The Spectator Podcast

In this week's books podcast Sam talks to Oxford's Professor of Global History Peter Frankopan about his follow-up to his bestselling history The Silk Roads. In The New Silk Roads, Peter brings his story up to date, and argues that with our Trump and Brexit obsessions, and a divided and fissiparous West still obsessed with itself, we are missing the bigger picture of what's going on in the world today. Once again, the Silk Roads -- those lines of connection between East and West running through what he calls the "heart of the world" -- are where the action is. In our conversation we look at the rise of China and asks what its vast "Belt and Road" programme means for the future shape of the world, at the deeply complex relations between the Gulf states and the nations with interests in them, at the forces at work in India, Pakistan and Iran -- and why our school curricula need to go a bit beyond the old diet of Black Death, Mary Seacole and the Second World War. Plus, Peter's (almost) diplomatic about the endu

Is nationalism, in Emmanuel Macron’s words, an ancient and modern cause of the ‘old demons’ of history? Or, as Yoram Hazony argues in his latest book, The Virtue of Nationalism, is the nation state the best way to preserve law and liberty?Yoram Hazony is an Israeli philosopher, the President of the Herzl Institute and a director at the John Templeton Foundation.Presented by Dominic Green.

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.Presented by Katy Balls.

Lara and Livvy talk to Fraser Nelson about his hatred of desserts, how working in London made him a stranger in Glasgow, and wining and dining Westminster's political big dogs.Presented by Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts.

Deputy National Security Advisor Mira Ricardel is forced out of her role after a public spat with Melania Trump. Is Melania more powerful than she seems?With Jacob Heilbrunn, Editor of the National Interest.Presented by Freddy Gray.

We’re bringing you this podcast from the midst of the Brexit omni-shambles, and this episode contains a special Brexit edition (15:05). But before that, something just as monumental is happening on the other side of the world. China is developing a social credit system to rate its own citizens and their social behaviour. Just how dangerous is this idea (00:40)?With James O'Malley, Cindy Yu, James Forsyth, Tim Montgomerie, and Sienna Rodgers.Presented by Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

Join Katy Balls on this new podcast from the Spectator - she talks to women at the top of their respective games about their passions, their battles, and what makes them tick. The first episode is with columnist and BBC Radio 5 Live broadcaster, Emma Barnett. Katy talks to Emma about stepping in for Andrew Marr, interviewing the Prime Minister, and how her granddad is her most loyal fan.

Sam talks to Nora Krug about her remarkable graphic work Heimat - in which this German born writer and artist discusses how it has felt to grow up in Germany and later the US with the shadow of her homeland’s war guilt, how that has issued in art, literature and humour, and about her risky attempt to discover her own family’s wartime past.Presented by Sam Leith.

With James Forsyth and Katy Balls.Presented by Cindy Yu.

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson.Presented by Lara Prendergast.

As Theresa May prepares to unveil her Brexit deal, we ask: just how bad is it, and what happened to ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’ (00:50)? In the American midterms, the Blue Wave didn’t happen, but Democrats did take control of the House of Representatives – what next for Trump’s presidency (17:15)? And last, as we approach Remembrance Sunday, who are the lives we are remembering, and is it time to move on (28:10)?With James Forsyth, Charles Grant, Kate Andrews, Leslie Vinjamuri, Liz Hunt, and Glyn Prysor.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

With Geoff Dyer, one of our most wayward and wittiest writers, about his new book Broadsword Calling Danny Boy, a frame-by-frame discussion of the classic war movie Where Eagles Dare. Learn from Geoff about the importance of squinting in Clint Eastwood’s thespian toolbox, about the joy of snow-patrol Action Man, about why he shied away from plans for "Alistair MacLean: A Critical Reappraisal", and about why on earth Geoff would follow a learned book about Tarkovsky’s Stalker with a discussion of a piece of late-60s schlock. Plus: what happens when you get on the wrong side of Julian Barnes.Presented by Sam Leith.

The young atheist writer Guy Stagg threw in his job a few years ago to undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem via Rome - choosing a hazardous medieval route across the Alps. It nearly killed him: at one stage, trying to cross a broken bridge in Switzerland, he ended up partially submerged in the water, held up only by his rucksack. On this week’s Holy Smoke podcast, Guy explains why his journey was a pilgrimage, not just travels. And Damian talks to Harry Mount, editor of The Oldie, why he’s irresistibly drawn to church buildings while remaining an unbeliever - albeit an agnostic rather than an atheist.Presented by Damian Thompson.Produced by Connor O'Hara and Cindy Yu.This episode was first released in July this year.

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.Presented by Lara Prendergast.

Welcome to Spectator Radio's newest addition - Table Talk. Each episode, Olivia Potts and Lara Prendergast will be joined by a guest familiar to Spectator readers. Lara and Livvy will discuss their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it.For our inaugural episode, Livvy and Lara are joined by Prue Leith: chef, restaurateur, broadcaster, journalist, novelist and, of course, Great British Bake Off presenter. They chat about her time in South Africa and Paris, and how that helped shape her attitude to food. She comes clean about some of her cooking mishaps, making sandwiches for both toffs and builders, being the first woman to have a proper restaurant in London, why she hates washing up, and her first cookbook in 25 years, Prue: My All-time Favourite Recipes.We do hope you’ll enjoy this new addition to Spectator Radio. We’ve got more episodes coming up, including interviews with Sophia Money-Coutts, Bryony Gordon and the Spectator’s editor, Fraser Nelson.

As Angela Merkel steps down as party leader – what was her legacy and can the EU project survive without her (00:40)? We also discuss whether WhatsApp has made it harder for MPs to plot (12:25); and last, should Brits be allowed to forage wild mushrooms (22:50)?With Douglas Murray, Sophie Pedder, Katy Balls, Paul Staines, Stewart Jackson, Daniel Butler, and Josh Barrie.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

In this week's Spectator Books, Sam talks to Ben Schott. The author of Schott's Miscellany, Ben's literary productions have taken an unexpected turn with the publication this week of his first novel. Jeeves and the King of Clubs is a tribute or companion piece to P G Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster novels, published with the authorisation of the Wodehouse estate. What the hell was he thinking? Ben comes clean -- and also talks about the joys of nerdiness, the difficulty of living up to Plum, and the Spectator's role in the whole story.Presented by Sam Leith.

Was Philip Hammond's Budget a reckless splurge, or a shrewd political budget that draws a new dividing line with Jeremy Corbyn? In this special podcast, Fraser Nelson talks to James Forsyth and Richard Buxton, Head of Merian Global Investors. We discuss why business is actually more afraid of Corbyn than Brexit, and how Hammond's budget is as good as can be expected at this point in time.Sponsored by Merian Global Investors.

Britain is a world leader in many things - but not many people would say that infrastructure is one of them. When abroad, Brits marvel at the state of airports and railways, even swimming pools. When we seek to catch up - with HS2 or a new runway for London - the result is years of wrangling. Is there a British curse? The Spectator's Fraser Nelson talked to transport journalist Christian Wolmar, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt, and UK Head of Aecom David Barwell.The podcast is sponsored by Aecom.

Brought to you by Spectator Events, Fraser Nelson presents this special panel discussion with a star-studded cast. Are we heading for a no-deal Brexit? And if so, would it really be all that bad?With former Brexit secretary David Davis, former Chancellor Ken Clarke, economist Liam Halligan, former MP and Brexiteer Gisela Stuart, and the Spectator's Political Editor James Forsyth.