Podcasts about New Statesman

Sometimes, on occasions that are getting rarer and rarer, Instagram can be a place of great discoveries, and Becky Barnicoat was one of those for me. A cartoonist published by The New Yorker, Grazia, The New Statesman, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, New York Magazine, Private Eye and Netflix, she had recently published her deeply funny and touching graphic memoir “Cry When the Baby Cries”. For years, her observations of daily life and motherhood made me burst out laughing (often when I needed it the most). So join me as I finally get to laugh together with Becky! Hear her inspiring story about becoming a succesful cartoonist after years of hearing she wasn't good enough, and was dreaming of a job that didn't exist. And learn wise lessons from her and her mom Catherina about motherhood being a source the fulfilment, about creating a warm home through routine and light, about teaching our duaghters through our stories, and breaking generational cycles. To learn more about Becky, her work, and her new book, visit her website here, or her Instagram profile here.  Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…” newsletter here.  To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about “Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder    

Trump is arriving in the UK today for his much anticipated state visit.Rachel Cunliffe and Will Lloyd look at how it might play out in the aftermath of the emergency debate which took place in parliament this afternoon concerning the appointment of Peter Mandelson.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This weekend more than 110,000 people from across the country took part in a far-right protest in central London organised by the activist Tommy Robinson - in his words, to “Unite the Kingdom”. This is thought to be the largest nationalist event in decades. St George's flags flooded the streets, speakers including Katie Hopkins and Elon Musk were projected to the crowds, and an overwhelming anti-muslim narrative shrouded the event.Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Will Lloyd and George Monaghan.Listen: A year undercover on the far rightRead: Murder, she wroteLISTEN AD-FREE:

Are the Greens ‘anarchists'? Has British politics become Americanised? And why was Theresa May prime minister?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe to answer listener questions and explain LARPing to Andrew Marr.LISTEN AD-FREE:

In power for nearly a decade, Nicola Sturgeon is Scotland's longest-serving First Minister. She reshaped Scottish politics, leading the SNP through moments of crisis and opportunity, from the 2014 independence referendum to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since stepping down in 2023, Sturgeon has remained a powerful and sometimes polarising figure in public life. She reflects on this in her new memoir, Frankly.She joins Anoosh Chakelian to discuss nationalism in Scotland, the shadow of Alex Salmond, and her public row with the author JK Rowling. In her words, “  where does she get the time to obsess about me?”LISTEN AD-FREE:

Earlier this week the prominent right-wing activist, and close Trump-ally, Charlie Kirk was shot during a public appearance in Utah. Graphic videos of the shooting immediately circulated online and his death was soon confirmed by Donald Trump.While many politicians across the spectrum have denounced the killing of Charlie Kirk - Trump has blamed what he calls “radical left political violence” and vowed to go after the organisations he deems responsible. A suspect was named and arrested earlier today.Katie Stallard is joined by Freddie Hayward.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Following the disarray caused by Angela Rayner's resignation and the sacking of Peter Mandelson, Keir Starmer's latest reset is a mess.His newly reshuffled cabinet appears to be largely a response to the very real threat of Nigel Farage. It seems, to his critics, that the Prime Minister is drawn to Reform's magnetic force to the right.But what does this mean for the direction of our country and its governing party?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr and George Eaton.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This week in part of an ongoing battle for the release of the “Epstein files”, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a trove of documents related to the pedophile financier. This comprised his will and personal address book - but generating the most controversy is an alleged "birthday book" given to Epstein in 2003 celebrating his fiftieth birthday. The 238-page book contains messages and photos sent by many of Epstein's friends, including Donald Trump and the UK's ambassador in America - Peter Mandelson.Will Lloyd is joined by Freddie Hayward.LISTEN AD-FREE:

This week the renters' rights bill returns to the House of Commons for its final debate. But in a country where tenants are spending around 40% of their income on rent, amidst an increasingly inflating housing market - does the bill go far enough?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by the New Statesman's business editor Will Dunn, and director of the Renters' Reform Coalition Tom Darling.Read: Landlords are a brake on growthLISTEN AD-FREE:

Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran have created some of comedy's most beloved characters, including Birds of a Feather's Sharon and Tracey, and The New Statesman's Alan B'Stard. As their play Dr Freud Will See You Now Mrs Hitler comes to London, they discuss alternate histories, the limits of comedy, and how they still make each other laugh. Medea remains one of the most complex and terrifying characters in mythology, and Natalie Haynes's new novel No Friend to this House reimagines the story of the sorceress from Colchis. She discusses depictions of Medea with theatre director Carrie Cracknell. As the National Gallery launches an architectural competition to build a new wing, funded by two huge donations from charitable foundations, art curator and critic Kate Bryan joins Tom to discuss what the building might hold, how the National Gallery might be able to attract new audiences, and the place of art in today's world. And the award-winning pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason joins Front Row to talk about her upcoming concerts, her album Fantasie and gives us a special performance. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Tim Bano

Luke Savage, a writer and political analyst who has written for outlets like Jacobin and The New Statesman, joined the show to talk about none other than Matt “Matty” Yglesias, the influential, centrist pundit with a habit of getting things wrong. Matty also changes his opinions–sometimes abruptly. The “leftist hater brigade” also discussed the current state of liberal punditry and why it feels like we're being forced back into the blogosphere days of the aughts.Links for Luke (and Matty):His newsletter: www.lukewsavage.com/His Twitter/X profile: x.com/LukewSavage“The Agony and Ecstacy of Matt Ygelasias” by Luke Savage“I've been right about some things” by Matt YglesiasTransition music: "Fox River Dream" by Smoking PopesPatreon link: https://patreon.com/PostingThroughIt

As Keir Starmer spent the weekend trying to glue his cabinet back together, another was basking in the glow of the NEC spotlights and a governmental crisis.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the London Standard columnist Emily Sheffield, the Liberal Democrat frontbencher Tim Farron, the New Statesman's editor-in-chief Tom McTague and the political strategist Jo Tanner.

Howie talks about current events and takes viewer questions. Links shared during the stream:Lifeline for Palestine, https://lifelineforpalestine.com/Protect Palestine, https://protect-palestine.com/Pjotr Sauer, "‘I told my family, I'll probably die': US immigration sends Russian asylum seekers back to Moscow,” The Guardian, September 3, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/03/i-told-my-family-ill-probably-die-us-immigration-sends-russian-asylum-seekers-back-to-moscowLawrence Wittner, "Trump Deporting Russian Asylum Seekers,” CounterPunch, September 5, 2025, https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/09/05/trump-deporting-russian-asylum-seekers/Brian Wheeler, New Green leader Polanski vows to 'replace' Starmer's Labour, BBC, September 2, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0d0d08jnjoMegan Kenyon, Zack Polanski sweeps the Green leadership: With his victory secured, will the left rally to the eco-populist firebrand?, New Statesman, September 2, 2025, https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/greens/2025/09/zack-polanski-sweeps-the-green-leadershipAdam Ramsay, The Green Party Has Finally Picked a Side: It's socialism or bust, Novara Media, September 2, 2025, https://novaramedia.com/2025/09/02/the-green-party-has-finally-picked-a-side/Streamed on 9/6/25Watch the video at: https://youtube.com/live/cjid8t6kFRoGreen Socialist Notes is a weekly livestream/podcast hosted by 2020 Green Party/Socialist Party presidential nominee, Howie Hawkins.  Started as a weekly campaign livestream in the spring of 2020, the streams have continued post elections and are now under the umbrella of the Green Socialist Organizing Project, which grew out of the 2020 presidential campaign.  Green Socialist Notes seeks to provide both an independent Green Socialist perspective, as well as link listeners up with opportunities to get involved in building a real people-powered movement in their communities.Green Socialist Notes PodcastEvery Saturday at 3:00 PM EDT on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.Every Monday at 7:00 AM EDT on most major podcast outlets.Music by Gumbo le FunqueIntro: She Taught UsOutro: #PowerLoveFreedom

On LBC's Online Safety Day #2, the National Crime Agency's deputy director Helen Rance and also the former Technology Minister Damian Collins each joined Iain for an hour, taking listeners' calls.Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the London Standard columnist Emily Sheffield, the Liberal Democrat frontbencher Tim Farron, the New Statesman's editor-in-chief Tom McTague and the political strategist Jo Tanner.

Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran's most famous works are TV sitcoms such as Shine On Harvey Moon, Birds of a Feather, Goodnight Sweetheart and The New Statesman. They have also written for radio and for stage musicals such as Dreamboats and Petticoats, but their latest piece, currently running at London's Upstairs at the Gatehouse, is a play called Dr Freud Will See You Now, Mrs Hitler. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Laurence and Maurice about the play's story, history and long gestation as well as the extensive research that went into it, touching on how they have dealt with controversy over their work in the past, especially for their TV miniseries about Oswald Mosley, their writing process and much more. Dr Freud Will See You Now, Mrs Hitler opened at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in London on 4 September and runs until 28 September 2025.

