Best Matt Stadlen Podcasts (2024)

1
20 Questions With Guillem Balagué 47:18

9d ago47:18

47:18

One of football's best loved pundits, Guillem Balagué is the author of 10 books, including on Messi, Ronaldo, Maradona and Guardiola. Here he gives his verdict on the the greatest player of all time, how he fell out with Ronaldo, what he thinks of the foreign ownership of clubs, highlights the scourge of racism in the game, explains the difference …

1
20 Questions With Tom Kerridge 53:46

14d ago53:46

53:46

One of the very top names in British food, Tom Kerridge is the only chef in the country with a two Michelin star pub. He runs multiple establishments, writes cook books and fronts TV series. Here he reveals the secrets to his stardom, describes his journey from a working class, single-parent childhood, talks about his triumph over alcoholism and lo…

1
20 Questions With Kriss Akabusi 48:54

22d ago48:54

48:54

World Champion and Olympic silver medallist Kriss Akabusi reveals the trauma he experienced as a child and the impact that had on his rise to international stardom. Known for his infectious enthusiasm, he tells the story of the sadness he felt when his Nigerian parents left him behind in London as a boy so that he could experience a British educati…

1
20 Questions With Steven Berkoff 50:43

1M ago50:43

50:43

A legend of stage and screen, Steven Berkoff is an actor, director and playwright, known for his roles in Bond, Beverley Hills Cop and Rambo as well as for having given his name to Berkovian theatre. Here he discusses his techniques, why theatre matters and why he's so passionate about his work.By Matt Stadlen

1
20 Questions With Professor David Howarth 44:39

1M ago44:39

44:39

How did the East India Company come about and how did it become the largest corporation in the world? How did the English compare to the Spanish and Dutch as a naval power, and how did they manage to gain a foothold in the Indian subcontinent? What were the obstacles to success, and what motivated the mercantile adventurers who risked their lives o…

1
20 Questions With World Cup winner Rocky Clark 33:42

2M ago33:42

33:42

Rochelle "Rocky" Clark won 137 caps for England, making her the second most capped player in the history of English rugby. She took part in four World Cups, winning one of them, and is an icon of the women's game. Here she reveals what it takes to reach the top, shares her highest bench press, discusses weight and fitness, gives her views on how to…

1
20 Questions With Hermione Norris 23:38

2M ago23:38

23:38

Star of Cold Feet, Spooks, Luther, Kingdom, Doctor Who and Silent Witness, Hermione Norris takes us behind the scenes of her craft, describes the differences between stage and screen, discusses the need for more female parts, reveals why the role of spy Ros Myers helped her as a new mum, and explains why she enjoys playing bad people.…

1
20 Questions With Tom Walker AKA Jonathan Pie 43:48

3M ago43:48

43:48

Tom Walker, whose character Jonathan Pie has become a viral sensation, talks about his comedy, causing offence, whether he shares the politics of Pie, how he made the transition from online to on stage, and how he deals with difficult audience members.By Matt Stadlen

1
20 Questions With Alexandra Shulman 29:01

3M ago29:01

29:01

Alexandra Shulman edited British Vogue for a record 25 years. Here she explains why fashion matters, how she became passionate about clothes, reveals her favourite brands, gives her verdict on her successors, describes the ethical issues she had to navigate in the world of fashion and offers her message to those wanting to experiment with what they…

1
20 Questions With Joanne Harris 33:23

3M ago33:23

33:23

Author of 20 novels, including Chocolat, Joanne Harris explains her craft, reveals whether she dreams in English or French, gives her verdict on literary prizes and assesses the good and the bad of social media. A rare insight into the inner world of one of Britain's most successful writers.By Matt Stadlen

1
20 Questions With Agnes Poirier on Paris 48:07

3M ago48:07

48:07

Author and journalist Agnes Poirier takes us on a whirlwind tour of historical and contemporary Paris, illuminating some of its cultural and political landmarks and telling the story of its prominence as one of the great capitals of the world. Along the way we encounter the French Revolution, the building, burning and rebuilding of Notre Dame, the …

1
20 Questions With Alan Rusbridger 32:25

3M ago32:25

32:25

One of the most important journalists of his generation, Alan Rusbridger edited the Guardian for two decades, helping to break international mega stories that included Snowden, Wikileaks and phone hacking. Now editor of Prospect magazine, here he reflects on the dangers of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, not least on El…

1
20 Questions With Guy Deacon 28:39

3M ago28:39

28:39

Guy Deacon served in the British Army for over three decades. At the age of 49 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, but in his late fifties and early sixties, having left the military, he drove from the shores of Morocco to Cape Town, taking the western coastal route. On his way he raised awareness about the disease on the African continent and showe…

