Persons Of Interest

My guest this week is John Robb, Punk Rock's renaissance man. John is a wordsmith, a musician, a thinker of big ideas, and an impresario. At sixty, he's also fit as a butchers dog and could be mistaken for forty on a good day. I spoke to John about music, culture, the North and generally putting the world to rights, and I think you'll enjoy his interesting and lively self deprecating humorous conversation. 

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My guest is the acclaimed author, journalist and broadcaster, Tim Marshall. For nearly 25 years, Tim broadcast from over 30 countries and covered twelve wars for Sky News. 

In the world of journalism, there is something unique about foreign affairs correspondents. They stand out amongst journalists as a breed of their own. I think it's the events they have to cover that allow them to grasp the big picture. And when you're explaining war, conflict and diplomacy to your audience, you have to reduce complex issues to understandable stories. That's why I've always admired Tim. He's a fabulous explainer. 

Tim's book, 'Prisoners Of Geography, Our World Explained in Twelve Simple Maps', was a bestseller on multiple continents. The sequel, 'The Power Of Geography, Ten Maps That Reveal The World's Future', is out now. I spoke to him about it for this weeks episode of Persons of Interest.

As our conversation took us on a canter through the emerging parts of the world we all need to know about, I found myself in awe of his wisdom. He's one of those people who reminds us that journalism is still a noble profession.

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In my time in Parliament, I met people whose cause was so great, their work was a vocation. 

Karen Pollock is one of those people. As the driving force and chief executive of The Holocaust Educational Trust, Karen has dedicated herself to ensuring that young generations understand the holocaust and the lessons it teaches us. 

I spoke to her about the Trust's work and how she copes with the sheer weight of the responsibility her job brings. You can tell I admire her. When you listen to our conversation, I think you'll understand why.

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If you were looking for a single individual, who demonstrates that the internet has changed global politics irrevocably, it's Elliot Higgins.

I'm sure he won't mind me describing him as a Frank Zappa loving, video games playing geek from Leicestershire. But that's the most normal thing I can say about Elliot. Because in his middle years, his life seems more like a character in a high budget Hollywood political thriller.

Being a geek, Elliot understands that we live in the new age of information abundance, and he's used that innate understanding of web science to dramatically change politics.

If you don't know him yet, prepare to be astounded by his story.

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Connect with Elliot Higgins

www.bellingcat.com

@eliothiggins and @Bellingcat on Twitter

Buy the book: www.bellingcat.com/book

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My guest this week is Rick Astley. We recorded this episode late in January of Lockdown Three when the world seemed bleak.

He's a rare thing, is Rick. He straddles generations. It's not just people like me in their 50s who remember him as a cheeky young baritone singer who topped the charts in the 1980s. It's those generations that sit behind me that also know him as a cultural icon. He's a meme in the game of Fortnight. I know eight-year-olds that sing his songs because of it.

Rick still has excellent reach into the entertainment industry, and I don't think he gets the credit for it.

And if you are thinking of embarking on a career in music and entertainment, you'll benefit from his words of wisdom.

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When I look at my female friends' responses against male violence against women I feel anxious that I'm not doing enough to campaign against misogyny to try and change the society we live in so that women can feel safe in their daily lives. 

And that’s why I’ve invited a second guest this week on Persons of Interest Michael Conroy who is a man who in his professional life tries to change the system through education and runs an organisation called Men At Work that works with young men.

I’m also hosting a room in Clubhouse on Thursday at 7.00 pm with Michael and other guests to have a discussion about misogyny and male violence and what we can as individuals do about it. 

Do join in the conversation and let me know your thoughts.

Femicide Census curated by Karen Ingala Smith (from which Jess Phillips MP reads the names)

Centre for Women's Justice

Rachel Williams - Campaigner, survivor, founder of www.sutda.org

Professor Jane Mockton Smith, author of 'In Control, Dangerous Relationships And How They End In Murder'

Professor Evan Stark, expert and author on Coercive Control

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Dr Aseem Malhotra is an NHS Trained Consultant Cardiologist, and visiting Professor of Evidence Based Medicine, Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, Brazil. He is a world-renowned expert in the prevention, diagnosis and management of heart disease. He is an honorary council member of the Metabolic Psychiatry Clinic at Stanford University school of medicine California and is a Cardiology MSc examiner at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. He is a founding member of Action on Sugar and was the lead campaigner highlighting the harm caused by excess sugar consumption in the United Kingdom, particularly its role in type 2 diabetes and obesity.

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Twitter @DrAseemMalhotra 

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In this episode I talk to BAFTA award-winning presenter and author, Gail Porter, who in her own words, did the 90s properly, we talk about life in lockdown, Piers Morgan in his Union Jack white fronts, and what it’s like to be homeless in London. 

Just a little health warning, our conversation strays into eating disorders, disordered eating and self-harm. But mainly it’s about the effervescent life of Gail Porter. 

She’s a gorgeous human being, who I count on as a friend, having first met her at a V Festival many, many years ago. Remember those days when we could go and see live bands.

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