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Best of the Spectator

The Spectator
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Artificial Intelligence
Andy Burnham
Church Of England
Nigel Farage
Conservative Party
United States
Iran
Donald Trump
Reform UK
Catholic Church
United Kingdom
Immigration
UK Politics
Manchester
Democratic Party
The Spectator
Britain
Brexit

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes2764Founded13 years ago
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Artwork for Best of the Spectator

Latest Episodes

For this week’s Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator’s political editor Tim Shipman, restaurant critic Angus Colwell and Telegraph associate editor Poppy Coburn.

This week: does the country want Kemi Badenoch’s tough love? Ahead of T... more

In this week’s Book Club podcast, Sam Leith is joined by psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker to discuss his new book, When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…

Pinker explores the powerful idea of ‘common knowledge’ - not simply what we know, but... more

Michael Gove is joined by Jonathan Hinder, MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, one of the leading voices of Blue Labour, to discuss class, borders and the common good in a conversation recorded live at Labour conference.

Jonathan, a former police officer, ... more

Andy Burnham has used his Labour conference speech to set out his clearest vision yet for the country and it was a strikingly ambitious one. Noa Hoffman is joined in Liverpool by Tim Shipman and Michael Simmons to unpack a speech that ranged from a n... more

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Recent Guests

John Sellars
Professor of the history of philosophy
University of London, Royal Holloway
Episode: The Book Club: John Sellars – Stoicism Is Not What You Think
Michael Nazir-Ali
Monsignor, Catholic Ordinary
Catholic Church (Pakistan-born theologian)
Episode: Holy Smoke: Pakistani Christians fear backlash over Lambeth Palace award
Steve Bannon
Political strategist, former White House Chief Strategist, host of War Room podcast
Former White House staff; War Room podcast
Episode: Americano: Steve Bannon on the AI extinction threat
Anand Gopal
New Yorker writer, author of Days of Love and Rage
New Yorker, Author
Episode: The Book Club: Anand Gopal – Days of Love and Rage
Rory Stewart
Former MP for Penrith and The Border; author and public commentator
Penrith and The Border (former MP)
Episode: Quite right!: Rory Stewart interview | Part one
Aaron Bastani
Journalist and left-wing author
Declassified Media (as discussed)
Episode: Reality Check: Arthur Laffer vs Aaron Bastani | LIVE
Hannah Richell
Author of The Secrets of the Tides and memoirist of An Ocean and a Day
Author
Episode: The Book Club: Hannah Richell
Malcolm Rifkind
Former Conservative MP, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary
Conservative Party
Episode: Coffee House Shots: Malcolm Rifkind on Farage, Kemi and Burnham's gift to the Tories
Noa Hoffman
Spectator political correspondent
The Spectator
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Noa Hoffman, Robert Hardman, Patrick Galbraith, & Matthew Reisz

Host

Noa Hoffman
Host of several Spectator programs; experienced interviewer with a political and cultural focus

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • SPECTATOR OUT LOUD

    6 September 2020

    This has been one of my favourite Spectator programs in the past. Noa Hoffman however has an unfortunate abrasive, metallic voice which is inclined to shout in a somewhat screechy manner and has spoilt the Spectator podcast listening experience. Please find a new presenter with a more refined, softer less offensive style.

    Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cliffography
    Australiaa month ago
  • Etiquette

    Tim, please don’t interrupt you guests when they are speaking.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    AnotherWorker
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • 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
    Australia5 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 Kingdom8 months ago
  • Common & run-of-the-mill

    Conventional takes with little distinguished insight. Disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, commentary is valued for intellect and provocative takes, with occasional criticisms of balance.
Some episodes polarize audiences due to controversial guests or questioning style.
Listeners appreciate rigorous guest selection and strong host interview skills.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Quite right!: Rory Stewart interview | Part two
Q: How do we get growth in Britain?
Growth depends on building a conducive ecosystem for business, accepting foreign non-doms for competitiveness, and ensuring infrastructure and skills are aligned, while also maintaining a tax system that funds public services without eroding incentives. The speaker urges pragmatic policy that fosters entrepreneurship and smart planning.
Holy Smoke: Pakistani Christians fear backlash over Lambeth Palace award
Q: What could be the consequences for Christians in Pakistan following the withdrawal of the award?
There could be increased hostility or a chilling effect, but also potential reassessment of how minorities are treated and how international Christian communities respond to such events.
Holy Smoke: Pakistani Christians fear backlash over Lambeth Palace award
Q: Why was there not due diligence before awarding the recognition?
Because the panel or leadership failed to adequately vet the recipient and his past statements, which led to public backlash and reconsideration of the award.
The Book Club: John Sellars – Stoicism Is Not What You Think
Q: What are the persistent misconceptions about Stoicism and how do they originate?
Misconceptions include Stoics repressing emotions and being indifferent to others; these views persist from ancient sources and modern popular culture, especially memes and quote-based formats that strip ideas from their ethical and logical context.
Reality Check: the AI apocalypse is just good marketing
Q: What role does regulation play in this space?
Regulation could slow down progress or stabilize safety, but global consensus is difficult; some players advocate treaties or coordinated standards, while others warn that one country or actor could outpace others and render it ineffective.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Best of the Spectator

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

Across recent episodes, the show combines political analysis, cultural critique, and global affairs through a panel of writers, journalists, and academics. Topics frequently center on UK politics, governance, public policy, and international affairs, often pairing sharp, opinionated takes with data-driven or historical context. Recurring strengths include thoughtful guest perspectives from the Spectator ecosystem, a willingness to tackle contentious issues, and a cadence that blends news commentary with long-form discussion. The format tends to feature high-profile guests, behind-the-scenes policy debates, and cultural discourse, making it a go-to for listeners who want articulate, sometimes provocative viewpoints on current events and long... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Best of the Spectator?

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1. Coffee House Shots
2. Americano
3. The Edition
4. Quite right!
5. Planet Normal

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Best of the Spectator launched 13 years ago and published 2764 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. John Sellars
2. Michael Nazir-Ali
3. Steve Bannon
4. Anand Gopal
5. Rory Stewart
6. Aaron Bastani
7. Hannah Richell
8. Malcolm Rifkind

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