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Radical with Amol Rajan

BBC Radio 4
Labour Party
Donald Trump
Keir Starmer
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Mental Health
Gaza
Conservative Party
Ukraine
Climate Change
Social Mobility
Rishi Sunak
Democracy
Pornography
NATO
Russia
UK Elections
UK Politics
Housing Crisis
Israel

Conversations about tomorrow, from Today.

Every week Amol Rajan talks to radicals, pioneers and innovators from all over the world. From populism and climate change, to economics and AI... How can their radical ideas help you win the future?

Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes220Founded3 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Latest Episodes

This week, Shiv Malik, the man behind the proposals for ‘Forest City 1’, takes your questions. He’s a former investigative journalist turned campaigner: instead of writing another book about Britain’s housing crisis, he’s trying to build his way out ... more

This week, Amol is joined by the author and journalist Shiv Malik, to discuss his plan to build a new mega-city from scratch in East Anglia.

In 2010 Shiv Malik wrote a book called the Jilted Generation, which argued that anyone born since 1979 has ... more

Kate Raworth believes that mainstream economists have got it wrong for decades. For her, reducing everything to a simple measure of gross domestic product and increasing that number every year is a huge mistake that is harming both people and planet.... more

What if growth wasn’t the main goal for economic prosperity? Kate Raworth, the author and economist behind Doughnut Economics, tells Amol why she thinks that measuring success by GDP growth is unsustainable, immoral, and an unfit economic model for t... more

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Recent Guests

Kate Raworth
Economist, author of Doughnut Economics
Oxfam, Doughnut Economics Action Lab
Episode: The End of Endless Growth: Should We Put the Brakes on Economic Expansion? (Kate Raworth)
Ben Cohen
Co-founder of Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's
Episode: Could Ben & Jerry's Be Created Today? (Your Radical Questions with Ben Cohen)
Sir John Bell
Professor, Emeritus Regis Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford
Population Health Partners; previously Roche board member
Episode: Healthcare, Reinvented: How Dramatic Medical Breakthroughs Are Quietly Changing Your Life (Professor Sir John Bell)
Andy Cato
Farmer, innovator and one half of Groove Armada
Wildfarmed / Grooves Armada legacy
Episode: The Future of Food: Can Regenerative Farming Save Our Soil? (Andy Cato)
Dr. Jilly Kay
expert in feminist media and cultural studies
Loughborough University
Episode: Is Social Media Making Young Women Hate Men? (Your Radical Questions with Dr Jilly Kay)
Reid Hoffman
Co-founder of LinkedIn, PayPal; AI pioneer and investor
LinkedIn, PayPal, various AI ventures
Episode: What Are the Tech Billionaires Really Like? (Your Radical Questions with Reid Hoffman)
Matt Clifford
Co-founder of Entrepreneurs First; former AI advisor to Prime Minister Sunak and Chancellor (Stama)
Entrepreneurs First
Episode: Is AI Coming for Your Job? (Your Radical Questions with Matt Clifford)
Emma Grede
Entrepreneur and author; co-founder of Skims and Good American; board member of the Obama Foundation
Skims; Good American; Obama Foundation
Episode: Taking Responsibility: Are We Thinking About Success and Ambition All Wrong? (Emma Grede)
Adrian Wooldridge
Author of Centrists of the World Unite; Bloomberg columnist
Bloomberg
Episode: Reclaiming the Centre: Is the Old Political Order Dead? (Adrian Wooldridge)

Hosts

Amol Rajan
Host of the series; prominent BBC Today programme presenter; drives in-depth conversations with diverse guests.
Oli Dugmore
Frequent stand-in host for Amol Rajan, providing continuity and fresh framing to episodes.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Can we make Britain great again

    This is an inspired podcast. It is just the right antidote to the way the ‘media’ and politics portrays the nation. It sets out a challenge but one that can generate enthusiasm and optimism and at the same time positions the opportunities we face in a realistic way. Play this to every child on secondary education !! , to every financier / fund manager , to every board of directors. Give us all something to unite behind. Absolutely the best thing I have listened to for ages. Totally lifted my... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ray Coe UK
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Hollow

    They don’t get into issues deeply - just skirt around the actual problems and address the symptoms only.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    zztoptops
    Spain2 months ago
  • Hit and miss

    Some guests are excellent and the discussion is grounded in rigorous research with Amol asking searching questions, but the consistency is not there from week to week. Sadly there seems to be an increase in anecdotal claims based on little more than personal experiences with Amol giving his guest a free pass.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Brazen Ludorum
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Top Podcast!!!

