Matt Vella, FT Weekend editor-at-large, shares insights as he discusses cultural predictions for 2025. He tackles the potential decline of meme culture and the push for spontaneity in dining, encouraging a casual approach. Vella also highlights a hopeful cultural renaissance in Syria, while exploring evolving views on masculinity in modern society. Embracing chaos, he suggests a shift toward authenticity in our hyper-communicative world, inviting listeners to let go of the fear of being constantly watched.

This week, we're talking about how to have the best summer ever. FT magazine editor Matt Vella joins us, and we go through suggestions from listeners, from putting everything in the freezer to getting your ice-cream truck driver's phone number. We also chat about this summer's cultural highlights, and how you might be better off skipping Beyoncé and going to see a local or second-tier band.  --------------We love hearing from you! You can email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com, we’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Links: – Matt’s cultural recommendations: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be out 28 June. Check your local listings for tour dates for Beyoncė, Shania Twain, and Le Tigre– We also mentioned the Talking Heads documentary Stop Making Sense.  – A beautiful column by our colleague Enuma Okoro: The pleasure and possibility of summer https://on.ft.com/3P7sAzM – The best summer music festivals worldwide: https://on.ft.com/3p4pLF2 – The perfect menu for your first summer meal outdoors (Ravinder Bhogal recipes): https://on.ft.com/3NtZHMN – You can browse the entire summer food and drink special here: https://on.ft.com/3Ct9Q67--------------Special offers for Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast.--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FT Weekend Magazine editor Matt Vella and deputy editor Cordelia Jenkins discuss Shakespeare's enduring relevance, mysteries, live plays, and summer festivals. They explore personal connections, King Lear in theater, love for Shakespeare, 90s movies' depth, Love Island ties to Shakespeare, and relaxing sound baths.

It’s our last episode of the year, and our annual predictions episode for 2023! Lilah is joined by FT Magazine editor Matt Vella to talk through listener call-ins, from dog trends to speed dating to what White Lotus says about the end of the world. Matt and Lilah also add some hopes, dreams and guesses of their own. Then, FT editors and journalists share their predictions for what will happen in art, fashion, music, tech and more.-------We love hearing from you! You can email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.-------Links: – Matt is on Twitter @mattvella. You also heard from fashion editor Lauren Indvik (@laureni), arts editor Jan Dalley, music critic Arwa Haider (@ArwaHaider), deputy arts editor Raphael Abraham (@RaphAbraham), and San Francisco correspondent Patrick McGee (@PatrickMcGee_)– Raph’s film recommendations are Aftersun (2022, out now), directed by Charlotte Wells. The Fabelmans (January 2023), directed by Stephen Spielberg and Alcarràs (January 2023), directed by Carla Simón–Here’s Raph’s interview with Aftersun director Charlotte Wells: https://on.ft.com/3Twlweq –A column from Jan on how rich bashing is back, onscreen, with White Lotus: https://on.ft.com/3UaFX18 –Lauren has a new excellent newsletter on the business of the $2.5tn fashion industry, called Fashion Matters. Subscribe here: https://on.ft.com/3Xa4Nk5 – A full list of FT columnists’ predictions for 2023 will be published on the FT’s website at the end of this month-------Special offers for FT Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial can be found here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast-------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco-------Clip courtesy of HBORead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our final episode of 2021, and we are marking the end of one unpredictable year and the start of another. What do you think will happen in 2022? Matt Vella, FT Weekend Magazine editor, joins Lilah to discuss listeners’ cultural predictions. A lot of them had an air of nostalgia: Will Britney make a documentary about her life? Will flip phones make a comeback? Then, our pop critic Ludovic Hunter-Tilney teaches us the art of the perfect holiday playlist. --------------If you want a great offer on an FT subscription specifically for listeners (and not a bad Christmas gift!) use this link: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Thank you for listening to the show this year. We’ll be back on January 8! What culture will you be reading, watching, listening to during the holidays? Say hi and let us know! Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Links and mentions from the episode: –Two books by the late, great bell hooks: The Will to Change, and All About Love–The FT’s Christmas roundup-(the complete guide to eating, drinking, giving and self-caring your way to a very merry holiday this year): https://www.ft.com/content/3d6c80dd-dbc3-4e0e-939f-b917aa401dfc Here are Ludo’s reviews of his favourite albums of the year (all free to read):–The Weather Station: Ignorance https://www.ft.com/content/57aef341-cce1-4816-9939-3c71a3fe5edf –Nation of Language: A Way Forward https://www.ft.com/content/ed7f3da8-d033-4ca0-90c7-1b7e4b425a19 –Pharoah Sanders, Floating Points and the London Symphony Orchestra: Promises https://www.ft.com/content/c00c0655-013d-4d3b-8c7c-bf7dea47c1fc --------------Thank you to everyone who shared your notes, including: Andrei Berghianu from Romania, Olga Sihmane from Stockholm, Ashley Harris from Brooklyn, Lily Bland, Roger Ralph, Manish Prayaga, Helen Beedham, April from Los Angeles and so many more.--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.