Paul Wood

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood discusses the urgent need for prison reform in England and Wales, spotlighting her personal commitment to public service. Max Jeffery shares insights from his experience shadowing police as they search for the parents of three abandoned babies, revealing emotional community challenges. Paul Wood examines the PKK's potential disarmament and its implications for Turkey and the Kurdish people. Additionally, Susannah Jowitt highlights a groundbreaking funeral flower display at the Chelsea Flower Show, blending themes of life and death.

Join Paul Wood, a writer for The Spectator, as he provocatively asks if Trump might really use bombs in Iran. Katy Balls, the political editor, interviews Health Secretary Wes Streeting about NHS reforms and touches on the intersection of politics and pop culture. Aidan Hartley takes listeners on a whimsical anthropomorphic journey through Africa's wildlife. Renowned explorer Benedict Allen reviews gripping books on extreme exploration in the polar regions, pondering the thin line between adventure and peril.

Guests Paul Wood, a Spectator writer who delves into SAS soldiers' legal struggles, and Peter Pomerantsev, a journalist discussing the historical significance of Odesa, explore urgent issues. Wood reveals how legal challenges are impacting SAS morale and recruitment. Pomerantsev discusses Odesa's vital role amidst the Russian invasion. Film critics Chris Tookey and Tim Robey share insights on the disillusionment with modern cinema, lamenting the loss of the communal theater experience and the overwhelming dominance of superhero films, questioning the future of innovative storytelling.