Best of the Spectator

Journalist and author Rachel Johnson joins Lara and Livvy on this episode to talk about what it was like to share with a student house with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, then budding student chef, about cooking rice found in a Greek bin for her children, and why 'American food' is an oxymoron. Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to celebrity guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it.

With James Forsyth and Katy Balls.  Presented by Fraser Nelson.

For 30 years Damian Thompson has been bored senseless by the public pronouncements of bishops – Anglicans and Catholics. Why do they feel the need to speak in such dreary jargon? Why do interesting clergy never make it to bishop? He's joined by Harry Mount, editor of The Oldie. Holy Smoke looks at the most important and controversial topics in world religion, thoroughly dissected by a range of high profile guests. Presented by Damian Thompson.

It's been a somewhat bonkers week in Westminster. The government seems to be going into a full Brexit meltdown and it's likely that Brexit will be delayed. So, where do we go from here (00:45)? We also take a look at the Democratic Party's anti-Semitism problem (17:35) and at the end, Lara Prendergast is given a tarot reading (26:10). With Katy Balls, James Forsyth, Peter Foster, Freddy Gray, Kate Andrews and Jennifer Cownie. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

In this week’s books podcast Sam is joined by Owen Matthews to talk about the man many have claimed was the greatest spy of the 20th century, Richard Sorge, the subject of Owen’s riveting new book An Impeccable Spy (reviewed in the new issue of The Spectator by Nicholas Shakespeare). Sorge (he’s pronounced 'zorgey', by the way — not, as I introduce the podcast, idiot that I am, 'sawj'). Here was a man who supplied information that changed the course of the Second World War — and far from being the sort of glum duffelcoated figure who populates Le Carre’s “Circus” — he really did lead an existence of James Bondish extravagance. He played the Germans off against the Japanese, all for the benefit of the Russians — and did so while drinking like a fish, seducing every woman he crossed paths with, waving around samurai swords and roaring about on a motorbike. Owen has the low-down on this “bad man who became a great spy”. Literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith.

An expert panel discusses the truth behind the headlines and ask: what does no deal really mean? With George Eustice, Suella Braverman, Nicky Morgan, Dominic Grieve, and James Forsyth. Hosted by Fraser Nelson.

With Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Presented by Fraser Nelson.

Mary Curnock Cook is an educationalist and former head of Ucas. On this podcast, she talks about leaving school at 16, how boys suffer from the real gender gap in education, and why it would be 'ludicrous' to abolish university tuition fees. Presented by Katy Balls.

This week, we look at the rise of woke corporations, and how concepts like 'microaggressions', 'allyship', and 'toxic masculinity' are starting to enter the workplace (00:35). We also hear about Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - he's fallen from grace, and does he have anyone to blame but himself (13:40)? Plus, we hear about Shanghai's marriage market (20:05), and there's even an apology from Rod Liddle at the end (28:40). With Toby Young, Berkeley Wilde, Leah McLaren, Leyland Cecco, Cindy Yu, Yuan Ren, Rod Liddle, and James Bartholomew. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Produced by Cindy Yu and Siva Thaganrajah.

With Josh Glancy, Washington Correspondent for the Sunday Times. Presented by Freddy Gray.

In this week's books podcast Sam talks to Max Porter, former publisher at Granta and author of the prizewinning debut _Grief Is The Thing With Feathers_, about his brilliant new novel _Lanny_ (reviewed by Andrew Motion [here](https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/03/love-death-and-loss-in-a-small-village-lanny-reviewed/)). He asks: why are we used to novels having 15 page boring bits? What does the Green Man myth, and myth in general, have to offer readers? How do you convey the white noise of a village's chatter on the page? And which Thomas brother is the best: Dylan or RS?

With Daniel McCarthy, the Editor of Modern Age. Presented by Freddy Gray.

In this episode of Table Talk, Lara and Livvy talk to Ella Risbridger, chef and writer, whose new recipe book is _Midnight Chicken: & Other Recipes Worth Living For._ It's part memoir, part cookery; exploring mental health, friendship, love, and the redemptive power of food and cooking. On the podcast, Ella talks about the man that she moved from Dubai to London for, what it's like to be the cover girl of Aga Living (can you tell she grew up with an aga?), and the recipe for the best roast chicken in the world. _Please note that this podcast features a candid discussion of suicide and suicide ideation._ Table Talk is a series of podcasts where celebrity guests talk about their life stories, through the food and drink that have come to define them.

Isabel Hardman brings you the highlights from Sunday's political interviews. Today's podcast features John McDonnell, Joan Ryan, Caroline Flint, Liam Fox and Tony Blair. Produced by Matthew Taylor. 

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth. Presented by Katy Balls.