Best Penny Simkin Podcasts (2024)

1
Sir Tony O'Reilly, President Ebrahim Raisi, Penny Simkin, Professor Alasdair Geddes 27:50

27d ago27:50

27:50

Matthew Bannister on The Irish rugby star and businessman Sir Tony O’Reilly. He made billions but ended up bankrupt. The hardline President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi. Penny Simkin, who championed the role of birth doulas to help mothers during and after labour. Professor Alasdair Geddes, the infectious diseases expert who diagnosed the world’s last ev…

1
Sir Oliver Popplewell, Lynn Conway, Tony Bramwell, Francoise Hardy 27:49

9m ago27:49

27:49

Kirsty Lang on the Judge and cricketer Sir Oliver Popplewell. His godson Stephen Fry pays tribute. The computer pioneer and transgender advocate Lynn Conway. The music mogul and friend to the Fab Four Tony Bramwell. One of France’s best loved singer song-writers Francoise Hardy. Interviewee: Stephen FryInterviewee: Charles RogersInterviewee: Roag B…

151
Nora Cortiñas, Belinda Belville, John Burnside, Roger Corman 26:52

13d ago26:52

26:52

Matthew Bannister on Nora Cortiñas, a founding member of Argentina’s “Mothers of the Disappeared” campaign group. Her son Gustavo was 24 when he was arrested by the country’s right-wing dictatorship. He was never seen again. Belinda Bellville, the fashion designer who dressed every female member of the royal family apart from Queen Elizabeth. Her b…

1
Richard M Sherman, Professor Wendy James CBE , Morgan Spurlock, June Mendoza OBE 27:50

20d ago27:50

27:50

Matthew Bannister on Richard M Sherman who teamed up with his brother Robert to write some of Disney’s best loved songs. Professor Wendy James CBE, the anthropologist who studied the Uduk tribes of Sudan. June Mendoza OBE, the portrait painter whose subjects included members of the Royal Family, Prime Ministers and celebrities. Morgan Spurlock, the…

1
Dame Shirley Conran, Doreen Massey, Beverley LaHaye, Steve Albini 27:48

1M ago27:48

27:48

Matthew Bannister on Dame Shirley Conran, the journalist and author best known for her books “Superwoman” and “Lace”. Baroness Doreen Massey, the educator and former director of the Family Planning Association Beverly LaHaye the founder of Concerned Women of America who campaigned to stop the Equal Rights Amendment. Steve Albini, the controversial …

1
Anne Dagg, Ross Anderson, Cecil Murray, Kris Hallenga 27:45

1M ago27:45

27:45

Matthew Bannister on Anne Dagg, the Canadian biologist known as The Woman Who Loves Giraffes for her lifelong study of the animals. Professor Ross Anderson, the computer scientist who was a leading expert on data protection and online security. Reverend Cecil Murray, the pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles who play…

1
C.J.Sansom, Olga Fikotová-Connolly, Dr Jenny Vaughan OBE, Sir Andrew Davies 27:49

2M ago27:49

27:49

Matthew Bannister on an author, a campaigner, an Olympic medallist, a conductorBy BBC Radio 4

1
Terry Anderson, Trina Robbins, Lord Field, Ann Trevenen Jenkin 27:50

2M ago27:50

27:50

Matthew Bannister on The American journalist Terry Anderson who was held captive in Lebanon for almost seven years. In an emotional interview, his daughter Sulome tells us how she followed in his footsteps as she tried to connect with a father she met for the first time when she was seven years old. Lord Field who, the Labour MP Frank Field who cam…

1
“I was born while my father was a hostage” 23:21

2M ago23:21

23:21

Sulome Anderson first met her father – journalist Terry Anderson – at the American Embassy in Damascus. She was seven years old and he had just been released from nearly seven years as a hostage in Lebanon. She desperately wanted to build a relationship with him, even going so far as to become a war correspondent herself and tracking down and meeti…

1
Sir Paul Fox, Lynne Reid Banks, Joan Hills, Amnon Weinstein 27:49

2M ago27:49

27:49

Matthew Bannister on: Sir Paul Fox, the respected TV executive who commissioned some of the best loved programmes of the 1960s and 70s. We have a tribute from his former colleague Sir David Attenborough. Lynne Reid Banks, the author best known for her novel “The L Shaped Room.” Joan Hills, the artist who played a key role in the art world of the 19…

1
Peter Higgs, Trevor Griffiths, Hella Pick, Margaret Tynes 27:40

2M ago27:40

27:40

Matthew Bannister on Professor Peter Higgs, the physicist who won the Nobel prize for explaining why the building blocks of the universe have mass. Trevor Griffiths, the playwright whose stage and TV dramas focused on left wing politics and social issues. We have a tribute from the actor Jack Shepherd. Hella Pick, the long serving Guardian foreign …

1
Joe Lieberman, Diana Baring, Lynn Kinnear, Kay Benbow 27:43

3M ago27:43

27:43

Matthew Bannister on Joe Lieberman, the US Democrat politician who fell out with his party over the Iraq War. Diana Baring, the respected literary agent. We have a tribute from her client Frederick Forsyth. Lynn Kinnear, who was one of the most influential landscape architects of her generation. Kay Benbow, who commissioned and made many acclaimed …

1
Richard Taylor, Lisa Lane, Rose Dugdale, Ian Green 27:31

3M ago27:31

27:31

John Wilson on Richard Taylor, who became a tireless campaigner against knife crime and supported disadvantaged young people. Lisa Lane, the chess champion who was the first player to feature on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Rose Dugdale, the English heiress and debutante who went onto join the IRA. Ian Green, the Scottish folk music champion wh…

1
John Boyega on campaigner Richard Taylor, father of Damilola Taylor 18:19

3M ago18:19

18:19

In this special edition of Last Word, John Boyega pays tribute to campaigner Richard Taylor, the father of Damilola Taylor who was killed 24 years ago. Richard Taylor - a Nigerian civil servant - dedicated years to improving the lives of disadvantaged children in the wake of his son's death via the Damilola Taylor Trust. Mr Taylor said he wanted hi…

1
Vince Power CBE, Olga Murray, Akira Toriyama, Cecilia Eckelmann-Battistello 27:31

3M ago27:31

27:31

Matthew Bannister on Vince Power, the live music promoter whose Mean Fiddler group operated a string of London venues and built up the Reading and Leeds festivals. Olga Murray, the American lawyer who devoted her later life to helping the children of Nepal. Cecilia Eckelmann-Battistello, the Italian businesswoman who ran a major container shipping …

1
Audrey Adams, Nicola Trahan, Edward Bond, Eric Carmen 27:26

3M ago27:26

27:26

Matthew Bannister on Audrey Adams who became a tireless campaigner for the rights of black people after her son was stabbed to death in a racist attack. Nicola Trahan, who joined the French Resistance as a teenager and was later awarded the Croix de Guerre. Edward Bond, the controversial playwright who played a key role in the abolition of censorsh…

1
Iris Apfel, Colin Murray Parkes, Baroness Henig, Jim Lawrence 27:43

3M ago27:43

27:43

Matthew Bannister on Iris Apfel the colourful fashion and interior designer whose own dress sense made an impact until her death aged 102. Dr Colin Murray Parkes, the psychiatrist once described as “the David Attenborough of the bereavement world.” Baroness Henig, the deputy House of Lords Speaker who was a historian and expert on the security indu…

1
Nicholas Dimbleby, Lord Patrick Cormack, Wendy Mitchell, Eleanor Fazan 27:42

4M ago27:42

27:42

John Wilson on the celebrated sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby, responsible for numerous well known commissions around the country. Lord Patrick Cormack the politician, historian and prolific author. Wendy Mitchell, the author and blogger who was diagnosed with young onset dementia and worked tirelessly to help improve the understanding of the condition.…

1
Alexei Navalny, Dr Brooke Ellison, Gertrude Wright, Steve Brown 27:51

4M ago27:51

27:51

John Wilson on Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner and leading opponent of President Vladimir Putin, who has died in a Russian state prison. Dr Brooke Ellison, an American academic and disabilities rights advocate who drew on her own experience of living with quadriplegia. Gertrude Wright, who survived the bombing of her German home city…

1
Steve Wright, Baroness Flather, Alan Mills, Angela Peberdy 27:49

4M ago27:49

27:49

Matthew Bannister on The much-loved Radio 1 and 2 DJ Steve Wright. We have a tribute from his former colleague Simon Mayo. Baroness Flather, who was the first Asian woman to sit in the House of Lords. Alan Mills, the Wimbledon tennis referee who had to deal with tantrums on court. Angela Peberdy, the train announcer known as “the golden voice of Br…

1
Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue, Ian Lavender, Robie Harris, Barry John 27:42

