Best Spectator Out Loud Podcasts (2025)

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Spectator Out Loud: Tim Shipman, Ian Williams, Theo Hobson, Lara Prendergast & Lisa Haseldine 34:01

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1d ago34:01

34:01

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Tim Shipman says that the real war for the right is yet to come; Ian Williams examines the farce over the collapses China espionage case; Theo Hobson argues that the Church of England is muddled over sex and marriage; Lara Prendergast reads her letter from America; and, Lisa Haseldine goes on manoeuvres with the G…

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Tim Shipman, Ian Williams, Theo Hobson, Lara Prendergast & Lisa Haseldine 34:01

2d ago34:01

34:01

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Tim Shipman says that the real war for the right is yet to come; Ian Williams examines the farce over the collapses China espionage case; Theo Hobson argues that the Church of England is muddled over sex and marriage; Lara Prendergast reads her letter from America; and, Lisa Haseldine goes on manoeuvres with the G…

1
Coffee House Shots: who is the greatest ever conservative? 39:25

11h ago39:25

39:25

From wartime leadership to economic revolutions, Conservative figures have shaped Britain’s past and present. But who stands out as the greatest of them all? In this conversation, recorded live at Conservative Party Conference: Katie Lam makes the case for William Pitt the Younger, Camilla Tominay nominates Margaret Thatcher, William Atkinson point…

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Coffee House Shots Live: can the Tories turn it around? 40:13

1d ago40:13

40:13

Recorded live in Manchester, during the Conservative Party conference, Michael Gove sits down with Tim Shipman, Madeline Grant and Tim Montgomerie to discuss how the Tories can turn their fortunes around. Do the Tories need to show contrition for their record in government? Has the party basically been split ever since the Coalition years? And does…

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The Edition: Jewish fear, 'the elimination of motherhood' & remembering Jilly Cooper 25:17

2d ago25:17

25:17

The Spectator’s cover story this week looks at ‘the fear’ gripping Jewish people amidst rising antisemitism. Reflecting on last week’s attack in Manchester, Douglas Murray says that ‘no-one in the Jewish community was surprised’ – a damning inditement on Britain today. How do we tackle religious intolerance? And is there room for nuance in the deba…

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The Book Club: An Unexpectedly Essential Guide to Language 38:20

3d ago38:20

38:20

My guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is Ben Schott. The author of the world- (or downstairs-loo-) conquering Schott’s Original Miscellany returns with Schott’s Significa, a deeply reported and constantly surprising book in which he uses the private languages of various communities – from gondoliers to graffiti writers and from Swifties to somm…

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Quite right! live: Kemi Badenoch's last conference? 20:05

12h ago20:05

20:05

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Coffee House Shots live: who's listening to the Tories? 38:10

22h ago38:10

38:10

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Spectator Out Loud: James Heale, William Atkinson, David Shipley, Angus Colwell and Aidan Hartley 24:09

6d ago24:09

24:09

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: James Heale says that, for Labour, party conference was a ‘holiday from reality’; William Atkinson argues that the ‘cult of Thatcher’ needs to die; David Shipley examines the luxury of French prisons; Angus Colwell provides his notes on swan eating; and, Aidan Hartley takes listeners on a paleoanthropological tour…

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Speaker series: Jeffrey Archer – End Game 50:41

3d ago50:41

50:41

Michael Gove speaks to Jeffrey Archer about his life, career and his new novel End Game, which marks the gripping finale of the William Warwick series. This discussion was part of the Spectator's speaker series. To see more on our upcoming events – including with Charles Moore and with Bernard Cornwell – go to events.spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast…

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Coffee House Shots: what next for the British right? 29:19

8d ago29:19

29:19

The general election result of 2024 reflected – among other things – a collapse of trust among British voters in the Conservatives. How can the British right evolve so it learns lessons from the past and from across the pond, in order to win back its base? This is an excerpt from an event hosted by The Spectator and American Compass; a leading US t…

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Holy Smoke: the first female Archbishop of Canterbury 18:21

9d ago18:21

18:21

Dame Sarah Mullally has been announced as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Previously the Bishop of London, she becomes the first woman to lead the Church in its almost 500 year history. She also had a 40 year career as a professional nurse, rising to be the most senior nurse in England and Wales. The Rev'd Marcus Walker, rector at St Bartholemew …

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James Heale, William Atkinson, David Shipley, Angus Colwell and Aidan Hartley 24:09

9d ago24:09

24:09

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: James Heale says that, for Labour, party conference was a ‘holiday from reality’; William Atkinson argues that the ‘cult of Thatcher’ needs to die; David Shipley examines the luxury of French prisons; Angus Colwell provides his notes on swan eating; and, Aidan Hartley takes listeners on a paleoanthropological tour…

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Book Club: Philippa Gregory 39:17

5d ago39:17

39:17

Sam Leith's guest on this week's Book Club podcast is the historical novelist Philippa Gregory. In her gripping new book Boleyn Traitor, Philippa seeks to rescue Jane Boleyn from the vast condescension of history. She tells Sam how fiction allows her to make plausible speculations about the gaps in the record, how she works to make the Tudors speak…

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The Edition: Kemi's fightback, the cult of Thatcher & debunking British myths 37:31

10d ago37:31

37:31

The Spectator’s cover story this week is an interview with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch ahead of the Tory party conference. Reflecting on the criticism she received for being seen as slow on policy announcements, she says that the position the Conservatives were in was ‘more perilous than people realise’ and compares herself to the CEO of an a…

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Quite right!: is Labour 'racist' too? 25:15

7d ago25:15

25:15

Listeners on the Best of Spectator playlist can enjoy a section of the latest episode of Quite right! but for the full thing please seek out the Quite right! channel. Just search ‘Quite right!’ wherever you are listening now. This week, Michael and Maddie report from the Labour party conference in Liverpool and unpick Keir Starmer’s big speech. Was…

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Americano: Prof Mearsheimer on why Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ won’t work 21:45

12d ago21:45

21:45

Donald Trump has unveiled his “peace plan” for Gaza with Benjamin Netanyahu – but is it realistic? Professor John Mearsheimer joins Freddy Gray to assess Trump’s foreign policy instincts, the role of Tony Blair on the Board of Peace, the use (and misuse) of the term “genocide,” and what chance there is of a Saudi-Israeli accord emerging from the co…

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Coffee House Shots: Shabana Mahmood in conversation with Michael Gove 49:06

12d ago49:06

49:06

Whilst a certain noisy northern mayor has positioned himself as the problem child of conference 2025, The Spectator finds another Labour politician far more interesting. All around Liverpool the newsstands are decorated by the image of the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, dubbed the ‘Terminator’ by Tim Shipman in the most recent issue of The Spectat…

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Americano: is James Comey going to jail? 27:53

9d ago27:53

27:53

Freddy Gray speaks to Jacob Heilbrunn, a longstanding friend of Americano to discuss James Comey, violence in Washington and Tucker Carlson’s new series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Spectator Out Loud: Matthew Parris, Stephen J. Shaw, Henry Jeffreys, Tessa Dunlop and Angus Colwell 30:34

13d ago30:34

30:34

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Matthew Parris reflects on the gay rights movement in the UK; faced with Britain’s demographic declines, Stephen J. Shaw argues that Britain needs to recover a sense of ‘futurehood’; Henry Jeffreys makes the case for disposing of wine lists; Tessa Dunlop reviews Valentine Low’s Power and the Palace: The Inside Sto…

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Reparations: the tyranny of imaginary guilt, with Nigel Biggar & Katie Lam 18:53

14d ago18:53

18:53

The past few years have seen growing calls for countries in the global west to pay reparations to former colonies for their role in the transatlantic slave trade. The debate over reparations was already part of the so-called ‘culture wars’, but became louder following the Black Lives Matter movement, as many groups sought to re-examine their histor…

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Coffee House Shots: Michael Gove interviews Steve Reed 28:52

15d ago28:52

28:52

On the eve of Labour’s party conference, the Spectator's editor Michael Gove sits down with Steve Reed MP, the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government. The government has announced an historic £5 billion package of funding for 'national renewal' – designed to revive high streets, parks and public spaces. Reed explains …

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Matthew Parris, Stephen J. Shaw, Henry Jeffreys, Tessa Dunlop and Angus Colwell 30:34

16d ago30:34

30:34

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Matthew Parris reflects on the gay rights movement in the UK; faced with Britain’s demographic declines, Stephen J. Shaw argues that Britain needs to recover a sense of ‘futurehood’; Henry Jeffreys makes the case for disposing of wine lists; Tessa Dunlop reviews Valentine Low’s Power and the Palace: The Inside Sto…

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The Edition: Labour’s Terminator, Silicon Valley’s ‘Antichrist’ obsession & can charity shops survive? 36:40

16d ago36:40

36:40

First: who has the Home Secretary got in her sights? Political editor Tim Shipman profiles Shabana Mahmood in the Spectator’s cover article this week. Given Keir Starmer’s dismal approval ratings, politicos are consumed by gossip about who could be his heir-apparent – even more so, following Angela Rayner’s defenestration a few weeks ago. Mahmood m…

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The Book Club: Rebellion and Resistance of the Enslaved in the Atlantic World 43:15

17d ago43:15

43:15

Sam's guest in this week’s Book Club podcast is the historian Sudhir Hazareesingh, whose new book Daring to Be Free: Rebellion and Resistance of the Enslaved in the Atlantic World reframes the story of Atlantic slavery. He explains why the familiar tale of enlightened Europeans bringing about abolition leaves out the most important voices of all – …

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Quite right!: Blair's ID card dystopia & the 'hell' of conference season 27:32

18d ago27:32

27:32

Listeners on the Best of Spectator playlist can enjoy a section of the latest episode of Quite right! but for the full thing please seek out the Quite right! channel. Just search ‘Quite right!’ wherever you are listening now. This week, Michael and Maddie lift the lid on the strange rituals of party conference season and why the ‘goldfish bowl’ rea…

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Americano: how scary is China's military? 19:53

19d ago19:53

19:53

Freddy Gray is joined by Harry Kazianis, editor in chief of the National Security Journal, to assess China’s military rise. He argues Beijing aims to dominate the Indo-Pacific with missiles, drones and naval power, posing a growing threat to U.S. influence and Taiwan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Spectator Out Loud: John Power, Nick Carter, Elisabeth Dampier, Maggie Fergusson & Mark Mason 25:36

20d ago25:36

25:36

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: John Power argues the Oxford Union has a ‘lynch-mob mindset’; Elisabeth Dampier explains why she would never date a German; Nick Carter makes the case for licensing MDMA to treat veterans with PTSD; Maggie Fergusson reviews Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island by Mike Pitts; and,…

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Holy Smoke: 800 years on, why is Aquinas Gen Z’s favourite philosopher? 25:28

21d ago25:28

25:28

This year marks 800 years since the birth of the theologian St Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas, best known for his theory of natural law and his magnum opus the Summa Theologia, argued for the existence of God through faith-based reason. The influence of the 13th Century theologian on the philosophy of religion is unquestionable, but what is curious is his…

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Coffee House Shots: should Britain recognise Palestine? 17:29

18d ago17:29

17:29

The government is expected to press ahead with recognition of Palestinian statehood, before a formal declaration at the United Nations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out plans earlier this year to recognise Palestine – but what does this actually mean? And what does the move actually achieve; is it driven by principle, by politics – or by pressur…

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John Power, Nick Carter, Elisabeth Dampier, Maggie Fergusson & Mark Mason 25:36

23d ago25:36

25:36

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: John Power argues the Oxford Union has a ‘lynch-mob mindset’; Elisabeth Dampier explains why she would never date a German; Nick Carter makes the case for licensing MDMA to treat veterans with PTSD; Maggie Fergusson reviews Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island by Mike Pitts; and,…

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The Edition: Weimar Britain, the war on science & are you a competitive reader? 35:42

23d ago35:42

35:42

First: a warning from history Politics moving increasingly from the corridors of power into the streets, economic insecurity exacerbating tensions and the centre of politics failing to hold; these are just some of the echoes from Weimar Germany that the Spectator’s editor Michael Gove sees when looking at present-day Britain. But, he says, ‘there a…

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Book Club: Roger Lewis on Peter Sellers 37:31

20d ago37:31

37:31

Sam Leith's guest in this week's Book Club podcast is Roger Lewis, whose book The Life and Death of Peter Sellers has been republished to mark 100 years since the comedian's birth. Roger tells Sam about the difference between Sellers's public persona and private life, plus his influence on comedy today. They also discuss how Roger reinvented the wa…

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Quite right!: Why Danny Kruger's defection changes everything & could Boris Johnson be next? 53:59

26d ago53:59

53:59

This week Michael and Madeline unpick the shock defection of Danny Kruger to Reform UK’s ‘pirate ship’ – as described by Michael – and ask whether this coup could mark the beginning of the end for the Conservative party. They also dive into Westminster’s most charged moral debates: the assisted dying bill in the Lords and the quiet decriminalisatio…

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Table Talk: Raymond Blanc 39:19

22d ago39:19

39:19

In a bumper episode, the legend that is Raymond Blanc joins Olivia Potts and Lara Prendergast. The self-taught chef heads up the double Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, has trained chefs from Heston Blumenthal to Marco Pierre White, and received an honorary OBE in 2008. His new book Simply Raymond Kitchen Garden is out now. The chef te…

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Spectator Out Loud: James Heale, Robert Hardman, Francis Pike, Henrietta Harding & Mary Wakefield 31:21

27d ago31:21

31:21

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: James Heale reports on the battle for the north; Robert Hardman provides his royal notebook; who’s really in charge of China, asks Francis Pike; Henrietta Harding goes on Ozempic safari; and, Mary Wakefield explains how to raise a patriot. Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p…

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James Heale, Robert Hardman, Francis Pike, Henrietta Harding & Mary Wakefield 31:21

27d ago31:21

31:21

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: James Heale reports on the battle for the north; Robert Hardman provides his royal notebook; who’s really in charge of China, asks Francis Pike; Henrietta Harding goes on Ozempic safari; and, Mary Wakefield explains how to raise a patriot. Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Become a Spectator subscriber to…

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Americano: what’s driving political violence? 17:30

27d ago17:30

17:30

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from south-west Utah, has been detained over the shooting of Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of Donald Trump. Author and anthropologist Max Horder joins Freddy Gray to discuss the cocktail of online hate and tribal divisions that's fuelling America's new era of political violence. Hosted on Acast. See acas…

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Holy Smoke: the next Archbishop of Canterbury 21:47

28d ago21:47

21:47

It is 10 months since the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. Now, finally, the Crown Nominations Commission is believed to have drawn up a shortlist of candidates, and a successor to Welby could be approved by October. Theologian and author Andrew Graystone joins Damian Thompson to talk through what he calls ‘a weak list’ of p…

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The Edition: Royal treatment, neurodiverse history & is everyone on Ozempic? 42:56

29d ago42:56

42:56

First: a look ahead to President Trump’s state visit next week Transatlantic tensions are growing as the row over Peter Mandelson’s role provides an ominous overture to Donald Trump’s state visit next week. Political editor Tim Shipman has the inside scoop on how No. 10 is preparing. Keir Starmer’s aides are braced for turbulence. ‘The one thing ab…

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Americano: Eyewitness – inside the shooting of Charlie Kirk 12:59

26d ago12:59

12:59

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot dead while taking questions at Utah Valley University. Kate Andrews speaks to eyewitness and reporter Eva Terry about the chaos on campus, the reaction across America, and what comes next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Quite right!: Why Mandelson had to go & the legacy of Charlie Kirk 40:56

1M ago40:56

40:56

In this bonus episode Michael and Madeline tackle two extraordinary political stories. First, the dramatic resignation of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s US ambassador, following renewed scrutiny of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Why did Keir Starmer take so long to act – and what does the debacle reveal about his leadership style? Then, across the Atl…

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Book Club: Andrew Bayliss 42:38

27d ago42:38

42:38

Sam Leith’s guest in this week's Book Club podcast is Andrew Bayliss, author of Sparta: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Superpower. Andrew tells Sam what we know — and don't know – about these much-mythologised figures from the Ancient world and tells the story of how a tiny city-state punched above its weight, until it didn't. This is Sparta. Prod…

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Quite right!: Labour’s deputy drama, Macron’s mess & was Thatcher autistic? 46:47

1M ago46:47

46:47

Michael Gove and Madeline Grant return with another episode of Quite right!, The Spectator’s new podcast promising sanity and common sense in an increasingly unhinged world. This week, they dissect Keir Starmer’s brutal reshuffle – from the ‘volcanic ejection’ of Angela Rayner to the rise of Shabana Mahmood, the ‘uncompromising toughie’ now in char…

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Americano: how authoritarian is Trump 2.0? 32:35

29d ago32:35

32:35

On this episode, Nick Gillespie, Reason's editor at large, joins Freddy to discuss whether Trump 2.0 is really as authoritarian as people say. Is he closer to a gangster than a dictator? They also discuss tariffs, the weaponisation of the Justice Department, and the state of free speech in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf…

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Coffee House Shots: Reform's Zia Yusuf in conversation with Michael Gove 1:10:28

1M ago1:10:28

1:10:28

At the Reform conference in Birmingham, the Spectator's editor Michael Gove sat down with Reform UK's head of their department of government efficiency Zia Yusuf. They discussed Labour's track record in government, Zia's faith and his tech background, why leader Nigel Farage is his political hero and how AI could change Britain. Hosted on Acast. Se…

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Holy Smoke: why the canonisation of the first millennial saint is a cause to celebrate 36:41

1M ago36:41

36:41

The Catholic Church will acquire its first millennial saint today, when Pope Leo XIV canonises someone who, if he were alive today, would be young enough to be his son. Carlo Acutis, a ‘computer geek’ from a prosperous Italian family, died aged just 15 in 2006. In this episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson talks to Mgr Anthony Figueiredo and the I…

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Spectator Out Loud: Tim Shipman, Colin Freeman, Rachel Clarke, Michael Gove & Melanie Ferbreach 39:12

1M ago39:12

39:12

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Tim Shipman interviews shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick (plus – Tim explains the significance of Jenrick’s arguments in a special introduction); Colin Freeman wonders why the defenders of Ukraine have been abandoned; Rachel Clarke reviews Liam Shaw and explains the urgency needed to find new antibiotics; Mi…

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Tim Shipman, Colin Freeman, Rachel Clarke, Michael Gove & Melanie Ferbreach 39:12

1M ago39:12

39:12

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Tim Shipman interviews shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick (plus – Tim explains the significance of Jenrick’s arguments in a special introduction); Colin Freeman wonders why the defenders of Ukraine have been abandoned; Rachel Clarke reviews Liam Shaw and explains the urgency needed to find new antibiotics; Mi…

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The Edition: Reform’s camp following, masculine rage & why do people make up languages? 50:45

1M ago50:45

50:45

First: Reform is naff – and that’s why people like it Gareth Roberts warns this week that ‘the Overton window is shifting’ but in a very unexpected way. Nigel Farage is ahead in the polls – not only because his party is ‘bracingly right-wing’, but ‘because Reform is camp’. Farage offers what Britain wants: ‘a cheeky, up-yours, never-mind-the-knocke…