The Prospect Podcast

Prospect Magazine
  • 3.7 (19)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Join our deputy editor Ellen Halliday and senior editor Alona Ferber as they interview some of the brightest minds to discuss the ideas that matter most in politics, society and culture. The Prospect Podcast is produced by Prospect Magazine. Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. Get one free issue of Prospect when you sign up today: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/OCT1MFBG/prospect-magazine/OCT1MFG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    Prospect Lives: I’ve had an old-lady fall!

    This month Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu decides to embrace materialism, while Anglican priest Alice Goodman recounts the ballad of the Tithe pig. Actor and writer Sheila Hancock is taken to hospital after a fall and is very impressed by the attractive doctors treating her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Prospect Lives: I’ve had an old-lady fall!

  2. 3d ago

    Stateless: How the UK government strips citizenship—and why it matters

    Citizenship has been described as “the right to have rights”. But, in recent years, the UK government has increasingly stripped people of their citizenship— effectively leaving many stateless.     This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist and author Samira Shackle, who tracks the rapid expansion of citizenship deprivation laws in Britain.     She explains how citizenship can be stripped at the will of the home secretary, without judicial oversight or any criminal conviction required. They discuss the case of Shamima Begum, and how the “war on terror” altered the state and the public’s conceptions of what citizenship is.    Samira argues that a two-tier system has been created—in practice, making citizenship contingent for many people of mixed ethnicity. With far-right political rhetoric supporting “remigration” and even broader use of deprivation powers, what will be effect on individuals and society if this policy remains unchecked?     Is citizenship an inalienable right? And with some polls showing public support for the policy, is it ever moral to strip citizenship, or should individuals face punishment through the criminal justice system?     To read Samira’s piece, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/uk/74074/britain-stripped-citizenship-syria-islamic-state-shamima-begum     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jul 22

    Marie Le Conte: Britain's youth and the death of social mobility

    The UK’s young adults are ready to be taken seriously—so why aren’t they? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by journalist and author Marie Le Conte to discuss why a whole generation seems stuck in an extended adolescence, priced out of housing and routinely ignored by politicians. In an intergenerational conversation, they discuss whether the social mobility experiment has failed, the reality of “delayed adulthood”, and claims that young people are being actively infantilised as traditional milestones become further out of reach. Marie challenges the idea that young people are politically disengaged and explains why high political awareness doesn’t translate neatly into votes. With a new prime minister now in Downing Street, how might Andy Burnham help turn things around? And should voting be compulsory for 18-year-olds? Plus, they discuss the merits of Australia-style “democracy sausages” versus Gregg’s sausage rolls, and the lessons to be learned from the happiest place in the world for young people. To read Marie’s essay, ‘Britain’s next generation is all grown up’, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/74118/britains-next-generation-is-all-grown-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jul 15

    Big money, big problems: Reform’s donation problem—with Peter Geoghegan

    As Nigel Farage continues to face scrutiny over his finances and undeclared donations, is big money hurting our democracy? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by Peter Geoghegan, investigative journalist and founder of Democracy for Sale. Peter unpacks the scandal and introduces a cast of Reform backers, from “Posh George” to Thailand-based billionaire Christopher Harborne. He also discusses the police investigation into a political donation to Robert Jenrick, and criticises the Labour government for its approach to electoral reform. And, he shares his findings into the “black hole” in Reform’s accounts. Is Farage an outlier, or does his case expose deeper flaws in Britain’s political funding rules? If he wins the byelection, will the scrutiny disappear? And with proposals for donation limits on the table, what else needs to change? To read Peter Geoghegan’s writing for Prospect, click here. His newsletter Democracy for Sale is published on Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jul 8

    A history of power: the creation of data empires

    Humans have collected data for thousands of years—but now we’re doing it on a whole new level. This week, Ellen and Alona and joined by Roopika Risam, professor of Digital Humanities and Social Engagement at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, whose new book Data Empire explores the ancient roots of data-gathering and the rise of the “data state”. Drawing on examples from the East India Company to Palantir, she explains why advances in technology—and our means to collect, sort and deploy data—have almost always been captured by colonial powers or companies for profit, rather than for public good. She reveals how data is used to monitor and control, and how AI is rapidly accelerating the capacity of states and private companies to surveil populations, including against the Uyghur people of Xinjiang. Roopika also explains the disturbing reason she had to rewrite one section of the book three times Has the “Data Empire” effectively moved beyond the reach of the democratic social contract? And will the future be dystopian—or is there another way? Roopika Risam’s book “Data Empire: How information shaped human history” is published by Torva. To read to more on this topic, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jul 1

    A barrel of rotting apples: Political corruption in modern Britain

    Lying, lobbying, and luxury donor gifts—has UK politics gone crooked? This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Robert Barrington, professor of anti-corruption practice at Sussex University’s Centre for the Study of Corruption. He argues that corruption is more widespread than assumed in Britain, from politicians to prisons, the monarchy to the Met. Robert discusses the Boris Johnson era misconduct, the “good chap theory”, and his four-part test for corruption. He also analyses corporate scandals from Grenfell to Thames Water sewage. Do conspiracy theorists have a point? What’s at stake if things continue as they are? And, with a new prime minister on the cards, what can be done to tackle the problem? ‘Corrupted Kingdom: Britain's Disappearing Integrity–And How We Can Get It Back’ will be published by Profile Books on 16th July. To read more from our website, click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jun 26

    Prospect Lives: I can’t stop singing my thoughts

    This month, our Mindful life writer Sarah Collins explains how her OCD had her singing her thoughts, while Second life writer Vitali Vitaliev asks: what’s in a nose? A trip to the Museum of Brands takes actor Sheila Hancock down memory lane, while Alice Garnett asks her parents for advice on uncertainty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Prospect Lives: I can’t stop singing my thoughts

  8. Jun 24

    Jens Beckert: Democracy won’t beat climate change

    As a heatwave sweeps across Europe, Ellen and Imaan are joined by sociologist Jens Beckert, the author of 'How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change'.  He argues that the cultural, political and economic structures of capitalist modernity are themselves barriers to fighting the climate crisis. From profit maximisation to short term limits for politicians, is capitalist democracy ill-equipped to tackle climate change?  He also discusses the philosophical roots of the problem, stemming from the Enlightenment, and suggests the idea of progress may actually be hindering us.  Jens explores geopolitical inequality, the role of corporate power in blocking climate action, and whether renewables are really the answer. He offers a sobering analysis of the situation but also offers solutions, explaining why pragmatism is our best bet, and what we can do next.   How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change is published by Polity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Join our deputy editor Ellen Halliday and senior editor Alona Ferber as they interview some of the brightest minds to discuss the ideas that matter most in politics, society and culture. The Prospect Podcast is produced by Prospect Magazine. Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. Get one free issue of Prospect when you sign up today: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/OCT1MFBG/prospect-magazine/OCT1MFG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Prospect Magazine
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    494
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Prospect Magazine
  • Show Website
    The Prospect Podcast

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