Episodes

  • 149. Nicola Sturgeon: On Margaret Thatcher, Alex Salmond, and the Push for Independence (Part 1)

    149. Nicola Sturgeon: On Margaret Thatcher, Alex Salmond, and the Push for Independence (Part 1)
    Aug 17 2025
    What is the difference between class distinctions in Scotland and the rest of the UK? How did Nicola Sturgeon's childhood in Scotland inform her politics? What was Margaret Thatcher's influence on Nicola's career? Rory and Alastair are joined by former Leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, to answer all these questions and more. 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. Visit HP.com/politics to find out more. Social Producer: Harry Balden Video Editor: Josh Smith Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • 148. The President of Guyana: The Fastest Growing Economy in the World (Irfaan Ali)

    148. The President of Guyana: The Fastest Growing Economy in the World (Irfaan Ali)
    Aug 14 2025
    How does Guyana balance its unprecedented economic growth, largely due to oil discoveries, with environmental sustainability? How does Guyana perceive and address the historical scar left by slavery? What has happened to West Indies cricket, and how does the future look? Alastair is joined by President of Guyana, Ifraan Ali, to answer all these questions and more. 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: Harry Balden Video Editor: Josh Smith Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Producer: Nicole Maslen Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 147. I Thought It Was a Prank - Then I Was Chancellor: Jeremy Hunt (Part 2)

    147. I Thought It Was a Prank - Then I Was Chancellor: Jeremy Hunt (Part 2)
    Aug 10 2025
    What was it like to be handed the reins to the economy following the Liz Truss mini-budget collapse? How did Jeremy Hunt feel fighting an election that he knew the Conservatives would lose? How would Thatcher have dealt with Trump? Alastair and Rory are joined by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to answer all this and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Social Producer: Celine Charles Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • 146. The Rise and Fall of The Conservative Party: Jeremy Hunt (Part 1)

    146. The Rise and Fall of The Conservative Party: Jeremy Hunt (Part 1)
    Aug 3 2025
    How did Jeremy Hunt lose the Conservative leadership race to Boris Johnson? What does the longest serving Health Minister think will fix the NHS? What does Jeremy Hunt really think of Kemi Badenoch’s leadership? Alastair and Rory are joined by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to answer all this and more. Visit HP.com/politics to find out more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Social Producer: Celine Charles Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • 145. Gary Stevenson: Masculinity, Money, and the Myth of Meritocracy (Part 2)

    145. Gary Stevenson: Masculinity, Money, and the Myth of Meritocracy (Part 2)
    Jul 27 2025
    How did Gary become a multimillionaire by the age of 25? How big a difference can a wealth tax make on regular people's lives? Have centrist politics failed on the economy? Rory and Alastair are joined by author of The Trading Game, Gary Stevenson, to answer all these questions and more. Visit HP.com/politics to find out more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Social Producer: Celine Charles Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • 144. Gary Stevenson: From Teenage Drug Dealer to Millionaire Trader (Part 1)

    144. Gary Stevenson: From Teenage Drug Dealer to Millionaire Trader (Part 1)
    Jul 20 2025
    How did Gary Stevenson go from being expelled for drug dealing, to one of the most successful traders in London? How does class and privilege play into the world of finance in the UK? What could men do differently to deal with their mental health at work? Rory and Alastair are joined by author of The Trading Game, Gary Stevenson, to discuss all this and more. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com, for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and 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. Visit HP.com/politics to find out more. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com Social Producer: Harry Balden Video Editor: Josh Smith Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • 143. Iraq, Trump, and America’s Slide to Authoritarianism (Congressman Seth Moulton)

    143. Iraq, Trump, and America’s Slide to Authoritarianism (Congressman Seth Moulton)
    Jul 13 2025
    How did Congressman Moulton keep fighting the Iraq war when he thought it was a mistake? Is there anyone who can stop Trump, or is he an absolute monarch? Have substandard politicians used military service as a get-out-of-jail-free card? Rory and Alastair are joined by Congressman Seth Moulton to discuss all this and more. Visit HP.com/politics to find out more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Social Producer: Celine Charles Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Producer: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 142. The Truth About Net Zero's Credibility (Emma Pinchbeck)

    142. The Truth About Net Zero's Credibility (Emma Pinchbeck)
    Jul 6 2025
    Why are the British paying more for energy than anywhere else in Europe? How does society navigate the anxiety of having children during the climate crisis? What does the UK government need to do in order to speed up our transition to green energy? Rory and Alastair are joined by the Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee and former CEO of Energy UK, Emma Pinchbeck, to answer all these questions and more. 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. Join today or enjoy a free trial at ⁠therestispolitics.com⁠⁠. Visit HP.com/politics to find out more. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com Social Producer: Harry Balden Assistant Producers: Alice Horrell Producers: Nicole Maslen Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Content: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins