Best Alex Webber Podcasts (2025)

1
Rachel Zegler, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more discuss Evita's secrets 17:42

2h ago17:42

17:42

As we put out our main episode two days early (go back and give it a listen!) – here's something to take you through the weekend. In what is our last episode on Evita for a while (we promise), we sit down with star Rachel Zegler and team behind the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita at The London Palladium. They spill the be…

1
Is Evita the show of the summer? And if not, what is? 36:56

1d ago36:56

36:56

In an excitable episode (fuelled by the heatwave), Sarah Crompton and Alex Wood unite to chew over Jamie Lloyd's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita, starring Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler – now that the embargo has lifted. After that, the pair discuss other shows that have wowed them in recent weeks – including a surprise an…

1
Consciousness Begins in the Body | Antonio Damasio 30:56

2d ago30:56

30:56

We tend to believe consciousness is purely mental. And since Descartes' "I think therefore I am", we've privileged the mind as the centrepiece of thought and consciousness. But such a view is mistaken argues award-winning neuroscientist Antonio Damasio. Feelings, long dismissed as secondary to thinking, are where consciousness begins, and are deepl…

1
Why seeing a play from the cheap seats can change your life - with special guest playwright Beth Steel 33:26

7d ago33:26

33:26

As her brilliant play Till the Stars Come Down transfers to the West End, playwright Beth Steel talks to Sarah about her unexpected discovery of theatre and the mental blocks and financial obstacles that stop working class voices being heard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
The Selfish and The Selfless SPECIAL | JD Vance, Pope Francis, and the 10 Commandments 45:09

7d ago45:09

45:09

What can JD Vance's arguments with Pope Francis teach us about selfishness, altruism, and the morality of the modern world? Join the team at the IAI for four articles about egoism, self-sacrifice, and everything in between, analysing a range of subjects, including: Friedrich Nietzsche and his rivalry with former maestro Arthur Schopenhauer; the 10 …

1
Being mindful in a mindless world | Ellen Langer 22:46

10d ago22:46

22:46

The mindful body with Ellen Langer Can mindfulness be contagious? Ellen Langer's research certainly seems to suggest that's the case. As Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the author of 'The Mindful Body', Ellen has racked up decades of experience and numerous awards during her investigations into the impact of mindful living. In thi…

1
Hangover Sessions 325 Ft. Clementine Darling ~ June 22nd 2025 2:00:01

12d ago2:00:01

2:00:01

The 325th episode of the show features the Lovely Clementine Darling, an Americana Folk Singer-Songwriter with her heels dug deep in San Francisco Bay Area’s music scene. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Darling busked her way down the West Coast in 2010, on a road trip that led her to put down roots in Sonoma County, California! We gave Clemen…

1
The beautiful in philosophy | Babette Babich, Paul Ernest, Ankhi Mukherjee, Sarah Wilson 42:00

14d ago42:00

42:00

The good, the bad, and the beautiful What is beauty? Why are we so drawn to it? And should we be - or is it a distraction? The philosophy of aesthetics and beauty has a long and fascinating history. Over the millennia, while we mostly agree on the essential nature of this ephemeral thing, "beauty", we disagree on the reasons why it is important, on…

1
Bonus episode: Special guest Katie Brayben on the magic of returning to a role 32:32

14d ago32:32

32:32

With this week's main episode coming out two days early, special guest Katie Brayben joins Alex Wood for a Friday chitchat. The two-time Olivier Award-winner will be returning to the role of Elizabeth in the hit Bob Dylan musical Girl from The North Country, now playing once more at the Old Vic in London. Other topics include Brayben's time in Tamm…

1
Will social media be the end of theatre critics? And are there too many standing ovations? 43:05

16d ago43:05

43:05

It's a two-part episode as Alex and Sarah reunite after a few weeks out in the wild! Social media is all abuzz with clips of Rachel Zegler's performance of "Don't Cry For Me Argentinia" in Evita at The London Palladium. The only ones not talking about it? Theatre critics – who have to wait until early July to give their verdicts on the show. With w…

1
A world without values | Janne Teller, Dale Turner, Robin van den Akker, Isabel Hilton 44:37

17d ago44:37

44:37

Once values such as justice and equality were agreed upon by all. Now they are identified by some as vehicles to entrench or overturn power. On the left, 'justice' as a means to sustain and impose privilege, 'truth' as an attempt to claim enduring authority. On the right, 'diversity' and 'equality' as means to undermine the status quo in favour of …

1
Behind the scenes at Jamie Lloyd’s Evita 45:43

21d ago45:43

45:43

As Rachel Zegler prepares to take on the role of Eva Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s ageless classic, Sarah sets out to find out more about the London Palladium production. Plus what was it like working with Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell and how did they cope with the crowds mobbing Sunset Boulevard in New York Hosted on Acast. See a…

1
Bonus episode: What happens when you win a Tony Award? With Sarah Snook, Jak Malone, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more 15:41

23d ago15:41

15:41

Sunday night saw the winners crowned at the Tony Awards in New York. While new musical Maybe Happy Ending may have been the big winner, there were plenty of awards dished out to UK-originating shows, including Operation Mincemeat, Stranger Things: The First Shadow and more! We hear from all of them… while Andrew Lloyd Webber explains why a Sunset B…

1
The challenge to optimism | Angus Deaton 21:34

24d ago21:34

21:34

The economy is a vital part of the way we understand our lives and our politics more generally. But after years of growth, development, and progress, on the surface everything is rosy. But as Nobel Laureate Angus Deaton argues, behind the big picture many people have been left behind by the modern economy, and this is precisely because of the blind…

1
Hangover Sessions 324 Ft. Scarth Locke ~ June 8th 2025 50:24

26d ago50:24

50:24

The 324th episode features a grand friend of the show and yet another outstandingly talented SF Bay Area artist; Mr Scarth Locke! Join us for a full 2-hour interview, featuring a bunch of live Scarth performances, intertwined amongst an exquisite desert island discs playlist chosen by Scarth himself! Keep up with all of Scarth's latest music @ http…

1
Special guest Sonia Friedman talks career-firsts, the hardest shows she's worked on and why Broadway's model is broken 37:24

28d ago37:24

37:24

Description: With Tony Award-winning record breaker Stereophonic in previews in the West End, chief critic Sarah Crompton and managing editor Alex Wood hopped over to Sonia Friedman Productions offices to talk to Friedman in a wide-ranging interview. Topics included what makes new writing so enticing, why the Broadway model is so hard and why Broad…

1
Bonus episode: A gigantic new London theatre made for musicals, with special guest Rosemary Squire 10:18

30d ago10:18

10:18

In a bonus midweek episode, WhatsOnStage’s editor-in-chief Alex Wood made the trip to the gigantic Olympia event space, home to the new Olympia Theatre. Currently in construction, the Olympia is due to open to the public in 2027. Alex had a word with Rosemary Squire, the co-founder of operator Trafalgar Entertainment, about what theatregoers can ex…

1
Searching for the purpose of life |Babette Babich, Frank Tallis, Jonathan Webber, Sandra Laugier 45:53

1M ago45:53

45:53

The journey in search of the destination Does life have a purpose? Is that what gives life meaning? Or is it the journey that matters the most? Join our four speakers - Nietzschean philosopher Babette Babich, clinical psychologist Frank Tallis, existentialist philosopher Jonathan Webber, and linguist philosopher Sandra Laugier - as they explore the…

1
A final theatre season to rule them all 32:16

1M ago32:16

32:16

In the week director Rupert Goold announced his farewell programme at the influential Almeida Theatre, Sarah and Alex talk about why his choices reflect his bold approach - and outline the excitements in store. And as Patti Lupone stirs controversy, can the old-fashioned, no holds barred interview survive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for…

1
Nietzsche, the birth of tragedy, and the technology trap | Babette Babich 24:19

1M ago24:19

24:19

Nietzsche, the birth of tragedy, and the technology trap with Babette Babich Babette Babich discusses Nietzsche, the importance of tragedy, and the danger of technology interfering with our judgement. Babette Babich is a world renowned Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University in New York. In this in-depth interview, she looks to Nietzsche's Bi…

