Best Y Ahmed Podcasts (2025)

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Gaza, Trump and me: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher 48:43

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3d ago48:43

48:43

Driving through Gaza is like "driving through the ruins of Hiroshima, or Stalingrad, or Dresden" Tom Fletcher has been the United Nations humanitarian chief for almost a year and speaks to Nick two weeks into his organisation's efforts to get as much aid as possible into the Gaza Strip. He gives a behind-the-scenes account of how he works with the …

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Net Zero has become a religion: Claire Coutinho on climate, identity and cooking 42:05

10d ago42:05

42:05

The Shadow Energy Minister has transformed her party's approach to climate policy. In this extended conversation, Claire Coutinho sets out what changed her mind on net zero, a shift that has brought her into fierce debates with her opposite number, Ed Miliband. She also shares her feelings about what she calls a rising "ethno-nationalism" on the ri…

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Free Speech Tsar: Arif Ahmed on how to avoid the 'abyss' of political violence 44:57

17d ago44:57

44:57

How do you protect and police freedom of speech on campus and in society? Arif Ahmed is a Cambridge Philosopher who is now responsible for enforcing new freedom of speech rules on universities, colleges and students. He took office at a time when there is particular focus on a vexed question: where the boundary should lie between free speech - whic…

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Blaise Agüera y Arcas: What is Intelligence? 1:14:40

18d ago1:14:40

1:14:40

Blaise Agüera y Arcas’s talk took us on a journey through What is Intelligence?, his groundbreaking new work connecting the evolutionary dots between life, computation, and symbiogenesis. He explores how, in our symbiotic world, things combine to make larger things all the time. We might think of humanity in terms of the individual — but we're alre…

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Bridget Phillipson on life as education secretary 43:47

25d ago43:47

43:47

One of the two candidates to be deputy leader of Labour joins Nick at the end of party's conference in Liverpool. Bridget Phillipson opens up about how her own experience of poverty informs her political views on childcare, schools and universities. She also reveals her DJ set-list Producer: Daniel KraemerResearch: Chloe DesaveEditor: Giles Edwards…

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Preparing Farage for Power: Danny Kruger on defecting to Reform UK 43:29

1M ago43:29

43:29

Danny Kruger had been at the heart of the Conservative Party since it was led by David Cameron, until he decided that party was "over". He is now a Reform UK MP and has been tasked with preparing the party for government. He sits down with Nick to explain why we need a "revival" of Christian conservatism. Producer: Daniel KraemerReserach: Chloe Des…

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Lucy Powell: People have lost sense of Labour's values 42:22

1M ago42:22

42:22

Lucy Powell on why and how she was sacked by Keir Starmer, and why she now wants to be his Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. Producer: Daniel KraemerEditor: Giles EdwardsBy BBC Radio 4

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'Build Baby Build': The new housing secretary, Steve Reed 36:55

2M ago36:55

36:55

Steve Reed was given the job of Housing Secretary as the result of crisis, after the resignation of his close friend Angela Rayner. But he has been part of the inner circle preparing Keir Starmer's rise to power from the beginning, having recruited the man who ended up as the prime minister's Chief of Staff. In this interview, he gives Nick a behin…

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China, Russia and us: Tony Radakin on four years as Chief of the Defence Staff 49:53

2M ago49:53

49:53

An exclusive exit interview with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on the week he steps down as the UK's military chief. Radakin's time as head of the armed forces was dominated by responding to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As he leaves, he is adamant that the UK is "safe" and that the war has been a "disaster" for Putin. He also talks about the…

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The Friedrich Merz One 34:03

3M ago34:03

34:03

The German Chancellor speaks candidly about Trump's attitude to Europe, war on the continent, and the future relationship Britain Producer: Daniel KraemerResearcher: Chloe DesaveEditor: Giles EdwardsBy BBC Radio 4

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The Josh Babarinde One 33:33

4M ago33:33

33:33

The Lib Dem Justice Spokesperson managed to persuade ministers to change domestic abuse law within a year of being elected to parliament. Josh Babarinde tells Nick how his own childhood experience spurred him on to push for reform. He also explains how a beer mat persuaded him to join the Liberal Democrats. Producer: Daniel Kraemer…

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The Keir Starmer Prime Minister One 46:31

4M ago46:31

46:31

After some of the most tumultuous days of his premiership, Keir Starmer sits down with Nick in Downing Street, to reflect on a year in power. In a wide-ranging interview, the prime minister defends his style of leadership, while taking responsibility for the setbacks. He also opens up about losing his brother last year and his personal relationship…

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Trump's America: The Scott Perry One 31:27

4M ago31:27

31:27

A Republican Congressman outlines the values that lie behind his conservative politics. Scott Perry is the Representative for Pennsylvania's 10th District, a Trump ally, an Iran hawk who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and a veteran, who flew combat missions in Iraq before turning his attention to politics. He joins Nick down the line from W…

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The Douglas Alexander One 43:09