    Brilliant podcast. I can’t recommend it highly enough. The diversity of speakers is fantastic, and every episode is genuinely thought-provoking. I don’t always agree with what’s said, but that’s exactly why I enjoy it, it really makes you think. Amol is a great presenter too, asking insightful, searching questions that bring out the best in every conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paulchelsea1969
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Food for thought

    This podcast is excellent. Each week, it offers plenty of food for thought and leaves me eager to learn more—so much so that I’ve built up quite a long reading list.

    It consistently explores a wide range of relevant and thought-provoking topics, featuring guests who are clearly passionate about their subjects. I appreciate that it includes perspectives I both agree and disagree with, which keeps the discussion balanced and engaging.

    In today’s world, it’s refreshing to find a programme that not ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FunkyFlag
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

- Listener feedback highlights the show as timely and intellectually engaging, though not always aligned with every guest's viewpoint.
- Hosts probe deeply and challenge guests, often sparking important insights.
- Episodes praised for breadth of topics and guest diversity; some criticism about depth or consistency in recent episodes.
- High-quality, thought-provoking conversations with diverse guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Could Ben & Jerry's Be Created Today? (Your Radical Questions with Ben Cohen)
Q: Could a Ben & Jerry's-like venture be founded today amid social media outrage and cost pressures?
Yes; a mission-driven homemade ice cream business that helps people in poverty and engages with policy could still succeed today.
Could Ben & Jerry's Be Created Today? (Your Radical Questions with Ben Cohen)
Q: Is it legitimate for a brand to take an ethical stance from the start even if it risks alienating some consumers?
Yes, starting with a mission that serves society along with great product can drive growth and trust, whereas delaying a social stance can feel insincere.
Could Ben & Jerry's Be Created Today? (Your Radical Questions with Ben Cohen)
Q: How should a company balance ethics with profitability, especially when public health regulation might affect the bottom line?
Ben suggests that regulation can create a level playing field and, if applied broadly, shouldn't harm a responsible company's profits while enabling broader public health benefits.
Could Ben & Jerry's Be Created Today? (Your Radical Questions with Ben Cohen)
Q: Does Ben think companies can be left to fulfill their corporate responsibilities to society, or do we need government regulation?
Ben argues it's both: government is the biggest lever for social benefits, but businesses should advocate for policies that advance social good.
Is Our Idea of Economic Success Completely Broken? (Your Radical Questions with Kate Raworth)
Q: Could universal basic income be a viable policy, or should universal basic services be the priority?
Universal basic services (public healthcare, education, water, transport) can more reliably reduce inequality and provide essential rights; basic income has caveats and may not guarantee access to those essentials, so a combination with strong public services is preferable.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Radical

What is Radical about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thought-provoking interview series that centers on radical ideas across society, technology, health, politics, and culture. Conversations frequently explore how innovations—from AI and biotechnology to regenerative farming and centrist liberalism—could reshape markets, governance, and everyday life, often weighing practical implications, ethics, and policy. Noteworthy is a knack for pairing deep technical context with big-picture analysis, and for hosting guests who range from world-class researchers and entrepreneurs to policymakers and cultural commentators. This mix makes it a strong choice for listeners who want ideas that challenge the status quo and practical, actionable insights for business, policy, and personal strategy.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Radical. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Radical and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Radical get?

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What are the audience demographics for Radical?

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How many subscribers and views does Radical have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Radical has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Radical?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Radical:

1. The Rest Is Politics
2. The News Agents
3. Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
4. The Rest Is Politics: Leading
5. Newscast

How many episodes of Radical are there?

Radical launched 3 years ago and published 220 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 Radical?

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 Radical?

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What guests have appeared on Radical?

Recent guests on Radical include:

1. Kate Raworth
2. Ben Cohen
3. Sir John Bell
4. Andy Cato
5. Dr. Jilly Kay
6. Reid Hoffman
7. Matt Clifford
8. Emma Grede

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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