one woman – his 94 year old aunt, Diana. As she follows her usual routine at her home on Vancouver Island, Diana charts her life story, recounting her abandonment by her parents in the 1920s, her reunion with them years later, a life full of transitory friendships but extraordinary determination and independence.

We discuss Donald Trump's latest foray into foreign policy (1:01) – in taking the US out of the Iran nuclear deal. Is it worthy of a Nobel peace prize, or the act of a maniac? We also talk about the young Londoners who regularly take cocaine, despite the drug's violent supply chain (13:20), and ask, are emojis ruining children's abilities to communicate (22:04)? With Christopher de Bellaigue, Dr Roham Alvandi, Alastair Thomas, Dr Adam Winstock, Lara Prendergast, and Professor Vyv Evans. Presented by Isabel Hardman. Produced by Cindy Yu.

With Christopher de Bellaigue, Sherard Cowper-Coles, Paul Mason, Andrew Adonis, Damian Reilly and Tom Peck. Presented by Lara Prendergast.

With Tom Holland, Christopher de Bellaigue, James Forsyth, Polly Toynbee and Laura Freeman. Presented by Freddy Gray.

Journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai-Brown interviews Christopher de Bellaigue about his new book The Islamic Enlightenment, which considers how the Muslim world has adapted to some of the wider changes of the 19th and 20th centuries See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Barely a year after Egypt's post-revolution elections were held, millions of protestors took to the streets to demand the resignation of President Mohammed Morsi. After a short stand-off with army leaders, he was removed from power in what many describe as a coup d'etat. The subsequent clashes between Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood supporters and security forces have proved violent and bloody and the country is once again being governed by the military - but what were the events which closed this short chapter in the fledgling Egyptian democracy? Christopher de Bellaigue speaks to insiders from across Egypt's political spectrum to reveal the mistakes and power-plays which led to the downfall of the country's first democratically elected president. Contributors: Dr Abdul Mawgoud Dardery, former Freedom and Justice Party MP for Luxor. Dr Hisham Hellyer, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (London) and the Brookings Institution (Washington). Dr Omar Ashour, senior lecturer in Middle East Politics and Security Studies, University of Exeter. Angy Ghannam, Head of BBC Monitoring, Cairo. Dr Wael Haddara, former communications adviser to President Mohammed Morsi. Dr Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, founder of the Strong Egypt party. Producer: Richard Fenton-Smith Editor: Innes Bowen

The Muslim Brotherhood is a global ideological network enjoying popular support across the Sunni Muslim world. It, and closely related Islamic groups, are well established across the Muslim world: from North Africa to the Middle East, Turkey, the Indian subcontinent and Malaysia. Christopher de Bellaigue discovers how this community of faith and politics has been influenced by the rise to power of its founding branch: the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Producer: Sue Davies.

(January 8, 2013) Christopher de Bellaigue discusses his new book entitled Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh. In addition, he gives a brief introduction of modern Iranian history, explores the history of Muhammad Mossadegh, and describes the tragic Anglo-American coup of Iran.

With the downfall of the former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, political change has already happened in Egypt. But how has such a revolution affected the mindset of ordinary people in the region? In this edition of Analysis, the writer, Christopher de Bellaigue, considers the consequences for Arab society of a new culture in which ordinary people openly question those in authority - not just in the political sphere but within the family and religious realm too. The programme explores a number of examples: From an apparent new determination to resist paying bribes to public officials, through a greater desire to see active debate rather than passive obedience in the classroom, to the growth of salafists - conservative Muslims who advocate a return to the core texts of Islam and a less deferential attitude towards the traditional scholars. Though not all these phenomena were unknown before the Arab Spring, the political revolution does seem to have fuelled their growth: Key to many appears to be the disappearance of personal fear - one unmistakable consequence of the demise of the Mubarak regime. Today, despite often remaining wary of the future, Egyptians are, it seems, fearlessly asserting their own views as never before, without seeking external validation. Questions, however, remain: If a new, more assertive mentality is indeed emerging, who shares it - and crucially, who does not? Would such an increased personal conviction necessarily result in more pluralism, as is sometimes assumed in the west, or give greater voice to Egypt's innate social and religious conservatism? And what are the chances that it could survive the country's overwhelming economic and political problems? Producer: Michael Gallagher.