Best Simone Butler Podcasts (2025)

1
Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer on F1 starring Brad Pitt 42:25

39m ago42:25

42:25

Samira talks to legendary Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose latest film F1 stars Brad Pitt as a racing car driver. Alistair McGowan and Dr Caroline Potter celebrate the extraordinary music and life of the French composer Erik Satie, whose centenary is marked on Radio 3 on Saturday. Alistair's play about Satie, called Three Pieces in the S…

1
Review Show: Pixar's new film Elio 42:06

4d ago42:06

42:06

Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi talk to tom Sutcliffe about directing Pixar's latest film Elio, about a lonely boy who wants to make contact with aliens. The film is then reviewed by film producer and critic Jason Solomons and art critic and writer Hettie Judah. Tom and guests also discuss a major retrospective of the work of painter Jenny Saville…

1
Mercury Prize-shortlisted pianist Fergus McCreadie plays live 42:54

5d ago42:54

42:54

On the opening night of the Glasgow Jazz Festival, Mercury Prize-shortlisted pianist Fergus McCreadie performs from his forthcoming album The Shieling live in the Front Row studio. Writer and Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen talks about his debut novel Muckle Flugga – a story of love and family set on a remote Scottish island – and reads from the p…

1
The producers of RuPaul's Drag Race, plus pianist Alfred Brendel remembered 43:09

6d ago43:09

43:09

RuPaul's Drag Race producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato join Nick Ahad to talk about their career making making television and movies, ahead of being guests of honour at this year's Sheffield DocFest. Radio 3 presenter Tom Service discusses the life and legacy of Alfred Brendel who was a celebrated author, poet and pianist. Caroline Norbury, t…

1
EP 228: Overcoming Body Hatred and the Role Parents Can Play with Kathryn Holt 53:03

6d ago53:03

53:03

In this episode, Kimberly and Kathryn discuss Kathryn’s work in Jungian psychology, psychotherapy, embodiment, and body image. Kathryn walks us through her workbook which is designed to help women understand how much body image issues are distractions from feelings of anxiety and ambivalence about their lives. Instead, she describes how to create t…

1
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland on 28 Years Later 42:24

6d ago42:24

42:24

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland tell Tom Sutcliffe about their new film, 28 Years Later; a whole new take on the story which stars Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. It's the follow up to their post-apocalyptic fast-paced, gory zombie movies 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. The Rage virus escaped a medical research laboratory and - …

1
Grounded Liberty: Liberalism’s Moral Roots | Michael Bird 26:53

7d ago26:53

26:53

Watch here: https://youtu.be/-NaJolceTlI Robert Forsyth interviews Dr. Michael Bird, who reflects on the relationship between liberalism and Christianity. Bird acknowledges the strengths of liberalism—its emphasis on individual liberty, pluralism, and democratic governance—but warns that when liberalism becomes detached from its Christian moral and…

1
Podcast Update: She Changed History Moves to a Fortnightly Schedule 1:52

7d ago1:52

1:52

In this update, Vicky announces a change in the release schedule for the 'She Changed History' podcast. Going forward, episodes will be released fortnightly to ensure high-quality storytelling about remarkable women whose stories are not widely known. The team is dedicated to delivering inspiring and exciting content that goes beyond mere recitatio…

1
161 Tanya Arnold: Knowing When It's Just Time - The Sports Presenter Who Said "I'm Done" 56:44

8d ago56:44

56:44

So many people I’m speaking to at the moment are describing themselves as stuck in their careers – often they’ve built a very successful career in one area of specialism and now face into a very big question – “now I have different choices, is this what I really want to do?” You might know today’s guest Tanya Arnold from her TV career – a BBC sport…

1
Review Show: Pulp's new album More 42:31

12d ago42:31

42:31

Professor John Mullan and writer Lucy O’Brien join Tom to review More, Pulp's first album in nearly 24 years. They also discuss exhibitions by the 20th century British artists Edward Burra and Ithell Colquhoun which are running in parallel at Tate Britain. Plus they give their verdict on Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, inspired by actual experiences o…

1
Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys remembered. 42:17

12d ago42:17

42:17

Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys remembered Turner Prize winning artist Rachel Whiteread talks about her retrospective exhibition at the brand new Goodwood Art Foundation in Sussex. We celebrate the centenary of the National Library of Scotland and hear about its plans to send important items from its collection to museums around the country - from N…

1
EP 227: Porn Addiction, Men’s Sexuality, and Sexual Alchemy with Tyson Adams 1:14:56

13d ago1:14:56

1:14:56

In this episode, Kimberly and Tyson discuss the magnitude of pornography including addiction, nervous system regulation, and recovery. Tyson describes his own personal journey being addicted to and then healing from porn addiction and how that informs his work with men and couples today. He discusses the prevalence of porn, how it functions with te…

1
The science of learning will set students free | Glenn Fahey 50:04

13d ago50:04

50:04

Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRlHwPrD850 Robert Forsyth interviews Glenn Fahey, director of the education program at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), who explores why a classical liberal think tank is deeply engaged in education policy. Fahey argues that education is the great enabler of freedom—central to the classical liber…

1
Was 1975 the best year for music? 42:31

14d ago42:31

42:31

Sarah Moss, the celebrated author of Ghost Wall, discusses her new novel Ripeness, which oscillates between tension-filled contemporary Ireland and a heady summer in 1960s Italy. Dylan Jones discusses his new book 1975: The Year The World Forgot and debates whether this was the best year for music with chief music critic of the Daily Telegraph, Nei…

1
34. African History and Culture with Luke Pepera 43:52

14d ago43:52

43:52

Exploring African History with Luke Pepera In this episode, Cara and Vicky welcome guest Luke Pepera, a Ghanaian-born, Oxford-educated historian and author of African History book 'Motherland.' Luke discusses his journey into African history and mythology, African American history, sharing insights about influential female figures and the rich oral…

1
Twin Peaks creator plus Ian Rankin on Frederick Forsyth 42:24

15d ago42:24

42:24

Ian Rankin pays tribute to the best-selling thriller author Frederick Forsyth, whose death was announced today. Samira talks to Twin Peaks' co-creator Mark Frost and podcaster Mike Munser about the show's enduring legacy 35 years on, as Twin Peaks is re-released and celebrated at the BFI Film on Film Festival. Playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti talks …

1
160 Rory Cellan-Jones: The Box Of Keys - Letters From His Mother That Unlocked Everything 50:29

16d ago50:29

50:29

In this powerful episode, legendary BBC journalist Rory Cellan-Jones tells the story of the day he discovered a box of letters from his mother that changed everything he knew about his upbringing. Recorded live in London, this powerful and moving testimony from a master storyteller will stay with you for a long time. Today he is as famous for his r…

1
EP 226: Women Doing Business in our Current Climate with Ash Robinson 49:22

17d ago49:22

49:22

Return guest Ash Robinson dives deep with Kimberly Ann Johnson into the challenges and opportunities for women in business amidst the current economic and technological climate. They discuss the role of AI on personal and professional life, the importance of financial stability, and the need for a clear vision and strategy, particularly for women. …

1
Review show: Paris Lees drama What It Feels Like for a Girl 42:28

19d ago42:28

42:28

Tom and guests review What it Feels Like for Girl, the BBC's coming-of-age drama based on the memoir of Paris Lees; Taylor Jenkins Reid's new novel, Atmosphere, set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program and new film, Lollipop, about a young woman released from prison battling to regain custody of her children, written and directed…

1
Daisy Goodwin on her play about the late Queen and her dresser 42:30

20d ago42:30

42:30

Daisy Goodwin discusses her debut play, By Royal Appointment, which stars Anne Reid as Queen Elizabeth and Caroline Quentin as her dresser, and which opens this week at Theatre Royal, Bath. The life and legacy of Irish novelist playwright and poet Edna O'Brien is discussed by writer Jan Carson and the director of the documentary Blue Road: The Edna…

1
Nick Mohammed on comedy and improvisation 42:20

21d ago42:20

42:20

Comedian Nick Mohammed on his stand-up show Mr Swallow, and Deep Cover, his action thriller about a group of comedy improvisers. Kate Wasserberg, Artistic Director of Theatr Clywd on the theatre's £50 million redevelopment, and opening the new auditorium with a production of the musical Tick Tick... Boom! Ulrich Birkmaier, senior conservator of pai…

1
In Defence of Jordan Peterson | Rohan McHugh 30:16

21d ago30:16

30:16

Watch here: https://youtu.be/o6TVilPFQxo Robert Forsyth speaks with Rohan McHugh, who contends that the liberal tradition’s “contest of ideas” — though vital for intellectual refinement — does not conflict with the enduring boundaries that have sustained Western civilization for millennia. These boundaries have been upheld by long-standing institut…

1
33. Enheduanna: The Tortured Poet's Department 38:59

21d ago38:59

38:59

Exploring the World's First Known Author: Enheduanna In this episode of 'She Change History,' hosts Cara and Vicky delve into the remarkable life and contributions of Enheduanna, the world's first known named author and poet. An ancient Taylor Swift if you will! Set against the backdrop of ancient Mesopotamia, they explore Enheduanna's role as a hi…

1
Fiddler on the Roof returns to the stage 42:17

22d ago42:17

42:17

Samira discusses the Olivier award-winning production of Fiddler on the Roof with its star Adam Dannheisser and director Jordan Fein. Sarah Dunant talks about the women in the Renaissance who became art patrons, as she publishes her novel The Marchesa, about Isabella d'Este of Mantua. Screenwriter Frederic Raphael, whose films include Far From the …

1
Imelda Staunton in Mrs Warren's Profession 42:25

26d ago42:25

42:25

Samira Ahmed and writers Dreda Mitchell and Mark Ravenhill review Imelda Staunton and her daughter, Bessie Carter, in Mrs Warren's Profession. They consider, too, theatre director Marianne Elliott's first foray into film, The Salt Path, based on a Raynor Winn's bestselling memoir of how she and her husband, after they have lost their house and farm…

1
Paul Hartnoll of Orbital on the band's Brown album, and a new biography of Muriel Spark. 42:13

27d ago42:13

42:13

Paul Hartnoll of electronic music duo Orbital talks about the reissue of the band's Brown album which was originally released in 1993, with the addition of 23 extra tracks of rarities and previously unreleased material and about the intersection between dance music and politics. Frances Wilson, who has previously published acclaimed biographies of …

1
Alison Steadman live from Hay Festival 42:24

27d ago42:24

42:24

Live from the Hay Festival, Alison Steadman talks to Samira about her career, from Abigail's Party to Gavin and Stacey. Laura Bates and Gwyneth Lewis discuss Arthurian Legends and The Mabinogion. Hisham Matar champions the Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. And transatlantic husband and wife country duo Outpost Drive perform on stage. Presente…

1
Will Butler formerly of Arcade Fire on his play set in a recording studio 42:23

28d ago42:23

42:23

Stereophonic is a play about the creative process, power dynamics and fraught personal relationships of a 1970s rock band. It won a Tony and many other awards on Broadway. Now Stereophonic has come to the West End. Playwright David Adjmi and Will Butler, sometime of Arcade Fire, who has written the music, discuss their own artistic process as they …

1
32. Qiu Jin: Crossdressing revolutionist taking down China 38:37

28d ago38:37

38:37

The Defiant Poet: Qiu Jin's Revolutionary Journey In this episode of 'She Changed History,' hosts Vicki and Kara delve into the life of Qiu Jin, a trailblazing Chinese feminist, poet, and revolutionary who defied societal expectations in the late Qing Dynasty. From her unhappy arranged marriage and struggles with foot-binding, Qiu Jin's fierce dete…

1
Mission Impossible & Benicio Del Toro 42:35

1M ago42:35

42:35

Benicio Del Toro talks about playing a business tycoon in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. This aesthetically stylised film, by the director who also made The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel, is reviewed by Tom and critics Larushka Ivan-Zadeh and Rachel Cooke. They also give their verdict on Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckon…

1
Shirley Manson of Garbage 42:18

1M ago42:18

42:18

Frontwoman of Garbage, Shirley Manson talks about the band's latest album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, which is inspired by contemporary events including the killing of George Floyd in Los Angeles, but which presents an optimistic perspective on a dystopian world. We hear from the winner of the International Booker Prize, which was announc…

1
Musician Rhiannon Giddens on returning to her North Carolina roots after working with Beyoncé 42:26

1M ago42:26

42:26

Musician Rhiannon Giddens on returning to her North Carolina roots after working with Beyoncé. As a huge retrospective of the work of the artist Helen Chadwick opens at The Hepworth Wakefield, art critic Louisa Buck and the exhibition's curator, Laura Smith, discuss why Chadwick should be viewed as the godmother for a golden generation of British c…

1
Liberalism in the Shadows: The Intellectual Dark Web and the Struggle for Free Thought | Jamie Q. Roberts 35:26

1M ago35:26

35:26

Watch here: https://youtu.be/9kHg5sDRbHE In this episode, we delve into the controversial world of the Intellectual Dark Web (IDW) with guest Jamie Q. Roberts, a political theorist and commentator on digital discourse and dissent. We unpack the origins of the IDW, a loose network of academics, commentators, and public intellectuals who challenge ma…

1
31. Octavia Butler: The mother of Sci Fi 36:44

1M ago36:44

36:44

Octavia Butler: Visionary of Afrofuturism and Perseverance This episode explores the life and legacy of Octavia Butler, an influential science fiction author renowned for her role in pioneering Afrofuturism. Raised in poverty and facing numerous challenges, including dyslexia, Butler's journey is one of remarkable self-belief, dedication, and groun…

1
Joanne Harris on the return of Chocolat 42:21

1M ago42:21

42:21

25 years after Joanne Harris introduced readers to the soothing delights of Chocolat, she's released her new book Vianne. It’s the prequel that explains how her heroine found her way into the world of high end French confectionery. A new exhibition at the British Museum sheds light on the provenance of popular images of the Hindu god Ganesha, the B…

1
Review: Sondheim's final musical Here We Are, The Marching Band, Daniel Kehlmann's The Director 42:31

1M ago42:31

42:31

David Benedict and Viv Groskop review Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, Here We Are, a surreal story of brunch and existential dread; French film about about grassroots music, The Marching Band and Daniel Kehlmann’s new novel, The Director, about a real life German filmmaker navigating the Third Reich. Presenter: Tom SutcliffeProducer: Simon Richar…

1
Ocean with Attenborough, Garden Design, Turning Contemporary Politics into Opera 42:43

1M ago42:43

42:43

Colin Bulfield, Executive Producer of the new film Ocean With Attenborough, talks about working with the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker Sir David Attenborough on his latest project, an exploration of the vital importance of healthy oceans to our planet which is in cinemas around the country now. Current exhibitions at V&A Dundee and the Briti…

1
Morcheeba perform, Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway 100th anniversary 42:22

1M ago42:22

42:22

Novelist Elif Shafak, artist and writer Edmund de Waal and Professor Rachel Bowlby join Samira to discuss the centenary of Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway. As the Semi Finals of Eurovision start tonight in Basel, Switzerland, Paddy O'Connell talks about this year's contest. Four hundred leading British Artists such as Paul McCartney and Kate Bush hav…

1
30. Catherine the Great: Furniture and horse mythbusting! 39:41

1M ago39:41

39:41

Catherine the Great (and her Mum!) - more than just a scandal In this episode of 'She Changed History,' the hosts delve into the fascinating life of Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia. Dispel the myths and rumours surrounding her, and discover the remarkable achievements and challenges Catherine faced during her reign. Learn about her early…

1
Suzanne Vega sings in the studio, P Diddy trial, Mother Courage in County Durham 42:22

1M ago42:22

42:22

Suzanne Vega has just released her first album of all-new material for nearly a decade. "Flying With Angels" continues her folk-influenced sound and introduces influences of soul as well as a song in tribute to Bob Dylan's "I Want You". She performs in the studio with guitarist Gerry Leonard. Sean Combs aka P Diddy is on trial in New York, charged …

1
The 4 Amigos 1:25:05

1M ago1:25:05

1:25:05

The Primos welcome Luis and Carlos in as we talk about everything from Jalen Brunson being the King of New York to Actual Pope History and Facts. Are The Jets on the Comeback and should the Knicks just Bow Down to every team in the West.By Luis Velazquez / Christopher Costello

1
Review, The Wedding Banquet, Isabel Allende, The Brightening Air 42:34

2M ago42:34

42:34

Authors Matt Cain and Eimear McBride join Tom Sutcliffe to review a new remake of Ang Lee's 1993 classic The Wedding Banquet. They also discuss Isabel Allende's new novel My Name is Emilia del Valle and the play The Brightening Air, on at the Old Vic theatre in London. And the National Gallery is having a re-hang, we speak to Head of the Curatorial…

1
Leni Riefenstahl, Queen Elizabeth Memorial, Keli 42:26

2M ago42:26

42:26

Acclaimed German journalist and film producer Sandra Maischberger talks about her new documentary about Leni Riefenstahl, which re-examines the life and career of the filmmaker and Nazi propagandist who was one of the most controversial women of the 20th century. Art historian and curator Sandy Nairne, a member of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Commi…

1
Hamlet Radiohead mashup, Stoke-on-Trent pottery in crisis 42:23

2M ago42:23

42:23

In the wake of President Trump's proposed film tariffs, Jake Kanter, International Investigations Editor at Deadline, discusses what the impact could be for the British film industry. Last week Moorcroft became the latest heritage ceramic company to close its doors in Stoke-On-Trent. Emma Bridgewater, founder of the eponymous ceramics company, and …

1
Faith and Freedom: Evangelical Christianity in Liberal Australia | Stuart Piggin 33:24

2M ago33:24

33:24

Watch here: https://youtu.be/m1-tzuQjbFc In this episode, we explore the history of evangelical Christianity in Australia with guest Stuart Piggin, a leading historian and author on the subject. Drawing on his extensive research, Piggin unpacks the complex relationship between evangelicalism and liberalism throughout Australian history. We examine …

1
29. Mary Two Axe Early: Fighting for Indigenous rights 35:00

2M ago35:00

35:00

Mary Two-Axe Earley: A woman of flint This episode of 'She Changed History' delves into the life of Mary Two-Axe Earley, who fought against the discriminative laws of the Indian Act in Canada. How a shreddies grandma can change the world. Mary, born in 1911, faced the harsh reality of losing her rights and status upon marrying a non-indigenous man,…

1
A snapshot of culture on VE Day 1945 42:08

2M ago42:08

42:08

To mark the 80th anniversary this week, we explore British culture around VE Day in 1945, reflecting on the music, books, films and theatre that defined the moment and the complex emotional landscape that followed the war’s end. Songwriter and pianist Kate Garner joins us at the piano. Guests: Michael Billington, theatre critic; Ian Christie, film …

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Simone Butler Podcasts

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