Weekend

From yearning for a ‘strong leader’ to being swept up in riots, the portents for our children are not good – and who can blame them for being so disillusioned, asks Marina Hyde. Oscar-nominated Cynthia Erivo has gone stratospheric as Elphaba in Wicked – what next for one of Britain’s brightest stars? And new research shows western medicine’s traditional split between brain and body is far from clear cut – could this new understanding provide a breakthrough for many complex conditions?

Confusing and capricious, Trump started as he means to go on: chaos, dysfunction and a coalition of creeps; Ruby Franke was a social media star who made viral videos about her six children – until she was jailed for child abuse. Now her eldest daughter Shari is telling her side of the story; and No Dylan but loads of Coldplay! What the songs with a billion streams on Spotify tell us about music taste today.

Move fast, break things, sprint to kiss Trump’s ring: Marina Hyde on the tech bro inauguration derby. ‘I get hate from both sides – vegans and carnivores’: James Collier on UPFs, emotional eating and why he created Huel. And “My partner blames a ‘lack of attraction’ for not wanting sex”: Philippa Perry advises one reader

Caroline Darian shares her harrowing experience as the daughter of Dominique Pelicot, a notorious sexual predator. She discusses the dual trauma of being both a victim’s child and the offspring of a perpetrator, revealing her journey from victim to advocate. Philippa Perry, a psychotherapist, emphasizes the need to seek stable relationships rather than be drawn to unhealthy dynamics. Their conversation highlights the emotional toll of trauma and the importance of societal change in supporting abuse survivors.

Chris Godfrey spent a decade trying to quit smoking, then he tried hypnotherapy and it changed his life. ‘They’re probably not thinking about you’: Oliver Burkeman on how to liberate yourself and stop people-pleasing. And ‘one night I’m a murderer, the next my husband’s having an affair’. Why do we have the dreams that we do?

Fast-talking, finger-jabbing Jeff Goldblum on vanity, mortality and becoming a father in his 60s. Elon Musk (father of 11) supports their cause, thousands follow their ideology: to make it easier for everyone to have multiple children. Enter the unsettling world of Malcolm and Simone Collins, America’s premier pronatalists

The Duke of York is a royal problem, says Marina Hyde: it’s time they owned it. Matt Goss discusses mega-fame, political correctness and loneliness with Simon Hattenstone. After April Balascio’s foster brother was killed, she started piecing together evidence that revealed her father was a serial killer. And Philippa advises an 80-year-old reader how to face the existential void that is overwhelming them.

Gaby Hinsliff, a journalist known for her insightful commentary on family dynamics, delves into the complex world of parental estrangement. She shares personal stories of individuals who have chosen to go no contact with their parents, revealing the emotional turmoil and difficult choices involved. The discussion highlights the impact of generational trauma, gaslighting, and societal shifts on family relationships. Listeners will find a poignant exploration of the heartbreak and necessity that often accompany these painful family rifts.

Writer and actor Jamie Demetriou reveals how an admin mixup paved the way for an unconventional career trajectory, the groups of women unmasking online cheats and ghosters, and Sam Wollaston extols the virtues of sitting down to pee. Because of industrial action taking place by members of the National Union of Journalists at the Guardian and Observer this week, we are re-running an episode from our archive. For more information please head to theguardian.com. We’ll be back with new episodes soon.

Kaya Scodelario, renowned for her role as Effie in Skins, shares her journey from a challenging childhood in London to stardom, revealing the joys of action films and the difficulties of balancing motherhood with work. Andrew Lloyd recounts his harrowing experience of being impersonated online for years and the dramatic steps he took to reclaim his identity. Psychotherapist Philippa Perry provides insightful strategies for coping with despair related to the climate crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for action and mental resilience.