Podcasts about tomiwa owolade

For the second instalment of Intelligence Squared's Holiday Reads selection looking back at some of the best books of the year, Conor Boyle and Feyi Adegbite revisit conversations with authors including journalist Tania Branigan, whose book, Red Memory, tells the story of China's cultural revolution. Plus, writer Tomiwa Owolade discusses his book, This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter, and classicist Mary Beard along with politician and podcaster Rory Stewart talk about their respective titles, Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World, and Politics on the Edge. You can also find all of their books and a few more in Intelligence Squared's Twelve Books of Christmas list. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/the-blog/?p=the-twelve-books-of-christmas ... If you'd like to get access to all of our longer form interviews and 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 - Our member-only newsletter The Monthly Read, sent straight to your inbox ... 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, early access and much more ... 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

Tomiwa Owolade is a journalist and author of the book "This Is Not America - Why Black Lives In Britain Matter". We discuss the trend of a UK population clumsily importing race-obsessed social issues from the United States, antisemitism hiding behind the woke anti-racism movement, the differences between Instagram & X/Twitter, and why identity politics is a sneaky trap and hindering actual real progress.

This series of The Sacred Elizabeth spoke with nine fascinating individuals about their core values, and how the messages, philosophies and experiences from their childhood shaped them into the people they are today. She spoke with Cole Arthur Riley, Thordis Elva, James Marriott, Tomiwa Owolade, Anne McElvoy, Tea Uglow, Iain McGilchrist and John Vervaeke. In this reflection episode, Elizabeth takes a look back at all these conversations and dwells on a couple key threads that were prominent throughout. ***** The Sacred is a podcast produced by the think tank Theos. Be sure to connect with us below to stay up-to-date with all our content, research and events. CONNECT WITH THE SACRED Twitter: https://twitter.com/sacred_podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacred_podcast/ CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH OLDFIELD Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESOldfield Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/ CONNECT WITH THEOS Theos monthly newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/E9E17CAB71AC7464 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Theosthinktank Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theosthinktank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theos---the-think-tank/ Website: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS The Sacred: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sacred/id1326888108 Reading Our Times: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-our-times/id1530952185

For this episode, Yascha Mounk, the writer and political scientist discusses his recent book The Identity Trap, which explores what Mounk refers to as the modern world's counterproductive obsession with group identity in all its forms. Joining Mounk in conversation is writer Tomiwa Owolade, author of the book This is Not America.  Want the hear the full extended conversation right now? Become a supporter of Intelligence Squared to get access to all of our longer form interviews and members-only content. Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.  For £4.99 per month you'll receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series, wherever you get your podcasts - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events - Our member-only newsletter The Monthly Read, sent straight to your inbox 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, early access and much more The Full Length Video is here: https://www.intelligencesquaredplus.com/videos/yascha-mounk-on-the-identity-trap-with-tomiwa-owolade ... Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ ... Get in touch with any feedback and guest or debate ideas by emailing us at podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tomiwa Owolade is a journalist and critic, and writer of the highly acclaimed book 'This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter'. Tomiwa spoke about his upbringing and moving from Nigeria to Britain as a boy, why we should approach racism differently in the UK to America, and why he doesn't like being seen solely through the lens of race. You can get a copy of This is Not America here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Not-America-Britain-Matter/dp/1838956212 Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/10/11/tomiwa-owolade-on-why-black-lives-in-britain-matter CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:53 What is sacred to you? Tomiwa Owolade's answer 00:05:29 Roots of Faith and Culture: Growing Up Christian in Nigeria 00:10:59 From Nigeria to London: Smooth Transitions and Cultural Surprises 00:15:51 Settling with ease in the UK, being Christian, and the irony of African Christian identity 00:21:58 Journey to University and Navigating Identity and Education 00:26:37 This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter 00:32:42 Diversity of Black British population, and unhelpful generalisations 00:49:18 Academic fisticuffs and unhelpful racial pigeonholing 00:59:01 Outro: Many things can be true at the same time ***** The Sacred is a podcast produced by the think tank Theos. Be sure to connect with us below to stay up-to-date with all our content, research and events. CONNECT WITH THE SACRED Twitter: https://twitter.com/sacred_podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacred_podcast/ CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH OLDFIELD Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESOldfield Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/ Substack: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/ CONNECT WITH THEOS Theos monthly newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/E9E17CAB71AC7464 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Theosthinktank Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theosthinktank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theos---the-think-tank/ Website: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS The Sacred: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sacred/id1326888108 Reading Our Times: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-our-times/id1530952185

Tomiwa Owolade is a rising star of literary and cultural criticism in the UK. His first book is This Is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter. In this discussion, Owolade joins commentator Inaya Folarin Iman to argue that too much of the debate around race in Britain today is viewed through the prism of American ideas and history – models that don't reflect the challenges and achievements of the increasingly diverse Black British population.  We'd love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.  Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.  And if you'd like to support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations, as well as ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared. Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomiwa Owolade is the author of ‘This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter', a book which was chosen as a non-fiction highlight of 2023 in The Times, Guardian, Observer, Irish Times and New Statesman. The book is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1838956212/ SPONSORED BY: ExpressVPN. Go to https://www.expressvpn.com/trigger/ and get an extra 3 months free on a one-year package! SPONSORED BY: Manscaped. Get 20% off and free shipping when you use the code TRIGGER20 at https://www.manscaped.com/ Become a Premium Member to receive exclusive benefits https://triggernometry.supercast.com/ OR Support TRIGGERnometry Here: Bitcoin: bc1qm6vvhduc6s3rvy8u76sllmrfpynfv94qw8p8d5 Music by: Music by: Xentric | info@xentricapc.com | https://www.xentricapc.com/ YouTube:  @xentricapc   Buy Merch Here: https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/shop/ Advertise on TRIGGERnometry: marketing@triggerpod.co.uk Join the Mailing List: https://www.triggerpod.co.uk/sign-up/ Find TRIGGERnometry on Social Media:  https://twitter.com/triggerpod https://www.facebook.com/triggerpod/ https://www.instagram.com/triggerpod/ About TRIGGERnometry:  Stand-up comedians Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) and Francis Foster (@francisjfoster) make sense of politics, economics, free speech, AI, drug policy and WW3 with the help of presidential advisors, renowned economists, award-winning journalists, controversial writers, leading scientists and notorious comedians.

Amid mounting claims for reparations for slavery and colonialism, historian Zoe Strimpel asks how far reparative justice should go. Should we limit reparations to the living survivors of state atrocities, such as the Holocaust, or should we re-write the rulebook to include the ancestors of victims who suffered historical injustices centuries ago? Alongside testimony from a Holocaust survivor and interviews with lawyers, historians and reparations advocates, Zoe hears about the long shadow cast by slavery - lumbering Caribbean states and societies with a legacy that they are still struggling with today. Are demands for slavery reparations just another front in the culture war designed to leverage white guilt? Will they inevitably validate countless other claims to rectify historical grievances? Or are they a necessary step for diverse societies to draw in the extremes of a polarised debate so we can write a common history that we can all live with? Presenter: Zoe Strimpel Producer: David Reid Editor: Clare Fordham Contributors Mala Tribich, Holocaust survivor. Michael Newman, Chief Executive, Association of Jewish Refugees. Albrecht Ritschtl, Professor of Economic History, London School of Economics Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa, former director, University of West Indies. Kenneth Feinberg, Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Tomiwa Owolade, journalist and author of "This is not America". Alex Renton, journalist, author and co-founder of Heirs of Slavery. Dr Hardeep Dhillon, historian, University of Pennsylvania. James Koranyi, Associate Professor of modern European History at the University of Durham.

Tomiwa Owolade is a journalist and critic based in London. He has written for publications that include the New Statesman, the Times, and the Sunday Times, and he is the author of This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter.This is Not America, by Tomiwa Owolade44: The Unresolvable Tension of Overlapping Identities, with Tomiwa Owolade - Where We Go Next3: A Challenge to Move Beyond Racialized Identities, with Inaya Folarin Iman - Where We Go Next12 Million Black Voices, by Richard WrightThe Omni-Americans: Some Alternatives to the Folklore of White Supremacy, by Albert Murray39: Black Culture Is Not a Monolith, with Bertrand Cooper - Where We Go NextBlack Jeopardy with Tom Hanks - SNLTomiwa's Twitter: @tomowoladeTomiwa's Instagram: @tomowolade----------Are you a fan of Where We Go Next? Listen to the very end of this episode for details.Email: wherewegopod@gmail.comInstagram: @wwgnpodcast

Tomiwa Owolade, a freelance writer, critic, and author discusses his longest day which not only shaped his beliefs and politics but also paved his path as a writer. We discuss his recently released book, 'This Is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter', that Diane Abbott MP column, and the nuances required for conversations about race in the United Kingdom.

