Best David Ault Podcasts (2025)

1
Prince Harry: Is his safety at risk? 22:59

12m ago22:59

22:59

Nada Tawfik, North America correspondent, speaks to Prince Harry about reconciliation with the royal family after his loss in court over his security arrangements in the UK The Prince stepped down from his duties as a working royal in 2020 and moved to the United States with his wife, Meghan. After his tax-payer funded protection was downgraded, he…

1
Emi Mahmoud, poet: Has the world abandoned Sudan? 22:58

3d ago22:58

22:58

James Copnall, presenter of Newsday, speaks to Emi Mahmoud, Sudanese activist and poet, about the war that has claimed more than 150,000 lives since it began two years ago. In what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis, about 12 million people have also been forced to flee their homes. Emi speaks about the pain of lo…

1
Kurt Volker, former US diplomat: Decoding Trump, the second time around 22:58

5d ago22:58

22:58

David Brown, producer of the BBC TV’s Trump - The First 100 Days, speaks to Kurt Volker, former US ambassador to NATO, about the whirlwind start to President Trump’s second term in office. In this conversation, Ambassador Volker, who previously served as Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, shares his assessment of the president’s programme of change …

1
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire businessman: Making Manchester United great, again 22:59

10d ago22:59

22:59

Dan Roan, the BBC’s sports editor, speaks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire businessman and co-owner of Manchester United Football Club. In this conversation, Sir Jim discusses the changes he’s implementing both on and off the pitch, as well as his vision to transform the iconic club into one of the world’s most profitable businesses. Born into a m…

1
Bobi Wine, the Ugandan opposition politician: From the streets to state? 22:58

12d ago22:58

22:58

Victoria Uwonkunda, reporter and presenter for BBC News, speaks to Bobi Wine, the Ugandan opposition politician, as he reflects on the personal and political challenges he has faced as well as his determination to run again as President in the next election. Born in the slums of Kampala, Bobi Wine -birth name Robert Kyagulanyi - first entered the p…

1
Lady Gaga, music legend and film star: Inside the chaos 22:58

17d ago22:58

22:58

Mark Savage, the BBC’s music correspondent, speaks to Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and actress, as she reflects on the making of her new album, the joy of attracting a younger audience and finding happiness in love. Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in 1986, Lady Gaga has spent 18 years in the music industry and sold over 170 million…

1
Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank: Mission accomplished? 22:59

19d ago22:59

22:59

Audrey Brown, Host of Focus on Africa, speaks to Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank, as he reflects on the achievements and challenges of the past 10 years in office. In his two terms he’s focused much of his time on advocacy, strategic positioning, and amplifying the continent’s voice on the global stage. We hear about…

1
David van Weel, Dutch Minister of Justice: Preparing for disaster 22:58

24d ago22:58

22:58

BBC foreign correspondent in the Netherlands, Anna Holligan, speaks to David Van Weel, the Dutch justice minister as he calls on citizens to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit - to enable people to be self-sufficient for three days in case of a disaster. The kits should include enough food and water to survive for 72 hours - in case of war and other c…

1
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia: What challenges does she face? 22:59

26d ago22:59

22:59

Mpho Lakaje, presenter of the BBC’s Africa Daily podcast, speaks to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, president of Namibia. The former freedom fighter is the country’s first female head of state - and only the second ever directly elected female leader in Africa. Namibia is celebrating thirty five years of independence this year - yet most of the country’s a…

1
Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador: Can Ecuador find peace? 22:57

1M ago22:57

22:57

BBC South America correspondent Ione Wells speaks to Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, ahead of the close-run presidential election. Since Mr Noboa came to power 16 months ago, he has taken an uncompromising stance on the violence gripping his country. With criminal gangs locked in a battle to control lucrative drug routes, President Noboa has mi…

1
Justin Welby, former Archbishop of Canterbury: I forgive serial abuser John Smyth 22:57

1M ago22:57

22:57

I forgive serial abuser John Smyth Laura Kuenssberg talks to Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. As the figurehead for the 85 million people in over 165 countries who call themselves Anglicans, he presided over some of the key events in the Commonwealth of the last ten years, including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. But his tenur…

1
Introducing The Interview podcast 1:08

1M ago1:08

1:08

Laura Kuenssberg introduces The Interview podcast. First episode Monday 31 March. Conversations with people shaping our world, from all around the globe. The best interviews from the BBC. The HARDtalk podcast has become The Interview. Listen to The Interview for the best conversations from the BBC, the world's most trusted international news provid…

1
HARDtalk: Coda 22:58

1M ago22:58

22:58

A final look back at some of the encounters and moments that have encapsulated the programme’s commitment to rigorous, well-researched interviews with people in power.By BBC World Service

1
HARDtalk: The early years review 22:56

1M ago22:56

22:56

Ahead of HARDtalk’s closure, at the end of this month after 27 years, here’s a chance to look back at some of the most memorable interviews of the programme’s early years. It’s an extraordinary archive featuring interviews with Donald Trump, Nelson Mandela, Nina Simone, Robin Williams and Martha Gellhorn.…

1
Reid Hoffman: Should we trust the tech elite? 22:58

1M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur speaks to Reid Hoffman, the tech billionaire who co-founded LinkedIn and is a prophet of positivity about Artificial Intelligence.By BBC World Service

1
Allen Ault: Opposing the death penalty 24:00

2M ago24:00

24:00

By BBC World Service

1
Christine Lagarde: Can Europe's economy withstand Trump 2.0? 22:57

2M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur is in Frankfurt for an exclusive interview with Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank. Donald Trump has triggered what could become a global trade war and has prompted European governments to make massive new defence spending commitments. Is the European economy capable of withstanding Trump 2.0?…

1
Dominique de Villepin: Can Europe become a superpower in its own right? 22:57

2M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur is in Paris to talk to former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin. With Donald Trump in the White House, the alliance between the US and Europe’s democracies looks fragile. Is Europe capable of becoming a superpower in its own right?By BBC World Service

1
Son of Hans Frank, Governor General of Nazi Occupied Poland - Niklas Frank 22:58

2M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur is in Germany to speak to Niklas Frank. His father was Hans Frank, the Governor General of Nazi Occupied Poland during the World War Two. He was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg trials and executed in 1946. Niklas Frank tells Stephen Sackur he 'despises' his father and does not want Germany to forg…

1
Roger Carstens: Do hostage deals risk making problems worse? 22:57

2M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to Roger Carstens, former US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Did the deals he strike from Russia to Iran risk making the problem worse? (Photo: Roger Carstens, former US Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs appears via video on Hardtalk)By BBC World Service

1
Volker Türk: Are we sleepwalking into a dystopian future? 22:57

2M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. As conflicts destroy millions of lives around the world, are we sleepwalking into a dystopian future? (Photo: Volker Türk, UN Commissioner for Human Rights appears via video on Hardtalk)By BBC World Service

1
Badiucao: Art, power and China 22:57

2M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to the dissident artist Badiucao, whose cartoons and drawings challenge President Xi Jinping and the Chinese state. He lives in exile in Australia, but does that mean he’s beyond Beijing’s reach?By BBC World Service

1
Lord Sumption: Is liberal democracy in big trouble? 22:57

2M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to the former senior judge, barrister and writer Lord Sumption whose latest book assesses the health of democracy and the rule of lawBy BBC World Service

1
Victoria Spartz: Has Donald Trump switched sides on Ukraine? 22:58

2M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur speaks to US Congresswoman Victoria Spartz. Born and raised in Ukraine and now a Donald Trump loyalist, what does she make of the US president’s strategy of pushing for peace in Ukraine by labelling Ukraine’s President Zelensky a dictator and appearing to hand Vladimir Putin a series of diplomatic gifts?…

1
N. Ram: Freedom of expression in India 22:58

2M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur speaks to one of India’s most influential media voices, N. Ram, director of the Hindu Publishing Group. With independent journalists complaining of intimidation and social media facing new curbs, is freedom of expression under threat in the world’s biggest democracy?By BBC World Service

1
Laila Soueif and Sanaa Seif: Hunger for freedom 22:57

2M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to Laila Soueif, mother of Alaa Abdel Fattah, a political prisoner in Egypt and Alaa’s sister Sanaa Seif. Laila is into the fifth month of a hunger strike in a desperate bid to win her son’s freedom. Alaa is a dual British-Egyptian citizen – should the UK be doing more to help? (Photo: Egyptian activist Laila Soueif gives a st…

1
Jake Sullivan: The legacy of the Biden White House 22:58

3M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur is in Washington D.C. for an exclusive interview with Jake Sullivan, who was National Security Adviser in the Biden White House. From Afghanistan to Ukraine to Gaza, he faced a series of rolling crises. Did the failings of the Biden administration prepare the ground for Trump 2.0?By BBC World Service

1
Tom Fletcher: What is the impact of US foreign aid cuts? 22:58

3M ago22:58

22:58

Sarah Montague speaks to the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher. As President Trump pulls almost all America’s foreign aid spending, what will the impact be on those around the world who most rely on it?By BBC World Service

1
Omar Abdullah: Can he bring peace to Jammu and Kashmir? 22:57

3M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. This mountainous territory neighbouring Pakistan has long been a source of political tension and violence. Can the chief minister work with Delhi to find a pathway to peace and stability?By BBC World Service

1
Dhananjaya Chandrachud: Justice and the rule of law 22:58

3M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur is in New Delhi for an exclusive interview with the recently retired Chief Justice of India and Supreme Court judge, Dhananjaya Chandrachud. With Indian politics dominated by Narendra Modi and the Hindu nationalist BJP, have the courts successfully protected the country’s secular constitution?…

1
Hardeep Singh Puri: India's big ambitions 22:57

3M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur is in New Delhi to speak India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri. India has big ambitions to be a global economic superpower. What does that mean for the country’s geopolitical alliances and commitment to decarbonisation? (Photo: Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas)…

1
Basem Naim: Can Gaza find long-term peace? 22:57

3M ago22:57

22:57

Sarah Montague speaks to Basem Naim, a senior political figure in Hamas. Its violence and hostage-taking on 7 October led to an overwhelming Israeli onslaught in Gaza. A fragile ceasefire is now in place, but how can long-term peace be achieved?By BBC World Service

1
Mouaz Moustafa: Will Syrians get justice? 22:58

3M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur speaks to Mouaz Moustafa, founder of the US-based Syrian Emergency Task Force. He campaigned to bring the Assad regime to justice for its crimes. Now power is in new hands, will Syrians get justice for the dark past and freedom for a better future?By BBC World Service

1
Ehud Olmert: This war must end now 22:57

3M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He is a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and says only territorial compromise can save Israel from a grim future. But is his simply a voice in the political wilderness?By BBC World Service

1
Vladimir Kara-Murza: Is Putin vulnerable? 22:57

4M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to Vladimir Kara-Murza, the anti-Putin activist who was twice poisoned, then imprisoned in Russia. He was freed in a prisoner swap last summer, and is now lobbying the West to intensify the pressure on the Kremlin. But is there any reason to believe Putin is vulnerable?By BBC World Service

1
Asif Kapadia: Pushing the boundaries of film-making 22:58

4M ago22:58

22:58

Sarah Montague speaks to award-winning film-maker Asif Kapadia. His latest film 2073 combines science fiction with documentary to paint a bleak picture of our possible future: a world destroyed by climate change, authoritarian dictators and tech oligarchs. Why produce something so political now? (Photo: Asif Kapadia in the Hardtalk studio)…

1
Alice Edwards: Is it possible to eradicate torture? 22:58

4M ago22:58

22:58

Sarah Montague speaks to Alice Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture. It’s been 40 years since the introduction of the UN Convention Against Torture, but she says it’s still happening at unacceptable levels. Is it possible to eradicate something that has been around for as long as humans have existed?…

1
Alan Hollinghurst: How has Britain changed since the 1980s? 22:58

4M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur speaks to the British novelist Alan Hollinghurst, author of Our Evenings and the Booker Prize-winning The Line of Beauty. Over four decades, how has his writing and his view of Britain changed?By BBC World Service

1
HARDtalk - 2024 Review 22:59

4M ago22:59

22:59

HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur looks back on some of the most powerful moments from 2024 in his end of year review.By BBC World Service

1
Dmytro Kuleba: What are Ukraine's options? 22:58

4M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur speaks to former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. Russian forces are gaining ground along the frontline in eastern Ukraine, and US president-elect Donald Trump wants the war to end. What are Ukraine’s options now?By BBC World Service

1
Leviathan Presents | This Game is Cursed by Devin Chulick 1:41:37

5M ago1:41:37

1:41:37

Welcome to LEVIATHAN PRESENTS! - A monthly segment where we highlight one audio fiction creator, have a conversation, and then play a full episode of their show right here in our feed. This episode’s guest is Devin Chulick, the creator of This Game is Cursed. After finding an old Dungeons & Dragons adventure at a used bookstore, five friends sat do…

1
Marty Baron: Is mainstream media in terminal decline? 22:57

5M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to the former editor of the Washington Post, Marty Baron. Donald Trump accused him of peddling lies and fake news. He called it independent evidence-based journalism. Does the re-election of Trump suggest the mainstream media is in terminal decline?By BBC World Service

1
Terumi Tanaka: Is nuclear war unthinkable? 22:57

5M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur is in Oslo for an exclusive interview with 92-year-old Terumi Tanaka who survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Japanese survivors’ group Nihon Hidankyo. Eight decades on, is nuclear war unthinkable, or not?By BBC World Service

1
Mark Alford: Is America ready for Trump 2.0? 22:57

5M ago22:57

22:57

Stephen Sackur speaks to Republican congressman and Trump loyalist Mark Alford. The president-elect has already made clear his intent to blow up the Washington status quo, from swingeing tariffs to the mass deportation of migrants. Is America ready for Trump 2.0?By BBC World Service

1
Arab Barghouthi: Will his father shape Palestinians' future? 22:58

5M ago22:58

22:58

Stephen Sackur speaks to Arab Barghouthi. His father, Marwan, is serving life for murder in an Israeli jail, but is widely seen by Palestinians as a potential leader who could unify his people. Does his son believe he will ever be free?By BBC World Service

1
Peter Boehringer: Is Germany's far right in a powerful position? 22:58

5M ago22:58

22:58

Germany, Europe’s most powerful economy, will hold elections in February after the collapse of Chancellor Scholz's ruling coalition. Stephen Sackur speaks to Peter Boehringer, who is a senior MP for the far-right Alternative for Deutschland party. Is his party too extreme to be a serious contender for national power?…

1
Barbara Taylor Bradford: A woman of substance 22:58

5M ago22:58

22:58

Following the death of Barbara Taylor Bradford at the age of 91, another chance to listen to Stephen Sackur’s 2009 interview with the best-selling novelist. A talent for storytelling made her one of the richest women in Britain; her first novel, A Woman of Substance, has sold more than thirty million copies around the world. Adored by her fans and …

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