

What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel
WTF Productions
From Donald Trump's tariffs to Elon Musk's Teslas; from the rise of Reform to 'Woke Marxist Popes' and the axing of Winter Fuel Payments, award winning comedian Mark Steel and some very special guests attempt to answer the most taxing intellectual question of our time... What The F*** Is Going On?! Get video versions and instant access to the full interviews on Patreon.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 26, 2026 • 55min
Ep 174 with Matt Forde (Part 2)
This week Mark continues his conversation with Matt. If you haven't heard the first part then do go back and listen now but for the rest of you here is the second half of the interview.
Want to get access to the full video interview before anyone else? why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen to the whole interview straight away – and you'll also be able to watch it! https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Matt @Mattfordecomedy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 19, 2026 • 60min
Ep 174 with Matt Forde (Part 1)
Mark is joined by comedian, impressionist and political podcaster Matt Forde as they discuss surviving cancer together, how impressions really work, the psychology of politicians, Labour from Blair to Starmer, door-knocking and grassroots politics, media interviews that shut people down, and why humanising political opponents matters more than shouting at them.
For tickets to Matt's upcoming shows go to www.mattforde.com
You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on the higher tier of Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen or watch the whole interview straight away.
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Matt @Mattfordecomedy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 12, 2026 • 53min
Ep 173 with Johann Hari (Part 2)
This week Mark continues his conversation with Johann. If you haven't heard the first part then do go back and listen now but for the rest of you here is the second half of the interview.
If you enjoyed the subjects doscussed today why not purchase “Stolen Focus” and “Lost connections” at www.Johannhari.com
Want to get access to the full video interview before anyone else? why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen to the whole interview straight away – and you'll also be able to watch it!
https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Johann @johann.hari Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 9, 2026 • 1h 13min
What The F Is Going On In Venezuela? 🇻🇪
Mark is joined by writer and broadcaster Nick Revell as they discuss the US kidnapping of Venezuela’s president, Trump’s brazen use of power, Britain’s silence, the collapse of international law, historical imperialism from Latin America to Greenland, and what it means when the most powerful country in the world decides it can do whatever it wants.
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Nick @thenickrevell
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 5, 2026 • 1h 1min
Ep 173 with Johann Hari (Part 1)
Mark is joined by journalist and author Johann Hari as they discuss loneliness and disconnection, why depression and addiction are rising, the limits of individual self-help, how social media and modern capitalism shape our mental health, the politics of attention, rebuilding community, and what it would actually take to fix what the fuck is going on in our heads.
If you enjoyed the subjects doscussed today why not purchase “Stolen Focus” and “Lost connections” at www.Johannhari.com
You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on the higher tier of Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen or watch the whole interview straight away.
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Johann @johann.hari Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 15, 2025 • 1h 7min
Ep 172 with Caroline Biggs
Mark is joined by historian and author Caroline Biggs as they discuss Cambridge University’s forgotten history of imprisoning women, the extraordinary story behind The Spinning House, class privilege and power, how suspicion became guilt, and why the legacy of control and misogyny still echoes today.
Order your copy of “The Spinning House” here: https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/the-spinning-house/
You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on the higher tier of Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen or watch the whole interview straight away.
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 7min
Ep 171 with Marcus Brigstocke (Part 2)
This week Mark continues his conversation with Marcus Brigstocke. If you haven't heard the first part then do go back and listen now but for the rest of you here is the second half of the interview.
Want to get access to the full video interview before anyone else? why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen to the whole interview straight away – and you'll also be able to watch it! https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Marcus @Marcusbrigstocke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 3min
Ep 171 with Marcus Brigstocke (Part 1)
Mark is joined by comedian Marcus Brigstocke as they discuss growing up in privilege, being expelled from boarding school, addiction and recovery, how comedy shaped his politics, class and inequality in Britain – and what it means to stay hopeful while everything feels absurd.
You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on the higher tier of Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen or watch the whole interview straight away.
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Marcus @Marcusbrigstocke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 24, 2025 • 42min
Ep 170 with Marina Purkiss & Jemma Forte (Part 2)
This week Mark continues his conversation with Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte. If you haven't heard the first part then do go back and listen now but for the rest of you here is the second half of the interview.
Please do check out Marina and Jemma’s podcast “the trawl” available on all platforms!
Want to get access to the full video interview before anyone else? why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen to the whole interview straight away – and you'll also be able to watch it! https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 17, 2025 • 40min
Ep 170 with Marina Purkiss & Jemma Forte (Part 1)
Mark is joined by Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte — the outspoken hosts of The Trawl — to talk about the state of British politics, why humour is a vital weapon against despair, and how compassion got lost in the shouting. They discuss Labour’s moral drift, the Green Party’s rise, and what it means to stay human in a political landscape fuelled by fear. Expect sharp wit, rage, and even a baked potato scandal involving Prince Andrew.
Please do check out Marina and Jemma’s podcast “the trawl” available on all platforms!
You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on the higher tier of Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen or watch the whole interview straight away.
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


