Headspace

It is said that we are living in an age of multiple crises—climate change, political upheaval, and mass disenfranchisement. Radical economist Paul Mason offers his diagnosis on our current situation, and why the 2008 financial crisis may not be the watershed moment we think it is.Paul’s new book, Clear Bright Future, comes out May 2.Plus: Alex Dean on the Huawei leak, and Sameer Rahim on photographer Don McCullin  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

“Once upon a time, contracts dissolved once you were dead… but big tech companies are holding the same terms of the contract in tact with the deceased person.”How has Facebook revolutionised grief? Psychologist Elaine Kasket has been researching how online lives have reshaped the way we mourn, and all the uncharted questions it raises. Do you really want to remember your partner through a ‘likeness’ app in your smartphone? Who owns the data of ghosts?Elaine’s book, “All the Ghosts in the Machine” is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Ghosts-Machine-Illusions-Immortality/dp/147214189XPlus: Alex Dean on the next Tory party leader, and Steve Bloomfield on podcasts and mental health  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

UK Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson has made headlines for his contested allegiances within the party.Journalist Kevin Maguire joins Prospect to discuss the burning question often heard around Westminster: what's Tommy up to? Will he form, as teased, a National Government — or has his reputation as a blustery schemer softened over the years?You can read Kevin's profile of Tom Watson in the latest issue of Prospect, also available online here: bit.ly/2VP0ivhPlus: Alex Dean on 'Boris-proofing Brexit' and Sameer Rahim on the art of cultural appreciation over Easter  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What happens when a child conceived using a donor sperm wants to meet their biological father?Wendy Kramer, the “donor detective”, runs the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR) which has 63,461 members and has so far connected 16,779 individuals around the world with their donor parents or half siblings. In our May issue, journalist Stefanie Marsh follows Kramer’s work, uncovering the tricky questions on anonymity and reconciling donor rights with the rights of children. She talks to us about the experience behind the story: “it’s one of the most moving bits of journalism I’ve had to investigate.”Plus: Alex Dean on Brexit’s constitutional crisis, and Sameer Rahim on whether literary fiction has met its “climate realism” moment.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does it mean to translate a work of fiction—and can we really call one translation "better" than others?Writer Miranda France joins Prospect to discuss the strange art of literary translation.Plus: Alex Dean on whether we're heading for a general election and Sameer Rahim on why we need more mean reviews.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1961, two things happened that seemed to change our idea about evil forever: Hannah Arendt reported on the trial of Adolf Eichmann, and a Yale experiment showed the apparent willingness of subjects to issue electric shocks to their fellow human beings—just because they were told to.But what if everything we thought we learnt that year was wrong?Stephen Reicher and Alex Haslam discuss how we misunderstand the nature of evil.Plus: Steve Bloomfield on the march against Brexit, and Sameer Rahim on why Ricky Gervais isn't funny anymore.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A truly global approach to climate change doesn't just involve a policy shift—it will mean changing how we live our lives together. Author and researcher Mike Berners-Lee joins Prospect to explain why he's (cautiously) optimistic.Plus: Steve Bloomfield on the schools funding crisis, and Sameer Rahim on how Muslims are represented in British literature.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week human rights barrister Adam Wagner talks tribal politics, twitter, and how to achieve a more civilised online world. Wagner speaks from experience, having recently been involved in a simmering online row about anti-Semitism on the left. His recent piece on the subject appeared in our march issue. Plus: Alex Dean on how the Tory Party turned its back on Europe, Sameer Rahim on A Confederacy of Dunces and books that come back into fashion.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does Brexit mean for the British constitution—and can we go back and do the vote again? Professor Vernon Bogdanor joins Prospect's Tom Clark and Alex Dean to discuss the future of Brexit. Plus: Sameer Rahim on Michael Jackson and Alex asks, have we reached the end of the two party system? (Hint: no)  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Prospect gets inside the craze for tracking everything from our steps to our alcohol intake with Barbara Speed—including who the Quantified Self movement are, and why the 10,000 steps goal is basically made up. Plus: Alex Dean roots for the backstop, and Sameer Rahim goes all Marie Kondo on his bedside books  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're all making more of an effort to cut down on waste—but does it matter? Reporter Wendell Steavenson takes us through the surprising truth about British recycling (spoiler: lots of it doesn't get recycled). Plus Alex Dean and Sameer Rahim talk Brexit winners and losers, and a new Shakespeare interpretation.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Former ambassador to Europe Stephen Wall joins Prospect's Alex Dean to discuss Parliament's Brexit problems, including why the backstop is such an issue, why Labour MPs are struggling, and what might happen in a second referendum. Plus: Sameer Rahim, Tom Clark and Stephanie Boland discuss the harassment of MPs and commentators near parliament, and Channel 4's An Uncivil War.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Retired US general Stanley McChrystal was at the centre of the news cycle over the holiday period. Having branded Donald Trump dishonest and immoral, the president took to Twitter to retaliate: McChrystal got “fired like a dog” by Obama and is known for his “big, dumb mouth,” Trump said. 

In our new podcast, recorded shortly before the row, McChrystal spoke about Trump and leadership, which in his view is a trait that we fundamentally misunderstand. His latest book is Leaders: Myth and Reality.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this podcast Sameer Rahim asks Clive James: what was Philip Larkin really like? What was it about this very ordinary man that enabled him to produce such extraordinary poetry? 

When Larkin died in 1985 he left a carefully curated collection of poems and novels but since then we’ve had shelffuls of letters—some of which James reviewed for our Winter issue—and biographies. How has our view of Larkin changed? Plus: your weekly dosing of politics. Produced by Jay Elwes.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Astronomer Royal joins Prospect to ask: How much can humans hope to understand? Our minds are finite but the universe is impossibly vast and always expanding. Are there some physical facts that humanity will necessarily never comprehend? 

This is the terrain Martin Rees covers in Prospect’s new podcast.

Plus: Alex Dean on politics and Sameer Rahim on culture. Hosted by Tom Clark, produced by Jay Elwes.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China is heading for super-power status—but will it get there? George Magnus, one of Britain's leading China experts, sets out the deep social, economic and political challenges that Beijing now faces. If it overcomes them, the prize could be huge. How likely is that? And what if it fails? With Tom Clark, Sameer Rahim, Alex Dean and Timothy Garton Ash.Produced by Jay Elwes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chess used to be the ultimate expression of brilliance and ingenuity—but nowadays, a Grandmaster would lose to the chess app on your smartphone. The philosopher David Edmonds discusses the triumph of computer power over humans, what it means for chess and for the world at large. Interview by Sameer Rahim. Presented by Tom Clark, with Steve Bloomfield and Alex Dean. Produced by Jay Elwes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why is it that when British politicians look in the mirror they see Winston Churchill—just as French politicians, such as Macron, see Charles de Gaulle? The Cambridge historian and former keeper of the Churchill archive Piers Brendon talks to Prospect's executive editor Jay Elwes about the distortions of history and how these can warp our view of the present day. Presented by Tom Clark with Sameer Rahim and Alex Dean  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An interview with Alan Rusbridger. He used to edit the Guardian newspaper and now he helps to run Oxford University. A degree from Oxford is a huge advantage in life, but it's still full of pupils from private school—so how can Oxford solve its "posh problem"?Featuring Tom Clark, Sameer Rahim and Alex Dean. Produced by Jay Elwes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pakistan has endured decades of unsettled politics, extremist violence and war. But can a new generation of young political activists take the country in a new direction? Samira Shackle discusses her recent article for Prospect on the emerging voices in Pakistani politics which are challenging both the government and the army—a dangerous thing to do. With Steve Bloomfield, Tom Clark, Alex Dean and Sameer Rahim. Produced by Jay Elwes.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.