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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
  • 168. A Climate Special: Populism, Security, and Leadership

    168. A Climate Special: Populism, Security, and Leadership
    Dec 29 2025
    Can the planet sustain infinite economic growth, or is GDP a flawed metric? Is the UK genuinely decarbonising, or is it simply outsourcing its pollution? How can politicians defeat the populist narrative that Net Zero is too expensive? In this Climate Special, we hear the best bits from Rory and Alastair's interviews with Professor Dieter Helm, Mark Carney, Caroline Lucas, Ed Miliband, and Emma Pinchbeck. For Leading listeners, there’s free access to the Wordsmith Academy - plus their report on the future of legal skills. Visit https://www.wordsmith.ai/politics Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Alice Horrell Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Head of Politics: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • 167. Faith, Depression, and Finding Calm in the Chaos (Professor Mark Williams)

    167. Faith, Depression, and Finding Calm in the Chaos (Professor Mark Williams)
    Dec 22 2025
    From Parliament to Prison, how can people find calm in chaotic environments? How does one cope with grief during the festive period? What are some successful ways to combat depression? Rory and Alastair are joined by clinical psychologist and ordained Minister, Mark Williams, to answer all these questions and more. Please note, this podcast episode contains some discussion of suicidal ideation. Please take care whilst listening. Gift The Rest Is Politics Plus this Christmas - give someone a whole year of Rory and Alastair’s miniseries, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Just go to https://therestispolitics.supportingcast.fm/gifts And of course, you can still join for yourself any time at ⁠therestispolitics.com For Leading listeners, there’s free access to the Wordsmith Academy - plus their report on the future of legal skills. Visit https://www.wordsmith.ai/politics 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 166. John Swinney: Identity, Independence, and The Future of Scotland

    166. John Swinney: Identity, Independence, and The Future of Scotland
    Dec 15 2025
    What is the future of the Scottish independence movement? How does the SNP rebuild trust and support for independence after a series of bruising scandals? Why did the Scottish First Minister feel disrespected by a series of Conservative Prime Ministers? Alastair and Rory are joined by Scottish First Minister John Swinney to answer all this and more. Gift The Rest Is Politics Plus this Christmas - give someone a whole year of Rory and Alastair’s miniseries, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Just go to https://therestispolitics.supportingcast.fm/gifts And of course, you can still join for yourself any time at ⁠therestispolitics.com For Leading listeners, there’s free access to the Wordsmith Academy - plus their report on the future of legal skills. Visit https://www.wordsmith.ai/politics 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 15 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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