Best of the Spectator

Latest Episodes:

Spectator Books: Jesse Norman on Adam Smith Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

Adam Smith is the most quoted and misquoted economist of all time. Sam Leith talks to Jesse Norman MP, author of the new Adam Smith: What He Thought and Why It Matters (reviewed in last week’s Spectator by Simon Heffer). Norman argues that we can only understand Smith in the round by reading his Theory of Moral Sentiments as well as the Wealth of Nations; and by putting him in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment and the thinkers such as Hume who surrounded and influenced him. But he also says that a proper appreciation of Smith’s thought has relevance for us right to the present day. And he even ventures a thought on what the Sage of Kirkcaldy would have made of Brexit.

Presented by Sam Leith.

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

Coffee House Shots: Why Theresa May will be warmly received at party conference Sep 29, 2018

Show notes

With Brandon Lewis, Chairman of the Conservative Party, and James Forsyth.

Presented by Fraser Nelson.

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

Americano: Should Brett Kavanagh be believed? Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

With Ann Coulter, American conservative commentator.

Presented by Freddy Gray.

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

The Spectator Podcast: All by herself - a Prime Minister abandoned Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

As we head into Conservative Party Conference, Theresa May has never looked more alone. We talk to Iain Duncan Smith and James Forsyth about a Prime Minister abandoned (1:25). And while chaos reigns in the Conservative Party, Labour is gearing up, led by a pragmatic but radical Shadow Chancellor. Just who is John McDonnell (18:50)? And last, why is Tesco’s new discount retailer so Brexity (38:10)?

With Iain Duncan Smith, James Forsyth, Fraser Nelson, Paul Mason, Lewis Goodall, and Olivia Potts.

Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

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

Americano: Trial by Twitter - is Ian Buruma the victim of a new McCarthyism? Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

With John Rick MacArthur, publisher of Harper's Magazine.

Presented by Freddy Gray.

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

Spectator Books: Adam Sisman Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

In this week's Spectator Books podcast, Sam Leith is talking to Adam Sisman about More Dashing -- his new selection from the remarkable correspondence of one of the 20th-century's most celebrated adventurers, spongers and men of letters, Paddy Leigh-Fermor. What did Paddy really feel about his most famous act of derring-do, when he kidnapped a Nazi general in occupied Crete? What really went on in his unconventional marriage? And were -- as Adam Sisman contends -- his letters really at the heart rather than the periphery of his literary achievement?

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

Holy Smoke: is it a sin to be snobbish? Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

With Father Alexander Lucie-Smith, moral theologian, and Lara Prendergast, Assistant Editor of the Spectator.

Presented by Damian Thompson.

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

Life 'n' Arts: fiction and philosophy with Roger Scruton Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

Dominic Green, Life and Arts Editor for Spectator USA, talks to philosopher Roger Scruton.

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

Time to switch off: are we all helplessly addicted to digital? Sep 20, 2018

Show notes

It seems that everyone, young or old, has a smartphone these days. But why are the brightest in Silicon Valley taking screen time away from their children (00:40)? Also on this podcast, Tory MEPs recently voted in favour of the Viktor Orban government in European Parliament. Are British Tories flirting with the far right (9:25)? If they are, it could be because the Conservative Party has no attractive policies. Should we return to One Nation Toryism (22:50)?

With Jenny McCartney, Jamie Bartlett, Frank Furedi, Paul Stocker, Paul Collier, and Chris Skidmore.

Presented by Lara Prendergast.

Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

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

Bang! The Tory battle begins Sep 13, 2018

Show notes

This week, Tory in-fighting comes to the fore, but could the party be even more divided than we thought (00:35)? Meanwhile, across the Pond, Donald Trump continues to cause backlash. Is he to blame for an ideological shift to the left in the country (14:25)? Thankfully, our own Head of State isn’t on Twitter, though that doesn’t stop people speculating about her Majesty’s personal opinions. Is the Queen a Eurosceptic (23:45)?

With James Forsyth, Paul Goodman, Rick Wilson, Malin Baker, Robert Hardman, and Hannah Furness.

Presented by Isabel Hardman.

Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas.

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