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Best of the Spectator

The Spectator
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Donald Trump
Iran
Conservative Party
United States
British Politics
Venezuela
Brexit
BBC
Russia
United Kingdom
Nigel Farage
China
Immigration
Church Of England
Peter Mandelson
Boris Johnson
UK Politics
Reform UK

Home to the Spectator's best podcasts on everything from politics to religion, literature to food and drink, and more. A new podcast every day from writers worth listening to.

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes2639Founded12 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Freddy Gray is joined by Sarah Beth Spraggins to discuss her piece on Usha Vance, the wife of JD Vance who could be in line to be the next First Lady.

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

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: William Atkinson sends his dispatch from the Shetland Islands; James Delingpole remembers Malcolm, his ‘gloriously unfiltered’ father; Daisy Dunn reviews Mary Beard’s Talking Classics; and Margaret Mitchell explores... more

When it comes to political vision, Keir Starmer’s premiership has been something of a vacuum – and power abhors a vacuum. So cue Tony Blair, who this week has rushed in with a 5,000-word essay on what is wrong with Labour and, depending on who you li... more

For this week’s Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator's deputy editor Freddy Gray, associate editor – and host of the Holy Smoke podcast – Damian Thompson and consultant psychiatrist and Daily Mail columnist Dr Max Pemberton.

This wee... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Christopher Caldwell
Spectator columnist
Spectator
Episode: Americano: what Thomas Massie's lost means for the future of the Right
Noa Hoffman
Political correspondent for The Spectator
The Spectator
Episode: Coffee House Shots: is Kemi a winner? | with Lee Cain
Lee Cain
Founding director, Uber commander, and Lord and Master of Charlesby Strategy
Public affairs/consulting
Episode: Coffee House Shots: is Kemi a winner? | with Lee Cain
Edmund Richardson
Author of Alexander God, King, Man (biography of Alexander the Great)
Author/Historian
Episode: The Book Club: Alexander the Great's accidental empire
Ed Condon
Editor of The Pillar, Catholic website
The Pillar
Episode: Holy Smoke: Pope Leo one year on – a promising start?
Ed West
Author of The Wrong Side of History
Substack author; The Spectator contributor
Episode: Americano: what have Britons got against America?
Jeffrey Winters
Professor of political science at Northwestern University; director of the Equality Development and Globalization Studies Program at Northwestern's Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
Northwestern University
Episode: The Book Club: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies
Josef Palermo
Former visual curator, Kennedy Center
Kennedy Center (former)
Episode: Americano: what's going on with the Kennedy Center?
Roya Nikkah
Writer contributing diary/travelogue piece read aloud on the episode
Spectator
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Lisa Haseldine, Roya Nikkah & Lionel Shriver

Hosts

Freddie Gray
Host of Americano Show; leads interviews and analysis on current affairs
Madeleine Grant
Host of Quite Right and contributor on political commentary

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Disappointed

    Alarmed to hear an interview with antisemitic cartoonist - who was unchallenged when referring to Israel’s defensive war against 8 terrorist armies as “genocide”. Libellous insanity. Saco was touted as some kind of objective journalist. Expect a much higher standard from the Spectator.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    JJAADF
    Australia2 months ago
  • Not everyone translates from the written to the spoken word

    If you have a journalist who can read aloud properly, great. If not please get someone to read their copy for them . The review of Wuthering Heights which would have been entertaining was spoilt by the Robitic and at times inaccurate delivery, which made it hard to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sjblondon
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Common & run-of-the-mill

    Conventional takes with little distinguished insight. Disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • A gang bang queen!

    No longer a serious magazine

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cwycu
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Americani

    Superb interview with Victor Davis Hansen reviewing the current Donald Trump presidency. Freddie Gray is knowledgeable, speaks and thinks clearly and conducts the best interviews.

    Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cliffography
    Australia6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise balanced debates and high-profile guests.
Overall, episodes are described as insightful and well-produced, with strong interview moments.
Some episodes criticized for perceived bias or rhetoric.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Book Club: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies
Q: Your central thesis is that democracy and oligarchy have fused together for centuries. How did this fusion come to be?
Historically, wealth and political power were intertwined from the start, with early representatives often being oligarchs themselves; over time, constitutions and institutions were designed to manage and contain democracy, effectively giving wealth a stabilizing but dominant role.
Coffee House Shots: Steve Baker on how to oust a Prime Minister
Q: Steve, obviously, labour isn't your tribe, but we wanted to get you on to discuss what's been happening, because there's no one who knows more about leadership contests than you.
Baker explains that leadership contests hinge on how MPs are convinced, how to navigate the times when colleagues are ready to move, and how the narrative around a leader can determine success or failure beyond the policy details.
Quite right!: how to stage a leadership coup
Q: What advice would you give to Labour leadership contenders weighing their next move?
Focus on policy clarity and readiness to implement rapid, coherent change if they win, rather than pursuing term-long cosmetic shifts. Also be mindful of the electoral and market signals your promises send.
Coffee House Shots: how 'the progressives' killed Labour – Maurice Glasman
Q: First of all, Maurice, what is Keir Starmer's future?
The future mirrors the past in many ways: Starmer faces an ongoing struggle between maintaining procedural discipline and delivering transformative outcomes, with the party facing a broader crisis of identity as traditional Labour values collide with progressive governance expectations.
Americano: Iran vs USA – how this could end
Q: What do you think is the best-case scenario for Iran and the region in a post-conflict setting?
The guest argues that the best outcome would be a reopening of navigation freedoms, regional calm, and a form of governance in Iran that avoids an existential clash with neighbors, while recognizing that a grand bargain will still need to balance the interests of regional powers and domestic Iranian factions.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Best of the Spectator

What is Best of the Spectator about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-moving, conversation-driven show that blends politics, culture, and literature with sharp, sometimes provocative perspectives. Episodes frequently pair high-profile journalists and commentators with expert guests to dissect current events, policy, and cultural trends through aSpectator lens. Frequent strengths include lively panel dynamics, deep dives into history or architecture, and bold takes on Brexit-era politics, foreign policy, and identity politics. A notable hallmark is the blend of long-form interviews, live debates, and themed roundups that invite listeners to weigh nuanced positions from a traditionally conservative-leaning editorial voice. This combination makes it appealing to listeners who enjoy concise, opinionated an... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Best of the Spectator?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Best of the Spectator:

1. Coffee House Shots
2. Americano
3. The Edition
4. Quite right!
5. The spiked podcast

How many episodes of Best of the Spectator are there?

Best of the Spectator launched 12 years ago and published 2639 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Best of the Spectator?

Recent guests on Best of the Spectator include:

1. Christopher Caldwell
2. Noa Hoffman
3. Lee Cain
4. Edmund Richardson
5. Ed Condon
6. Ed West
7. Jeffrey Winters
8. Josef Palermo

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