Best Gerard Baker Podcasts (2025)

1
Easter Guestapalooza (Steve Coogan, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland, Ludwig Göransson, Osgood Perkins), Movie Musicals, And The Oscars' Latest Stunt 1:59:21

4d ago1:59:21

1:59:21

This week's Empire Podcast (episode 664 if you're keeping score!) is more packed with goodness than your average Easter egg. Not only do Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and Alex Godfrey get into a discussion about what exactly makes a musical a musical (along with an impromptu visit to a certain mountain), but they tackle the week's movie news, includi…

1
Kevin Macdonald on One To One: John & Yoko — An Empire Podcast Interview Special 29:25

10d ago29:25

29:25

Kevin Macdonald's latest documentary, One To One: John & Yoko, is out now in cinemas around the UK, folks, and it's well worth your time for anyone with even a passing interest in John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, and their lives after The Beatles split up. But if you're a Beatlemaniac, this is manna from heaven as it not only brings you remaster…

1
Ralph Fiennes & Juliette Binoche, Rami Malek & Laurence Fishburne, Christopher Landon, Movie Weddings, And Helen Returns! 1:57:56

11d ago1:57:56

1:57:56

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast is jam-packed etc. etc. Bumper-sized, and so on and so forth. But it's true, perhaps this week more than ever as Chris Hewitt sits down for chats with two pairs — first, there's Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, who reunite almost 30 years after The English Patient for this week's Odyssey-sampling drama, …

1
Will Poulter, Amber Midthunder, Beatles, Avengers, And Farewell To Val Kilmer 1:40:20

17d ago1:40:20

1:40:20

This week's Empire Podcast sees the long-awaited return of one of our favourite guests, the wonderful British actor Will Poulter, who talks to Chris Hewitt about his role in the new movie, Death Of A Unicorn, playing a prize A-hole, and impromptu tongue-twisters. [20:38 - 33:28 approx]Another returning guest joins us this week, as the delightful Am…

1
George MacKay, Irwin Winkler, And The Avengers Doomsday Cast Announcement 1:59:44

24d ago1:59:44

1:59:44

We start on a director's chair. We pull back to reveal its back. On it is emblazoned a name. That name? George MacKay, the wonderful star of this week's thought-provoking original movie musical, Joshua Oppenheimer's The End, who pops into the podbooth to have a good old natter [from 30:49 - 48:20 approx] with... We pull back. It's another director'…

1
The Shameless Plug #1 — The May 2025 Issue 34:25

25d ago34:25

34:25

Welcome to The Shameless Plug, a brand new Empire Podcast regular show, folks. As the title suggests, every month Chris Hewitt will sit down with Empire editor, Nick de Semlyen, for a deep dive into the latest issue of Empire, bringing you the stories behind the stories and covering everything including the cover. This month's cover feature is Thun…

1
Barry Levinson, Gints Zilbalodis, Snakes On A Podcast, And The Convergence 1:43:06

1M ago1:43:06

1:43:06

It's another bumper-sized edition of the Empire Podcast this week, folks, in which Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with the legendary director, Barry Levinson, on the eve of the release of his new gangster movie, The Alto Knights, starring Robert De Niro, Robert De Niro and Robert De Niro's dogs. [23:31 - 40:13 approx] Then, we also hear from Gints …

1
Hans Zimmer And Paul Dugdale: An Empire Podcast Interview Special 32:15

1M ago32:15

32:15

This week sees the release of Hans Zimmer And Friends: Diamond In The Desert, a concert film like no other, which captures the great Hans Zimmer and his band in full flow in Dubai, and also intersperses a number of revealing interviews Zimmer conducted with the likes of Christopher Nolan, Zendaya, Billie Eilish, Pharrell Williams, Denis Villeneuve,…

1
Millie Bobby Brown & Chris Pratt, Michael Fassbender & Marisa Abela, Best Fourth Parts, And The Number 12 1:45:28

1M ago1:45:28

1:45:28

Welcome to episode 659 (yes, we're keeping count) of The Empire Podcast, folks. And it's a belter, as Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with The Electric State's Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt to talk about their favourite Russo brother, accents, and which one will attend the parade if/when Liverpool win this year's Premier League title. [23:34 -3…

