The Interview

In this engaging conversation, Sir Salman Rushdie, an acclaimed novelist and a passionate advocate for free expression, discusses his latest work, The Eleventh Hour, after surviving a harrowing attack. He explores the role of fiction in uncovering truths against a backdrop of lies and censorship. Rushdie shares insights on the impact of book bans, the challenges he faced in reclaiming his narrative, and the themes of mortality and farewell in his new novellas. He also reflects on the power of literature to counter disinformation and the challenges posed by AI.

Nhial Deng Nhial, a senior South Sudanese politician and former foreign minister, critiques the current government, reflecting on political instability and governance failures. He discusses the squandered oil wealth that could have fueled development and warns of South Sudan's reliance on aid. Nhial emphasizes the urgent need for free elections to mitigate violence, questions President Salva Kiir's legitimacy, and addresses the handling of Riek Machar's charges. He expresses disappointment over unfulfilled hopes for the country since independence.

Sir Bradley Wiggins, the first Briton to win the Tour de France and a five-time Olympic gold medallist, shares his tumultuous journey through fame, loss, and recovery. He candidly discusses the pain of childhood abuse from a coach and the ensuing struggles with drug addiction. Wiggins reflects on the challenges surrounding doping allegations and the importance of reclaiming his narrative through his book. He emphasizes the vital role of family love in his recovery and how he now values personal growth over past accolades.

Edward Enninful, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, brings a rich perspective on inclusivity in fashion. He recounts arriving in London from Ghana and feeling out of place among a predominantly white crowd. Enninful emphasizes the need for diversity, highlighting his mother's influence on his vision of beauty. He warns against a return to narrow beauty standards and shares his plans for EE72, a platform dedicated to inclusivity. He also discusses the evolving role of social media and the importance of protecting youth from harmful ideals.

Sir Philip Pullman, the acclaimed author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, discusses his new book, The Rose Field. He critiques conventional fantasy for lacking psychological depth and explores the tension between personal faith and institutional religion. Pullman shares insights on the importance of imagination, stating it perceives non-physical realities. He reflects on childhood experiences that shaped his writing and expresses concern about declining reading rates among children, advocating for family reading and libraries as solutions.

Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia and advocate for open knowledge, discusses the urgent need to rebuild trust in the digital age. He shares insights from his book, The Seven Rules of Trust, exploring how Wikipedia's community-driven model counteracts the rising tide of misinformation. Wales addresses challenges like political bias, moderation of bad actors, and maintaining neutrality. He also highlights the risks and opportunities presented by AI, advocating for transparency as a cornerstone for restoring public confidence in information.

Kamala Harris, the former Vice President and 2024 presidential hopeful, delves into her rapid 107-day campaign in this insightful conversation. She takes responsibility for her whirlwind run after Joe Biden's surprising withdrawal and discusses the challenges of connecting with voters in such a short time. Harris candidly critiques Donald Trump, labeling him a 'tyrant' while stressing the need for more time to communicate her policies. She also reflects on her future in politics, indicating that she's not done serving and exploring new paths ahead.

In this compelling discussion, David Grossman, a renowned Israeli novelist and peace activist, shares his profound insights on the current Israel-Hamas war. He argues that isolating Israel is a misstep, emphasizing the necessity of dialogue over boycotts. Grossman elaborates on why he labeled Israel's actions as genocide and delves into the challenges faced by Palestinian citizens in Israel. He also reflects on the shifting dynamics of Israeli society post-October 7, highlighting the importance of maintaining moral values amid crisis.

‘There are real consequences to our physical and mental health’Katty Kay speaks to Dr Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon-General about the challenge posed by loneliness and isolation in the modern world. Dr. Murthy, the first person of Indian descent in the post, was appointed during the second Obama administration. He then returned in 2021, serving until the beginning of this year.The Surgeon-General’s job is to provide the American public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury. They also oversee the country’s 6,000 public health professionals who respond to national health threats and public health crises.It was during his second term, under the Biden administration, that Dr. Murthy first started expressing concern about the impact of social media on the mental health and wellbeing of young people. He described the loneliness epidemic of social isolation as a risk to public health akin to smoking and diabetes.In this interview, he examines the scale of the challenge posed by loneliness and how artificial intelligence, or AI, on the one hand is being used to tackle it, but may also be simultaneously adding to the problem. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Katty Kay Producers: Ben Cooper, Aiden Johnson and Ilyas Kirmani Editor: Justine LangGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Jamie Dimon, the Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, discusses pressing global economic concerns, highlighting the underestimated risk of a U.S. stock market correction. He reflects on the impact of the Ukraine invasion on global resilience and emphasizes the need for strengthened defense investments. Dimon also critiques the current AI investment frenzy as potentially wasteful, while defending the U.S. as the top investment choice amid rising geopolitical tensions and inflation drivers. With candid insights on market valuations, he stresses the importance of robust leadership and strategic policies.