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  • Johan Norberg on why civilisations rise, flourish and fall

    Johan Norberg on why civilisations rise, flourish and fall
    2026/06/07

    Johan Norberg's latest book, Peak Human: What We Can Learn from the Rise and Fall of Golden Ages, is a sweeping account of seven civilizations that flourished through openness, curiosity, trade and innovation. Drawing on examples from Athens, Rome, the Abbasid Caliphate and the Dutch Republic, Johan explores what creates a golden age and what causes its decline.


    He discusses the ideas of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the role of free speech and political satire in ancient Athens, the scientific achievements of the Islamic world and the entrepreneurial spirit that transformed the Dutch into one of history's most successful societies.


    Despite wars, political turmoil and the pandemic, Johan argues that we may be living through the greatest age in human history. While he worries that societies continue to repeat old mistakes, he believes it is still far too early to give up on mankind.


    Picture source: https://www.johannorberg.net/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    52 分
  • Jonathan Wilson on football, FIFA and 100 years of World Cup history

    Jonathan Wilson on football, FIFA and 100 years of World Cup history
    2026/05/30

    Why does the World Cup captivate billions of people every four years? How did a football tournament become a stage for politics, national identity, soft power and some of the greatest stories in sport?


    Acclaimed football writer and journalist Jonathan Wilson talks about his book, "The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup". He covers the remarkable history of the tournament while explaining how football became a global language, why different nations developed distinct styles of play, the rise of FIFA and the complicated relationship between sport, power and politics. We also discuss VAR, football culture in England, the enduring appeal of the World Cup and what it's like to cover the tournament as a journalist.


    Picture credit: https://www.jonawils.com/

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 16 分
  • Dr Masud Husain on what the brain reveals about us

    Dr Masud Husain on what the brain reveals about us
    2026/05/09

    The human brain has fascinated and confounded us for centuries. Few dedicate their lives to studying and understanding its inner workings. Fewer still can make those complexities accessible to the ordinary reader. Dr. Masud Husain, a neurologist who teaches neurology and cognitive neuroscience at the university of Oxford, has done exactly that.


    His book, "Our Brains, Our Selves" is a fascinating account of what he has learned over decades of treating patients. Through these stories, he helps us better understand not just neurological conditions, but also the very nature of memory, attention, motivation and identity itself.


    In this conversation, Dr. Husain shares his thoughts on why we behave the way we do and what that reveals about the brain. He talks about why listening and attentiveness are among the greatest tools a doctor can have, what multitasking and social media are doing to our minds, the role of dopamine in shaping motivation, whether humour has a neurological basis and what all of us can do to keep ourselves mentally healthy.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    58 分
  • Tim Wigmore: The history of Test cricket

    Tim Wigmore: The history of Test cricket
    2026/05/01
    Tim Wigmore's "Test Cricket: A History" is a definitive account of the game's longest and the most demanding format. In this podcast Tim covers a lot of ground, talking about the greats like Ranjitsinhji, Bradman, Sachin, Lara and Pataudi. Who are the best all rounders of the game? What makes a good captain? What is the history of The Ashes? What is it like to face an orb being hurled at 150km an hour? How has Test cricket evolved and does it still endure the game's ultimate test?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    43 分
  • Samanth Subramanian on the undersea cables that run the world

    Samanth Subramanian on the undersea cables that run the world
    2026/04/11

    How do undersea cables work and what is their significance in our daily lives? Samanth Subramanian, an award-winning journalist tells us about "fragile cables that connect our world" in his brilliant new book, "The Web Beneath the Waves". They operate behind the scenes and on the sea bed. Over 600 of them carry around 95% of the world's intercontinental traffic. Unlike satellites which get a lot of press, submarine cables are largely unsung until something goes wrong. Take Ghana's stock exchange which, in 2024, had to shut down an hour earlier than scheduled after seismic activity severed some cables. In 2024 Houtis, a rebel group in Yemen, bombed a cargo ship, whose anchor was said to have damaged three cables. And then there's the occasional shark bite too. With barely 69 or so repair ships out there, the entire process of fixing these cables "is delightfully Victorian", says Samanth. We live in an era that this piece of technology holds enormous geopolitical clout too. His research, for his slim book, took him to some of the most unexpected places. The Economist named it as among the best books of 2025.


    Photo credit: Chinky Shukla

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    37 分
  • Adam Weymouth: What wolves tell us about Europe

    Adam Weymouth: What wolves tell us about Europe
    2026/03/28
    In this podcast Adam Weymouth, one of the most compelling young writers in the UK, talks about his latest book, "Lone Wolf: Walking the Faultlines of Europe". It's an immersive reportage that follows the journey of a wolf across Europe. Through encounters with farmers, hunters and rural communities, Adam examines how wolves have become a proxy for deeper anxieties about migration, economic decline, and political control. What is a wolf? How does it think? What are some of the myths and realities of this beautiful animal? Adam takes us through what he learned in his peripatetic excursion to the sticks, which was as physically demanding as it was revealing.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 分
  • Philip Coggan on trade wars, globalisation and economic Common Sense

    Philip Coggan on trade wars, globalisation and economic Common Sense
    2026/03/21
    Cricket, globalisation, Trump's tariff tantrums, quirks of the English language, jargons and philosophy. This podcast covers some ground as award winning journalist Philip Coggan joins us to talk about his book, "The Economic Consequences of Mr Trump". He explains why tariffs are essentially taxes on imports that often raise costs for domestic producers, fail to meaningfully reduce trade deficits and can even slow growth and job creation. We live in an increasingly connected world. Our laptops and phones have components from various countries which makes these things efficient and affordable. The conversation also veers into the English language itself where it can do away with financial jargons or tautologies like "safe haven". Philip also talks about the art of storytelling and why he enjoys writing.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    46 分
  • Kieran Mulvaney on the battle for power at the top of the world

    Kieran Mulvaney on the battle for power at the top of the world
    2026/02/28
    How does it feel to stay in a cabin in Alaska? How does one keep their wits about oneself in places like the Arctic when the sun doesn't rise for 65-70 days during polar nights? And before you know it, daylight is back for 24 hours. Kieran Mulvaney has traveled to these lands for over 25 years. His latest book, "Arctic Passages: Ice, Exploration, and the Battle for Power at the Top of the World" is a personal account flush with rich reporting from frigid climes. In this podcast he talks about his experiences of visiting these remote lands, some of the crucial geopolitical implications of melting ice, why global warming is real and how the glacial pace at which we are responding isn't doing us any favours. The Economist has named Kieran's book as among the best non-fiction reads of 2025.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間