From the battlefields of Algiers to the corridors of Westminster, Britain's uneasy relationship with Europe has been shaped by thinkers, politicians, financiers, and strategists. In his new book, Between the Waves, the New Statesman's editor Tom McTague traces a previously uncovered history spanning eight decades of how Britain came to say “no” to Europe.LISTEN AD-FREE:

The Greens have a new leader. Listeners want to know what's in store for the left now.Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe and Megan Kenyon to answer listener questions on:the future of the Green Party under Zack PolanskiJeremy Corbyn and Your Party's position on trans rightswhether a pro-immigration left party could win working class votesif the Lib Dems have any "serious" policiesLISTEN AD-FREE:

Angela Rayner resigned from government, and stood down as deputy Labour leader, following her failure to pay enough tax on a property in Hove. With this Keir Starmer has reshuffled his top cabinet, where are they headed now?Rachel Cunliffe is joined by Andrew Marr, Tom McTague and Megan Kenyon.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Zack Polanski is the fresh face of the Green Party. He already sits on the London Assembly – the capital's elected body that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor. But he's got his eyes set on the Commons – with ambitions to join the four Green MPs already there.Polanski wants to offer a different approach to politics with policies that include a wealth tax on billionaires and renationalising water companies. And to be a threat to both Labour and Reform UK.To find out more about Polanski's ambitions, Niall Paterson is joined by Caroline Russell, Green leader of the London Assembly who has worked alongside him and backed his campaign, plus George Monaghan, commissioning editor at the New Statesman. Producer: Soila Apparicio 

Andrew Marr joins the show to discuss Rayner, Immigration and Graham Linehan's arrest.***Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is under fire for underpaying Stamp Duty. The right are gleeful but Keir Starmer is standing by his deputy PM. Is he making the right move?Tom McTague is joined by Andrew Marr, Rachel Cunliffe, Megan Kenyon and George Monaghan.They also discuss how Labour must respond to the anti-immigration protests, and the questions around free speech that have been raised by the arrest (and subsequent release) of Graham Linehan over anti-trans tweets.Host: Tom McTagueGuest: Andrew MarrGuest: Rachel CunliffeGuest: Megan KenyonGuest: George MonaghanCHAPTERS:00:00 Angela Rayner10:15 Immigration26:00 Graham Linehan and free speechLISTEN AD-FREE:

pWotD Episode 3046: Angela Rayner Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 164,461 views on Wednesday, 3 September 2025 our article of the day is Angela Rayner.Angela Rayner (née Bowen; born 28 March 1980) is a British politician and trade unionist who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since July 2024. She has been Deputy Leader of the Labour Party since 2020 and Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015. Ideologically she identifies as a socialist and as being part of Labour's soft left.Rayner was born and raised in Stockport, where she attended the comprehensive Avondale School. She left school aged 16 whilst pregnant and without any qualifications. She later trained in social care at Stockport College and worked for the local council as a care worker. She eventually became a trade union representative within Unison, during which time she joined the Labour Party. She was selected to contest Ashton‑under‑Lyne in 2014 and was elected for the seat at the 2015 general election. From 2016 until 2020 Rayner held several Shadow Cabinet positions under Jeremy Corbyn. She successfully stood for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party in 2020, and held further Shadow Cabinet positions under Keir Starmer.Following Labour's victory in the 2024 general election, Rayner entered government and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by Starmer in his government. Rayner's strong support base and potential as a future leader led to the New Statesman ranking her as the eighth most powerful person in British left-wing politics for 2023. The Spectator named her Politician of the Year at its annual Parliamentarian of the Year awards ceremony in 2024. Rayner is the second woman to serve as deputy prime minister, after Thérèse Coffey.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:05 UTC on Thursday, 4 September 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Angela Rayner on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Aria.

Who gets to belong in Britain?In the past year, the conversation around immigration in Britain - across the political spectrum - has become increasingly vicious. As Tanjil Rashid, the New Statesman's culture editor, writes for this week's cover story - we are no longer in “an age of migration”. We have been propelled into something altogether new, “an age of deportation".Read: The age of deportationLISTEN AD-FREE:

How your snatched iPhone feeds a global criminal supply chain.Britain's exports have declined in many areas over the past few years, but there is one category in which trade is booming. The UK has become a leading exporter of stolen goods. From iPhones snatched by gangs on the streets of London to luxury cars stolen to order, criminal organisations are shipping vast amounts of items all around the world via Britain's ports. And the authorities cannot keep up.Tom Sasse is public policy editor at The Economist, and has been investigating Britain's stolen goods trade. He joins the New Statesman's business editor, Will Dunn, to explain how these criminal exports work, why the police are powerless to stop them, and the impact this crime is having - on individuals, on businesses and on the entire British economy.Listen next: The Manosphere: Red pills, incels and a misogyny epidemicHost: Will DunnGuest: Tom SasseLISTEN AD-FREE:

Who's in, who's out - and why?*Keir Starmer has reshuffled the treasury team and some key parliamentary staff, creating a new "Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister" role and restructuring the government's communication department.The changes indicate a renewed focus for the government, putting economic issues front-and-centre of operations ahead of the upcoming budget.The moves also suggest a change of direction in some areas, with leading proponents of the disastrous Winter Fuel Allowance repeal picking up their P45s.Rachel Cunliffe and Megan Kenyon join Anoosh Chakelian to discuss what can we learn from this reshuffle.LISTEN NEXT: What the Treasury reshuffle reveals about the budgetREAD: Will Keir Starmer's mini-reshuffle make a difference?Host: Anoosh ChakelianGuest: Megan KenyonGuest: Rachel Cunliffe*LISTEN AD-FREE:

Sabrina Carpenter's new album “Man's Best Friend” features some of her most explicit lyrics yet, but is it a bold statement of female empowerment, or a step too far? We discuss with George Monaghan, Commissioning Editor at the New Statesman and author of the weekly newsletter Peaceable Land.

The experimental novelist on finding God, being "a misfit" and her return to writing.--Nicola Barker is "has broken the mould so many times it's almost beyond repair". She's a post-punk literary anarchist who writes from the peripheries of the UK.Her experiments with narrative form have won her many plaudits, including the Goldsmith's Prize for literary fiction, which the New Statesman partners with.Barker joins Tanjil Rashid on the New Statesman culture podcast to discuss her latest novel, Tony Interrupter: a comedy about art, virality, chaos, and the surprising impact of freak events in Kent.LISTEN AD-FREE:

“⁠Do you think the English flag has been so easily co-opted by by the far right because there is no English government that is proudly flying the flag and building a better narrative around English national pride?” Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Harry Clarke-Ezzidio and George Eaton to answer listener quesitons.LISTEN AD-FREE:

It was foreseen for months, as Israel cut off all aid, but this month the UN declared that more than half a million people in Gaza are trapped in famine.By the end of September, more than 640 000 people will face Catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Leading to preventable deaths on a devastating scale.For Humza Yousaf, the former First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader, the horrors facing the people of Gaza for the past two years are deeply personal. His wife Nadia has relatives in Gaza - the family has described the experience as a “living nightmare”.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Last October, the government published the Employment Rights Bill, a slate of reforms set to change workers' rights in the UK - from banning “fire and rehire” tactics, to ending exploitative zero-hours contracts, to giving workers employment protection from day one.The bill has passed through the Commons and is currently on its third reading in the House of Lords - the first changes are expected to be enacted in 2026.But what does this bill really mean for workers, businesses, and the economy? And could there be unintended consequences that even its biggest supporters are worried about?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, one of the UK's leading trade unions representing over 150,000 professionals across science, engineering, and technology.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Mike talks with Rana Dasgupta, recipient of a 2025 Windham-Campbell Prize in Nonfiction, about the pleasures of the 1958 novel The Leopard as well as its Visconti-directed film adaptation and how both projects reflect on our present tenuous moment. Born in Canterbury, United Kingdom, Rana Dasgupta has lived in the United States, India, and France. His work includes Tokyo Cancelled (2005), a collection of contemporary folktales, and a novel, Solo (2009), which won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize (2010). In 2014, he published his first nonfiction work, Capital: The Eruption of Delhi. His clear-eyed observation of 21st-century crises lies at the heart of his highly anticipated forthcoming book, After Nations (2026), which explores the dissipation of the powers of the nation-state and seeks ways for us to navigate the resulting confusion. As an essayist, Dasgupta has contributed to distinguished outlets such as Harper's, Granta, and The New Statesman. For several years, he taught a course on 21st-century culture and ideas at Brown University. His lectures on the nation-state, and the possibilities beyond it, have been hosted by the Berggruen Institute, the Serpentine Gallery, the House of World Cultures, and elsewhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Equally beloved at office boardrooms and toddler birthday parties, Colin the Caterpillar - a £7 swiss roll cake with white and milk chocolate and buttercream - was launched at an unsuspecting public by Marks and Spencer on 26th August, 1990. At the product development stage, he was going to be a fish - even though fishcake is a TOTALLY different foodstuff. Luckily, the Colin we know and love made it to M&S shelves, where he has since sold more than 15 million units, and spawned dozens of high street imitators. (And an infringement claim against Aldi.) In this episode, Olly, Rebecca and Arion explain how Colin's popularity coincided with the trend for ‘illusion cakes'; dig up the horrifying sweet/savoury pile-up that is Jane Asher's ‘Mary Mary' cake; and consider Colin's enduring place in British popular culture... Further Reading: • ‘Colin the Caterpillar: A brief history' (New Statesman, 2018): https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/food-drink/2018/12/colin-caterpillar-brief-history • ‘This is the original M&S Colin the Caterpillar cake back in 1990' (Good Housekeeping, 2020): https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/a33631942/original-colin-the-caterpillar-cake-1990/ • ‘Colin v Cuthbert The Caterpillar: Can M&S Sue Aldi For Copyright Over A Cake?' (Good Morning Britain, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZrjPL8p874 This episode first aired in 2021 Love the show? Support us!  Join 