4M ago27:42

27:42

Matthew Bannister on Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue who overcame a traumatic childhood to become one of Australia’s leading campaigners for the rights of indigenous people. Ian Lavender, the actor best known for playing Private Pike in Dad’s Army. Robie Harris, whose book explaining sex to children made her one of America’s most banned authors. Barry John, …

1
Frank Farian, Caroline Richmond, Phil Baines, Norma Izard 27:46

5M ago27:46

27:46

Matthew Bannister on Frank Farian, the German music producer behind the hugely successful group Boney M, who caused controversy when it was revealed that his duo Milli Vanilli had been miming at all their live shows. We hear from Boney M singer Liz Mitchell. Medical journalist Caroline Richmond who founded the Campaign Against Health Fraud, now kno…

1
Norma Barzman, Lord Saye and Sele, Jim Hobson, Susan Campbell 27:50

5M ago27:50

27:50

Matthew Bannister on Norma Barzman, the screenwriter from the Golden Age of Hollywood who fled to Europe after facing being blacklisted from the House Un-American Activities Committee for her Communist views. Lord Saye and Sele, the aristocrat who served in the army during the Second World War, then worked to restore the historic family seat Brough…

1
Annie Nightingale, Isca Salzberger-Wittenberg, Bryan Ansell, Charlie Allan 27:56

5M ago27:56

27:56

Matthew Bannister on Annie Nightingale who was Radio 1’s first female presenter and its longest serving DJ. Her son remembers meeting Jimi Hendrix over breakfast in her kitchen and the 72-hour-party at her home featuring some of the biggest names of the dance music scene. Isca Salzberger-Wittenberg, the psychoanalyst who changed the approach to tre…

1
Camila Batmanghelidjh, Sir Roy Calne, Glynis Johns, J.P.R. Williams 27:51

5M ago27:51

27:51

Matthew Bannister on Camila Batmanghelidjh who founded the charity Kids Company to help disadvantaged children. The charity collapsed amidst controversy, although she was later cleared of any wrongdoing. Sir Roy Calne, the surgeon who carried out the UK’s first successful liver transplant operation. He was also a talented artist. Glynis Johns, the …

1
John Pilger, KM Peyton, Paula Murphy, Michael Blakemore 27:48

6M ago27:48

27:48

Matthew Bannister on John Pilger, the campaigning journalist who made award winning films about human rights abuses and was an outspoken critic of British and US foreign policy. K.M. Peyton, the author of many “pony” books for children and adolescents, including the “Flambards” trilogy. Paula Murphy, the American racing driver once described as “th…

1
Jacques Delors, Nancy Pearce, Elinor Otto, Tony Allen 27:52

6M ago27:52

27:52

Kirsty Lang on Jacques Delors, the politician and architect of the modern EU. Nancy Pearce, the founder of a charity to help people with eating disorders. Elinor Otto, the American factory worker who was one of the original 'Rosie the Riveters'. Tony Allen, one of the pioneers of the alternative comedy scene. Producer: Ed Prendeville…

1
Maureen Sweeney, Sir Tim Brighouse, Shirley Anne Field, Juanita Castro 27:51

6M ago27:51

27:51

Matthew Bannister on Maureen Sweeney, the postmistress from the west of Ireland whose weather forecast postponed D-Day by 24 hours. Sir Tim Brighouse, the educationalist credited with transforming the performance of London’s schools. Shirley Anne Field, the actor who appeared in classic 1960s films like The Entertainer, Saturday Night and Sunday Mo…

1
Benjamin Zephaniah, Laura Lean, Stacy Marking, Eric Freeman 27:55

6M ago27:55

27:55

Matthew Bannister on The dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah who overcame childhood trauma to become an acclaimed performer and writer. Laura Lean, who volunteered for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, helping to support distressed families after The Grenfell Tower fire and greeting Afghan evacuees. Stacy Marking, one of the first women directors in document…

1
Shane MacGowan, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Lord Darling, Joan Jara 27:50

7M ago27:50

27:50

Matthew Bannister on Shane MacGowan the lead singer of The Pogues who was famous for his song writing but also his abuse of drugs and alcohol. His sister joins us to discuss the roots of his talent and his excesses. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to be appointed to the US Supreme Court. Lord Darling, the Labour politician who was Chan…

1
Henry Kissinger, Terry Venables, Paul Watson, Rachel Heller 27:45

7M ago27:45

27:45

Matthew Bannister on Henry Kissinger, a towering figure in international diplomacy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize but was condemned by some as a war criminal. Also, Terry Venables, the colourful manager who took the England Football team to the semi-finals of Euro 96. Paul Watson, the pioneer of reality TV whose “fly on the wall” techniques caused …

