Alvin Hall travels the USA revisiting the insights and observations of Alistair Cooke's Letter from America, on subjects as diverse as jazz, immigration and the American Dream

Highlights from lost recordings from the 1970 and 80s.

George Bush’s presidency, the Panama invasion, the Soviet bloc collapse and the first war in Iraq. Alistair Cooke's fascinating look at American life.

Ronald Reagan’s presidency, from Reagonomics and the invasion of Grenada in his first term, to the Iran-contra scandal and reconciliation with Soviet leader Mihail Gorbachev in his second. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004).

The assassinations of John F Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy through to Vietnam and America’s shame at the My Lai massacre. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004).

Bill Clinton’s first term encompassed controversies from the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo accords and gays in the military to the North American Free Trade Agreement and an attempt at healthcare reform. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004).

From America’s great hope after Nixon’s election victory, to disillusionment after Watergate through to President Carter’s election. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alastair Cooke (1908 – 2004).

Bill Clinton’s second term was dominated at home by the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the attempt to impeach him, but there were major events abroad with the al-Qaeda attack on US embassies in east Africa and the war in Kosovo. A fascinating social, cultural and political history of American life, through the words of British-American journalist and broadcaster, Alistair Cooke (1908 – 2004).

A podcast about stuff

Journalists Katy Glassborow and Babita Sharma met 25 years ago and remain firm friends, sharing each others highs and lows. They spent their careers investigating news stories, including climate change, but when they both became mums the climate headlines left them in a state of fear. How do you parent in a climate emergency? Katy and Babita decided to consult some of the world’s leading climate thinkers on how to rip up 'parenting' and piece it back together to fit our planetary reality. In ...