1
Jack Huston, Bong Joon Ho, The Oscars, and The Greatness Of Gene Hackman 1:50:16

2M ago1:50:16

1:50:16

This week's Empire Podcast features two cracking interviews with two directors at different stages of their career. First, actor-turned-director Jack Huston sits down on Zoom and tells Chris Hewitt how he managed to make his directorial debut, the black-and-white drama Day Of The Fight, recruiting Joe Pesci for a supporting role, and the influence …

1
Lessons from Nixon for Trump's New World Order 29:53

2M ago29:53

29:53

As the breach between the U.S. and its allies widens following President Trump's Oval Office bust-up with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, what can history tell us about today's tumult? On this episode of Free Expression, deputy national security advisor to Trump in his first term Nadia Scha…

1
Pamela Anderson, Naomi Ackie, And Farewell To Gene Hackman 1:37:19

2M ago1:37:19

1:37:19

Don't call it a comeback. This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Pamela Anderson, star of Baywatch and Barb Wire, sit down with Alex Godfrey to tell him about how Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl has given her a second chance in Hollywood. [23:46 - 38:29 approx] Our other interview sees Mickey 17 (out next Friday, fact fans!) star Naomi Acki…

1
Peace in Our Time or Dishonorable Surrender? 33:55

2M ago33:55

33:55

During the week that marked the three-year anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Donald Trump met with a flurry of world leaders to discuss ending the war, as well as announcing a potential commercial deal with Ukraine over mineral resources. Meanwhile, the U.S. voted against a U.N. resolution condemning Moscow’s actions even as U…

1
Tatiana Maslany, Stephen King Adaptations, And What's Up With Bond? 1:35:29

2M ago1:35:29

1:35:29

After the guestapaloozas of recent weeks, we're back to just one guest on this week's Empire Podcast. But what a guest it is, as the great Tatiana Maslany, star of the new Stephen King adaptation The Monkey, pops up on Zoom to talk with Chris Hewitt about death and Comedy Bang Bang. [25:00 - 43:07 approx] In the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O…

1
Disney+ original series A Thousand Blows: An Empire and Pilot TV Podcast Special 54:30

2M ago54:30

54:30

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight heads to the mean streets of Victorian London for A Thousand Blows on Disney+, and what better way to celebrate than with a special Pilot TV/Empire crossover podcast? Chris Hewitt, James Dyer and Kay Ribeiro get under the skin of Knight’s latest period piece, which combines bare-knuckle boxing with organised cri…

1
Donald Trump's Russian Revolution 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

Has the U.S. flipped sides in the great strategic contest of the last century? With his secretary of state calling for a new "partnership" with Russia, his vice president decrying Western Europe's political condition and the president himself seemingly blaming Ukraine for the war that started on its territory three years ago, Donald Trump seems to …

1
Harrison Ford; Renee Zellweger, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall; Danny Ramirez 1:58:59

2M ago1:58:59

1:58:59

It's a brave new world for the Empire Podcast this week, folks, as Chris Hewitt welcomes a quintet (not to be confused with a Quinjet, although a couple of them might have access to one) of amazing guests. From the latest MCU film, Captain America: Brave New World, Chris first chats to Danny Ramirez, aka Joaquin Torres, aka the new Falcon, about fo…

1
Are We Facing a Constitutional Crisis? 34:30

2M ago34:30

34:30

Donald Trump has been working at a breakneck speed during his first three weeks in office, prompting alarms from his critics that he is plunging the nation into a constitutional crisis. Many of the administration’s executive actions, including abolishing birthright citizenship, and the initiatives launched by Elon Musk and DOGE, have already faced …

1
Ke Huy Quan, John Magaro, Chris Sanders, And The Shrek Is Broken 1:56:39

2M ago1:56:39

1:56:39

Another bumper-sized edition of the Empire Podcast this week, as Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom for chats with a trio of terrific talents. First, there's Ke Huy Quan on Love Hurts, the action movie that represents his first lead role, and first movie since winning an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once. [17:33 - 34:18 approx] Then there's J…

1
Will Free Expression Thrive Under Trump 2.0? 37:45

3M ago37:45

37:45

With Donald Trump making the elimination of diversity, equality, and inclusion programs in the federal government a high priority, there is no doubt the effort will extend to other aspects of society as well. And there are no institutions that are in need of an overhaul from these policies more than American universities. Will years of cancel cultu…

