290 | James O'Brien

David talks to author and radio host James O'Brien about everything from therapy to Brexit and from educational privilege to Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party. Recorded as part of the Cambridge Literary Festival https://cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/. James's new book is How Not to be Wrong: The Art of Changing Your Mind.

90 | Tim Shipman

We talk to Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman, author of the definitive insider accounts of three years of turmoil in British politics: All Out War and Fall Out.  He tells us about what drives the bloodletting in the Tory Party, how Theresa May survived the general election fiasco and the difference between Tory leakers and Labour leakers. Plus  we talk Trump and Tim explains how Twitter has changed political journalism.

77 | Peter Carey

David talks to two-time Booker-prize winning novelist Peter Carey (Oscar and Lucinda, True History of the Kelly Gang) about his latest book A Long Way From Home, which tells a story of race and dispossession in Australia's recent past.  Plus we cover a lot else besides: Trump, conspiracy theories, the CIA, Tocqueville and what's it's like to be an Australian in America today.  A wide-ranging chat with one of the greatest novelists of our time.

70 | Jess Phillips

This week we talk to Labour MP Jess Phillips about sexism, Twitter and the future of democracy.  Has anything changed in Westminster post-Weinstein?  What would it take to make parliament more representative?  And how can politicians be more relatable?  Plus we discuss what Brexit tell us about the biggest social divides in our politics.  Jess is the author of Everywoman: One Woman's Truth About Speaking the Truth http://amzn.to/2Ajlqjk

34 | Pankaj Mishra

In a Talking Politics extra, we speak to Indian novelist and historian Pankaj Mishra about his new book The Age of Anger.  He explains the deep historical roots that underpin the rise of populism and he explores what connects Modi and Trump.  He also tells us why the British general election might be just a sideshow.  Recorded at the Cambridge Literary Festival.