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Bold Politics with Zack Polanski

Bold Politics
Green Party
Labour Party
Inequality
Wealth Tax
Climate Change
Economic Inequality
Social Justice
Immigration
Brexit
Palestine
Cost Of Living Crisis
Grassroots Movements
Council Tax Reform
Donald Trump
Wealth Inequality
British Politics
Wealth Taxes
Migration
Israel
Trans Rights

Bold Politics is the show making hope normal again where Zack Polanski speaks - and listens - to thinkers, activists and people whose voices deserve to be heard.

From immigration to the economy, inequality to leadership, Zack explores what the future of progressive politics can look like.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes56Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for Bold Politics

Latest Episodes

How has government policy made crossing the Channel on small boats more dangerous? What’s it like working with children in Calais? How is the treatment of migrants in Calais mirrored in the UK immigration system? And why do migrants avoid photographe... more

Why is women’s work so often neglected within traditional economic theory? How have pensions become affected by gender? Why does the gender pay gap still exist? And what should governments do to deal with these systemic issues?

Is this week’s episod... more

YouTube

How are politicians failing LGBTQIA+ people in the UK? Have we become less accepting of difference in society since Brexit? How much do things get taken out of context on reality tv, and is politics similar? What are the benefits of a well-funded cre... more

What prompted the U.S. to implement the war on drugs? What’s the modern history of the legalisation and regulation of drugs? Why do the media expect simple answers to complex questions around drug policy?

In this week’s episode, Zack Polanski speaks... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Daniella Jenkins
CEO of the Women's Budget Group
Women's Budget Group
Episode: How The Economy Is Rigged Against Women | Daniella Jenkins
Bimini Bon Boulash
Drag Race contestant, artist, activist, writer, and musician
Self (public figure)
Episode: Is Society Becoming Less Tolerant? | Bimini
Kojo Koram
Professor of Law and Political Economy, author of The Next Fix
Loughborough University
Episode: Why The War On Drugs Is A Huge Failure | Kojo Koram
William Dalrymple
Historian and author, Empire Podcast host
Empire Podcast/ Bloomsbury publishing
Episode: How The British Empire Changed The World | William Dalrymple
Nish Kumar
Comedian, writer, and political commentator
Independent comedian and podcaster
Episode: Elon Musk Calls Zack A Scumbag | Nish Kumar
Gabriel Zucman
Economist, author of We Need to Tax Billionaires. Do we?
University of California, Berkeley; author
Episode: How Billionaires Avoid Tax | Gabriel Zucman
Ernest Urtasun
Eco-socialist politician, Minister for Culture in Spain
Spanish Government
Episode: What Does A Green Coalition Look Like? | Ernest Urtasun
Dan Sriskandarajah
Chief executive of the New Economics Foundation
New Economics Foundation
Episode: We Need To Democratise The UK Economy | Danny Sriskandarajah
Kwajo Tweneboa
Housing campaigner
Episode: The British Housing System Is Broken | Kwajo Tweneboa

Host

Zack Polanski
Host of Bold Politics

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 507 ratings
  • Superb!

    Brilliant episode with William Dalrymple!! 👏👏

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HilBiker
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • I want this to work but…

    Like many, I’ve found myself genuinely excited by Zack’s arrival on the political scene. He’s an engaging figure who appears authentically curious about the perspectives of others. But spending time with this podcast left me with a nagging concern that cuts to the heart of what it is trying to do.

    The podcast’s fundamental problem is that it mistakes affirmation for analysis. Yes, the guests tend to come from the same side of the political divide, and I understand the stated rationale: that thi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ListlessWanderer
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Much-needed conversations

    How refreshing to find a politician who gives direct answers to questions, listens attentively to everyone he speaks to (regardless of whether he agrees or not), shows genuine interest in the topics at hand, and believes in working for the community rather than power and status. I’m so glad I found this podcast. I’ve now worked my way through all the back catalogue and every topic covered has been so valuable and I have learnt so much from it. May you continue to reach more and more listeners, a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thebuttonmushroom
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Step outside your comfort zone, Zack

    I’m very impressed by, and largely in agreement with Zack on many issues and policies. I love many of the guests, and value their ideas.

    That’s the problem with this podcast. I guarantee the majority of listeners, like me, are already on-side. And it actually makes Zack look a little weak.

    The pitchforks are out for Polanski in much of the media, the more his popularity grows. So get some opposing minds on the show, please. The show needs serious, challenging discussion with figures he disagr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    zennington
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Brilliant

    A fantastic podcast. Compassionate, insightful, thought provoking. As listeners we learn, empathise and grow a movement alongside Polanski. There are discussions, laughs and tears along the way. He is the only political leader who talks like a human being and understands what it’s like to live as a normal person in this country. Recommended listening for anyone who needs hope.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leftybythesea
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value compassionate, thoughtful discourse.
Desire for more diverse viewpoints and challenging guests.
Praises accessible, human-centered approach to policy.
Shows depth and hope in political conversations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#40
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#91
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#191
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#127
Indonesia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#129
Ireland/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why The War On Drugs Is A Huge Failure | Kojo Koram
Q: Kojo, could you spell out the differences between regulation and commercialization, and why backlash often confuses the two?
Backlash often relies on misrepresenting regulation as pure commercialization; in practice, regulation includes models like prescription heroin, social-equity licenses, or home cultivation with community controls—each with different controls, safety nets, and aims that go beyond simply selling a drug. Regulation can reduce harm, ensure safety, and direct revenues to communities harmed by prohibition.
Elon Musk Calls Zack A Scumbag | Nish Kumar
Q: What reforms do you see as essential for the media landscape to prevent the spread of misinformation?
A combination of robust regulatory frameworks that preserve free press while preventing harmful monopolies, stronger editorial standards across platforms, and improved media literacy so the public can critically assess information from all sources.
Elon Musk Calls Zack A Scumbag | Nish Kumar
Q: How can politicians engage with hostile audiences without sacrificing their message or base?
They should enter challenging spaces to present perspectives that would otherwise be unheard, while maintaining guardrails and firmly sticking to core human rights and policy positions, ensuring their message remains accessible without pandering to extremism.
Elon Musk Calls Zack A Scumbag | Nish Kumar
Q: What role does comedy have in this moment, and how can it help bring people together?
Comedy offers shared spaces that transcend background and beliefs, but it must balance honesty with responsibility, test presuppositions, and push for a more inclusive political conversation without losing the edge that makes political satire effective.
How The British Empire Changed The World | William Dalrymple
Q: What can be learned from the Palestine and India/Pakistan cases when thinking about future global politics?
The conversation highlights the dangers of hurried settlements, the cost of neglecting minority rights, and the need for inclusive, well-structured peace processes backed by international institutions to avoid recurring violence.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Bold Politics

What is Bold Politics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Bold politics discussions center on progressive policy, practical reform, and the real-world impact of ideas. Recent episodes explore wealth taxation and global inequality, eco-socialist governance in Europe, decriminalization and workers' rights in sex work, housing policy and tenancy reforms, and public health and NHS funding under austerity. The show also highlights climate action, just transitions, and the role of culture and media in shaping policy. A notable pattern is a emphasis on participatory democracy, lived experience, and actionable steps—from community organizing to policy pilots—making complex topics accessible and oriented toward constructive change.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Bold Politics. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Bold Politics and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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How many subscribers and views does Bold Politics have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Bold Politics has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Bold Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bold Politics:

1. Novara Media
2. Novara Live
3. Garys Economics
4. Pod Save the UK
5. The Owen Jones Podcast

How many episodes of Bold Politics are there?

Bold Politics launched a year ago and published 56 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Bold Politics?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Bold Politics from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Bold Politics?

Recent guests on Bold Politics include:

1. Daniella Jenkins
2. Bimini Bon Boulash
3. Kojo Koram
4. William Dalrymple
5. Nish Kumar
6. Gabriel Zucman
7. Ernest Urtasun
8. Dan Sriskandarajah

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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