Best of the Spectator

After a tragic fire destroyed parts of the Notre Dame on Holy Week, we talk to what the cathedral means to Catholics (00.30). Plus, a special debate on euthanasia (10.25), and a discussion with the Dean of Westminster Abbey about why we need hymns more than ever (20.30)With the Very Reverend John Hall, Damian Thompson, Matthew Walther, Sam Leith, Douglas Murray and Ysenda Maxtone-Graham. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Produced by Siva Thangarajah and Gabriel Radonich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Books Podcast Sam is joined by Professor Cass Sunstein -- best known here as co-author of the hugely influential 2008 book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, which spawned a whole transatlantic movement in using behavioural psychology to influence public policy (not least over here in the Cabinet Office's celebrated "Nudge Unit"). Cass's new book is called How Change Happens -- and extends the arguments of his previous books to talk about the mechanisms that determine quite big, and quite abrupt shifts in politics and social attitudes.Sam asks him how his ideas about nudging have changed over the last decade; about the limits and contradictions of "libertarian paternalism"; about the dangers of "group polarisation"; about how much we can or should trust to big tech and the mechanisms of the market; and about how the explosion in digital media has changed the democratic landscape for good.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 of Spectator Books here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Zack Christenson, publisher of Spectator USA and former CEO of CrowdskoutAmericano 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 Katy Balls and Stephen Bush.Presented by John Connolly.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, visit spectator.co.uk/shots to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alissa Timoshkina is a chef, food and film writer, and the founder of the KinoVino supper club. Today she joins Lara and Livvy to discuss Soviet food culture, her journey from film to cookery, and ‘the cabbage myth’.Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to celebrity guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With plummeting approval ratings and street protests stretching into their fifth month, Emmanuelle Macron’s presidency seems to be going from bad to worse. So what happened to France’s golden child of global liberalism (00:30)? Plus, are MPs whining too much (12:45)? And last, is TV binge-watching becoming an epidemic (22:00)?With Jonathan Miller, Sophie Pedder, Melissa Kite, Stewart Jackson, Mark Palmer and Emma Bullimore.Presented by Isabel Hardman.Produced by Cindy Yu and Gabriel Radonich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam's guest for this week’s books podcast is Clare Carlisle, author of a new life of Soren Kierkegaard, Philosopher of the Heart. Kierkegaard has a reputation for being forbidding, pious and difficult to pronounce - but Clare’s here to tell us why the work of this transformational thinker and writer speaks to every age about the difficulties and the vital importance of finding a way of living in the world. Plus, we learn about his very strange love-life, his mental health, and how he got monstered by Copenhagen’s equivalent of Private Eye. There ain’t nothing like a Dane.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 of Spectator Books here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of Coffee House Shots, Fraser Nelson talks to Peter Oborne on why, as a former Brexiteer, Oborne thinks we must think again about Brexit.You can read Peter Oborne's article here.Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, visit spectator.co.uk/shots to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With John Rick MacArthur, president of Harpers magazine.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.

Victoria Atkins is a former barrister and a Conservative party MP. She is a Minister at the Home Office. She talks about her legal career and her work at the Home Office creating legislation to protect women and vulnerable people. Hosted by Katy Balls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.