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Tell Me Why

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Latest episodes

  • Tell Me Why... The Cornell 7 case could happen here

    October 22, 2026 · 42 min

    Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence The Cornell story has shocked many. But how surprised are we really? This week, Alona and Imaan are joined by Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley and former…

  • Tell Me Why... AI has killed the author

    October 15, 2026 · 35 min

    Would you care if AI wrote your favourite novel? In the second episode of Tell Me Why, tech journalist and Londoner editor Alys Key joins Prospect’s Alona Ferber and Imaan Irfan. They explore how artificial intelligence is shaping…

  • Tell Me Why... Fascism has a new face, ft. Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor

    October 15, 2026 · 29 min

    Religious zealots, tech accelerationists and ethnonationalists are trying to fast-track the apocalypse. But why? In the first ever episode of Tell Me Why, Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor join Imaan Irfan and Alona Ferber in the Prospect…

  • Ethan Zuckerman: Will artificial intelligence destroy us all?

    September 16, 2026 · 43 min

    As tech insiders warn about an impending apocalypse, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Ethan Zuckerman, Prospect contributor and associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to examine those claims. He discusses AI agents…

  • Prospect Lives: Unexpected lessons from my alcoholic father

    September 10, 2026 · 33 min

    This month, Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu shares her love for her late father, who was an imperfect but brilliant parent. Meanwhile, Second life writer Vitali Vitaliev is reminded of his former, Soviet life when he reads about the hounding…

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  • Elon Musk, space solar and eternal power

    September 9, 2026 · 29 min

    Have scientists found the secret to eternal power? Engineers, inventors and sci-fi writers have long dreamed of harvesting the constant power of the sun. Now, plans to build solar panels in space are tantalisingly close to fruition. This…

  • Andy Burnham’s theory of power

    September 2, 2026 · 34 min

    Who really runs the United Kingdom? Power is badly misallocated, argues journalist and author Phil Tinline, and Andy Burnham understands that better than most of his recent predecessors. But there is still a major gap in the prime…

  • Daron Acemoglu: How to save liberal democracy

    August 26, 2026 · 35 min

    According to Nobel prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu, liberal democracy made three promises: that prosperity would be shared equitably, that capable government would deliver public services and that citizens would have voice to…

  • How cabbies see England

    August 19, 2026 · 33 min

    What can a taxi ride tell us about the state of the UK? Driving home is an immersive documentary staged inside a real black cab where audiences hear from taxi drivers across the UK about migration, belonging, politics, and community. Today…

  • Eternal youth and billionaire biohacking: The politics of longevity

    August 12, 2026 · 26 min

    Billionaires, millionaires and biohackers are plying themselves with supplements and consulting AI to extend their lives indefinitely. But would you want to live forever? This week, Ellen and Alona are joined by journalist and author…

  • How long will the ‘Burnham bounce’ last?

    August 5, 2026 · 35 min

    As Andy Burnham marks his first two weeks in Downing Street, the polls are registering a bump in support for Labour. This week, Ellen and Imaan are joined by Prospect’s contributing editor Tom Clark to assess the prime minister’s first…

  • Prospect Lives: I’ve had an old-lady fall!

    July 31, 2026 · 36 min

    This month Rural life writer Kiran Sidhu decides to embrace materialism, while Anglican priest Alice Goodman recounts the ballad of the Tithe pig. Actor and writer Sheila Hancock is taken to hospital after a fall and is very impressed by…

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About the show

In an era of news fatigue and constant information, Prospect steps back from the daily news grind—asking not just what is happening, but why. Join Prospect editors Alona Ferber, Imaan Irfan and the magazine’s cast of contributors, to explore the people and trends that explain the world today. Each episode, we explain the ideas behind the week’s biggest stories. From populism and protest to artificial intelligence, our guests share their unique perspectives. Subscribe to Prospect and enjoy our rigorously fact-checked, truly independent analysis and perspectives: https://subscription.prospectmagazine.co.uk/OCT1MFBG/prospect-magazine/OCT1MFG Produced by Ellie Jay Music “Big Continent” composed by Maayan Madar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.