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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
  • 176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)

    176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)
    Feb 16 2026
    How does the former US Special Representative for Iran think US-Iranian relations will improve? Is there a method to Trump’s madness when it comes to foreign policy? Why does Robert believe the “two-state solution” for Israel and Palestine is dead?Alastair and Rory are joined by Robert Malley, architect of the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal, to answer all this 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: Celine Charles Video Editor: James Clayden 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 8 mins
  • 175. Ex-Director of GCHQ: China, Russia, and the Threats Facing the UK (Jeremy Fleming)

    175. Ex-Director of GCHQ: China, Russia, and the Threats Facing the UK (Jeremy Fleming)
    Feb 9 2026
    Do Russia or China represent a bigger risk to UK national security? Why are we underestimating the threat posed by cybercriminals? Who holds the real power - ministers or spies? Rory and Alastair are joined by Jeremy Fleming, formerly of GCHQ and MI5, to answer all this 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: 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 10 mins
  • 174. Taking On Europe's Last Dictator: The Fight Against Lukashenko and Putin

    174. Taking On Europe's Last Dictator: The Fight Against Lukashenko and Putin
    Feb 6 2026
    How did Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya go from being a housewife to leading a Belarussian government in exile? How did Aleksandr Lukashenko become the last dictator in Europe? Why was Segei, Sviatlana’s husband, imprisoned for opposing the Putin-backed regime? Alastair and Rory are joined by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who, along with Bill Browder, is part of a two part series featuring those standing up to Putin. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 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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