This podcast honors past HARDtalk guests who died in 2023. It discusses Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the US Supreme Court, and covers topics like the U.S. Constitution, abortion, the Holocaust, and Pakistan's governance. The speaker reflects on the importance of research, defends their show against claims of exploitation, and reflects on privilege and remarkable stories.

A look back at impactful interviews in 2023, including discussions on the Hamas attack and Israel's response, the UN Relief Agency and US-Israeli relations, challenges faced by South Africa and the threat to ANC's power, impacts of rising sea levels and transitioning from fossil fuels, and the potential threats of widespread technologies and the impact of AI on creatives.

Former Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, discusses Israel's military response to Hamas, diplomatic challenges, and the impact of the war on the people of Gaza. Topics include targeting terrorists, mistaken incidents, extreme rhetoric, and the need for a new regime in Gaza.

Zeinab Badawi speaks to Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian doctor who lost three daughters and a niece in a tank strike on his home in Gaza. He discusses forgiveness and peace despite losing 22 more family members in the current bombardment. The podcast explores the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the need for a two-state solution, and the challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The framers of the American Constitution harboured few illusions about human nature, and that’s why they invested so much significance in the US Supreme Court, the ultimate check on executive and legislative power. Sandra Day O’Connor, who died days ago at the age of 93, was the first woman to be appointed as a justice in this court. For 25 years, she was one of its most influential voices. HARDtalk travelled to Washington DC in 2006 to speak to her.Image: Sandra Day O'Connor, pictured in 2003 (Credit: Tom Mihalek/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza discusses her political activism in Rwanda and her criticisms of President Paul Kagame's leadership. The podcast explores the controversial UK-Rwanda migrant transfer deal and its perception among opponents of Kagame's regime. They also discuss the challenges and restrictions faced by opposition figures in Rwandan politics, President Kagame's popularity, and the implications of the migrant transfer deal. The speaker emphasizes the determination to establish good governance in Rwanda through non-violent means.

Stephen Sackur speaks to Fatih Birol, Head of the International Energy Agency, about the global energy transition and its challenges. They discuss the decline of fossil fuel demand, the growth of solar energy in India, the role of carbon capture and storage, and the upcoming COP meeting in Dubai.

Stephen Sackur speaks to Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. They discuss the potential destabilization of the Gulf states due to the conflict in Gaza, the normalization of relations with Israel, difficulties in delivering aid to Palestinians, diplomatic fallout within the GCC, perception of public sentiment and human rights in the Gulf states, separating politics from trade, and the conflict in the Gulf over climate change and oil production.

Stephen Sackur speaks to Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the UN’s refugee agency for Palestinians. He is just back from Gaza where the temporary truce gave him a chance to assess the scale of the humanitarian crisis. With Israel vowing to resume its war on Hamas, could Gaza soon be unliveable?

Stephen Sackur speaks to far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, whose Religious Zionism party is in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ruling coalition. He and his party colleagues seem ready for a new era of long-term violent confrontation, not just in Gaza, but in the West Bank too. Is his mindset and strategic vision in the best interests of Israel’s future?