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Artwork for The LRB Podcast
Protest
Patricia Lockwood
Pope Francis
Marcel Proust
Chaucer
Miller's Tale
Madeleine
A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu
Medieval Literature
Tigray War
2008 Financial Crisis
Tahrir Square Protests
Literary Criticism
Catholic Church
Don Juan
Memory
Translation
The Canterbury Tales
Arab Spring
Egypt

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 weeklyEpisodes426Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for The LRB Podcast

Latest Episodes

In early January, the US military seized Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, in a display of force that echoed its numerous past interventions in Latin America. Yet in this case, Trump’s justifications for the action made no mention of democracy, ... more

‘Is it a bubble?’ John Lanchester asked in a recent LRB of the colossal amounts of money pouring into AI firms. ‘Of course it’s a bubble. The salient questions are how we got here, and what happens next.’

On this episode of the podcast, John joins T... more

In The Man Behind the Curtain, a bonus Close Readings series for 2026, Tom McCarthy and Thomas Jones examine great novels in terms of the systems and infrastructures at work in them. For their first episode, they turn to the book that invented the mo... more

Did Dickens ruin Christmas? He was certainly a pioneer in exploiting its commercial potential. A Christmas Carol sold 6,000 copies in five days when it was published on 19 December 1843, and Dickens went on to write four more lucrative Christmas book... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Recent Guests

John Lanchester
Contributing editor at The LRB and author of several novels and finance-related books
London Review of Books
Episode: Will the AI bubble burst?
James Lasdun
Novelist, poet, and short story writer
Episode: Pollution and Other Serial Killers
Emily Witt
Critic and journalist for The New Yorker
The New Yorker
Episode: Selling the Manosphere
John Day
Teaches at King's College London, author of works including 'Homing'
King's College London
Episode: Rat Universes
Narges Bajoghli
Professor at Johns Hopkins, author of 'Iran Reframed'
Johns Hopkins
Episode: Israel's War of Opportunity
Robert Malley
Visiting Professor at Yale, former U.S. negotiator for the Iran nuclear deal
Yale
Episode: Israel's War of Opportunity
Francesca Wade
Author of 'Square Haunting' and 'Gertrude Stein, An Afterlife'
Episode: The Best-Paid Woman in NYC
Laleh Khalili
An academic at the University of Exeter and author of 'Extractive Capitalism, Commodities, Cargo and Cronyism'.
University of Exeter
Episode: Silicon Valley Warriors
Miriam Dobson
History teacher at Sheffield University and author of works on Soviet history
Sheffield University
Episode: Cold War Pen-Pals

Hosts

Thomas Jones
Co-host of the LRB Podcast and associated with in-depth literary discussions and critical dialogues.
Malin Hay
Co-host of the LRB Podcast, known for insightful conversations on literature and culture.
James Butler
Host of the 'On Politics' podcast segment, contributing critical analysis of current political affairs.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Best political podcast - a must-listen

    James Butler’s political podcast is far and away the most intelligent, insightful politics podcast: in-depth, illuminating discussions with serious journalists and academics who can analyse current events with critical acuity and a sense of context. James Butler is an excellent interviewer/presenter: asks incisive questions and keeps discussion sharp and purposeful. Warmly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    4th Generation Blades Fan
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • On politics

    Really enjoying the new political analysis stream. Thoughtful and sober analysis and great guests. Would pay for longer episodes tbh.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rob Lugg
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Mr

    I would add to comments about Close Readings that Seamus Perry and Mark Ford provide content that is most of all - accessible. The language is secular and devoid of swathes of academic terminology. Any lapse is often pounced on by Mr Perry in explanation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Headlandjonno
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • On Politics: Labour’s Problems

    Too many voices with different audio quality. The discussion was rambling without much focus. I don’t think I’ll listen to subsequent episodes. Reading one good opinion at a time is more useful.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    TVeblen
    United States4 months ago
  • Thoughtful

    The most thoughtful podcast I know of.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JK314159265
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the seamless integration of literature and politics in discussions.
Many reviews highlight the deep intellect and refreshing perspective offered through various topics.
The show is praised for its thoughtful conversations and engaging content.
Some feedback points to occasional grievances with audio quality and host presentation.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#46
United Kingdom/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#227
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#151
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#66
India/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#82
Chile/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#91
Ireland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will the AI bubble burst?
Q: So what happens next?
John expresses uncertainty on the future of AI and its impact, suggesting that those who claim to know are likely trying to sell something.
On Politics: Inside Britain’s Asylum System
Q: Could you talk us through what the changes proposed by the Home Secretary are to both the immigration system more widely and particularly asylum?
The proposed changes treat migrants differently regarding their eligibility for settlement after they are already in the UK, making it significantly harder for them while not directly reducing the number of visas or migrants entering.
The Life and Death of a Photographer in Gaza
Q: What sort of reaction did you have in Japan?
Very strong reaction due to the historical context and emotional impact of the film.
The Life and Death of a Photographer in Gaza
Q: Can you tell us how this film got made?
Initially tried to enter Gaza to film, faced barriers, and eventually connected with Fatma Hassona through video calls.
On Politics: The Bust-up at the BBC
Q: If you could change one policy for the BBC, what would it be?
Introduce a number of randomly selected bodies to oversee the operations and governance of the BBC, allowing the public to have a direct relationship with its staff.

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 The LRB Podcast

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

Conversations on diverse topics such as literature, politics, and culture are central to the weekly discussions shared with a thoughtful audience. Episodes showcase in-depth dialogues that illuminate contemporary issues by exploring historical contexts, critical social dynamics, and literary nuances, all hosted by knowledgeable figures in the field. Noteworthy for its intellectual rigor, this series presents a balance of cultural insights alongside political analysis, often integrating voices from academia and journalism to dissect current events and themes in society. The unique format combines systematic explorations of artistic works with real-time discussions of pressing world issues, making it appealing for listeners interested in both... 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. Backlisted

How many episodes of The LRB Podcast are there?

The LRB Podcast launched 14 years ago and published 426 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. John Lanchester
2. James Lasdun
3. Emily Witt
4. John Day
5. Narges Bajoghli
6. Robert Malley
7. Francesca Wade
8. Laleh Khalili

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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