Best of the Spectator

Comedian Geoff Norcott joins journalist Benedict Spence and comedy club founder Andy Shaw on the new podcast from Spectator Life. ‘That’s Life’ is a sideways look at the events, people, words and ideas that shape the news agenda. Andy and Benedict talk to Geoff about self-partnering, Pizza Express and what it’s like to come out as a right-wing comic. Geoff is the token Leave-voter on the BBC show ‘The Mash Report’ and he's currently embarking on a national tour of his latest show 'Taking Liberties'. He's written for The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and Spiked.To hear more episodes, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam's guest in this week’s Book Club is the rock musician, writer and sometime Faber editor Pete Townshend. Pete has just published his first novel The Age of Anxiety, an ambitious work jointly conceived as an opera. They talk about madness and creativity, Who lyrics popping up in the fiction, how he settled on an Aristotelian plot, and the unusual way his psychic second wife sends him off to sleep.The Spectator Book Club, what used to be known as Spectator Books, is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cement, steel, and other industrial companies produce a third of greenhouse gases in the world today; and nearly a quarter of British emissions. There is no reaching Net Zero without decarbonising these sectors, or at least cutting their emissions. So how can it be done, and done in an egalitarian way that doesn't threaten jobs or consumers? Fraser Nelson talks to Magnus Hall, CEO of Swedish energy company Vattenfall, that thinks it might have the answers; Gareth Stace, head of UK Steel; and Nadhim Zahawi, minister for Business and Industry at BEIS.Sponsored by Vattenfall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson.Presented by Katy Balls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as the Tories continue to lead in the polls, Lara speaks to Alastair Campbell about what Remainers can do to turn things around (00:45). Plus, Venice is holding an independence referendum – but will that help with the city’s problems (19:10)? And last, is Instagram the future of poetry (28:35)?With James Forsyth, Alastair Campbell, Anna Somers Cocks, Ferdinando Giugliano, Thomas W Hodgkinson and Sam Leith.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Matt Taylor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam is joined from beyond the grave on this week’s Spectator Book Club by the late Laurie Lee — to talk about Gloucestershire’s Slad Valley, the landscape that made him a writer. Acting as medium, so to speak, is David Parker — whose 1990s interviews with Lee before his death provide the material for the new book Down In The Valley: A Writer’s Landscape — and who’s here to talk about the pleasures and difficulties of coaxing reminiscences out of this laureate of English rural life. Essential listening for anyone for whom Cider With Rosie and As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning formed part of a literary education.The Spectator Book Club, what used to be known as Spectator Books, is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Jacob Heilbrunn, Editor of the National Interest and contributor to Spectator USA.Americano is a series of in-depth discussions on American politics with the best pundits stateside. Presented by Freddy Gray, editor of Spectator USA. Click here to listen to previous episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.Presented by Katy Balls.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Grace Blakeley, author of Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation, and Ryan Shorthouse, Director of Bright Blue, a centre-right thinktank.Presented by Katy Balls.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're all sick of celebrities making a meal of their mental health problems – but that doesn't mean that we aren't facing a potential crisis. The unique strains of living in the technology-driven 21st century are taking their toll on people who, in an earlier era, would have been psychologically robust. Many of us are affected by anxiety, depression, addiction and eating disorders; all sorts of compulsive behaviour are flourishing as never before.And the mainstream churches have got nothing useful to say about it. Many bishops seem content to blame it on Brexit.Damian Thompson talks to Professor Stephen Bullivant, Britain's foremost expert on patterns of religious belief. Both talk frankly – 'bravely', as they say of celebrities – about their struggles with mental illness.Holy Smoke is a series of podcasts where Damian Thompson dissects the most important and controversial topics in world religion, with a range of high profile guests. Click here to find previous episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.