Ahead of this autumn's budget there has been a reshuffle in Rachel Reeves' treasury team. What's at play? And what might it tell us about the trajectory of Britain's finances?Will Dunn, the New Statesman's business editor, is joined by George Eaton.Read: Torsten Bell rises as Rachel Reeves reshuffles her team; Rachel Reeves will never get serious on taxDownload the appLISTEN AD-FREE:

Episode 183:Today's episode is the first of a short run of guest episodes to see us through the end of the English summer and first up is Daniel Swift, author of ‘The Dream Factory: London's First Playhouse and the making of William Shakespeare'. Given that title I don't think Daniel's book needs any further introduction other than to say that I found it a fascinating read and I hope this episode gives. You a taster of Daniel's work and the research he has undertaken.Daniel Swift is associate professor of English at Northeastern University, London, and has written books on Shakespeare, Ezra Pound, and the poetry of the Second World War and articles for The New York Times, The New Statesman and The Spectator.Links to'The Dream Factory':Yale University Press London: https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300263541/the-dream-factory/Macmillan New York https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374601270/thedreamfactory/Amazon UK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Factory-Londons-Playhouse-Shakespeare/dp/0300263546/ref=sr_1_1?Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Factory-Londons-Playhouse-Shakespeare/dp/0374601275/ref=sr_1_1?Support the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.patreon.com/thoetpwww.ko-fi.com/thoetp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The relationship between science and religion has long been a heated debate and is becoming an ever more popular topic. The scientific capacity to manipulate and change humans and their environment through genetic engineering, life extension, and AI is going to take a huge leap forward in the twenty-first century, provoking endless debates around humans “playing God”. But what do we mean by this? Asking this question is surprisingly hard work. Attempts to 'essentialise' science, let alone religion, quickly run into trouble. Where are the boundaries? Whose definition of science is definitive? Which concept of religious is the authoritative one? Ultimately, neither “science” nor “religion” can be pinned down to one single meaning or definition. Rather, they encompass a family of definitions that relate to one another in a complex web of shifting ways. Drawing on extensive research with over a hundred leading thinkers in the UK — including Martin Rees, Brian Cox, Susan Greenfield, A.C. Grayling, Ray Tallis, Linda Woodhead, Steve Bruce, Adam Rutherford, Robin Dunbar, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, and Iain McGilchrist — The Landscapes of Science and Religion takes the much-needed step of asking what science and religion actually are, before turning to the familiar question of how they relate to one another. Building on this, by paying particular attention to those who sense some form of conflict here, Spencer and Waite explore where the perceived conflict really lies. What exactly are people disagreeing about when they disagree about science and religion, and what, if anything, can we do to improve that disagreement and bring about a fruitful dialogue between these two important human endeavours. Nicholas Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos, a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of a number of books including Darwin and God, The Evolution of the West and Atheists. He has presented a BBC Radio 4 series on The Secret History of Science and Religion, and has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, New Statesman, Prospect and more. He lives in London. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The relationship between science and religion has long been a heated debate and is becoming an ever more popular topic. The scientific capacity to manipulate and change humans and their environment through genetic engineering, life extension, and AI is going to take a huge leap forward in the twenty-first century, provoking endless debates around humans “playing God”. But what do we mean by this? Asking this question is surprisingly hard work. Attempts to 'essentialise' science, let alone religion, quickly run into trouble. Where are the boundaries? Whose definition of science is definitive? Which concept of religious is the authoritative one? Ultimately, neither “science” nor “religion” can be pinned down to one single meaning or definition. Rather, they encompass a family of definitions that relate to one another in a complex web of shifting ways. Drawing on extensive research with over a hundred leading thinkers in the UK — including Martin Rees, Brian Cox, Susan Greenfield, A.C. Grayling, Ray Tallis, Linda Woodhead, Steve Bruce, Adam Rutherford, Robin Dunbar, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, and Iain McGilchrist — The Landscapes of Science and Religion takes the much-needed step of asking what science and religion actually are, before turning to the familiar question of how they relate to one another. Building on this, by paying particular attention to those who sense some form of conflict here, Spencer and Waite explore where the perceived conflict really lies. What exactly are people disagreeing about when they disagree about science and religion, and what, if anything, can we do to improve that disagreement and bring about a fruitful dialogue between these two important human endeavours. Nicholas Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos, a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of a number of books including Darwin and God, The Evolution of the West and Atheists. He has presented a BBC Radio 4 series on The Secret History of Science and Religion, and has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, New Statesman, Prospect and more. He lives in London. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