1
Angelina Jolie, Jason Reitman, David Jonsson & An SNL Mount Rushmore 1:59:52

3M ago1:59:52

1:59:52

It's another bumper, jam-packed edition of the Empire Podcast this week, folks! The great Angelina Jolie heads up our trio of amazing guests, as she talks to John Nugent about taking on the challenge of playing the legendary opera singer, Maria Callas, in Pablo Larrain's Maria. [20:48 - 34:02 approx] Plus, Chris Hewitt has a fascinating chat with J…

1
The Second Trump Administration Hits the Ground Running 30:01

3M ago30:01

30:01

With strong enforcement on immigration, executive orders ending DEI initiatives in the federal government, and confirmations of many members of his cabinet, Donald Trump spent most of his first two weeks in office showing the world he’s everything Joe Biden wasn’t. But what about the politics of what the administration is doing? On this episode of …

1
Michelle Yeoh, Adrien Brody: Oscar Winners And Oscar Nominations 1:47:21

3M ago1:47:21

1:47:21

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast brings you not one but two Oscar winners, as first Chris Hewitt sits down with Michelle Yeoh to talk about her new Star Trek movie, Section 31, and how the Best Actress Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once changed her life [20:56 - 36:39 approx]; then, John Nugent has a fascinating chat with The Brut…

1
Handling Russia in Donald Trump's Second Term 37:31

3M ago37:31

37:31

This week, the second Trump administration began with a flurry of executive orders and comments from the President about how he plans to approach Vladimir Putin and the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, threatening possible sanctions on Russia if a deal can’t be reached. So what are the prospects for peace, and what is the future for military aid for …

1
Jesse Eisenberg & Kieran Culkin, James Mangold, Christopher Abbott, and Farewell To David Lynch 2:39:16

3M ago2:39:16

2:39:16

This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt, Alex Godfrey and Beth Webb bid a sad, but heartfelt, farewell to the great David Lynch, who has died at the age of 78. It's also an epic epitaph in many ways, clocking in at around 40 minutes, as the trio, all huge Lynch fans, pay tribute to the genius behind Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Dr., Twi…

1
Trump and the Economy - Second Time a Charm? 30:44

3M ago30:44

30:44

Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. His Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent has set an ambitious triple goal of 3-3-3 - three percent growth; a three percent fiscal deficit and a three million a day increase in US oil production. But as Trump prepares to take office clouds are forming over the economic outlook with market interest rate…

1
#650 (live from Kings Place, London) ft. Nick Frost, Harris Dickinson, Claes Bang, Joe Alwyn 2:41:12

3M ago2:41:12

2:41:12

Here it is, folks. The 650th episode (if you don't count all the other episodes) of the Empire Podcast, recorded live on Friday January 10th in front of a sell-out crowd at our spiritual home of Kings Place, London. And it's an absolute belter, in which Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Beth Webb show barely a passing awareness of the wee…

1
#649 ft. Florence Pugh & Andrew Garfield; Nicholas Hoult; Giovanni Ribisi 1:59:24

4M ago1:59:24

1:59:24

We're back! Yes, after a whole week off for the Christmas holidays, the Empire Podcast has returned to darken your aural doors once more, and the first pod of 2025 is an absolute belter, as Chris Hewitt sits down with four incredible guests. First, he talks carousel horses and chocolate with We Live In Time stars, Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.…

1
The Empire Podcast Review Of 2024 2:44:48

4M ago2:44:48

2:44:48

So, 2024: a year of cinematic highs, lows, and bits in the middle. And in the annual tradition that is our Review Of The Year podcast, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer drill deep into them all (time allowing, of course), answering questions from listeners on a vast array of topics, before running down Empire's Top 20 films of the year. It…

1
Free Expression Encore: The Best of 2024 34:50

4M ago34:50

34:50

Free Expression's final episode of 2024 features some of Wall Street Journal editor at large Gerry Baker's best interviews of the year, including conversations with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Trump National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, Republican Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise and Richard Fontaine and Robert Blackwill, foreign policy com…

1
The Ranking: A Christmas Carol Adaptations 1:11:21

4M ago1:11:21

1:11:21

Merry Christmas, listeners! Here, as a special Christmas Eve present, is an episode of The Ranking, the show in which four Empire writers get together and argue the toss over a whole bunch of themed films. (And yes, we know this is the first one in ages. We promise to do better in 2025!) Anyway, it's Christmas Eve, the time when Ebenezer Scrooge wa…

1
#648 ft. Aaron Pierre; Robbie Williams & Michael Gracey; Ben Schwartz & Jeff Fowler; Nick Park & Merlin Crossingham 2:34:06

4M ago2:34:06

2:34:06

"Four sets of guests, Jeremy? Four? That's insane!" Yes, folks, the last Empire Podcast of 2024 is an absolute barnstormer, a two-and-a-half-hour blast of film-related fun just in time for the festive season. And we have more guests than you could possibly fit under the tree. There's Mufasa: The Lion King star, Aaron Pierre! Nick Park & Merlin Cros…

1
The Year 2024: Donald Trump’s Comeback and a Realignment for the World 41:09

4M ago41:09

41:09

Donald Trump’s political comeback, the decline and fall of Joe Biden’s presidency, Kamala Harris’ big defeat and continuing geopolitical earthquakes in the Middle East all contributed to one of the most tumultuous years in recent history. What does a first draft of history tell us about the significance of 2024 and what may come next? On this speci…

1
#647 ft. Gerard Butler; Kenji Kamiyama, Joseph Chou & Jason DeMarco; Jon M. Chu 1:47:44

4M ago1:47:44

1:47:44

It's the penultimate Empire Podcast of the year, folks, and to celebrate the impending season of goodwill to all, we've brought you another bumper episode. Which is nice of us. Guest-wise, Chris Hewitt sits down once again with one of our favourite guests, Gerry 'Gerard' Butler, to talk about his decidedly un-Gerry Butler-like role as Santa himself…

1
#646 ft. Cate Blanchett & Nikki Amuka-Bird, Amy Adams 1:39:44

5M ago1:39:44

1:39:44

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees the team enter into the festive season spirit with our first Christmas-themed question of the year, as Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer argue about the greatest Christmas movie villain of them all. Plus, they make the best of a very bad lot of post-Thanksgiving movie news by talking about the …

1
Pardons, Lawfare, and How to Reform the Justice Department 29:47

5M ago29:47

29:47

Has the law become the ultimate political weapon to be wielded by Republicans and Democrats? To the surprise of almost no one, Joe Biden issued a pardon to his son Hunter, the scope of which was far more sweeping than most legal experts expected. The move comes after four years in which Democratic prosecutors and Biden's Justice Department have bee…

1
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew — An Empire Podcast Preview Special ft. Jon Watts & Christopher Ford, Nick Frost 47:14

5M ago47:14

47:14

Skeleton Crew is the latest Star Wars show to launch on Disney+, with a two-episode premiere dropping on Tuesday December 3rd. And to get you in the mood for the show, which follows the misfortunes of four young kids who find themselves thrust into all kinds of adventures with space pirates, droids, and a mysterious man called Jod (Jude Law), here'…

1
#645 ft. Auli'i Cravalho, Ralph Fiennes & Stanley Tucci & Isabella Rossellini 1:23:01

5M ago1:23:01

1:23:01

It's a shorter Empire Podcast this week, folks (blame Hollywood for shutting down for Thanksgiving, which is just plain selfish), but that doesn't mean it's any less jampacked with guests, greatness, and guesty greatness than usual. First, Chris Hewitt sits down with Auli'i Cravalho, Moana herself, to talk about returning for this week's Moana 2 an…

1
#644 ft. Steve McQueen, John David Washington & Danielle Deadwyler, Josh Cooley 1:58:15

5M ago1:58:15

1:58:15

It's another epic episode of the Empire Podcast this week, folks, as Chris Hewitt sits down in person with all our guests. First, there's the great Steve McQueen, writer and director of Blitz, to talk about how he approached the World War II drama, and working with Paul Weller. [18:56 - 35:15 approx] Then Chris has a cracking conversation with The …

1
The Economy in A Second Trump Term 31:43

5M ago31:43

31:43

Donald Trump has been quickly filling his cabinet and senior administration positions with a flurry of nominations to his cabinet. The key members of his economics team are still unclear, however. On Tuesday we learned Howard Lutnick will be nominated for Commerce Secretary, taking him out of the contest for Treasury, where the names of Scott Besen…

1
#643 ft. Denzel Washington, Zoe Saldaña, Sean Baker 1:54:11

5M ago1:54:11

1:54:11

Blimey, our guest cup continues to overflow, folks. This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt sit down with Gladiator II star, and all-round legend, Denzel Washington, to talk about reuniting with Ridley Scott, and to clarify Denzel's recent hint that he might be winding down as an actor. Oh, and Chris quotes //that// Equalizer 2 line to Denzel'…

1
Donald Trump’s Plan to Shake up America’s Military 28:27

5M ago28:27

28:27

President - Elect Trump is rapidly rolling out his team for his second administration. Controversy swirls around some of his picks, most notably his selection of Congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Robert F. Kennedy Jr for health and human services secretary. But he plans some of his biggest changes for the national security apparatus. …

1
#642 ft. Hugh Bonneville & Emily Mortimer, Andrea Arnold, Jac Schaeffer 1:52:33

5M ago1:52:33

1:52:33

This week's Empire Podcast isn't so much jam-packed as marmaladen with great guests, as Chris Hewitt talks to Paddington In Peru stars Hugh Bonneville and Emily Mortimer (the new Mrs. Brown) about tarantulas, Paddington tantrums, and shooting in the wilds of Basingstoke [20:47 - 35:27 approx]; the great British director Andrea Arnold about her new …

1
Paul Reiser: An Empire Podcast Interview Special 47:16

5M ago47:16

47:16

Paul Reiser is a comedian, actor, writer and producer who just happens to have starred in some of Team Empire's favourite films. So, when our Chris Hewitt was given the chance to talk to the star of Aliens, Diner, Whiplash, and Beverly Hills Cop, he jumped at the chance. The result is a wide-ranging and freewheeling chat about Reiser's astonishing …

1
Donald Trump’s Triumphant Return to the White House 24:48

6M ago24:48

24:48

In one of the greatest comebacks in political history, Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, winning all seven battleground states and seemingly scoring a popular vote victory over Kamala Harris. And with a Republican majority in the Senate and possibly the House as well, a second Trump administration will come into office with the expec…

1
#641 ft. Hugh Grant, Ian Bonhote, Peter Ettedgui 1:46:13

6M ago1:46:13

1:46:13

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Hugh Grant return for an in-depth chat with Mike Muncer about his new movie, Heretic, and whether or not he's into horror, [24:54 - 38:02 approx] while Chris Hewitt has a lovely chat about Christopher Reeve with Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui, directors of a new documentary about the late Superman star…

1
An Empire Podcast Halloween Interview Special ft. Damian Lewis on The Radleys, Brian Netto, Adam Schindler and Sam Raimi on Don't Move 42:53

6M ago42:53

42:53

Happy Halloween, listeners! It's the most wonderful day of the year, if you're a spook, spectre, or masked maniac. And to mark All Hallow's Eve, here's a treat (not a trick), as we've put together a terrifying double bill of interviews for you. Well, the interviews are fun, although you might find some of Chris Hewitt's questions terrifying as he s…

1
The Final Stretch - or is it? 23:28

6M ago23:28

23:28

With less than a week before polls close, the presidential race seems as close as ever and the contest for control of Congress is also on a knife edge. In a race this competitive almost anything could swing the vote one way or the other - from Joe Biden calling Trump voters "garbage” to the Democrats' traditional advantage in last minute get out th…

1
#640 ft. Dan Aykroyd, Benjamin Ree 1:53:59

6M ago1:53:59

1:53:59

It's a question as old as time: who ya gonna call? And an equally aged answer: Ghostbusters! Or, in the case of this week's Empire Podcast, a Ghostbuster. But not just any Ghostbuster — the heart of the Ghostbusters, and co-creator of the franchise, the legendary Dan Aykroyd, who jumps on the blower with Chris Hewitt to talk about the Ghostbusters …

1
Is Donald Trump Closing In on Victory? 27:22

6M ago27:22

27:22

With less than two weeks left to Election Day, the polling in the battleground states suggest the contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is a dead heat. But there's a growing sense among the political classes that it seems the Republican candidate has a small but decisive edge. Early voting trends, voter registration and suggestions from bo…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Gerard Baker Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide