See this as a tasting menu for the delights to come, in thirteen All Talk interviews recorded in front of a live audience at the Edinburgh Fringe. Featuring Mick Lynch, Jess Phillips, Alex Salmond and David Davis, Nicola Sturgeon, Chris Mullin and Sasha Swire, Wes Streeting, Harriet Harman, Polly Toynbee and Peter Hitchens, Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey, Sir John Curtice and Brian Taylor - finishing with Humza Yousaf. Enjoy! The full episodes will all be released over the next ...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews writer and former MP Chris Mullin alongside acclaimed author Sasha Swire about their passion for political diarism. It's a conversation bursting with great anecdotes culled from the corridors of Westminster, as well as plenty of takes on the current state of politics too.
Aug 16, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, live from the Edinburgh Fringe. They talk about her unique role in the Coronation, whether the Tories can win the next election, connecting with the public and how to argue well in the House of Commons, and much else!
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews General Secretary of the RMT union Mick Lynch, live at the Edinburgh Fringe. They talk about Mick's youth growing up in multicultural West London, becoming active in trade unionism, Keir Starmer's missions, the RMT's ongoing dispute over pay and plans to shut train ticket offices, class conflict and much more besides.
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews political journalist and author Harry Cole about his work as political editor of The Sun, dealing with the different Downing Street administrations over recent years, how to deal with slow news days and what's coming next in British politics.
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews economist and author Dr Linda Yueh about growing up in Taiwan and the United States, how to manage a country's economy, the overlap between political and financial crises and her book THE GREAT CRASHES: LESSONS FROM GLOBAL MELTDOWNS AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM.
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews academic and podcaster Kieran Maguire about his career making football finance make sense, whether there's too much money in the beautiful game... and a surprise phone call from a certain former prime minister. His podcast is THE PRICE OF FOOTBALL. [Recorded in a spacious living room.]
Jul 19, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews journalist and comedian Viv Groskop about the importance of confidence to success in various careers, the thrills and challenges of being on stage and being proud of your roots. It's all part of her new book HAPPY HIGH STATUS: HOW TO BE EFFORTLESSLY CONFIDENT.
Jul 12, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews The Guardian’s Ireland correspondent about his career in journalism as a foreign correspondent. They also talk his new book KILLING THATCHER, which Iain describes as his Book of the Year. Its focus is the IRA bombing of The Grand Hotel in Brighton in 1984, but it’s about so much more than that too.
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews television producer Rob Burley about the rise of political TV, whether a 'tough' interviewing style is always right, the relationship between producers and presenters and some fascinating stories from his new book WHY IS THIS LYING BASTARD LYING TO ME?
Jun 28, 2023•2 hr 30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews inequality academic and author Faiza Shaheen about social mobility, running to be an MP, diversity in politics and her new book KNOW YOUR PLACE: HOW SOCIETY SETS US UP TO FAIL AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
Jun 21, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews diarist and former Labour MP Chris Mullin about the newly released fourth volume DIDN'T YOU USE TO BE CHRIS MULLIN?, which covers political events between 2010 and 2022. They discuss the sheer volume of changes during that period - including the highs and lows of the Conservative Party with its four leaders and the tumult in the Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.
Jun 14, 2023•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews Ben Kentish about how to be a lobby journalist, building and maintaining relationships with politicians and advisers... and being a 'pain in the arse' at school.
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews Baroness Helena Kennedy about her life as a lawyer tackling violence against women and girls, the difficulty of balancing political views with legal work... and her unique role in the Coronation of King Charles III.
May 31, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews impressionist and writer Steve Nallon about the tricks of his trade as a voice artist, the easiest public figures to impersonate and how he's adapted his repertoire over time. They also discuss Steve's new novel for young people THE TIME THAT NEVER WAS.
May 24, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews American author and historian Alvin Felzenberg about getting to know numerous US presidents, including Ronald Reagan and the Bushes, working on the 9/11 Commission and how he would rank American leaders throughout history.
May 17, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Brexit, Covid, Partygate, lockdowns, leaks, the war in Ukraine, a cost-of-living crisis and the scandals that plagued our politics. Guto Harri was in the room when the big decisions were made. In this podcast, expect unprecedented access behind the shiny black door of Number 10 Downing Street, during one of the most chaotic periods in British political history. Guto was Boris Johnson’s Communications Chief. When he first walked over the Number 10 threshold, things weren’t n...
May 15, 2023•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews comedian and actor Njambi McGrath about her career in comedy, the damage done by the British Empire and her book THROUGH THE LEOPARD'S GAZE, which details her harrowing but inspiring childhood in Kenya.
May 10, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews foreign affairs journalist and author Tim Marshall about his time as a TV correspondent, the personalities and characters he's met throughout his career covering major international events, as well as his new book THE FUTURE OF GEOGRAPHY: HOW POWER AND POLITICS IN SPACE WILL CHANGE OUR WORLD.
May 03, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews veteran journalist and writer Julia Langdon. They discuss the challenges of breaking into journalism, forming relationships with politicians and the wide variety of people Julia has interviewed. She's gone toe-to-toe with then Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, Chinese revolutionary leader Deng Xiaoping and the poet Ogden Nash, among many others. Also, she once caught out Jeffrey Archer doing a fake American accent...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews trade unionist and campaigner Len McCluskey. They discuss his childhood in Liverpool, taking on Margaret Thatcher's government and how unions have changed over the years, as well as the challenges from his time as General Secretary of Unite. Len's book is ALWAYS RED.
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews political academic Professor Tim Bale about whether being impartial helps or hinders his work, the influence of 'celebrity' Brexiteers, the highs and lows of the Conservative leadership contest and his book THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AFTER BREXIT: TURMOIL AND TRANSFORMATION.
Apr 12, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews NHS psychologist and broadcaster Dr Sian Williams about moving from news presenting to counselling, how to handle anxiety, stress and trauma, as well as her book RISE: A FIRST-AID KIT FOR GETTING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews singer-songwriter Alistair Griffin. They discuss the start of his musical career as a busker in York, how he was mentored by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, as well as the inspiration behind some of the songs on his latest album FOREVER TODAY: A TRIBUTE TO ROBIN GIBB.
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews Conservative MP and Schools Minister Nick Gibb. They discuss how he got into politics, whether he's afraid to have a row with headteachers and whether he'll achieve what he wants to achieve before the next election.
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews Guardian columnist and author Zoe Williams. They discuss her upbringing, whether Oxbridge is what it's cracked up to be, how to write a column and the kind of people she dreads to interview.
Mar 15, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale is in Washington and interviews Dame Karen Pierce, British Ambassador to the United States. They discuss a day in the life of a diplomat, as well as the importance of the 'special relationship', the Northern Ireland protocol and how the American people responded to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Mar 08, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews comedian and writer Arthur Smith. They discuss when Arthur found out he was funny, the feeling when a show goes wrong and the power of the Edinburgh Fringe. Arthur's stage show MY FIRST 75 YEARS IN COMEDY is playing at the Pleasance Theatre in London.
Mar 01, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews the equality campaigner Peter Tatchell, in the week of the 40th anniversary of the Bermondsey by-election, often described as the dirtiest, most violent and most homophobic election in Britain since 1945. They discuss Peter's inspiration for a lifetime of campaigning, gay marriage in the UK and the most evil person Peter has ever met.
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Iain Dale interviews former British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Renwick. They discuss the policies and vision of President George H.W. Bush, in comparison with many other US Presidents, as well as Lord Renwick's own varied and fascinating career. It's all based around his new book A TRUE STATESMAN: GEORGE H.W. BUSH AND THE 'INDISPENSABLE NATION'.
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast