Best Julian Vasquez Podcasts (2025)

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 530 - Final Episode - Richard Powers, Ed Finn, Corey Doctorow, Christopher DiCarlo, Jennifer Ives 43:23

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11d ago43:23

43:23

For the final episode of What’s Working in Washington, we revisit key conversations that continue to resonate — focused on creativity, technology, and leadership. Richard Powers discusses the unique emotional power of storytelling, while Ed Finn examines synergies between humans and machines. Corey Doctorow finds hope in the cautionary tales of sci…

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Paula Hawkins 29:06

17d ago29:06

29:06

Presented by James Naughtie, Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the writer Paula Hawkins about her debut thriller The Girl On The Train. The book was published by Doubleday in 2015 to great acclaim and has sold millions of copies. Told in the first-person the novel's protagonist is Rachel Watson, a 33-year-old divorcee with addiction issues. The book wa…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 529 - Why Collaboration is Key - Ed Finn, Victor Hoskins, and James Barlia 42:47

2M ago42:47

42:47

Building the future isn’t just about technology—it’s about how we imagine, innovate, and take action together. Jonathan Aberman sits down with Ed Finn, professor and founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University. Together, they take a closer look at our relationship with AI and discuss why the future ne…

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Kit de Waal 28:40

2M ago28:40

28:40

Presented by James Naughtie, BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the award-winning writer Kit de Waal about her heart-rending debut novel, My Name Is Leon. Published in 2016 by Penguin it's the story of two brothers separated after one is adopted. The book, now taught on the curriculum in English schools, takes us back to 1980s Birmingham, and while …

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Tom Holland 28:37

3M ago28:37

28:37

Presented by James Naughtie, Bookclub speaks to the award-winning writer, historian, and podcaster, Tom Holland, about his book Rubicon, which looks at the triumph and tragedy of the Roman Republic. Originally published in 2003, the book won the PEN Hessell-Tiltman prize for non-fiction, and it unravels the myths and realities of ancient Rome as it…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 528 - The Human Side of Progress - James Kaufman, Chloe Autio, and Cristobal Vasquez 48:52

3M ago48:52

48:52

From AI adoption to U.S. politics, we’re exploring what it means to move forward with intention, not just momentum. James Kaufman, professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, makes the case for nurturing human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. Chloe Autio, owner of Autio Strategies and co-host of “Is This I…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 527 - The Art of Adapting - Amelia DeSorrento, Dave Edwards, Richard Latendresse 43:23

4M ago43:23

43:23

A closer look at how experts are adapting their approaches to technology, politics, and investing in a rapidly changing world. Co-host Elizabeth Shea speaks with Amelia DeSorrento, co-founder of DC’s Agora Initiative, about the gender gap in venture capital—and the power of investing in female entrepreneurs. Dave Edwards, co-founder of Artificialit…

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Joanne Harris: Chocolat 28:35

4M ago28:35

28:35

Led by presenter James Naughtie, the writer Joanne Harris takes questions from a BBC Bookclub audience on her best-selling novel, Chocolat. Published in 1999, the book follows the character of Vianne Rocher, a chocolate-maker and sometime witch, who arrives in the village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes with her six-year-old daughter Anouk at the beginni…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 526 - Diplomacy, Data, and Decision-Making – Eduardo Albrecht, Nadia Bilbassy, and Paul Doman 43:23

5M ago43:23

43:23

New forms of policy are dramatically changing our technologies and economies. Co-host Elizabeth Shea sits down with Paul Doman, president of Victory Square Partners, to discuss how AI is transforming the way tech firms build and scale. White House foreign correspondent Nadia Bilbassy shares the challenges of reporting on Donald Trump’s foreign poli…

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Natalie Haynes 28:41

5M ago28:41

28:41

Led by presenter James Naughtie, a BBC Bookclub audience in Glasgow speaks to the author Natalie Haynes about her 2019 novel - A Thousand Ships - which retells the ancient Greek myths from a woman's perspective. Penelope, Clytemnestra, Andromache and Cassandra among others, all make appearances, but their stories are given a new voice and a fresh e…

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What’s Working in Washington - Ep 525 - Expecting the Unexpected: Political turbulence and AI predictions - Doug Anderson, Juliane Schäuble, Gary Rivlin 43:23

6M ago43:23

43:23

In this episode, we’re venturing into the unknown and exploring how to move forward when the future is unclear. Co-hosting our tech segment with Jonathan Aberman, Elizabeth Shea sits down with Doug Anderson to explore how D.C. startups are navigating new political, economic and technological tides. Then, Juliane Schäuble, US Correspondent of "Der T…

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Michel Faber 28:26

6M ago28:26

28:26

This month BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Michel Faber about his debut novel, Under the Skin. Published in the year 2000 by Canongate it went on to be shortlisted for the Whitbread Award that same year. The book follows the female protagonist of Isserley who roves the A9 in the Scottish Highlands looking t…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 524 - Seeking Security - Matt Howard, Christopher DiCarlo, and Fraser Jackson 43:23

7M ago43:23

43:23

This month, we’re taking a closer look at the changing tides in technology and international affairs. Host Jonathan Aberman and Matt Howard, CMO at Virtru, discuss D.C.’s need for effective cybersecurity amid rapid tech innovation. Jonathan also interviews Dr. Christopher DiCarlo, whose new book “Building a God” explores how artificial intelligence…

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Christopher Brookmyre 28:46

7M ago28:46

28:46

This month, Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the author Christopher Brookmyre, as he takes questions from a live BBC audience about his debut novel, Quite Ugly One Morning. The book is a pacey crime thriller, not so much a 'whodunnit', as a 'whydunnit', and it introduces us to the wily, wise-cracking journalist Jack Parlabane - a ch…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 523 - Irish Insight and AI Ethics - Sean Whelan and Cory Doctorow 43:23

8M ago43:23

43:23

Inspired by D.C.’s thriving tech ecosystem, Jonathan Aberman tackles artificial intelligence, ethics, and how we’ll coexist with emerging technologies. This month, Cory Doctorow joins the conversation. His latest book “Picks and Shovels” explores the ongoing debate over digital rights and how to find hope in the future of AI. Also, Jonathan sits do…

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Sara Collins 28:49

8M ago28:49

28:49

This month, BBC Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Sara Collins, as she takes questions from a live audience about her award-winning debut novel, The Confessions of Frannie Langton. Sara was the Costa Book Awards First Novel Winner in 2019. She has also adapted the book for television. Producer: Dom HowellEditor: Gillian Wh…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 522 - Tech as a Religion, and Back-to-Work Drama - Greg Epstein 43:23

9M ago43:23

43:23

In this episode, hosts Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh, in Mark’s final episode as co-host, explore how technology, climate change, and Elon Musk’s influence are drastically altering the path ahead. Also, hear from Greg Epstein, American Humanist chaplain at Harvard University and MIT, as he discusses his new book "Tech Agnostic". Epstein argues th…

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Richard Osman 28:29

9M ago28:29

28:29

Presented by James Naughtie, BBC Bookclub speaks to the writer Richard Osman about his crime-fiction novel The Thursday Murder Club, which sold millions of copies, and has been made into a film.By BBC Radio 4

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 521 - Balancing Acts - Fraser Jackson and William Von Hippel 43:23

9M ago43:23

43:23

For our final episode of the year, hosts Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh look ahead, from a second Trump presidency to the rise of facial recognition. Jonathan sits down with Fraser Jackson, White House Correspondent for France24, to discuss how French leaders are preparing for Trump’s return to power. Plus, in his newest book The Social Paradox, s…

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Alan Warner: Morvern Callar 29:31

10M ago29:31

29:31

Award-winning writer Alan Warner takes questions from Radio 4's Bookclub audience about his first-person, pacey novel, Morvern Callar, which was written in 1995 when Warner was in his late twenties. Morvern is a twenty-one year old foster-child whose life takes an irreversible turn when she discovers her boyfriend's dead body. The book was later tu…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 520 - Election Year & Asteroid Fears - Richard Latendresse and Robin George Andrews 43:23

11M ago43:23

43:23

Hosts Jonathan and Mark talk government regulation, social media, and the pulse in Washington, D.C., from Capitol Hill to outer space. Jonathan Aberman sits down with White House Correspondent Richard Latendresse — calling in from Mar-a-Lago — to discuss president-elect Trump’s new administration, and what his transition can tell us about the next …

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Carys Davies: The Mission House 28:38

11M ago28:38

28:38

The writer Carys Davies talks to readers about her beautifully-crafted novel, The Mission House, which follows the character of Hilary Byrd, a British librarian in his fifties, who is seeking to find himself again in modern-day southern India.By BBC Radio 4

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 519 - Visions of the Future - Richard Powers & Mineko Abe 43:23

11M ago43:23

43:23

This month, we're looking into our crystal ball to consider what our environmental, political, and technological futures might look like. Jonathan Aberman sits down with author Richard Powers to discuss innovation, ecology, and the art of storytelling in his new book Playground. Then, hear from Mineko Abe, producer for Yomiuri Shimbun, who joins us…

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Susanna Clarke: Piranesi 27:37

12M ago27:37

27:37

Susanna Clarke won the Women's Prize for Fiction with her novel Piranesi. She joins James Naughtie and a group of readers to answer their questions about this intriguing, tantalising novel.By BBC Radio 4

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 518 - Art amid Chaos and Compassion amid Crisis - Sebastian Smee & Nadia Bilbassy 43:23

1y ago43:23

43:23

This month’s episode explores how political expression takes shape. Introducing his new book “Paris in Ruins”, Sebastian Smee discusses how Impressionism emerged in a politically chaotic France, bringing democracy and authenticity to art. Then, Nadia Bilbassy, Bureau Chief at Al Arabiya News, describes what it's like to cover the Biden White House …

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Ken Follett: A Column of Fire 27:43

1y ago27:43

27:43

Bestselling novelist Ken Follett joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss his historical novel A Column of Fire, the third in his hugely successful Kingsbridge series. It’s a tale of spying and intrigue, as Elizabeth I battles to keep her throne in the face of fierce religious division across Europe.…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 517 - Wall Street, Weight Loss, and Wealthy Universities 43:23

1y ago43:23

43:23

From AI hype to Dolly Parton releases, Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh explore this month’s trends in finance, culture, and politics. Also, Jonathan sits down with Paulina Bren, author of “She-Wolves”, to honor the women who defied the odds and left their mark on Wall Street in the 1960s and ‘70s. Drawing on Jonathan’s own experience on Ozempic, Jo…

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Ayobami Adebayo 27:47

1y ago27:47

27:47

Ayobami Adebayo talks to James Naughtie and readers about her novel, Stay With Me, a moving story of loss and motherhood. Set against the backdrop of tumultuous political events in Nigeria, it tells the story of Yejide and Akin, whose marriage is childless. The novel, which is narrated by them both, explores the pressure to have a child, the toll i…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 516 - Powered by the People - Corey Brettschneider 43:23

1y ago43:23

43:23

Longer episodes, deeper dives! In our new one hour format, hosts Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh explore new trends, share media recommendations, and interview author Corey Brettschneider. "The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It" examines how citizen movements have resisted pres…

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Marlon James: A Brief History of Seven Killings 27:39

1y ago27:39

27:39

Marlon James answers readers' questions about his award-winning novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings. The novel, which is narrated by multiple characters, opens in Jamaica in the run-up to the 1976 election. Kingston is riven by violence as competing gangs, some supported by the US government, compete for territory and control of the drugs trad…

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Lucy Caldwell: These Days 27:48

1+ y ago27:48

27:48

Celebrated novelist and short story writer Lucy Caldwell joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss These Days. Set in 1941, it focusses on the lives of two sisters living through the Belfast Blitz. Lucy talks about the inspiration for her novel, her research and writing it during the pandemic.By BBC Radio 4

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Nicholas Shakespeare: Six Minutes in May 27:51

1+ y ago27:51

27:51

James Naughtie and readers quiz Nicholas Shakespeare about his book, Six Minutes In May: How Churchill Unexpectedly Became Prime Minister. It chronicles the dramatic political and military events of 1940 which led to the momentous Norway Debate and Chamberlain’s resignation. Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House in London: Wednesday 15 May …

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 515 - Lessons on Earth and Life on Mars - Kelly Weinersmith 28:13

1+ y ago28:13

28:13

Exploring and settling outer space may seem like the ultimate form of entrepreneurship – but is it a realistic ambition? Drawing from her latest book "A City on Mars", Kelly Weinersmith sits down with Jonathan to discuss the hurdles we face in our journey to space, from human physiology to resource governance. So human life on Mars is still far-fet…

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What's Working in Washington - Ep 514 - Is Entrepreneurship Overrated? - Benjamin Waterhouse 28:13

1+ y ago28:13

28:13

"Being your own boss" isn't just about getting rich and being independent. In his latest book “One Day I’ll Work for Myself", author and historian Benjamin Waterhouse separates the allure from the illusions of self-employment. He takes a hard look at the mythology of entrepreneurship, from colonial America and the digital revolution of the 1980s to…