Best Spectator Out Loud Podcasts (2025)

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James Heale, Margaret Mitchell, Damien Thompson, Rebecca Reid & Julie Bindel 26:19

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4d ago26:19

26:19

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: James Heale considers the climate conundrum at the heart of British politics; Rebecca Reid explains why she's given up polyamory; Damien Thompson recounts the classical music education from his school days; Margaret Mitchell asks what's happened to Britain's apples; and Julie Bindel marvels at the history of pizza…

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Spectator Out Loud: Luke Coppen, Mary Wakefield, Daniel McCarthy, Michael Simmons & Hugh Thomson 34:16

7d ago34:16

34:16

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Luke Coppen looks at a new musical subgenre of Roman Catholic black metal; Mary Wakefield celebrates cartoonist Michael Heath as he turns 90 – meaning he has drawn for the Spectator for 75 years; looking to Venezuela, Daniel McCarthy warns Trump about the perils of regime change; Michael Simmons bemoans how Britai…

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Quite right!: BBC bias & Bridget ‘Philistine’s’ war on education 22:28

19m ago22:28

22:28

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: a crisis at the BBC – and a crisis of standards in our schools. Following the shock resignations of Tim Davie and…

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Reality Check: Britain's stats have become dangerously unreliable 12:08

8h ago12:08

12:08

Britain is facing a quiet crisis — its data is breaking down, and the government’s numbers are increasingly unreliable. In this episode of Reality Check, economics editor Michael Simmons asks what happens when the state can’t count properly. How can the Bank of England set interest rates or the Treasury balance the books when the data they rely on …

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Quite right!: Boris, Cameron or May? – Q&A 35:32

2d ago35:32

35:32

To submit your urgent questions to Michael and Maddie, go to: spectator.co.uk/quiteright This week on the first ever Quite right! Q&A: What’s your most left-wing belief? Michael & Maddie confess their guilty liberal secrets on the Elgin Marbles, prison reform and private equity – or ‘the unacceptable face of capitalism’. Also this week: who would y…

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Holy Smoke: have the culture wars gone spiritual? 22:22

3d ago22:22

22:22

Why are Silicon Valley billionaires obsessing over Heaven & Hell, and what does it tell us about American society today? Spectator World's Arts Editor Luke Lyman joins Damian Thompson on this episode of Holy Smoke to talk about how a fascination with the Book of Revelation, the Antichrist and a techno-utopia – or techno-apocalypse – has gripped the…

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Coffee House Shots: what Trump II can teach Britain 18:10

4d ago18:10

18:10

What lessons does America have for our politics? While progressives look to Zohran Mamdani for inspiration on how to get elected successfully, the really important question is how to govern effectively. And here it is the Trump administration which is setting the standard, writes Tim Shipman in this week’s cover story. On day one, Donald Trump step…

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The Edition: Trump’s gilded age, the ‘hell’ of polyamory & is Polanski Britain’s Mamdani? 31:50

4d ago31:50

31:50

A year on from his presidential election victory, what lessons can Britain learn from Trump II? Tim Shipman writes this week’s cover piece from Washington D.C., considering where Keir Starmer can ‘go big’ like President Trump. Both leaders face crunch elections next year, but who has momentum behind them? There is also the question of who will repl…

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Book Club: Graham Robb 39:43

4d ago39:43

39:43

Sam Leith's guest this week is Graham Robb. In his new book The Discovery of Britain: An Accidental History, Graham takes us on a time-travelling bicycle tour of the island's history. They discuss how Graham weaves together personal memories with geography and history, his 'major cartographic scoop' which unlocks Iron Age Britain and contemporary d…

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Quite right!: Rachel Reeves’s Budget ‘bollocks’ & Britain’s everyday crime crisis 22:30

7d ago22:30

22:30

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 on Quite right!: Rachel Reeves goes on the offensive – and the defensive. After her surprise Downing Street addres…

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Americano: James Orr on J.D. Vance 1:14:44

3d ago1:14:44

1:14:44

Freddy Gray sits down with academic James Orr at the Battle of Ideas in London for a live Americano podcast to discuss Vice President J.D. Vance. Having been described as 'Vance's British sherper', James responds to how likely it is that J.D. Vance will be President one day, which weaknesses could hold him back and how Vance's unique closeness to T…

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Reality Check: the rich are leaving Britain – and making you poorer 13:56

10d ago13:56

13:56

Are the rich fleeing Britain? That's what the numbers suggest, but some activist groups have hit back that the data is dodgy. For the second episode of Reality Check The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons explains why the data shows that the wealthy are leaving Britain, and why this matters for everyone else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co…

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Coffee House Shots: the inside story of Kemi's first year 20:41

11d ago20:41

20:41

‘On the day of the local elections, when the Tories suffered a historic setback, Kemi Badenoch went to the gym and got her hair done,’ Tim Shipman reveals in the magazine this week. Aides insist that Badenoch has since ‘upped her game’. Her PMQs performances are improving and the CCHQ machine seems to have whirred into gear, making sure that Labour…

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Luke Coppen, Mary Wakefield, Daniel McCarthy, Michael Simmons & Hugh Thomson 34:16

12d ago34:16

34:16

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Luke Coppen looks at a new musical subgenre of Roman Catholic black metal; Mary Wakefield celebrates cartoonist Michael Heath as he turns 90 – meaning he has drawn for the Spectator for 75 years; looking to Venezuela, Daniel McCarthy warns Trump about the perils of regime change; Michael Simmons bemoans how Britai…

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The Edition: embracing the occult, going underground & lost languages 35:29

12d ago35:29

35:29

Big Tech is under the spell of the occult, according to Damian Thompson. Artificial intelligence is now so incredible that even educated westerners are falling back on the occult, and Silicon Valley billionaires are becoming obsessed with heaven and hell. An embrace of the occult is not just happening in California but across the world – with ‘Witc…

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Book Club: Comet in Moominland turns 80 37:45

7d ago37:45

37:45

Nat Jansz joins Sam Leith to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Moomin novels. The first of these, Comet in Moominland, was revised by author Tove Jansson a decade after the original publication date. To celebrate the anniversary Sort of Books, co-run by Jansz, is publishing this revised edition for the first time in English. Jansz discusses why…

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Quite right!: 'I was reported for bullying!' – inside the Home Office dysfunction 26:06

14d ago26:06

26:06

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 on Quite right!: the great Home Office meltdown. After a week of fiascos – from the accidental release of a convic…

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Speaker series: Piers Morgan – Woke is Dead 49:21

9d ago49:21

49:21

Piers Morgan sits down with Andrew Doyle in Glasgow to discuss Piers’s provocative new book, Woke Is Dead, and share their unfiltered views on the state of the world today. Rather than celebrating the death of woke, Piers’s book advocates for the return of common sense and a less divided, more sensible society. Piers Morgan: Woke Is Dead with Andre…

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Spectator Out Loud: Max Jeffery, Sam Leith, Michael Henderson, Madeline Grant & Julie Bindel 35:54

15d ago35:54

35:54

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Max Jeffery examines Britain’s new hard left alliance; Sam Leith wonders what Prince Andrew is playing; Michael Henderson reads his letter from Berlin; Madeline Grant analyses the demise of the American ‘wasp’ – or White, Anglo-Saxon Protestant; and, Julie Bindel ponders the disturbing allure of sex robots. Produc…

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Max Jeffery, Sam Leith, Michael Henderson, Madeline Grant & Julie Bindel 35:54

16d ago35:54

35:54

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Max Jeffery examines Britain’s new hard left alliance; Sam Leith wonders what Prince Andrew is playing; Michael Henderson reads his letter from Berlin; Madeline Grant analyses the demise of the American ‘wasp’ – or White, Anglo-Saxon Protestant; and, Julie Bindel ponders the disturbing allure of sex robots. Produc…

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Holy Smoke: how did faith shape Thatcher? 38:06

11d ago38:06

38:06

How did faith shape Margaret Thatcher’s politics? To mark the centenary month of Margaret Thatcher’s birth, Damian Thompson introduces a conversation between the Spectator’s Natasha Feroze, Thatcher’s biographer Lord Moore and Bishop Chartres who delivered the eulogy at her funeral. They discuss her relationship with faith, how both her family back…

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Americano: will peace in Ukraine elude Trump? 28:09

18d ago28:09

28:09

With a Gaza ceasefire deal, President Trump's attention has turned to ending the war in Ukraine. A meeting with Putin was suggested, before coming to nothing. Owen Matthews joins Freddy Gray to talk about the fundamental differences between Trump and Putin, the limits on Ukraine's President Zelensky when it comes to negotiation and why the global w…

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The Edition: left-wing Ultras, Reform intellectuals & capitalist sex robots 29:19

19d ago29:19

29:19

‘The Ultras’ are the subject of The Spectator’s cover story this week – this is the new Islamo-socialist alliance that has appeared on the left of British politics. Several independent MPs, elected amidst outrage over the war in Gaza, have gone on to back the new party created by former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. The grouping has g…

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NEW Reality Check: Britain is taxing itself to death – Arthur Laffer 44:33

19d ago44:33

44:33

Reality Check, The Spectator’s new data-driven show hosted by economics editor Michael Simmons, kicks off with a big name: Arthur Laffer. The man who taught Reagan to cut taxes tells Michael why Britain’s economy is 'disappearing', why the Bank of England shouldn’t exist, and why he still believes low taxes – and a little optimism – can send Britai…

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Book Club: Peter James 39:32

14d ago39:32

39:32

Sam Leith's guest on this week's Book Club podcast is the crime writer Peter James. Peter has contributed the introduction to a new edition of the classic thriller The Eagle Has Landed, which is 50 years old this month. He tells Sam what it was that made Jack Higgins's novel so groundbreaking, about what it takes to make you root for the bad guys, …

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Quite right!: ‘If he won’t jump, he needs to be shoved’ – should Prince Andrew be exiled? 20:09

21d ago20:09

20:09

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 on Quite right!: the slow-motion disgrace of Prince Andrew. As Virginia Giuffre’s new book reignites the Epstein s…

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Best of Notes on... 28:58

21d ago28:58

28:58

The Best of Notes on... gathers the funniest, sharpest and most wonderfully random pieces from The Spectator’s beloved miscellany column. For more than a decade, these short, sharp essays have uncovered the intrigue in the everyday and the delight in digression. To purchase the book, go to spectator.co.uk/shop On this special episode of Spectator O…

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Spectator Out Loud: Best of Notes on... 28:58

20d ago28:58

28:58

The Best of Notes on... gathers the funniest, sharpest and most wonderfully random pieces from The Spectator’s beloved miscellany column. For more than a decade, these short, sharp essays have uncovered the intrigue in the everyday and the delight in digression. To purchase the book, go to spectator.co.uk/shop On this special episode of Spectator O…

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Americano: is Trump on a roll? 37:15

23d ago37:15

37:15

Was this Donald Trump's most phenomenal week yet? Freddy Gray and Kate Andrews discuss the President's success in orchestrating a Gaza peace plan, his 'Mean Girls style' of dealing with world leaders, and how to interpret his comments about not being 'heaven bound'. They also talk about how Trump might bailout Argentina - but only if Javier Milei w…

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Table Talk: Gyles Brandreth 35:12

18d ago35:12

35:12

Broadcaster, writer, actor – and former MP – Gyles Brandreth joins Lara Prendergast on this episode of Table Talk to discuss his memories of food, from hating dates and loving 'bread sandwiches' to his signature dish of fish fingers and his love of eating baked beans cold from a can. Gyles also tells Lara about getting permission to eat swan, his e…

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Coffee House Shots: Thatcher & Reagan's special relationship 40:15

25d ago40:15

40:15

To mark the centenary of Thatcher’s birth, Michael Gove is joined by Charles Moore, her biographer, and Peggy Noonan, speechwriter to Ronald Reagan, to reflect on the chemistry that bound the two conservative leaders. Both outsiders turned reformers, they shared not only ideology but temperament – ‘They were partners in crime,’ says Peggy. Yet it w…

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Spectator Out Loud: Nick Boles, James Ball, Andrew Rosenheim, Arabella Byrne & Rory Sutherland 27:03

26d ago27:03

27:03

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Nick Boles says that Ukraine must stand as a fortress of European freedom; James Ball reviews If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: The Case Against Superintelligent AI, by Eliezer Yudowsky and Nate Sores; Andrew Rosenheim examines the treasure trove of John Le Carre’s papers at the Bodleian; Arabella Byrne provides…

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Nick Boles, James Ball, Andrew Rosenheim, Arabella Byrne & Rory Sutherland 27:03

26d ago27:03

27:03

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Nick Boles says that Ukraine must stand as a fortress of European freedom; James Ball reviews If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: The Case Against Superintelligent AI, by Eliezer Yudowsky and Nate Sores; Andrew Rosenheim examines the treasure trove of John Le Carre’s papers at the Bodleian; Arabella Byrne provides…

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The Edition: Chinese spies, Vance’s rise & is French parenting supreme? 30:00

27d ago30:00

30:00

‘Here be dragons’ declares the Spectator’s cover story this week, as it looks at the continuing fallout over the collapse of the trial of two political aides accused of spying for China in Westminster. Tim Shipman reveals that – under the last Conservative government – a data hub was sold to the Chinese that included highly classified information; …

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Quite right!: was Cameron wrong about China? 22:43

23d ago22:43

22:43

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 on Quite right! Michael and Maddie turn their sights to Westminster’s latest espionage scandal – and the collapse …

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Holy Smoke: what does it mean 'to forgive'? 33:17

29d ago33:17

33:17

The announcement by Erika Kirk – the widow of assassinated political activist Charlie Kirk – that she forgave her husband's killer, has led many to question the nature of Christian forgiveness. Granting forgiveness can seem hard for the smallest of crimes, let alone the murder of a close family member, so how can other people follow Erika's example…

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Americano: Trump's war on the cartels 37:34

30d ago37:34

37:34

Donald Trump has launched a new ‘war on drugs’ – this time targeting Mexico’s cartels. Ben Domenech joins Freddy Gray to explain why MAGA has embraced the fight, what it means for US–Mexico relations, and how it could shape Trump’s foreign policy in his second term. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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

1M 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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Spectator Out Loud: Tim Shipman, Ian Williams, Theo Hobson, Lara Prendergast & Lisa Haseldine 34:01

1M 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

1M 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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Coffee House Shots Live: can the Tories turn it around? 40:13

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

30d ago20:05

20:05

1M 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…