In this episode Will is joined by the legendary script writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran to discuss three of their TV series - Shine on Harvey Moon, The New Statesman and Mosley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 16, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 215
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Bea Martinez-Gatell, author of Swoon: Fangirls, Their Idols and the Counterculture of Female Lust – From Byron to the Beatles about how she came to write the book, the emergence of fan girls, why she chose the subjects for each chapter of the book, the connection between fangirls and the media's representation of women, how interlinked fangirls were to broader social and political changes for women's rights in the 19th and 20th centuries and how comp...
Aug 11, 2025•41 min•Ep. 214
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Dr Daniela Tepe, Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology at the University of Liverpool and editor of a forthcoming collection of essays called "What went wrong with Britain?: An audit of Tory failure" The discuss how the book was developed, the Conservative Party's relationship to the NHS and race, the Conservative Party's perception of the public and the impact of Brexit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
May 03, 2025•33 min•Ep. 213
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by William Kedjanyi, the Head of Political Content for Star Sports Betting to discuss the forthcoming local elections in England and their impact on the direction of political travel in the UK. They discuss who are likely to win out in the elections, which council elections could be key to understanding the future direction of the country, the possible results in the Runcorn and Helsby by election and what Donald Trump's first 100 days of his second ...
Apr 27, 2025•45 min•Ep. 212
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Hope Watts to discuss her new project You Political. They discuss how Hope became interested in politics, what the aim of You Political is, how young people can be encouraged to engage more with politics, the presence of AI in society and the nature of the online world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 09, 2025•28 min•Ep. 211
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Meadhbh Park author of the newly published book Blackpilled: Masculinity, Media and Incels to discuss the book, how she became interested in the world of Incels and the Manosphere, the impact of media and in particular films like Joker and Taxi Driver, how the media's view of masculinity has contributed to the ideology and how men become part of the incel community. You can buy Blackpilled from all good retailers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...
Apr 03, 2025•39 min•Ep. 210
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Tom Brown, author of The Mind of the Minister, a new book detailing how civil servants deal with politicians, why the relationship has deteriorated in the past decade, how it can be fixed and how the civil service works with government ministers to deliver policies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 26, 2024•36 min•Ep. 209
In this episode of the podcast Will is once again joined by William Kedjanyi, the Head of Political Content & sports previewer for Star Sports Betting to discuss the 2024 Presidential election, what the result might be, what the polls and betting markets are predicting, the stand out moments of the campaign, the impact of the VP picks and which senate races to focus on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 28, 2024•43 min•Ep. 208
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by David Laws, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil from 2001 to 2015 to discuss his new book Serpents, Goats and Turkeys: A Century of Liberal–Labour Relations. They discuss the original 1903 Liberal - Labour pact, known as the MacDonald/Gladstone pact, why the Liberals failed to make gains in 1945 whilst Labour won a landslide, the SDP - Liberal Alliance of the 1980s and the Liberal- Labour Pact of 1977 - 1978. ...
Sep 17, 2024•35 min•Ep. 207
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Sean Woodcock, the newly elected MP for Banbury, to discuss the election campaign, what he hopes to achieve as the Member of Parliament for Banbury, his hopes for the new Labour government and the impact the new government is already making. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 12, 2024•17 min•Ep. 206
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Jo Phillips and David Seymour, authors of Why Vote How to make your voice heard in a world of broken politics about the book, the electoral system, why young people might be disengaged from politics, the past 14 years of Conservative government, Brexit and Covid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 205
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Daniel Smith-Christopher, Professor of Theology at Loyola Marymount College and author of Keir Hardie, the Bible, and Christian Socialism to discuss Keir Hardie's Christian faith, what Christian Socialism meant to the Labour Party and how Hardie's religious beliefs intermingled with his progressive politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 26, 2024•29 min•Ep. 204
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Wes Kussmaul about his book Quiet Enjoyment, the founding of his company Delphi, AI and its influence on the world around us, PKIs and internet security and the media's perception of technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 20, 2024•29 min•Ep. 203
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Philip Norton, Lord Norton of Louth, to discuss his recently published book on the 1922 Committee - The 1922 Committee: Power Behind The Scenes. They discuss how the committee was formed, its influence on the Conservative Party, the importance of its Chairman and Executive, the relationship it had with David Cameron and Margaret Thatcher and what the future holds for it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 15, 2024•47 min•Ep. 202
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Jon Cruddas, the Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham and the author of A Century of Labour. They discuss the Labour Party's relationship to Ramsay MacDonald, Labour in the 1950s and 60s and the USSR, Keir Starmer's place in the ideological traditions of the Labour Party, the Attlee government's agenda and the mythologising of political figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 01, 2024•51 min•Ep. 201
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Denis MacShane, former Labour MP for Rotherham from 1994 - 2012 and Minister of State for Europe from 2002 to 2005 about his recently published diaries Labour Takes Power: The Denis MacShane Diaries 1997 - 2001. They discuss Denis' time working with Robin Cook, the preparedness of new Labour ministers at the start of the 97 Parliament, Milosevic and Kosovo, Labour and the trade union movement and the impact of William Hague's time as leader of the Co...
Jan 24, 2024•40 min•Ep. 200
In this episode of the podcast, Will is joined by George Baldock, a student at the University of Cambridge and a candidate to become Young Labour's next Disability Officer, to discuss Pupil Referral Units, how they are perceived by the public and press, funding for SEND students, funding in education, what policies he would like to see in Labour's next manifesto and the recent debate over Labour's teeth brushing policy for primary school children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
Jan 19, 2024•26 min•Ep. 199
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Nick Thomas Symonds, Labour MP for Torfaen, Shadow Minister without Portfolio and author of Attlee: A Life In Politics, a new edition of which was recently published. They discuss Attlee's early life, his involvement with the Stepney Boy's Club, his service in World War I, his time as Mayor of Stepney and PPS to Ramsay MacDonald, his leadership of Labour and his time as a reforming Prime Minister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...
Nov 14, 2023•52 min•Ep. 198
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to author Linda McDougall about her new biography of Marcia Williams, later Baroness Falkender, a key member of Harold Wilson's team before, during and after his time in Downing Street. They discuss Marcia's upbringing, her first time meeting Harold, how she helped him become Labour Leader and win the 1964 General Election, the misogyny she encountered and the infamous Lavender List, Wilson's resignations honours list. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Nov 08, 2023•58 min•Ep. 197
In this episode of the podcast, Will speaks to Anthony Broxton, creator of the Tides of History Twitter account and author of Hope and Glory: Rugby League in Thatcher's Britain. They discuss the connection between politics and Rugby League, the decline and revival of the game, the politics of authenticity versus consumerism and the Cod Wars. You can buy a copy of Hope and Glory here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hope-Glory-League-Thatchers-Britain/dp/1801504555 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
Nov 03, 2023•45 min•Ep. 196
In this episode Will speaks to Maria Fernandez - Garcia from Right to Roam about what the right to roam is, what the major political parties are doing about it, the Countryside and Right of Ways Act and how it could be expanded and the positive mental health implications for greater access to the countryside. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 27, 2023•24 min•Ep. 195
In this episode of the podcast, Will speaks to Lucy Hulme, Chair of the Votes at 16 Campaign at the British Youth Council and founder of The Future Is Ours, to discuss votes at 16, what the Future is Ours Is, political engagement amongst young people and what impact votes at 16 would have on politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 19, 2023•27 min•Ep. 194
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Francesca Peacock, author of Pure Wit: The Revolutionary Life of Margaret Cavendish to discuss the book. They discuss Margaret Cavendish's life, the role of women in the English Civil War, Margaret's influence on subsequent authors, the rise of print culture during the Civil War and Margaret's first novel and one of the first works of science fiction The Blazing World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 13, 2023•37 min•Ep. 193
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Tom Green, Communications Officer for Seasalt Housing Co-op, Communications Officer for Brighton and Hove Land Trust and a Community Organiser with Acorn to discuss community housing, how it is defined, what student housing co operatives are, how we ensure new housing is built sustainably and how flexibility on housing design can help with the house building crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 03, 2023•29 min•Ep. 192
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by David Skelton, author of Little Platoons, former head of research at Policy Exchange between 2011 and 2013 and founder of Renewal, a Conservative campaign group, to discuss his latest book The New Snobbery. They discuss how David came to write the book, the impact of Brexit on British politics, snobbery and the divisions between Westminster and the rest of the country and how the Conservatives won the 2015 General Election. Hosted on Acast. See ac...
Aug 18, 2023•33 min•Ep. 191
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Nye Davies, a lecturer in politics at Cardiff University, to discuss a new collection of essays he has edited taken from Aneurin Bevan's extension contribution to Tribune. They discuss Bevan's style of writing, his approach to writing about international affairs, how Bevan thought Parliament worked and what drove Bevan's desire for improve housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 04, 2023•32 min•Ep. 190
In this episode of the podcast Will is joined by Michela Wrong, a renowned author and journalist, to discuss her recently published book Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad, about the murder of Patrick Karegeya and the regime of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. They also discuss the Rwandan Genocide and Kagame's rise to power and Britain's decision to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 27, 2023•43 min•Ep. 189
CONTENT WARNING: This episode features reference to sexual offences which some listeners may find upsetting. In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Lauren Davison, a member of the Young Fabians Executive and Membership Secretary for Stoke South CLP and Oliver Probert Hill, Member of the LGBTQ+ Co-operators committee and LGBTQ+ rep for Young Labour Under 19s to discuss the benefits system, why people who receive benefits are often stigmatised by the media and politicians and the Labour Par...
Jul 23, 2023•36 min•Ep. 188
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Kirsty Innes, the Director of Public Services Policy at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, about a new paper she has co author for the TBI called The Great Enabler: Transforming the Future of Britain’s Public Services Through Digital Identity. They discuss how digital identity could change the benefits system and healthcare, the concerns some may have over its use, whether it could be used to tackle illegal migration and how a UK digital ide...
Jul 06, 2023•18 min•Ep. 187
In this episode of the podcast Will speaks to Richard Vinen, Professor of History at King's College, London, about his recently published book Second City: Birmingham and the Forging of Modern Britain. They discuss Birmingham's origins, the role of Birmingham in the career of Joseph Chamberlain, the emergence of the city as a leading industrial power and the political state of Birmingham and the West Midlands today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 30, 2023•45 min•Ep. 186