Welsh Journalist and the BBC's International Editor Jeremy Bowen has travelled around the world reporting on war and conflicts. His career spans over 40 years and has taken him to some of the world's most dangerous places. He says covering conflict ''leaves a massive mark'' but also finds the ''very best of human nature''. On this week's bonus episode of Walescast, he joins Felicity Evans and Bethan Rhys Roberts to reflect on his remarkable career and the personal toll of reporting in war zones.

Felicity Evans is joined by guest presenter Nick Servini to discuss the details of the UK Government's welfare reforms and what it means for Wales. Along with Steffan Evans from the Bevan Foundation and Edward Davies of the Centre for Social Justice, they consider the decisions have been made and why. They'll also delve into the impact that the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall's announcement could have on those who currently receive benefits and those who might need them in the future.

James and Fliss speak to Desmond Clifford, the former principle secretary to Mark Drakeford and Carwyn Jones. He also worked as the head of Wales' EU office in Brussels for a number of years. His career with the Welsh Government spans over a decade working behind the scenes as a civil servant. In an exclusive interview with Walescast he lifts the lid on what government looks like behind closed doors.

James and Fliss talk through the Welsh Government's overhaul of ambulance response time targets with BBC Wales' Health Correspondent Jenny Rees. They are also joined by Dr Becks Fisher, director of research and research policy at Nuffield Trust and Desmond Clifford, the former Principal Secretary to the First Minister, to discuss the point of targets and if they actually work.

James talks to former Conservative MP, chief whip and secretary of state for Wales Simon Hart about his new book, Ungovernable. Hart said he wrote the book to ask the question "what went wrong?" between December 2019 and July 2024, when the Conservatives went from an 81-seat majority to a general election "drubbing". On his time as chief whip, Hart's book contains anonymised and shocking stories of MPs in various compromising positions. He also discusses the pandemic and his relationship with the Welsh Government as secretary of state.

James and guest presenter Gemma Dunstan discuss International Women's Day. Johanna Robinson, the Welsh Government's National Adviser on Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence; Monumental Welsh Women's co-founder, Helen Molyneux; and, activist and former MP for Swansea East Sian James, come together to look at what things were like at the beginning of their careers, where we are now and how far we need to go.

James and Fliss digest the UK Government's independent climate advisers report on how the 2050 Net Zero target can be met. They are joined by the Chief Economist for the Climate Change Committee, Dr James Richardson, to dig into the detail of some of the changes they are suggesting. They then speak to Dr Sarah Louisa Birchley in Tokyo about Global Welsh's 'Brain Drain to Brain Gain' report. With around the same number of residents in Wales as the number of Welsh people living outside of Wales, the report hopes to find ways to understand and engage with this global community.

James and guest presenter Bethan Rhys Roberts look into a Senedd report on politicians who deliberately deceive. Members of the Senedd who lie could lose their seats under the Committee's recommendations. Mick Antoniw MS, a member of the Standards of Conduct Committee and formerly the Welsh Government's Counsel General, talks through their proposals. Baroness Fox of Buckley joins the podcast to discuss the issues she has with their ideas of policing lying. Bethan and James are then joined by the Welsh Language Commissioner to discuss a recent YouGov poll which looks at how the public feel about the language.

A Welsh Labour budget deal has been struck. James sits down with BBC Wales' Political Editor and our Education, Health and Business Correspondents to digest the details on today's bonus episode. With a little help from the Liberal Democrats the Budget is set to pass when its voted on by the Senedd in March. The deal, which was worth more than £100m, makes the Welsh Government's Budget possible as they are unable to get anything over the line without at least one opposition politician on side.

Felicity Evans and guest presenter Elliw Gwawr discuss faith and it's role in politics with Canon Aled Edwards, Senedd Member and Patron of Humanists UK Julie Morgan MS and the FT's Whitehall Editor Lucy Fisher. Our Political Editor Gareth Lewis also joins the pod to discuss the quarter of Welsh Labour MS' who have announced they will stand down at the 2026 Senedd elections. That busy schedule is rounded off with a final farewell to Walescast's Producer Andy Fry who is leaving BBC Wales after three decades.