The New Society | culture from the New Statesman
Society & Culture
About
Your weekly review of culture, life and society from the New Statesman, hosted by Tanjil Rashid.Featuring interviews with literary and artistic greats, reviews of the latest cultural moments, and in-depth discussion to help you understand how culture shapes society – and our place in it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- William Boyd on spy fiction and the British psyche
William Boyd discusses spy fiction and the British psyche, exploring the traits of a double agent and his novels that delve into espionage themes, including a James Bond continuation and a Cold War trilogy.
- James Baldwin would be a leading progressive voice today
Nicholas Boggs discusses James Baldwin's life and work, exploring his views on love and politics. This is based on Boggs' new biography, "Baldwin: A Love Story," which draws on new archives and research.
- Mark Gatiss: fascism is not inevitable
Mark Gatiss discusses Bertolt Brecht's 'The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui,' a play allegorizing Hitler's rise, and its relevance today. The interview explores staging satire in an era of political performance and media spectacle.
- Are we truly living in 'Orwellian times'?
The episode questions whether we are living in 'Orwellian times,' analyzing the contemporary use of the term and contrasting it with George Orwell's original warnings. It discusses Orwell's life experiences and how filmmaker Raoul Peck's w…
- When it comes to the Moon, we've only scratched the surface
The Artemis II mission, which included the first woman and a non-US citizen on a lunar voyage, signifies a return to the Moon. The episode delves into the reasons behind this renewed interest and humanity's historical fascination with the…
- What was life like before capitalism?
Tanjil Rashid speaks with Professor Sven Beckert about the historical emergence of capitalism and explores what life may have been like prior to its dominance. The discussion is based on Beckert's book, 'Capitalism: A Global History.'
- What do mushrooms have to do with consciousness? with Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan discusses the relationship between mushrooms and consciousness, examining how metaphors like computers fall short in explaining the mind. He uses philosophy, literature, and his own experiences with altered states to critiqu…
- How Elon Musk redefined power
The episode examines Elon Musk's potential role in 2025 leading a government efficiency initiative, exploring how Silicon Valley's logic and meme culture might reshape state machinery, and discussing Musk's background and disruptive approa…
- How KPop Demon Hunters became the biggest event of the year
The New Society podcast examines how KPop Demon Hunters achieved massive global success, becoming Netflix's most-watched film and dominating charts, while also exploring the broader rise of K-pop and fandom culture.
- Metrics now control our lives
Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen argues in his book, The Score, that modern life is dominated by metrics like scores and rankings, which he believes replace genuine values. He explores how these systems control us and how individuals can regain c…
- What it’s like to be played by Claire Foy
Helen Macdonald's memoir 'H is for Hawk,' originally about grief and training a goshawk, has been adapted into a new form. The book, which explores themes of parenthood, identity, politics, and the human relationship with nature, has reson…
- Does reading make you a better person? with Dominic Sandbrook
Dominic Sandbrook, a prominent British historian, is launching a new podcast focused on literature with co-host Tabitha Syrett. In this episode, he discusses his reading choices and the broader significance of literature for personal and s…
- Wuthering Heights is a disgusting film, but is it a love story?
This episode discusses the latest film adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights by Emerald Fennell. It delves into whether the film is a love story, a ghost story, or a narrative of obsession, reflecting on its reinterpretation acros…
- Is the climate crisis spiritual? The King thinks so
The episode discusses King Charles's environmental views, focusing on his concept of 'harmony' as presented in the documentary Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision. Historian Mark Sedgwick joins to explore these deeper ideas.
- Infinite Jest is a novel for 2026
Thirty years after its publication, David Foster Wallace's novel 'Infinite Jest' continues to resonate. This episode discusses its themes of pleasure, entertainment, and the confusion of happiness with anaesthesia, and explores its relevan…
- People around the world are falling in love with AI
Over 100 million people globally use AI companion apps as friends, therapists, or lovers. Sociologist James Muldoon discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming human relationships.
- Why are we so obsessed with Japan?
Historian Christopher Harding joins Tanjil Rashid to discuss Japan's cultural influence in the West. They examine how the nation balances ancient traditions with modern life, exploring its growing appeal to Western audiences.
- Salman Rushdie is in "the 9th or 10th hour"
The New Society features an interview with Salman Rushdie about his experiences with ageing and dying, themes explored in his 26th book, The Eleventh Hour. The conversation was conducted by Tanjil Rashid.
- After two decades of silence, Kiran Desai returns
Kiran Desai, who won the Booker Prize at thirty-five for 'The Inheritance of Loss', discusses her new novel 'The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny' after a 19-year silence. She shares insights with Tanjil Rashid on 'The New Society'.
- Author Nicola Barker: "we are all weirdos"
Nicola Barker, an experimental novelist known for literary innovation, joins Tanjil Rashid to discuss her novel 'Tony Interrupter.' The conversation covers Barker's return to writing, her identity as a 'misfit,' and the novel's themes of a…
- Whit Stillman: renaissance of a cult film icon
Director Whit Stillman, known for his 90s