Tomiwa Owolade, a freelance writer, critic, and author discusses his longest day which not only shaped his beliefs and politics but also paved his path as a writer. We discuss his recently released book, 'This Is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter', that Diane Abbott MP column, and the nuances required for conversations about race in the United Kingdom.

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Tomiwa Owolade, the author of This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter. They discuss the ways in which discourse surrounding race relations in the US is often inaccurately transposed onto that of the UK, and how this often leads to an overly reductionist view of the situation.   References "The narcissism of America's race politics" by Tomiwa Owolade, Unherd "Please Stop Imposing American Views about Race on Us" by Tomiwa Owolade, Persuasion "Tomiwa Owolade on What We Get Wrong About Race" from The Good Fight with Yascha Mounk "Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It's far more complicated" by Tomiwa Owolade, The Observer "The problem with white saviours" by Tomiwa Owolade, Unherd

“As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding. Like the Romans, I seem to see "the Tiber foaming with blood". That tragic and intractable phenomenon which we watch with horror across the Atlantic but which is interwoven with the history and existence of the States itself, is coming upon us here by our own volition and our own neglect. Indeed, it has all but come. In numerical terms, it will be of American proportions long before the end of the century.” That was Enoch Powell, the Tory MP who delivered his infamous “Rivers of Blood" speech on April 20th 1968. On the same day that Powell offered his apocalyptic vision of a Britain that opened its doors to immigrants, the FBI added James Earl Ray to its list of ten most wanted fugitives. Why? Two weeks prior, James Earl Ray had assassinated Dr. King in Memphis. On his death's eve, Dr. King had given a speech posthumously referred to as the “I Have Been to the Mountaintop” speech. Addressing the crowd, Dr. King said: “In the human rights revolution, if something isn't done, and done in a hurry, to bring the colored peoples of the world out of their long years of poverty, their long years of hurt and neglect, the whole world is doomed.” For Dr. King the progress of colored persons was vital to human progress. For Powell, it was the end. Dr. King's influence has far exceeded that of Powell's, and the world is better off for it, but in the UK we don't learn about the debate over the Race Relations Act. We don't learn about Powell being sacked by Ted Heath from the shadow cabinet because of his speech. We don't learn about Paul Stephenson and the bus boycott in Bristol, but we do learn about the bus boycott in Birmingham Alabama.  As in other areas of public life, the UK takes its lead on race relations and the study of civil rights, from the US. This was exemplified in June 2020, when in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, people across Britain and the world took to the streets to protest racism. In London, protesters marched in Parliament Square, and in Bristol, they pulled down the statue of Edward Colston and tossed it into the river, mirroring similar actions in the US where confederate statues had been toppled. This spurred a series of debates and actions across the UK about racism in Britain. For one of our guests, this is exactly the problem. Tomiwa Owolade is a writer and critic whose latest book, This Is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter (2023) argues that we should consider race from a British perspective, not an American one. Our second guest is Dr. Remi Adekoya, a lecturer at York University and author of two books, Biracial Britain (2021), and It's Not About Whiteness, It's About Wealth (2023). This week you can help us a lot by filling out this short survey. This is your chance to tell us what you like about the pod and what you'd like to see improved. Help us make the pod the best it can be: https://forms.gle/Mu5uqUHD5R7bwvSA7. We will pick one random respondent and award them 6 months of Patreon access for free. This is also our last episode of the season, we will be back in September for a new season of Uncommon Decency but if you're a Patreon you will get access to some deep dives that we will produce over the summer. As always, please rate and review Uncommon Decency on Apple Podcasts, and send us your comments or questions either on Twitter at @UnDecencyPod or by e-mail at undecencypod@gmail.com. And please consider supporting the show through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/undecencypod.

