Netflix’s share price plunged after it announced the loss of 200,000 subscribers in Q1 of 2022. What has gone wrong? And how can the platform get people subscribing again? Alex Hern , Technology Editor for The Guardian , talks to Justin Quirk about why Netflix’s growth turned static, and what the streaming service should be doing to get viewers back onboard. “This is a company and an industry that expects subscriber numbers to go up.” “The reason Netflix lost those subscribers is because they pu...
Jun 08, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 620
Johnson has clung on to power, but with 148 Tory rebels voting against him how long can he continue as leader? What’s next for him and the Conservative Party? In a late-night recording, the panel assess a dramatic result. Plus, Romeo Kokriatski, co-host of the Ukraine Without Hype podcast, shares the latest from Ukraine amid concerns the war is turning in Russia’s favour. And, after the Jubilee festivities, the panel discusses British eccentricity and the future of the Monarchy. “It comes back t...
Jun 07, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 619
After being jeered over the Jubilee weekend, will Johnson now be jilted by his party in a no confidence vote? With this due to be held on Monday evening, how will the results play out? Ros Taylor and Arthur Snell give their thoughts as they tee up the week ahead. Plus, they ask what’s next for the monarchy after the weekend’s celebrations, discuss the Ukraine latest and cast an eye over the Atlantic. “We will know by the end of today whether or not Boris Johnson has survived this round of attemp...
Jun 06, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 618
Pulitzer Prize-winner Margo Jefferson tells Dorian Lynskey about her wide-ranging career as a critic. She discusses shedding light on the lives of everyone from Tina Turner to Michael Jackson, being the first Black woman book critic at Newsweek , and writing on race, class and gender at the New York Times . They also discuss her new book, Constructing a Nervous System , and ask can you ever separate art from the artist? “We're all curating our personal cultures.” "I felt I had to be impeccable t...
Jun 05, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 617
As we move into virtual surroundings able to be anywhere, anyone or anything, how will that affect our minds? As the line between online and offline fades further, we look at how our personalities could shift across spaces. Dr. Alison Attrill-Smith , head of psychology online at the University of Wolverhampton, joins Alex Andreou to discuss the potential psychological impact of the metaverse. “We've had iterations such as second life, and every time something new establishes itself there seems t...
Jun 04, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 616
How do you know the world is real? How do I know I’m real? As virtual worlds expand, our concepts of reality warp. NYU philosopher David Chalmers – author of Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy – talks to Ros Taylor about the etiquette of virtual living, why video game characters deserve moral rights, and how we can know what we think we know. “Simulated beings could end up outnumbering non-simulated beings. So the odds that YOU are simulated could be high…” “If we’re living ...
Jun 03, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 615
Can you enforce laws in cyberspace like you can in the real world? Facebook, now Meta, has struggled to moderate its massive platforms for over a decade, battling with national governments over how it should be regulated. Now, it's preparing to be the biggest player in a new arena - the Metaverse. Lorna Woods, professor of Internet Law, joins Ros Taylor: “The one thing we can say about the metaverse, is that it won't be what we think it is.” “Have we thought about how this service can be misused...
Jun 02, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 614
What would a normal day look like inside the metaverse? When would we plug in, and would we ever switch off? Charles Arthur , former technology editor of The Guardian and author of Social Warming: The Dangerous and Polarising Effects of Social Media , joins Ahir Shah to talk about the upsides, downsides and the practicalities of striking a virtual to real-world balance. “The day in the metaverse will be a lot of meetings, a bit like zoom.” “Travel might be a lot better than slogging through a tr...
Jun 01, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 613
We explore whether Rishi Sunak’s cost of living package is enough to address the long term hardship faced by millions. Or was it yet another political manoeuvre amid Tory turmoil? Plus, we unpack the issues faced by democracies across the globe with our guest Yascha Mounk , political scientist and author of The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure. “If Johnson can make it to the long summer break, where MPs have weeks away, that might allow people to calm ...
May 31, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 612
With yet another party allegation, how will the PM deal with another twist in this neverending scandal? With a further inquiry being called for – how might this play out in the coming days? Plus, America’s gun debate remains at the fore across the Atlantic. And in Northern Ireland, can Stormont break the deadlock and nominate a speaker? Alex Andreou talks to Naomi Smith about what we can expect to happen this week. “Apparently people are beyond accountability now.” – Naomi Smith "It doesn’t look...
