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The Prospect Podcast

Prospect Magazine
Labour Party
Donald Trump
Gaza
Mental Health
Climate Change
Conservative Party
Ukraine
Elon Musk
Keir Starmer
Israel
US Elections
Democracy
NATO
Brexit
Antisemitism
Prospect Magazine
Artificial Intelligence
Immigration
United States
Russia

Join our deputy editor Ellen Halliday and senior editor Alona Ferber as they interview some of the brightest minds to discuss the ideas that matter most in politics, society and culture.

The Prospect Podcast is produced by Prospect Magazine.

Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives. Get one free issue of Prospect when you sign up toda... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes489Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

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Latest Episodes

Humans have collected data for thousands of years—but now we’re doing it on a whole new level.

This week, Ellen and Alona and joined by Roopika Risam, professor of Digital Humanities and Social Engagement at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, whose... more

Lying, lobbying, and luxury donor gifts—has UK politics gone crooked?

This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Robert Barrington, professor of anti-corruption practice at Sussex University’s Centre for the Study of Corruption. He argues that corrupt... more

This month, our Mindful life writer Sarah Collins explains how her OCD had her singing her thoughts, while Second life writer Vitali Vitaliev asks: what’s in a nose? A trip to the Museum of Brands takes actor Sheila Hancock down memory lane, while Al... more

As a heatwave sweeps across Europe, Ellen and Imaan are joined by sociologist Jens Beckert, the author of 'How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change'. 

He argues that the cultural, political and economic structures of capitalist mo... more

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Recent Guests

Jens Beckert
Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies; Professor of Sociology at the University of Cologne
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies; University of Cologne
Episode: Jens Beckert: Democracy won’t beat climate change
Teresa Shering
Medical Lead for Biogen
Biogen
Episode: It's time to take maternal mental health seriously
Getrude Seneviratne
Consultant Adult and Perinatal Psychiatrist
Episode: It's time to take maternal mental health seriously
Laura Kyrke-Smith
MP for Ellsbury and Architect of Sophie's Law (Perinatal Mental Health Assessments Bill)
Member of Parliament
Episode: It's time to take maternal mental health seriously
David Goldblatt
Sportswriter and sociologist; author of Injury Time, Football in a State of Emergency
Episode: World Cup 2026: Does Maga hate football?
Ravi Gurumurthy
CEO of Nesta; lead non-executive at the Energy Department; NHS board member
Nesta; Energy Department; NHS
Episode: Ravi Gurumurthy has a plan for Britain
Sarah O'Connor
Financial Times columnist, reporter and associate editor
Financial Times
Episode: Sarah O’Connor: Should we fight the AI revolution?
Hettie O'Brien
Guardian writer and author of The Asset Class, How Private Equity Turned Capitalism Against Itself
The Guardian
Episode: Hettie O’Brien: The hidden cost of private equity
Sally Hayden
Journalist and author of This is Also a Love Story
Freelance journalist, based in Beirut, author
Episode: Sally Hayden: Finding love in a war zone

Hosts

Ellen Halliday
Host and deputy editor of Prospect Magazine; co-hosts discussions with deep analysis across politics and culture.
Alona Ferber
Senior editor conducting interviews and analysis; co-host with a focus on political dynamics and media literacy.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 139 ratings
  • Kim Darroch episode

    I've just listened to the episode in which the main protagonist in the war on Iran isn't even mentioned. How extraordinary. Are listeners taken to be fools?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    takasa1978
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Episode on nuclear threat from presenter who can’t say “nuclear”

    Was really looking forward to Serhii Plokhy on nuclear threat only to be aurally assaulted by a presenter who says “nucular”. What’s so difficult about “new clear”? She’s also one of those too fond of “ kind of” which for me is the mental equivalent of driving down a potholed road.

    Had to give up, not for the first time. Because I’m interested I read the transcript.

    Can be excellent but sometimes impossible so I went first 3

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Lacwn
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Lucky Australia

    You’d never know from listening to that podcast about why Australia is better that a lot of the wealth, both common and private, came from a mass expropriation of land, water and other resources from the original owners.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lynette responds
    Australiaa year ago
  • Assisted dying with jaunty break music

    A serious, sober and thoughtful conversation - interspersed by jarring jingly “showbiz” music. Surreal!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Dissatisfied2019
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • British magazine. Good. But they interviewed an author and neither interviewer had read his entire vote. I do, and strongly recommend you also, reserve 5 stars for truly outstanding podcasts so those ratings are more meaningful and the best podcasts stand out. This is good but not great.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    curmudgeon
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Polished analysis that rewards careful listening.
Thoughtful, high-quality discussions with strong guests.
Guests and topics are consistently rigorous and informative.
Some listeners feel pacing or tone can be dense for casual fans.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#144
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#168
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#45
Indonesia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#206
Indonesia/News
Apple Podcasts
#224
South Africa/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#234
Singapore/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jens Beckert: Democracy won’t beat climate change
Q: Why doesn't knowledge and the warnings about climate change translate into the action we need?
The guest explains that even with knowledge, there are structural barriers in the economy, political systems, and societal behavior. Incentive structures favor growth and profitability over sustained climate action, while financial markets and corporate power resist policy shifts that threaten short-term gains. This creates a dynamic where progress is slow, and action is constrained by expectations of prosperity and the political cycle.
World Cup 2026: Does Maga hate football?
Q: Why is football described as the world's game compared to the Olympics?
Because football creates a universal sense of ownership and national identity across diverse cultures, turning national pride into a shared global experience in a way that other sports and events, like the Olympics, do not.
Hettie O’Brien: The hidden cost of private equity
Q: What exactly is private equity and how does it operate?
It is a financial approach where a fund buys companies using mostly borrowed money, loads debt onto the bought company, and then aims to extract profits through restructurings and cost-cutting, often with little regard for the immediate well-being of employees or service users.
Sarah O’Connor: Should we fight the AI revolution?
Q: What was your initial view on AI's impact on work, and has reporting changed that view?
She learned that the impact isn't simple or uniform; automation can both relieve and complicate work, and a nuanced approach is required that weighs human values and practical constraints.
Starmer's leadership nightmare
Q: What does the future look like if Starmer hangs on versus if a challenger emerges?
The discussion suggests that Starmer's hold could hinge on whether a credible alternative emerges from the soft left, while a credible challenger could shift the field toward a new leadership that redefines Labour's approach and appeal.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Prospect Podcast

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

A thoughtful, idea-driven interview show that probes politics, society, and culture through in-depth conversations with experts, journalists, and authors. Episodes frequently center on political dynamics, global affairs, economic history, and media critique, pairing rigorous analysis with personal narratives to illuminate how large-scale issues shape everyday life. A notable strength is the ability to blend historical context with current events, drawing on guests who bring both scholarly depth and practical insight. The format tends to feature long-form discussions, multiple perspectives, and high-caliber guests, making it a strong pick for listeners who want to understand the forces shaping public life and policy, not just headlines.

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How many listeners does The Prospect Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Prospect Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Prospect Podcast:

1. Media Confidential
2. The Politics Show
3. Past Present Future
4. The Bunker – News without the nonsense
5. Oh God, What Now?

How many episodes of The Prospect Podcast are there?

The Prospect Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 489 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 The Prospect Podcast?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Prospect Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Prospect Podcast?

Recent guests on The Prospect Podcast include:

1. Jens Beckert
2. Teresa Shering
3. Getrude Seneviratne
4. Laura Kyrke-Smith
5. David Goldblatt
6. Ravi Gurumurthy
7. Sarah O'Connor
8. Hettie O'Brien

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