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Labour Party
Donald Trump
Gaza
United States
Hamas
Philosophy
Iran
Romanticism
Literary Criticism
Republican National Convention
Israel
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Conservative Party
UK Economy
ABBA
Don Quixote
Pope Francis
Charles Dickens
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The LRB Podcast brings you weekly conversations from Europe’s leading magazine of culture and ideas, hosted by Thomas Jones and Malin Hay, and featuring our fortnightly 'On Politics' podcast hosted by James Butler. From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: ⁠https://lrb.me/crlrbpod⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod⁠ Bags, binders and more... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes474Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for The LRB Podcast

Latest Episodes

Many thinkers have characterised modernity by its investment in the idea of pluralism, ‘of things being various’, in Louis MacNeice’s phrase. How do the virtues of plurality and difference fit with the more traditional virtues of poetic unity and ima... more

In The Portrait of a Lady, Henry James borrows from Eliot, Austen, folktales and potboilers, but ‘the thing that he took from nowhere was Isabel Archer’. James transformed the 19th-century novel through his evocation of Isabel, a woman who wants and ... more

‘The very word “America” remains a new, almost completely undefined and extremely controversial proper noun,’ James Baldwin wrote in 1959. ‘No one in the world seems to know exactly what it describes, not even we motley millions who call ourselves Am... more

Few poets have had the courage (or inclination) to rhyme ‘Plato’ with ‘potato’, ‘intellectual’ with ‘hen-peck’d you all’ or ‘Acropolis’ with ‘Constantinople is’. Byron does all of these in Don Juan, his 16,000-line unfinished mock epic that presents ... more

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Recent Guests

Adam Shatz
Writer and critic; discusses his perspectives on America and its representations
London Review of Books
Episode: Adam Shatz: Visions of America
Clare Bucknell
Scholar discussed on the episode
University of Oxford (implied via work on Byron)
Episode: Travel with Close Readings: Byron’s ‘Don Juan’
Seamus Perry
English literature scholar, teacher at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Episode: Travel with Close Readings: ‘The Prelude’ (Books 9 and 10) by William Wordsworth
Mark Ford
Poet, critic, Professor of English
University College London
Episode: Travel with Close Readings: ‘The Prelude’ (Books 9 and 10) by William Wordsworth
Irina Dumitrescu
Scholar featured in Close Readings series
University/academic research (as discussed)
Episode: Travel with Close Readings: ‘The Travels of Sir John Mandeville’
Mary Wellesley
Contributor to the paper, close Reading participant
The LRB
Episode: Travel with Close Readings: ‘The Travels of Sir John Mandeville’
Mara Gay
Staff writer at the New York Times opinion page
New York Times
Episode: The long history of Black voter suppression in the US
Randall Kennedy
Professor of Law at Harvard, author on civil rights and the law
Harvard Law School
Episode: The long history of Black voter suppression in the US
Stephen Bush
Columnist and associate editor at the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: On Politics: Burnham’s First Week

Hosts

Thomas Jones
Host of The LRB Podcast
Malin Hay
Co-host of The LRB Podcast (mentioned in podcast description)
James Butler
Host of On Politics in the studio

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • We don’t all live in Britain, James

    I absolutely love the politics podcast from the LRB, and find it enormously informative and interesting. I particularly enjoyed the episode on the US at 250. But, James, while the relationship between the US and the UK is important and interesting for all of us, it’s somewhat annoying for your many listeners outside the UK for you to introduce the podcast speaking about ‘we’ in relation to the UK. Why not say, for those of us in Britain… instead of assuming that all your listeners are British. I... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steph in South Africa
    South Africaa month ago
  • navel gazing

    what was an outward looking, cosmopolitan podcast is increasingly just Brits navel gazing.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    amcqu
    Australia2 months ago
  • This is really great thank you.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Eoin O'Mahony
    4 months ago
  • Its excellent. Just listen.

    .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TormodOtterJohansen
    Sweden4 months ago
  • Sarah Stein Lubrano

    I found Dr Lubrano fascinating, and wanted to hear more about her research, books and her conclusions about life, rather than listen to the interviewer hold forth interminably. She tried valiantly to raise the topic of her new book but he ignored every opportunity. What a shame..

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    EmmaMay67
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates cross-disciplinary guests and international perspectives, though some episodes skew UK-centric.
Guests are typically highly intelligent and bring depth to political and literary discussion.
Some listeners fault pacing or voice/hosting style in certain episodes, preferring tighter edits or different hosts.
The show is praised for thoughtful, well-contextualized conversations and rigorous analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#115
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#190
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#118
India/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#137
Ireland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#142
New Zealand/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#149
Chile/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

On Politics: The Andy Burnham Show
Q: What are the big fiscal choices Burnham would face in the early months?
The panel expects Burnham to test tax policy and place-based measures, potentially easing business taxes and considering targeted changes to capital and property taxes, while balancing fiscal rules and avoiding a sharp breach with Treasury orthodoxy.
On Politics: The US at 250
Q: What is the long arc of American political development you see at work here?
The guest outlines two major shifts: the expansion of the central state in the 20th century and a later rebalancing where executive power has grown at the expense of Congress, aided by a more pliant Supreme Court, leading to a shakier balance that could be repaired through renewed congressional assertiveness.
Gaza after the Ceasefire
Q: What is the role of diaspora Palestinians in supporting Gaza without overshadowing those on the ground?
Diaspora supporters should act as ISNAD—supporters who fundraise, educate, and pressure policymakers while ensuring that those in Gaza lead the agenda and that outside narratives do not romanticize or erase local voices.
Gaza after the Ceasefire
Q: Can you describe what life is like for ordinary people in Gaza since the ceasefire and how it has changed (or not)?
People in Gaza endure a static, grueling reality: housing destruction, ruined infrastructure, and a constant struggle for basics like water and shelter, compounded by a refusal of a durable political settlement that would end the occupation or dismantle the siege.
A Rough Guide to Money Laundering
Q: What policy changes could most effectively reduce money laundering, according to Bullock and the books you discuss?
Potential changes include eliminating high-denomination notes to reduce cash-based laundering, improving detection of current tactics by focusing on present behaviors rather than past crimes, and reforming VAT and cross-border regulations to close exploitative loopholes like MTIC.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The LRB Podcast

What is The LRB Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers in-depth conversations that blend politics, culture, and literary analysis through a transatlantic lens. Across episodes, listeners encounter rigorous debates on democracy, policy, and power, alongside close readings of poetry, classical literature, and historical events. The format often pairs prominent scholars, journalists, and policy thinkers with writers who bring historical context and intellectual depth to current affairs. A standout feature is the close-reading approach to literature and history, which sits alongside sharp political economy discussions and cross-continental comparisons. This mix makes it particularly valuable for audiences who want thoughtful, academically informed perspectives on politics, culture, ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The LRB Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The LRB Podcast:

1. Close Readings
2. London Review Bookshop Podcast
3. Past Present Future
4. The TLS Podcast
5. Ones and Tooze

How many episodes of The LRB Podcast are there?

The LRB Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 474 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 The LRB Podcast?

Recent guests on The LRB Podcast include:

1. Adam Shatz
2. Clare Bucknell
3. Seamus Perry
4. Mark Ford
5. Irina Dumitrescu
6. Mary Wellesley
7. Mara Gay
8. Randall Kennedy

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