Planet Normal

In this the final of the four part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.In May, we heard from Planet Normal listener, and professional rowing coach Jane, who shared her despair at the lack of regulations with trans athletes competing against women, specifically in rowing events but also the concerns across all sports.Joining co-pilots Halligan and Pearson for a return voyage in April was Lord Jonathan Sumption who shared his thoughts on the Government's lockdown inquiry, and why he believed it shouldn't have been so judicial and "quasi-forensic".  Two fantastic and unforgettable guests.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read: Planet Normal: British Rowing should follow example set by World Athletics regarding trans athletes: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/05/11/planet-normal-trans-athletes-rowing/ |Read: Jonathan Sumption: the BBC was pro-lockdown because of the threat to the licence fee: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/04/06/bbc-license-fee-lockdown-government/ | Listen to The Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast: https://podfollow.com/the-telegraph-womens-sport-podcast |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this the third of the four part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.Back in March, co-pilot Pearson travelled to Sweden for a Planet Normal exclusive interview with ‘pandemic hero’ and state epidemiologist for Sweden during the pandemic, Anders Tegnell.The co-pilots also welcomed back onto the rocket some of their heroes from the pandemic, those they felt had spoken out and dared to stick their head over the parapet against the mainstream.In this special episode he shared his observations from the very different approach Swedish authorities took to dealing with the pandemic, in comparison to the UK and the rest of the world. Not one to be missed!Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read: Allison Pearson meets Anders Tegnell: ‘Lockdown was never on the agenda in Sweden’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/23/anders-tegnell-swedens-pandemic-plan-lockdown-never-agenda/ |Read ‘Planet Normal: the cognitive dissonance when it comes to lockdown’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/03/30/planet-normal-lockdown-heroes/ |Listen to The Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast: https://podfollow.com/the-telegraph-womens-sport-podcast |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this the second of the four part best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.Back in February, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson welcomed Telegraph Science Editor, Sarah Knapton who explained why she felt 'bruised' by her experiences reporting on Covid and why she pushed back against the mainstream narrative. Sarah also weighed in on the concerns of the vaccine and whether young people should be encouraged to have it.Staying within the theme of health, in May, Planet Normal listener Jon Chapple shared his moving story of dealing with the NHS as ‘a covid only service’ whilst dealing with stage four cancer diagnosis.Two very important episodes outlining some of the problems within our health service.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read: At 34, Jon has incurable bowel cancer – all because the NHS turned into a Covid-only service: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2023/05/30/crowdfunding-germany-bowel-cancer-nhs-failures/ Read: Planet Normal: 'People should be made aware of link between Covid jab and heart problems’:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/02/09/planet-normal-people-should-made-aware-link-covid-jab-heart/ Listen to The Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast: https://podfollow.com/the-telegraph-womens-sport-podcast  |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this the first of a four part series, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan dig into the data files for some of their most explosive voyages on the rocket of right thinking, from the year so far.The rocket blasted into the year with a special guest appearance from podcaster and comedian Konstantin Kisin. He shared his thoughts on how the UK could tackle the ever growing problem of illegal immigration as well as his take on the latest developments on the war in Ukraine, as a Russian immigrant.Back in March, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Westminster legend, the late Lord Nigel Lawson, gave his assessment on current Conservative tax policies and reflected on the lasting legacy of the Thatcher government. This was one voyage not one to be missed!Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Read Planet Normal: New Year news tsunami foreshadows tumultuous 2023 : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/01/12/planet-normal-new-year-news-tsunami-forebodes-tumultuous-2023/ |Read Planet Normal: 'The Conservative Party is going to have to reinvent itself,' says Nigel Lawson:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/03/09/planet-normal-conservative-party-going-have-reinvent/ |Listen to The Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast: https://podfollow.com/the-telegraph-womens-sport-podcast |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode, before the rocket blasts off for a brief summer break, it’s Allison vs Alison as co-pilot Pearson takes on Dame Alison Rose in the still brewing Coutts Bank versus Nigel Farage war. But who will emerge victorious?Allison thinks things have taken a sinister turn and demonstrates the dark side of the diversity , and equality industry invading big corporations and businesses.Liam thinks this story could be less about wokery and more about the potential dangers of banks moving away from cash transactions and is concerned for the millions of people in the UK that can't get access to a bank account.Elsewhere on the podcast, boarding the rocket this week is previous stowaway Laura Dodsworth and her co-author Patrick Fagan, to chat through their new book ‘Free Your Mind’ and some of the techniques they have developed to resist the increasing manipulation present in our every day lives, and how to spot it!Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s something in the air this week, but what is causing the temperature to rise in the rocket of right thinking this week? Is it the woke banks telling you how to think before depositing your money or is it the 'Nudge Unit' colouring in all the maps in a sea of climate change red? Only your co-pilots have the answers.Both co-pilots are worried that climate alarmism has gone completely berserk. Allison is concerned that familiar scaremongering tactics are being used to crank up the fear. Could we be headed for a climate lockdown?Liam thinks there will eventually be a shift to being energy independent, but the message is being 'cranked' up to stoke fear before financial responsibility for the Country.Also boarding the rocket this week to share the secret stories of Lord Mountbatten, is historian Andrew Lownie and author of the book ‘The Mountbattens: The Lives and Loves of Dickie and Edwina Mountbatten'.There’s also a very special email from the youngest ever Planet Normal listener…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Listen to The Telegraph Women's Sport Podcast: https://podfollow.com/the-telegraph-womens-sport-podcast |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Note: this episode was recorded before Huw Edwards was named by his wife as the presenter at the centre of the BBC scandal. There are no shortage of crises on the rocket this week, in-between the economic and immigration rows and a sex scandal threatening to rock the BBC, our co-pilots have got their hands full. Allison’s disgust with the government’s immigration policies are growing by the day. She thinks the ‘liberal elite’ in Westminster would rather stick up for foreigners than their people and that we’re in the midst of a ‘national emergency’.From immigration to the economy. Co-pilot Halligan is on hand to answer the big questions circling former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s new growth committee. Is the former PM really to blame for the country’s economic woe? Or were we already heading for a crash landing?Boarding the rocket of right thinking for her second voyage is former Olympic swimmer, Sharron Davies MBE who gives our co-pilots an update on her campaign to keep biological men out of women’s sports categories. She also explains the dangers of abolishing gender categories at children’s sports days.And Allison gives Liam a lesson in Welsh pronunciation. Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the 75th birthday of our National Health Service but your co-pilots are feeling far from ready to celebrate…Allison thinks it’s less of a national health service and more of a national disaster, and Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak is too busy with a 15 year workforce plan to fix anything quickly.Liam thinks the PM will struggle to meet his targets across the board including the NHS, whilst Allison was surprised to agree with former PM Tony Blair, when he said more private elements need to be brought in to the NHS.Also hopping onboard the rocket to discuss the NHS at its 75th year, is Former NHS Trust Chairman Roy Lilley who tells our co-pilots more about the NHS workforce plan, why it doesn’t include a social care plan and exactly how much funding the institution needs.And Bob the Bard makes an eagerly awaited return to the rocket..Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the Bank of England increasing interest rates, a mortgage crisis is looming. A week on, at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer is appealing to the traditional "red wall" seats, saying Labour is now the party of homeownership.Liam quickly points out that while inflation is a global phenomenon, the political costs for the Conservatives could be 'catastrophic'. Allison agrees, reckoning Labour will lose the red wall seats won by Boris Johnson in 2019. With Labour calling the rise in interest rates a 'Tory Mortgage Bombshell', how is the Bank of England going to slow inflation by the end of the year?Also boarding the rocket of right thinking this week is Conservative MP for Wokingham, John Redwood, to discuss where he thinks the Bank of England has made tough decisions in difficult circumstances and what can be done to steady the economy.Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the ‘media froth’ surrounding the economy building, bond yields spiking and interest rates set to soar, can our economy keep defying gravity?Special guest co-pilot Nick Timothy is on hand to explain why interest rates are set to feel incredibly painful during this the Bank Of England’s 13th interest rate rise. However, Liam thinks that there is a ‘policy crunch' on the way with the political and media classes unable to leave the Bank of England and its independence alone.Also strapping in the rocket this week is author and commentator, Dr Rakib Ehsan to discuss his new book, Beyond Grievance: What the Left Gets Wrong About Ethnic Minorities. He tells the co-pilots why he thinks there are growing tensions between the liberal cosmopolitan Left and the patriotic faith based conservatism found in many ethnic communities. In light of Labour’s considerable lead in the current polls, Nick also delivers his verdict on the party’s leadership prospects. And there’s one particularly headline-worthy listener email…Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read more from Nick: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/n/nf-nj/nick-timothy/ \Listen to The Lockdown Files: https://podfollow.com/the-lockdown-files Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.