Best Mary Portas Podcasts (2024)

1
Nigel Slater: the food writer opens the door to his fascinating home life 1:32:26

1d ago1:32:26

1:32:26

Nigel is the first podcast guest ever to make me cry. I'm a big fan of his writing, and suspected he'd be a kindred spirit, but spending the day with him in his house was an overwhelming experience I wasn't prepared for. He lives around the corner from where I grew up, in a pared-back way that feels very familiar. In this remarkably honest conversa…

1
Ekow Eshun on the first openly gay footballer, Justin Fashanu 27:47

2M ago27:47

27:47

In 1981 Brian Clough paid £1 million pounds to bring Justin Fashanu to Nottingham Forest. It was the climax of a meteoric career, but within months the goals had dried up, he'd been going to gay nightclubs, and Fashanu had also become become a born again Christian. Four decades later Justin Fashanu remains top flight English football's only openly …

1
Anneka Rice picks the largely forgotten Jane Morris, muse to Rossetti and wife of William Morris 27:46

2M ago27:46

27:46

The biography show where famous guests picks someone they admire or love. Jane Morris was the wife of William Morris and muse of Gabriel Dante Rossetti. Anneka Rice believes her contribution to 19th-Century art and culture has been largely overlooked. "I'm not a big fan of needle point," she says, "but we cannot ignore what she brings to art histor…

1
The surgeon Henry Marsh picks 'the saviour of mothers' Dr Semmelweis 27:44

2M ago27:44

27:44

The biography show where famous guests pick someone from history they admire or they love. Our only rule is they must be dead. Today neurosurgeon Dr Henry Marsh chooses “the saviour of mothers” Dr Ignaz Semmelweis The Hungarian doctor discovered the link between childbirth and puerperal fever in 19th century Vienna but he was ridiculed, ignored and…

1
The Roman Emperor Nero 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

An unexpected choice for Great Lives, the Roman Emperor Nero has a reputation for debauchery and murder. He was also surprisingly popular, at least during the early years of his reign, and the writer Conn Iggulden argues he may be a victim of bad press. The Christians decided he was the anti-christ some three centuries after he died, and the three …

1
Film director Julien Temple on Elizabethan bad boy Christopher Marlowe 27:47

3M ago27:47

27:47

Julien Temple, director of The Great Rock n Roll Swindle, Glastonbury and Absolute Beginners, chooses Christopher Marlowe, writer of brilliant plays including Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine the Great. "I'm excited to talk about him," he says, "because I've known him for more than 50 years." The link? An attempt as a student to summon up Marlowe in …

1
Zing Tsjeng on Swedish painter Hilma af Klint 27:52

3M ago27:52

27:52

Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was barely known during her lifetime but an exhibition of her work at the Guggenheim Museum in 2018 shattered attendance records. it was called Paintings for the Future, and the giant abstract work astounded visitors who had not heard of her before.Joining journalist Zing Tsjeng in the studio to discuss her life is Jennif…

1
Miriam Margolyes on Charles Dickens 27:54

3M ago27:54

27:54

The great Miriam Margolyes chooses Charles Dickens, author of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. "He's the man in my life. He's tugged me into his world and never let me go. He writes better prose than anyone who's ever lived. He's told the most interesting stories, invented 2000 of the best characters, and because he was a wicked man." Miriam Mar…

1
Kevin McCloud: the Grand Designs presenter takes us behind the scenes of his own life 50:51

4M ago50:51

50:51

Kevin has been a fixture on our tellies for so many years that we feel like we know him. But, actually, I didn’t have a clue about his life story, so this conversation was really interesting for me. He tells me about growing up in what he refers to as an ‘architectural zoo’ of housing from different eras. We talk about his involvement with Footligh…

1
Skye Gyngell: a searingly honest portrait of a chef battling for her identity 50:56

4M ago50:56

50:56

Skye Gyngell was born and raised in Sydney, but has never felt Australian. In this honest and heartfelt interview, she paints a picture of a deeply introverted child who wanted to “turn down the volume” on everybody. Her father, Bruce Gyngell, was the first person to appear on TV in Australia, and uttered the immortal line, “Good evening, and welco…

1
Ruth Rogers: London’s favourite chef on creating an iconic house 45:25

4M ago45:25

45:25

For Ruth Rogers, home is at the very heart of everything. Her legendary London restaurant, the River Cafe, is founded on community, friendship and home cooking. Her iconic house in Chelsea, which she co-created with her architect husband, Richard Rogers, has been the backdrop to family life for forty years and has influenced a generation of homeown…

1
Mary Portas: the queen of the high street’s inspiring journey from homeless orphan to a London townhouse that’s all hers 52:54

4M ago52:54

52:54

Most of us know Mary Portas as a swashbuckling TV presenter with a flame-red bob, but her career away from the screen has been no less remarkable. She did the window displays for Topshop during its heyday and was the creative director of Harvey Nichols when it was immortalised on Absolutely Fabulous. Nowadays, however, she runs her consultancy, Por…

1
Cath Kidston: the floral-obsessed entrepreneur on why life isn’t always a bed of roses 1:02:41

4M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

There’s barely an oilcloth, mug or ironing board cover that hasn’t been embellished with a nostalgic floral print from Cath Kidston. Because of the brand’s ubiquity, it’s easy to forget quite how influential it was when it appeared in the 1990s. What I love about Cath is that she’s living proof you can be a wildly successful entrepreneur whilst als…

1
Jonny Gent: music, martinis and mayhem from the founder of Sessions Arts Club 1:00:07

5M ago1:00:07

1:00:07

Today I’m chatting to the swashbuckling artist and restaurateur Jonny Gent. We recorded this episode during a busy lunch service at Sessions Arts Club, Jonny’s inspirational restaurant in Clerkenwell. It’s fair to say that he’d emboldened himself with a few martinis beforehand and what ensued was a conversation that very much represents the man him…

1
Tim Ross: the Australian comedian on the life-changing effect of modest, modernist buildings – and tinted moisturiser 1:13:04

5M ago1:13:04

1:13:04

A while back, Tim came to London to perform at the Isokon building in Belsize Park, and I managed to catch up with him to record this podcast. As a small boy in the Seventies, Tim quietly absorbed the lessons of modernist architecture. He remembers accompanying his parents to a dinner party at a modern house, where the sound of laughter reverberate…

1
Luke Edward hall: the artist and designer pulls back the curtain to reveal his colourful life story 1:03:42

5M ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Luke has kindly invited us to his house in the Cotswolds, which he shares with his husband, Duncan Campbell, and a pair of enthusiastic whippets. I was intrigued to learn that this modern-day dandy comes from a bog-standard commuter town, and like many of the people I talk to on this podcast, his creative impulses offered a route out of mediocrity.…

1
Mary Portas on Anita Roddick 27:48

6M ago27:48

27:48

Dame Anita Roddick started The Body Shop in Brighton as a way to earn a living while her husband was travelling the Americas by horseback. Her idea for ethically-sourced beauty products which were initially sold in urine sample bottles soon flew. The first shop that she began with a £4,000 loan and painted green to disguise the damp on the walls th…

1
James Lohan: the co-founder of Mr & Mrs Smith on how his first experience of home shaped an obsession with boutique hotels 1:06:31

6M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

This is the first time we’ve recorded an episode in a hotel suite, and that’s because today’s guest knows more about opening doors to glamorous guesthouses than anyone else. James Lohan co-founded the travel company Mr & Mrs Smith with his wife Tamara back in 2003, and since then he’s visited nearly 4,000 hotels in the name of research. James is a …

1
Lady Rachel MacRobert, chosen by Hayaatun Sillem 27:54

6M ago27:54

27:54

Lady Rachel MacRobert was born Rachel Workman in Massachusetts in 1884. She was sent to study in the UK where she developed a passion for geology, and attended the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Geological Society despite women not being allowed. She became Lady Rachel MacRobert through marriage to Alexander MacRobert in 1911. He was thirty ye…

1
Queen Emma 27:37

6M ago27:37

27:37

Professor Alice Roberts, best known as the presenter of Digging for Britain, picks the wife of two English kings and the mother of two English kings. Queen Emma was born in Normandy and came to England as a diplomatic peaceweaver when she married Aethelred in 1002. Somehow she survived the invasion of the Danes under Swein Forkbeard and married his…

1
James Dyson on Frank Whittle 27:54

7M ago27:54

27:54

Frank Whittle’s fascination with aeroplanes started as a nine-year-old boy when he was nearly decapitated by one that was taking off from a local common in Coventry where he grew up. From that moment he set his sights on becoming a pilot, and joined the RAF in 1923. A few years later, aged just 21, he came up with an idea for powering aircraft so t…

1
Claudia Donaldson: the pioneering editor and creative director on creating a sanctuary at home – and the luxury of pink loo roll 59:45

7M ago59:45

59:45

During her tenure at Nowness, Claudia commissioned the well-known ‘In Residence’ series, which took us inside the homes of the biggest names in design and architecture. Today, I’m meeting Claudia in her beautiful London home to give her a taste of her own journalistic medicine … She tells me about what it was like to grow up in an English prototype…

1
Katherine Rundell on E Nesbit 27:49

7M ago27:49

27:49

Bestselling children's author Katherine Rundell discusses the extraordinary life of E Nesbit who wrote The Railway Children and Five Children And It. Katherine praises her “bold unwillingness to speak down to children” and reflects that “she never seemed to forget what it was like to be a child”. E, or Edith, Nesbit’s conjuring of mythical beasts l…

1
Antoni Gaudi 27:23

7M ago27:23

27:23

Baroness Ros Altmann, a Conservative peer and former pensions minister, was “blown away” by the architecture of Antoni Gaudi on a trip to Barcelona in the 1990s. She’s been back several times and her wonder at Gaudi’s use of colour and natural shapes has not faded. She wants to find out more about the conservative, religious man who created such ex…

1
Philippe Malouin: the experimental designer on creating with integrity – and the art of upcycling 1:02:07

8M ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Philippe designs everything from furniture to lighting, combining modern geometry with a sense of humour and materials that are built to last. I first met him many years ago, when he was doing some work with my wife, Faye Toogood. We’d turned our bedroom into a makeshift design studio, and Philippe and a few others would come round to make maquette…

1
Sir Bruce Forsyth 27:43

8M ago27:43

27:43

The political writer and broadcaster Steve Richards remembers the 1970s as a “dark decade.” But one shining light for the teenage Steve was Saturday evening telly, especially the Generation Game on BBC One. He was captivated by the performance of the show’s host, Bruce Forsyth. Brucie was in his pomp, with the programme getting audiences of up to 1…

1
Harry Enfield on Gerard Hoffnung 27:56

8M ago27:56

27:56

Gerard Hoffnung’s life was short. He died in 1959 at the age of 34, but this cartoonist, musician, broadcaster and raconteur achieved a lot in that time. Born in Berlin, he lived most of his life in London. His charming cartoons which often gently poked fun at musicians and conductors were printed in magazines and books. His wife Annetta said he wa…

1
Sumayya Vally: the South African architect on how growing up in a township defined her sense of place 51:32

8M ago51:32

51:32

Today I’m talking to the wonderful Sumayya Vally, founder of the architecture and research practice Counterspace. When in 2020 Sumayya designed the Serpentine pavilion, she joined the ranks of luminaries including Zaha Hadid, Peter Zumthor and Frank Gehry. In 2021, Time Magazine named her one of the ‘100 Leaders of the Future’ and, more recently, s…

1
Tim Little: the owner of Grenson footwear on his journey from Adidas ad man to sole trader 55:32

8M ago55:32

55:32

At the time of recording, Tim was knee-deep in building works at home, so I polished up my Chelsea boots for a visit to his London studio. As always, I asked him to describe his life story through the lens of the homes he’s lived in over the years. It was particularly interesting to find out more about his current home, which he bought after seeing…

1
Jeremy Lee: the much-loved chef who grew up in a wedge of cheddar 55:19

9M ago55:19

55:19

I first became aware of Jeremy’s food when he was head chef of Terence Conran’s Blueprint Café, which was above the old Design Museum in Shad Thames. Nowadays, of course, he’s in charge of the kitchen at the revered Quo Vadis in Soho. No one seems to have a bad word to say about Jeremy, and Jay Rayner describes him as ‘one of those rare phenomena i…

1
Alan Freeman picked by Simon Mayo 27:50

10M ago27:50

27:50

In 1961 Alan 'Fluff' Freeman took over as the host of the BBC Radio's 'Pick of the Pops' and changed music broadcasting forever. From the opening "Greetings pop pickers" Alan would count down the hottest records of the week punctuating the end of each track with minimal detail before introducing the next. It was exhilarating radio and his staccato …

1
Akram Khan: the poignant story of a man who found his voice through dance 44:41

10M ago44:41

44:41

Akram’s rich career includes performing at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, collaborating with artists Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley, and choreographing tours and videos for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Florence + the Machine. He was awarded an MBE for services to dance in 2005. He kindly invited us to his home last summer and we re…

1
Actor Niamh Cusack on the life of poet Mary Oliver 28:24

11M ago28:24

28:24

The Pulitzer Prize winning poet Mary Oliver died in 2019. She was best known for her poetry that reflected her love of the natural world and her famous poem 'Wild Geese' is said to have literally saved people's lives with its message of hope and redemption. An abusive childhood led the young Mary to escape into the woods near her home in Ohio where…

1
Mr Motivator picks Harry Belafonte 28:30

11M ago28:30

28:30

Harry Belafonte became the King of Calypso with hits like 'Day-O' and 'Jump in the Line' but he would later describe himself as an activist who became a musician and an actor. Fitness guru Derrick Evans MBE AKA 'Mr Motivator' spent much of the 90s on TV wearing brightly-coloured spandex and encouraging people to be more active. He stresses the poli…

1
Roksanda Ilinčić: the fashion designer’s colourful journey through Belgrade, Britain and Brazil 56:41

11M ago56:41

56:41

I first met Roksanda in 2006. We were selling her flat in King’s Cross, which was unlike anything I’d seen before: a brooding space with cast-concrete worktops, a black resin floor and mirrored lightwells. It had a subterranean lap-pool that was completely black, like a cave, where one could imagine Bruce Wayne practising his backstroke. Roksanda h…

1
Jimmy Wales on Thomas Jefferson 27:49

11M ago27:49

27:49

In 1776 Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, kick-starting the movement against British rule and putting in place the foundations for democracy in what became the United States of America. But he was a man of contradictions. He argued passionately against slavery but was a slave-owner. He had a relationship with an enslaved woma…

1
Eartha Kitt proposed by Faye Tozer 28:27

11M ago28:27

28:27

Eartha Kitt was born in South Carolina in 1927. She had a tough upbringing but found her talent whilst in theatre school in New York. She became a star of stage and then screen, most notably as Catwoman in the series 'Batman'. She upset President Johnson's wife with her comments about the Vietnam War. Her sultry cabaret performances and trademark g…

1
John Gray on JG Ballard 28:25

12M ago28:25

28:25

Philosopher John Gray chooses as his great life the iconic British writer of dystopian and speculative fiction, J.G. Ballard, in conversation with the author's daughter Bea Ballard. Presented by Matthew ParrisProduced in Bristol by Beth Sagar-FentonBy BBC Radio 4

1
Iszi Lawrence on Diana Barnato Walker 28:52

12M ago28:52

28:52

Broadcaster and author Iszi Lawrence chooses the aviator Diana Barnato Walker. Coming from a privileged background, Diana used her pocket money to take flying lessons, flew bombers during World War II, and - aged 45 - became the first British woman to break the sound barrier. Iszi is joined by Giles Whittell, author of Spitfire Women of World War I…

1
Our Lady & The Urgent Need For The Canonization Of Fulton J. Sheen, w/Dr. Peter Howard 1:20:26

12M ago1:20:26

1:20:26

"MAMA SAID CANONIZE HIM NOW!" Full Description Coming Soon. For now, listen to Archbishop Fulton Sheen expert Dr. Peter Howard passionately and compellingly explain why the world needs The Church to officially recognize Sheen as a Saint now!!! URGENT... Be sure to save your "seat" NOW to Dr. Howard's 12/9/2023 roundtable discussion on "The Reconque…

1
Mohammad Mossadegh, PM of Iran ousted in a coup 28:17

12M ago28:17

28:17

Walter Murch picks Mohammad Mossadegh, prime minister following the nationalisation of the Anglo-Iranian oil company in 1951. Mossadegh was ousted in a coup in 1953. Murch became fascinated in Mossadegh's life while working on a Sam Mendes film about the first Iraq War. Walter Murch is an editor best known for Apocalypse Now, The Godfather and The …

1
Rosh Mahtani: the Alighieri founder’s inspiring journey from school outcast to acclaimed entrepreneur 44:27

12M ago44:27

44:27

Rosh is founder of the brilliant jewellery company Alighieri. We discuss her life story through the prism of the homes she’s lived in, from humble beginnings in Zambia to the beautifully designed flat she now owns in Clerkenwell. When Rosh moved to London at the age of eight, she was the only person of colour in her school. She tells me how she’s m…

1
Loving A Filthy Mess Of A Church w/Hope: “That’s What I’m Talking About!!!” With “Uncle” Matt Laracy 1:36:41

1y ago1:36:41

1:36:41

“To love Christ, you must love His Church.” “But how? The Church is a holy (and unholy) mess!” Never before has Fr. Paul been left speechless with his jaw down/mouth open until “Uncle” Matt Laracy shared the secret to why he is immune to all of the scandals in the Church. It’s probably the most powerful thing ever shared on A Holy Mess podcast. Mat…

1
Thanksgiving: An Attitude Of Gratitude 24:41

1y ago24:41

24:41

Taking time to be grateful can change your entire mood; in fact, it can change your life. In this short episode, His HoliMess, Fr. Paul challenges us to take concrete time daily to be grateful. He explains and witnesses how to do a “Gratitude List,” a tool that produces peace and joy. If you want more peace and joy in your life, become great friend…

1
Duncan McLeod: the emotional story of an architect whose home is a source of magic and motivation 1:03:08

1y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

I’ve known Duncan for many years now and he’s definitely one of the good guys. We first met when I was commissioned to write a piece for The World of Interiors about the amazing home in west London he shares with his wife, Lyndsay Milne McLeod, and their son, Oban. Duncan’s kindly invited me back to the house to record this episode. He tells me abo…

1
Transgender Baptisms, Bishop Strickland, & Pope Francis w/Michael Lofton. 1:16:58

1y ago1:16:58

1:16:58

You want the truth? “You can’t handle the truth!!!” Actually, you can, but it takes humility and courage. You can know the truth, understand the truth, and adhere to the truth. Are you willing? Right now, many are angry, confused, and disillusioned by The Pope and The Church, but should they be? There’s a lot of hype and negativity going around abo…

1
St. Therese of Lisieux: Miracle Worker, Doctor, & Missionary w/Mary Beth Bracy 1:17:29

1y ago1:17:29

1:17:29

Do you ever think Catholicism/Christianity is just too complicated, overwhelming, or massive? Do you want the entire thing simplified for you? Meet St. Therese of Lisieux and get to know her “Little Way.” She’s the youngest saint and only one of three women in the history of Christianity to be named Doctor of the Church. She promised to spend her t…

1
Jacqueline Rabun: the jewellery designer on why music, meditation and modernism are the cornerstones of life in Los Angeles 54:23

1y ago54:23

54:23

Jacqueline is a jewellery designer whose work I’ve admired for many years, probably because it’s so architectural. As you probably know by now, we try to record these podcasts in the guest’s home whenever possible, and this one is particularly exciting on that front, because Jacqueline lives in a 1960s house perched on a hillside in Los Angeles. As…

1
Hope Not Nope w/Dr. Dillon Caswell 1:31:39

1y ago1:31:39

1:31:39

Are you plagued by “Nope” or thriving on “Hope?” Dr. Dillon Caswell, DPT, PT, SCS, and author of the groundbreaking new book, “Hope Not Nope,” joins His HoliMess to offer a mind-blowing new perspective on what hope is all about. He also challenges perceptions of what pain is. Whether you think of yourself as an athlete or not, this episode is for y…

1
Grilling His HoliMess w/Tony & Cheryl Porta 1:37:14

1y ago1:37:14

1:37:14

“Fr. Paul, is it a sin to attend a family member’s wedding if they aren’t getting married ‘in The Church?” “If the Pope changes the rules on celibacy for priests, would you get married?” “How can I belong to a Church whose priests have abused children and whose leadership has covered it up?” “As a Catholic, do we have to vote pro-life, even when ot…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Mary Portas Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide