The Rest Is Politics: Leading cover art

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

By: Goalhanger
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About this listen

The Rest Is Politics’ Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart interview politicians, leaders, intellectuals, and more. From inside and outside of politics, guests join Rory and Alastair to discuss life, leadership, and the philosophy that’s led them to success in their chosen field. Their conversations cover key political events, global affairs, and the big ideas shaping the world today, offering listeners in-depth perspectives from those at the heart of change. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to Question Time episodes to live show tickets, ad-free listening for both TRIP and Leading, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.Goalhanger Podcasts Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 183. From Bradford to Westminster: Faith, Identity, and Power (Naz Shah)
    Apr 5 2026
    How did Naz Shah’s experience growing up in Bradford and her experience with her family in the legal system influence her to go into politics? What does it mean for a political party to truly “stand for something” in modern Britain? How can faith influence politics in a secular society? Rory and Alastair are joined by Labour MP, Naz Shah, to discuss all this and more. __________ Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith, Adam Thornton Producer: Alice Horrell Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen General Manager: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • 182. Culture Wars, Identity, and What Needs To Change In Congress (Sarah McBride)
    Mar 29 2026
    How are rights for trans people in the US improving or worsening under the Republican administration? What fundamentally needs to change in Congress to improve the state of politics? Are the Democrats doing enough to win back the American public? Rory and Alastair are joined by US Congresswoman, Sarah McBride, to answer all this and more. Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith Producer: Alice Horrell Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Head of Politics: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 181. Ai Weiwei: China, Censorship, and Dissidence Through Art
    Mar 23 2026
    Why was Ai Weiwei kidnapped and held prisoner by the Chinese government? How did the 2008 Sichuan earthquake radicalise him into taking aim at the authorities through art? What’s behind Ai Weiwei’s belief that there is a serious censorship issue in the West? Rory and Alastair are joined by Artist and Activist, Ai Weiwei, to answer all this and more. Search IG.com to find out more and/or Look for IG in your app store. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith + Bruno Di Castri Producer: Alice Horrell Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Head of Politics: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
All stars
Most relevant
The banter, fairness and adult approach to these interviews is refreshing. I wish more news reporters would handle interviews in such a way. AC and RS clearly have diffyviews on subjects but also a lot of common ground. Just excellent but be warned this is podcast crack you'll get totally addicted.

Bloody excellent interviewing which is rare nowadays

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A wonderful talk with Anthony Gormley. I met him in Rome yeats ago (I am an archaeologist) and his immersion in human presence in areas such as cave art were fascinating. The need to register a presence, to affirm existence, chimes with so much of the past and present. The massacre of art colleges in the UK challenges the ability to develop this into the future. Such a short sighted approach. Gormley brings alive the need for life to be art and vica versa.

Art and life

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As usual, a fantastic interview with a very knowledgeable guest. As the leader of the National Farmers Union her position on some environmental topics was unsurprising and could've been probed a bit more.

What I did think was a bit off was the very personal questions Rory and Alastair asked at the beginning of the interview. It seemed unnecessarily cruel to dredge up some clearly painful aspects of her life and didn't contribute to the overall discussion about farming.

An important discussion about British agriculture

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Is Alastair hoping for a journalistic post with the Sun?

In view of the comment that Leading is often stated to be a politically focused podcast, why did Alastair, in the followup chat, regret not pushing Arnie into revealing details about his past private life?

Such questions are not necessary.












Career Change for Campbell?!!

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Leading is almost always well worth a listen, but Prof Sapolsky is a revelation - entertaining, eye-opening and intellectually fearless

Awesome

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