Best Spinneys Podcasts (2025)

1
Summer Throwback: “As hard as it may get, working with family is just as rewarding!” 15:36

6d ago15:36

15:36

A throwback to one of Devina’s favourite episodes from this season with Chef Eva Halasa and her daughters, Lilian & Emilie Rihani. The three of them came together post-COVID to launch ‘Three by Eva’ and ‘Masterclass by Three’. It was the first times we had three guests on a single episode, and is one of the funniest interviews we’ve had to date!Nou…

1
Laura Spinney - How One Ancient Language Went Global 58:22

29d ago58:22

58:22

Most of us speak a descendant of one ancient tongue: Proto-Indo European. Almost all of Europe shares the DNA of its legacy. Acclaimed journalist and author of international bestseller Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World Laura Spinney explores the origins of this ancient language and how it spread far from its cradle ne…

1
Yuval Noah Harari – Humanity in the Age of AI (Summer Repeat) 1:32:19

18h ago1:32:19

1:32:19

Long gone are the days when pigeons relayed our messages; now we have a flood of information at all times, from social media to artificial intelligence, all weaving narratives that shape our lives. But the rise of these new modes of information technology has the power to spread misinformation, challenge independent thought, and even threaten democ…

1
Old South Arabian and Imar Koutchoukali 57:11

2d ago57:11

57:11

At last, dear language lovers, Episode 38 is here. To make up for my podcasting tardiness, this episode stars not just one language, but rather a whole group of them! Following Akkadian in Series 1 and Biblical Hebrew in Series 2, I'm glad to offer you another audio trip into ancient Semitic languages. Old (or Ancient or Epigraphic) South Arabian l…

1
Herman Pontzer – The Surprising Science of Human Diversity and Evolution 1:02:20

5d ago1:02:20

1:02:20

As an evolutionary anthropologist working with human populations around the globe, Herman Pontzer has conducted research that reveals the wonder of our species's evolution and our biological diversity, documenting the connections between lifestyle, landscape, local adaptations and health. He joins Robin Ince to reveal these intricacies and how the …

1
Dexys' Kevin Rowland - A Life Story 1:05:52

8d ago1:05:52

1:05:52

One of the great mavericks of British music, Kevin Rowland, recounts his formative years and reveals a deeply personal account of his life. From trying to be 'good' at church and to make his mum proud, to thieving and fighting on the outside, from his early discovery of his love for music as a school boy, to his earliest gigs in his brother's band,…

1
[49] Luke Kemp — Elites and the Collapse of Empires 1:10:36

10d ago1:10:36

1:10:36

Luke Kemp works at the Center for the study of existential risk at Cambridge University, the kind of place that works out how close humanity is to killing itself and what the strategies might be for avoiding this. In his new book, Goliath’s Curse — Pst and Future of Societal Collapse, he makes a brilliant case for the role of elites in hastening th…

1
Lara Lewington – How Technology is Rewriting the Future of Our Health 1:05:36

11d ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Informed by over fifteen years covering the world’s most advanced innovations, Lewington joins journalist Hannah MacInnes to explore the transformative potential of AI and health tech—from early cancer detection and personalised diagnostics to wearable devices that track everything from sleep to blood sugar. Drawing on her new book Hacking Humanity…

1
Summer Throwback: Why Tresind’s Himanshu Saini doesn’t believe in signature dishes 32:06

12d ago32:06

32:06

A throwback to one of Tiff’s favourite episodes with Chef Himanshu Saini, who leads Tresind Studio the first and only Indian restaurant with 3 Michelin⁠ stars in the world. When Tiff sat down with him in late-2023, they talked about the evolution of their menu, how their divine broths come to life, and the emotional power of cooking. We’re currentl…

1
Hope Reese - The Dark History of the Angel Makers of Nagyrév 39:06

15d ago39:06

39:06

It’s the early 20th century, in the small village of Nagyrév in Hungary. The village is so small, there is no post office, no police, and no doctor. And the men are being poisoned. By their wives. Journalist and author Hope Reese reveals the motivations and consequences of this mysterious chapter of the past, this open secret, which became one of t…

1
[48] David Bell — Charismatic Leaders and Revolutions 1:12:48

17d ago1:12:48

1:12:48

David Bell is Professor for the Era of North American Revolutions at Princeton University. He has written a biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, and much of his research is focussed on the French Revolution, the history of the Enlightenment, and on the importance of charisma in political leadership. In our conversation we discuss what makes a charismat…

1
Dr Grace Spence Green - On Recovery, Disability, and Radical Acceptance 57:44

19d ago57:44

57:44

At the age of twenty-two, Dr Grace Spence Green’s spine was broken at the fourth thoracic vertebra. One day, she was in hospital supporting patients, the next she was fighting for her own life. As Grace came to understand her new life as a wheelchair user, she also had to reconceptualise how she could be both a doctor and a patient, and her now dee…

1
A Journey into Uncharted Territories with David Attenborough, Miriam Margolyes, Nigel Planer, and others... 52:42

22d ago52:42

52:42

Sir David Attenborough, Miriam Margolyes, Nigel Planer, and others join us for a glimpse into Uncharted Territories, a new audio author showcase from John Murray publishers. This week we have a guest appearance from our friends at John Murray publishers who are sharing Uncharted Territories, their first ever audio author showcase. Here they’ve cura…

1
[47] Tim Mackintosh-Smith: Being Arab Throughout History and Ibn Khaldoun 1:10:58

24d ago1:10:58

1:10:58

As a scholar of Arabic language and literature, Tim has made classic Arabic literature his life’s work, and has lived in Yemen until 2019. His special interest at the moment is the great scholar Ibn Khaldoun, who lived in the 14th century and who was one of the great thinkers about power, society, and, yes, being Arab, a concept linked to language …

1
John Tregoning - A Curious Scientist’s Guide to Wellness, Ageing and Death 1:05:06

1M ago1:05:06

1:05:06

How does the body stay alive? And what does ageing really mean, from the inside ? Biomedical scientist and Professor of Vaccine Immunology at Imperial College London John Tregoning reveals the science of staying alive, ageing, and death. Journeying from the nature of genes to the science of inflammation, from today's anti-ageing craze to real healt…

1
Wrapping up Season 3 25:04

1M ago25:04

25:04

Hosts Tiffany Eslick and Devina Divecha look back at some of their favourite moments from the third season of Nourish by Spinneys. We’ll be back with new episodes in September. See you then!By Spinneys

1
Filmmaker Petra Costa - Apocalyptic Christianity and the Rise of the Far-Right 20:47

1M ago20:47

20:47

Oscar nominated for her film The Edge of Democracy, which documented the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff and the rise of Jair Bolsonaro, Petra Costa returns to the subject of Brazil's fragile democracy in Apocalypse in the Tropics. Streaming now on Netflix, Apocalypse explores the relationship between evangelical Christianity and the far-ri…

1
[46] Gerd Schwerhoff — Die Bauernkriege, ein Wendepunkt? 1:05:10

1M ago1:05:10

1:05:10

Im frühen 16. Jahrhundert erhoben sich im süddeutschen Raum tausende von Bauern, Bergwerksknappen und Bürgern gegen ihre adeligen oder kirchlichen Herren. Sie stürmten Burgen und Klöster und forderten mehr Rechte, weniger Frondienste, weniger Steuern und die freie Ernennung von Priestern. Gerd Schwerhoff hat diese Welle von Rebellionen, durch die i…

1
Dolly Jones - How to Combine a Career and Family 1:04:19

1M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

When high-flying journalist Dolly Jones had her children, the idea of returning to work felt daunting. She struggled to find material to galvanise and reassure her, and to make her feel that anything was possible. She set out to change all of that, gathering practical advice, life-hacks and guilt-avoidance strategies from a diverse range of women i…

1
Historian of Science Thomas Levenson — How Humans Discovered Germs 55:38

1M ago55:38

55:38

Today, you are far more likely to die of heart disease, cancer, or accident than you are to die of an illness caused by a germ: but for most of human history, microorganisms were our greatest nemesis. As recently as 1900, pnuemonia, influenza, tuberculosis, and gut infections accounted for half of all deaths in the United States. And yet, humans ha…

1
Proto-Indo-European and Laura Spinney 42:46

1M ago42:46

42:46

Episode 37's star language is another 'proto'-tongue, arguably the most famous of all reconstructed prehistoric languages: Proto-Indo-European. This ancient language, whose linguistic descendants can now be found across the world, has long been the goal of an intellectual quest. The task of identifying the facts of PIE began in the realms of philol…

1
[45] Laura Spinney — The First Human Language and How We Think 1:02:13

1M ago1:02:13

1:02:13

Once more a dive into deep history, this time into the question how languages developed, and how it is possible to reconstruct the history and genesis of languages, and with them of abstract thinking and civilisation. Laura Spinney is a distinguished and bestselling science writer. In her new book Proto she looks at the world of languages before th…

1
Jeremy Hunt - Can Britain Be Great Again? 1:15:17

2M ago1:15:17

1:15:17

Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt shares a thought-provoking vision of our place in the world in the century ahead. Is Britain a minor player, marginalised by our departure from the EU and dwarfed by the rise of new economies? Or is there a major role for us to play in a rapidly changing international order? With the election of President Trump,…

1
Robin Ince - Journeys in Neurodiversity 1:18:39

2M ago1:18:39

1:18:39

Tracing his journey through his diagnosis with ADHD, Robin Ince explores his own insecurities and discoveries along the way, from the importance of vulnerability, to finding greater meaning and happiness, to the beauty of connecting with others through shared neurodiversity. Illuminating how diagnosis can help individuals find and understand their …

1
Afua Hirsch In Conversation with Caroline Darian, Daughter of Dominique Pelicot 59:42

2M ago59:42

59:42

Caroline Darian, daughter of Dominique Pelicot, shares with Afua Hirsch a rallying cry for change, and confronts the hidden violence that too many endure in silence. The Pelicot mass rape trial was unprecedented in scope and nature, captivating France and the world. Dominique’s daughter, Caroline Darian, shares with journalist Afua Hirsch her famil…

1
[44] Ian Buruma — Where Did the West Begin? 55:56

2M ago55:56

55:56

Ian Buruma is a historian, biographer, memorialist and essayist between “East” and “West" whose insights and intellectual precision make him a joy to discuss with. In his recent biography of Spinoza he argues that the great Enlightenment philosopher has a message that is more urgent today than ever. The idea of a West, of a realm of rational rule a…

1
Jon Watts - The Life and Assassination of Dom Philips and the Mission to Save the Amazon 1:08:09

2M ago1:08:09

1:08:09

On 5 June 2022, award-winning journalist Dom Phillips was working on a book about the Amazon rainforest, alongside the indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, when they were both shot dead. They are believed to have been assassinated by one of the criminal networks whose ecological exploitation they were working to expose. A team of expert writers took up…

1
The floating island, with Chef Christophe Devoille 38:17

2M ago38:17

38:17

Tiffany Eslick and Devina Divecha sit down with Chef Christophe Devoille for our season finale. They talk about his journey from working for Chef Alain Ducasse to becoming Executive Pastry Chef at the Atlantis The Royal. They then witness a Chef Christophe masterclass where he shares his cooking tips while making a historic French dessert, île flot…

1
Isabel Allende - On the Power of Story, Resistance, and Humanity 1:01:13

2M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Isabel Allende shares the story of Emilia del Valle, her unforgettable new heroine on a treacherous, life-changing journey during the Chilean Civil war of 1891. Past and present merge in this conversation, as Isabel explores how her new heroine—who reminds us of Isabel herself— confronts the tyranny and injustice of her time. As tyranny and injusti…

1
[43] Julian Baggini — What happened to the Enlightenment? 1:01:30

2M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Julian Baggini is one of the most insightful writers on philosophy in general and the Enlightenment in particular I know. We talk about the Enlightenment, and in how far it was the radical turning point as which it is often seen, or whether it does not mask great continuities under the guise of dramatic change. Has the Enlightenment released a vast…

1
Daniel Davis - The Real Science of Immune Health 1:05:46

2M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

We are surrounded by bold claims and quick fixes for ‘boosting’ our immune health. But one thing the science is clear on is that everyone’s immune system is unique – what is good for one person may not work well for another. So how do we separate the bogus claims from the useful advice? Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial …

1
Ice cream for breakfast, with Canvas Gelato’s Ahmad Al Marri 28:30

2M ago28:30

28:30

Co-host Tiffany Eslick sits down with Ahmad Al Marri, founder of Canvas Gelato, one of the UAE’s favourite ice cream brands. They indulge in some delicious ice cream for breakfast, made with Discover by Spinneys’ Scottish strawberries. They also talk about the origins of Canvas Gelato, how they come up with extraordinary flavours, and the evolution…

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