Deborah Frances-White is the writer and comedian best known for hosting The Guilty Feminist podcast. David Tennant is the multi-award-winning actor who has played iconic roles including Doctor Who, Hamlet, Barty Crouch Jr., Rivals’ Lord Tony Baddingham and more.

In April 2025 they came to Intelligence Squared to discuss how we can have better and more open conversations on difficult topics. Drawing from her new book Six Conversations We’re Scared to Have, Deborah shared how she grew up in a cult which shut down any dissenting voices. And she made the case that she sees similar tactics being used today in our rapidly changing digital society. Deborah and David discussed the state of freedom of speech, politics in the arts, and the value of critical thinking. 

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What is happening behind closed doors in Britain’s far right movement?

On today’s episode, we’re joined by journalist Harry Shukman, the journalist who spent over a year undercover investigating the British far right.

Drawing on his new book, Year of the Rat, Shukman sheds light on the secret meetings, pub gatherings, political canvassing, and neo-Nazi conferences at the heart of the extreme right-wing activity in Britain. Through his investigations, Shukman has effectively exposed the mechanics of how far-right ideologies – from eugenics to Holocaust denial – are being normalised across the country, often with surprising allies in big tech, government, and the mainstream media.

Harry Shukman is a researcher at HOPE not hate, an anti-fascist organisation. Formerly a journalist, he worked as a news reporter for The Times and then a writer and editor for the Manchester Mill.

Joining him to discuss the book is Carl Miller, the journalist, co-founder of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos, and host of crime podcast Kill List.

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‘Embracing the knowledge in The Next Conversation will vastly improve your life.’ – Andrew Huberman, creator of the Huberman Lab Podcast

‘ The Next Conversation gives you the tools to change your life, one conversation at a time.’ – Mel Robbins, bestselling author and host of the Mel Robbins Podcast

In a time when conversations often feel more divisive and polarised than ever, knowing how to communicate effectively has never been more essential.

Jefferson Fisher has built a global following by addressing these very challenges. As a trial lawyer turned communication expert, his short, practical videos have helped millions master the art of effective conversation. To mark the publication of his debut book The Next Conversation, he came to Intelligence Squared in June 2025 to share his game-changing framework for transforming how we talk – and, more importantly, how we listen.

The Next Conversation is set to be one of the most impactful books on communication in years.

Live at Union Chapel, he unpacked his insights and answered your questions.

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‘Embracing the knowledge in The Next Conversation will vastly improve your life.’ – Andrew Huberman, creator of the Huberman Lab Podcast

‘ The Next Conversation gives you the tools to change your life, one conversation at a time.’ – Mel Robbins, bestselling author and host of the Mel Robbins Podcast

In a time when conversations often feel more divisive and polarised than ever, knowing how to communicate effectively has never been more essential.

Jefferson Fisher has built a global following by addressing these very challenges. As a trial lawyer turned communication expert, his short, practical videos have helped millions master the art of effective conversation. To mark the publication of his debut book The Next Conversation, he came to Intelligence Squared in June 2025 to share his game-changing framework for transforming how we talk – and, more importantly, how we listen.

The Next Conversation is set to be one of the most impactful books on communication in years.

Live at Union Chapel, he unpacked his insights and answered your questions.

---

This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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On today’s episode, an episode from our friends at Sotheby's, exploring the world of Shakespeare. Sam Leith, author, journalist and literary editor of The Spectator, will be joined by Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford, Tracy-Ann Oberman, who most recently starred as Shylock in her adaptation of The Merchant of Venice, and acclaimed actor Joseph Kloska. They will be revealing how different editions shaped our understanding of Shakespeare’s plays. Why do some of his most famous lines vary from version to version? What do these texts reveal about the many ways Shakespeare’s plays can be interpreted - on the page, on the stage and in the minds of each new generation?

This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in May 2025. 

And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. 

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In June 2024, Nvidia became the most valuable corporation on Earth. In Stephen Witt’s new book ‘The Thinking Machine’ he chronicles the astonishing story of how a designer of videogame equipment conquered the market for AI hardware, and in the process reinvented the computer.

He spoke about it with author and Research Director at Demos Carl Miller.

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*** Click here to see the photograph referred to in the podcast introduction: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/an-evening-with-adam-buxton ***

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Adam Buxton is a comedian, writer, podcaster — and one of the UK’s most beloved cultural figures. Best known for The Adam Buxton Podcast, The Adam and Joe Show on Channel 4, and the distinctive blend of surreal and self-deprecating humour he brings to all his work, Buxton has spent decades making people laugh while also offering insightful reflections on the quirks, highs, lows and occasional heartbreak of modern life. 

In May 2025 Buxton came to the Intelligence Squared stage to celebrate the publication of his new memoir, I Love You, Byeee: Rambles on DIY TV, Rockstars, Kids and Mums, the highly anticipated sequel to his previous memoir Ramble Book: Musings on Childhood, Friendship, Family and 80s Pop Culture. In conversation with bestselling author and columnist Caitlin Moran, Buxton dove into stories from the book and beyond, reflecting on his creative partnership with Joe Cornish, encounters with icons like David Bowie, and the joys and absurdities of family life.

The conversation that spans laughter, loss, ageing, and parenthood – all delivered in Adam’s signature blend of humour and heart.

---

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*** Click here to see the photograph referred to in the podcast introduction: https://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/an-evening-with-adam-buxton ***

---

Adam Buxton is a comedian, writer, podcaster — and one of the UK’s most beloved cultural figures. Best known for The Adam Buxton Podcast, The Adam and Joe Show on Channel 4, and the distinctive blend of surreal and self-deprecating humour he brings to all his work, Buxton has spent decades making people laugh while also offering insightful reflections on the quirks, highs, lows and occasional heartbreak of modern life. 

In May 2025 Buxton came to the Intelligence Squared stage to celebrate the publication of his new memoir, I Love You, Byeee: Rambles on DIY TV, Rockstars, Kids and Mums, the highly anticipated sequel to his previous memoir Ramble Book: Musings on Childhood, Friendship, Family and 80s Pop Culture. In conversation with bestselling author and columnist Caitlin Moran, Buxton dove into stories from the book and beyond, reflecting on his creative partnership with Joe Cornish, encounters with icons like David Bowie, and the joys and absurdities of family life.

The conversation that spans laughter, loss, ageing, and parenthood – all delivered in Adam’s signature blend of humour and heart.

---

If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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... 

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…

Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access.

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Steve McQueen is one of Britain’s most acclaimed filmmakers and artists. He is the recipient of the Academy Award for Best Picture, two BAFTA Awards, the Caméra d’Or, a Golden Globe, and the Turner Prize. McQueen’s work includes his first feature-length film Hunger about Bobby Sands and the 1981 Irish hunger strike, the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave, the BBC anthology Small Axe, and his most recent film Blitz.

In April 2025 McQueen joined us live on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the themes of his new book Resistance. Accompanied by a major exhibition of the same name at Turner Contemporary, Resistance is a landmark collection of photographs and essays charting a century of British activism. Speaking alongside author Gary Younge, McQueen explored the power of collective action and uncover the often-overlooked stories of individuals who have been instrumental in forming modern Britain.

McQueen discussed how acts of resistance have shaped Britain and the powerful role of photography as a catalyst for change. From the radical suffrage movement in 1903 through key moments including the Battle of Cable Street, the Black People’s Day of Action, Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp and the Miners’ Strike; onto protests against environmental destruction, struggles for LGBTQ+ and disability rights; and the largest protest in Britain’s history: the march against the War in Iraq in 2003.

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If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.

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Steve McQueen is one of Britain’s most acclaimed filmmakers and artists. He is the recipient of the Academy Award for Best Picture, two BAFTA Awards, the Caméra d’Or, a Golden Globe, and the Turner Prize. McQueen’s work includes his first feature-length film Hunger about Bobby Sands and the 1981 Irish hunger strike, the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave, the BBC anthology Small Axe, and his most recent film Blitz.

In April 2025 McQueen joined us live on the Intelligence Squared stage to discuss the themes of his new book Resistance. Accompanied by a major exhibition of the same name at Turner Contemporary, Resistance is a landmark collection of photographs and essays charting a century of British activism. Speaking alongside author Gary Younge, McQueen explored the power of collective action and uncover the often-overlooked stories of individuals who have been instrumental in forming modern Britain.

McQueen discussed how acts of resistance have shaped Britain and the powerful role of photography as a catalyst for change. From the radical suffrage movement in 1903 through key moments including the Battle of Cable Street, the Black People’s Day of Action, Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp and the Miners’ Strike; onto protests against environmental destruction, struggles for LGBTQ+ and disability rights; and the largest protest in Britain’s history: the march against the War in Iraq in 2003.

-----

This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our 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

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...

Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99:

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