Podcast appearances and mentions of Simon Williams

The first of our occasional weekend bonus episodes… Bewildered by the tangled stories of Putin's war on Ukraine, Trump's incomprehensible loyalty to the Russian tyrant, and Russia's interference in British politics? The Guardian's foreign correspondent Luke Harding ties all the threads together in his riveting new book Betrayed: Trump, Putin And The New Age Of Conquest – laying bare how thoroughly Putin played Trump and the enormity of what has happened to our old world of rules.   He talks to Andrew Harrison about the big picture that daily news misses, the return of Great Power politics, and whether Donald Trump really is a Russian asset.   • Buy Luke's book Betrayal: Trump, Putin and The New Age of Conquest from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.   • Photo: Trump greets Putin on the tarmac in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15 2025. (Photo by Kremlin Press Service / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)  Support us on Patreon - www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.  www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Good news for newsrooms: Harry and Meghan are back in Britain and editors are beside themselves. We might say we don't care about “Reverse Megxit” but why does the clickrate say otherwise? Plus: Giftgate was only two years ago, but MPs are still accepting freebies. They've taken almost £400,000 of hospitality this year alone – including tickets to Harry Styles and the F1. But is that necessarily so bad? Are freebies a serious conflict of interest or do we just want politicians to live in a hair shirt? And in the Extra Bit: people are queuing to take photos at beauty spots – are we all just compliant sheep who need to get over our strangling cultural traditions? • Get up to £350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 here with the code OGWN • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie went to watch Tony, the biopic about the late rockstar chef-turned-broadcaster Anthony Bourdain • Seth watched 60's crime thriller Cash on Demand – like a “noirish bank heist version” of Dickens ' A Christmas Carol • Rachel hasn't been able to put down Jon Ronson's new book The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unravelling Men • Ros has begun watching supernatural French drama Sea Shadows (or Rivages in French) www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Marie Le Conte, Rachel Cunliffe and Seth Thévoz. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is communism having a mini revival? Marxist critiques and socialist ideas are becoming the in thing with Gen Z, while Donald Trump is harking back to the Red Scare of his youth to attack the Democrats. Is it anything more than a resurrected bogeyman for the right? Man of the left, veteran journalist and friend of the pod Paul Mason joins the panel to discuss Reds: A Global History of Communism, his sweeping new history of the movement. Plus: Andy Burnham heads to Ukraine with missile plans in hand, Reform's bullshit policy of the week and much, much more.   • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  • Buy Paul's book Reds: A Global History of Communism from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. ESCAPE ROUTES • Zoë has started watching award-winning medical drama The Pitt • Jonn has been watching the BBC murder mystery Ludwig • Paul went to watch Adrian Lester star as the titular character in Cyrano de Bergerac at the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End • Andrew has been bingeing the late '70s British fantasy TV hit Sapphire and Steel www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Zoë Grünewald, Jonn Elledge and Paul Mason. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The climate crisis got horribly real this summer – but is it really true that ordinary people can't do anything about it? The National Emergency Briefing is a growing movement around a stunning documentary film that makes clear the reality of the crisis and what we CAN do about it. Green economist Angela Francis joins us to explain where the fight for a liveable climate is heading; how to beat the  Reform angle that it's just too expensive so we might as well not bother; and bring surprisingly good news about tech, investment and the coming battery.  Plus, house prices are falling (in some places), ULEZ is working, and Donald Trump decides North Korea is his favourite Korea. Well, it can't all be good news. • Find a screening of the National Emergency Briefing here and if there isn't one near you, you can request one.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah went to see Jimmy Eat World and Rise Against at Crystal Palace Bowl.  • Jason has been enjoying the podcast Kevin Eldon's Speakers   • Angela has been reading How To Lose A Country by Ece Temelkuran and finally watching Call My Agent on Netflix.  • Matt watched Spider-Man: Brand New Day.  Buy books through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Hannah Fearn and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The shocking death of former Cambridge University professor Jason Arday raises serious questions about the press investigation of his career and the claims he made about his life. Some blame the right-wing press for his death, others the university. Some blame the litany of racist and abusive messages Arday received online. Where should responsibility lie? Plus, Andy Burnham is clearly more comfortable navigating today's online world than Keir Starmer. But does he fully grasp the forces he's up against? Are Russia, China and malign actors closer to home “flooding the zone” with disinformation to drown out the truth? Former senior UK government adviser-turned disinformation analyst Amil Khan joins the panel to dissect the information war that Burnham faces. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • James has been playing the strategy video game Civilisation VII • Marie is in the middle of Pereira Maintains by Italian writer and academic Antonio Tabucchi.  • Amil has been reading Beer in the Snooker Club by Egyptian writer Waguih Ghali.  • Seth watched David Lean's 1970 epic Ryan's Daughter When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop you help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with James Ball, Marie Le Conte and Amil Khan. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fast analysis of the Clacton by-election with Steve Richards and Andrew Harrison. Two and half cheers for plucky underdog Nigel Farage who defeated the “establishment” candidate Count Binface in a by-election of his own making. And in the end, he didn't even bother to show up to claim his victory… Now the stunt is over, the parliamentary standards watchdog is back investigating Farage's £5m “gift” from a crypto billionaire. So was this entire exercise completely futile? Could Farage's own gambit come back to bite him? And with his – and Reform's – polling slipping, has the tide finally turned? • Buy tickets for Steve's 14-day Rock & Roll Politics run at the Edinburgh Fringe • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Steve Richards. Produced by James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Barring a bin-shaped asteroid strike on the Essex Coast, Nigel Farage will win the Clacton by-election – but his problems won't be over. What will Reform's slippery leader face in the months to come? And can, should, would his party strike a deal with either Restore or the Conservatives? Plus our special guest, journalist Rachel Wearmouth, has the date of the next General Election, for real! And we answer a wealth of YOUR questions in a But Your Emails special.  • Get up to £350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 here with the code OGWN.  • Don't miss the Clacton By-Election Emergencycast on Friday 14 August.  • Order the unofficial Count Binface comic here • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel has been watching the Disney+ crime thriller Furious   • Seth has been re-watching classic psychedelic '60s spy show The Prisoner.  • Jason played Steve Reich's Music For 18 Musicians with Paraorchestra and Charles Hazlewood and you can hear it on BBC Sounds   • Andrew has been listening to the Richard Norris remixes collection Re-Make: Re-Model www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Presented by Andrew Harrison with Seth Thévoz and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Petersfield students are celebrating strong A level results. At a Churcher's College garden reception students collected certificates alongside some of the College teachers who have guided them to success, including outgoing headmaster Simon Williams. Churcher's College says this year's results are the best outside the Covid years. They show that 67.1% of results were either A or A* grades, and that 99.1% were C grade or above. 151 candidates took exams at the school this year. GCSE results come out next week - Churcher's College, The Petersfield School and Ditcham Park school all have students who are awaiting their grades eagerly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petersfield students are celebrating strong A level results. At a Churcher's College garden reception students collected certificates alongside some of the College teachers who have guided them to success, including outgoing headmaster Simon Williams. Churcher's College says this year's results are the best outside the Covid years. They show that 67.1% of results were either A or A* grades, and that 99.1% were C grade or above. 151 candidates took exams at the school this year. GCSE results come out next week - Churcher's College, The Petersfield School and Ditcham Park school all have students who are awaiting their grades eagerly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No drinking pints standing up in London's nightlife hotspot? No new reservoirs until 2040? Welcome to Veto Britain – where infrastructure, housing and even a round at the bar are all subject to the mercy of endless local objection. So how did we become a country that seems incapable of building, changing or enjoying itself anymore? Plus, racist disorder erupts in Norfolk, scrutiny of Andy Burnham's early prisoner release plan intensifies and the PM's crackdown on “subscription traps” gives cancel culture a whole new meaning.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn finally watched Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine's documentary Last Chance to See, based on Carwardine and Douglas Adams' book and radio series of the same name • Rachel has been reading Virgil's epic The Aeneid – “the Roman response to Homer,” she says. • Raf saw a production of Molière's Tartuffe while in France which is coming to the Marylebone Theatre next month.  • Zoë zoomed through Jem Calder's I Want You to Be Happy Image: Cartoon depicting Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet of Brayton (1829-1906), an English temperance campaigner and radical, anti-imperialist Liberal Party politician. Dated 19th Century. No idea who the bloke on the right is. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald, with Rachel Cunliffe, Jonn Elledge and Rafael Behr. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production: Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The earth is burning, Britain is parched brown and rain is a distant memory. Yet the Tories are purging the last of their Net Zero advocates, the Greens seem to have lost interest in green policies, and Burnham's Labour are teetering on the edge of reopening oil and gas in the North Sea. Saving the planet is just so expensive! What will it take to get British politicians to take the climate emergency seriously?   Plus, will the real Kemi Badenoch please sit down? The current and quite possibly final leader of the Conservative Party stood by convicted neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a local council candidate (he withdraws right in the middle of this recording). So how come the commentariat is convinced of the “Keminaissance”?  ESCAPE ROUTES: • Zoë has been reading Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth.  • Seth has been to Bayreuth for the Festival (hurry, it's still on). • Ros got a preview copy of Deep Into The Sixties: Britain 1965–66 by David Kynaston • Rachel has been reading Pagans by James Alistair Henry. Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  • Find out if you're owed on car finance at refundclub.co.uk/OGWN  • Refund Club is a trading style of Sandsford Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA no. 8008114). Checking is free. A fee is payable only if your claim is successful. Eligibility: car finance taken out in the UK between 2007 and 2021. The average claim is around £829 per agreement; this is an average and not a guarantee of the amount you will receive. You can also claim yourself for free by contacting your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service. refundclub.co.uk/OGWN   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Zoë Grünewald, Rachel Cunliffe and Seth Thévoz. Audio Production by Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fifteen days in… Is Burnham's government actually shaping up to be quite good? Impossible to say for certain, but the PM's policy blitz seems to be landing pretty well, buoyed by Labour's Greater Manchester mayoral win. Is the Age of Andy working out as well as it seems – and can the momentum last? Plus, following the astonishing scenes of migrants breaking into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta over the weekend, how is Europe's far-right weaponising it? And Gianni Infantino face open revolt from his own top brass and football associations worldwide after trying to sell off the World Cup. Can he cling on?  • Read Martyn Ziegler's brilliant expose of Gianni Infantino's machinations before and during the World Cup.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Raf went to watch Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds supported by Flaming Lips and English Teacher at Brighton's Preston Park.  • Marie decided to rewatch Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves   • James has been rewatching noughties legal political drama The Good Wife • Andrew saw downtempo duo The Thievery Corporation live at Camden's Roundhouse. [Not for Patreon] www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with James Ball, Marie Le Conte and Rafael Behr. Producer: James Liddell. Audio production: Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune: Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy MacLeod has done it all, he was initially in a band called The Pointy Birds (managed by a young Ricky Gervais) when the band folded he set up his own Record Label (Pointy Records) and along with previous guest Simon Williams ran Club Fandango, one of the most succesful indie club nights in the noughties and onwards which saw all the big names playing on their bills.Andy has just released his second book (Soho Days Camden Nights), as well as re-releasing his first (Anoint My Head: How I Failed To Make It As A Britpop Indie Rockstar)And he bring his live show to Edinburgh Fringe next week.Oh and he also fronts The InCureables (a tribute band to Crawley's finest!)You can hear all about it in the interview and then once your done click the links below to check out all Andy's work!Order the books here: Anoint My Head x Soho Days, Camden Nights - Book Bundle – omnibuspress.comEdinburgh Fringe tickets here: Just the Tonic Edinburgh – The best of comedy in the UKGet The InCureable's tickets here: The InCureables — Cure Tribute Official: Instagram, Facebook | LinktreePointy Records | The Clientele | Big Slice | Campag Velocet | Flotation Toy Warning | Ladybug Transistor | Tim Ten Yen | Color Filter | Yo Zushi | Cathead | Tall Tree 6ft ManAndy Macleod – Books|Songs|PodcastsInstagramFacebookPlease like, share and subscribe wherever you can!

Andy Burnham is promising to spend “whatever political capital” he has to fix the crumbling social care system after decades of political failure. As the right-wing press dusts off its “Death Tax” headlines, can he actually do it? Plus… He leads Restore Britain, an openly extreme right party committed to driving non-white people out of the country, and he's becoming a persistent headache for his former boss Nigel Farage. But who exactly is Rupert Lowe? The panel sizes up the man behind the common-sense cosplay. And in the Extra Bit: the new Euro banknote designs are live, but what would Britain have put forward if we'd ever signed up for the single currency? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Andrew watched the Japanese Edo-punk collective Seppuku Pistols live at North London's New River Studios  • Seth hasn't been able to put down David Crichton's The Avengers: Death in Downing Street   • Jason watched Slice of Life: The American Dream In Former Pizza Huts, which, he says, was “f***ing brilliant”  • Zoë went to watch The Odyssey and particularly enjoyed “evil and excellent” Robert Pattinson • Find out if you're owed on car finance at refundclub.co.uk/OGWN   • Refund Club is a trading style of Sandsford Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA no. 8008114). Checking is free. A fee is payable only if your claim is successful. Eligibility: car finance taken out in the UK between 2007 and 2021. The average claim is around £829 per agreement; this is an average and not a guarantee of the amount you will receive. You can also claim yourself for free by contacting your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service. refundclub.co.uk/OGWN www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald, with Andrew Harrison, Seth Thévoz and Jason Hazeley. Producer: James Liddell. Audio Production: Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune: Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hit play, subscribe, and talk that talk with us!

He's a communist! He wants to drag us back to the 70s! He's going to tax you to death! He's weak! He's a tyrant! He's gone to war with the South! His jackets are too expensive! Burnham has only been PM for a week and the right-wing press are already losing their minds. Is Burnham Derangement Syndrome stalking what's left of Fleet Street? Plus: Is letting artificial intelligence do your thinking for you leading people into “cognitive surrender”? We talk about a new survey that unveils the dire consequences of outsourcing your brain to Claude and ChatGPT.  • Hear prison reformer Steve Gallant talking to Zoë Grünewald on The Bunker ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie is enjoying sci-fi show Silo on Apple TV+. • Jonn has been reading Hinterlands: Journeys through Europe's Unfinished Frontiers by Hannah Lucinda Smith. Buy it through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Raf has been watching Ride Or Die with Hannah Waddingham on Amazon Prime. • Matt went to see The Divine Comedy at the Royal Festival Hall and Daniel Kitson's new show Thrum.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Marie le Conte, John Elledge and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Burnham arrives promising a “cost of living” government but can he make it happen? And does his mix of ideas and promises add up? TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak returns to the pod to talk about Burnham's first steps, go to bat for unions in an age of A.I. tumult, make the case for reindustrialisation, and wind up Andrew about Jeff Bezos possibly buying Liverpool FC (Paul's an Evertonian. So is Andy Burnham. It's a conspiracy). And in the Extra Bit: What are the little luxuries that our panel and guests spend a bit too much on?  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah has been reading Women's Prize for Fiction winner The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.  • James recommends the original anime version of Avatar: The Last Airbender. • Paul recommends science fiction epic Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruochhio • Andrew is enjoying domestic robot comedy Ann Droid with Diane Morgan and Sue Johnston on the BBC.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Hannah Fearn and James Ball. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brand new PM Andy Burnham is not hanging about. On day one he set about purging Starmer loyalists from the Cabinet and setting out his policy agenda, including fresh cost-of-living measures. Is this the fresh start Labour needs? Listen up for live in-pod sackings! Plus: Are we facing the end of reading? Scrolling through WhatsApp messages, Netflix subtitles and Instagram captions mean we're arguably reading more words than ever – yet book reading has nosedived in recent years. Has the “post-literate” society already arrived? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie went to watch Christopher Nolan's latest epic, The Odyssey • Rachel also delved into Greek mythology and has been bingeing Netflix's Kaos • Jonn is watching spy thriller The Agency on Paramount+ • Seth has been reading Hostel, House and Chambers: Accommodating the Victorian and Edwardian Working Woman www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz, with Rachel Cunliffe, Jonn Elledge and Marie Le Cont. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As ever, politics waited until we finished recording before dropping the big stuff… But worry not! Steve Richards of the Rock & Roll Politics podcast steps up to analyse the surprises, genius moves, curveballs and missing pieces in Andy Burnham's first cabinet with Andrew Harrison. Should Ed Miliband have been chancellor instead of John Healey? Is this really a purge of Starmerites and a “Night of the Long Eyelashes” as The Mail claims? Are Burnham's cost-of-living measures actually costed? And does it all fit together? • Catch even more of Steve's analysis on Rock & Roll Politics • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Steve Richards. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At long last it's the Rover's Return… What are the burning issues that will be taking up Andy Burnham's time when he takes over No.10 next week? OGWN listeners bombard us with questions and we do our best to answer them. What can Burnham do that Starmer couldn't? Does he need to do more than move stuff to the North? And why did Labour give Starmer a carriage clock, of all things?  Plus, Climate of Fear: Kemi Badenoch chooses the hottest moments of our Hell Summer (a period which is actually killing people) to purge Tory MPs who back Net Zero. WTF is she playing at? We look at this terrifying moment and whether the summer's frightening scenes can push back the tide of climate change denialism.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jason bought George Martin: The Scores – the collected musical works of that chap who did The Beatles.  • Seth has been watching old episodes of Frasier – specifically S2 E18, The Club, with the 1896 vintage bottle of port.  • Ava went to see a series of Scorsese re-runs at the cinema.  • Ros has been re-reading Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Buy through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jason Hazeley, Seth Thévoz and special guest Ava Santina. Audio Production by: Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Counter-terrorism police take over the investigation into the killing of Ann Widdecombe, a crime that has shocked people across the political spectrum. Beyond legitimate questions around political violence, are Reform trying to amp up the fear for political gain? What should people in the public eye say – and what shouldn't they?  Plus… Andy Burnham will finally become Britain's prime minister this week – the seventh in a decade. Lucky him… he inherits an entire Sue Gray-style s**t list of policy issues. So what might actually be on it? And is there anything Burnham can do to stop his in-tray wrecking his life? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn went to the MC Escher exhibition at Somerset House – and couldn't resist a shoutout to the Doctor Who serial, Castrovalva.  • Hannah has been reading These Precious Days by the novelist Ann Patchett • Raf has watched L'Amour Ouf – Beating Hearts in English – while on holiday in France  • Zoe has been listening to Cameron Winter, the front-man of indie-rock band Geese  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Jonn Elledge, Hannah Fearn and Rafael Behr. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nigel Farage wanted a “people vs. the establishment” by-election but it quickly turned into “man vs. bin”. Every major rival has refused to run against him in Clacton, leaving the Reform leader's only real opponent as the man with a trash can on his head, Count Binface. Is this one humiliation too many for the frog-faced fraud? Plus, Farage may be the front-man but the loudest and most extreme voice behind him is Zia Yusuf. How did the one-time left-winger become Reform's self-styled “Shadow Home Secretary”? Expert on the far-right Daniel Trilling explains all. And in the Extra Bit: If you threw a sickie last Monday to watch England beat Mexico, you're not alone. We look at the culture of the sick day around the world. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros has been letting off some steam reading Christian Wolmar's Fastrack: The Extraordinary Global History of The Race for High Speed Rail • Rachel went to watch Pride at the National Theatre, as Stephen Beresford's hit moves from screen to stage • Daniel has been reading Keza MacDonald's Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun • Andrew went to see Robyn at the O2 and What the World Needs Now: The Songs of Burt Bacharach with Rumer, Ed Harcourt and Dionne Warwick  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Rachel Cunliffe, Ros Taylor and Daniel Trilling. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction by James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After weeks of defending the £5m “gift” that won't go away, Farage finds himself at the centre of another uncomfortable money story: undeclared finance from a convicted criminal with the unimprovable nickname “Posh George”. And Reform is faltering in the polls. Is Farage becoming a liability to the party that supposedly revolves around him?  Plus: The astonishing story of how Trump strong-armed FIFA into suspending the Folarin Balogun red card, thus poisoning the whole World Cup. And as Burnham prepares to inherit a financial nightmare, should he bite the bullet and repeal the pensioners' Triple Lock? ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie went to see the Olivia Wilde comedy The Invite at the cinema.  • Matt has been reading Murder: The Biography by Kate Morgan. • Jonn recommends the Russell T Davies drama Tip Toe, streaming on Channel 4. • Seth has been reading Swiss Watching by Diccon Bewes.    • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Jonn Elledge, Marie le Conte and Matt Green. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Setting up the stories of the next seven days… As England fans shake off their Mexico hangover, another cash scandal hits Farage, who denies “doing any wrongdoing” (?). How will Naughty Nigel handle new revelations about undeclared funding from convicted criminal “Posh George” Cottrell, while still dealing with the headache of his £5m gift from a crypto baron?Plus: NATO's conference in Ankara; crunch time for Marine le Pen; Trump names yet another thing after himself; and England face Norway on Saturday. Gavin Esler and Andrew Harrison cast the runes of the week ahead. (How come we never thought of “Orangemandias” before?)• Hear Gavin Esler on ⁠This Is Not A Drill⁠ every week. Miniseries New Weapons for New Wars starts Thur 16 July. • Special offer! ⁠Get 20% off any vehicle history check⁠ at ⁠carVertical.com/TheBunker⁠. ⁠www.patreon.com/bunkercast⁠ Written and presented by Producer: Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.⁠www.podmasters.co.uk⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that the Age of Andy is starting to take shape, will our panel stick their necks out and say they can support the King Half In The North? Is there enough going on here to re-energise Labour voters who were burnt out by the last lacklustre regime? Are Shabana Mahmood and Starmer himself trying to box in the new PM on immigration and defence? And is Burnham really going to be as Left as some think?  Plus: In a truly selfless sacrifice, our Seth Thévoz and James Ball go to the Telegraph's “Big Debate” on “How to make Brexit a success” (!). What wonders and horrors did they witness? And in a special American semiquincentennial Extra Bit, what was the first time our panel visited the USA? And the last?  ESCAPE ROUTES • James has been mainlining three World Cup games a day.  • Seth has been stalking Sepp Blatter and Gianni Infantino across social media. • Hannah went to see Lily Allen at the O2.  • Zoë has been indulging in the Serpentine Lido in London's Hyde Park.