1
20 Questions With John Simpson 58:11

4M ago58:11

58:11

Legendary broadcaster and BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson talks about being punched in the stomach by a British Prime Minister, the different approaches as he sees them of Tory and Labour governments to the BBC, questions of bias, the importance of reflecting nuance, his career reporting from 160 countries, surviving 10 near death experiences…

1
20 Questions With Rory Cellan-Jones 34:38

4M ago34:38

34:38

The man who became famous for bringing the latest developments and inventions in tech to BBC audiences is now, arguably, less famous than his rescue dog, Sophie from Romania. Here Rory Cellan-Jones explains this canine phenomenon, describes the impact of Parkinson's on his life, discusses the future of technology and the reach of AI, contemplates w…

1
20 Questions With Sathnam Sanghera 39:16

4M ago39:16

39:16

The author of Empireland and Empireworld, Sathnam Sanghera, explores the impact of British colonialism on Britain and the world, expresses his frustration at the amnesia about the involvement of people of colour in British history, encourages us to understand the past rather than rank it, eschews the culture wars, discusses the Royal Family's invol…

1
20 Questions With 'The Black Farmer' 42:44

4M ago42:44

42:44

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, self-styled as 'The Black Farmer', came to Britain from Jamaica as a small boy and grew up in poverty as one of nine siblings. He was often 'very, very, very hungry'. At an early age he became determined to own his own farm. Despite leaving school with no qualifications, after a career in television and then in PR, he realis…

1
20 Questions With John Suchet 1:02:31

5M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

ITN newscaster turned Classic FM presenter John Suchet takes us on a passion-fuelled tour of Beethoven's life and music. Is the composer, who began to lose his hearing as a young man, the greatest of them all? What about Mozart or Schubert? Suchet's infectious love of his subject provides a must-listen for any listener to classical music - and for …

1
20 Questions With Alastair Campbell 53:07

5M ago53:07

53:07

Who better to talk to in General Election year than Tony Blair's former Director of Communications and Strategy, the man who helped drive New Labour to power and keep it there. Here he gives his verdicts on Starmer and Sunak, sets out a blueprint for growth, reveals why he became so involved in the fallout from the Brexit referendum, laments the mo…

1
20 Questions With Bettany Hughes 39:30

5M ago39:30

39:30

Classical historian Bettany Hughes takes us on a revelatory journey through the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From the Great Pyramid at Giza to the Lighthouse of Alexandria via the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Immerse yourself in the beauty and brutality of a world that lives on in us.By Matt Stadlen

1
20 Questions With Matthew Taylor 52:01

5M ago52:01

52:01

Matthew Taylor is the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation. Here he gives his take on the challenges facing the NHS, the shortfalls in funding, the need for capital investment, the under-management of the health service, the choices facing politicians, the problems in social care, huge waiting lists, the cost analyses of prevention and innovati…

1
20 Questions With Liam Byrne MP 39:39

6M ago39:39

39:39

Liam Byrne sets out his manifesto for a British wealth-sharing democracy. Linking wealth to freedom, he makes the argument for a fairer society and sets out an optimistic plan for the future. As Labour's outgoing Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Gordon Brown, Byrne left a note for his coalition successor explaining that the money had run out. …

1
20 Questions With Richard Tice 59:23

6M ago59:23

59:23

The success or otherwise of Richard Tice, leader of Reform UK, could decide the extent of Keir Starmer's majority at the General Election, or whether he even wins a majority. Determined to punish the Tories, whom he once helped fund, Tice is out to bring down Rishi Sunak's government. In this lively and robust encounter, he explains his motivations…

1
20 Questions With Elif Shafak 45:23

7M ago45:23

45:23

Multi award-winning British Turkish author Elif Shafak has been translated into 57 languages. Here she speaks about mysticism, technology, story-telling, history, human rights and challenging orthodoxies.By Matt Stadlen

1
20 Questions With Sir Vince Cable 36:06

7M ago36:06

36:06

Sir Vince Cable led the Liberal Democrats twice and was Business Secretary for the entire five years of the Conservative Lib Dem coalition government under David Cameron. Here he makes his predictions for the next General Election, assesses immigration policy, advocates higher taxes, defends the period of austerity when he was in government, analys…

1
20 Questions With Peter Hitchens 32:23

7M ago32:23

32:23

The author and often outspoken columnist for the Mail On Sunday gives his verdict on both the Tories and Labour as a General Election approaches, describes his faith, explains his method of debating, reveals the nature of his relationship with his late brother, Christopher Hitchens, and talks about the impact of his childhood.…

1
20 Questions With David Baddiel 57:56

8M ago57:56

57:56

Jewish comedian, storyteller and public intellectual David Baddiel explains why 'Jews don't count', why human beings have a 'God desire', and what makes him feel joy.By Matt Stadlen

1
20 Questions With Jim White 52:34

8M ago52:34

52:34

Most famous for hosting Deadline Day on Sky Sports in his yellow tie, Jim White is Mr Football. Here the Talk Sport presenter chats about his new book, Deadline Day, that he co-wrote with Kaveh Solhekol. Full of his characteristic enthusiasm, Jim leads us on a journey of his love for the beautiful game, taking us behind the scenes of some of the bi…

1
20 Questions With Dan Jones 52:30

8M ago52:30

52:30

The New York Times bestselling historian, Dan Jones, has brought out his second work of historical fiction, Wolves of Winter, the sequel to the successful Dogs of Essex. Here he takes a deep dive into what it means to be an historian, the joy of writing novels, the Hundred Years War, holidaying with Jonathan Sumption, history on TV, his love of spo…

1
20 Questions With John Cleese 39:14

9M ago39:14

39:14

John Cleese is a comedy legend. Here he discusses causing offence, cancel culture, GB News, not wearing socks, why he lives abroad, old age, losing friends, the importance of silliness, Basil Fawlty, his favourite Python, A Fish Called Wanda, Clockwise, the Tory government, the British press, cricket, Brexit and the incompetence of human beings.…

1
20 Questions With Lord Sumption 35:45

9M ago35:45

35:45

Lord Sumption has been described as the "biggest brain in Britain". After a distinguished career as a silk, he moved straight from being a QC to the Supreme Court, skipping the High Court and Court of Appeal. He has just completed the fifth and final book in his history of the Hundred Years' War. Here he explains how he has managed to combine a car…

1
20 Questions With Ruby Wax 24:17

9M ago24:17

24:17

Ruby Wax is on tour - except right now she's in bed. Which is appropriate as she once interviewed very famous people in bed. Here she remembers interviewing Donald Trump, discusses her fascination with neuroscience, speaks candidly about her mental health, reveals that she's never been invited on the Graham Norton show, talks about her difficult up…

1
20 Questions With Victoria Hislop 51:21

9M ago51:21

51:21

Number One bestselling author Victoria Hislop on success, Ian Hislop, celebrity dancing, her love of Greece, the British Museum, her new novel, 'The Figurine', the criminal trade in figurines, cooking, dinner parties, skipping, boxing and tennis.By Matt Stadlen

1
20 Questions With Six-time All Star Chase Utley 54:05

9M ago54:05

54:05

Known as the Silver Fox, Chase Utley won the World Series with the Phillies in 2008, cementing his place his baseball history. He is a six-time All Star, a four-time Silver Slugger Award-winner and is regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of his generation. Here, during a spell living in London, he explains some of the basics of the game…

1
20 Questions With World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi 55:08

10M ago55:08

55:08

Maggie Alphonsi is one of the leading figures in women's sport. A Women's Rugby World Cup winner with England in 2014, she won 74 caps for her country, scored 28 tries and became known as 'Maggie The Machine' for the relentlessness of her tough tackling. Born with a club foot, she was brought up by a single mother of Nigerian heritage on a north Lo…

1
20 Questions With Sam Peters 55:19

10M ago55:19

55:19

Concussion in rugby has forced the sport into an existential crisis. With household names, including England World Cup winner Steve Thompson, suffering from early onset dementia, one of the great global games is having to face up to searching questions about the way it is - and has been - played. Sam Peters is the journalist who has led an often lo…

1
20 Questions With Mike Procter 44:44

11M ago44:44

44:44

As a white boy, Mike Procter grew up in South Africa, a beneficiary of the unfair advantages of Apartheid. When he saw white people doing road works on the way to his hotel from Heathrow during a school cricket trip to England, his eyes were opened to the injustices back home. One of the great fast bowling all-rounders (with a Test bowling average …

1
20 Questions With Sir Chris Bryant 39:27

11M ago39:27

39:27

As Chair of the Commons Committee on Standards, Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant has been close to the heart of some of the biggest stories in British politics in recent years. In this candid interview, he discusses his role as one of the guardians of Parliamentary standards, the rights and wrongs of lying, his own imperfections, his life as a gay man, b…

1
20 Questions With Ian McEwan 1:00:58

11M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Ian McEwan, newly appointed a Companion of Honour in the King's Birthday Honours List, is one of Britain's leading literary novelists. He won the Booker Prize for Amsterdam in 1998 and became internationally famous for Atonement. Black Dogs, On Chesil Beach, Saturday, The Children Act, Solar, Nutshell, Machines Like Me and his latest book, Lessons,…

1
20 Questions With Neil Jordan 46:13

11M ago46:13

46:13

Neil Jordan is an Oscar and double BAFTA-winning director who has achieved success both with his arthouse work and in Hollywood. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for The Crying Game and his films have been nominated for multiple Oscars and BAFTAs. His movies include Mona Lisa, Interview with the Vampire, Michael Collins and The…

1
20 Questions With Sir Ben Okri 44:05

11M ago44:05

44:05

Knighted in the King's Birthday Honours, Sir Ben Okri is one of Britain's most significant writers. Influenced by his experiences of both his adopted home and his native Nigeria, his novels span contrasting cultures and traditions. Awarded the Booker Prize in 1991 for The Famished Road, Okri has gone on to establish himself as an author of internat…

1
20 Questions With David Davis MP 1:13:32

12M ago1:13:32

1:13:32

David Davis has led a remarkable career in politics. A Conservative MP for more than a quarter of a century, he was Brexit Secretary under Theresa May before resigning in 2018. Before that he resigned as Shadow Home Secretary and resigned his seat in order to fight a by-election in 2008 to draw attention to his concerns about the erosion of civil l…

1
20 Questions With Kate Mosse 53:09

12M ago53:09

53:09

Kate Mosse - not that Kate Moss - is a leading figure in women's literature. She co-founded the Women's Prize for Fiction in 1996 and has gone on to become a bestselling author herself. Her books have sold millions of copies, been translated into 38 languages and been published in more than 40 countries. Labyrinth is her best known work and she has…

1
20 Questions With historian Charlotte Lydia Riley 49:07

1y ago49:07

49:07

The British Empire and its legacy have increasingly been close to the heart of public discourse, capturing the academic and popular imagination. What are the enduring impacts of Empire on Britain? How has decolonisation changed demographics? What is the relationship between British imperialism and racism? How have British attitudes to Empire change…

1
20 Questions With Knepp’s Isabella Tree 43:10

1y ago43:10

43:10

Isabella Tree is an award-winning author and travel writer who, together with her conservationist husband Charlie Burrell, has pioneered a rewilding project in West Sussex and turned an old family farm back into an environment from another era. Among the Longhorn Cattle, Exmoor Ponies and Tamworth Pigs that roam the landscape are Beavers, dozens of…

1
20 Questions With James Comey 43:21

1y ago43:21

43:21

James Comey was the director of the FBI between 2013 and 2017, when he was fired by Donald Trump. He is perhaps most famous for his decision to go public with his re-opening of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails just days before the 2016 Presidential election. Here he reflects on that decision, says that Trump reminded him of a 'mob bo…

1
20 Questions With Mike Brearley 55:12

1y ago55:12

55:12

Mike Brearley is considered England's greatest ever cricket captain with 18 wins and just four defeats. He masterminded the almost unimaginable turnaround in what became known as Botham's Ashes in 1981, creating legend in the process. With a first class degree in classics at Cambridge, he went on to become a psychoanalyst and here he talks about th…

1
20 Questions With Niki Segnit 46:23

1y ago46:23

46:23

Niki Segnit, the multi award-winning author of The Flavour Thesaurus, which has sold 250,000 copies, has brought out the sequel, The Flavour Thesaurus, More Flavours. In this episode of 20 Questions, Niki takes us on a mesmerising tour of the myriad flavours she experiments with in her new book. She mixes up the mostly plant-based ingredients to cr…

1
20 Questions With Jonathan Agnew 56:09

1y ago56:09

56:09

Jonathan Agnew, known to cricket lovers around the world as Aggers, leads the BBC's Test Match Special coverage. As BBC Radio's cricket correspondent, he covers all the big stories involving the sport, and his voice is familiar to many millions. Here he talks about his own playing days, bowling to Sir Viv Richards, injuring people with his fast bow…

1
20 Questions With Monty Panesar 44:45

1y ago44:45

44:45

Monty Panesar played 50 Tests for England, he took 167 Test wickets, helped his country become the number one side in the world, became the first English spinner to take five wickets in an innings at the WACA ground in Perth, rescued an Ashes Test with the bat, hit Muttiah Muralitharan for six, got Sachin Tendulkar out for his first Test wicket and…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Matt Stadlen Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide