The Rest Is Politics: Leading
Goalhanger
The Rest Is Politics’ Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart interview politicians, leaders, intellectuals, and more. From inside and outside of politics, guests join Rory and Alastair to discuss life, leadership, and the philosophy that’s led them to success in their chosen field. Their conversations cover key political events, global affairs, and the big ideas shaping the world today, offering listeners in-depth perspectives from those at the heart of change.The Rest Is Politics Plus: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to Question Time episodes to live show tickets, ad-free listening for both TRIP and Leading, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
15 snips
Jan 29, 2024 • 56min
57. Tucker Eskew, spin doctor to George W. Bush and Sarah Palin: Why I'm voting Democrat
Tucker Eskew, spin doctor to George W. Bush and Sarah Palin, discusses working with Palin, polarisation in the United States, and Trump's chances. The podcast explores the historical importance of South Carolina in the election process, Joe Biden's campaign, Trump's rise in politics, and the motivations of senior Republican politicians.
14 snips
Jan 22, 2024 • 57min
56. Bill Gates: Conspiracy theories, AI, and the politician he most admires
Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft and philanthropist, discusses conspiracy theories, AI, and politicians he admires. Topics include his reputation, childhood, power, addressing global issues, American democracy, international philanthropy, climate change, and self-reflection.
Jan 15, 2024 • 1h 12min
55. Gillian Keegan: The future of British schools, union 'barons', and Sunak's Rwanda battle
Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, discusses the future of British schools, the power of unions, and her journey as a Tory MP. They talk about improving educational standards, addressing special educational needs, challenges faced by politicians, children in care, unsafe school buildings, and policy priorities.
8 snips
Jan 8, 2024 • 56min
54. Guy Verhofstadt: Is there a case for a European army?
Former Belgium prime minister and advocate of a federal Europe, Guy Verhofstadt, discusses running Belgium, belief in 'ever-closer union', pros and cons of being a career politician, linguistic and political dynamics in Belgium, early influences in politics, Rwanda genocide and Belgium's role, outsourcing asylum and migration to Africa, perception of the European Union and the need for collaboration, controversies surrounding Britain and Brexit, and the importance of defending Europe's interests.
Jan 1, 2024 • 1h 1min
53. Seb Coe: Corruption, gender, and the geopolitics of sport
Seb Coe, former world class runner and government whip, joins Rory and Alastair to discuss corruption, gender, and the geopolitics of sport. They explore doping in sports, Seb Coe's transition from athlete to politics, reflections on their career, and the current state of the Conservative Party.
4 snips
Dec 25, 2023 • 1h 4min
52. Tom Holland: How religion shaped politics and the Western world
Historian Tom Holland joins Leading to discuss the impact of religion on shaping politics and the Western world. Topics covered include the influence of Christianity on the Middle Ages, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the relationship between religion and politics in the UK and America, character and virtue in political leadership, and the influence of religion on concepts of rights, compassion, and politics.
Dec 18, 2023 • 1h
51. Tim Peake: Will humans colonise Mars?
British astronaut Tim Peake discusses the future of human space exploration, including the colonization of Mars and growing human organs on the moon. They also explore the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States during the space race, the different reactions of astronauts when asked about their experiences in space, overcoming vertigo in space, the courage of Neil Armstrong during his Gemini 8 mission, and the physical fitness requirements for astronauts.
23 snips
Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 12min
50. Angela Rayner: From zero GCSEs to Britain’s most powerful woman?
Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner reflects on her journey from a challenging childhood on a council estate to her position of power in politics. She discusses the mistakes made in a previous election and the challenges of growing up disadvantaged. Rayner also addresses the criticism faced by working-class individuals in politics and emphasizes the importance of overcoming adversity and building resilience. The chapter concludes with a discussion on Rayner's potential impact as a government minister and concerns about child poverty and workers' rights.
Dec 4, 2023 • 57min
49. Christiana Figueres: COP28, Costa Rica, and surviving the climate crisis
Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres joins the hosts to discuss COP28, The Paris Agreement, renewable energies, and balancing public service with mental health. They explore the controversy surrounding Dubai as the host country, the unique aspects of the Paris Agreement, and the consequences of inaction on climate change. Christiana also reflects on her personal growth, the importance of addressing climate change, and the emotional impact of sharing personal experiences.
13 snips
Nov 27, 2023 • 47min
48. Simon Sebag Montefiore: The impact of conflicting histories in the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars
Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses the history of Israel, motivations behind Lord Balfour's declaration, conflicting histories in Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, and their impact. He also shares personal stories of his family background and interviewing Margaret Thatcher.
