Helen Fielding and Gill Hornby talk about Jane Austen's enduring appeal, borrowing Austen's plot in the Bridget Jones novels, interpreting Mrs Bennet's character, limited options for unmarried women in the past, and the humor and engaging plots of Austen's novels.

Robin Lane Fox, classicist and ancient historian, discusses Homer's Iliad and its enduring impact. They explore the theory of Homer as an individual and the careful construction of the poem. They also discuss the translation of the Iliad, highlighting Emily Wilson's version. Overall, they reflect on the genius of Homer and express gratitude for the opportunity to discuss their thoughts on the podcast.

Yascha Mounk, a writer and political scientist, discusses the modern world's obsession with group identity and its impact on progressive institutions. He criticizes the left for ignoring terrorism and explores the pitfalls of defining oneself through intersecting identities. The speakers analyze the challenge of finding a term to describe the left's ideology and discuss the decline of trust in institutions.

Can we separate art from the artist? Controversial figures like Michael Jackson and Woody Allen are discussed. The impact of subjective experiences on art interpretation. The challenge of separating personal lives from art. Exploring generational conflict and cancel culture.

Activists challenge oil and gas authority, role of licensing in addressing climate change, mechanisms of oil industry licenses, debating significance of licensing in regulating oil, understanding scope one, two, and three emissions, urgent need for reform in regulatory system for oil licenses

Henry Ajder, Generative AI & Deepfakes Expert Advisor, and Michael Wooldridge, Director of Foundational AI Research at the Turing Institute, discuss the future of AI and its impact on humanity. They touch on topics such as consciousness in AI, the difference between human thinking and AI, the potential of artificial general intelligence, and the power dynamics of AI.

Academic, activist, and author Kehinde Andrews explores the concept of whiteness as a psychosis, discussing historical inaccuracies in films, complexities of returning objects to Nigeria, and the impact of societal structures on marginalized groups. The lack of progress under the first black president and the need for revolution to combat white supremacy are also discussed.

Ed Vaizey and Noel Malcolm debate whether the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to Greece. They discuss the benefits of reuniting the sculptures, the controversy over ownership, and the complex attitudes towards historical artifacts. The debate explores the possibility of a win-win solution through reunification and preservation.

Explore China's quest for global influence and how it has weaponized its economy. Topics include the ethical dilemma faced by multinational companies, China's exploitation of trade behavior, the Xinjiang cotton boycotts, the asymmetrical relationship between Western companies and the Chinese government, and challenges for tech companies operating in China.

Exploring the implications of AI on decision-making, government engagement with AI, perspectives on regulation and innovation, and challenges in China's AI development.