Best Peter Barker Podcasts (2025)

1
Americano: what's the matter with Candace Owens? 36:04

Play Pause

20m ago36:04

36:04

Freddy Gray speaks to podcast host and commentator Candace Owens about her story investigating whether Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte is a man, why she remains firm on her views about Gaza, and how Trump is doing in his presidency.

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Holy Smoke: how has John Henry Newman inspired Pope Leo XIV? 30:41

20m ago30:41

30:41

St John Henry Newman (1801-90) is perhaps the most influential theologian in the history of English Christianity. Yet, as Damian Thompson discusses with Fr Rod Strange – one of the world’s leading authorities on Newman – he was a divisive figure, though perhaps not in the way one might imagine. One of the founders of the Oxford Movement, Newman was…

1
Americano: Ann Coulter on why Trump wins & why Reform can win 30:34

18m ago30:34

30:34

Freddy Gray is joined by author Ann Coulter in London, to discuss why she backs the rise of Reform UK, how immigration main issue voters care about this election and why she's backing Trump in his second term. Ann Coulter's Substack can be found at: anncoulter.substack.com

1
Spectator Out Loud: Max Jeffery, Cosmo Landesman, Henry Blofeld, David Honigmann & Rachel Johnson 28:14

18m ago28:14

28:14

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Max Jeffery reports from court as the Spectator and Douglas Murray win the defamation cause brought against them by Mohammed Hijab; Cosmo Landesman defends those who stay silent over political issues; Henry Blofeld celebrates what has been a wonderful year for test cricket; David Honigmann reflects on the powder k…

1
The Edition: Reform’s motherland, Meloni’s Italian renaissance & the adults learning to swim 45:28

3h ago45:28

45:28

First: Nigel Farage is winning over women Does – or did – Nigel Farage have a woman problem? ‘Around me there’s always been a perception of a laddish culture,’ he tells political editor Tim Shipman. In last year’s election, 58 per cent of Reform voters were men. But, Shipman argues, ‘that has begun to change’. According to More in Common, Reform ha…

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Coffee House Shots: what Douglas Murray’s court win means for press freedom 9:55

14h ago9:55

9:55

The Spectator and Douglas Murray have comprehensively won a defamation case brought by Mohammed Hegab. Hegab, a YouTuber who posts under the name Mohammed Hijab, claimed that an article about the Leicester riots, written by Douglas Murray and published by The Spectatorin September 2022, caused serious harm to his reputation and led to a loss of ear…

1
Book Club: Nicola Barker 26:34

2d ago26:34

26:34

Sam Leith's guest on this week's Book Club podcast is Nicola Barker, talking about her new book TonyInterruptor -- about how a man who interrupts a free jazz concert becomes a viral sensation on social media. Nicola tells Sam why some of her books are bouts of the flu and some are sneezes, how hard she works on her apparently spontaneous prose, why…

1
S03 Ep11: Celia Quansah 1:21:51

2d ago1:21:51

1:21:51

Introducing our colleague Celia Quansah. Not a footballer but a rugby player, a former Heptathlete and an Olympian. We are so proud to present her and her story. With England's women having won this year's Euros and the Red Roses about to commence their rugby World Cup campaign Celia's story gives a perfect insight into the challenges female athlet…

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"Meld" (VOY S2, Ep 16) w/ TIM RUSS 53:28

2d ago53:28

53:28

The Treksperts Briefing Room RETURNS with an all new season! This voyage, TIM RUSS joins Peter and Lisa once more to discuss the Season 2 episode of Voyager, Meld. What would the Voyager crew do if confronted with a killer… in its own crew. Brad Dourif guest starred in an episode that ponders if a killer instinct can be reformed. Join the Trekspert…

1
Putting your greatest fears on paper with horror author Ania Ahlborn. 1:02:43

2d ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about BookTok, Publishers Marketplace, and Briet. Then, stick around for a chat with Ania Ahlborn! Ania Ahlborn is a Polish-American author known for her work in the horror and thriller genres. Born in Ciechanów…

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Americano: Trump, MAGA and US foreign policy 23:53

2d ago23:53

23:53

Trump, MAGA, and US foreign policy Kate Andrews speaks to Damir Marusic, assignment editor at The Washington Post and co-founder of Wisdom of Crowds. They examine Donald Trump’s surprising foreign policy moves in his second term: his position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, why he's armed Ukraine despite MAGA frustration, and whether his instincts are…

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Coffee House Shots: why can't we agree on data? 11:13

3d ago11:13

11:13

John O’Neill and Sam McPhail, the Spectator’s research and data team, join economics editor Michael Simmons to re-introduce listeners to the Spectator’s data hub. They take us through the process between the data hub and how their work feeds into the weekly magazine. From crime to migration, which statistics are the most controversial? Why can’t we…

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Are We Trapped In This Podcast Forever? w/ Stavros Halkias & Chris Distefano | 2 Bears, 1 Cave 1:11:17

3d ago1:11:17

1:11:17

Become a paid channel member of YMH to get 2 Bears, 1 Cave episodes one day early and AD-FREE here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYIgiXwJck_Pb5Nj-wIrsqg/joinSPONSORS:-Get control of your overall finances with Monarch Money. Use code BEARS at http://monarchmoney.com for half off your first year-Our listeners get 10% off their first month at http…

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Spectator Out Loud: Michael Simmons, Kapil Komireddi, Margaret Mitchell, David Abulafia and Melissa Kite 26:30

3d ago26:30

26:30

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Michael Simmons argues that Trump is winning the tariff war with China; Kapil Komireddi reviews Robert Ivermee’s Glorious Failure: The Forgotten History of French Imperialism in India; Margaret Mitchell watches a Channel 4 documentary on Bonnie Blue and provides a warning to parents; David Abulafia provides his no…

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Holy Smoke: Massacres in Syria and the Congo 27:25

4d ago27:25

27:25

Massacres in Syria and the Congo: why aren't Western elites, including the Churches, drawing attention to religious persecution? After the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, many people voiced fears that the religious minorities in the country could face increased persecution. This could be at the hands of the new government’s supporters, or simply…

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Coffee House Shots: the Online Safety Act vs free speech 26:13

5d ago26:13

26:13

Is the Online Safety Act protecting children – or threatening free speech? Michael Simmons hosts John Power, who writes the Spectator's cover piece this week on how the Act has inadvertently created online censorship. Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2…

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Americano: Lionel Shriver on Trump’s second term 35:37

6d ago35:37

35:37

Lionel Shriver on Trump’s vendetta, Mamdani’s ‘stupid’ ideas & sentimental immigration Deputy US editor Kate Andrews is joined by author and Spectator columnist Lionel Shriver to assess Donald Trump’s turbulent second term. They discuss the rise of socialism in New York, why fairness is warping immigration policy, and whether Trump’s obsession with…

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Avenue M Podcast with Peter Block: I'm Not Done Yet 48:08

6d ago48:08

48:08

Welcome to the Common Good podcast, a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging. Today’s episode is something a little different. We’re sharing a recent conversation with Peter Block that originally aired on the Avenue M, hosted by Joey Taylor and Haroon Moghul. In each episode they …

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The Edition: Under CTRL, the Epping migrant protests & why is ‘romantasy’ so popular? 38:32

8d ago38:32

38:32

First: the new era of censorship A year ago, John Power notes, the UK was consumed by race riots precipitated by online rumours about the perpetrator of the Southport atrocity. This summer, there have been protests, but ‘something is different’. With the introduction of the Online Safety Act, ‘the government is exerting far greater control over wha…

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Book Club: Gary Shteyngart 34:38

8d ago34:38

34:38

Sam Leith is joined for this week's Book Club podcast by Gary Shteyngart — whose new novel Vera, or Faith is set in a near-future America whose politics seems to be less science-fictional by the day. It tells the unexpectedly tender story of a bright but lonely ten-year-old girl contending with her parents' failing marriage and navigating the begin…

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Americano: what should we make of Trump's trip to the UK? 26:30

9d ago26:30

26:30

Donald Trump is in Scotland, holding court at Turnberry. He's welcomed Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer to his golf course, and had a long discussion with reporters at a wide ranging press conference, that covered Russia, Gaza, and his long running feud with London mayor Sadiq Khan. To unpack it all, Freddy is joined by political editor Tim Shipm…

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Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 305 - From social media to plotting - what it takes to be a modern author with bestseller, JT Ellison. 1:03:12

9d ago1:03:12

1:03:12

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Reese Witherspoon, the AI Protection Act, and audiobook walking clubs. Then, stick around for a chat with J.T. Ellison! J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 p…

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Table Talk: Charlotte Ivers 34:26

10d ago34:26

34:26

Charlotte Ivers is the restaurant critic for the Sunday Times; most recently she reviewed Lupa, Fenix and Home SW15. Charlotte started her career as a media adviser in Theresa May’s Number 10, before she moved into the world of radio. She was a political correspondent at talkRADIO and Wireless Group before joining Times Radio. On the podcast, Charl…

1
This Episode Is Getting Us Fired w/ Stavros Halkias & Chris Distefano | 2 Bears, 1 Cave 1:10:16

10d ago1:10:16

1:10:16

Check out our new summer merch at https://store.ymhstudios.com/SPONSORS:- Eat smart at https://FactorMeals.com/bears50off and use code bears50off to get 50 percent off plus FREE shipping on your first box. Stavros Halkias and Chris Distefano are back for round two of Summer Bears—and things spiral immediately. Dressed in their finest “Queens County…

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Americano: Douglas Murray on conspiracy America, Epstein & the new age of suspicion 30:28

10d ago30:28

30:28

Douglas Murray on conspiracy America, lawfare & the new age of suspicion Donald Trump promised to release the Epstein files – so why hasn't he? Spectator columnist Douglas Murray joins Kate Andrews to discuss the scandal that won't go away, what it says about trust in institutions, and why even Trump’s most loyal supporters are starting to turn on …

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Spectator Out Loud: Ian Thomson, Patrick Kidd, Mike Cormack, Ursula Buchan and Richard Bratby 35:54

11d ago35:54

35:54

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Ian Thomson on what the destruction of the Hotel Oloffson means for Haiti (00:54); Patrick Kidd analyses Donald Trump and the art of golf diplomacy (06:43); Mike Cormack reviews Irvine Welsh’s Men In Love (16:49); Ursula Buchan provides her notes on the Palm House at Kew (20:38); and, Richard Bratby argues that Jo…

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Coffee House Shots: Katie Lam on immigration, benefits and the border 24:00

13d ago24:00

24:00

Katie Lam became an MP in 2024 after a career in finance. She's also an accomplished scriptwriter, having co-written five musicals. She's one of the most exciting new intake MPs, and she's ruffling feathers in Westminster and beyond. She joins political editor Tim Shipman to discuss everything from her vision for the country to the ECHR, and shares…

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Americano: did Condé Nast shape the world? 34:33

13d ago34:33

34:33

Did Condé Nast shape the world? In this episode of Americano, Freddy Gray speaks with New York Times writer and debut author Michael Grynbaum about his new book Empire of the Elite, a sweeping history of Condé Nast – the media empire that once dictated American taste, fashion, and celebrity. From Anna Wintour’s carefully staged exit to the vanished…

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The Edition: soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein & are literary sequels ‘lazy’? 44:02

14d ago44:02

44:02

The soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein and MAGA & are literary sequels ‘lazy’? First up: how private equity is ruining Britain Gus Carter writes in the magazine this week about how foreign private equity (PE) is hollowing out Britain – PE now owns everything from a Pret a Manger to a Dorset village, and even the number of chi…

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Book Club: Frances Wilson 44:01

15d ago44:01

44:01

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is the biographer Frances Wilson, whose new book Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark was recently lauded in these pages as "mesmerising" and "a revolutionary book". She tells me how she immersed herself in the spooky life and peerless art of the great novelist, and why a conventional biographical tre…

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Coffee House Shots: what's left of the Tories? with Michael Gove and Tim Shipman 15:15

16d ago15:15

15:15

What's left of the Tories? The Commons is closing down for the summer, but Kemi Badenoch has treated us to a shadow cabinet reshuffle. At the beginning of the year, Badenoch’s team were keen to stress stability, dismissing talk of an early reshuffle. But, as so often in politics, events have forced her hand. Ed Argar, the shadow health secretary, h…

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Americano: is Epstein the new Russiagate? 27:37

16d ago27:37

27:37

Is Epstein the new Russiagate? Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator writer Roger Kimball. They delve into the Epstein claims, the media's handling of the story, Trump’s economic agenda, and whether the MAGA movement is holding strong or starting to splinter.

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Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 304 - How to crash a wedding with LOVE YOU TO DEATH author, Christina Dotson. 58:12

16d ago58:12

58:12

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about a scam, a $100,000 prize, and Anthropic. Then, stick around for a chat with Christina Dotson! Christina Dotson: Thriller author of LOVE YOU TO DEATH (7/22/2025) from Bantam/@randomhouse, lover of carbs & p…

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Americano: will AI have rights? 17:51

17d ago17:51

17:51

Will AI have rights? Freddy Gray speaks to Spectator writer Paul Wood about his piece this the latest edition of Spectator World on AI and whether it will soon have rights. This first came about when Paul went to live in Rome and discovered some of the work the Vatican has been doing in AI.

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The Summer Bears Takeover! w/ Stavros Halkias & Chris Distefano | 2 Bears, 1 Cave 1:14:07

17d ago1:14:07

1:14:07

Check out our new summer merch at https://store.ymhstudios.com/ SPONSORS:- Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/BEARS! #trueclassicpod - Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://shopify.com/bears- Sponsored by BetterHelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at https://betterhelp.com/bearsTom an…

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Spectator Out Loud: Mark Mason, Mary Wakefield, Matthew Parris and Philip Patrick 25:05

18d ago25:05

25:05

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Mark Mason reminisces about old English bank notes (00:33), Philip Patrick wonders whether AI will replace politicians in Japan (04:04), Matthew Parris wonders why you would ever trust a travel writer (10:34) and Mary Wakefield looks at the weird world of cults (17:42).…

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Coffee House Shots Live: are the Tories toast? 1:13:02

19d ago1:13:02

1:13:02

The strange death of Tory England has been predicted before. But never has the ‘natural party of government’ faced a greater challenge to survive. The Conservatives are facing attacks on all fronts from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. Kemi Badenoch’s six-month anniversary as leader was marked by the loss of nearly 700 councillors, with…

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Americano: Trump – the conventional foreign policy President? 27:49

21d ago27:49

27:49

Trump has said he's "very, very unhappy" with Russia, and threatened severe tariffs against them if there's no deal on Ukraine within 50 days. He's also sending more weapons to Ukraine in coordination with NATO. What's behind his change of heart on foreign policy, and how's his MAGA base responding? Freddy Gray is joined by deputy US editor Kate An…

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The Edition: how the Bank broke Britain, Zelensky’s choice & the joys of mudlarking 49:07

21d ago49:07

49:07

First up: how the Bank of England wrecked the economy Britain’s economy is teetering on the brink of a deep fiscal hole, created by billions of pounds of unfunded spending – never-ending health promises, a spiralling welfare bill and a triple lock on the state pension, which will cost three times as much as originally estimated. Although politician…

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The Book Club: Irvine Welsh on the new Trainspotting sequel 34:18

22d ago34:18

34:18

My guest this week is Irvine Welsh – who, three decades after his era-defining hit Trainspotting, returns with a direct sequel, Men In Love. Irvine tells me what Sick Boy, Renton, Spud and Begbie mean to him, why his new book hopes to encourage a new generation to discover Romantic verse and shagging, and why MDMA deserves more credit for the Good …

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S03 Ep10: Karleigh Osborne 1:08:51

23d ago1:08:51

1:08:51

A wonderful chat with Fraser's former teammate Karleigh Osborne. A Brentford legend who, like so many, struggled with his mental health during a playing career that spanned 12 clubs and ended early (at the age of 31) owing to injury. His saviour came in an unlikely source when he became manager of the Brentford Women's team. The lessons he learned …

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Table Talk: Candice Chung 32:11

23d ago32:11

32:11

Candice Chung is a food writer whose work has been featured in many publications, including the Guardian. Her first book, Chinese Parents Don’t Say I Love You, is out now. On the podcast, she tells Liv about her earliest memories of food growing up in Hong Kong, why trying lasagne for the first time was a magical experience, and how Chinese parents…

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Writers, Ink Podcast: Episode 303 - No Body No Crime with NYT Bestseller Tess Sharpe. 49:10

23d ago49:10

49:10

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about TikTok, must-read magazines, and AI translation. Then, stick around for a chat with Tess Sharpe! Tess Sharpe: Born in a mountain cabin to a punk-rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural northern Califor…

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Holy Smoke Live: Recovering the Sacred 1:15:18

24d ago1:15:18

1:15:18

Last week The Spectator held a live event entitled ‘Recovering the Sacred’ in the glorious surroundings of St Bartholomew the Great, the oldest parish church in the City of London. The speakers included two London parish priests – one Anglican, one Catholic – who have contributed much to the growing interest among young people in traditional liturg…

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Catfights Make The WNBA Interesting | 2 Bears, 1 Cave 1:14:00

24d ago1:14:00

1:14:00

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Coffee House Shots: Amanda Spielman on the SEND row and Labour’s Ofsted blind spot 22:00

26d ago22:00

22:00

As Labour looks to get a grip on public spending, one rebellion gives way to another with the changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system threatening to become welfare round two. On this week’s Saturday edition of Coffee House Shots, Lucy Dunn is joined by The Spectator’s Michael Simmons and former Ofsted chief Amanda Sp…

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Spectator Out Loud: Sophia Falkner, Roger Lewis, Olivia Potts, Aidan Hartley and Toby Young 26:38

27d ago26:38

26:38

This week: Sophia Falkner profiles some of the eccentric personalities we stand to lose when Keir Starmer purges the hereditary peers; Roger Lewis’s piece on the slow delight of an OAP coach tour is read by the actor Robert Bathurst; Olivia Potts reviews two books in the magazine that use food as a prism through which to discuss Ukrainian heritage …

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The Edition: Keir's peer purge, how to pick an archbishop & is AI ruining sport? 44:28

28d ago44:28

44:28

This week: Peerless – the purge of the hereditary peers For this week’s cover, Charles Moore declares that the hereditary principle in Parliament is dead. Even though he lacks ‘a New Model Army’ to enforce the chamber’s full abolition, Keir Starmer is removing the hereditary peers. In doing so, he creates more room, reduces the Conservatives’ numer…

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The Book Club: M. John Harrison 34:30

29d ago34:30

34:30

My guest this week is the writer M. John Harrison, who joins me to talk about the rerelease of his 1992 novel The Course of the Heart – a deeply strange and riddling story of grief, friendship, memory and occult magic. We talk about why this book is so personal to him, what he learned from Charles Williams and Arthur Machen, turning his back on sci…

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Coffee House Shots: can Keir defrost the 'entente glaciale'? 13:27

30d ago13:27

13:27

Zut alors! The French are in town. Emmanuel Macron is on his state visit this week, spending time today with the King and tomorrow with the Prime Minister. His itinerary includes a state dinner and an address to both Houses of Parliament this afternoon. All the pageantry, of course, is for a reason: to defrost what Tim Shipman calls the ‘entente gl…