In this podcast, influential data scientist and researcher Hannah Ritchie discusses her book on building a sustainable planet. Topics include addressing global sustainability challenges, the history of air pollution, the affordability of renewable energy, solving intermittency in renewable energy storage, the impact of ordering lamb on climate change, and the debate on economic growth and consumption.

Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, discusses his new book on sustaining excellence every day, highlighting practical methods for applying emotional intelligence. He talks about achieving the optimal state, the role of emotional intelligence in organizations, and the importance of emotional intelligence in education and the future.

Rebecca Boyle, an award-winning science writer, discusses her book 'Our Moon' and its cultural significance. Topics include myths, astronomy, future lunar exploration, the moon's formation, its influence on biology, historical observation, and the future of the moon.

China's President Xi Jinping, a figure of extraordinary influence, discusses his political agenda. The podcast explores Xi Jinping Thought as China's state ideology and delves into topics such as the future of ethnic minorities in China, China's role in the international order, and the Tianxia paradigm. It also examines Xi Jinping's place in China's future and his thought as the core of the Communist Party.

Tracey Emin, a major figure in contemporary art, discusses the role of women in Edvard Munch's work and why his paintings still captivate us today. They explore Munch's emotional truth in art, his relationships, addiction, and the power of art to express emotions.

Author Kat Bohannon and zoologist Lucy Cooke discuss the evolution of the female body, including midwifery, bipedalism, and reproductive choice. They also explore sex differences in medical treatment and the importance of research in improving care.

David Runciman, Professor of Politics at Cambridge University, discusses his latest book 'The Handover' with Adam McCauley, exploring the influence of artificial agents on human decision-making power and the historical relationship between states and corporations. They also discuss the role of AI in corporations, states, and individuals, and reflect on the future of democracy and technology.

Rob Drummond, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses the diversity of spoken language in the UK, accent bias, the popularity of different accents, the importance of accents in social indicators and identity, multicultural London English, language adjustments for effective communication, and the challenges and role of understanding accents.

Nabila Ramdani, author of Fixing France, discusses the challenges and prospects of France, including political landscape, constitutional reform, migration bill, Macron's rise to power, and French perception of Anglo-Saxon nations.

Margaret Cavendish, a trailblazing writer in a male-dominated world, is discussed by journalist Francesca Peacock and historian Helen Carr. They explore Cavendish's challenging childhood, her education and writing career, her exploration of science and philosophy, and her fascinating psychedelic writing, including The Blazing World, considered one of the first science fiction works and an exploration of utopian feminist thought.