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Seth Thévoz, Hannah Fearn and James Ball. Audio production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to discuss his career of bold choices, from Baz Luhrmann's "The Get Down" to playing Simon Williams in the Marvel series "Wonder Man." Abdul-Mateen II digs into his acting process, taking over established characters like Morpheus in "The Matrix" movies and John Creasy in "Man on Fire," the valuable lesson he learned on the "Aquaman" movies, "Wonder Man" season 2, and much more. ... Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage's podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today's most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ ... Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media: - https://www.facebook.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/backstage - https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope - https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e Special thanks to... - Host: Vinnie Mancuso - Producer: Jamie Muffett - Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman - Design: Jen Foreman - Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Will spreading power throughout the UK be Burnham's secret weapon? Will “No.10 North” be located at Salford Lads' Club? And will Britain's PM in waiting really get ten years at the helm? Plus: from Manchesterism to Trumpism… America turns 250 this week and the vibe feels a bit off. Trump's flop of a state fair has already been branded “embarrassing” and “sad” with tentfuls of melted ice cream and a cancelled Vanilla Ice. We welcome special guest David Plotz of the Slate Political Gabfest to pick apart Trump's lacklustre semiquincentennial celebrations… and whether Trump really is losing. • Does the US needs a total reboot once Trump has gone? Find out on Fables of The Reconstruction: How to Fix the USA, a three-part miniseries from The Bunker. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk. • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow. ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn has been hooked on Apple TV's much-hyped comedy-horror Widow's Bay. • Ros watched England's cricketers stumble to a series defeat against New Zealand • David has been gripped by the “soccer” as the World Cup knockouts get underway back home in the US • Andrew might be six years late to season one of space race counterfactual For All Mankind on Apple TV+, but he's making up for lost time. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Jonn Elledge and Ros Taylor. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a difference a week makes… Andy Burnham is now number one in a field of one, and planning to move a chunk of No.10 to Manchester. How is Labour adjusting itself to the Age of Andy? Is there more to Burnhamism than just vibes? What about Burnhanomics? And do the people really want a General Election or can they just not face one?   Plus: Forgetting all the inexplicable rabid anger about “worst PM ever!!”, was Keir Starmer actually a good Prime Minister or not? We run the rule over his record. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people, we've got three comics on the pod. Was Starmer good or bad for the jokes biz?   • Get tickets for Ahir Shah's next show Golden.   ESCAPE ROUTES  • Hannah has been listening to the gorgeous dreamscapes of Skying by The Horrors.   • Jason went to see the Marilyn Monroe exhibition at the National Gallery.  • Matt and his nephew are collecting the M&S Panini football sticker album .   • Ahir has been appreciating The Thong Song by Sisqo on many, many levels.   • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.   • This show is sponsored by CarVertical.com - Get 20% off any vehicle history check at ⁠carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow⁠ www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow    Presented by Matt Green with Hannah Fearn, Jason Hazeley and Ahir Shah. Audio Production by: Jade Bailey. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.  www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“We voted Brexit and all we got was this lousy podcast…” Ten years since the vote that sent Britain round the bend, could we finally break out of the trap of 2016? We're joined by the Obi Wan Kenobi of Brexit bloggers Chris Grey to look into the enormity of Pandora's Referendum. In a world so violently changed from 2016, is there hope for Britain to get back into the EU? Despite populism, are the stars aligning for the UK and the EU? And should anyone serious about reuniting Britain and the EU be talking about joining, not rejoining? As Raf says: “With a bit of political courage we could be in a very different debate.”  • Want more on Brexit? Hear friend of the pod Anand Menon on The Reality of Rejoin on the latest Bunker – Apple and Spotify. • Read Chris Grey's blog Brexit and Brexitism. • Pre-order Jonn's new book 31 Inventions That Made Our World.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn has been watching the Russell T. Davies drama Tip Toe.   • Raf has been reading Fred Vargas's The Chalk Circle Man (in French, of course).  • Ros has been reading The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendahl and enjoying The Archers podcast.  • Chris Grey has been watching vintage spy drama Mr Palfrey of Westminster on the Classic British Telly YouTube channel.  When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop you help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we sadly file away that ‘Keep Keir And Carry On' headline in the bottom drawer… Keir Starmer steps down and our panel look at what the Starmer era really means. Are we now in a world where petty politics will always trump service to country? Why was this decent, vaguely boring man so loathed in the country? Does this public bloodletting help or hinder Labour's existential battle against Reform? And why can't Britain hang on to its Prime Ministers? We're joined by Chris Grey, the don of Brexit bloggers to discuss it all.  This is a special two-part split edition, enabling us to get you the Farewell to Keir Starmer portion of the pod as fast as possible. Be here tomorrow as our panel “celebrate” ten years of the Brexit Referendum that pitched Britain into a psychodrama it still can't escape.  • Read Chris Grey's blog Brexit and Brexitism • Pre-order Jonn's new book 31 Inventions That Made Our World through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our fast reaction to Burnham's victory in Makefield with the don of political commentators Steve Richards of Rock & Roll Politics talking to Andrew Harrison… Andy Burnham is heading back to Westminster after his landslide victory and despite dire warnings of a Reform surge, it wasn't even close. After an early-morning celebratory pint, is he now on a fast track for the keys to No. 10? Should Keir Starmer fight or throw in the towel? Is Burnham's coronation now inevitable? How big a blow was it all for Farage, Reform and the even-further-right Restore? Above all, what happens next? • Hear Steve on Rock & Roll Politics.  • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Steve Richards. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Surprise, surprise! The arson attacks on properties linked to Keir Starmer turn out to have been instigated by a Russian “diplomat” with a background in information warfare. Who'd have thought it? Has Vladimir Putin's shadow war finally crossed the line? Plus: Wes Streeting wants to scrap the ban on new fossil fuel production. The Greens are looking less green. The Lib Dems appear indifferent. And don't get us started on Reform's Richard Tice… So, is Ed Miliband the last true defender of net zero left standing? Special guest Sam Bright of Desmog talks us through the battle over clean energy. And in the Extra Bit, our panellists reveal their moments of meaningless happiness as an antidote to the doom and gloom.  • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/OhGodWhatNow. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk. • Read Sam's Substack and latest DeSmog articles ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel has been listening to Steven Mangan and his sister Anita on the BBC's Siblings Unpicked podcast • James has been playing a remake of the retro video game Final Fantasy VII   • Sam has been dipping into England vs. New Zealand in the second test (between investigations)  • Matt has been binging Shrinking, the Apple TV's hit from the makers of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Rachel Cunliffe, James Ball and Sam Bright. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Labour surprises everyone with a ban on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X for the under-16. Critics say the “Australia Plus” regime is riddled with contradictions. Will it work, is it fair or is it just Starmer trying to look tough ahead of the Makerfield by-election? Andrew Harrison puts Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson on the spot and then our panel dig into the detail. Plus, the defence row and the resignations of John Healey and ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns continue to rock Labour. Could they derail Andy Burnham's plans to get back into Westminster?  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah went to the Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends exhibition at the Young V&A  • Marie just finished Joseph Roth's classic The Radetzky March   • Jonn has been reading the first in Patt Barker's acclaimed Regeneration trilogy   • Seth took a pit stop at the iconic Literary and Philosophical Society during a trip to Newcastle www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Marie le Conte, Hannah Fearn and Jonn Elledge. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Setting out the stories of the next seven days… Labour announce far more draconian restrictions on social media for teens than anyone expected. Why are they being so hardcore now? And will the measures work? Plus: it's Makerfield by-election week, at last. What will help Labour more: Restore splitting the far-right vote or an England victory against Croatia in the World Cup? And what does Trump's Iran deal actually mean? Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison look into the stories of the week ahead. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production: Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's more revolting? The racist pogrom against innocent families in Belfast? Or the way the far-right is again using a violent attack to claim that every immigrant – legal or illegal – is a threat to the country? Our panel looks at how indulging the “legitimate concerns” mindset leads to kids being burned out of their homes. Plus we answer your questions in our new monthly-ish But Your Emails special. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: do progressive protestors need to up their banner game? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jason has been reading A.I. by Belgian comedian Lieven Schiere  • Seth saw Churchill's Urinal starring friend of the pod Rosie Holt at the King's Head Theatre, Islington. You've missed it, but it's on in Edinburgh in August.    • Zöe enjoyed Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester. • Andrew has been listening to Inferno by Boards Of Canada www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Zöe Grünewald, Seth Thévoz and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The BBC gets in early with its “ten years since the Brexit Referendum” jamboree with a “star”-studded retro-documentary, Brexit: A Very British Civil War from legendary film-maker Norma Percy. Our panel bravely retraumatise themselves by watching it. What do we learn that's new? Who comes out of it worst: Cameron, Corbyn, Johnson, Seumas Milne, Gove, Osbourne or Cummings? Could anything have averted this catastrophe? And have any of these egotists and hobby-horsers learned a damn thing in the past decade?  Plus, in related matters… Why do we believe what we believe? Why are conservatives more disgusted by disgusting things than liberals? And why (good news!) do liberals have more interesting sex? Author Turi Munthe joins us to discuss the psychology behind our deepest impulses.  • Buy Turi Munthe's book Why We Think What We Think through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel enjoyed A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering on audiobook – but you can read it on paper too.  • Rafael has been listening to Paris 1919 by John Cale.  • Turi Munthe recommends Other People's Children by Ben Faccini.  • Matt recommends crime comedy Deep Cover starring Nick Mohammed, Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard, on Amazon Prime.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Greene with Rachel Cunliffe and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Farage and the far-right have been quick to seize on Henry Nowak's horrific murder, ignoring pleas from the victim's family for the killing not to be politicised. Instead the Reform leader decried “two-tier” policing and called for “pure, cold rage”. What does it all mean? Are we in for another summer of racially-triggered rioting? Plus: what would an Andy Burnham government actually look like? Can Manchesterism succeed where Starmerism stumbled? And in the Extra Bit… mantropreneurship irritant Steven Bartlett claims that two glasses of wine “ruined” his life for three days. Our panel examine the toxic cult of peak performance.  • Buy tickets for Ahir's Golden tour • Because of developments in the news we've postponed the promised BUT YOUR EMAILS special by one week. But you can still send your questions to ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Ros has been watching the BBC's hit drama Two Weeks in August • Seth rewatched Lawrence of Arabia at Soho's iconic Prince Charles Cinema • Ahir has been binging darkly-comical superhero series The Boys, which led him to the comic • Zoe has been reading Caro Claire Burke's new novel Yesteryear about a time-travelling tradwife.   When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop, you help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Seth Thévoz, Ros Taylor and Ahir Shah. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Simon Williams returns to Perpetual Chess for the first time in several years. Simon is one of chess's most recognizable personalities, known as the Ginger GM through his work as a streamer, commentator, author and Chessable creator. He is also an accomplished tournament player, having shared first in the 2010 London Chess Classic and finished second in the 2004 British Championship. Simon joined me for a wide-ranging conversation covering both chess and life. We discussed: • His candid reflections on becoming involved with a pension company that later collapsed, the mistakes he made, and how he has worked to move forward • His new role helping revitalize Chesspublishing.com, and why he believes its archive of opening analysis remains an underappreciated resource • How modern opening preparation has changed, and why Simon increasingly relies on offbeat ideas to avoid preparation battles • His love of creative, attacking chess and the memorable games he has played at the Reykjavik Open We also discussed the Stonewall Dutch, rising British star Bodhana Sivanandan, the losses of IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins, and even Simon's thoughts on Las Vegas. As always, it was great catching up with Simon, and I am glad to see him creating chess content again.   00:00 The 2026 Reykjavik Open and Simon's flair for the dramatic chess game  Check out Simon's epic queen sacrifice in this article by NM Anthony Levin: https://www.chess.com/news/view/2023-reykjavik-open-williams-sacrifices-queen#:~:text=Williams%27%20Brilliancy,he%20played%20the%20interesting%205. 04:45 How Simon has adapted his approach to openings in the engine age  Mentioned: Simon's game vs. Bodhana Sivanadan https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=3124933 07:35 Playing Against Younger Opponents 10:38 The State of British Chess 13:32 Exploring the Stonewall Dutch Mentioned: Bronstein's famous blunder-  https://www.chess.com/blog/ThummimS/the-1951-world-chess-championship 16:32 The Impact of Computer Analysis 19:39 Experiences playing against legends at the 2025 European Club Cup 22:26 Simon's Involvement with Chess Publishing More background info here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/simon-williams-ordered-to-pay-back-900-000-to-pension-scheme 26:30 Innovative Chess Solutions 28:11 Lessons learned from working for a pension firm that went bankrupt.  35:42 Navigating Financial Mistakes 40:17 The Importance of Chess in Life 44:48 Content Creation and Future Projects Keep an eye out for The Ginger and The Bear podcast! 48:54 Remembering IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins  50:00- How to keep up with GM Simon Williams Suggestions for Chesspublishing.com  https://www.chesspublishing.com/contact X: https://x.com/ginger_gm?lang=en YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/gingergm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• One last chance to get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing – our tenth birthday offer ends Wednesday morning. If you've been telling yourself that Reform are only surging because people are unhappy with what the Government hasn't delivered, the don of political research Sir John Curtice has bad news for you. New British Social Attitudes research shows it's deeper than that: angry Reform voters are energised by divisive culture issues and won't be easily persuaded back to either Labour or the Tories. Would Burnham or Streeting (or anyone) be able to overcome their new identity politics? Plus: Does the latest tranche of Mandelson messages and emails shine any more light on the whole ambassadorial mess? • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Sir John has been watching Dear England, the BBC's new drama on England football manager Gareth Southgate • Marie went to watch “charming thriller” Tuner at the movies.  • Raf really hated Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu but hey, it's still a distraction.  • Andrew has been reading Adrian Tchaikovsky's sci-fi epic Children of Strife. Buy it through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Marie Le Conte and Rafael Behr. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A huge dump of messages linked to Peter Mandelson are about to drop – what can we expect and who's the most nervous? Alex von Tunzelmann joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the news to look out for in the week ahead, from domestic news and Labour fallout to the consequences of conflict across the globe.   www.patreon.com/bunkercast      Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex von Tunzelmann. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A huge dump of messages linked to Peter Mandelson are about to drop – what can we expect and who's the most nervous? Alex von Tunzelmann joins Jacob Jarvis to discuss the news to look out for in the week ahead, from domestic news and Labour fallout to the consequences of conflict across the globe.    www.patreon.com/bunkercast       Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis with Alex von Tunzelmann. Audio production: Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Music by Kenny Dickinson. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. What else does a beleaguered PM like Keir Starmer need but… unsolicited advice from Tony Blair? In a new essay published by his think tank, the former PM calls on Labour to cosy up to Donald Trump and axe Ed Miliband's net zero agenda or risk relegation from the “Premier League of nations”. Is Blair offering a genuine diagnosis or is he just dusting off the 1990s playbook? Plus, jobs tsar Alan Milburn's bombshell report on youth unemployment warns that young people are being “rewired” by their smartphones and trapped in a doom loop that's keeping them out of work. Can they escape it? And Reform's candidate for the Makerfield by-election Robert Kenyon is facing a firestorm for a string of resurfaced sexist social media posts. In the age of the political lout, why do the rules always seem different for the right? And in the Extra Bit: our panel reveals how they find their Zen in the age of doom-scrolling.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah went to see Francois Ozon's new movie adaptation of Camus' existentialist classic The Stranger.  • Ros also visited the cinema to see Project Hail Mary  • Jonn watched the first episode of the BBC's Two Weeks in August • Seth has been reading Being Liberal: The Liberal Disposition in Contemporary British Politics by Cambridge professor David Howarth www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with Jonn Elledge, Ros Taylor and Hannah Fearn. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Jade Bailey. Art direction by James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Last chance to get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon support.  Nigel Farage's latest defence of his “gift” from a crypto magnate: you wouldn't know about it if I hadn't been hacked by pesky Russians! (Although erm I forgot to tell the National Cyber Security Centre). Has he finally pushed his luck too far? Plus, the right-wing press and Reform are busting their guts to paint Andy Burnham as a carpetbagging, conviction-free shapeshifter who's simultaneously a far-left zealot. Will any of it stick? And why are Rupert Lowe's ultra-right Restore UK much, much worse than just an amusing problem for Reform? • We pinched the title of this edition from someone called AshWarp – but if you know the real originator, get in touch.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jason recommends visiting Crossness Pumping Station on the Thames and also the Great Western Railway Museum in Swindon. • Rachel is watching Rivals on Disney+.  • James Ball is rewatching How To Get Away With Murder on Channel 4.  • Matt recommends Thirst: 12 Drinks That Changed My Life by John Robins. Buy it through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with James Ball, Rachel Cunliffe and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Last chance to get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing.  Setting up the stories for the next seven… sorry, six days. As Britain suffers unprecedented May heatwaves, can Ed Miliband defend Net Zero from the denialists in Reform and the oil-funded PR greenwashers? Plus, Nigel Farage's excuses for his £5m gift from a crypto baron start to catch up with him. Could Reform be outflanked in Makerfield by the even battier, Musk-funded Restore UK? The latest on social media bans for under-16s. And Richard Burgon, Labour leader? Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison set out the week ahead.  www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Written and presented by  Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• It's Podmasters' 10th birthday! Last chance to get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Setting up the stories for the next seven… sorry, six days. As Britain suffers unprecedented May heatwaves, can Ed Miliband defend Net Zero from the denialists in Reform and the oil-funded PR greenwashers? Plus, Nigel Farage's excuses for his £5m gift from a crypto baron start to catch up with him. Could Reform be outflanked in Makerfield by the even battier, Musk-funded Restore UK? The latest on social media bans for under-16s. And Richard Burgon, Labour leader? Ros Taylor and Andrew Harrison set out the week ahead. www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by  Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Simon Williams. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Artwork by James Parrett. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. And OGWN is nine years old! Today: A Labour candidate up against a local plumber in a North-Western by-election? It's beginning to feel a lot like Groundhog Day. If Andy Burnham beats Reform's Robert Kenyon in Makerfield his path to Number 10 gets a lot clearer. But has Burnham just walked into a Reform bear trap? Plus: Brexit is back, right on cue. Wes Streeting lobs a grenade into the Burnham campaign by raising the Europe question. Could this leadership battle finally break Britain out of its Brexit loop of denial? And in the Extra Bit for Patreons, we do that Find Your Politics thing to discover whether we're secret Leninists or Freemen of the Land without realising it. (And why no talk of the Greens, you ask? We did a big will-they-won't-they bit and then they announced a candidate so we had to drop it. More next time).  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie is getting set to host her Outsiders Art Club, a social club putting emerging artists in the spotlight • Matt has been bingeing Imperfect Women on Apple TV.  • Raf went to see Zambian singer and rapper Sampa the Great at the Brighton Festival  • Andrew has been listening to Tomora, the new duo comprising Chemical Brother Tom Rowlands and Norwegian singer Aurora.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Rafael Behr, Marie Le Conte and Matt Green. Producer: James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Makerfield residents, wire up your letterboxes – the leaflets are coming… A month until Andy Burnham's by-election, Reform is knocking. Can the King of the North hold them off – whoever their candidate may be? Has he done enough for his message to land? Plus: Is it time up for Ed Davey as leader of the Liberal Democrats? Several Essex councillors seem to think so. Comedian Rosie Holt weighs in on whether political satire has changed for the better or worse. And Matt Brittin officially started as the BBC's Director General this week – is it possible to steady the ship?  • Get your tickets for Churchill's Urinal with Rosie Holt at the King's Head Theatre, Islington. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn watched Ncuti Gatwa throw jabs at Doctor Who in Saturday Night Live UK • Jason has been reading The Design of Childhood, by Pulitzer Prize-winner Alexandra Lange • Rosie is rewatching a duo of British comedy classics: Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and Toast of London • Ros has been seeking escapism in Danish television and has binged Seaside Hotel www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Jonn Elledge and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon backing. Broadcasting from the middle of the Labour chaos vortex, we look how things stand after the Streeting-Starmer confrontation at No.10 – was it a 17-minute staring contest? – and whether the Health Secretary has the support within Labour to win… if he stands. And who is Wes Streeting anyway? What does he actually stand for? Our panel share their experiences of “the man you can't libel, because he has no vices.” Plus: Zack Polanski houseboat council tax evasion imbroglio! And in the Extra Bit: There's a new Beatles museum in London… not Liverpool. So where else deserves a museum in a slightly unexpected location?  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Seth enjoyed the English Touring Opera's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers   • Marie has been binge-watching Rivals on Disney+ • Hannah went to the West End to watch David Hare's Teeth'n'Smiles  • Zoë has been watching Half-Man, Richard Gadd's follow-up to Baby Reindeer www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald with Hannah Fearn, Marie Le Conte and Seth Thévoz. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon support – that's 20% in total.  Amid the rubble of last week's elections, Keir Starmer announces he's suddenly getting real and ready to win back voters. But is it all too little, too late – and after months of drift, will anyone believe him anyway? Plus, were the Reform and Green surges really as unstoppable as an overwrought media want us to believe? Friend of the pod and psephology don Rob Ford of Manchester University joins us to dig deep on the elections… and whether Labour gets what really happened.   NB Andrew apologies for his hoarse voice. He'll be back to normal next time.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Raf recommends By The Sea,  Abdulzarak Gurnah's Nobel Prize-winning novel of escape and migration. • Rob Ford recommends The Emperor by Ryszard Kapuczinski, concerning the downfall of Haile Selassie.  • Ros recommends the TV drama Believe Me about John Worboys, streaming on ITV.  • Andrew recommends 30 Rock with Tina Fey, now finally on Netflix.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ros Taylor and Rafael Behr. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• Podmasters is 10 years old! Get an extra 10% off a year's Patreon support – that's 20% in total.  Fast analysis with don of political commentators Steve Richards of Rock & Roll Politics talking to Andrew Harrison. Labour's performance in the English Locals was terrible… but was it really as bad as Starmer feared? Does Farage's bluster about “truly historic” results for Reform stand up to the data? Are the Greens becoming the party of “student England”? And the big one: Can Starmer hang on?  • See Steve's Rock & Roll Politics show live in London at King's Place, Monday 11 May – last few tickets available! • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio Production by Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices