Avsnitt
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It is very easy to get very troubled by the current US administration .
Who could have predicted that the American Vice President would have thought it part of his task to question the Pope's understanding of theology?
Who could have predicted that Donald Trump would think it a good idea to read parts of the Bible to the nation?
Have they redefined god in their own image?
It seems that the current American administration is behaving in even more wild emotionally driven vindictive ways.
This gripping and shocking book tells the story of the radical conservative movement shaping Donald Trump's agenda and how it threatens freedoms, values and democracy.
Since this conversation was recorded the situation has got much worse.
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Sir Anthony Seldon has written about a 1,300 kilometre walk he took across Europe from Southern France, through Austria and the Czech Republic finally reaching his destination, Auschwitz in Poland.
On the journey he seeks out inspiring stories of the lives of 'figures of light'.
As he tells me , while he was walking through places associated with fascism and the second world war he was well aware of the worrying state of global politics in the 21st century.
The Path of LIght is now available as a paperback.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Steve Ashley played a gig to a hometown Cheltenham crowd on June 26th 2026.
It was a triumph.
Steve has had a long illustrious career in music and political activism.
This conversation was recorded in November 2025, a few months before his 80th birthday. His passions, enthusiasms and commitment remain undimmed.
In this informal interview Steve tells of his influences and motivation. He clearly has a lot of fight and lyricism left!
A very entertaining musician and stimulating conversationalist.
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Racism is sadly on the rise.
Misogyny is on the rise.
All of these opinions remind me of what Nina Simone said to me. She was the victim of cruel prejudice. She was angry.
Nina Simone was born on February 21st 1933.
There has been news recently of a plan to buy Nina Simone's childhood home in Tryon North Carolina and make it into a museum celebrating the life and work of the girl who was born Eunice Waymon.
I interviewed Nina in December 1998 just before her last ever show at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
She was talking to me for a programme on the radio station Jazz fm, which would promote the concert.
Nina had a reputation for being a tricky interviewee but on the day she was delightful and during the conversation she was eager to give her views on sexism, racism and feminism.
After the interview I was asked to introduce Nina on stage at the Albert Hall. It was a memorable day.
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When 'Entitled ' was published last year it caused quite a stir, changed the lives of the Duke and Duchess of York for ever .... and became a number one bestseller.
The new paperback of Entitled contains a whole chapter of new information and chronicles what has happened in a tumultuous year.
Andrew Lownie predicts that there is more information to come.
The story continues ......
A gripping conversation.
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Doubles is a powerful compact story, a novella. The protagonist is a 12 year old girl who finds comfort and security in numbers and maths.
It takes place in 1968 in an institution for troubled youth. The novella explores how the 'good' girl, over a period of six months, turns into a delinquent.
The conversation with Dr Gold is thoughtful, passionate and engaging.
Doubles is a short book that stays with you for a long time!
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Antonio Forcione is a brilliant guitar player who is just about to go on tour.
Antonio really likes to entertain and he is joined by comedian, singer and songwriter Boothby Graffoe.
When we talked Antonio was in a museum in Rome and Boothby was in Portugal.
I'm David Freeman and I was in Cheltenham.
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Prue is back as a judge on The Great American Cooking Show.
In our conversation Prue talks to me about her life and how she still has a lot of fun.
Ageing, acting your age, health, exercise, fame ...... she talks about it all!!!
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Some interviewees I remember as 'troupers'.
At the very top of that tree were the Collins sisters. Joan is now 93. She is still looking galmorous at Cannes!
I remember a televised conversation I had with Joan. Her assistant decreed that the lighting must be subtle but Joan herself insisted on full on straight in the face spots. I had theories why this might be her preference.
Over the years I interviewed Joan and her sister Jackie a few times. It was always 'an event'.
The Collins sisters spoke to me in London at the end of the last century. Jackie was promoting her novel 'Thrill' about the glamorous world of Hollywood, and Joan was encouraging interest in her autobiography 'Second Act'. Both sisters were happy to talk about themselves.
Sadly Jackie died in 2015 .... but Joan marches on!
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In this early Author Archive podcast John Le Carre talks about writing politics , and Mallory Blackman explains the political thinking behind Noughts and Crosses.
Maggie Gee gives the background to her novel The White Family that endeavours to explain prejudice and the national treasure Jilly Cooper gives background to how life might be in the English counties. Her 'Rivals' is back on UK TV.
The episode concludes with two views of the Court of King Henry VIII, Philippa Gregory discusses her book about 'The Other Boleyn Girl' and Alison Weir explains how the king was totally surrounded by the people of the court all the time!
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The American president now suggests that he is closely associated with Jesus. He has distributed pictures. He is performing Bible readings. Will he include the bits from Matthew 5:9? Blessed are the peacemakers?
He declares that he has been saved by God to make his country great again, I find it impossible not to wonder about the precise nature of the deity that he professes to believe in. Are Donald and his advisers familiar with the writings that are the basis of his religion?
This book by Catherine Nixey is terrific - its a revelation and it's now available in paperback format.
Catherine has studied texts written around the same time as the writings we know as the gospels.
Some of these ancient documents tell the story of the bible characters we are familiar with in a totally different way.
Listen to Catherine talk about her research and you will be surprised ..... probably very surprised!!
Every time I see a politician leaning in a faith direction I want to urge them to read this book!
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The war that is spreading across the Middle East has a religious dimension.
American aggression is supported by evangelical Christians, Iran is an Islamic state and Israel has its own Jewish deity.
Donald Trump seems to waver been god and allah.
None of the gods seem to be seekers for peace. All seek vengeance and revenge.
In early 2025 a million Hindus tried to bathe in a river at the same time. Why would anyone think this would be a good idea.
Robin Dunbar is Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford. From his academic standpoint he charts the evolution of religion in all its many guises and forms.
Does the professor's analysis explain the enduring but shrinking appeal of non logical beliefs?
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The new war that is happening now and the the appalling inhumanity still happening in the world makes this conversation distressingly relevant. There is the thought that some people are less human then others.
Some people in power seem to think that bombs and missiles provide an answer.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on December 10th 1948.
We now live in a world where the rights agreed in that document are widely ignored.
Racial intolerance is on the march . The horrible spectre of antisemitism is looming over the news as is denial of the rights of Palestinians.
As an American bishop recently said ..... immigrants and gay people are as valuable as everyone else.
A good time to listen to the words of the late Sir Martin Gilbert.
The name Winston Churchill has been used recently to score political points.
Sir Martin Gilbert is known as Churchill's biographer, but also as the historian of the Holocaust.
This conversation with David Freeman took place when his book Never Again was published. Sir Martin's thoughts on war are sadly relevant.
Sir Martin died in 2015.
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The man who used to be Prince Andrew is now back at his new Norfolk home with dogs for company.
Apparently he will soon have a chef and a valet who will address him as 'Sir'. Unbelievable.
The sorry story continues.
Andrew and his ex wife Sarah are in the Epstein linked news again.
The photographs of him on his knees by a young lady lying on her back on the floor don't look good.
A new paperback edition of Entitled is published soon.
Andrew Lownie will be talking about it here on the Author Archive.
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In the wake of the Andrew Windsor scandal there is much questioning of the need for the royals at all
Being royal is not a job you can apply for. If you decide to walk away from your royal identity or are pushed away from it just what are you left with?
This book,'Traitor King', tells the story of an inglorious royal. It is a shocking example of what happens when inherited status is randomly given to a person who is clearly not up to the task. The book is the basis of the Channel 4 programme that shed light on the whole episode.
As well as telling the historical story Andrew Lownie discusses the lessons that can be learned by the present Royal Family.
This book was published long before 'Entitled'.
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There are powerful politicians who have taken to denying scientific facts to further their own ambitions.
This took another massive leap into the abyss when President Trump removed all the limits on greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Not a solution to the problem - just a denial of its existence. Inconvenient scientific facts denied and dismissed.
There is a new book edited by Lawrence M.Krauss - The War on Science.
Among the writers and scientists who have contributed chapters is Richard Dawkins.
Professor Dawkins talked to me about his chapter.
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Eric Bibb is a blues music legend.
In this conversation he talks about his teenage life growing up in the middle of the New York civil rights movement.
The people he knew... Paul Robeson, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger ..... and how his father Leon Bibb continues to be an inspiration.
In the middle of an increasingly wayward world Eric Bibb is a voice of sanity.
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The future of democracy is a popular talking point at the moment. It seems some democratically elected leaders would like to change the system that gave them the job in the first place.
History records that we have been here before! When I talked to Dr Steve Kershaw about his book about battles in ancient Greece. it seemed that the human desire for conflict is unchanged through history.
Three Epic Battles that Saved Democracy is an entertaining and instructive read - now published in the US by Pegasus Books.
Great review in the Wall Street Journal.
Will it be read in the White House?
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In 2019 Sir Rannulph Fiennes was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.
A few years ago as part of the Cheltenham Literary festival I interviewed Sir Rannulph on stage at the Everyman Theatre about his family history book 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen'.
I remember shaking hands - a non standard formality for him. He told me how he had to adopt a DIY approach to dealing with frost bite in his fingers.
In this episode there's a conversation I had with Sir Rannulph later in a London studio, a chat with the legendary travel writer Eric Newby, and the life of the unforgettable Lucy Irvine.
Lucy had replied to an advertisement in 1980 seeking a woman to spend a year on a desert island with a man she didn't know. This adventure became a film starring Oliver Reid. She tells me how she went on to write the story of another island dwelling family in her book Faraway.
Memorable stories.
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Michael Payne has spent his whole working life in the sports marketing business.
In his autobiography he tells how sport became big business.
In this wide ranging conversation we discuss how the Olympics were saved from oblivion, whether FIFA were right to award Donald Trump a special peace prize.... and the major challenges facing sport in our connected digital age.,
- Visa fler
