The Prospect Podcast

Is Britain becoming a police state?This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Conor Gearty, a barrister and professor of human rights law at LSE, who explains how his views on the future of protest have changed. As hundreds have been arrested for supporting the recently proscribed group Palestine Action, Conor discusses his reaction to the ban. He criticises the Labour government’s stance on protest, which he says panders to a “middle covert authoritarianism”.Conor also weighs in on what’s at stake if Britain leaves the ECHR, and how to fortify democracy. Are protests from the political left and right treated differently? And how should Labour respond to Reform’s rhetoric on human rights?Plus, Ellen and Imaan discuss the genre of “cosy crime”: banger or dud? To read Conor’s writing for Prospect (including the story of his shattered pelvis), click here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/author/1473/conor-gearty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From country walks to telephone box libraries, our Prospect Lives writers are enjoying the summer. Sex Worker Tilly Lawless reflects on the fragmentation of the sex industry in the age of OnlyFans, and Alice Goodman explores memory, homeland, and the meaning of Passover. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government is considering introducing digital ID cards as a way to curb illegal immigration and improve the administration of public services. But is it a good idea? In this week’s Prospect Podcast, former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett debates Rebecca Vincent, from the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch.  Blunkett oversaw the introduction of identity cards under New Labour—before they were scrapped by the Tory-Lib Dem coalition—and thinks they could have a place. Rebecca Vincent is concerned about the risks of intolerable state surveillance —particularly if the cards were mandatory. Listen in—and to let us know who you think is right, email webdesk@prospect-magazine.co.uk.  For this week’s “banger or dud”—the last before a short summer break—Ellen and Alona discuss the 99 Flake. To read an edited version of this conversation, visit Prospect’s website.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Privatisation was meant to revitalise a public good. Instead, it left us with leaky pipes, sewage spills and rivers not fit to swim in.Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist and writer Oliver Bullough, whose books include Moneyland: Why Thieves And Crooks Now Rule The World And How To Take It Back.He explains how water companies, sold off under Thatcher with promises of efficiency and investment, instead loaded themselves with debt, rewarded shareholders, and presided over a national sewage crisis.Oliver, who has investigated financial corruption and power, explains why he is also interested in covering English and Welsh rivers. Plus, as the government plans to abolish Ofwat, why did the water regulator fail? Will anything change for the better?And for this week’s “banger or dud”, Ellen and Alona discuss the Lionesses.To read Oliver’s piece ‘How our water went to shit’, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by Stewart Home, novelist, filmmaker and art historian, whose new book Fascist Yoga traces the unsettling links between yoga, wellness culture and the far right.Stewart’s research uncovers yoga’s strange story: from its reinvention in the early 20th century by a Californian escapologist, to its appropriation by occultists, grifters and even Nazis. Today, as the wellness industry booms online, conspiracy theorists and alt-right influencers have seized on yoga myths to push anti-science and anti-democratic ideas.Stewart explains how yoga became a recruiting ground for reactionary politics, why abuse has been so widespread in yoga schools, and what the rise of figures like RFK Jr says about the state of health, power and paranoia in the west. He also discusses figures like Savitri Devi—who believed that Hitler was an avatar of a Hindu god—and the overlap between western mythmaking and Hindu nationalism in Modi’s India.Plus, Imaan and Alona discuss Reddit: “banger” or “dud”?Stewart’s book Fascist Yoga: Grifters, Occultists, White Supremacists, and the New Order In Wellness’ is available nowAnd to read ‘How Hindutva influences the wellness to alt-right pipeline’ from our website, head to https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/69048/the-wellness-to-alt-right-pipeline Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, writer and activist Laura Bates joins Ellen and Alona to discuss her latest book The New Age of Sexism. Best known for founding the Everyday Sexism project in 2012, Laura has spent more than a decade documenting the realities of gender-based discrimination. In her new book, she turns her attention to the digital world—where artificial intelligence is giving rise to disturbing new forms of misogyny.  Laura explains how technologies like deepfakes and AI chatbots are being weaponised against women, what her experiences of raising awareness in schools have taught her about how parents and teachers can better protect children, and why governments and tech companies are failing to act.  Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss this week’s “banger” or “dud”. This episode contains material that some listeners may find upsetting. ‘The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny’ is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s been a buzz in Westminster about Blue Labour, the socially conservative group led by peer Maurice Glasman. But where did Blue Labour come from—and how much influence does it really have over government?This week on the Prospect Podcast, Ellen and Alona are joined by political theorist and director of the UCL policy lab Marc Stears, who was one of the founding members of Blue Labour 15 years ago but is now critical of its turn towards the populist right.Marc explains how and why he believes its ideology has shifted and discusses Glasman’s connections to Maga: after meeting JD Vance and appearing on Steve Bannon’s podcast, why does a Labour peer find common ground with Trumpist Americans? Could Reform ever be a partner for Labour?Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss meal deals: “banger” or “dud”?To read Marc’s essay, ‘What’s wrong with the new Blue Labour?’, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/70309/whats-wrong-with-the-new-blue-labour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s richest man has fallen out with Donald Trump, but his story isn’t over.This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by Faiz Siddiqui, technology reporter at the Washington Post and author of Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk. He has closely followed Musk’s rapid rise and fall, from visionary entrepreneur to Washington exile, mired in political controversy, lawsuits and that public split with the US president.Faiz charts Musk’s transformation from liberal tech CEO to right-wing culture warrior. But how much influence does he continue to have over the far right in the United States and Europe? Has Doge fundamentally reshaped American government? Is Elon Musk a genius? And what happened when Faiz saw Musk in court?Plus, inspired by Jeff Bezos’s wedding, Ellen and Alona discuss holidaying in Venice: “banger” or “dud”?Faiz’s book Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk is out now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered where Andrew Tate came from?This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist James Bloodworth to discuss his new book Lost Boys: A personal journey through the manosphere.From attending a pick-up artist bootcamp himself in 2006, to reporting on the rise of red pill and incel ideologies, James traces how online misogyny has evolved—and why so many young men are drawn into it. He explores the role of social media in fuelling radicalisation and answers: is this a crisis of masculinity, or something more complicated? And what would he say to his 23-year-old self now?Plus, after a listener’s suggestion, Ellen and Alona discuss splitting the bill: “banger” or “dud”?To send us your suggestions for “banger or dud”, email webdesk@prospect-magazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, actor and writer Sheila Hancock reflects on what she has gained since losing her hearing, while journalist and second life writer Vitali Vitaliev reminisces on the best and worst meals of his life. Sex worker and author Tilly Lawless describes her complicated feelings about orgasming on the job, while Mindful life writer Sarah Collins has a public cry in the Byzantium Christian museum of Athens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 13th June, Israel has launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, assassinated scientists and commanders, and bombed infrastructure. Iran has responded with ballistic missiles and drones. The death toll is rising, and there’s no sign of a ceasefire.This week, Arash Azizi joins Alona to unpack the war now underway. Arash is the author of The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the U.S., and Iran's Global Ambitions (2020) and What Iranians Want (2024).Arash explains why Netanyahu might have chosen to attack now and how Iran is responding both militarily and politically. He and Alona discuss how the media is covering the war inside both countries—and how the world, from the US to China, has reacted.Plus: what does this mean for the Middle East? And is there any reason for hope? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you resist the ‘enshittification’ of the internet?This week, Prospect tech columnist Ethan Zuckerman joins Ellen and Alona to talk about artificial intelligence, social media and the state of the online world. Ethan, who teaches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, shares how AI has shaped his students—and how his teaching has had to adapt.Ethan discusses the dystopian visions of billionaire tech bros. Will AI achieve superintelligence? Is it transforming our world for the worse? But he also explains how to seek out better, more wholesome corners of the internet, and why his students give him hope.To read Ethan’s column, head to our website at prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful man have had a very public fall out—but what does it mean for American government?In a short, bonus episode, Ellen and Alona speak with Jill Abramson, former executive editor of the New York Times, about the long predicted clash.Jill explains the implications for US space policy, and reviews how the US media has covered Musk since he first campaigned alongside Trump last October. For more on US politics from Prospect, visit our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life—so what’s the best way to do it?This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at Edinburgh University and personal trainer, whose new book, How Not to Die (Too Soon), is a guide to living longer and better, and challenges everything we think we know about personal health.Devi argues that air quality, access to healthcare, and innovations in public policy matter more than supplements or step counts. She also discusses why life expectancy is falling, and reacts to the rise of anti-science voices like Robert F Kennedy Jr. Five years after the pandemic upended our lives, Devi reflects on what we have failed to learn from that public health crisis—and why universal health coverage, tackling inequality, and climate resilience must be at the heart of how we rethink health.Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss wellness influencers: “banger” or “dud”?‘How Not to Die (Too Soon): The Lies We’ve Been Sold and the Policies That Can Save Us’ is available now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Labour afford to keep ignoring its left? This week on the Prospect Podcast, Alona and Imaan are joined by Carys Afoko, writer and podcast host of Over the Top, Under the Radar.Carys discusses whether Starmer’s rightward shift will pay off. She analyses why the last general election was a “breakaway election” away from the major parties—with the rise of progressive independents, Greens and Liberal Democrat MPs—and whether this is just a blip, or represents a lasting shift away from Labour.Plus, is the Labour party “structurally racist”? How is the war on Gaza reshaping the UK’s political landscape? And what will the 2029 election look like?You can read Carys’s piece ‘Labour is ignoring the threat from its left’ at prospectmagazine.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist Nicola Kelly, whose new book Anywhere But Here investigates the UK’s broken asylum system. Nicola used to work for the Home Office as a press officer on the immigration desk. But why did she leave?On the podcast, she unpacks Labour’s controversial new immigration white paper and why the party is embracing tough rhetoric. She exposes the relationship between the Home Office and client journalists, and shares some shocking findings from her reporting. Will third-country “return hubs”—similar to the Conservatives’ Rwanda scheme—actually happen under Starmer? And what would that mean for the people affected?Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss whether AI-generated writing is a “banger” or a “dud”.Nicola’s book Anywhere But Here: How Britain’s Broken Asylum System Fails Us All is out now. She also writes on Substack at ‘Not Another Snowflake’. To read more, head to prospectmagazine.co.uk, or watch our best interviews on YouTube (@prospect_magazine). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, Vitali Vitaliev recalls love and magic in Kyiv, Sheila Hancock embraces the word “valour,” Alice Garnett celebrates deep friendships, and Alice Goodman wonders—what if the teenagers are actually alright? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by Canadian historian Quinn Slobodian.The rise of the populist right is often framed as a backlash against neoliberalism—a revolt by those “left behind” by globalisation. But in his new book Hayek’s Bastards, Quinn argues the opposite: that movements like Maga are not a reaction to neoliberalism, but its latest iteration.Tracing the intellectual lineage of today’s far right, he characterises it as a “new fusionism” between three ideological pillars: racialised beliefs in genetically hardwired human nature, hard money, and hard borders.Quinn answers: who are “Hayek’s bastards”? Are the right better at engaging with ideas than the left? And what does Trump really believe?Hayek’s Bastards: The Neoliberal Roots of the Populist Right is available here.Prospect podcasts are also available on our YouTube channel (@prospect_magazine) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, poet and nature writer Robert Macfarlane joins Prospect’s Ellen Halliday and Imaan Irfan to explore the ideas in his new book Is a River Alive? They each share what ‘their rivers are’ and the waterbodies they feel most connected to.Robert discusses his travels to Ecuador, India and the Canadian wilderness: places that rivers are being defended from threat, and where our relationship with the natural world is being reimagined. He talks about writing a song with a cloud forest (and the legal battle to have it recognised as a co-writer) and the power of storytelling. He discusses challenges, policy and progress in the UK: is there hope for our rivers? And how do we save them?Plus, stay until the end to listen to “The Song of the Cedars” by Robert Macfarlane, Cosmo Sheldrake, Giuliana Furci and César Rodríguez-Garavito, in collaboration with the Los Cedros Cloud Forest.Robert’s book ‘Is a River Alive’ (2025) is published by Penguin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has the United States become an autocracy? As Donald Trump marks his 100th day in office, Ellen and Alona are joined by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, scholar of authoritarianism and author of Strongmen: from Mussolini to the present (2020). She also writes a Substack called “Lucid” which focuses on autocracy.Ruth analyses the Trump administration’s rapid shift towards authoritarianism. She talks about Trump’s personality cult, how strongmen portray machismo and the potential for a female strongman figure. She also discusses how autocrats use corruption, violence and propaganda to stay in power, and how ICE roundups echo the past, resembling a “secret police force”.Ruth answers: can the Democrats can learn anything from Trump? What’s the best way to challenge an illiberal president? And how does this end?Plus, Ellen and Alona discuss their bookshelves for this week's “banger or dud”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.