The relationship between science and religion has long been a heated debate and is becoming an ever more popular topic. The scientific capacity to manipulate and change humans and their environment through genetic engineering, life extension, and AI is going to take a huge leap forward in the twenty-first century, provoking endless debates around humans “playing God”. But what do we mean by this? Asking this question is surprisingly hard work. Attempts to 'essentialise' science, let alone religion, quickly run into trouble. Where are the boundaries? Whose definition of science is definitive? Which concept of religious is the authoritative one? Ultimately, neither “science” nor “religion” can be pinned down to one single meaning or definition. Rather, they encompass a family of definitions that relate to one another in a complex web of shifting ways. Drawing on extensive research with over a hundred leading thinkers in the UK — including Martin Rees, Brian Cox, Susan Greenfield, A.C. Grayling, Ray Tallis, Linda Woodhead, Steve Bruce, Adam Rutherford, Robin Dunbar, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, and Iain McGilchrist — The Landscapes of Science and Religion takes the much-needed step of asking what science and religion actually are, before turning to the familiar question of how they relate to one another. Building on this, by paying particular attention to those who sense some form of conflict here, Spencer and Waite explore where the perceived conflict really lies. What exactly are people disagreeing about when they disagree about science and religion, and what, if anything, can we do to improve that disagreement and bring about a fruitful dialogue between these two important human endeavours. Nicholas Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos, a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of a number of books including Darwin and God, The Evolution of the West and Atheists. He has presented a BBC Radio 4 series on The Secret History of Science and Religion, and has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, New Statesman, Prospect and more. He lives in London. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

The relationship between science and religion has long been a heated debate and is becoming an ever more popular topic. The scientific capacity to manipulate and change humans and their environment through genetic engineering, life extension, and AI is going to take a huge leap forward in the twenty-first century, provoking endless debates around humans “playing God”. But what do we mean by this? Asking this question is surprisingly hard work. Attempts to 'essentialise' science, let alone religion, quickly run into trouble. Where are the boundaries? Whose definition of science is definitive? Which concept of religious is the authoritative one? Ultimately, neither “science” nor “religion” can be pinned down to one single meaning or definition. Rather, they encompass a family of definitions that relate to one another in a complex web of shifting ways. Drawing on extensive research with over a hundred leading thinkers in the UK — including Martin Rees, Brian Cox, Susan Greenfield, A.C. Grayling, Ray Tallis, Linda Woodhead, Steve Bruce, Adam Rutherford, Robin Dunbar, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, and Iain McGilchrist — The Landscapes of Science and Religion takes the much-needed step of asking what science and religion actually are, before turning to the familiar question of how they relate to one another. Building on this, by paying particular attention to those who sense some form of conflict here, Spencer and Waite explore where the perceived conflict really lies. What exactly are people disagreeing about when they disagree about science and religion, and what, if anything, can we do to improve that disagreement and bring about a fruitful dialogue between these two important human endeavours. Nicholas Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos, a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of a number of books including Darwin and God, The Evolution of the West and Atheists. He has presented a BBC Radio 4 series on The Secret History of Science and Religion, and has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, New Statesman, Prospect and more. He lives in London. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

The relationship between science and religion has long been a heated debate and is becoming an ever more popular topic. The scientific capacity to manipulate and change humans and their environment through genetic engineering, life extension, and AI is going to take a huge leap forward in the twenty-first century, provoking endless debates around humans “playing God”. But what do we mean by this? Asking this question is surprisingly hard work. Attempts to 'essentialise' science, let alone religion, quickly run into trouble. Where are the boundaries? Whose definition of science is definitive? Which concept of religious is the authoritative one? Ultimately, neither “science” nor “religion” can be pinned down to one single meaning or definition. Rather, they encompass a family of definitions that relate to one another in a complex web of shifting ways. Drawing on extensive research with over a hundred leading thinkers in the UK — including Martin Rees, Brian Cox, Susan Greenfield, A.C. Grayling, Ray Tallis, Linda Woodhead, Steve Bruce, Adam Rutherford, Robin Dunbar, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, and Iain McGilchrist — The Landscapes of Science and Religion takes the much-needed step of asking what science and religion actually are, before turning to the familiar question of how they relate to one another. Building on this, by paying particular attention to those who sense some form of conflict here, Spencer and Waite explore where the perceived conflict really lies. What exactly are people disagreeing about when they disagree about science and religion, and what, if anything, can we do to improve that disagreement and bring about a fruitful dialogue between these two important human endeavours. Nicholas Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos, a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of a number of books including Darwin and God, The Evolution of the West and Atheists. He has presented a BBC Radio 4 series on The Secret History of Science and Religion, and has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, New Statesman, Prospect and more. He lives in London. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

