The Spectator Podcast

With James Forsyth and Katy Balls.Presented by Lara Prendergast.

In this week's books podcast, Sam talks to Andrew Roberts in front of an audience about his new biography on Winston Churchill. It charts the leader's powerful sense of personal destiny, his ambition and bravery as a soldier and a leader. The book interprets the events that defined Churchill, from the Dardanelles disaster of 1915, his years in the political wilderness, and his summoning to save his country in 1940. Sam and Andrew discuss Churchill's belief that he was 'walking with destiny', his prophesies of European disaster in the 1930s, as well as his drinking habits, the racist charges against him, and his singular ability to deliver some of the most memorable speeches of the 20th century.Presented by Sam Leith at Daunt Books, Marylebone.

With James Fosyth and Isabel Hardman.Presented by Katy Balls.

Dominic Green talks to the poet Alicia Stallings

A Spectator event with Andrew Roberts, author of a new Churchill biography, interviewed by Prof Robert Tombs. Tue 9 October, 7pm, at the Emmanuel Centre, Westminster.

With James Forsyth and Katy Balls.Presented by Lara Prendergast.

Freddy Gray talks to Jacob Heilbrunn, Editor of the National Interest, on the latest in the Brett Kavanagh case - and whether or not confirming him is in the Republican Party's best interests.

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

The debate over rights for transgender people rumbles on in the wake of proposed reforms to the Gender Recognition Act. Is there a so-called ‘trans orthodoxy’ shutting down debate on this issue (00:35)? Meanwhile, across the channel, French socialist Jean-Luc Mélenchon is aiming to unseat an increasing unpopular Emmanuel Macron. Does Mélenchon have a chance of becoming president (20:10)?With Madeleine Kearns, India Willoughby, Olivier Tonneau, and Jonathan Miller.Presented by Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

Grammy-winning Canadian musician Chilly Gonzales joins the latest episode of Life 'n' Arts with Dominic Green, the Life and Arts Editor of Spectator USA.

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

Adam Smith is the most quoted and misquoted economist of all time. Sam Leith talks to Jesse Norman MP, author of the new Adam Smith: What He Thought and Why It Matters (reviewed in last week’s Spectator by Simon Heffer). Norman argues that we can only understand Smith in the round by reading his Theory of Moral Sentiments as well as the Wealth of Nations; and by putting him in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment and the thinkers such as Hume who surrounded and influenced him. But he also says that a proper appreciation of Smith’s thought has relevance for us right to the present day. And he even ventures a thought on what the Sage of Kirkcaldy would have made of Brexit.Presented by Sam Leith.

With Brandon Lewis, Chairman of the Conservative Party, and James Forsyth.Presented by Fraser Nelson.

With Ann Coulter, American conservative commentator.Presented by Freddy Gray.

As we head into Conservative Party Conference, Theresa May has never looked more alone. We talk to Iain Duncan Smith and James Forsyth about a Prime Minister abandoned (1:25). And while chaos reigns in the Conservative Party, Labour is gearing up, led by a pragmatic but radical Shadow Chancellor. Just who is John McDonnell (18:50)? And last, why is Tesco’s new discount retailer so Brexity (38:10)?With Iain Duncan Smith, James Forsyth, Fraser Nelson, Paul Mason, Lewis Goodall, and Olivia Potts.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

With John Rick MacArthur, publisher of Harper's Magazine.Presented by Freddy Gray.

In this week's Spectator Books podcast, Sam Leith is talking to Adam Sisman about More Dashing -- his new selection from the remarkable correspondence of one of the 20th-century's most celebrated adventurers, spongers and men of letters, Paddy Leigh-Fermor. What did Paddy really feel about his most famous act of derring-do, when he kidnapped a Nazi general in occupied Crete? What really went on in his unconventional marriage? And were -- as Adam Sisman contends -- his letters really at the heart rather than the periphery of his literary achievement?

With Father Alexander Lucie-Smith, moral theologian, and Lara Prendergast, Assistant Editor of the Spectator.Presented by Damian Thompson.

Dominic Green, Life and Arts Editor for Spectator USA, talks to philosopher Roger Scruton.

It seems that everyone, young or old, has a smartphone these days. But why are the brightest in Silicon Valley taking screen time away from their children (00:40)? Also on this podcast, Tory MEPs recently voted in favour of the Viktor Orban government in European Parliament. Are British Tories flirting with the far right (9:25)? If they are, it could be because the Conservative Party has no attractive policies. Should we return to One Nation Toryism (22:50)?With Jenny McCartney, Jamie Bartlett, Frank Furedi, Paul Stocker, Paul Collier, and Chris Skidmore.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.