Over the weekend, the self-titled documentary Melania hit cinemas worldwide. Its release comes at a volatile moment, with political turmoil at home and Donald Trump once again making waves over foreign policy and America's global influence. In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with Standard columnist Melanie McDonagh, fresh from a screening to ask: who is Melania Trump telling the world she is? Was a cinematic release the right strategy for now? And, most importantly, is the documen...
Feb 02, 2026•17 min
Over the past few years, the UK government has promised a tougher stance on money laundering. With new challenges that include cryptocurrency and the soaring value of gold, how will Britain ever get clean from its dirty money reputation? In this episode, The Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford speaks to Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, who founded the Kensington Against Dirty Money campaign in 2022 to tackle the issue of illicit finance in London. Toge...
Jan 30, 2026•18 min
Unemployment among young Londoners has hit a nine-year high, and the latest figures show the jobless rate in the capital disproportionately affects 16 to 24-year-olds. So, is the future for young Londoners truly bleak? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick is joined by the Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn to unpack the most recent figures from the Office of National Statistics. Together they explore why so many young people in the capital are facing a growing shortage of opportunities...
Jan 29, 2026•12 min
In their election manifesto, Labour promised to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rent charges. So, is a £250 pound cap on ground rent real progress for homeowners? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with the Standard’s deputy editor of homes and property Meghann Murdock to gauge the significance of the government’s latest announcement. Plus, she speaks to Harry Scoffin, the founder of Free Leaseholders, a grassroots activist group fighting for the abolition of the leaseh...
Jan 28, 2026•17 min
A £500m plan to redevelop East London’s historic Truman Brewery has sparked a bitter row in Brick Lane. The proposed scheme features new retail and restaurant units, a cinema, private housing and, controversially, a data centre. The plans have divided residents, businesses and politicians ahead of a critical local council election. In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard ’s business editor Jonathan Prynn about what’s at stake for the local area, and the borough of Tower Ha...
Jan 27, 2026•16 min
Iran is facing one of the most brutal waves of extreme violence in its recent history. Beyond protests outside the Iranian embassy in London, the reaction from the UK government, and Britain as a whole, has been subdued. In this episode, The Standard ’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford speaks to former security minister Tom Tugendhat MP about the Iranian leadership crisis, the West’s muted reaction to the atrocities, and ways the UK government can support a liberated Iran. Hosted on...
Jan 26, 2026•17 min
The UK has approved plans for China to build its largest European embassy in London, near the Tower of London – a controversial move that has triggered serious national security concerns. As Keir Starmer prepares to visit Beijing, has the government misjudged the risks? On this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, who is a vocal critic of the planning proposal. She also talks to Dr Tim Stevens, the co-director of the Cyber Security Resear...
Jan 23, 2026•16 min
For episode five of Brave New World , Evgeny is joined by Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences - the company working on de-extinction and species preservation, including its flagship woolly mammoth project. Together, they explore what “bringing back” an extinct species actually means in practice: rebuilding fragmented ancient DNA, comparing it to a close living relative (the Asian elephant), and using gene editing to reintroduce key traits like cold tolerance - before creating em...
Jan 22, 2026•14 min
Blue Monday is behind us – and January is often the best time of year to book a holiday. In this bumper travel episode, The Standard ’s lifestyle director Suzannah Ramsdale joins travel journalist Alicia Miller to unpack the trendiest destinations for 2026. From meadows in Cantabria to the sandy beaches of the new Maldives, the two select options for different budgets and trip lengths – and break down our current sauna obsession. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 21, 2026•20 min
It has been one year since Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term. So how much has he changed the US — and the world — in just twelve months? And what might the rest of his presidency look like? In this episode, The Standard ’s Political Editor Nicholas Cecil takes stock of Trump’s first year back in office with Laurel Rapp, Director of the US and North America Programme at Chatham House. Laurel previously served as Deputy Director on the US Secretary of State’s Policy Planni...
Jan 20, 2026•19 min
Is the government doing enough to support the country’s hospitality sector? In this episode, The Standard's Going Out editor David Ellis sits down with Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur and publican Tom Kerridge to discuss the realities of running a hospitality business today. From soaring business rates to rising costs and shrinking margins, Kerridge explains why pubs are under unprecedented pressure and what the government could do to help the sector survive – and even grow Hosted on Acast. ...
Jan 19, 2026•16 min
It has been a busy start to the year for Laila Cunningham, the Westminster councillor newly selected as Reform UK’s candidate for the London 2028 Mayoral election. In today’s episode, The Standard ’s City Hall Editor Ross Lydall sits down with Laila Cunningham to discuss controversial remarks she made earlier this week about London not being a “Muslim city”. During this interview, Cunningham sets out plans to make wearing face coverings, including the burqa, grounds for police to stop and search...
Jan 16, 2026•15 min
A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series. For Episode Four, host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by human biologist, longevity science monolith and founder of The Ultimate Human, Gary Brecka. Together, they explore why so many people feel stuck at a “six out of ten,” what Gary believes to be the cause of fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, soreness, low mood, and why poor exercise recovery is often driven by nutrient deficiencies. Listen to t...
Jan 15, 2026•12 min
As protests continue across Iran amid a rising death toll and a record number of arrests, members of the Iranian diaspora in London, home to an estimated 40,000 Iranian-born residents, are gathering publicly to express support and show solidarity. In this episode of The Standard , host Tamara Kormornick is joined by Laila Jazayeri, Director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK. They discuss the unfolding situation in Iran, why so many are mobilising in London, and how internationa...
Jan 14, 2026•13 min
Last year saw one of London’s lowest rates of homicides, with less than 100 fatalities. How is the city tackling crime, and how safe is London? In this episode of The Standard, Tamara Kormornick is joined by the Director of The London Mayors Violent Crime Reduction Unit, to discuss the status of violent crime in London — and whether the city is as lawless as Donald Trump makes it out to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 13, 2026•19 min
Every January, campaigns like Dry January and Veganuary encourage restraint and self-denial at the coldest, darkest point of the year. But what if we’ve misunderstood both health and the seasons? In this episode of The Standard , host Alan Leer is joined by journalist Melanie McDonagh as she makes the case for “Wet January” — arguing that winter is the worst possible time to give things up, and that our modern wellness habits have lost touch with how people have historically lived through the co...
Jan 12, 2026•13 min
Is there anything better than a cultural escape as winter sets in? Today we're debunking one of the lesser-known art forms - opera - as the timelessly classical La Traviata show opens in the capital, which is the most performed opera in the world. We're joined by Netia Jones, the Associate Director of Opera at the Royal Opera, to discuss the origins of the art forum, how technology is changing it, tips for first-time opera attendees and much more. And if you’re keen to experience some new cultur...
Jan 08, 2026•17 min
Support for Labour in London has fallen to a new record low with the Tories pushed into fourth place behind the Greens and Reform UK , according to a new poll. Just 31 per cent of Londoners now say they would vote for Sir Keir Starmer’s party, according to a Savanta survey, down from 43 per cent at the 2024 General Election. The broader picture is of a fracturing of political allegiances in London in a blow to Sir Keir as he fights to stay Prime Minister amid unrest among Labour MPs. The Standar...
Jan 07, 2026•11 min
Overthrown Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is facing drug trafficking charges in New York after being seized by US forces in an early-morning raid on Caracas. But he was once instrumental in an extraordinary deal between London and the oil-rich South American nation that resulted in 250,000 low-income Londoners being able to claim half-price bus and tram fares for a year . As the world watches on, The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest. Hosted on Ac...
Jan 06, 2026•15 min
It’s a new year and officially the first Monday back to work after the festive break…if that feels a little bleak, and you’re looking to schedule some laughs in 2026, then stay tuned for today’s episode. The live comedy scene seems to expand exponentially every year; from award nominees to TV stars to online sensations and podcast heroes, stand-ups are all getting back to their stage roots. The Standard’s Comedy Critic Bruce Dessau is here with a bumper guide to the best of the bunch hitting the...
Jan 05, 2026•14 min
It’s a new year, and 2026 is set to be full of blockbuster and arthouse film releases to entice viewers to the cinema. Although we’re only just entering Oscars season, a brand new slate of films will be hitting the big screen very soon. The Standard’s Head of Culture, Martin Robinson, is here to discuss some of the most anticipated movies of 2026, including Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Supergirl, The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, The Moment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, The Bride, The Testament...
Jan 02, 2026•13 min
A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series. Host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to explore recovery, sleep, and why “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Will shares how overtraining as a Harvard athlete led him to build a wearable focused not on steps, but on the missing piece of performance: how ready your body actually is. Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here ....
Dec 31, 2025•15 min
Back in 2016, Netflix released a little show called Stranger Things, which went on to become the defining megahit for the streamer. But now, ahead of the finale on New Year’s Day, the sheen appears to be wearing thin… Fans and critics alike have complained about overstuffed plots and too many characters - and more than 280,000 people have signed a petition, demanding to see alleged unseen footage from the latest volume. It’s never simple to wrap up a hugely popular TV series, so we're joined by ...
Dec 30, 2025•14 min
As another year draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at the past twelve months and what it’s meant for the world of video games. It’s been a stellar year for indie games , with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 raking in heaps of plaudits (and a fair few award nominations) for its take on the JRPG genre — while smaller titles like Wanderstop and Blue Prince have proved that you can do an awful lot without the massive budgets that AAA studios command. The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Cultu...
Dec 29, 2025•13 min
As we settle into the festive season, it’s time for a round-up of all the best TV from 2025 . It’s been a jam-packed one, as ever, serving up lashings of humour, tragedy and a whole lot of sequels. Severance has returned for the first time in years, as has Stranger Things, and the Alien franchise has gotten its own TV spinoff for the first time ever. The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here to discuss the highlights - and lowlights - of the year, plus what to l...
Dec 24, 2025•17 min
It’s well-documented that our courts system is in crisis but following an investigation, The Standard can reveal that magistrates are sitting in secret to allow utility companies to break into people’s homes, granting warrants based on applications they have never seen. Back in late 2022, energy firms and courts were rocked by scandal when it was revealed that hundreds of thousands of warrants – including for the homes of some of Britain’s poorest people – were being “waved through” by magistrat...
Dec 23, 2025•17 min
It might be the festive season, but there’s fury in the corridors of power following a row which broke out regarding proposals that would see local elections delayed for a second year in a row for millions of voters. It comes as the government plans to abolish the two-tier system of district and county councils, creating a swathe of new local authorities that will be responsible for delivering services in their areas from 2028. In total, ministers have written to a total of 63 councils scheduled...
Dec 22, 2025•13 min
The British Library is one of the UK’s greatest cultural institutions. However, behind the scenes, the staff who make it function are working longer hours for less pay, in worsening conditions. Now, with help from the PCS union, they’ve decided to fight back. But what does this means more broadly in terms of who is able to access and benefit from our cultural institutions? The Standard’s Culture Writer Claudia Cockerell is here with the findings of her special report on the subject - alongside f...
Dec 19, 2025•16 min
A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series. Host Evgeny Lebedev sits down with Professor Tim Spector and Dr Federica Amati — the leading scientific minds behind personalised nutrition company ZOE — to rethink everything we’ve been told about food. They challenge myths around fats and calorie counting, unpack the damage caused by ultra-processed foods, and explain why eating for your gut microbes could be the key to better health. Lis...
Dec 18, 2025•16 min
More than 17 million people arrive in the capital each year to celebrate one of London's most beloved cultural gemstones - theatre. But seeing a central London play can set you back hundreds of pounds, and the costs are only going up. Audiences are now being priced out with the average price of a top ticket rising by 50% between 2023 and 2024 to 146 pounds and 61 pence a seat. So who or what is to blame for the situation? Is this just a callous cash grab, and what does it all mean for the future...
Dec 17, 2025•16 min
