The Prospect Podcast

From London’s many skyscrapers to the wars over brutalism, many of us know what it’s like to either complain about an unsightly building. But these conversations hardly ever go beyond an initial judgment to consider what such ‘ugliness’ can tell us about ourselves. We talk to MIT architectural historian Timothy Hyde about his new book, Ugliness and JudgmentOn Architecture in the Public Eye. Our strong reactions to ugly buildings, he notes, can indeed tell us a lot about our own social worlds. Plus: Tom Clark and Stephanie Boland on the ideology of the modern building Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Though we often talk about the impending climate crisis, the truth is that the effects of climate change are already here. Ed Miliband joins us to talk about his radical green programme, his past work as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and why he thinks our climate crisis is tied to our economic crisis.You can read Ed Miliband’s cover story, "How to Save the Planet" here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/features/ed-miliband-climate-change-economy-save-planetPlus: Steve Bloomfield and Tom Clark offer a short history of our current climate change crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ten Commandments is one of the most well-known pieces of scripture. It may also embody everything wrong with how we read these texts today.Karen Armstrong joins us to talk about her new book, The Art of Scripture, and why there should be more to read more creatively beyond literalism.You can read Reverend Lucy Winkett's review of The Art of Scripture here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/arts-and-books/in-scripture-we-find-not-just-religious-thought-and-theory-but-a-challenge-to-how-we-readPlus: Sameer Rahim and Tom Clark on our modern-day scriptures, and the function of the shibboleth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prospect’s editors went up to Hay-on-Wye last week for the annual Hay Festival of Literature & Arts. We joined Steven Pinker, Elif Shafak and poets from London’s Roundhouse Poetry Collective to talk about what they’re reading right now, and the biggest problems facing the world today.Plus: Sameer Rahim and Stephanie Boland on the literary festival circuit and how a writer’s job today often extends beyond writing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Shakespeare joins the Prospect team to discuss a new BFI film collection about disability.We might like to think things are always getting better—but these films show a more nuanced, complex history.Plus: Sameer Rahim and Tom Clark discuss representation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the past 100 years, a total of 491 women have been elected to Parliament.We talk to Rachel Reeves, Labour MP for Leeds West about her new book, “Women of Westminster: The MPs Who Changed Politics”. How have women MPs changed the UK over the past century? Where do we go next?Plus: Tom Clark and Stephanie Boland on the challenges of being an MP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is said that we are living in an age of multiple crises—climate change, political upheaval, and mass disenfranchisement. Radical economist Paul Mason offers his diagnosis on our current situation, and why the 2008 financial crisis may not be the watershed moment we think it is.Paul’s new book, Clear Bright Future, comes out May 2.Plus: Alex Dean on the Huawei leak, and Sameer Rahim on photographer Don McCullin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Once upon a time, contracts dissolved once you were dead… but big tech companies are holding the same terms of the contract in tact with the deceased person.”How has Facebook revolutionised grief? Psychologist Elaine Kasket has been researching how online lives have reshaped the way we mourn, and all the uncharted questions it raises. Do you really want to remember your partner through a ‘likeness’ app in your smartphone? Who owns the data of ghosts?Elaine’s book, “All the Ghosts in the Machine” is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Ghosts-Machine-Illusions-Immortality/dp/147214189XPlus: Alex Dean on the next Tory party leader, and Steve Bloomfield on podcasts and mental health Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson has made headlines for his contested allegiances within the party.Journalist Kevin Maguire joins Prospect to discuss the burning question often heard around Westminster: what's Tommy up to? Will he form, as teased, a National Government — or has his reputation as a blustery schemer softened over the years?You can read Kevin's profile of Tom Watson in the latest issue of Prospect, also available online here: bit.ly/2VP0ivhPlus: Alex Dean on 'Boris-proofing Brexit' and Sameer Rahim on the art of cultural appreciation over Easter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a child conceived using a donor sperm wants to meet their biological father?Wendy Kramer, the “donor detective”, runs the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR) which has 63,461 members and has so far connected 16,779 individuals around the world with their donor parents or half siblings. In our May issue, journalist Stefanie Marsh follows Kramer’s work, uncovering the tricky questions on anonymity and reconciling donor rights with the rights of children. She talks to us about the experience behind the story: “it’s one of the most moving bits of journalism I’ve had to investigate.”Plus: Alex Dean on Brexit’s constitutional crisis, and Sameer Rahim on whether literary fiction has met its “climate realism” moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.