1
Hangover Sessions 323 Ft. Abbii Grace ~ May 25th 2025 2:00:01

1M ago2:00:01

2:00:01

For this session, I had the fortune of inviting Abbii Grace and her dear friend Meagan to the studio to jam on some of Abbii's glorious original tracks. Abbii also hails from the SF Bay Area and joins us in-studio from 54 minutes onward into this, the 323rd Hangover Session! Follow Abbii @ LinkTr.ee/AbbiiGrace…

1
Why British theatres are on the brink of going bust 42:03

1M ago42:03

42:03

As a new report highlights the crisis in British theatres, Sarah and Alex reveal the depth of the difficulties caused by standstill subsidy and rising costs and in particular the challenges for regional theatre and touring Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Bonus episode: Special guest Hadley Fraser on juggling a West End show, solo concert and gardening! 27:03

1M ago27:03

27:03

In a mid-week bonus episode, West End star Hadley Fraser discusses his array of new endeavours, including a brand new album, a major solo concert at Cadogan Hall and appearing nightly in the West End in The Deep Blue Sea. He also chats about gardening, parenting and his daughter’s reaction to seeing him as a king in Disney’s Snow White. Hosted on A…

1
The philosophy of fun | Myriam François, Freya India, James Tartaglia 50:35

2M ago50:35

50:35

The essential philosophy of fun Do we need to have fun or is it an unnecessary excess? Are we living in an age of fun's decline, what with the moralism and strictures of Gen Z, or is there something else going on? On this panel, our three guests - philosopher James Tartaglia, film-maker Myriam François, and writer Freya India - dive into the idea o…

1
Neoliberalism: A Soviet nightmare | Abby Innes 31:25

2M ago31:25

31:25

There is an old Soviet joke, ‘Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Communism is its exact opposite.’ On the surface, neoliberalism, with its emphasis on free markets, competition and privatisation, is as far removed as possible from the Soviet Union. But behind the policies, could they be guided by the same false utopianism? Abby Innes, pr…

1
How do you stage an unfinished musical? 45:22

2M ago45:22

45:22

Sarah Crompton and Alex Wood dive headfirst into Stephen Sondheim and David Ives' Here We Are, wading through the history and themes of the show as it makes its European premiere at the National Theatre. After that, they swim through a wellspring of topics including the Young Vic's exciting new season (with four of Sarah's favourite directors invol…

1
The dark side of chasing rewards | Paul Bloom, Nancy Sherman, and Dan Ariely 46:48

2M ago46:48

46:48

Something for nothing Do rewards and incentives damage our humanity? In much of our personal and professional lives, we receive rewards for good behaviour and carrying out our responsibilities. But, evidence now suggests there are risks to this approach. Studies show rewards can damage wellbeing, fostering dependence and undermining our own sense o…

1
Hangover Sessions 322 Ft. Tom Rhodes ~ May 11th 2025 2:00:01

2M ago2:00:01

2:00:01

Episode 322 features my most prolific appearing guest to date in Mr Tom Rhodes! Tom joins us for a full 2-hr interview because we always have a TON to talk about, including... - A certain/near fatal encounter with a moose that Tom had! - The evolution of AI in music/music production - Tom's new gold prospecting hobby - AND more... ALL of which is i…

1
The best shows to see this summer - from Stereophonic to Jesus Christ Superstar 35:54

2M ago35:54

35:54

Sarah and Alex get out their diaries to do some planning for some of the most exciting events in the months ahead from Eugene O’Neill to Shucked and from the reopening of Theatr Clwyd to a late Shakespeare revival in Stratford Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Rethinking the Enlightenment | Historian Aviva Chomsky 26:24

2M ago26:24

26:24

The spectre of the Enlightenment What the Enlightenment a net positive or a net negative? Or is that the wrong question, and should we look at it simply as a historical period? Join Professor of History Aviva Chomsky as she dissects one of the most important periods in modern history from the lens of a critical historian. The Enlightenment was not …

1
Was Karl Marx misunderstood? | Terry Eagleton on the forgotten ideals of Marxism 24:23

2M ago24:23

24:23

Why Marx was right Having fallen out of favour around the turn of the century, Marxism is now back in fashion, often playing the role of an alternative to the increasingly right-wing politics of the modern world. Once the guiding ideology of Korean guerillas and Hampstead screenwriters alike, Marxism is back and taking universities and intellectual…

1
Bonus episode: Jamie Lloyd, Tom Francis and Jak Malone discuss their Tony nominations! 28:53

2M ago28:53

28:53

After Tuesday's main episode, Alex dials into New York to hear from three Tony Awards nominees as a bonus feature. Jamie Lloyd, Tom Francis and Jak Malone each reflect on a stellar Broadway season in their respective shows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
The National Theatre begins a huge new chapter – but what should audiences expect? 38:17

2M ago38:17

38:17

Sarah Crompton and Alex Wood head to the National Theatre to hear the venue's new director Indhu Rubasingham unveil her bumper season of productions, mapping out plans right the way through to 2027. With huge star names like Paul Mescal, Nicola Coughlan, Lesley Manville and Letitia Wright slated for appearances, there's plenty for audiences to get …

1
The power and the pitfalls of narrative | Matthew Beaumont, Ruth Padel, and Theodore Dalrymple 42:34

2M ago42:34

42:34

Lost in stories Is life a story or a sequence of events? Our narratives enable us to make sense of the complex, often confusing, world that we live in. And yet there is a risk that rather than helping us to truly understand this world, narratives can hide reality from us, providing delusional states of mind in its place. From witch hunts to cults, …

1
Hangover Sessions 321 Ft. Super XX Man ~ April 27th 2025 2:00:01

2M ago2:00:01

2:00:01

The 321st episode of Hangover Sessions features Scott Garred of Super XX Man fame! "Super XX Man marks 30 years with Rusted Hues, their 19th album, co-produced by Adam Selzer (Peter Buck, M. Ward). Founder Scott Garred reunited with former bandmates, blending home and studio recordings. NPR’s All Songs Considered once featured the band, with host B…

1
Greatest theatre feuds in history, warm-up games and swings, covers and more decoded in our latest Q&A episode 42:48

2M ago42:48

42:48

Alex and Sarah return for their third Q&A episode, this time diving into the murky depths of theatre feuds and backstage friction. They then turn to the calmer and cheerier waters of warm up drama games, Paddington the Musical, set to make a splash in the West End, and the truly incredible role played by swings, covers and more. Hosted on Acast. Se…

1
Reflections on mental health today | Interview | Susie Orbach 23:02

2M ago23:02

23:02

The dark side of 'mental health' with Susie Orbach Why are psychotherapy, psychology, psychoanalysis, therapy so popular today? Do these respond to a new need in our society or are they evolutions of age-old human approaches to resolution and knowing oneself? Join psychotherapist and psychoanalyst (famously Princess Diana's therapist!) Susie Orbach…

1
How Oklahoma! changed my life - with special guest Anoushka Lucas 50:28

3M ago50:28

50:28

Sarah meets Anoushka Lucas, currently starring in Rhinoceros at the Almeida Theatre, to discuss the impact of theatre on her life. She’s always called versatile but says she takes on new projects because she just wants to learn more. She reveals what it was like to work with Daniel Fish on the award-winning reimagining of Oklahoma!, why Rhinoceros …

1
The life and philosophy of Peter Singer | In conversation with Myriam François 25:56

3M ago25:56

25:56

Peter Singer is one of the world's leading philosophers, renowned for his challenging and often controversial views. From animal ethics to effective altruism, Singer has shaped the philosophical landscape. In this episode we uncover the key events in his life that led to his ideas, and hear him answer his critics and defend the convictions that hav…

1
Is London theatre in rude health? 15:45

3M ago15:45

15:45

In a bonus episode, editor-in-chief Alex Wood chinwags his way around the Olivier Awards winners' room discussing the state of London theatre, new writing and emerging talent – featuring chats with the creators of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the team behind the record-breaking Fiddler on the Roof and the three Olivier Award-winning creativ…

1
Hangover Sessions 320 Ft. Mitch Rocket ~ April 13th 2025 2:00:01

3M ago2:00:01

2:00:01

The 320th Hangover Sessions features Mitch Rocket on the eve of his new EP release on April 20th, 2025 (also yours truly's birthday). Mitch joins us from 21 mins into this show to talk about his new EP, some upcoming shows they plan to play incl. an album release show at 4 Star Theater, in Richmond, SF on May 10th, 2025 and MORE! This show also fea…

1
The price of everything, value of nothing | Politics series | Daniel Susskind, Abby Innes, Will Hutton, Richard Kibble 51:30

3M ago51:30

51:30

Under capitalism, it can be hard to disentangle an idea of 'value' from that which the market sets as 'valuable' - that is to say, expensive items. Is the price mechanism in any way a useful or accurate way of representing value, or are we unable to measure what we really value through it? Join our panel of four diverse social scientists to make se…

1
Everything you didn't see at the Olivier Awards 37:56

3M ago37:56

37:56

Alex returns from sabbatical to report from behind the scenes at the Olivier awards where Giant, Fiddler on the Roof, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Years were among the big winners. He and Sarah discuss what the prizes reveal about London theatre, the artistic directors making waves - and announce a couple of shows that might be in th…

1
The crisis of the new | Stanley Fish, Claire Hynes, and Martin Puchner 59:13

3M ago59:13

59:13

Is genuine originality a realistic goal for artists? From fashion to fantasy, entertainment to enterprise, we seek the 'new' as the means to originality, change, and creativity. And for the most part, we imagine the new is always identifiable as a radical break from the past. But the nature of the new is more elusive and unknown than it first appea…

1
Bonus episode: Michael Sheen and Russell T Davies discuss their latest collaboration 15:09

3M ago15:09

15:09

In a special bonus episode, Alex Wood has a chat with the Welsh National Theatre's artistic director - none other than stage and screen legend Michael Sheen. Sheen will kick off the company's programming with a new, relocated production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town - joined by the award-winning Doctor Who show runner and creative associate Russell…

1
Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss talk Six The Musical Live - the new film of their hit show 36:18

3M ago36:18

36:18

It’s been quite a year for the talented musical creators. As a new film of their mega-hit Six arrives in cinemas, they tell Sarah why they are still so excited about it. “It’s like being proud of a younger sibling - every bit of it is cool”. They also chat about the closure of their follow up show Why Am I So Single after five months, their plans f…

1
Sartre vs Baldwin | Joanna Kavenna, Jonathan Webber, and Marie-Elsa Bragg 44:30

3M ago44:30

44:30

We take it for granted that through language and communication we can learn about the experience of others. But it remains unknown whether we can fully know what it is like to be another human being. James Baldwin and Jean-Paul Sartre take radically different approaches. For Sartre, the experience of others is unknown to us. Fundamentally, we are a…

1
Hangover Sessions 319 Ft. Furnace Woods ~ March 30th 2025 2:00:01

3M ago2:00:01

2:00:01

Episode 319 features the wondrous Mr Joe Briggs of Furnace Woods! Joe is a relative local, hailing from Sacramento and brings to the show some of his gorgeous live/brand new originals on the eve of his new EP, due out in May, incl. a freshly released single "Wilt" which dropped on March 28th 2025. Join us for some delicious tunes to kick off the sh…

1
The philosophy of geopolitics SPECIAL | Donald Trump, Homer's Odyssey, and Korean Web Novels 43:55

3M ago43:55

43:55

What do Friedrich Nietzsche, the Korean War, and Homer's Odyssey have in common? Join the team at the IAI for four articles about the history and philosophy of geopolitics, ranging from Nietzsche's impact on Russia's imperialist strategies to the importance of Ancient Greek tragedies during the decline of the West. Written by Slavoj Žižek, John Mil…

1
Special guest Sir Tim Rice talks Chess returning to Broadway, writing songs with Elton John - and what it’s like to be working with Andrew Lloyd Webber again 40:06

3M ago40:06

40:06

Sarah talks to lyricist extraordinaire Sir Tim Rice as he takes My Life in Musicals, his show of theatrical memories, on a tour of the UK and Ireland from April 11. In a conversation that ranges from Evita to The Lion King and beyond, he reveals why he doesn’t go to the theatre much any more, his love for Chess - and hopes for its revival - and why…

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