What makes homo sapiens unique from other living creatures? What will happen to society if artificial intelligence dictates culture? Why have conservative parties the world over “committed suicide”? Join Rory and Alastair for the second part of their discussion with historian and intellectual Yuval Noah Harari. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on ...
Aug 14, 2023•59 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast From raving and "wheeler-dealing" to heavyweight champion of the world, Anthony Joshua's story is unmissable. Listen to Rory, Alastair and AJ talk about the culture of boxing, socialism, how imperative a positive mindset is to winning, and whether a highly anticipated fight with Tyson Fury will ever happen... Our second episode with Yuval Noah Harari will be released next Monday 14th August. If you can't wait until then, it's already available to members of TRIP Plus. Sign up at therestispolitic...
Aug 06, 2023•55 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast ‘We are facing spiritual and moral destruction.’ Is Israeli democracy facing the most dangerous moment in its history? Yuval Noah Harari joins Rory and Alastair to discuss his first-hand experience of the protests against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu during this politically existential moment for the country. Our second episode with Yuval will be released next Monday, where he talks about history, AI, and the future of humankind. If you can't wait a week and want to listen right now, it'...
Jul 31, 2023•54 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast How close are we to finding a cure for cancer? What did the government do wrong - in scientific terms - during the pandemic? Do Labour or the Tories have a proper plan to harness the power of British science? On today’s episode of Leading, Alastair and Rory are joined by Nobel Prize-winner Sir Paul Nurse to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount bo...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast Can we reverse the damage done to our polluted rivers and seas? What was it like to write Teenage Kicks? How has Brexit hamstrung the music industry? From punk singer to political activist, Feargal Sharkey is now the leading figure in the fight against sewage and water pollution in the UK. On today's episode of Leading he sits down with Alastair to discuss environmentalism, growing up in Derry, the success of The Undertones, and much, much more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics...
Jul 17, 2023•45 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast What was the worst political mistake in modern history? How do religious Republicans bring themselves to support Trump? Was it wrong to describe the fall of the Soviet Union as ‘The End of History’? On today’s episode of Leading, Alastair and Rory sit down with political scientist and writer Francis Fukuyama to answer all these questions, discuss why he coined the phrase ‘The End of History’, and argue whether authoritarian regimes are ‘destined’ to fail. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest I...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast What's it like to know how your obituary will read? What makes the democratic system the best for fighting against climate change? How does politics change a person, whether they like it or not? Alastair and Rory sit down with politician, academic, and writer Michael Ignatieff on today's episode of Leading to discuss all this and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book price...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast What was it like fighting New Labour? Why did Black Wednesday happen? How did Ian McKellen help bring the campaign for gay rights into Downing Street? Join Alastair and Rory as they answer all these questions with Sir John Major in the second of two episodes with the former Tory prime minister. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast Why is Sir John Major a Tory? How did he make it from Brixton to 10 Downing Street? What was it like to witness the fall of Margaret Thatcher first hand? In the first of two episodes, Rory and Alastair are joined by the former prime minister to answer all these questions and more. John Major - Episode 2: If you'd like to hear episode two right now, sign up to The Rest is Politics Plus at therestispolitics.com for £3.49. You'll also enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from d...
Jun 19, 2023•51 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast In the 21st century, the impact of financial and environmental crises can be felt by all. But how do we marry the nature of the economy with the ever depleting means of the planet? Rory and Alastair discuss the radical doughnut economic model with economist Kate Raworth to unpick how it could work politically, and how it is already helping cities to thrive in balance. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading,...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast For former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, the personal is the political. Growing up in Belfast with a deeply personal link to sectarian violence, her aim as President was to promote unity and build bridges between political, religious and cultural divides. Alastair speaks to her about misogyny in the Catholic Church, her role as a human rights lawyer, the violence of the Troubles, and much, much more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-f...
Jun 05, 2023•53 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast The role of Downing Street Chief of Staff was created for him, and he was the only senior advisor to last the whole period of Tony Blair's premiership - but who is the real Jonathan Powell, and how did he do it? Rory and Alastair are joined by Jonathan Powell to discuss the New Labour years, the Northern Ireland peace process, how he negotiates with terrorists, and more. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the pod...
May 29, 2023•57 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast How does the Irish Taoiseach feel about Brexit? Would Leo Varadkar consider himself a Tory in the English parliamentary system? Does Ireland have a problem with alcohol? Leo Varadkar speaks to Rory and Alastair about all this, plus his childhood in Dublin, juggling social liberalism with economic conservatism, and the future of AI in healthcare. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen Exec Producers: Tony Pastor +...
May 22, 2023•39 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast Does George Osborne regret leaving politics? Does he think Sunak can win the next general election? What did he admire about New Labour, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown? Tune in to today's episode of Leading to hear Alastair and Rory's conversation with the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Disc...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast How much do you know about Thatcher's back channels with Irish republicans during the Troubles? What are Gerry Adams' emotions towards the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing, looking back now in 2023? Who were the most important people in the negotiations that brought peace to the island of Ireland? Alastair and Rory sat down with the former Sinn Féin president to discuss all these questions and more in today's episode of Leading. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a ...
May 08, 2023•47 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast How was peace achieved in Northern Ireland? What was it like speaking to the IRA, loyalist paramilitary groups and victims simultaneously? Who were the most important individuals involved in the peace process? To mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Alastair and Rory are joined by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to answer all these questions and more. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the ...
May 01, 2023•46 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Will Donald Trump return to the White House? What happened behind the scenes during the killing of Osama Bin Laden? How should we combat the insidious effect of technology and social media on the younger generation? Alastair and Rory are joined by Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss all this and more on today's episode of Leading. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad...
Apr 24, 2023•46 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Why did David Miliband leave British politics? How did he get involved in the New Labour project? And what does he spend his time doing now? Join David as he talks to Rory and Alastair about Labour, international development, US politics, life in New York City, and the International Rescue Committee. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP ...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast What do the Murdochs think of Succession? Should the SNP change its name? Why do some actors swear by method acting while others find it such an alien approach? Actor Brian Cox sits down with Alastair to answer these questions and talk Succession, Scotland and socialism... Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, join our Discor...
Apr 10, 2023•44 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast How aware are you of anti-Semitism in Britain? Comedian and author David Baddiel tells Alastair and Rory about his family, his upbringing and his views on anti-Semitism in modern Britain. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. ...
Apr 03, 2023•57 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Gary Lineker is regularly told to 'stick to football'. Now, after recently tweeting his views on the Government’s refugee policy, the Match Of The Day presenter sits down with Alastair and Rory to discuss his upbringing, life in the public eye, and what really happened after he was suspended (and later reinstated) in his role at the BBC. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter,...
Mar 27, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast How much do you know about what's happening to the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China? Alastair is joined by Rahima Mahmut, an Uyghur artist, activist, and the chair of 'Stop Uyghur Genocide' to explore the harrowing topic in detail. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live sho...
Mar 20, 2023•57 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Longest serving independent Senator of the United States Bernie Sanders has spent his life fighting for the rights of working people. Today, he joins Rory and Alastair to discuss income inequality, the two-party system and its limitations, healthcare reform and whether or not his success in debates against Hillary Clinton inadvertently played a part in Trump's presidential victory... Buy Bernie Sanders' new book It's OK To Be Angry About Capitalism here: coles-books.co.uk/it-s-ok-to-be-angry-abo...
Mar 13, 2023•45 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast How did the violence of The Troubles come to an end on the island of Ireland? Bertie Ahern, former Irish Taoiseach who served from 1997 to 2008, speaks to Alastair about his father's time in the IRA, how Ireland has changed over the last three decades, and what it was liking working alongside Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley on the road the Belfast Good Friday Agreements. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Poli...
Mar 06, 2023•58 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast From a coal-miner's daughter to the White House. Fiona Hill became a leading foreign policy advisor to three presidents, a United States National Security Council official, and a key witness in Donald Trump's 2019 impeachment hearings. In this fascinating interview for Leading, Hill talks about her upbringing in Bishop Auckland, the future of the Ukraine conflict, and what it was really like working under Trump… Read There Is Nothing For You Here by Fiona Hill now: https://coles-books.co.uk/ther...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Is David Lammy the next politician to represent Britain on the global stage? Alastair and Rory speak to the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs about his upbringing, the Department for International Development, the Labour Party, tribalism in politics, and the role of foreign policy for Britain today. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newslett...
Feb 20, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Do athletes now have a responsibility to use their platform to promote political change? Four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson sits down with Alastair to discuss the future of athletics, drugs in sport, political polarisation, and recovering from a stroke that doctors feared could stop him from ever walking again. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free...
Feb 13, 2023•47 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Who is the EU's man behind Brexit? How did he combat Britain's negotiating tactics? What is life like at the top of European politics? Alastair and Rory are joined by Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, three years on from Britain's exit from the European Union. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, join our Dis...
Feb 06, 2023•47 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Is the NHS beyond saving? Could a Labour government fix it? How should Rishi Sunak deal with strikes? This week on Leading, Alastair and Rory are joined by former Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn. Alan is credited for delivering modernisation to the NHS in the New Labour years, introducing foundation trusts, and is Rory’s hero for his work on reform. Tune in to hear his thoughts on the struggles of being an MP, the biggest challenges facing the NHS, and Labour’s lack of clarity in opp...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Alexander Litvinenko: the man who solved his own murder after being poisoned by the Russian State in London. Marina, his widow, battled for justice successfully in both a UK public enquiry and a case at the European Court of Human Rights. As a leading critic of Vladimir Putin's regime, 'mafia state' and invasion of Ukraine - Marina sat down with Alastair to discuss Alexander's murder, her fight for justice, being in Ukraine when Russia invaded last February, and how the Kremlin tried to conscrip...
Jan 23, 2023•54 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast 
