Best of the Spectator

By: The Spectator
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  • Summary

  • Home to the Spectator's best podcasts on everything from politics to religion, literature to food and drink, and more. A new podcast every day from writers worth listening to.
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Politics & Government Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • Olenka Hamilton, Melanie McDonagh, Hannah Moore, James Delingpole and William Atkinson

    Olenka Hamilton, Melanie McDonagh, Hannah Moore, James Delingpole and William Atkinson
    May 11 2025
    On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Olenka Hamilton ponders whether Poland’s revival is a mirage (1:24); Melanie McDonagh asks who killed the postal service (9:52); Hannah Moore argues that family cars aren’t built for families any more (14:35); James Delingpole reviews Careme from Apple TV and Chef’s Table from Netflix (21:15); and, William Atkinson provides his notes on Thomas the Tank Engine (26:48).

    Presented by Patrick Gibbons.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.
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    30 mins
  • Coffee House Shots Live: Zia Yusuf and Jacob Rees-Mogg

    Coffee House Shots Live: Zia Yusuf and Jacob Rees-Mogg
    May 10 2025
    The post-mortem has begun on a historic set of local elections – but where does each party go from here? Is Reform unstoppable? Is Kemi the one to lead the Conservative rebuild? Do Labour really ‘get it’? Michael Gove, James Heale and Lucy Dunn are joined by special guests Zia Yusuf and Jacob Rees-Mogg to unpack these questions – as well as the broader ramifications of the local elections on British politics.

    Listen for: Zia’s understanding of why Reform did so well; Jacob’s concession that a Tory/Reform pact of some description could be the only way for the Conservatives to avoid extinction; and Michael’s assessment of whether Labour will force us closer to the EU.

    This podcast was originally recorded live at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster on Wednesday 7 May.
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Holy Smoke: Does Pope Leo XIV represent continuity or change?

    Holy Smoke: Does Pope Leo XIV represent continuity or change?
    May 9 2025
    From Rome Fr Benedict Kiely and Damian Thompson react to the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the successor to Pope Francis. The first American Pope, Prevost is also a citizen of Peru, having spent years working as first a parish pastor and teacher, and later as a bishop. The 267th Bishop of Rome is also the first native English-speaking pope for almost 900 years.

    The election of Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is seen as a surprise but is being heralded by both liberal and conservative factions of the Catholic Church. Does he represent continuity or change with his predecessor? On this episode of Holy Smoke, Fr Benedict and Damian take us through what clues are available to understand what we can expect from the new Pope, from his choice of clothes and papal name to his views on issues like homosexuality and the traditional mass. Could Leo XIV surprise us?

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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    20 mins
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