Ctrl Alt Delete

Jamie Bartlett is the bestselling author of The Dark Net, Radicals Chasing Utopia and People vs Tech. He is the Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at the think-tank Demos. His Ted Talk on the Dark Net is fascinating and definitely worth a watch. He also writes on technology for the Spectator, the Telegraph and for several other publications on how the Internet is changing politics and society. In 2017, Jamie presented the two-part BBC Two documentary series The Secrets of Silicon Valley. And the reason we are speaking today is because I have recently become totally addicted to his new podcast The Missing CryptoQueen, a gripping BBC Sounds podcast that has been at the very top of the iTunes charts for weeks now. Warning: there are spoilers in this episode!

So what is the Missing Cryptoqueen about? It is a podcast uncovering the mysterious story of Dr Ruja Ignatova who persuaded millions to join her financial revolution, a new cryptocurrency called One Coin. Then she just totally disappeared off the face of the earth. Jamie Bartlett and Georgia Catt have made a podcast trying to track her down and present a story of greed, deceit and herd madness. The weekly episodes are addictive and get stranger and stranger. I emailed Jamie one weekend after binging the entire thing asking him to come onto this podcast to chat, and I really enjoyed it! if you did too, please do consider leaving a review, and definitely go and listen to The Missing Cryptoqueen if you haven't already.

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Marie Le Conte is a journalist living in London. She was previously the Evening Standard's political diarist, BuzzFeeds' media and politics correspondent and went freelance in June 2017. Since then, she has written for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines and has also appeared on the Today programme, Newsnight, Chatham House, and the House of Commons.

She was named one of MHP's 30 To Watch, and Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018. Her first book is out now called Haven't You Heard? where Marie looks at the role of gossip in politics - the whispers and tittle-tattle that play out in all areas of politics - from the MPs and their advisers, the press who cover them and the civil servants in the middle of it all. From policy rows which aren't about policy at all and boozy nights with dramatic consequences, to people spinning their way to the top and dark secrets never seeing the light of day, Marie explores in great and entertaining detail the human side of the people running the country against a backdrop of political mayhem.

It was really interesting to chat about the way politics is covered in the British media and why people are still so interested in Westminster gossip. Tune in, and please do leave a review if you liked it.

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It's been a Dawn O'Porter themed week! I hosted Q&A event with Dawn at Foyles which was so fun, we then recorded the podcast, and then her launch party!

Dawn is the author of 6 books including the award-winning YA books Paper Aeroplanes and Goose, her first adult novel The Cows was a Sunday Times Bestseller and her latest book "SO LUCKY" is totally fantastic. The novel is about three women and how life really isn't as perfect as it looks. Ruby is feeling like she's failing as a mother and woman, Beth is in a sexless marriage and online influencer Lauren is not telling the truth on Instagram.

We talk about writing fiction, finding inspiration and the power of saying no and quitting something that is making you miserable. If you enjoyed this chat please do rate/review! 

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Leandra Medine Cohen is my guest today! The author and founder of Man Repeller, a fashion website with a unique voice and concept. Manrepeller's whole thing is about trends that women love and men hate, but it's also the way Leandra combines fashion with humour.

I have been following Leandra and her work since 2013 (when she released her first book, Man Repeller: Seeking Love, Finding Overalls) so I am thrilled to have sat down with her all these years later. I went to the Man Repeller HQ in New York, and I also did an event with her the following day and got to meet some amazing Man Repeller readers. Thank you Leandra, for being so welcoming! Leandra attended College at The New School for Liberal Arts in New York, and then had a fact-checking job at New York Magazine. She then started Man Repeller in 2010. Today, Man Repeller clocks millions of page views a month and she has collaborated with a long list of fashion brands and retailers, including Mango (new collection out now) Saks Fifth Avenue, Amazon and others. She really is fascinating, and I hope you enjoy this episode!!!

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Marie Forleo is an entrepreneur, writer and online coach. She has been named by Oprah as 'a thought leader for the next generation'. I first discovered Marie's work via her award-winning online show, Marie TV and podcast where she interviews inspiring creatives such as Brene Brown. She is the founder of B-School, an online business school and she has mentored young business owners at the Richard Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship. MarieForleo.com is one of Forbes magazine's Top 100 Websites for Entrepreneurs, a fantastic free online resource. Today on the podcast, we are discussing her New York Times bestselling book 'Everything Is Figureoutable' - a phrase and attitudinal discipline that activates your spiritual and emotional strength. It's a rallying cry to tackle impossible tasks, heart-breaking challenges and daring dreams.

Everything is Figureoutable will give you the courage to act in spite of your fears, the confidence to start and complete meaningful projects and the conviction to keep going - no matter what. Hope you enjoy this episode!

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Today's guest is the brilliant Susan Wokoma, an actor and writer. Best known for comedies such as Crazyhead on Netflix, Year of the Rabbit and Chewing Gum, Susan can be seen next year in both the feature film Enola Holmes (starring alongside Millie Bobbie Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter and Fiona Shaw) and the new Amazon comedy Truth Seekers also starring Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. 

Susan is also a seasoned stage actress having work in theatres such as the Royal Court, Bush Theatre, Almeida, and The Royal National Theatre. This summer she played the iconic role of Bottom to rave reviews in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Susan will next appear on stage in ‘Teenage Dick’ this December through to next feb at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

As a writer Susan is currently developing 3 tv shows and is currently writing a feature film with BBC Films called ‘Three Weeks’ - a comedy drama about abortion. Susan’s short film Love The Sinner (which also stars her longtime friend Daisy May Cooper, co-creator of This Country) will be screened at London Film Festival this month.  Susan is also a regular co-host of The Guilty Feminist podcast. She was a member of The National Youth Theatre as a teenager before going on to train at RADA. We discuss acting, stand up, finding yourself and why it's OK to say out loud that you love what you do.

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PRE-ORDER SABOTAGE HERE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poundproject/the-pound-project-part-six-emma-gannon/description

My guest is JP Watson, a writer, editor and the founder of The Pound Project, an independent publisher based in Birmingham. I've been following The Pound Project since pledging for previous books launched on the platform: including Jordan Stephens, Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. JP started the company from a simple premise: is a good story worth something? 

I am really excited to announce that I have a launched a special limited edition pocket-sized book, with the Pound Project called Sabotage. It's a book all about a topic close to my heart (self-sabotage!) and in the book I investigate my own relationship with it and ask some experts too. Why do so many of us succumb to its temptation. Procrastination, jealousy, negativity, guilt: how can we overcome the obstacles that keep getting in our way? It's the evil stepsister to imposter syndrome and I couldn't find much on the topic so I decided to write something myself.

So why did I partner with JP and the Pound Project?

JP believes that reading and writing are incredibly valuable, and he set up an affordable, sustainable, democratic platform where content is paid for (starting from just £1) where writers receive an equal share. 

How does it work? To get involved and back SABOTAGE you pay just £1 if you want to read or hear my piece online. Or, if you would prefer it in print, for a mere £5 we will send you a beautiful pocket-sized book. You can also get signed copies, tote bags, t-shirts and personalised content if you want to invest a little bit more. 

Importantly, all of the company's output is made using ethically sourced and environmentally friendly materials. The company only produces what it is sells for a limited time while campaigns are live. Nothing is wasted.

It all contributes to a movement dedicated to the power of storytelling.

For more info and to back the current project, head to www.poundproject.co.uk

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