Best Lewis Vickers Podcasts (2025)

1
Is Britain ready to shift to a war footing? 6:44

Play Pause

12h ago6:44

6:44

After years of peacetime under-investment in defence, the UK government is vowing to shake things up. It says civilians can no longer ignore the rising risks. Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Tomini Babs Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Is this the end of disposable vapes? 6:00

23h ago6:00

6:00

As rates of vaping continue to rise across the UK, a health and environmental crisis is unfolding. Will the banning of single-use vapes in the UK turn the tides on their environmental cost? Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Karla Patella Photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa…

1
706 Living with Jane Austen (with Janet Todd) | A Listener Changes His Life | Bored Parents 1:12:23

3d ago1:12:23

1:12:23

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Jane Austen's novels make us wish she was our friend. She wouldn't be just any old friend: she'd be the sharpest and wisest, the one we turn to in a crisis, the one who understands our flaws and helps us see our blind spots. As we navigate the perils of love and life, she'd be the friend who gently point…

1
Will Trump's Golden Dome work? 7:14

2d ago7:14

7:14

Donald Trump says he wants to build the ‘next generation’ missile shield to protect America from foreign attacks. Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Rebecca Moore Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
The renationalisation of Britain’s railways 5:42

5d ago5:42

5:42

The government has hailed ‘a new dawn’ for the railways under the first renationalised train service. But will Britain’s trains become more reliable and will tickets be cheaper under public ownership? Writer: James Tapper Producer: Karla Patella Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor…

1
Could the government’s immigration reforms lead to an exodus of international nurses? 6:19

6d ago6:19

6:19

New research from the Royal College of Nursing suggests many overseas nurses are thinking about leaving the UK. Could the government’s tough new immigration reforms accelerate that? Writer: Rachael Healy Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri…

1
705 Runaway Poets - How the Brownings Fell in Love (And Why It Matters) 59:34

7d ago59:34

59:34

Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861) was one of the most prolific and accomplished poets of the Victorian age, an inspiration to Emily Dickinson, Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, and countless others. And yet, her life was full of cloistered misery, as her father insisted that she should never marry. And then, the clouds lifted, and a letter arrived. It was …

1
Who’s polluting the River Wye? 6:09

7d ago6:09

6:09

Why the River Wye is at the centre of one of the biggest environmental claims ever filed in the high court. Writer: Jon Ungoed -Thomas Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Photography: Alex Jones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Inside the world of Superbikes 7:46

9d ago7:46

7:46

Two deaths a fortnight ago haven’t dimmed the high-octane appeal of motorsport. So when tragedy hits a high-risk sport like this, what keeps riders coming back? Writer: Rory Smith Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
704 Butterflies Regained 1:26:31

10d ago1:26:31

1:26:31

Poetry, butterflies, and original music oh my! With some help from poets Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, William Wordsworth, and John Keats, along with original music by composer Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal, Jacke tackles the topic of butterflies. Yes, yes, we all know that butterflies are symbols of beauty and transformation - but can great poets get beyon…

1
Is Britain ready to choose prison reform over punishment? 7:33

13d ago7:33

7:33

The government has commissioned radical new reforms to reduce the prison population by 10,000 people. Writer: Rachel Sylvester Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Could this be the end of abortion prosecutions? 8:03

14d ago8:03

8:03

In recent years, an increasing number of women - including Nicola Packer - have been investigated and put on trial for illegally ending their pregnancy. Writer: Phoebe Davis If you’d like to read more of Phoebe’s interview with Nicola Packer, click here. Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Photograph: Sonja Hor…

1
Has Keir Starmer pulled off a Brexit reset with the EU? 6:03

15d ago6:03

6:03

The much-hyped EU-UK summit has resulted in a deal that the Government says will improve “jobs, bills and borders”. But has Labour been too cautious? Writer: Cat Neilan Producer: Karla Patella Host: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
What did Cassie Ventura’s testimony reveal about Sean “Diddy” Combs? 9:17

16d ago9:17

9:17

The trial of Sean Combs has finished hearing testimony from the prosecution's main witness: the singer and Combs’ ex-partner Cassie Ventura. Contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline by calling their 24-hour freephone on 0808 2000 247 or visiting https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Karla Patella Host: Tomin…

1
The boxset boom on the silver screen 6:59

17d ago6:59

6:59

Why cinema is leaning heavily on the appeal of screening hit television shows. Writer: Vanessa Thorpe Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett To find out more about The Observer: Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free content Head to our web…

1
703 D.H. Lawrence (with David Ellis) | My Last Book with Dorian Lynskey 1:09:35

17d ago1:09:35

1:09:35

D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930) is one of the most famous novelists of his era - and one of the most difficult to pin down. Was he a tasteless, avant-garde pornographer? Or the greatest imaginative novelist of his generation (as E.M. Forster once said)? What should we know about his hard-luck childhood and turbulent adult life? In this episode, Jacke tal…

1
Why is Gen Z going to church? 6:13

20d ago6:13

6:13

A recent survey suggests Gen Z is fuelling a resurgence in church attendance, especially among Catholics. Why? Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Ada Barumé Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
How has President Trump ushered in a new age of corruption? 7:15

21d ago7:15

7:15

The presidency and personal gain now go hand in hand – and no one has been able to do anything about it. Writer: Patricia Clarke Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Casey Magloire Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
702 Writing in the World of Jane Austen (with D.G. Rampton) | Disaster at the Book Festival! 52:01

21d ago52:01

52:01

Jacke talks to D.G. Rampton, Australia's Queen of the Regency Romance, about her love for the novels of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer - and what it's like for a twenty-first-century novelist to set her novels in the early-nineteenth-century world of intelligent heroines, dashing men, and sparkling banter. Find PLUS Jacke dives into the story of a…

1
Israel’s new offensive in Gaza 7:32

22d ago7:32

7:32

The last living American hostage has been released from Gaza following direct talks between the US and Hamas. It comes as Israel prepares for a military occupation of the territory, moving the population and taking control of food and aid distribution. Writer: Chloe Hadjimatheou Producer: Karla Patella Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Reb…

1
What pushed India and Pakistan to the brink of war? 9:27

23d ago9:27

9:27

When armed gunmen attacked holiday makers in the Himalayas it reignited a decades-old conflict. Writer and producer: Katie Gunning Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Jasper Corbett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
The musicians taking on AI 7:39

24d ago7:39

7:39

Musicians are worried about big tech companies using their work to train AI models. But a group of musicians has come out fighting with an attempt to defend their art. How does it work? Writer: James Tapper Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…

1
701 Emerson's Struggle with Slavery (with Kenneth Sacks) | My Last Book with Victoria Namkung | We Had Sex Inside Moby-Dick! 1:11:31

24d ago1:11:31

1:11:31

For several decades, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was perhaps the most prominent writer and intellectual in America. As an advocate of personal freedom living in Massachusetts, surrounded by passionate abolitionists, one might expect that his positions regarding slavery would be obvious and uncomplicated. And yet, Emerson struggled with the issu…

1
Is Trump succeeding in deporting millions? 8:43

27d ago8:43

8:43

Donald Trump vowed to tighten borders and deport en masse. Now over 100 days in, his administration races to deliver on sweeping immigration promises. Is he succeeding? Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Serena Casareo Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
The Met Gala’s anti-MAGA resistance 7:47

28d ago7:47

7:47

This year’s red carpet bonanza celebrated Black tailoring and rejected Trump-era masculinity in a rare moment of defiance. Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Karla Patella Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Why Reform is no longer the party of old white men 7:03

29d ago7:03

7:03

The results from last week’s local elections show that Nigel Farage’ party is now the most popular choice for gen X women. Writer: Rachel Sylvester Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Why do councils rent out their parks for summer festivals? 8:58

30d ago8:58

8:58

Underfunded councils are turning parks into festival grounds to raise cash but this is transforming the meaning of public space in cities. Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Rebecca Moore Host: Claudia Williams Episode photography: Joe Mee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
700 - Butterflies at Rest 28:08

30d ago28:08

28:08

Returning to some devastating news after a trip to Paris, Jacke searches for lost time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

1
The downsides of weight-loss drugs 6:09

1M ago6:09

6:09

Weight loss drugs can be transformative for people who have struggled with obesity. But with a spike in hospital admissions experiencing adverse reactions to the drugs, should we be doing more to regulate this growing market? Writer: James Tapper Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Executive producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com…

1
The other Tate Brother 7:57

1M ago7:57

7:57

Tristan Tate is far less well-known than his notorious brother, Andrew. New evidence suggests he holds a central role in their alleged criminality. Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Katie Gunning Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Jasper Corbett The Sensemaker from The Observer - one story every day to make sense of …

1
What does the Supreme Court ruling on sex mean in practice? 6:03

1M ago6:03

6:03

The judges had to decide what the words ‘man’, ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ meant in the Equality Act. They decided that they referred to biological sex. It will have an effect on how trans people access services and single-sex spaces. Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Katie Gunning Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore The Sensemaker from The…

1
Are Chatbots afraid of dying? 9:35

1M ago9:35

9:35

Since December 2024, a run of scientific papers has illustrated AI’s capacity for deception. Deep learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio says the consequences could be existential. Writer: Patricia Clarke Producer: Ada Barumé Host: Tomini Babs Photography: Joe Mee Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information…

1
699 Gatsby's Daisy (with Rachel Feder) | My Last Book with Francesca Peacock 1:12:12

1M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby might be one hundred years old, but it's still incredibly relevant: one list-of-lists site ranks it as the number-one book of all time. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Rachel Feder about this classic tale of reinvention - and the reinventing she did for her book Daisy, which retells the Gatsby sto…

1
Why is Russia relying on North Korean troops? 7:22

1M ago7:22

7:22

North Korean soldiers are fighting and dying in combat in Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence estimates about 60% of the shells fired by the Russian army were provided by North Korea. What does it say about Vladimir Putin that he had to turn to Kim Jong Un for help? Writer: Matt Russell with additional reporting by Nina Kuryata and Claudia Williams. Pr…

1
Why is Gen Z obsessed with running? 5:34

1M ago5:34

5:34

Young adults are swapping nightclubs for run clubs. The number of 20-29 year olds registering for the London marathon is up 86 per cent in the past three years. Writer: Andrew Butler Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio…

1
How did Pope Francis tackle child sexual abuse in the church? 8:37

1M ago8:37

8:37

For many Catholics Pope Francis will be remembered as a man determined to overthrow tradition, challenge privilege and speak up for those who were not heard. But he became head of the Catholic church at a time when the institution was plagued by widespread accusations of sexual abuse. For the victims of catholic priests, did he deliver justice? Wri…

1
698 Dante in Love (with Ellen Nerenberg and Anthony Valerio) [Ad-Free Archive Edition] 1:05:26

1M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

It's springtime! A great time to be in love - and if you're a poetic genius like Dante Alighieri, a great time to catch a glimpse of a girl named Beatrice on the streets of Florence, fall madly in love with her, and spend the rest of your life beatifying her in verse. In this episode, we present a conversation that first aired in February 2018, in …

1
Harvard University versus Trump 8:50

1M ago8:50

8:50

The world’s richest university is mounting the first serious fightback against the Trump administration. Who will blink first? Writer: Stephen Armstrong Producer: Casey Magloire Host: Casey Magloire Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
What's Behind the Rise of Thin-Fluencers? 8:57

1M ago8:57

8:57

If your ‘for you page’ is suddenly full of dieting tips and before and after pictures, you might be on the receiving end of a resurgence of ‘thin-spiration’ on social media. But what’s behind this comeback? And who is being impacted? Writer: Ada Barumé Producer: Casey Magloire Photography: Roisin Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on A…

1
697 Race in European Fairy Tales (with Kimberly Lau) | My Last Book with Rolf Hellebust 1:21:03

1M ago1:21:03

1:21:03

Anyone digging into fairy tales soon discovers that there's more to these stories of magic and wonder than meets the eye. Often thought of as stories for children, the narratives can be shockingly violent, and they sometimes deliver messages or "morals" at odds with modern sensibilities. In this episode, Jacke talks to Kimberly Lau about her book S…

1
696 John Ruskin (with Sara Atwood) | My Last Book with Collin Jennings 1:00:25

2M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

John Ruskin (1819-1900) was a powerhouse of a man: writer, lecturer, critic, social reformer - and much else besides. From his five-volume work Modern Painters through his late writings about literature in Fiction, Fair and Foul, he brought to his subjects an energy and integrity that few critical thinkers have matched. His wide-ranging influence r…

1
What’s behind Birmingham’s bin strikes? 8:12

2M ago8:12

8:12

The standoff between Birmingham’s bin workers and the council is entering its fifth week as the latest pay offer was rejected. The Unite union says the dispute could spread to other areas of the country. . Writer: Jess Swinburne Producer: Casey Magloire Photography: Roisin Savage Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv…

1
Why did the UK government rush to save the last remaining steel power plant? 8:21

2M ago8:21

8:21

MPs were recalled to Westminster early on Saturday and passed an emergency legislation that allowed the UK government to seize control of British Steel, after its Chinese owner appeared to threaten closure. How did we get here? And why has steel-making in the UK become an issue of national security? Writer: Serena Cesareo Producer: Casey Magloire H…

1
Will Donald Trump save the iPhone? 7:23

2M ago7:23

7:23

The President has imposed a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese imports to America but has hinted smartphones could be exempt. Writer: Xavier Greenwood Producer: Patricia Clarke Host: Claudia Williams Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
695 Ten Indian Classics (with Sharmila Sen) | My Last Book with Adam Smyth 1:03:57

2M ago1:03:57

1:03:57

For the past ten years, the Murty Classical Library of India (published by Harvard University Press) has sought to do for classic Indian works what the famous Loeb Classical Library has done for Ancient Greek and Roman texts. In this episode, Jacke talks to editorial director Sharmila Sen about the joys and challenges of sifting through thousands o…

1
Why are your allergies worse this year? 8:25

2M ago8:25

8:25

This weekend the Met Office declared the south of England experienced what it called a ‘pollen bomb.’ Why is hay fever season starting earlier, lasting longer and the symptoms are becoming more intense? Writer: Jonathan Lewis Producer: Jonathan Lewis Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast…

1
Why are American politicians defending anti-abortion activists in the UK? 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

When a 64-year-old woman was fined for holding a sign outside a UK abortion clinic, it sparked international backlash - including from organised, Christian activists in America and the US government. Writer: Phoebe Davis Producer: Serena Cesareo Host: Tomini Babs Episode photography: Alex Jones Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See …

1
Why do climate change sceptics care about a volcano eruption? 8:01

2M ago8:01

8:01

Tortoise has identified almost 300 influencers who are spreading misleading content about climate change that ranges from scepticism to misinformation. One of their false claims is that global warming is caused by an underwater volcano that erupted off the coast of Tonga To read more about Tortoise’s Hot Air project click here. Writer: Bex Sander P…

1
694 Apocalyptic Literature (with Dorian Lynskey) | My Last Book with Charles Baxter 1:07:02

2M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

For some reason, human beings don't seem to be content just thinking about their own death: they insist on imagining the end of the entire world. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Dorian Lynskey (Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World), who immersed himself in apocalyptic films and literature to discover exactly wha…

1
What does Trump's tariff mean for your personal finances? 8:42

2M ago8:42

8:42

Donald Trump's tariffs have caused chaos across international markets, but how does this impact your personal pensions and savings? Writer: Barney Macintyre Host: Tomini Babs Producer: Casey Magloire Executive Producer: Matt Russell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.