The Big Interview

The American humorist and bestselling author joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his latest book, ‘Calypso’. He muses over everything from family dynamics and awkward social situations to the boundaries of humour and the role of entertainment in a time of troubling politics.

For our season finale we sit down with Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group. He is one of the world’s leading political-risk experts, specialising in US foreign policy, states in transition and global political risk. He talks to Tom Edwards about his new book ‘Us vs Them: The Failure of Globalism’, which explains the rise of populist leaders and why we shouldn’t blame their supporters.

Ahead of the publication of Monocle’s inaugural ‘Drinking & Dining Directory’, we hear from some of the great chefs and restaurateurs who have featured on past episodes of ‘The Big Interview’. Join Tom Edwards for a tasty mix of insights from the likes of Massimo Bottura, Ruth Rogers, Bill Granger and Jeremy King.

The author of numerous bestsellers, including ‘Fatherland’, ‘The Fear Index’ and ‘An Officer and a Spy’, sits down with Robert Bound to talk about his new novel ‘Munich’, as well as themes ranging from ancient Rome to contemporary politics and why it’s difficult to write political fiction in the modern world.

The Nigerian novelist known for critically acclaimed titles such as ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ and ‘Americanah’ joins Monocle foreign editor Megan Gibson to talk about being black in America, becoming a global feminist icon, Nigerian fashion and the challenges facing the Left.

Celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Prince and Beyonce have all appeared in front of Matthew Rolston’s lens. His glamorous photographs have appeared on the covers of ‘Rolling Stone’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, ‘Vogue’, ‘GQ’ and many more. Through the use of his signature lighting, he has become an icon of Hollywood photography. He met up with Ed Stocker to talk about his latest exhibition “Hollywood Royal”, a retrospective of his 1980s photography, and to reflect on his extensive career.

The acclaimed Brazilian visual artist and photographer Vik Muniz is best known for his bold and layered recreations of canonical artworks using a range of media. In conversation with Monocle’s Robert Bound, Muniz muses on the role of art, his fascination with illusion and image and his influences, which range from Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys to his grandmother and his childhood in 1970s Brazil.

Renowned primatologist Dame Jane Goodall has spent nearly six decades researching our closest non-human relatives. Since her first trip to Tanzania in 1960 her work has vastly expanded our comprehension of chimpanzees. She talks to Andrew Mueller about her groundbreaking discoveries, chimpanzees’ sense of humour and the work still ahead.

Sir Kenneth Grange is known as the godfather of UK product design. He is the man behind quintessentially British everyday products for brands such as Kenwood, Parker, Kodak and Anglepoise – but also behind the InterCity 125 train, the regional Royal Mail postbox and the latest London black cab. Grange is one of the founding members of the famous interdisciplinary design consultancy Pentagram and during his more than half a century of work he has come to define, change and modernise British design.

Comedienne, actress, activist, singer and pioneer of the one-woman show: Sandra Bernhard sits down with Monocle’s Tyler Brûlé to talk about stand-up, Tinder, the media the 1970s and much, much more.