The Mishal Husain Show

Bloomberg

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them. Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

  1. Why India Has Lost Its Way: Writer Amitav Ghosh on the New World Order, Politics and Past Lives

    9 HR AGO

    Why India Has Lost Its Way: Writer Amitav Ghosh on the New World Order, Politics and Past Lives

    For more than 30 years, the Indian-born writer Amitav Ghosh has built a global following with novels that draw on deep historical research.  But his latest offering, Ghost-Eye, is more esoteric. The plot moves back and forth between India and the US, using past lives to explore the ties between the personal and the political. The plot centers on a psychiatrist treating a 3-year-old who shocks her family by insisting she remembers a past life in a fishing community. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ghosh explains why he’s finding it harder to write nowadays, how the memories of his childhood came flooding back during the Covid pandemic, why he sees capitalism as an obstacle to protecting the environment and thinks India has lost its way diplomatically.  Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview03:37 - “She had a near-death experience”05:37 - Reincarnated past lives08:05 - “The world has lost all its wonder”08:28 - Growing up in Kolkata10:56 - Kolkata and New York are the “opposite ends of the telescope”11:44 - “I really learned to think against the grain”12:13 - Creating a “bubble of tranquility” to write12:32 - Writing from “within the crisis”14:45 - India has lost its way diplomatically16:25 - Watching Zohran Mamdani grow up 19:12 - India and China 23:11 - Writing a story to be read in 100 years27:31 - Writing books by hand  Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min
  2. How to Get a Deal With Iran: Former US Negotiator Wendy Sherman on Power, Pressure and Reality

    24 APR

    How to Get a Deal With Iran: Former US Negotiator Wendy Sherman on Power, Pressure and Reality

    We’re now eight weeks on from the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, a conflict that’s been watched with increasing alarm by Wendy Sherman, architect of the 2015 nuclear deal between the US and Iran and a former deputy secretary of state. Having spent years across the table from Iranian officials, she sees a far more volatile landscape today. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, she shares how her concerns go beyond the Middle East and explains how China and Russia are beneficiaries of the war.Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 03:13 - Iran’s “culture of resistance” 05:00 - “The regime now is more hardline” 05:33 - Iran won’t make concessions “easily”  09:38 - Control of the Strait of Hormuz10:36 - “They have not bombed away all of Iran’s knowledge” 14:35 - Negotiating with Iran 17:13 - Negotiations aren’t about trust23:47 - What might a US deal with Iran look like?25:14 - Iran will want the US “out of the Middle East” 29:10 - China is “stronger” 32:50 Trump’s visit to China 41:19 - “I have found myself angrier”Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.netSubscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  3. Hamlet, James Bond and SNL UK: Riz Ahmed on Reinventing Cultural Icons

    17 APR

    Hamlet, James Bond and SNL UK: Riz Ahmed on Reinventing Cultural Icons

    A new and radical take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet is out in US cinemas. The force behind it is actor, writer, producer and musician Riz Ahmed. He says the 400-year-old story has never felt more current.Ahmed, Oscar-nominated for Sound of Metal and star of the Oscar-winning live-action short The Long Goodbye, has a new series on Prime Video called Bait. It’s a black comedy about an actor on the cusp of a life-changing role as James Bond.  In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Ahmed talks about creativity and politics, discusses his upcoming movie with Tom Cruise and how becoming a father affected his acting. Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview02:32 - Hamlet “never goes out of fashion"03:39 - “The old order is falling apart”05:00 - “Is it the world that’s gone crazy or is it me?”07:50 - The dream of playing Hamlet09:51 - To be, or not to be is “misunderstood”13:40 - “It's authentic. I'm not acting”17:00 - Bait “it’s a very personal show”17:24 - Why Barbara Broccoli said yes to using Bond21:43 - Looking for acceptance22:34 - “Culture works in cycles”25:04 - Acting was an extension of real life28:20 - “I don’t like being pinned down”28:42 - SNL UK30:01 - Working with Tom Cruise32:21 - “My weekends are really simple” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  4. America’s Limits, Iran’s Leverage, Pakistan’s Moment: Maleeha Lodhi on a Shifting Order

    9 APR

    America’s Limits, Iran’s Leverage, Pakistan’s Moment: Maleeha Lodhi on a Shifting Order

    After almost six weeks of war, how did Pakistan manage to get the US and Iran to talk? Amid a still-fragile situation in the Middle East, that question sits at the heart of this conversation with Maleeha Lodhi. She has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, as well as to the UK and United Nations. For her, the Islamabad talks mark a moment of wider significance, as the middle powers demonstrate their capacity to influence geopolitics.Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview02:55 - Pakistan as a peacebroker05:00 - Field Marshal Asim Munir and President Trump07:49 - Pakistan and Iran10:00 - Economic pain in Pakistan13:40 - Israel and Lebanon14:45 - “I'd like to be optimistic”19:30 - US miscalculations22:00 - “US dominance is fading”23:00 Middle powers can “shape geopolitics”23:53 - Is China a winner? 29:00 - Trump’s Board of Peace29:50 - “Common ground can be found” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
  5. Lionel Shriver on Immigration, Identity and Why She Refuses to Stay Quiet

    2 APR

    Lionel Shriver on Immigration, Identity and Why She Refuses to Stay Quiet

    Lionel Shriver has often tackled complex or contentious issues in her fiction. From school shootings in We Need to Talk About Kevin to economic collapse in The Mandibles.  Her new novel, A Better Life, is the story of a family home taken over by outsiders. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Shriver discusses the sociological concerns behind the story, which she says is a metaphor for the increase in undocumented US immigration during the Biden administration.  Shriver is a regular columnist for The Spectator, a conservative UK magazine. The link between the writing styles in that publication and her novel also feature in this episode. In the written version of this conversation, you’ll find more information on how Mishal Husain researched and prepared for this interview, including her own notes, data, historical context and further quotes from Lionel Shriver. www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview 02:27 - Inspiration for A Better Life03:39 - Extended adolescence06:32 - A metaphor for America10:21 - Shriver’s political journey12:42 - Declining populations17:02 - ICE tactics20:34 - From North Carolina to Northern Ireland22:57 - Rebelling against church24:30 - Transgender debate30:07 - Why Shriver left the UK 32:26 - Muslim immigration35:32 - Novels versus columns40:12 - Writing for shorter attention spans41:30 - Shriver’s recovery from illness Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
  6. Why Israel Could Be Forced to Stop: Shira Efron on War, Fatigue and Netanyahu's Strategy

    27 MAR

    Why Israel Could Be Forced to Stop: Shira Efron on War, Fatigue and Netanyahu's Strategy

    With attention fixed on the potential developments between the US and Iran, could the Israeli government be forced to end the war earlier than it might like? The last few weeks have seen daily air strikes by Israel on Iran, and retaliatory attacks that have killed and injured Israelis. The wider picture is of two and a half years of constant conflict, particularly in Gaza. In this conversation, Mishal Husain speaks to Shira Efron, who has been a Middle East analyst for the last 20 years and is now Distinguished Chair for Israel Policy at RAND. They discuss Israeli public opinion on Iran, the extent of the military operation in Lebanon and what’s at stake in the Israeli election due later this year. 02:25 - Life in Tel Aviv 04:42 - Israeli public opinion on Iran 06:24 - “A feeling of deja vu”07:42 - Netanyahu's calculation09:17 - Will elections go ahead?10:59 - Did the Mossad get it wrong? 12:44 - American public opinion14:24 - US and Israeli relations18:24 - “There's one boss and this boss is President Trump”20:11 - The future of Lebanon23:52 - “Everyone forgot where Gaza is”31:21 - Smotrich’s plan33:44 - “We are seeing a shift to the right”37:37 - Looking ahead to 2028 Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  7. Ro Khanna on Stopping the Iran War, Taking on the ‘Epstein Class’ and Taxing Billionaires

    20 MAR

    Ro Khanna on Stopping the Iran War, Taking on the ‘Epstein Class’ and Taxing Billionaires

    US Representative Ro Khanna of California helped force Donald Trump to release the Epstein files. Now he wants to end the war with Iran. Earlier this month, the Democratic Congressman joined forces with Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican, on a War Powers resolution seeking to halt the military action, though it ultimately failed in the GOP-controlled House. Speaking to Mishal Husain almost three weeks after the US and Israel began coordinated attacks on Iran, Khanna says he believes that  opposing war in the Middle East and taxing billionaires could unite progressives and disaffected Trump voters.02:57 - Hearing Epstein’s name for the first time05:18 - Forcing the release of the Epstein files 10:07 - Holding this Epstein class accountable11:05 - A new found confidence 11:59 - Hoping for a split in MAGA? 12:43 - “It’s a coalition that’s gonna win”14:24 - Stopping the war in Iran 15:53 - Trump’s “looking for an off ramp to end the war”17:21 - Increasing pressure on Trump over Iran 19:50 - Could Cuba be next? 21:21 - Khanna’s grandfather was an Indian MP23:15 - Running for president in 2028? 24:58 - Taxing billionaires30:08 - A progressive coalition34:06 - “You can't help but be hopeful about the American story”Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  8. Why Iran Isn’t Breaking: Vali Nasr on Pain, Patience and the Uprising That Isn’t Coming

    13 MAR

    Why Iran Isn’t Breaking: Vali Nasr on Pain, Patience and the Uprising That Isn’t Coming

    Despite the intensity of the US-Israel bombing campaign, Iran’s regime, now under a new supreme leader, hasn’t given President Donald Trump the “unconditional surrender” he’s seeking.Mishal Husain speaks with Vali Nasr, a professor at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies and a preeminent scholar on the Islamic Republic. His life has been shaped by the story of Iran over the last 50 years, starting when his family fled amid the 1979 revolution.His life’s work has been to study the region and its relationship with the US. He’s also worked  as an adviser to the US State Department during the Obama administration.Nasr explains why Tehran believes time is on its side in the war, and that a prolonged conflict may only strengthen Iranian nationalism.02:34 - Why Iran is “prepared to suffer more”06:28 - What drives the new ayatollah10:03 - How Iranians view the US and Israel12:07 - War will last “longer” than Trump hopes14:00 - School strike, destruction of heritage sites15:35 - Lessons from the Iran-Iraq war19:03 - “This is the final battle”20:17 - Impact of US sanctions22:40 - Will Iran pursue a nuclear bomb?26:02 - Iran’s experience of foreign intervention28:27 - Can Reza Pahlavi, son of the Shah, succeed? 30:48 - Nasr’s experience fleeing Iran in 197935:15 - Mood among Iranian-Americans39:32 - Iran’s “rightful place in the world” Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net Read this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interviewSubscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
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About

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them. Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

Information

  • Channel
    Bloomberg
  • Creator
    Bloomberg
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    The Mishal Husain Show
  • Provider
    Bloomberg L.P.

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