Tell Me Why
de Prospect Magazine
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Tell Me Why... Russell Brand’s trial is a reckoning
Tell Me Why... Russell Brand’s trial is a reckoning
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In an era of news fatigue and constant information, Prospect steps back from the daily news grind—asking not just what is happening, but why.
Join Prospect editors Alona Ferber and Imaan Irfan, along with the magazine’s cast of contributors, to explore the people and trends that explain the world today.
Each week, we explain the ideas behind the week’s biggest stories. From populism and protest to artificial intelligence, our guests share their unique perspectives.
Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives:
https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/OCT1MFBG/prospect-magazine/OCT1MFG
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Music “Big Continent” composed by Maayan Madar
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Épisodes
Les 50 épisodes les plus récents sur 504
- Tell Me Why... Russell Brand’s trial is a reckoning · 33 min · Saison 2 Épisode 6How do powerful figures use “lawfare” to silence allegations? In today’s episode, Alona and Imaan are joined by Prospect contributing editor Isabel Hilton to discuss the…
- Tell Me Why... The fight for democracy is on · 30 min · Saison 2 Épisode 5In the last 10 days, far-right parties have failed at the ballot box in Brazil, Serbia, Israel, and now the United States. Is the fight for democracy on? This week, Alona and…
- Tell Me Why… The preppers were right all along · 33 min · Saison 2 Épisode 4Sales of tinned food and wind-up radios have rocketed since the government announced that UK families should prepare for potential crises. But preparedness advocates—or…
- Tell Me Why... The Cornell 7 case could happen here · 42 min · Saison 1 Épisode 3Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence The Cornell story has shocked many. But how surprised are we really? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined…
- Tell Me Why... AI has killed the author · 35 min · Saison 1 Épisode 2Would you care if AI wrote your favourite novel? In the second episode of Tell Me Why, tech journalist and Londoner editor Alys Key joins Prospect’s Alona Ferber and Imaan Irfan…
- Tell Me Why... Fascism has a new face, ft. Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor · 29 min · Saison 1 Épisode 1Religious zealots, tech accelerationists and ethnonationalists are trying to fast-track the apocalypse. But why? In the first ever episode of Tell Me Why, Naomi Klein and Astra…
- Ethan Zuckerman: Will artificial intelligence destroy us all? · 43 minAs tech insiders warn about an impending apocalypse, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Ethan Zuckerman, Prospect contributor and associate professor at the University of…
- Prospect Lives: Unexpected lessons from my alcoholic father · 33 minThis month, Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu shares her love for her late father, who was an imperfect but brilliant parent. Meanwhile, Second life writer Vitali Vitaliev is…
- Elon Musk, space solar and eternal power · 29 minHave scientists found the secret to eternal power? Engineers, inventors and sci-fi writers have long dreamed of harvesting the constant power of the sun. Now, plans to build…
- Andy Burnham’s theory of power · 34 minWho really runs the United Kingdom? Power is badly misallocated, argues journalist and author Phil Tinline, and Andy Burnham understands that better than most of his recent…
- Daron Acemoglu: How to save liberal democracy · 35 minAccording to Nobel prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu, liberal democracy made three promises: that prosperity would be shared equitably, that capable government would deliver…
- How cabbies see England · 33 minWhat can a taxi ride tell us about the state of the UK? Driving home is an immersive documentary staged inside a real black cab where audiences hear from taxi drivers across the…
- Eternal youth and billionaire biohacking: The politics of longevity · 26 minBillionaires, millionaires and biohackers are plying themselves with supplements and consulting AI to extend their lives indefinitely. But would you want to live forever? This…
- How long will the ‘Burnham bounce’ last? · 35 minAs Andy Burnham marks his first two weeks in Downing Street, the polls are registering a bump in support for Labour. This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Prospect’s…
- Prospect Lives: I’ve had an old-lady fall! · 36 minThis month Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu decides to embrace materialism, while Anglican priest Alice Goodman recounts the ballad of the Tithe pig. Actor and writer Sheila Hancock…
- Stateless: How the UK government strips citizenship—and why it matters · 34 minCitizenship has been described as “the right to have rights”. But, in recent years, the UK government has increasingly stripped people of their citizenship— effectively leaving…
- Marie Le Conte: Britain's youth and the death of social mobility · 31 minThe UK’s young adults are ready to be taken seriously—so why aren’t they? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by journalist and author Marie Le Conte to discuss why a whole…
- Big money, big problems: Reform’s donation problem—with Peter Geoghegan · 26 minAs Nigel Farage continues to face scrutiny over his finances and undeclared donations, is big money hurting our democracy? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by Peter…
- A history of power: the creation of data empires · 36 minHumans have collected data for thousands of years—but now we’re doing it on a whole new level. This week, Ellen and Alona and joined by Roopika Risam, professor of Digital…
- A barrel of rotting apples: Political corruption in modern Britain · 31 minLying, lobbying, and luxury donor gifts—has UK politics gone crooked? This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Robert Barrington, professor of anti-corruption practice at Sussex…
- Prospect Lives: I can’t stop singing my thoughts · 28 minThis month, our Mindful life writer Sarah Collins explains how her OCD had her singing her thoughts, while Second life writer Vitali Vitaliev asks: what’s in a nose? A trip to…
- Jens Beckert: Democracy won’t beat climate change · 37 minAs a heatwave sweeps across Europe, Ellen and Imaan are joined by sociologist Jens Beckert, the author of 'How We Sold Our Future: The Failure to Fight Climate Change'. He…
- It's time to take maternal mental health seriously · 36 minThe UK has a maternal mental health support crisis. The leading cause of maternal deaths in the UK is mental health issues, including suicide, with maternal deaths from suicide…
- World Cup 2026: Does Maga hate football? · 31 minWhat does the World Cup mean to you? This year’s tournament has been highly political so far: as it began, one of the host nations was at war with one of the competitors and…
- Ravi Gurumurthy has a plan for Britain · 41 minThe country feels stuck. But can Britain prosper again? On the Prospect podcast this week, Prospect editor Philip Collins is joined by Ravi Gurumurthy to discuss this question…
- Sarah O’Connor: Should we fight the AI revolution? · 31 minWould you want to work with a robot? A new technological revolution is underway—but what that revolution looks like, and where it takes us, is still being determined. This week…
- Hettie O’Brien: The hidden cost of private equity · 35 minFrom nurseries to nursing homes, private equity increasingly affects all of us. This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist Hettie O’Brien, who investigates the rise of…
- Sally Hayden: Finding love in a war zone · 30 minAlthough the world seems full of war and conflict, love—of all kinds—is everywhere. This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by Sally Hayden, award-winning journalist and author of…
- Prospect Lives: Restroom censorship and mates rates · 35 minThis month our family of writers is in a whimsical mood: Vitali Vitaliev reflects on the very different purpose toilet paper once had in Soviet Ukraine, while Anglican priest…
- Starmer's leadership nightmare · 24 minIt’s been a nightmare week for Keir Starmer. After devastating results for Labour in the 7th May elections, pressure has this week mounted on the prime minister to resign. He has…
- Election special! With Carys Afoko · 36 minIt’s the week every political nerd has been waiting for. Tomorrow, voters go to the polls in England, Scotland and Wales to elect local councils, Holyrood and the Senedd. Just…
- Europe’s forgotten Muslim history · 48 minTwenty years ago, Tharik Hussain moved from the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia with a sense that he and other Muslims didn’t belong in Europe. But, as he explains today on the…
- The Mandelson affair—and the price of factionalism · 25 minAfter the explosive revelation that Peter Mandelson had “failed” his vetting before being waved through as US ambassador, Alona and Imaan are joined by contributing editor Tom…
- Prospect Lives: “I’m delighted to see my 93rd Spring” · 34 minThis month, actor and writer Sheila Hancock is grateful to be reunited once more with daffodils, while Anglican priest Alice Goodman laments the lack of Church wardens in her…
- Daniel Trilling: How centrists mainstreamed the far right · 48 minThe term “far right” is frequently invoked in British political discourse. But who really fits the bill? This week, journalist and author Daniel Trilling joins Ellen and Alona…
- The rise of facial recognition policing · 26 minFacial recognition technology is being rolled out by police forces across the country—and there are no clear limits on how it can be used. This week, Ellen is joined by Mark…
- Kim Darroch: Three ways the Iran war can end · 31 minThe UK has chosen not to follow Trump into the war on Iran. Has Starmer damaged the “special relationship”—or was it the right call? This week Philip and Ellen are joined by Kim…
- Sven Beckert: How capitalism made the world · 39 minIs capitalism inevitable? This week, Prospect contributing editor Tom Clark is joined by Sven Beckert, Harvard professor and author of Capitalism: A Global History. Sven…
- Has Reform peaked? Peter Kellner on politics · 27 minThe Gorton and Denton byelection was a sensation for the Greens—and it hurt Labour’s pride. With the May elections approaching, the UK’s governing party looks set for a beating…
- Prospect Lives: “I enjoy the adverts more than the telly!” · 37 minThis month, Gen Z-er Alice Garnett commands her peers to get down to the pub, while Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu recounts the mystery disappearance of a statue from her…
- The Iran war: it’s not over · 24 minDonald Trump said the Iran war was “very complete”—but is it? Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the Chatham House…
- David Aaronovitch on unaccountable power in America · 40 minThis week, Ellen is joined by journalist David Aaronovitch, who warns about the extreme wealth and unaccountable power of America’s new elite. From John D Rockefeller to Jeff…
- The battle for Gorton and Denton’s soul · 38 minThis week, Alona is joined by contributing editor Tom Clark and political columnist Ben Ansell to discuss what’s at stake in the upcoming Manchester byelection. With the polls…
- Ukraine: four years of tracking war crimes · 35 minAhead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ellen and Alona are joined by researcher Maksimas Milta. Maksimas is the Ukraine Country Director at…
- Starmer’s days of peril aren’t over · 37 minThis week, Ellen and Alona are joined again by Prospect editor and former Labour speechwriter Philip Collins to unpack the government’s ongoing crisis. With Peter Mandelson…
- Prospect Lives: Jesus was a sissy · 37 minThis month, Anglican priest Alice Goodman observes that Jesus would not be considered manly enough by today's far-right, while actor and writer Sheila Hancock ditches The…
- Peter Geoghegan on the Epstein files, power and impunity · 28 minMore of the Epstein files have been released—but why now, and what do they really tell us? This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan…
- Does devolution help builders or blockers? · 42 minBritain needs new infrastructure and housing—and devolution could be a help or a hindrance. Will giving a greater say to local communities through devolution increase the…
- The party is over: Is this the end for Labour and the Tories? · 36 minPolitics in Britain was once dominated by two big parties with predictable voter bases. But times have changed—and for the first time, new parties are on the rise.This week…
- After the protests: What does Iran’s future hold? · 19 minA crackdown by the Iranian government has quietened protests that swept across the country in recent weeks, but tensions remain high. This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by…