The relationship between science and religion has long been a heated debate and is becoming an ever more popular topic. The scientific capacity to manipulate and change humans and their environment through genetic engineering, life extension, and AI is going to take a huge leap forward in the twenty-first century, provoking endless debates around humans “playing God”. But what do we mean by this? Asking this question is surprisingly hard work. Attempts to 'essentialise' science, let alone religion, quickly run into trouble. Where are the boundaries? Whose definition of science is definitive? Which concept of religious is the authoritative one? Ultimately, neither “science” nor “religion” can be pinned down to one single meaning or definition. Rather, they encompass a family of definitions that relate to one another in a complex web of shifting ways. Drawing on extensive research with over a hundred leading thinkers in the UK — including Martin Rees, Brian Cox, Susan Greenfield, A.C. Grayling, Ray Tallis, Linda Woodhead, Steve Bruce, Adam Rutherford, Robin Dunbar, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, and Iain McGilchrist — The Landscapes of Science and Religion takes the much-needed step of asking what science and religion actually are, before turning to the familiar question of how they relate to one another. Building on this, by paying particular attention to those who sense some form of conflict here, Spencer and Waite explore where the perceived conflict really lies. What exactly are people disagreeing about when they disagree about science and religion, and what, if anything, can we do to improve that disagreement and bring about a fruitful dialogue between these two important human endeavours. Nicholas Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos, a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is the author of a number of books including Darwin and God, The Evolution of the West and Atheists. He has presented a BBC Radio 4 series on The Secret History of Science and Religion, and has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Independent, New Statesman, Prospect and more. He lives in London. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

Students across the UK have reported a dramatic rise in misogyny in their schools. The government has described this as being on an "epidemic scale". This is often connected to social media content targeted at young men and boys, but is there more to it?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by journalist James Bloodworth, author of Lost Boys: A Personal Journey Through the Manosphere, to discuss.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Due to Britain's falling birth rates and the government's desire for lower immigration levels, does the government have any plan to financially encourage and support couples to have children?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe and George Eaton to answer listener questions.Download the appLISTEN AD-FREE:

The Mayor of Manchester is the most popular choice to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.Keir Starmer is now less popular than Donald Trump.Despite the Labour Party's historic election win just over one year ago, popularity ratings for leading Labour figures have plummeted.Economic woes, crunching u-turns, unrest over Gaza and asylum hotel protests have left leading Labour figures looking to their next leadership battle.George Eaton reports that Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting have both been monitoring their popularity among party members. But there is one tantalising option who polling reveals as the public's preferred choice: Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Could he be Britain's next Prime Minister?George joins Anoosh Chakelian and Rachel Cunliffe on the New Statesman podcast.Download the appHost: Anoosh ChakelianGuests: George EatonRachel CunliffeProducer:Catharine HughesVideo Producer:Rob Le MareExecutive Producer:Chris StoneLISTEN AD-FREE:

Following last year's riots, in the wake of the Southport murders, Elon Musk predicted civil war in the UK was “inevitable”. So far, however, no civil war…Over the last century, people in British politics at times of turmoil have raised the prospect of civil war, repeatedly, in ways not unlike today. What did they fear, and why? And what might we learn from the fact that - each time - those fears remained unfounded?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by author and journalist Phil Tinline.Download the appHost: Anoosh ChakelianGuest: Phil TinlineProducer: Catharine HughesVideo producer: Rob Le MareExecutive Producer: Chris StoneLISTEN AD-FREE:

Yesterday, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington, flanked by seven European leaders, in order to meet with Donald Trump and push forward talks to end the war in Ukraine.This came just three days after Trump's carefully choreographed meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.Could this be the beginning of the end for the drawn out conflict? And can Trump be trusted?Megan Gibson is joined by Katie Stallard.Download the appHost: Megan GibsonGuest: Katie StallardProducer: Catharine HughesVideo producer: Rob Le MareExecutive producer: Chris StoneLISTEN AD-FREE:

There's one thing you need this summer. A good book.Will Lloyd is joined by culture editor Tanjil Rashid, and staff writer Finn McRedmond to discuss the New Statesman's ultimate beach reads for 2025 and beyond.Download the app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three thousand riot police were put on standby after Friday was dubbed “anti-asylum day” by far-right organisers, with 14 protests scheduled nationwide outside of suspected asylum hotels.  Tensions are high but with Keir Starmer constantly boasting about cracking down on “illegal” migrants - is the Government simply fanning the flames of unrest? The New Statesman's Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian has been speaking to locals and asylum seekers at asylum hotels. She joins Nish and Coco to discuss why they've become such a lightning rod and what else the Government could be doing. And Labour Minister Chris Bryant has had an unorthodox path into politics - from growing up in Franco's Spain to being ordained as an Anglican priest. He answers some tricky questions on the Palestine Action arrests and landlord MPs. And digging into the mailbag, Nish gets an education on audio porn. CHECK OUT THIS DEAL FROM OUR SPONSOR https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk  USEFUL LINKS  See us Live in London!  https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/pod-save-the-uk/ Chris Bryant - A Life and A Half: The Unexpected Making of a Politician https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/life-and-a-half-9781526680914/ National Youth Theatre Statement https://www.nyt.org.uk/news/nyt-statement-3-august-2025  Girl On The Net - blog  https://www.girlonthenet.com/blog/age-verification-whats-the-harm/ GUESTS Anoosh Chakelian Chris Bryant MP CREDITS  Twitter / White House Twitter / Keir Starmer  Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday, in Westminster, police arrested more than 500 people under the Terrorism Act. That's more in a single day than have ever been charged with terrorist-related activity in a whole year.Many of those arrested were pensioners. Their crime: holding cardboard signs which read “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”One of those 532 people arrested on Saturday was Sir Jonathon Porritt, a long-time activist and campaigner on green and social justice issues, former environmental adviser to King Charles and patron to over 20 charities. He joins Anoosh Chakelian to explain why he took part in the protest, what led to his arrest, and why he fears the Home Secretary - and the Labour party - are becoming more authoritarian.--

Are you using Spotify for Creators to its full potential? If not, you're in for a treat. While Marc is away at camp,  podcast producer Chris Stone of The New Statesman joins us to share powerful, lesser-known tools hidden inside the Spotify for Creators platform. Spoiler: you don't need to host with Spotify to unlock them. Chris reveals his favorite features for boosting engagement, including interactive polls and customizable episode previews, as well as the SEO tactics that can help your show get discovered. We also explore which tools still need improvement, why he's cautious about Spotify video, and how these insights can apply no matter where you host your podcast. Chris even gives us a peek into his Podcast Strategy newsletter on Substack and his upcoming venture, Podcast Crew, a service that connects busy podcasters with an ideal producer.Episode Highlights: [01:42] Meet the Guest: Chris Stone[06:14] Spotify's Rise in Podcasting[10:23] Engagement Tools on Spotify[12:40] Challenges and Opportunities with Spotify Video[15:33] Customizing Your Podcast on Spotify[18:28] Analyzing Spotify's Analytics[25:16] Areas for Improvement on Spotify[26:13] Guest Tagging and Recommendations on Spotify[28:51] Optimizing Podcast Titles and Descriptions[35:52] Using Substack for Newsletters[45:13] Introducing Podcast CrewLinks & Resources: Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Get Your Tickets for The Empowered Podcasting Conference:www.empoweredpodcasting.comPodcast Strategy Weekly: https://podcaststrategy.substack.comThe Daily Statesman:www.newstatesman.com/author/chris-stonePodcast Crew:https://www.podcastcrew.co.ukEvery Way To Market Your Podcast On Spotify:https://podcaststrategy.substack.com/p/how-to-grow-a-podcast-on-spotify-get-more-listenersRemember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to our community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Or Join us on Chatter: https://preview.chattersocial.io/group/98a69881-f328-4eae-bf3c-9b0bb741481dLive on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

How has the past thirty years of American politics impacted our present? In this episode, Atossa Araxia Abrahamian speaks to journalist and author John Ganz about how the 1990s were the perfect storm that created a new America that birthed the Donald Trump Era. Many today look back on the 1990s with a sense of nostalgia. With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the election of Bill Clinton, Americans of the 90s were ready for a “kinder, gentler America.” But as Ganz argues, the decade was far more turbulent than it seemed. Beneath the surface ran the aftershocks of Reagan-era economics, the rise of anti-establishment rhetoric and a hunger for strongman-style leadership. In retrospect, the decade was a precursor to today's fractured political landscape. Looking to the present, Ganz reminds us that while history may be shaped by deep structures, it's just as often steered by chaos and chance. Whether that's a warning – or a window of opportunity – is up to us.  John Ganz is the author of the widely acclaimed Unpopular Front newsletter for Substack and writes a monthly column for the Nation. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, New Republic, New Statesman and other publications. Today we're discussing his new book, When The Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracies, and the Origins of Trumpism, an analysis of the tumult of the early 1990s and the rise of a new America that birthed the Donald Trump Era. --- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices