Intelligence Squared

Too often historians have told the history of Africa through the prism of colonialism. But what picture of the continent emerges when we do away with making the story of Africa so anchored in European colonialism? Award-winning broadcaster Zeinab Badawi came to the Intelligence Squared stage recently to tell a new history of Africa – in all its shades and complexities – without the stifling gaze of Europe. Drawing on the themes of her latest book, An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Humanity to Independence, she describes the origins of humankind, the emergence of ancient civilisations and empires, and the joys and thrills of Independence. Badawi was in conversation with historian and broadcaster Kate Williams. This is the first instalment of a three-part conversation. Too often historians have told the history of Africa through the prism of colonialism. But what picture of the continent emerges when we do away with making the story of Africa so anchored in European colonialism? Award-winning broa

This is the second instalment of a three-part conversation. Bestselling author and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has dedicated his career to speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most challenging spaces – communities polarised by politics and religion and university campuses mired in culture wars. Now he turns his attention to what he sees as a perfect storm of factors that are causing a collapse in mental health among teenagers today. According to the American College Health Association, since 2010 anxiety among American college students has increased by 134%, depression by 106%, bipolar disorder by 57%, and anorexia by 100%. Haidt recently came to the Intelligence Squared stage where in conversation with BBC presenter Sarah Montague he drew on his new book The Anxious Generation, which has shot to No 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers. He argues that the decline of free play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents are the twin sources of increased mental distress among teenagers

Bestselling author and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has dedicated his career to speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most challenging spaces – communities polarised by politics and religion and university campuses mired in culture wars. Now he turns his attention to what he sees as a perfect storm of factors that are causing a collapse in mental health among teenagers today. According to the American College Health Association, since 2010 anxiety among American college students has increased by 134%, depression by 106%, bipolar disorder by 57%, and anorexia by 100%. Haidt recently came to the Intelligence Squared stage where in conversation with BBC presenter Sarah Montague he drew on his new book The Anxious Generation, which has shot to No 1 in the Sunday Times bestsellers. He argues that the decline of free play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents are the twin sources of increased mental distress among teenagers. But with traditional wisdom, cutting-edge research and pra

Artificial intelligence is no longer a figment of our imagination a plot pulled from the pages of science fiction. Recent rapid advances mean it is now seeping into ever more aspects of our daily lives. Leading human-rights barrister Susie Alegre has been analysing the concept of what it means to be human within a digital world for years. Her latest book, Human Rights, Robot Wrongs, focuses on where the spirit of humanity will find itself in a near future almost certainly defined by human-like yet empathy-free algorithms made from ones and zeroes. Joining Alegre in conversation for this episode is Head of Programming for Intelligence Squared, Conor Boyle. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever y

Sathnam Sanghera is a writer and author of bestselling books exploring British identity, the latest of which is Empireworld: How British Imperialism Has Shaped the Globe. It follows Empireland, which looked at how the British Empire has shaped modern Britain. Sanghera has written both novels and non-fiction. He’s a columnist for the Times newspaper and his 2021 documentary Empire State of Mind opened up new conversations about identity and race for television viewers. Joining him in conversation for this episode is Helen Carr, the writer and historian who specialises in medieval history and public history. Her books include The Red Prince and the upcoming This Is England, plus as a broadcaster she appears across outlets ranging from History Hit to the BBC. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4

Oxford University economist Kate Raworth has been described by the author and environmentalist George Monbiot as, "The John Maynard Keynes of the 21st century." In 2018, she came to Intelligence Squared to talk through the set of ideas that has seen her influential book, Donut Economics, find fans in audiences ranging from members of the UN General Assembly to Pope Francis and Extinction Rebellion. Hosting the discussion was Matthew Taylor, at the time of the interview Chief Executive of the RSA and latterly Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15%

Joe Roman is a conservation biologist and marine ecologist fascinated with the natural processes that go on within animal biology and how those in turn shape the natural world around us. His new book is Eat, Poop, Die, which as the title suggests, takes a no-nonsense look at how the biology of individual living things on planet Earth forms an integral part of the chain of natural ecology that keeps the world working. Speaking to Roman for this episode is molecular biologist and science communicator Dr Gunes Taylor, who is postdoctoral research scientist at the Francis Crick Institute. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated fee

This is a the second instalment of a three-part discussion. There are few big thinkers better placed to explain global events than historian Niall Ferguson. He has not just a profound understanding of past crises, but also an exceptional ability to map out the longer term impact that present crises will have on world affairs. For this episode, Ferguson joins us on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the predicaments we are currently facing. How can the West deal with the geopolitical and ideological threats posed by what Ferguson calls the axis of ill will – Russia, China and Iran? With localised wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and the threat of a crisis over Taiwan, are we sleepwalking towards a Third World War? And what are the likely consequences of the ongoing conflicts for the world economy? Joined onstage by journalist and presenter Ritula Shah, Ferguson explores these pressing questions and shares his insights into the fast-changing global landscape. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.c

There are few big thinkers better placed to explain global events than historian Niall Ferguson. He has not just a profound understanding of past crises, but also an exceptional ability to map out the longer term impact that present crises will have on world affairs. For this episode, Ferguson joins us on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the predicaments we are currently facing. How can the West deal with the geopolitical and ideological threats posed by what Ferguson calls the axis of ill will – Russia, China and Iran? With localised wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and the threat of a crisis over Taiwan, are we sleepwalking towards a Third World War? And what are the likely consequences of the ongoing conflicts for the world economy? Joined onstage by journalist and presenter Ritula Shah, Ferguson explores these pressing questions and shares his insights into the fast-changing global landscape. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. This is the first of a thre

As a performer, London-based George the Poet has helped elevate genres ranging from traditional spoken word to rap and grime over recent years as well as having become a well-known voice commentating on social issues. He has a popular BBC podcast, Have You Heard George's Podcast?, which won the Peabody Award. Plus, last year he curated the writing collection Part of a Story That Started Before Me: Poems about Black British History. This year he returns with a new book – a memoir – Track Record: Me, Music, and the War on Blackness. As well as reflecting on George Mpanga’s own life, it’s a study of broader issues including the cultural forces shaping the music industry and the inherent discrimination within wider capitalism. Joining him in conversation for this episode is Symeon Brown, the award-winning journalist whose work often focuses on how culture and technology interacts with race and class. Brown is a correspondent for Channel 4 News and the author of Get Rich Or Lie Trying, his book focusing on the inf

Englishness has been hijacked by the right. The flag of St. George’s Cross is proudly waved at far-right rallies. Conservative politicians insult the Left as being anti-English. And our history has been weaponised by cheerleaders for Brexit, exceptionalism and imperial nostalgia. That's the argument of Caroline Lucas, who came to the Intelligence Squared stage in April 2024 to offer us a radically new way of viewing England and Englishness. Lucas has long been at the forefront of progressive politics in the UK, having twice led the Green Party. Discussing her new book, Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story with political commentator Grace Blakeley, Lucas explores how to redefine nationalism by centering the English people’s history of radical inclusivity, deep-rooted commitment to the natural world and long struggle to win rights for all. These often overlooked stories place the Chartists, the Diggers and the Suffragettes alongside Nelson and Churchill, and draw on a rich literary history to expl

Englishness has been hijacked by the right. The flag of St. George’s Cross is proudly waved at far-right rallies. Conservative politicians insult the Left as being anti-English. And our history has been weaponised by cheerleaders for Brexit, exceptionalism and imperial nostalgia. That's the argument of Caroline Lucas, who came to the Intelligence Squared stage in April 2024 to offer us a radically new way of viewing England and Englishness. Lucas has long been at the forefront of progressive politics in the UK, having twice led the Green Party. Discussing her new book, Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story with political commentator Grace Blakeley, Lucas explores how to redefine nationalism by centering the English people’s history of radical inclusivity, deep-rooted commitment to the natural world and long struggle to win rights for all. These often overlooked stories place the Chartists, the Diggers and the Suffragettes alongside Nelson and Churchill, and draw on a rich literary history to expl

Regularly embroiled in international conflicts – both militarily and diplomatically – and locked in a cycle of protest and heavy government crackdowns on the domestic political front, Iran has rarely been out of the international spotlight over the past decades. The protests in recent years that were initially sparked in resistance to the oppression of women formed the inspiration for writer and historian Arash Azizi's latest book, What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom. The book asks whether a cohesive movement could eventually be formed out of the many voices of dissent in the country to bring about real change. Joining Azizi to discuss it for this episode is the journalist, audio producer and book critic Mythili Rao. This episode was recorded in early March 2024, prior to the most recent military conflict between Iran and Israel. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only

For this episode, particle physicist Harry Cliff takes us on a deep dive into some of the universe's most perplexing scientific mysteries. His recent book, Space Oddities, draws on many findings found during his work at the University of Cambridge. Why are stars flying away from us faster than anyone can explain? What are the source of mysterious particles found to hold huge amounts of energy trapped beneath Antarctic ice? What really goes on at the CERN Large Hadron Collider? – another place where Cliff does much of his work. Joining him in conversation for this episode is Alex Wilkins, reporter for New Scientist. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence

Alexander Christie-Miller is a former Istanbul correspondent for The Times newspaper, whose writing has also appeared in outlets such as Newsweek, The Atlantic and The White Review. His recent book, To the City: Life and Death Along the Ancient Walls of Istanbul, combines tales drawn from centuries past and also those from the contemporary sociopolitical picture in Istanbul to weave together an expansive narrative that circles around the city like its defensive walls that have stood for a millennium. Joining him in conversation to discuss the book is Hannah Lucinda Smith, Turkey correspondent for The Times and Monocle. She's the author of books including Erdogan Rising, which follows the ascent to power of Turkey's strongman leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.9

This is Part Two of a three-part episode. Britain is in big trouble. The country has dipped into recession, local councils are going bankrupt and trust in our politics has collapsed. Could Labour leader Keir Starter remake Britain after the next election? According to political economist, writer and author, Will Hutton, and political strategist, journalist and co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast, Alastair Campbell, a recovery is in our own hands. For this Intelligence Squared live event on how to remake Britain, Keir Starmer himself joins Hutton, Campbell and our host, Sonia Sodha, live on stage at London's Union Chapel to discuss the future of British politics and the themes of renewal found within Hutton's book, This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain, and Campbell's book, But What Can I Do? which both look to inspire a new generation of political leaders. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. This is the first of a three-part discussion. Intelligence Squared Me

Britain is in big trouble. The country has dipped into recession, local councils are going bankrupt and trust in our politics has collapsed. Could Labour leader Keir Starter remake Britain after the next election? According to political economist, writer and author, Will Hutton, and political strategist, journalist and co-host of The Rest Is Politics podcast, Alastair Campbell, a recovery is in our own hands. For this Intelligence Squared live event on how to remake Britain, Keir Starmer himself joins Hutton, Campbell and our host, Sonia Sodha, live on stage at London's Union Chapel to discuss the future of British politics and the themes of renewal found within Hutton's book, This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain, and Campbell's book, But What Can I Do? which both look to inspire a new generation of political leaders. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. This is the first of a three-part discussion. Intelligence Squared Members can listen to all three instalments,

Andrew O’Hagan has written seven novels, three non-fiction books, a play and many standout journalism pieces on topics ranging from the origins of cryptocurrency to the story of the Grenfell Tower fire. The Booker Prize-nominated novelist's 2020 book Mayflies was adapted for television by the BBC. His latest is an expansive tale of London titled Caledonian Road, named after the thoroughfare that threads through the north of the city. Joining O'Hagan in conversation for this episode is the writer and reviewer Susie Mesure, whose work is often seen in The Sunday Times, The ipaper, Prospect, The Financial Times and more. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. Want to attend Intelligence Squared live events? Explore our upcoming line up of talks below: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/attend/ If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.9

In her latest book, writer and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Cornell University, Kate Manne, turns her analytical lens towards prejudice and discrimination against larger bodied people, which she says is on the rise. In Unshrinking: How to Fight Fatphobia, Manne blends the political and the personal to explore what it would require to build a world that views and treats all people as equal, regardless of their body shape. Joining Manne in conversation for this episode is Sophie McBain, contributing editor at New Statesman magazine, who also writes about books and ideas for The Guardian and The Sunday Times. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. Want to attend Intelligence Squared live events? Explore our upcoming line up of talks below: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/attend/ If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 pe

Charan Ranganath is the Director of the Memory and Plasticity Program and a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of California at Davis. His new book, Why We Remember: The Science of Memory and How it Shapes Us, is a radical exploration of human engagement with memory, asking new questions about imagination, intention, attention and emotion. Joining Ranganath to discuss it is Alex Wilkins, reporter for New Scientist. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. Want to attend Intelligence Squared live events? Explore our upcoming line up of talks below: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/attend/ If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and membe