1
Captain Don Walsh, Dame A.S. Byatt, Rosalynn Carter, Dr Finlay Macleod 27:50

7M ago27:50

27:50

Matthew Bannister on Captain Don Walsh, the American submariner who made the first descent to the deepest place in the ocean – the Mariana Trench. His friend and fellow deep sea explorer Victor Vescovo relives the experience for us. Dame A.S. Byatt, the author best known for her Booker Prize winning novel “Possession”. Rosalynn Carter, the former F…

1
Peter Betts, Audrey Salkeld, Heather Rogers KC, Louise Meriwether 27:47

7M ago27:47

27:47

Matthew Bannister on Peter Betts, who was the UK’s lead negotiator at international climate change summits. Audrey Salkeld, the mountaineering historian best known for her work on the ill-fated Mallory and Irvine expedition. Heather Rogers KC, the lawyer who championed freedom of speech in many high profile cases Louise Meriwether, the author and j…

1
Ken Mattingly, Anne Wright, Mary Gallacher, David Kirke 27:50

8M ago27:50

27:50

Matthew Bannister on Ken Mattingly, the astronaut who missed flying into space on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission because he had been exposed to German measles. We have a tribute from Fred Haise who did take part in that hazardous flight. Anne Wright, who devoted her life to conserving the wild animals of India. Mary “Tiny” Gallacher who worked beh…

1
Matthew Perry, Benedict Birnberg, Field Marshall Muthoni Wa Kirima, Professor Jose Harris 27:51

8M ago27:51

27:51

Matthew Bannister on Benedict Birnberg, the radical lawyer who fought the cases of the far-left Angry Brigade and the Mangrove Nine and got the murder conviction of Derek Bentley quashed. Professor Jose Harris, the historian best known for her acclaimed biography of William Beveridge. Field Marshall Muthoni Wa Kirima, the last Mau Mau fighter to la…

1
Sir Bobby Charlton, Dr Evelyn Fox Keller, Julian Bahula, Haydn Gwynne 27:48

8M ago27:48

27:48

Matthew Bannister on Sir Bobby Charlton, who is hailed as England’s greatest ever footballer. Dr. Evelyn Fox Keller, who explored the effects of gender on the study of science. Julian Bahula, the South African musician and anti- apartheid activist And Haydn Gwynne, the versatile actor known for her roles in Billy Elliott and The Audience on stage a…

1
Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney, Phyllis ‘Pippa’ Latour, Florence Fisher, Dr Nicholas Arnold 27:44

8M ago27:44

27:44

Kirsty Lang on Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney, the secret billionaire who gave most of his money away to good causes. Phyllis ‘Pippa’ Latour, the fearless secret agent who was parachuted into Nazi occupied Normandy a month before D-Day. Florence Fisher, who was adopted as a child and later led a movement to help millions of others find their birth parents.…

1
Kirsty Smitten, Kat Anderson, Beverly Willis, Tony Wade 27:55

8M ago27:55

27:55

Kirsty Lang on The talented young scientist Kirsty Smitten who did pioneering work developing a new generation of antibiotics. Singer Kat Anderson who made pop history with Motown’s first Number One hit: Please Mr Postman. The architect Beverly Willis who devoted much of her career to promoting her female peers. Tony Wade who helped built Britain’s…

1
Michael Gambon, Pat Arrowsmith, Treleven Haysom, Dianne Feinstein 27:58

9M ago27:58

27:58

Matthew Bannister on the acclaimed actor Sir Michael Gambon. His son Fergus reveals his love of cars, antique firearms – and lying to journalists. The peace campaigner Pat Arrowsmith, who went to prison a number of times for direct action protests. Treleven Haysom, the stone mason who devoted his life to working, quarrying and telling the history o…

1
Gita Mehta, Matteo Messina Denaro, Irma Brenman Pick, John Stevenson 27:44

9M ago27:44

27:44

Matthew Bannister on Gita Mehta, the author who set out to reveal the truth about India to the West. Her friend the theatre director Sir Richard Eyre pays tribute. Matteo Messina Denaro, the Italian mafia boss who boasted he could “fill a cemetery” with his murder victims. Irma Brenman Pick, the psychoanalyst who investigated the emotional reaction…

1
Sir Horace Ové, Su Gorman, Roger Whittaker, Jean Combes 27:41

9M ago27:41

27:41

Matthew Bannister on Sir Horace Ové, the director whose films told stories of the experiences of black people in Britain. Su Gorman, who campaigned for justice for the victims of the contaminated blood scandal, after her own husband was infected with hepatitis C. Roger Whittaker, the singer best known for his hits Durham Town and The Last Farewell,…

1
Mike Yarwood, Ada Deer, Sir Ian Wilmut, Dorothy Purdew 27:54

9M ago27:54

27:54

Matthew Bannister on Mike Yarwood, whose impressions of famous people made him one of TV’s biggest stars in the 1970s and 80s. Ada Deer, the Native American campaigner who became head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs under President Clinton. Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, the embryologist who led the team that created Dolly the Sheep – the first mammal t…

1
Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dorothy Goodman, Professor Anthony Bryceson, Denyse Plummer 27:54

10M ago27:54

27:54

Matthew Bannister on Mohamed Al-Fayed, the controversial businessman who owned Harrods department store and Fulham Football Club. His son Dodi died in the car crash that killed Princess Diana. Dorothy Goodman, the educationalist who helped to found the consumer affairs magazine that became known as “Which?”. Professor Anthony Bryceson, the tropical…

1
Julian Haviland, Johaar Mosaval, Tricia Tyler, Matyelok Gibbs 27:55

10M ago27:55

27:55

Matthew Bannister on: Julian Haviland who was political editor at ITN and then the Times, covering key events at Westminster in the 1970s and 80s. Johaar Mosaval, the South African dancer who overcame racial prejudice to fulfil his dream of becoming a ballet star. Tricia Tyler, who edited the Nursing Times. Matyelok Gibbs, the actor and director wh…

1
Michael Parkinson, Renata Scotto, John Brierly, Isobel Crook 27:56

10M ago27:56

27:56

John Wilson on: The journalist and broadcaster who became synonymous with the British chat show, Sir Michael Parkinson. Italian soprano Renata Scotto, one of the biggest stars of opera in the 1960s and 70s John Brierly, the author of bestselling guidebooks to the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route The teacher, anthropologist and communist Isobel C…

1
SPECIAL EDITION: Michael Parkinson 40:57

10M ago40:57

40:57

Sir Michael Parkinson was a journalist, broadcaster, and arguably Britain’s greatest television chat show host. During a TV career than spanned six decades, Parky interviewed hundreds of the world's most famous stars. Sir Michael died on 16th August 2023. For Last Word, John Wilson talks to Sir Michael's son Mike about his father's life and career.…

1
Nick Kaiser, Angela Flowers, Robbie Shepherd, Doreen Mantle. 27:41

10M ago27:41

27:41

Kirsty Lang on: Nick Kaiser, an internationally renowned British scientist who reached not just for the stars but the entire cosmos.... A gallerist who championed British contemporary art: Angela Flowers opened her first exhibition space in a Soho attic in 1970 A fixture of Scottish cultural life, the legendary broadcaster Robbie Shepherd, who pres…

1
Sir Michael Boyd, Jess Search, Warren Ford, Leny Andrade 27:50

11M ago27:50

27:50

Kirsty Lang on: Sir Michael Boyd, the former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Jess Search, the fearless documentary producer who backed award winning but controversial films others feared to touch. Warren Ford, the tea consultant and buyer who devised the well-known Yorkshire blend. Leny Andrade, the Brazilian bossa nova and jazz…

1
Richard Barancik, Yvonne Littlewood MBE, Edward Sexton, Dr Christian Carritt 27:57

11M ago27:57

27:57

Kirsty Lang on: Richard Barancik, the last known surviving member of a World War II allied unit - The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives section - known as the Monuments Men and Women. Yvonne Littlewood MBE, the first woman to become a television producer and director in the BBC Light Entertainment unit. Edward Sexton, the Saville Row master tailor…

1
George Alagiah, Sinead O'Connor, Ann Clwyd, Tony Bennett, and Trevor Francis 27:51

11M ago27:51

27:51

John Wilson on George Alagiah, the BBC Journalist and Presenter is remembered by his colleagues Sophie Raworth and John Simpson. Sinead O’Connor, the Irish singer who won worldwide fame with Nothing Compares 2 U. Ann Clwyd, the former Labour Member of Parliament who held frontbench posts in opposition, and campaigned on behalf of Welsh miners and I…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Penny Simkin Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide