Podcast Episodes

Mary McAleese: Building bridges as the President of Ireland

Episode 21

For former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, the personal is the political. Growing up in Belfast with a deeply personal link to sectarian violence, her aim as President was to promote unity and bu…

Published on 2 years, 6 months ago

Jonathan Powell: How to negotiate with terrorists

Episode 20

The role of Downing Street Chief of Staff was created for him, and he was the only senior advisor to last the whole period of Tony Blair's premiership - but who is the real Jonathan Powell, and how d…

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

Leo Varadkar: Ireland's Taoiseach on NATO, China, and Joe Biden

Episode 19

How does the Irish Taoiseach feel about Brexit? Would Leo Varadkar consider himself a Tory in the English parliamentary system? Does Ireland have a problem with alcohol?

Leo Varadkar speaks to Rory an…

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

George Osborne: Austerity, Boris Johnson, and the UK's next Prime Minister

Episode 18

Does George Osborne regret leaving politics? Does he think Sunak can win the next general election? What did he admire about New Labour, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown?

Tune in to today's episode of Lea…

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

Gerry Adams: The Troubles, Margaret Thatcher, and the IRA

Episode 17

How much do you know about Thatcher's back channels with Irish republicans during the Troubles? What are Gerry Adams' emotions towards the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing, looking back now in 2023? Who w…

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

Tony Blair: Taking insults, swallowing pride, and negotiating with both sides

Episode 16

How was peace achieved in Northern Ireland? What was it like speaking to the IRA, loyalist paramilitary groups and victims simultaneously? Who were the most important individuals involved in the peac…

Published on 2 years, 7 months ago

Hillary Clinton: Fighting Putin, the Return of Trump, and the Killing of Osama Bin Laden

Episode 15

Will Donald Trump return to the White House? What happened behind the scenes during the killing of Osama Bin Laden? How should we combat the insidious effect of technology and social media on the you…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

David Miliband: The Age of Impunity

Episode 14

Why did David Miliband leave British politics? How did he get involved in the New Labour project? And what does he spend his time doing now?

Join David as he talks to Rory and Alastair about Labour, i…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

Brian Cox: Succession, socialism, and Scotland

Episode 13

What do the Murdochs think of Succession? Should the SNP change its name? Why do some actors swear by method acting while others find it such an alien approach?

Actor Brian Cox sits down with Alastair…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

David Baddiel: God, Anti-Semitism and the Y-Word

Episode 12

How aware are you of anti-Semitism in Britain? Comedian and author David Baddiel tells Alastair and Rory about his family, his upbringing and his views on anti-Semitism in modern Britain.

Instagram:

@r…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago