Best Modern Foreign Language Podcasts (2026)

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Jonathan Freedland on The Secret Rebels who Defied Hitler (Part Two) 33:58

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1h ago33:58

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Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist, broadcaster, and author of the widely acclaimed book The Escape Artist which tells the remarkable story of Rudolf Vrba and fellow inmate Alfred Wetzler who became the very first Jews to successfully escape Auschwitz. In October 2025 he came to the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss his new book, The Tr…

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Jonathan Freedland on The Secret Rebels who Defied Hitler (Part One) 36:25

2d ago36:25

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Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist, broadcaster, and author of the widely acclaimed book The Escape Artist which tells the remarkable story of Rudolf Vrba and fellow inmate Alfred Wetzler who became the very first Jews to successfully escape Auschwitz. In October 2025 he came to the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss his new book, The Tr…

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The Remarkable True Story of The Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970’s, with Jason Burke (Part Two) 35:43

4d ago35:43

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In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them were the beautiful young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings, the hard-drinking philanderer Carlos the Jackal sporting shades and open-neck shirts, and the radical leftists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang. Taking Is…

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The Remarkable True Story of The Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970’s, with Jason Burke (Part One) 40:46

5d ago40:46

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In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them were the beautiful young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings, the hard-drinking philanderer Carlos the Jackal sporting shades and open-neck shirts, and the radical leftists of the Baader-Meinhof Gang. Taking Is…

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Simon Borg-Olivier: From Tradition to Innovation in Yoga 1:08:02

7d ago1:08:02

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Send us a text Simon Borg-Olivier is a renowned yoga practitioner, physiotherapist, and movement expert with over four decades of experience. He is known for his innovative integration of traditional yoga practices with modern physiotherapy principles. Having studied under legendary yoga masters such as B.K.S. Iyengar and other prominent instructor…

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How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part Two) 44:33

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Tim Wu, is one of America’s leading thinkers on technology, power, and the history of monopoly powers. A Columbia Law School professor and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technology and competition policy, Wu is best known for coining the term “net neutrality” and for his influential work in books like The Attention Merchants an…

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How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part One) 35:42

9d ago35:42

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Tim Wu, is one of America’s leading thinkers on technology, power, and the history of monopoly powers. A Columbia Law School professor and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technology and competition policy, Wu is best known for coining the term “net neutrality” and for his influential work in books like The Attention Merchants an…

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How Philosophy Explains Our World, with Julian Baggini (Part Two) 35:32

11d ago35:32

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--- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared…

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How Philosophy Explains Our World, with Julian Baggini (Part One) 38:54

12d ago38:54

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What would Aristotle make of Keir Starmer? Would Plato be a Republican? And what can philosophy teach us about modern world? In October 2025 philosopher Julian Baggini came to Intelligence Squared to help us understand the world of politics through philosophy. He set out why ‘polarisation’ need not be a dirty word, what differentiates conspiracy th…

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Santina Giardina-Chard: Breaking Free from Addiction Through Ashtanga Yoga & Gestalt Therapy 1:09:13

14d ago1:09:13

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Send us a text Santina Giardina-Chard is a dedicated Ashtanga yoga teacher, having mastered all levels up to the fourth series. Alongside her yoga practice, Santina is a certified gestalt therapist with a master's degree, tirelessly working with clients to explore how their past influences their present experiences and relationships. Her holistic a…

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Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part Two) 42:01

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Michael Rosen has known – and given – great joy in his life. And he has suffered immense sorrow. Rosen is an author, poet and former children’s laureate, much-loved for his playful humour. He has written over 200 books, including the modern children’s classic, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In recent years, he has become an eloquent voice on grief and…

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Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part One) 34:17

16d ago34:17

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Michael Rosen has known – and given – great joy in his life. And he has suffered immense sorrow. Rosen is an author, poet and former children’s laureate, much-loved for his playful humour. He has written over 200 books, including the modern children’s classic, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. In recent years, he has become an eloquent voice on grief and…

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Women’s Prize-winner Rachel Clarke in conversation with Rob Delaney (Part Two) 39:00

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Dr Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor and author, who became widely known for her writing on the challenges facing the NHS from the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then she has also written a book, The Story of a Heart which was awarded the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction which tells the profoundly moving story of a heart transp…

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Women’s Prize-winner Rachel Clarke in conversation with Rob Delaney (Part One) 37:00

19d ago37:00

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Dr Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor and author, who became widely known for her writing on the challenges facing the NHS from the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then she has also written a book, The Story of a Heart which was awarded the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction which tells the profoundly moving story of a heart transp…

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The Specialist | The Anonymous Altarpiece: Decoding a Renaissance Enigma, with Alex Bell 13:48

20d ago13:48

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This is an episode of The Specialist, your weekly dose of wonder. In The Specialist, explore the significance and journey of an extraordinary work through the eyes of those that know it best. On today’s episode, what happens when a work of art is so enigmatic that you think about it for 60 years? Alex Bell, Chairman Emeritus of Sotheby's UK and Old…

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Brendan Smullen: How Ashtanga Yoga Evolves with Life, Parenthood & Community 57:30

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Send us a text Brendan Smullen is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher and co-owner of a yoga studio in Seattle, where he and his partner specialize in Ashtanga and progressive variants of this practice. With a rich background in both traditional and Rocket yoga, Brendan is known for fostering inclusive and community-driven yoga experiences. Through h…

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Have We Finally Solved The Mystery of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring? With Andrew Graham-Dixon 49:00

21d ago49:00

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Johannes Vermeer is one of the greatest painters in history, yet the man himself remains an enigma. But have we finally solved the mystery of one of his most famous paintings? On this episode we’re joined by Andrew Graham-Dixon, one of Britain’s best known art historians. In his new book Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found, he sets out a radical reappra…

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Everything Starts With Water 42:29

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In today’s episode, in partnership with WaterAid, journalist and author Coco Khan speaks to Amaka Godfrey, WaterAid’s Executive Director of International Programmes. Amaka has spent more than 25 years working across the world in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector. She shares powerful stories of how clean water means children stay in school, h…

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S22,E11: 12/15/25 (FINALE! Reverend Baron, Cheekface, Charlie Hilton, Nation of Language, Billie Marten, Tame Impala, Chinless Wonder, Morgan Nagler) 52:33

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SEASON 22 FINALE! Season 22 Episode 11: December 15th, 2025 Again and Again - Reverend Baron Flies - Cheekface Content Baby - Cheekface Exorcise - Charlie Hilton Illusion of a Door - Charlie Hilton In Another Life - Nation of Language Inept Apollo - Nation of Language Crown - Billie Marten Swing - Billie Marten My Old Ways - Tame Impala Dracula - T…

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Putin, The Soviet Union and The Rise of Russian Imperialism, with Mikhail Zygar (Part Two) 35:07

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Mikhail Zygar is a renowned Russian dissident journalist living in exile in the USA. He was the founding editor-in-chief of independent news channel TV Rain in Russia. He publicly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and fled into exile days later. Despite persistent death threats, he continues to write fearlessly about his homeland. In …

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Putin, The Soviet Union and The Rise of Russian Imperialism, with Mikhail Zygar (Part One) 33:54

26d ago33:54

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Mikhail Zygar is a renowned Russian dissident journalist living in exile in the USA. He was the founding editor-in-chief of independent news channel TV Rain in Russia. He publicly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and fled into exile days later. Despite persistent death threats, he continues to write fearlessly about his homeland. In …

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The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook with Jeremy Hunt 1:28:14

27d ago1:28:14

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We’ve heard enough from the pessimists. Yes, these are hard times, but what investors, business owners and all of us need right now is not more despair about the economy, but a clear roadmap towards growth and prosperity. In October 2025, Jeremy Hunt came to the Intelligence Squared stage to share his vision of how we can achieve economic renewal. …

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Angelica Govaert: How Meditation, Quantum Physics & Yoga Build a Thriving Online Career 1:15:35

28d ago1:15:35

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Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Angelica Govaert — aka Yogalebrity — a yoga teacher and digital entrepreneur with 40+ years of practice. She blends meditation, quantum physics, and business strategy to help yoga teachers thrive online. Angelica has created multiple successful courses, including a best-selling program on yoga assist…

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Rory Stewart on Trump, Nationalism and The Value of Rural Life (Part Two) 34:29

28d ago34:29

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Over the course of a decade in politics Rory Stewart saw how power really works and what forces drive our communities apart. He was a backbench MP, held several ministerial positions, and stood for prime minister – before being sacked from a Conservative Party that he had come to barely recognise. Now, well away from the political arena, he regular…

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Rory Stewart on Trump, Nationalism and The Value of Rural Life (Part One) 35:19

1M ago35:19

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Over the course of a decade in politics Rory Stewart saw how power really works and what forces drive our communities apart. He was a backbench MP, held several ministerial positions, and stood for prime minister – before being sacked from a Conservative Party that he had come to barely recognise. Now, well away from the political arena, he regular…

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Is Alex Karp the Philosopher of Silicon Valley? With Michael Steinberger 51:13

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Who does our data belong to? In this episode, Carl Miller speaks to NYT magazine journalist and author Michael Steinberger about Alex Karp, Palantir and the rise of the surveillance state. Founded in 2003, Palantir is widely regarded as the most interesting company in Silicon Valley – as well as its most controversial. It aided the US government in…

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The Courage to Lead, with Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland (Part Two) 35:17

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Sanna Marin is a trailblazer in modern politics. When she became Prime Minister of Finland in 2019, she made history: at 34 she was the youngest ever leader of her country and the youngest leader in the world at the time. As Prime Minister she confronted significant challenges. She led Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic, helped the country navig…

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The Courage to Lead, with Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland (Part One) 34:25

1M ago34:25

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Sanna Marin is a trailblazer in modern politics. When she became Prime Minister of Finland in 2019, she made history: at 34 she was the youngest ever leader of her country and the youngest leader in the world at the time. As Prime Minister she confronted significant challenges. She led Finland through the COVID-19 pandemic, helped the country navig…

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Trump, Markets and The Greatest Crash in U.S. History, with Andrew Ross Sorkin (Part Two) 37:41

1M ago37:41

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In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. In November 2025, Andrew Ross Sorkin, acclaimed New York Times columnist and author, came to Intelligence Squared to reveal the lessons of the 1929 financial crash and ho…

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Steve Burgess: Exploring Past Lives, Reincarnation & the Power of Hypnotic Trance 51:17

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Send us a text Steve Burgess is a renowned hypnotherapist specializing in past life regression. With 33 years of experience, Steve has facilitated over 15,000 sessions and conducts workshops around the globe, including in the UK, Norway, Canada, and the US. He brings a unique blend of therapeutic and spiritual approaches to hypnotherapy, gaining de…

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S22,E10: 12/01/25 (XMAS! Fran Alexandre, Marissa Nadler, Hidden Cameras, Remington Super 60, Bleachers, Pelts, Yearning, Daniel Zott, Freedom Fry, Dean & Britta, Holly Macve, Sy Mann, Trapp Family Singers ... 54:45

1M ago54:45

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SPECIAL "CHRISTMAS MUSIC 2025" EPISODE! Season 22 Episode 10 Christmas Everywhere - Fran Alexandre All Love Must Die - Marissa Nadler The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - The Hidden Cameras A Folksy Christmas Song - Remington Super 60 Merry Christmas, Please Don't Call - Bleachers Merry Christmas from North California - Pelts I Just Wanna Hold You…

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Trump, Markets and The Greatest Crash in U.S. History, with Andrew Ross Sorkin (Part One) 38:58

1M ago38:58

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In 1929, the world watched in shock as the unstoppable Wall Street bull market went into a freefall, wiping out fortunes and igniting a depression that would reshape a generation. In November 2025, Andrew Ross Sorkin, acclaimed New York Times columnist and author, came to Intelligence Squared to reveal the lessons of the 1929 financial crash and ho…

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The Specialist | Virgil Abloh’s Reimagining of the Iconic Nike Air Force 1 for Louis Vuitton, with Brahm Wachter 14:07

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This is an episode of The Specialist, your weekly dose of wonder. In The Specialist, explore the significance and journey of an extraordinary work through the eyes of those that know it best. On today’s episode, an auction built overnight - Virgil Abloh’s reimagining of the iconic Nike Air Force 1 for Louis Vuitton. The auction became a global phen…

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Why Do Authoritarians Want To Control The News? With Martin Moore 36:56

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In this episode academic and author Martin Moore speaks to host Carl Miller about the global battle to control the news. Drawing from his new book 'Dictating Reality' co-authored with Thomas Colley, they discuss how from the United States to China and from Brazil to India, an authoritarian approach to news is spreading across the world. Moore argue…

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What Does Test Cricket Reveal About the Legacy of Empire? With Tim Wigmore 42:30

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What does the history of Test cricket show us about identity? In this episode, Joey D’Urso speaks to award-winning author Tim Wigmore about how the players and the stories that have shaped Test cricket’s evolution since 1877. With Test cricket on the cusp of its 150th anniversary, Tim Wigmore looks back at the history of the game and its legacy. Wi…

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Does modern medicine need to drop the distinction between mental and physical health? With Professor Edward Bullmore 47:33

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For centuries, mental and physical health have been divided - disorders of the mind and body have been treated as if they were poles apart. This deep-rooted division has shaped medicine, psychiatry, and society. But what if this mind/body split is not only outdated - but dangerously misleading? Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Professor Edward Bullm…

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Is Vivaldi Still the Soundtrack of the Seasons? With Dr Hannah French 1:01:45

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Can music help us notice nature more deeply? In this episode, Dr Leah Broad speaks to broadcaster and author Dr Hannah French about the enduring influence and legacy of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This year is the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. It’s therefore the perfect occasion for Dr Hannah French to explore the seasons as Vivaldi woul…

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Ishan Shivanand: How Yoga Rewires the Mind & Heals Modern Mental Health 1:07:52

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Send us a text Ishan Shivanand is a revered Acharya in the Shiv Yog lineage, born and raised in an ashram under the guidance of Avadut Shivanand. He spent over two decades immersed in traditional yogic practices, focusing on enlightenment through the Shiv Yog parampara. Ishan is now an influential global speaker and mental health researcher, advoca…

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What Stories Are Written in The Rock Beneath Us? With Dr Anjana Khatwa 33:23

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How does the Earth remember its own history? In this episode, Professor Caroline Dodds Pennock speaks to award-winning Earth Scientist Dr Anjana Khatwa about the deep stories hidden within our landscapes. Dr Khatwa discusses how rocks and minerals are more than just passive objects underneath our feet. Rather, they are archives of time, memory, cli…

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Debate: Sanctions Don’t Work as a Tool of Foreign Policy 1:24:26

2M ago1:24:26

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In partnership with GlobalSanctions.com, the world’s leading online resource for up to the minute information on sanctions and export controls worldwide. Sanctions have become one of the most widely used tools in modern foreign policy, imposed not only on states but also on individual leaders, oligarchs and corporations. From trade embargoes to ass…

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How does a nation’s language shape its identity? Hannah Kent on her year in Iceland 45:56

2M ago45:56

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When Australian writer Hannah Kent first travelled to Iceland at the age of 17, she had never seen snow before, and didn’t speak a word of Icelandic. Living in a remote part of Iceland during the dark winter, she fell in love with the country, its landscape and its people. This experience inspired her bestselling novel, Burial Rites. She has now re…

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How To Lose Your Country, with Ece Temelkuran (Part Two) 33:26

2M ago33:26

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Temelkuran is a brilliant writer, finding humour, hope and humanity in the darkest corners of our current malaise.’ – BRIAN ENO Ece Temelkuran is the award winning Turkish writer and author who was forced into exile for her critical views of President Erdoğan. She has long signalled the alarm that not only her home country of Türkiye but the whole …

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How To Lose Your Country, with Ece Temelkuran (Part One) 37:29

2M ago37:29

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Temelkuran is a brilliant writer, finding humour, hope and humanity in the darkest corners of our current malaise.’ – BRIAN ENO Ece Temelkuran is the award winning Turkish writer and author who was forced into exile for her critical views of President Erdoğan. She has long signalled the alarm that not only her home country of Türkiye but the whole …

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Mahaya: How Authentic Connection Heals Trauma, Anxiety & Emotional Pain 1:06:25

2M ago1:06:25

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Send us a text Mahaya is an experienced healer specializing in transformational modalities such as yoga, body work, breath work, and the unique relational practice known as "circling." Based on Vancouver Island, Canada, Mahaya's journey in the healing arts began in her twenties as she sought relief from a personal life of suffering. For more than t…

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Why Are We So Addicted to Everything? With Nicklas Brendborg 47:07

2M ago47:07

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Are we living in a world designed to hijack our brains? In this episode, Dr Emma Yhnell speaks to international best-selling author Nicklas Brendborg about how supernormal stimuli have become the norm in modern society. Whether it's food or our screens, Nicklas Brendborg argues that we’re living in an environment that is engineered to keep us hooke…

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Sotheby’s Talks | The Leonard A. Lauder Collection: Klimt and the Art of Connoisseurship 44:24

2M ago44:24

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On today’s episode, an episode from our friends at Sotheby's exploring the remarkable collection of Leonard A. Lauder, one of the greatest collectors and benefactors of the arts in America. At its centre is Gustav Klimt's celebrated Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, alongside works by Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch, Vincent Van Gogh and other luminaries …

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Is This the Twilight of American Supremacy? Simon Jenkins on Why the World Needs the USA 34:01

2M ago34:01

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The United States of America is younger than the British Museum and Guinness - in 2026 it celebrates its 250th birthday. How did this vast melting pot of people and ideas come to dominate global politics and culture? Historian and journalist Simon Jenkins believes America’s success stems from its careful balancing of the freedoms and interests of t…

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Olivia Laing on Passion and Heartbreak in the Golden Age of New Italian Cinema 29:48

2M ago29:48

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Olivia Laing is an internationally acclaimed writer and critic. They are the author of eight books, including The Lonely City, Everybody and the Sunday Times bestseller The Garden Against Time. Laing’s first novel, Crudo, won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and in 2018 they were awarded the Windham-Campbell Prize for non-fiction. In today’s epi…

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Andrew Eppler: Uncovering the Mysteries of Mysore and the True Roots of Ashtanga Yoga 1:11:45

2M ago1:11:45

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Send us a text Andrew Eppler is a renowned yoga practitioner and documentarian with a deep-rooted connection to Ashtanga yoga. Having begun his yoga journey at the age of 14 under the guidance of his father, Andrew quickly became engrossed in the world of Mysore-style Ashtanga, which has profoundly shaped his life. Known for his insightful document…

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Salman Rushdie on Mortality, Memory and The Eleventh Hour 42:57

2M ago42:57

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Salman Rushdie is one of the world’s most acclaimed, award-winning contemporary authors. Translated into over forty languages, his sixteen works of fiction include Midnight’s Children – for which he won the Booker Prize in 1981, the Booker of Bookers on the 25th anniversary of the prize and Best of the Booker on the 40th anniversary – Shame, The Sa…