Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

1

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media
The Louis Theroux Podcast

2

The Louis Theroux Podcast

Spotify Studios
Uncanny

3

Uncanny

BBC Radio 4
SAS: The Shadow War

4

SAS: The Shadow War

The Independent / Aurra Studios
Olivia's House with Olivia Attwood

5

Olivia's House with Olivia Attwood

Platform Media
We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

6

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

WNTT
I’m Not a Monster Presents… Where is Austin Tice?

7

I’m Not a Monster Presents… Where is Austin Tice?

BBC Sounds

1 day ago

Dame Jacqueline Wilson

One of our best-loved children's authors, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, is our guest today. Jacqueline has changed the lives of many young readers by introducing them to characters and subjects which reflect the complicated lives of real children. And in this conversation with Gyles, Jacqueline talks about her own childhood, which has informed a lot of her later writing. She grew up with two parents who didn't really get along - a mother who was a narcissist, and a father who was often angry and distant - and who had violent rows with each other, but gave Jacqueline rich material for her books. Jacqueline tells Gyles about being a bookish schoolgirl who liked to daydream, about a disastrous encounter with some orange hair dye, and about writing her first novel for a school teacher. Gyles and Jacqueline talk about her first job, at DC Thompson, and about her marriage and the birth of her daughter when she was only 21. They talk about writing, and about Jacqueline's relationship now, and new-found status as a gay icon. Our heartfelt thanks to Jacqueline Wilson for her delightful company, wonderful stories and wisdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 day ago

Gary Kemp: The working-class kid who made it big

Gary Kemp grew up in working-class Islington, in a home where little was owned outright but love, curiosity and ambition were abundant. Encouraged by a father who took him to libraries, London landmarks and the local baths, Gary found a guitar under the Christmas tree and soon discovered that writing songs gave him a way to imagine a life beyond the one he knew. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Gary to trace the journey from an outside loo in north London to Spandau Ballet, global success and a parallel career in film, theatre and writing. He recalls the mentors who saw something in him early on and the formative experiences that helped turn a shy, bookish boy into a songwriter with enormous ambition. Gary reflects on the thrill of discovering Bowie, punk and the Blitz Club scene, forming a band with his brother Martin and school friends, and finding themselves at the heart of the New Romantic movement. He tells James about the intense rivalry, pressure and possibility of the 1980s, the making of True, and what it felt like to see Spandau Ballet become one of the biggest bands in the world. He also discusses his return to acting, from The Krays to The Bodyguard, and his enduring fascination with the cultural history of pop music. That fascination led to his latest book, 1967 - The World of Brian Epstein and the Beatles, which began with an extraordinary auction purchase - Brian Epstein’s personal address book from the final year of his life. It’s a warm, funny and moving conversation about class, family, creative hunger and the people who give us permission to believe in ourselves. Find out more about 1967 - The World of Brian Epstein and The Beatles by Gary Kemp here. Full Disclosure is a Global Production. Listen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
3 days ago

Jon Ronson discusses culture wars, the ‘superbug’ of shamelessness, and his encounters with ‘unravelling men’

Louis is joined in our brand-new studio by writer, documentarian and creative doppelganger Jon Ronson. Jon tells Louis all about delving into culture wars, how public shaming has created a ‘superbug’ of shamelessness, and the cast of ‘unravelling men’ in his new book, The Castle. Warnings: Strong language and adult themes. Links/Attachments: Book: The Castle, Jon Ronson (2026) https://jonronson.com/book/the-castle/ Book: Them, Jon Ronson (2001) https://jonronson.com/book/them/ TV Episode: Finding Frances, Nathan For You, Comedy Central (2017) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7277634/ TV Show: The Ronson Mission, Channel 4 (1993) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235493/ Book: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Jon Ronson (2015) https://jonronson.com/book/so-youve-been-publicly-shamed/ Podcast: Things Fell Apart (2021-2026) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m002j8rl Book: The Dice Man, Luke Rhinehart (1971) https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-dice-man/luke-rhinehart/9780006513902 Article: Something is Wrong on the Internet, James Bridle, Medium (2017) https://medium.com/@jamesbridle/something-is-wrong-on-the-internet-c39c471271d2 Documentary: Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes (2006) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1263704/ Documentary: Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere (2026) https://www.netflix.com/title/81920687 Credits: Producer: Millie Chu Senior Assistant Producer: Maisie Ellen Williams Junior Production Manager: Rosie Pender Production Executive: Francesca Bassett Original Music: Miguel D’Oliveira Video Editor: Scott Edwards Audio Editor: Tom Guest Executive Producer: Arron Fellows A Mindhouse Studios Production for Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 day ago

Is There an A.I. Bubble? A Debate.

The gargantuan bet on the future of A.I. is driving the U.S. stock market and economic growth. And the building of data centers is sucking up so many construction resources, it’s crowding out the construction of homes. The multitrillion-dollar question is: Will this bet pay off? Or is it a bubble, destined to burst and pull the economy down with it? Paul Kedrosky is a partner at SK Ventures, a fellow at M.I.T., and the author of a newsletter about A.I.. He thinks we’re very obviously in a bubble. Azeem Azhar is a technology entrepreneur and the author of the newsletter Exponential View. He has a more optimistic take. (The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft claiming copyright infringement. The companies have denied those claims.) This episode contains strong language. Mentioned: “Nobody Is Ready for the AI-Agent Flood” by John Herman “What is bigger than AI?” by Azeem Azhar Book Recommendations: “Middlemarch” by George Eliot “Liberty’s Dawn” by Emma Griffin “Insull” by Forrest McDonald “The Day the Universe Changed” by James Burke “Fathers and Sons” by Ivan Turgenev “Candide” by Voltaire Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find the transcript and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.html This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Julie Beer. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota and Isaac Jones. Our recording engineer is Aman Sahota. Cinematography by Kyle I. Kelley. Video editing by Steph Khoury and Dani Dillon. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Season 3, Episode 9

Where Is Austin Tice?: 9. “The Hardest Thing”

The team get answers. Then Josh tells Debra what they’ve found. Josh and Sara track down a witness who says he knows what happened to Austin Tice. He says people are trying to stop the truth from coming out, but that he has been trying to find Austin for years and knows what really happened. Josh and Sara test his story. As the pieces begin to fit, Josh talks Austin’s mother Debra through their findings. Archive: United Nations; NPR; The White House; BBC; Voices Unbound. Writer and showrunner: Josh Baker Investigative producer: Sara Obeidat Series producer: Simon Maybin Field producing: Ouday Al Hussein Additional producing: Lucy Burns Open source intelligence: Thomas Bordeaux & Gabor Friesen Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman Series editor: Clare Fordham Head of BBC News Long Form Audio: Emma Rippon BBC Radio 4 commissioning editor: Dan Clarke NPR producer: Monika Evstatieva NPR editors: Robert Little & Katie Simon NPR executive producer for Embedded: Irene Noguchi BBC World Service commissioning editor: Jon Manel Composer: Firas Abou Fakher Additional music: Karim Chehoury Theme music: Sam Slater Mix and sound design: Tom Brignell
1 day ago

How Nick Cave's songs reveal themselves painfully to him

The singer songwriter Nick Cave was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025. He has written huge hits such as "Into My Arms" and "Where the Wild Roses Grow", but songwriting doesn't come easily to him. His notebooks are full of what he describes as "bad stuff", and he'd like them to be burned after his death, thank you very much. The best way to approach the job, he says, is in office hours and wearing a suit. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
1 day ago

RIBA Stirling Prize winner, NHS guidance on single-sex spaces, Caroline Hirons

Last night, architects gathered to celebrate some of Britain’s most acclaimed buildings as the RIBA Stirling Prize marked its 30th anniversary. The prize is considered the UK’s most prestigious award for architecture and recognises a building that has made a significant contribution to the evolution of the built environment. And at last night’s anniversary ceremony, Lion Green Road, a council-commissioned housing scheme in Coulsdon, South London, was declared the winner. It was designed by Mary Duggan Architects and delivered by the practice Ruff Architects. Mary Duggan joins Anita Rani in the studio. New NHS England guidance says trans patients should be cared for on single-sex hospital wards or bays that align with their biological sex rather than their gender identity. The BBC's Social Affairs Editor Alison Holt joins Anita to explain the guidance. Social media has lit up in recent days after comedian Shane Gillis made a controversial joke on the US show Saturday Night Live. In his opening monologue, Gillis said he “didn’t know women just dress like whores now” at the gym. There was an immediate backlash, particularly from women online, from gym goers and athletes to celebrities, calling his comments misogynistic, even dangerous towards women. But many have chosen to see the funny side, poking fun at Gillis as a means of fighting back. Comedian Rachel Parris and Lifestyle Editor at The Metro, Kristina Beanland, give us their reaction. Have you ever stood at the skincare counter and felt baffled at the vast array of options? Caroline Hirons has made it her mission to help. She's built a career in the beauty industry spanning more than three decades, from working on skincare counters to becoming a bestselling author, social media personality and founder of her own skincare brand, Skin Rocks. She's attracted a large following for her outspoken views on skincare products, beauty trends and the cosmetics industry. Now she's published a new book, Skin Rules, offering advice on navigating the increasingly crowded skincare market. Caroline joins Anita in the studio. This month sees Britten Sinfonia, Ancient Greek Meze tour- the story of three powerful women of Greek myth through music. The event marks 50 years since the death of composer Benjamin Britten, with the Britten Sinfonia and stand-up classicist Natalie Haynes, alongside the sublime mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston, who is the soloist in his late micro-opera Phaedra. Helen joins Anita to discuss these mythical women. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Simon Richardson
2 days ago

Isobel Lorna: Crying on Launch Day to £1M in 30 Days

Isobel Lorna joins Olivia to discuss how she hit £1 million in revenue in her first month of business. Isobel Lorna shares the unfiltered story behind her luxury stationery launch, including the backlash she faced and the reality of navigating success at a young age. From moving to London at 21 to walking away from projects that did not serve her, she gets honest about the double standards women face when building a business startup. The conversation also covers the elusive Hermès game and how she secured a Birkin bag without the traditional wishlist. Whether you are interested in entrepreneurship or curious about what it really takes to sustain high-growth making money ventures, this episode offers a raw look at the lifestyle behind the headlines. Follow Olivia’s House on socials: https://www.instagram.com/thisisoliviashouse/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisoliviashouse Shop now at Amazon.co.uk for all your Halloween essentials Medik8: To upgrade your skincare routine, head to Medik8.com K18: Shop at SpaceNK or get 10% off your first purchase at k18hair.co.uk with code [OLIVIA]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 day ago

Halloween Countdown 2026: Case 16: Night Nurse

Every day in October, Danny Robins will share a short, real-life, possibly paranormal story sent in by you - the Uncanny community. Expect gruesome ghosts, haunted hotels and even a pair of phantom false teeth. Written and presented by Danny Robins Research: Nancy Bottomley Assistant Producer: Lara Monahan Sound recording: Pete Moor Filming: Howard Mills Director & video editing: Christopher Poole Stills photography: Sarah Louise Bennett Editing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme music by Lanterns on the Lake Commissioning executive: Paula McDonnell Commissioning editor: Rhian Roberts Production Manager: Kerry Luter Executive Producer: Simon Barnard Produced by Victoria Lloyd & Danny Robins A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4
3 days ago

Anthony Scaramucci - My Biggest Failure? Working For Donald Trump

Scaramucci’s 11-day tenure as the White House Communications Chief under President Donald Trump’s first term ended in a blaze of recrimination. Scaramucci was advised by a PR consultant to disappear for five years. He refused - and reinvented his career. Now, he is the co-host of the US version of The Rest is Politics podcast alongside British journalist Katty Kay. After Harvard Law School, he joined Goldman Sachs and built a career in finance, eventually founding the investment firm SkyBridge Capital. In this revealing conversation we discuss what working on Wall Street in the 80s was like, getting fired from Goldman Sachs, his failed first marriage, not being there for his son’s birth, getting fired from The White House and rebuilding his current marriage. His book, All the Wrong Moves, looks at how three catastrophic decisions and years of ‘sh*tshow politics’ led to Trump. IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction montage 03:22 Learning optimism and pronoia 05:02 Self forgiveness after failure 06:40 Growing up and getting to Tufts 11:58 Why he wrote the book 14:03 Fired then rehired at Goldman 25:23 Money mindset and marriage cracks 30:48 Work Taxes Burnout 31:26 Marriage Neglect Regrets 34:07 Conflict Avoidance Trap 34:55 Affair Self Forgiveness 37:46 Fatherhood After Divorce 40:44 Trump Ego Decision 45:00 Firing from The Whitehouse 57:03 Rebuilding and Looking Ahead 💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER: When bad things happen, take a step back, and get into a channel that is the adult channel. Act in a rational way. I trained my brain to be optimistic. If you’re not careful, wealth can make you very depressed and lonely. Trump's bullying reminded me of my dad… but I was better prepared for it. 🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS: Anthony’s book, All the Wrong Moves, is available to buy now: www.penguin.co.uk/books/476667/all-the-wrong-moves-by-scaramucci-anthony/9781847929235 Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Elizabeth’s Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com 📚 WANT MORE? Bernie Sanders - swap.fm/l/pH8V6cBejDnhH47ega6D Andy Burnham - swap.fm/l/IpwatiJ5cM1h0UfcyFiA 💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE? Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts Leave a 5⭐ review – it helps more people discover these stories 👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth: Instagram: @elizabday TikTok: @howtofailpod Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod Website: www.elizabethday.org Elizabeth and Anthony answer listener questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: https://lnk.to/7i0moR Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: askhowtofail.com Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Engineer: Matias Torres Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Alex Lawless How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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