The Lowdown from Nick Cohen this week examines the issue of race and diversity in the UK with the freelance writer and author Tom Owolade.Tom's brilliant and ground-breaking book This is not America - published by Atlantic  - argues that too much of the debate about race in Britain has been viewed through the prism of American experiences and history.  This prism fails to reflect the  challenges – and achievements – of an increasingly diverse black British population and distorts how many people view the issue of race in the UK.Tom tells Nick that too few  Brits understand the ethnic changes that are taking place in the UK or even the wide diversity of black British communities themselves, especially given the arrival of people from west and east Africa in recent years. Tom also believes class is a hugely important additional factor in the UK. Tom and Nick  explore the significant differences in the history and experiences of black Brits and Black Americans.  You can read Nick's assessment of Tom's important debut book in his Substack column,  Writing from LondonSupport the showListen to The Lowdown from Nick Cohen for in-depth analysis of the issues and events that shape our lives and futures. From Ukraine to Brexit, from Trump to the Tories - we hope to keep you informed - and sane! @NickCohen4

In recent years movements to change school curricula have argued that all students at schools and universities should be able to see themselves reflected in the books they read. But others argue that moves to recolonise the curriculum to include more diverse authors should be based on the universal value of their work rather than the identity of the individual. So how do we best go about updating those reading lists that include some of the most well-established classics in literature and academia? Jeffrey Boakye, former English teacher and author of the acclaimed memoir I Heard What You Said, and journalist Tomiwa Owolade are our guests for this debate to discuss this timely topic. Our chair is the writer, academic and broadcaster, Shahidha Bari.  We'd love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.  Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.  And if you'd like to get ad-free access to all Intelligence Squared podcasts, including exclusive bonus content, early access to new episodes and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today for just £4.99, or the equivalent in your local currency .  Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomiwa Owolade is a writer and author of the forthcoming book This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter. In this week's conversation, Yascha Mounk and Tomiwa Owolade discuss how some popular forms of anti-racist thinking can obscure which groups are struggling most; how Labour MP Diane Abbott's response to an article of Owolade's in The Guardian led to the Labour MP's formal censure by her party; and what Americans can learn from Britain on issues of race (and Britons from America). This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Please do listen and spread the word about The Good Fight. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: podcast@persuasion.community  Website: http://www.persuasion.community Podcast production by John Taylor Williams, and Brendan Ruberry Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk & @joinpersuasion Youtube: Yascha Mounk LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary and ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has been suspended as a Labour MP after she claimed Jewish people cannot be victims of racism, in a letter to the Observerresponding to a column by Tomiwa Owolade, a New Statesman contributing writer. He joins Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward to talk about her suspension, why the anti-Semitism row continues to punctuate Labour Party politics, and whether Abbott should be allowed to stand for Labour at the next election.Then in You Ask Us, they look at whether we should all just accept that we are poorer, as per advice from the Bank of England's chief economist, Huw Pill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after she wrote a letter to the Observer newspaper which said Traveller, Roma, Gypsy and Jewish people could not be the victims of racism. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to the author of This is Not America, and writer of the Observer article Ms Abbott was responding to, Tomiwa Owolade, about what he believes are the limitations of viewing racism as a black and white issue. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont

Piers Morgan Uncensored is joined by former Labour MP Chris Williamson, the columnist who Diane Abbott initially responded to with her controversial letter, Tomiwa Owolade and BLM activist Imarn Ayton to discuss Diane Abbott's comments on racism and her downplaying of racism against Jewish people.

According to the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, the face of British Christianity is changing rapidly. London is now home to the greatest concentration of African churches outside Africa – many of them in bingo halls and warehouses, schools and community centres, where they also serve as social and charitable hubs. Outside the capital, the prospects of a religious revival are relatively bleak: weekly Church of England attendance is below 2 per cent of England's population, and 20 Anglican churches are closed for worship every year. Is secularisation “almost entirely a white British phenomenon”, as the Birkbeck political scientist Eric Kaufmann puts it?In this week's long read Tomiwa Owolade, a New Statesman contributing writer, explores this divide and looks at the migrant roots of London's Christian revival. He finds that, largely because of its religious population, the capital has become the most socially conservative city in the country, with a higher percentage of Londoners disapproving of sex outside marriage and homosexuality.“This is awkward for conservative thinkers,” Owolade writes, “who complain about the decline of Christianity, and about large-scale immigration to Britain. Without immigration, the decline of Christianity would be even more profound. But it is also tricky for progressives: many of these immigrant communities espouse values on gender and sexuality that are far from liberal.”Will the African Christian revival be dampened by a wider secular culture – or will it expand?Written and read by Tomiwa Owolade.This article originally appeared in the 31 March-13 April New Statesman spring special. You can read the text version here.If you enjoyed this episode, you might like the battle for the soul of English cricket Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We need a new model of masculinity, one that allows us to hold two thoughts in our head at once: we can care deeply about women's rights and be compassionate towards vulnerable boys and men; that's the argument of bestselling author and former head of Demos Richard Reeves. In this podcast he explains that previous attempts to treat the condition of men have made the same fatal mistake – they have viewed the problems of men as a problem with men. It is not a matter of fixing individual men, he argued, but of addressing the deep structural challenges that are disadvantaging men. Our host for this episode is writer and critic Tomiwa Owolade.  … Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details. Here's a reminder of the benefits you'll receive as a subscriber: Ad-free listening, because we know some of you would prefer to listen without interruption  One early episode per week Two bonus episodes per month A 25% discount on IQ2+, our exciting streaming service, where you can watch and take part in events live at home and enjoy watching past events on demand and without ads  A 15% discount and priority access to live, in-person events in London, so you won't miss out on tickets Our premium monthly newsletter  Intelligence Squared Merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last few years our guest this week, Tomiwa Owolade, has emerged as one of the most thoughtful, persuasive and eloquent young writers in Britain today, covering everything from Don Henley to Philip Larkin, from football to the wayward attempts to 'decolonise' the school curriculum. As well as writing a slew of articles in various online and print outlets, next year Tom publishes his debut book, This is Not America, in which he examines the many pitfalls of examining Black British identity through the lens of a completely different Black American experience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does the Tory leadership contest say about race in Britain? The candidacies of Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Suella Braverman, and Kemi Badenoch for the leadership of the UK Conservative Party (and the UK premiership by extension) have demonstrated the potential for ethnic minority politicians to break "the glass ceiling" of political leadership. To understand these dynamics further, I spoke with Tomiwa Owolade, contributing writer to the New Statesman magazine, on how the political advancement of ethnic minority politicians reflects on British society at large. Are American ideological frames on race misapplied to British realities? Why is a party of social conservatism open to the possibility of an ethnic minority leader? Will there be an ethnic minority prime minister in the near future?

Tune into the latest episode of the Read Smart podcast, ‘George Floyd: Two Years On' where writer and critic Tomiwa Owolade and Olivette Otele PhD, Professor of the Legacies and Memory of Slavery at SOAS, discuss the widespread impact of George Floyd's tragic death on both the cultural landscape and the publishing world. Our guests delve into the role of the Black Lives Matter movement, unconscious bias and which works of non-fiction have personally inspired them. Listen now to hear more. This podcast is generously supported by The Blavatnik Family Foundation. For more podcasts from The Baillie Gifford Prize, click here. Follow @BGPrize on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

In this episode, we are joined by Tomiwa Owolade: a writer, critic and contributing editor to UnHerd, with columns and reviews for the Sunday Times and the Financial Times. On our quest to understand how non-profit organisations tackle racism, diversity and inclusion issues, combined with Lauren's lifelong journey to be a better white person, we discovered Tomiwa's article titled "Anti-racism won't save you".Together we take this one step further; if anti-racism won't save us, now what!?Check out bonus extras available on Patreon.Follow us:Instagram: @jrnypodcastTwitter: @jrnypodcastEdited by Beryl Dube - @dubeberyl, Lauren & Teia.Books we mentioned:1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy2. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison3. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo4. Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez5. The Purpose of Power by Alicia Garza6. Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad7. The Bible by ???? Get Premium Content on Patreon See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. 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

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/lgbtq-studies

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. 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

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequality has been supplanted by a fast-evolving set of reflections on group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are fodder for the culture wars. In The Identity Myth: Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality (Constable & Robinson, 2022), David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. Pierre d'Alancaisez is a contemporary art curator, cultural strategist, researcher. Sometime scientist, financial services professional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

In conversations about polarised political issues, phrases like ‘it's not about race, it's about class' have become the perfect way to induce a stalemate. It seems as though the traditional, materialist critique of inequal ity has been supplanted by fast-evolving set of reflections of group identity. Mainstream politics makes fast and loose assumptions about the relationship between class and identity, and between economic conditions and culture. These assumptions are a key contributor to the culture wars. In The Identity Myth, David Swift covers the four different kinds of identity most susceptible to rhetorical and cultural manipulation – class, race, sex, and age. He considers how the boundaries of identities are policed and how diverse versions of the same identity can be deployed to different ends. Ultimately, it is not that identities are simply more ‘complex' than they appear. Rather, there are commonalities more important to the creation of solidarity. David Swift speaks to Pierre d'Alancaisez about the crisis of class and the deceptive allure of identity politics. We talk about the divisive nature of the contested claims of identity and about strategies for regaining control of the narrative. In a powerful call to arms, Swift argues that we must unite against these identity myths and embrace our differences to beat inequality. David Swift is a historian and writer who specialises in the history and contemporary politics of the British Left. He has written on the state of the Left for The Times, Fabian Review, Progress Online, Jewish Chronicle, and The Critic. He is the author of A Left for Itself, 2019. The Emily Thornberry white van tweet story, Gordon Brown's 'bigotgate', Keir Starmer and 'beergate', Tomiwa Owolade's essay on Anglican social conservatism in London, 'rooted' in David's work, Rachel Dolezal is now an artist, San Francisco school board recall, White narcissism at a BLM protest. The Identity Myth Why We Need to Embrace Our Differences to Beat Inequality David Swift Published by Constable, 2022 ISBN 9780349135366

In today's essay, Tomiwa Owolade writes how the realities of black British lives were eclipsed by BLM in an essay for UnHerd titled The narcissism of America's race politics.

General Follow Alan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alan_davison Alan's academic profile: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Alan.Davison Alan and Josh Szeps' special speaker podcast series ‘Permission to Think' homepage: https://www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-arts-and-social-sciences/partners-and-community/fass-industry-events/permission-think Josh Szeps' podcast series ‘Uncomfortable Conversations', of which ‘Permission to Think' is under the aegis: https://play.acast.com/s/uncomfortable-conversations-with-josh-szeps/ References Josh Szeps' appearance on ‘Two for Tea': https://soundcloud.com/twoforteapodcast/18-josh-szeps Interview with Alan in the ‘Times Higher Education': https://www.timeshighereducation.com/people/interview-alan-davison?mc_cid=4b6d8a0b62&mc_eid=1347a1c1c0 ‘Two for Tea' episode with Jesse Singal: https://soundcloud.com/twoforteapodcast/84-jesse-singal-the-quick-fix-public-limited-version ‘Trans Ideology and the New Ptolemaism in the Academy' by Kathleen Rowley in ‘Archives of Sexual Behavior': https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-021-01950-9 ‘Should You Trust the Myers-Briggs Personality Test?' by Laith Al-Shawaf in ‘Areo Magazine': https://areomagazine.com/2021/03/09/should-you-trust-the-myers-briggs-personality-test/ ‘Two for Tea' episode with Tomiwa Owolade: https://soundcloud.com/twoforteapodcast/85-tomiwa-owolade-racial-cultural-kaleidoscopes-public-limited-version Alan's paper ‘A Darwinian Approach to Postmodern Critical Theory: Or, How Did Bad Ideas Colonise the Academy?' in ‘Society': https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-020-00505-3 Alan's paper ‘Multiculturalism, Social Distance and “Islamophobia”: Refections on Anti‑racism Research in Australia and Beyond' in ‘Society': https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12115-021-00641-4 ‘Two for Tea' episode with Jonathan Rauch: https://soundcloud.com/twoforteapodcast/93-jonathan-rauch-in-defence-of-truth-public-limited-version Timestamps 00.00 Opening and introduction. 2:36 Iona reads from Alan's interview in the ‘Times Higher Education' about the problems he sees in academia and asks him about the problem of ‘wokery' in academia and how it has affected his own institution, wider society, and academic science/tech. 6:45 Specific examples of wokery infecting academia: diversity training, no-go research areas, and censorship. Wokery within Alan's own discipline of music. 11:45 What is going wrong in Australian universities? The example of implicit bias training, based on the discredited implicit association test, being used in higher education. 16:02 Cultish mindsets in academia and the discouragement of scepticism. 18:25 The corporatisation and marketisation of academia. The “perfect storm”: the combination of identity politics and brand/risk-aware corporatisation in academia. 22:12 How is the culture of diversity training affecting universities? 26:30 Is testing for implicit bias simply workplace totalitarianism? The ‘who you are' over ‘what you do/say' mindset. Clumsy and counterproductive attempts to measure injustice and “redress the balance.” ‘Representation' in music, particularly orchestral music. Does dealing with economic inequalities earlier in the ‘pipeline' matter more? 40:30 Socioeconomic and cultural factors in inequalities. 44:25 Discussions of Alan's evolutionary psychological/memetic approaches to understanding the success and influence of postmodern critical theory and Iona's view that tribalism is a universal heuristic, including in the ‘anti-woke' circle. Alan: “Resist the heuristic!” The risk of orthodoxy taking over. 1:00:46 What universities should be and the decline of public trust in higher education. Alan's defence of universities. What are the risks to universities? 1:11:00 How has the atmosphere on campus changed since Alan began his academic career? 1:12:10 Last words and outro.

We all possess multiple identities. You are both a brother and a son. A daughter and a mother. Chinese, and American, and Asian. Gay, and Polyamorous. The combinations are nearly endless. And these identities are not always in parallel. They do not necessarily exist in harmony with one another. Sometimes - often - there is tension. Writer Tomiwa Owolade explores the conflicting and even discomforting intersections of identity, and the importance of embracing that tension.What Does It Mean to Be Black?, by Tomiwa OwoladePlease Stop Imposing American Views about Race on Us, by Tomiwa OwoladeQueen Mary Alumni Profile: Tomiwa OwoladeBoudicaIra AldridgeSeesaw, by Timothy Ogene3: Transcending Race, with Inaya Folarin Iman - The New LiberalsBlack Paper: Writing in a Dark Time, by Teju ColeWindrush Generation: Who Are They and Why Are They Facing Problems? - BBCThe Chicken Connoisseur - YouTubeBeing John Malkovich12: Understanding Ourselves, with Ayishat Akanbi - The New LiberalsRacecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life, by Karen and Barbara FieldsWe Are All Madame Bovary, by Tomiwa OwoladeIs That a Fish in Your Ear?: Translation and the Meaning of Everything, by David Bellos@tomowolade----------Email: newliberalspodcast@gmail.com

  ‘Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it's much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world!' Neil Gaiman    If you need inspiration for the perfect bookish gift for a particular person, give this episode a listen. Whether it's for someone who loves the great outdoors, or for someone who has cared for you this year, or for some bright spark who is always making, doing and creating – Reader staff have recommendations of great books to suit them all. We also have recommendations from the Founder/Director of The Reader, Jane Davis, and from the writer and critic Tomiwa Owolade, who we'll be hearing from again in a future episode of this podcast. And if you listen right to the end, there's a festive poem for you.  Merry Christmas to one and all!    Christmas Gift Guide 1: For the person who finds respite in nature  Christmas Gift Guide 2: For the busy person who needs 15 minutes of calm  Christmas Gift Guide 3: For the person who stands by when things get tough  Christmas Gift Guide 4: For the person who teaches, encourages and tries to lead the way  Christmas Gift Guide 5: For the person who writes, creates, experiments, and thinks differently    Buy the books from The Reader Shop at Bookshop.org.    More gift ideas from The Reader    The Reader magazine subscription offer    Read some of Tomiwa Owolade's articles on Unherd.com    ‘For Maia' by Gary Johnson 

Ian McMillan explores and delights in pretentiousness - in language and in writers. What do we mean when we say a piece of writing or a performer is pretentious? Ian's guests include the poet Luke Wright who shares a tour de force poem in defence of pretentiousness and pretentious things (eg children called 'Hopscotch and Entwhistle', 'carpaccio of stoat' smeared across a brick, 'tweedy too-short trousers' ). Also on the programme, the spoken word poet Jenny Lindsay delves deep into the art of the humblebrag (the pretence of self-deprecation, most frequently spotted on social media ) with a brand new poem. Angie Hobbs, (Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield) takes us back to Ancient Greece to talk about pretentious sandal-wearing on the part of great philosophers' acolytes - and she explains how Plato, the founding father of Western philosophy shows his teacher Socrates dealing with pretentious orators. And finally writer and critic Tomiwa Owolade explores the advice given by George Orwell on how to avoid pretentious prose - and finds out whether Orwell always followed his own advice.

Writer and critic Tomiwa Owolade joins Dominic and Tom to discuss the pan-African movement and the varying ways in which African states became independent from their European colonisers during the 20th century. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why is the government changing pension rules? How did a herd of elephants cross China? And will well-heeled drug users be named and shamed? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days. With John Stepek, Julia O'Driscoll and Tomiwa Owolade

Conversations about diversity and inclusion, along with discussions about how to open the doors to Black and other marginalised groups, have been long-overdue. But, finally, the last 12 months has seen an outburst of publications and initiatives aimed at taking action. But within wine, many of the voices speaking out were American. Although some wine articles included voices from South Africa, local voices were often missing. We meet British journalist Tomiwa Owolade to discuss the complexity of the BIPOC situation in Europe and notably in the UK.