Best Persephonica Podcasts (2025)

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43: DIG IN: Virginity Cake, Mug Wars, and Help for Thinning Hair 34:02

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1d ago34:02

34:02

Jo and Zoe are back in the potting shed tackling everything from thinning hair to teenagers in love and the chaos of Christmas. Hair guru Michael Douglas shares calm, practical advice for midlife hair loss, while the girls swap stories about talking to teens about sex, virginity cakes and keeping communication open. DIG IT LIVE AT CROSSED WIRES POD…

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EMQs: Is it time to abolish the state pension triple lock? 34:41

38m ago34:41

34:41

Will any government be brave enough to abolish the triple lock on pensions? The cost-saving case has been made by many, but Ed Balls and George Osborne explain why it could be politically calamitous to try and ditch it. They debate William Hague’s theory that, were Rachel Reeves sacked, Keir Starmer would follow and look back at how chancellors and…

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Listen Bitch! The Root of it All 37:22

2h ago37:22

37:22

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about hair. Next week, we want to hear your questions about Christmas Expectations. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTech…

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When will Labour’s communication catastrophe end? 54:16

4d ago54:16

54:16

The drama rages on, one week after Chancellor Rachel Reeves stood at the dispatch box to deliver her second Budget. Richard Hughes has resigned as OBR chair following the catastrophic budget leak and calls for Rachel Reeves to do the same have not let up. Ed Balls and George Osborne look at the “shambolic” fallout of the budget, and how Labour have…

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Jacinda Ardern and… Is It Time to Talk About Geoengineering? 47:59

1d ago47:59

47:59

This week, hosts Tom Rivett Carnac and Paul Dickenson delve into the rapidly emerging - and faintly surreal - world of solar geoengineering. Politico journalist Karl Mathiesen joins us to unpack his investigation into Stardust, a VC-backed startup claiming it’s ready to spray particles into the stratosphere. Karl explains why this technology is sud…

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Say It Like You Meme It 34:17

4d ago34:17

34:17

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss memes, what makes them laugh, Christmas cards and trigger warnings. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosCommissi…

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42: Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka SELF ESTEEM on Aging, Ambition and the Pressure to Perform 39:10

6d ago39:10

39:10

The brilliant Rebecca Lucy Taylor joins Jo and Zoe for a wide-open conversation about aging, ambition, burnout and the pressure to perform a version of yourself that isn’t always true. They chat about her new book A Complicated Woman, the wobble around turning 40, egg freezing, misogyny in music, and learning to slow down after years on the road. D…

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41: DIG IN: I Accidentally Sent My Dad a Filthy Text 30:28

6d ago30:28

30:28

Today, when do you finally stop letting your parents’ advice (and gentle nagging) steer your life? They also decode the delicate art of leaving a Hen Do WhatsApp without causing uproar. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with Dig It — new updates every Friday straight to your inbox. 👉 https://digitpod.substack.com/subscribe GET IN TOU…

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EMQs: How much power do chancellors have? 31:38

4d ago31:38

31:38

How many times did Gordon Brown save Tony Blair from a calamitous decision? Ed Balls and George Osborne recount the times chancellors stepped in to save their PM from disaster. Does George wish he'd done it a bit more with David Cameron? And why does the Opposition leader respond to the budget and not the shadow chancellor? Ed and George try to wor…

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Listen Bitch! Tony the Tiger 37:51

8d ago37:51

37:51

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about anger. Next week, we want to hear your questions about HAIR. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: W…

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Has Chancellor Rachel Reeves abandoned growth? 1:01:06

8d ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Does Rachel Reeves have a credible plan for growth? One day on from her Budget Statement, George Osborne and Ed Balls debate her headline measures and ask if she’s built enough of a narrative to save her job. Health Secretary Wes Streeting asks about two Osbornian policies: the sugar tax and two-child limit. How can Labour win the argument? They al…

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Kim Stanley Robinson on Pre Traumatic Imagination and the stories that change us 36:35

8d ago36:35

36:35

This week on Outrage + Optimism, we’re taking a breath. After two intense weeks of daily updates from COP30 in Belém, we’re returning to weekly programming with something different - a slower, deeper, more reflective conversation that felt too valuable to cut. While in the Blue Zone, we sat down with Kim Stanley Robinson, the acclaimed author of Th…

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How to Light Up Your World 37:08

8d ago37:08

37:08

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss friendship and lighting. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosCommissioning Producer for BBC: Jake WilliamsCommis…

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Budget Hot Take: Has Chancellor Rachel Reeves saved herself? | LIVE reaction 36:53

9d ago36:53

36:53

After months of speculation, briefings and leaks, Rachel Reeves has finally delivered her fated second budget. Has she done enough to save herself, Keir Starmer, and the Labour government? In a special YouTube LIVE episode, Ed Balls and George Osborne give their immediate reaction to the Chancellor's budget. They dive into who the budget was for, t…

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40: Winter Wobbles Club and ‘The Sexiest Man Alive’? 36:24

9d ago36:24

36:24

It’s a lively one this week: Zoe’s just emerged from her birthday-weekend marathon of mates, kids and three birthday cakes, while Jo’s been off making memories and soaking up some much-needed girl time with her daughters. Meanwhile, Nemo continues his silent campaign of destruction. And if you’re already teetering on the edge of the Winter Wobbles,…

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Listen Bitch! Season All Clothing 38:34

11d ago38:34

38:34

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about seasonal clothing. Next week, we want to hear your questions about ANGER. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnica…

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39: DIG IN: Insomnia, Huge Nipples & Invisible Eyebrows 32:15

15d ago32:15

32:15

Jo and Zoe investigate the mysteries of sleepless nights, magnesium baths and the age-old question — does one armpit smell more than the other? There’s a hunt for invisible eyebrows, as well as teenage independence and a lively debate about when it’s actually acceptable to deck the halls. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with Dig It…

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EMQs: Is it time for a Tory/Labour truce? 43:59

11d ago43:59

43:59

With politics fraying and radical parties growing in strength, could the Tories and Labour come together and merge into a grand coalition of the centre? Surely George Osborne and Ed Balls have proven on this podcast that great things can happen when the two parties come together… And, as budget week looms, former Treasury civil servant Jill Rutter …

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Inside COP: The Final Hours of COP30 - and the road ahead 37:49

12d ago37:49

37:49

This is our final episode of Inside COP. For two weeks we’ve tried to bring you as close as possible to the heart of COP30 - the pace, the pressure, the progress, and the perspectives of those working inside and around the process. The closing plenary on Saturday began amid unexpected tension. Already running a day behind schedule, the Presidency m…

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Inside COP: Friday Night in Belém - uncertainty in the Blue Zone 38:16

13d ago38:16

38:16

We recorded this episode across Friday afternoon and deep into the evening inside the Blue Zone at COP30. At the time of publishing, there is still no final deal. The negotiations are ongoing, positions are shifting, and the outcome remains uncertain. We know that by the time you listen, some of what we heard today may already have changed, but we …

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Inside COP: Friday Morning in Belém - what’s changed and why it matters 15:40

14d ago15:40

15:40

It’s Friday morning in Belém and COP30 is moving fast. After yesterday’s fire and the overnight closure of the venue, the Brazilian Presidency worked through the night and released a new draft text early this morning. It has immediately triggered significant pushback. In this emergency episode the team talks through what changed overnight, and why …

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Inside COP: Fire at COP30 - and the work still to be done 12:45

14d ago12:45

12:45

Today was not meant to be this episode. At around 2pm local time, a fire broke out near the country pavilions, triggering the full evacuation of the Blue Zone. As COP30 entered its final stretch, we’d planned to bring you an update on the negotiations, and to share some of the many extraordinary stories of progress and perseverance that surface her…

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Is Shabana Mahmood the heir to Blair? 1:11:46

15d ago1:11:46

1:11:46

A dramatic U-turn from Labour has stopped them from breaking their manifesto, but it has also left the Budget looking messy and wide open to risk. The expected income tax rise has been shelved in favour of what some insiders call a “smorgasbord” of smaller taxes. In this episode of Political Currency, Ed Balls and George Osborne dig into whether th…

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Inside COP: Storms in Belém - Lula’s arrival, the carbon tariff debate, and the COP31 decision 38:09

15d ago38:09

38:09

We’re approaching crunch time in Belém, and a long-running COP30 saga may finally have found its landing spot. After days of rumour, diplomacy and thunderous rainforest downpours, the question of who will host COP31 looks close to being resolved - and it all plays out over the course of our day’s recording. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith trace th…

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Which Witch Hunt? 37:10

15d ago37:10

37:10

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss private member’s clubs, sober confidence, and remember their friend Caroline Flack. This episode contains very strong language, adult themes, and upsetting scenes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExe…

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Inside COP: China, India… and the Text on the Table 44:38

20d ago44:38

44:38

It’s the middle of week two at COP30, and the negotiations are entering their crunch phase. A draft cover text has finally landed, ministers are on the ground, and the presidency is pushing hard to close before Lula heads to the G20 in Johannesburg. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith look at the issues still holding up progress - from finance and ada…

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38: Glastonbury… but completely naked! 41:51

16d ago41:51

41:51

Jo and Zoe are back with a freshly brewed episode full of life updates, dodgy outfits and cat chaos. Jo takes us behind the scenes at a very bare Glastonbury, and the pair unpack Sara Cox’s emotional ultra-marathon. There’s chat about ageing well, festive music, garden gear that actually works. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with …

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Inside COP: Coal’s Out, Pressure’s On - a pivotal moment for COP30 40:50

17d ago40:50

40:50

It’s getting hot in the COP. Executive Secretary Simon Stiell turned up the pressure in Belém on Monday, sharpening his message as ministers arrived for what is often the most charged phase of the summit. He called for no more tactical delays, and no more dancing around the hardest issues. And Pope Leo XIV weighed in with an appeal to moral respons…

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Inside COP: The fight for the Amazon 44:46

18d ago44:46

44:46

As ministers arrive in Belém for the crucial second week of COP30, forests move from the backdrop of the summit to the main stage. Protests began at dawn on Friday and have continued through the weekend - among them, several activists carried a giant Brazilian flag, emblazoned with the words “Amazȏnia Protegida” (“Protected Amazon”). From the stree…

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Listen Bitch! How’d You Like Your Gravy Hun? 42:23

20d ago42:23

42:23

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about the Great British Sunday roast. Next week, we want to hear your questions about SEASONAL CLOTHING. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer:…

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37: DIG IN: “My Teen Was Sextorted” 29:07

18d ago29:07

29:07

Listener Jo shares an extraordinary story of caring, grief and catastrophising, and an anonymous mum raising the alarm on teen sextortion. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER Stay up to date with Dig It — new updates every Friday straight to your inbox. 👉 https://digitpod.substack.com/subscribe GET IN TOUCH 📧 Email us: [email protected] 📱 Text …

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EMQs: Is PMQs just 'political theatre'? 39:42

18d ago39:42

39:42

What is the real purpose of Prime Minister's Questions? As an ‘infuriated’ listener asks why the Speaker can't force politicians to answer, George Osborne breaks down why PMQs is ‘political theatre’ and what most people misunderstand about it, while Ed Balls explains why David Lammy’s recent performance revealed the real procedural power the Speake…

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Inside COP: Al Gore on Fossil Fuel Lobbying and (In)convenient Truths 56:58

24d ago56:58

56:58

It’s the mid-point of COP30 and all four of our hosts have gathered in Belém to take stock. In the Blue Zone, the mood is its usual blend of high-stakes and surreal. The Presidency is calling its consultations a “collective therapy session,” China would prefer “massage and yoga,” and delegates are deep in the weeds of the Carbon Border Adjustment M…

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Inside COP: The UN’s Top Climate Official on Week One of COP30 41:56

21d ago41:56

41:56

Christiana Figueres takes us behind the scenes at the UNFCCC offices to speak to the man who now holds her old job as Executive Secretary. As week one of the negotiations nears its end, Simon Stiell explains the quiet but crucial difference between the COP Presidency, which sets the political direction, and the Secretariat, which guards the Paris p…

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Starmer v Streeting: Is it curtains for Keir? 1:11:46

22d ago1:11:46

1:11:46

A bizarre briefing war has exploded in Westminster, with Wes Streeting accused of plotting a coup against Keir Starmer. Ed Balls and George Osborne analyse the ‘toxic culture’ in Number 10: who was really behind the briefing, and has this ‘self-destructive’ move inadvertently strengthened Streeting while fatally weakening the Prime Minister? Meanwh…

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Inside COP: Protests at COP30 - and the reality of Indigenous representation 38:49

22d ago38:49

38:49

At a COP meant to centre the Amazon, some Indigenous voices have found themselves on the outside. On Tuesday night, what began as a vibrant street march ended in a dramatic breach of the Blue Zone, as Indigenous protesters passed through the barriers of the official venue. What does this moment tell us about who gets to shape the ‘Amazon COP’? From…

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That’s Why They Call it Spelling 51:38

22d ago51:38

51:38

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss lying, the magic of reading, and the lifecycle of girlbands. This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: Dino SofosAssistant Commi…

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Inside COP: Is The US Still In? And Gavin Newsom on ‘invasive species’ Trump 37:08

23d ago37:08

37:08

Day three of COP30, and there’s one elephant not in the room. While there are plenty of United States citizens at this COP, for the first time, there are no US delegates. Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith consider this notable absence, and ask: can a country that keeps flipping between progress and denial still claim climate …

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36: Retro Robbie Williams & Garden Clogs 38:57

23d ago38:57

38:57

Jo’s back from Brighton with sea swims, a moonlit Beach Box sauna and a bit of silver-birch “wellness” (yes, really). Zoe gets misty-eyed over the John Lewis Christmas ad and those tender parent-teen moments. There’s Mighty Boosh fancy dress at Butlins, Robbie Williams nostalgia via The Word, and… are garden clogs actually chic? SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FR…

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Inside COP: Brazil's Climate Leadership - the COP30 host takes centre stage 43:22

24d ago43:22

43:22

What is Brazil trying to achieve with COP30? It's Day Two in Belém and all eyes are on the host nation. Join Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac as they unpack how the country is shaping the first days of COP30 - and the quiet strategy behind Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago’s leadership. With the release of the Call of Belém for the Climate, …

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Inside COP: The COP30 President Speaks, the Summit Begins 38:58

25d ago38:58

38:58

COP30 is here! Day one dawns in the Amazon, and all eyes are on the host nation - and on the man tasked with steering the talks. On the eve of what could be the most consequential COP since Paris, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac sat down with Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s COP30 President, for an inside look at his priorities: …

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Listen Bitch! It Takes Two To Tango? 38:36

29d ago38:36

38:36

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens answer your questions about orgasms. Next week, we want to hear your questions about THE GREAT BRITISH SUNDAY ROAST. Please send us a voice note on WhatsApp: 08000 30 40 90. Or, if you like, send us an email: [email protected]. This episode contains very strong language, adult themes, and discussion of sex througho…

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35: DIG IN: Menopause Special with Dr Naomi Potter 40:38

25d ago40:38

40:38

Jo and Zoe are joined by menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter for a no-nonsense, warm and wonderfully honest chat about everything from HRT and hormones to vaginal health, sex, and self-confidence. MORE FROM DR NAOMI POTTER: Menopause Care Clinic – https://www.menopausecare.co.uk Follow Naomi on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dr_naomipotter/…

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EMQs: What does 'fairness' actually mean in politics? 38:10

25d ago38:10

38:10

What political rival would you share a 12-hour flight with? Ed Balls and George Osborne dive into this very question, revealing the old foes and opposite numbers who would make the best long-haul companions. And can an unpopular leader tank a popular policy? The pair debate how a leader’s image affects a government, and whether an unpopular messeng…

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Inside COP: Ed Miliband on Multilateralism, Leadership and the UK’s Climate Dilemma 35:40

26d ago35:40

35:40

Why hasn’t the UK contributed to Brazil's flagship Tropical Forests Forever Facility it helped design? With COP30 about to open in Belém, the UK’s absence from this major forest finance deal is raising eyebrows. Meanwhile, Prince William, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Energy and Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband have been in Brazil this week…

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Inside COP: World Leaders Gather in Belém - with Jacinda Ardern and Selwin Hart 43:17

27d ago43:17

43:17

As COP30 opens in Belém, world leaders have gathered for the first major moment of this Amazon-based summit in the shadow of growing doubts about global cooperation. With some major countries absent and others already signalling caution, the urgency of credible action is louder than ever. Brazil has launched it’s flagship Tropical Forests Forever F…

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Inside COP: The Power of Cities - from the Local Leaders Forum 36:56

28d ago36:56

36:56

Behind the national plans and global headlines, a quieter revolution is already underway. Almost 100 major cities - representing 23% of the world’s economy - are proving what local leadership can do. From clean-air targets and green-job creation to citizen-led adaptation, these C40 cities are already showing that climate action works for the planet…

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Is this Rachel Reeves’ last throw of the dice? 59:10

29d ago59:10

59:10

Rachel Reeves has set the stage for a dramatic Budget, seemingly signaling a "massive political gamble" by preparing to raise taxes on working people. Ed Balls and George Osborne analyse her pitch-rolling: has she boxed herself in, becoming the market's "guarantor" against her own party? And can she possibly sell this to an already-squeezed public?…

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Inside the Earthshot Prize 2025: Royal Vision, Real Change 43:35

29d ago43:35

43:35

In a year when climate news can feel relentlessly bleak, the Earthshot Prize offers something vital - proof of progress. And in this year’s fifteen finalists, that proof is taking many forms, across many corners of the globe. This week, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith bring us behind the scenes of the Earthshot Prize. Recor…

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Are Men En Vogue? 37:10

1M ago37:10

37:10

Miquita Oliver and Jordan Stephens discuss boyfriends (embarrassing?), couples’ posts and contraception. This episode contains very strong language, adult themes and discussions around sex. Credits:Producer: Natalie JamiesonTechnical Producer: Will Gibson SmithAssistant Producer: Caillin McDaidProduction Coordinator: Rose WilcoxExecutive Producer: …