4M ago43:09

43:09

The Trade Minister explains how a penalty shootout played a role in his government appointment. Douglas Alexander has the same job that he had 20 years ago in Tony Blair's government. He reflects on how the world has changed in that time, and his motivation for returning to politics after a humiliating defeat in 2015.…

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Kim Carson: Inspired by Intelligence 48:03

5M ago48:03

48:03

What if AI is not here actually to replace us, but to remind us who we actually are?That was the question at the heart of Kim Carson’s Long Now Talk. In _Inspired by Intelligence: Purpose and Creativity in the AI Era_, Carson challenged us to avoid the easy narratives of tech-driven utopia and dystopia, charting a course through those two extremes …

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The Mel Stride One 37:41

5M ago37:41

37:41

The Shadow Chancellor sets out his vision for a more "thoughtful" politics and faces up to the challenge of winning the argument before the next general election. Sir Mel Stride reveals what he admires about his opposite number, Rachel Reeves, and why a world war two commander is one of his political heroes. He also has a warning about what the Bri…

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Building Y Combinator with Garry Tan: What It Really Takes to Build a Successful Startup 54:13

5M ago54:13

54:13

What do Airbnb, Stripe, and DoorDash have in common? They were built with support from renowned startup accelerator, Y Combinator. And Garry Tan knows exactly what made them work. In the season finale of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, to unpack what really makes a startup succeed, and why the startup journe…

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The Jacinda Ardern One 33:32

5M ago33:32

33:32

How does it feel to be held up as the 'anti-Trump' by progressives across the globe? Jacinda Ardern was prime minister of New Zealand for 6 years and is now committed to promoting empathy and kindness in world leadership. She joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to reflect on her unexpected rise to power and being described as a 'global pinu…

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The Tanni Grey-Thompson One 40:50

5M ago40:50

40:50

After 15 years as a member of the House of Lords, Tanni Grey-Thompson reflects on how a career at the top of sport prepared her for the world of politics. The crossbench peer speaks to Nick about what she sees as a dangerous relationship between benefit reforms and legalising assisted dying. Producer: Daniel Kraemer…

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Sara Imari Walker: An Informational Theory of Life 1:10:54

5M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

“What is life?”In her Long Now Talk, astrobiologist and theoretical physicist Sara Imari Walker explores the many dimensions of that seemingly simple question. Starting from the simplest precursors, Walker assembled a grand cathedral of meaning, tracing an arc across existence that linked the fundamentals of organic chemistry, the possibility space…

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The Eluned Morgan One 45:54

5M ago45:54

45:54

The First Minister of Wales sets a marker to the left of Keir Starmer, setting out her vision of a "Red Welsh Way", drawing inspiration from Gavin and Stacey. Producer: Daniel KraemerBy BBC Radio 4

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Building IKEA with Fredrika Inger: Designing for Price, Experience & Real Life 44:03

5M ago44:03

44:03

What if your product design didn’t start with form or function, but with price? That’s how IKEA has built one of the most beloved and iconic retail brands in the world. In this episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Fredrika Inger, IKEA’s Chief Product and Commercial Officer, to explore how IKEA creates affordable, high-quality product…

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Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson: Abundance 59:28

6M ago59:28

59:28

As they look upon the United States of America in 02025, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson see a country wrought by a half-century of failed governance. They see states and cities theoretically committed to progressive futures instead bogged down in labyrinthine mires of process — a society stuck in low gear. Yet they also see opportunity to turn those…

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The Richard Tice One 38:17

5M ago38:17

38:17

Reform UK’s deputy leader reflects on a year of political success, a privileged upbringing and the cabinet job he’s eyeing up Producer: Daniel KraemerBy BBC Radio 4

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The Joe Biden One 29:41

6M ago29:41

29:41

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, former president Joe Biden sits down with Nick Robinson for an exclusive interview, his first since leaving the White House. He issues a stark warning about the future of the western alliance and criticises his successor’s approach to foreign policy. In this extended interview, Biden also reflects on his deci…

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Building AMD with Mark Papermaster: How Bold Bets and Breakthroughs Reshaped the Semiconductor Industry 52:17

6M ago52:17

52:17

How do you revive a tech giant and reshape an entire industry? AMD Chief Technology Officer Mark Papermaster joins Tomer Cohen to share how making bold bets, exiting stagnant markets, and betting on modular chip design led to one of the most remarkable comebacks in tech. They also dig into the ways in which semiconductors are powering the AI era. M…

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Kim Stanley Robinson & Stephen Heintz: A Logic For The Future 57:10

6M ago57:10

57:10

Stephen Heintz and Kim Stanley Robinson say we live in an “Age of Turbulence.”Looking around our geopolitical situation, it’s easy to see what they mean. Faced with the ever-growing threat of climate change, the looming potential breakdown of the post-01945 international order, and the ambiguous prospects of rapid technological changes in fields li…

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Building Chase with Rohan Amin: Designing for Trust 38:00

6M ago38:00

38:00

In this episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Rohan Amin, Chief Product Officer at Chase, to discuss the evolving world of financial products and the challenges of delivering seamless, secure experiences. From his background in cybersecurity to his current role in shaping Chase’s product strategy, Rohan shares valuable insights into b…

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K Allado-McDowell: On Neural Media 57:10

7M ago57:10

57:10

How will AI shape our understanding of our creativity and ourselves? In February, artist and technologist K Allado-McDowell delivered a fascinating Long Now Talk that explored the dimensions of Neural Media — their term for an emerging set of creative forms that use artificial neural networks inspired by the connective design of the human brain.The…

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Building Hinge with Justin McLeod: Intentional Design for Meaningful Dating 50:11

7M ago50:11

50:11

Rebuilding a company is one of the hardest challenges any founder can face. But for Justin McLeod, founder and CEO of Hinge, it was the only way forward. In today’s episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Justin to dive into the journey of rebooting Hinge from a Tinder competitor to the fastest-growing dating app in the U.S., focused on…

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Ahmed Best: Feel The Future 59:10

7M ago59:10

59:10

When you feel the future, how do you share that feeling in order to build community?Ahmed Best’s Long Now Talk was the first in the more-than-twenty-year history of Long Now Talks to be held on Valentine’s Day. It was also the first to feature a sing-a-long performance of Al Green’s 01970s soul music classic “Let’s Stay Together,” with the speaker …

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Building WHOOP with Will Ahmed: Fitness Wearable Redefined 46:23

7M ago46:23

46:23

WHOOP has made a name for themselves as the go-to wearable for those at the top of their game. You may have spotted elite athletes like LeBron James and Michael Phelps wearing the slim, screenless device. So what has made the device so successful? In this week’s episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOO…

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Benjamin Bratton: A Philosophy of Planetary Computation 57:47

7M ago57:47

57:47

We find ourselves in a pre-paradigmatic moment in which our technology has outpaced our theories of what to do with it. The task of philosophy today is to catch up.In his Long Now Talk, Philosopher of Technology Benjamin Bratton took us on a whirlwind philosophical journey into the concept of Planetary Computation — a journey that began in classica…

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Building Glean with Arvind Jain: Scaling Enterprise Search with AI Innovation 47:09

8M ago47:09

47:09

In a world where finding information at work is often more of a headache than it should be, Arvind Jain’s innovative solution is transforming the way enterprises manage and access knowledge. In this week’s episode of Building One, Tomer Cohen sits down with Arvind Jain, CEO and founder of Glean, to discuss how the AI-driven platform is reshaping th…

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Bonus: The Rishi Sunak Lessons from Downing Street One - Part 2 1:01:28

8M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

In the second, bonus instalment of this exclusive interview with the former prime minister, Rishi Sunak opens up about his time as Chancellor and Prime Minister, including how his relationship with Boris Johnson fell apart, why he regrets his "Stop the Boats" slogan and what comes next for someone who has become an elder statesman, aged 44. Produce…

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The Rishi Sunak Lessons from Downing Street One 58:32

8M ago58:32

58:32

An exclsuive in-depth interview with the Rishi Sunak. In this first instalment, the former prime minister tells stories from behind the scenes on the world stage explains why he thinks we must now cut welfare spending to fund defence. Sunak reflects on how a sense of duty - inspired by his Hindu faith - helped drive his political career, and reflec…

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The Carla Denyer 2025 One 33:15

8M ago33:15

33:15

The co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales joins Nick for a conversationBy BBC Radio 4

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Building Patagonia with Jenna Johnson: Redefining Product Development & Sustainability Practices 49:06

8M ago49:06

49:06

What does it take to build a brand that not only survives but thrives by prioritizing the planet over profit? In this episode of Building One, host Tomer Cohen sits down with Jenna Johnson, the President of Patagonia, to explore how the iconic brand is reshaping the future of business through innovation and sustainability. Together, they unpack how…

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The Heidi Alexander One 41:41

8M ago41:41

41:41

The Transport Secretary on Corbyn, Ukraine and growing up in Swindon Producer: Lauren TavrigerBy BBC Radio 4

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The Charlie Taylor One 40:20

9M ago40:20

40:20

The Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales on how he went from being a teacher at a school for kids with beahvioural problems, to being the leading voice on prison conditions. He tells stories of cheap suits, perspex windows, being the subject of offensive graffiti, and explains how he retains optimism. Producers: Lauren Tavriger and Dani…

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Building Xbox with Phil Spencer: A Bold Portfolio Today for Breakout Success Tomorrow 54:42

9M ago54:42

54:42

In this week’s episode of Building One, Tomer sits down with Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming and Xbox. With decades of experience, Phil is at the helm of one of the largest gaming platforms on the planet, overseeing iconic franchises like Halo, Call of Duty, Minecraft, and Candy Crush. As a lifelong gamer, Phil’s passion for gaming runs deep,…

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The Zia Yusuf One 48:06

9M ago48:06

48:06

Who is the 38-year-old, Muslim, second-generation immigrant chairman of Reform UK? Zia Yusuf joins Nick in the Political Thinking studio to tell his story, lay out his party's path to power, and share his thoughts on Boris Johnson, Elon Musk, Suella Braverman and his boss, Nigel Farage. Producer: Daniel Kraemer…