May 30, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 611
Africa is made up of 54 different countries – so why is it so often talked about as one singular place? Dipo Faloyin , a senior editor at Vice and author of Africa is Not a Country , joins Jelena Sofronijevic to discuss the continent’s diversity and how that’s been erased in everyday discussions. What led to the condensed view of today and how can we properly engage with the region? “People would rather see the entire region as a singular monolith, instead of a region that can be anything.” “Too...
May 29, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 610
36 years after the original, Tom Cruise returns for Top Gun: Maverick , plus we don our parkas as we listen to the new album from Liam Gallagher , Come On You Know. Legendary music writer and broadcaster Paul Morley, joins us to talk Island Records, Factory Records, and ALL records, and we get comfy in our nests, to watch the latest major Sky adaptation of The Midwich Cuckoos . And Jelena heads out to the Southbank Centre to speak to International Booker Prize shortlister, Mieko Kawakami. Hear a...
May 28, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 610
Monkeypox has hit the headlines with its spread in Europe. What is it? How do we deal with it? And should we be worried? With people on high alert to illnesses due to COVID, we unpack the differences and put context around what’s really going on. Dr. Charlotte Hammer , a fellow in emerging infectious diseases at Downing College Cambridge, explains the virus to Jacob Jarvis. “Monkeypox actually does not come from monkeys, it comes from rodents in central Africa.” “The symptoms are pretty unspecif...
May 26, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 608
As scientists seek extraterrestrial life, what would we do if we actually found it? How would we manage first contact, and could we even communicate with aliens? Franck Marchis , a senior planetary astronomer from the SETI Institute, unpacks the prospect with Andrew Harrison – and the idea aliens might already know we’re here, but we’re too boring for them to care. “The most important question is intelligent life.” “This discovery will not be a big surprise for a lot of humans on this planet.” “...
May 25, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 607
As the Prime Minister is caught red wine handed, we discuss the crises facing Britain alongside the partygate furore. We unpack the further issues looming as the cost of living situation goes from bad to worse. Is there an end in sight? Plus, why do we still pay so much attention to newspaper front pages? Lord Peter Ricketts , former national security adviser and ambassador to France, is this week’s guest. “I don’t know why you would bring someone along to photograph your crime.” – Ahir Shah “Th...
May 24, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 606
Sue Gray’s final partygate report is due, meaning a long week ahead for Boris Johnson. What can we expect it to contain? Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis continues to deepen. Is a windfall tax on energy companies inevitable? Plus, we discuss Australia’s new Prime Minister and the latest from Ukraine. Justin Quirk is joined by Alex Andreou to tee up the days ahead. “It’s damaging the Government all the time because it has reversed all their soft ratings.” — Alex Andreou “The charge of dishone...
May 23, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 606
NEW PODCAST: In a brand new 6-part series, Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey explore the histories of the most misrepresented ideas in politics. Here’s a taster of the first episode: McCarthyism . Was it really a crusade against communists or just a grifter’s opportunity that got out of hand? How did a witch-hunt morph into a way to denounce any critic, no matter who? And did Joe McCarthy really write the rulebook for Trumpism? Get the full episode here: https://kite.link/OS1McCarthy Back Origin Story...
May 23, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 605
Blows to the head are commonplace in a range of sports – why do the risks often go unspoken? What happens to the brain when athletes take these knocks? Alex Rees speaks to Hana Walker-Brown about her book A Delicate Game: Brain Injury, Sport and Sacrifice, in which she chronicles degenerative brain disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and the tragedies which have gone under the radar. “There are things that are changing, but they’re changing very slowly.” “The rules need to come from above...
May 22, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 604
Pop culture roundup: Can we plumb the depths of Kendrick Lamar ’s dazzling, disturbing Mr Morale & The Big Steppers? Has Harry Styles squared the teen idol/suave-pop circle? UK hip-pop talent Murkage Dave joins us. The songwriting genius of Michael Head . And Night Sky , an Amazon drama about the portal to outer space in Sissy Spacek’s back garden. Really. Journalist Johnny Davis of Esquire and The Face rounds out the panel. Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify : https://bit....
May 21, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 602
Authoritarian leaders are dominating 21st century politics. How did this new generation of strongmen rise to power? Gideon Rachman , chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times , joins Nick Cohen to discuss his new book The Age of The Strongman, which covers the rise of the modern-day dictator, and what their leadership means for the world. “There was always going to be a backlash against the ‘end of history’ way of doing things.” “With the West having gone through the financial cr...
May 19, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 601
Eleven of the fifteen postwar Prime Ministers went to Oxford. How did their privileged upbringing change the U.K? The FT’s Simon Kuper talks to Ros Taylor about how the entitled atmospheres of Oxford and Eton shaped modern Britain, detailed in his latest book Chums . “ Boris Johnson was probably the best known person at Oxford in his day.” “ It ’ s a great advantage in politics to have a recognisable brand, and Eton encourages that.” “ Johnson learnt all his debating tricks from the Oxford Union...
May 18, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 600
We look at the Government’s culture war push as people are told to just work harder to beat the cost of living crisis. What bargain bin policies are being used to shift attention from the hardship so many are facing? Plus, as those struggling are told to budget their way out of poverty, we look at the ludicrous money saving advice being dished out. And finally, the panel marks the end of the iPod. Freelance writer and columnist Hannah Fearn is this week’s guest. “All politicians, no matter how c...
May 17, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 599
As Finland and Sweden look to join Nato, we unpack the latest from Ukraine as Putin faces consequences for his invasion. How will the Russian leader react amid signs of defeat? Then at home, we discuss the latest Brexit wranglings over the Northern Ireland protocol. Plus, questions of Keir Starmer’s leadership persist. Is he really in trouble? Ros Taylor is joined by Yasmeen Serhan to tee up the week ahead, and glance back at the weekend’s Eurovision contest. “ Ukraine has exceeded people ’ s wi...
May 16, 2022•18 min
Joe Biden’s poll ratings have been underwater for months. What is the state of his presidency? Dorian Lynskey speaks to Dr. Thomas Gift , founding director of UCL’s Centre on US Politics, to discuss the Democrat’s tenure so far. Is a Trump rematch on the cards, and could Biden win again? And if not him, could anyone else come to his party’s rescue in 2024? Plus, what will the prospect of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade mean for the Democratic leader? “If I look at the democratic field ...
May 15, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 597
Hear all the music on our rolling playlist : https://bit.ly/CultBunk This year’s Eurovision is upon us – but is it full of Boom Bang-a Bangers or a bit of a Waterloo? Linda Marric and Michael Hogan join us to chew on this year’s line up, and new albums from Florence and The Machine AND Radiohead offshoots The Smile, and Conversations with Friends, the latest Sally Rooney adaptation from the BBC Plus, you wait years for a Multiverse and then two turn up at once - we wrap our minds around new real...
May 14, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 596
How do we talk to radicals and terrorists who are bent on reshaping society through violence? Charlotte McDonald-Gibson was at Brussels Airport during a terror attack in 2016, and wanted to understand what drives people to such acts. She joins Justin Quirk to discuss her book Far Out: Encounters With Extremists, where she finds out what lures people into fringe groups. “The human emotions that lead people to these groups are universal across ideologies.” “Everybody in the book was under 25 when ...
May 12, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 595
With the prospect of Roe v. Wade being overturned, we unpack the movement against abortion rights in the United States. A leaked draft Supreme Court decision indicates the landmark decision is set to be struck down – what would that mean for American society? Iowa-based writer Lyz Lenz joins Ros Taylor to discuss how the country reached this moment of reckoning, and what could happen next. “Since 1973 we have seen a slow erosion of the ability to access abortion services.” “There has been a Cons...
May 11, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 594
What was spicier, Starmer’s curry or its aftermath? We discuss the Labour leader’s standing and his bluff-calling gamble. Plus, who were the real local election winners and losers? Then, as the cost of living bites, the panel unpacks just how out of touch the Government is with working people. Jamie Driscoll , the Labour Mayor of the North of Tyne, is this week’s special guest and Belfast-based journalist Amanda Ferguson also drops in to unpack the Northern Ireland assembly results. “People don’...
May 10, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 593
Brexit tensions spike in the wake of Northern Ireland’s assembly elections – what will come of the fallout? Plus, Putin is to address Russia on the nation’s Victory Day – how will he look to reframe his ongoing invasion of Ukraine? Then, back at home, the Queen’s Speech is due this week. Andrew Harrison is joined by Gavin Esler to tee up the days ahead. “This has all been done as part of Boris Johnson’s Brexit derangement syndrome.” – Gavin Esler “If you really think Boris Johnson has built 40 h...
May 09, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 592
News of Elon Musk buying Twitter has enraged some users – but what could he actually do with the platform? Could he break it in the ways some fear? Alex Andreou is joined by Charles Arthur , former technology editor of The Guardian and author of Social Warming: The Dangerous and Polarising Effects of Social Media , to discuss what the billionaire tech mogul might do with the site. “You have to distinguish between the Musk you see on Twitter and the one who's in business.” “Twitter does have enor...
May 08, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 591
