Patrick McGuinness, author, reflects on his family's hometown of Bouillon in Belgium, discussing linguistic and national barriers, changes in the town post-industrial era, and how history and global politics can alter a locality. He shares personal memories, class dynamics, gentrification issues in Oxford, and the fading traces of Bouillon's old shops.

Exploring Trump's acceptance speech, humanizing anecdotes fell short, dissecting theatrics in politics, critiquing Trump's storytelling, analyzing origins of Trumpism

Andrew O'Hagan and Deborah Friedell discuss the impact of a second Trump presidency on American foreign policy. They analyze J.D. Vance's memoir and his keynote speech at the Republican National Convention.

Andrew O'Hagan, who attended the 2004 RNC, discusses the Make America Safe Again theme. The podcast explores Trump's rhetoric on immigration and the intense security measures at the convention center. Key topics include a shooting incident near the convention, speeches at the RNC, and the shift in tone towards Trump-like aggression on the second day.

Journalists Andrew O'Hagan and Deborah Friedell discuss Trump's VP pick and Sean O'Brien's RNC speech. Topics include union presence at the convention, J.D. Vance as VP candidate, and the unique atmosphere of day one.

Mendez, an audiobook narrator, shares their journey from waiting tables to becoming the voice of Pelé. They discuss navigating accents, challenges in narration, and the intricacies of audiobook production. Mendez also reflects on their upbringing and struggles with fitting in at school, all while exploring their newfound passion for football culture.

John Lanchester, Tom Crewe, and Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite discuss Keir Starmer's victory and the Conservative Party collapse. They analyze the country's needs, Labour's promises, and Harold Wilson comparisons. The podcast reflects on the recent UK general election results, future political strategies, challenges for Labour governments, voting trends, Rachel Reeves' energy strategy, Labour's new deal, and hopeful political change.

Political economist William Davies discusses the poor state of the UK's public finances, analyzing the impact of past Conservative rule and chaotic events like Brexit and the Truss-Kwarteng 'mini-budget'. The conversation explores the potential economic strategies of a likely Labour government, including initiatives like the National Wealth Fund and Great British Energy proposed by Rachel Reeves.

Tom Stevenson and Iona Craig discuss the challenges facing the next foreign secretary in the UK, from Gaza to a possible Trump presidency. They question Labour's promise of 'Blair without the Iraq War' and how it may impact UK's foreign policy. The podcast explores global power shifts, Britain's role in the Middle East, and the complexities of implementing an ethical foreign policy.

Gill Partington discusses Thomas James Wise, a master forger of books, his success and downfall. They explore the value of literary forgeries, hoaxes, and reproductions as art. Insights on Wise's motivations, methods, and the blurred line between authenticity and deceit in literature. Discusses the impact of historical literary hoaxes and the controversial nature of reproducing literary works word for word.