Pod Save the UK – Details, episodes & analysis

“Are you ready for this?” Following Andy Burnham’s first big policy speech since becoming an MP, and with his sights set firmly on the top job, Coco & Nish dig into his promises of regeneration, reindustrialisation, and…a new pair of running shorts. From No10 North to nationalisation and the biggest council house building programme since the postwar period, they discuss their unanswered questions and first impressions of the Manchester man offering “growth in every postcode, and hope in every heart.” 

Plus, they’re joined by journalist and campaigner Adele Zeynep Walton who shares her first-hand experience of the consequences of online harms. We ask whether the proposed social media ban for under-16s really gets to the heart of the problem (spoiler alert: no), and how we can truly hold the tech industry to account. Content note, this discussion includes references to suicide. 

USEFUL LINKS
Buy Adele’s book: “Logging Off: The Human Cost of our Digital World” https://www.waterstones.com/book/logging-off/adele-zeynep-walton/9781398722941 

Write to your MP and support the call for a public inquiry into the scale of harm facilitated by online suicide forums: https://mollyrosefoundation.beaconforms.com/form/90ddb8e4  
https://mollyrosefoundation.org/campaigns/campaign-against-pro-suicide-forums/  

GUESTS 
Adele Zeynep Walton 

CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 

BT: Search ‘Why BT’ to find out more.
HRF Power Plays: Search Power Plays wherever you get your podcasts.
WISE: https://www.wise.com

Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.

We’ll be doing another mailbag episode soon so get in touch! Contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com if you want to share questions, thoughts, or general musings! 

Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk 
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk 
X: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

As Ben Rhodes says on this week’s episode, “we’re in a revolutionary moment globally”. Joining Nish and Coco from sister show Pod Save the World, Ben shares (and despairs) about the state of UK and US politics, and tells us what we can take from the Democrats’ disaster of 2024. Isn’t it time that progressives got their own populist?

Plus, we hear about Ben’s new book, ‘All We Say’, tracing American history through some of its most famous–and infamous–speeches. We talk to him about the similarities between Britain and America both losing their way when it comes to national identity, and how our leaders need to tell it like it is. We can handle the truth! 

Also on the show, New Statesman Editor Tom McTague dissects Starmer’s swan song, his last minute decision not to challenge Burnham for leadership, and sets out why it all went wrong for a man who won a landslide victory less than two years ago. 

USEFUL LINKS
Grab a copy of Ben’s new book, All We Say: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/470622/all-we-say-by-rhodes-ben/9781847928887 

Ailbhe Rea’s recent piece in the New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2026/06/what-happens-now 

Tom McTague’s interview with Keir Starmer: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/06/what-keir-starmer-cant-say 

GUESTS 
Ben Rhodes 
Tom McTague 

CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 

SAILY: https://www.saily.com/podsave 
HRF Power Plays: Search Power Plays wherever you get your podcasts.
VANTA: https://www.vanta.com/PSTUK
WISE: https://www.wise.com
BT: Search ‘Why BT’ to find out more.

Pod Save the UK is an Intelligence Squared production for Crooked Media.

Get in touch - contact us via email: podsavetheuk@crooked.com we’d love to hear from you as we plan to do a mailbag episode soon: end any questions, thoughts, or musings our way!

Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk 
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com 
Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk 
X: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

Who says the special relationship is on the ropes? Coco and Nish are joined by Pod Save America’s Tommy Vietor to showcase transatlantic co-operation at its very best. From the battle of slopaganda to the real war in Iran - there’s a lot to talk about.

Donald Trump deleted a Truth Social post because he looked a little bit too much like Jesus for the Christian community - many of them have been some of his biggest supporters. Meanwhile Iran has released a series of sometimes-antisemitic, AI, Lego rap videos. 

In the UK, Keir Starmer is being criticised for not spending enough on defence at a time when the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are focusing minds.

Plus - Your Party hits the skids in Scotland - we hear from an insider about what went down.

Don’t forget to leave a review - it gives the show a boost and we love to see your comments.

CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS 

AURA FRAMES: https://shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk

SHOPIFY: https://www.wise.com

WISE: https://shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk

GUESTS 

Tommy Vietor, Host, Pod Save America and Pod Save The World

USEFUL LINKS

How to email your MP about NHS Palantir contracts - https://www.amnesty.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/sign-a-petition/mp-demand-no-palantir-in-our-nhs/

CREDITS

Donald Trump - @rapidresponse47, X 

Iranian Propaganda Video - Explosive Media

Owen Maitland, Former Your Party Scotland executive committee member

Faiza Shaheen, Director, Tax Justice UK - ‘Politics Live’, BBC One

Saturday Night Live UK, Sky One

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.
Get in touch - contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk
Like and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK
Instagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk
X: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

The major parties have failed to pledge to make the radical changes needed to save our planet from climate catastrophe - but people power may well save us yet. 

Nish and Coco are joined by conservationist Chris Packham to find out what more our politicians need to do and how citizens can get involved. Chris also questions the wisdom of Taylor Swift’s private jet usage and brings a suggestion of how she could help create change. 

Later, Adrienne Buller drops by to explore GB Energy - Labour’s signature manifesto pledge that they’ve claimed to be the most radical climate policy ever. 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Chris Packham - Conservationist

Adrienne Buller - Author 

Useful links:

The Break Down 

https://www.break-down.org/post/welcome-to-the-break-down

Restore Nature Now

https://www.restorenaturenow.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a horrendous campaign for the Conservatives so far, careening from disaster to catastrophe, but the Tories don't have the exclusive on political drama. This week Nish and Coco focus on the action in the devolved nations, with a particular focus on Wales and Northern Ireland. 

First, we check in with Welsh Journalist Will Hayward to learn about the recent vote of no confidence in First Minister Vaughan Gething and Labour’s manifesto pledge to tune up the current devolution agreements. Then, Coco chats to Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, to learn more about Plaid’s ambitions for Wales and their plans to turn up the heat on Labour. 

Later, we check in to Northern Ireland, speaking to journalist Amanda Ferguson about the stakes of the next election and whether allegations about former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will have any bearing on the election. 

Finally, the gang break out some of Coco’s recently rebranded charming and quizzical moments.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk 

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld
 

Guests:

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Leader of Plaid Cymru 

Will Hayward, Welsh Affairs Editor at Wales Online

Amanda Ferguson, freelance journalist

Audio credits:

Sky News

Blue Sky.mp3 by Sergmusic -- https://freesound.org/s/639933/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

TikTok/ Suella Braverman 

Useful links:

Jo Stevens interview with S4C https://x.com/NewyddionS4C/status/1802786241852707250

Constituencies and candidates: 

Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.montgomeryshire-and-glyndwr.2024-07-04/montgomeryshire-and-glyndwr/

Ynys Mon:

https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.ynys-mon.2024-07-04/ynys-mon/

Dudley:

https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.dudley.2024-07-04/dudley/

Fareham: 

https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.fareham-and-waterlooville.2024-07-04/fareham-and-waterlooville/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following a week of political manifestoes dropping from UK parties - Nish & Coco take a deep-dive investigation to see how they hold up against one another. With a focus on manifestoes that have left-wing approaches - they discuss what policies are the most realistic and which hold up the best under scrutiny.  Joined by political journalist Zoe Grünewald, Nish & Coco look closely at welfare policies, the NHS, taxes and social care.

Special guests Rebekah Pierre (author and social worker) and Helen Barnard (of the Trussell Trust) send the hosts their thoughts on which policies have the most potential for hope. 

And there’s a return of WTF moments featuring an iconic UK hit song and Starmer’s comeback to a surprise protest.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Zoe Grünewald, political journalist
 

Audio Clips:

BBC

Institute for Fiscal Studies

Times Radio

Sky News

Dawn Butler/Elson
 

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The polls are indicating a landslide victory for Labour come the election on July 4th. But that hasn’t stopped the calls - from both the left and the right - for citizens to vote tactically. But what does that really mean in Britain’s broken electoral system?

Joining Nish and Coco on the PSUK sofa is Femi Oluwole, activist and campaigner, and Joe Twyman, a seasoned pollster covering his 9th election. Together they discuss whether this is an election for people to vote with their heart or if being “strategic” is more important and whether our new parliament has any hope of delivering long overdue reform to our electoral system.

We also hear from Jessica Garland from the Electoral Reform Society.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Femi Oluwole, YouTube Campaigner, Tactical Voting activist

Joe Twyman, Co-founder and director of Deltapoll

Audio Clips:

Sky News

BBC

ITV

Channel 5

PoliticsJoe

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

https://www.gov.uk/registertovote

https://www.getvoting.org

https://tactical.vote

https://stopthetories.vote/

https://www.sprintforpr.uk/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UK’s sorry state of affairs when it comes to water and railways is both a massive problem and an opportunity for the incoming government. Water companies are teetering on the brink of collapse and it feels inevitable that they will soon fall back in to public ownership. But how can we pay for renationalised services? 

Cat Hobbs from We Own It talks to Nish and Coco about the history of privatisation and the opportunities that renationalised services present to the UK. 

And economist and activist Gary Stevenson explores how the public can rewrite the narrative on taxation - starting with a 1% tax on people with wealth of over £10,000,000. But why stop there? Coco and Nish ask about other potential boons to the state budget. 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Cat Hobbs, Director of We Own It

Gary Stevenson, the Activist and Economist behind Gary’s Economics
 

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

https://weownit.org.uk/

https://patrioticmillionaires.uk/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In week two of the campaigns for the upcoming General Election - the fight for the centre vote has become a focal point. But the crucial question remains - what will this do for the future of politics in the UK? Are we at risk of losing diversity across parties? And as Keir Starmer appears to be purging the left-wing factions of the Labour Party, Nish and Coco speak to former Labour leader and now independent candidate Jeremy Corbyn on whether he’s hopeful for a potential Labour government and what advice he has for Keir Starmer.

Nish and Coco also speak to Mhairi Black about the challenges facing the SNP when trying to capture the electorate. They also discuss whether we are at risk of losing the kind of representation that the Left and younger voters need to bring about hope and change in society.

There’s also a rundown of the first Sunak vs Starmer TV debate and a return of the best WTF moments from the week’s political campaigns.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Jeremy Corbyn, Independent Candidate for Islington North

Mhairi Black, former SNP Deputy Leader and MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South
 

Audio credits:

BBC 

ITV

Labour Party

Sky News

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s week one of the campaign and after a comical series of false starts, Rishi Sunak and the Tories have fired the first shots in a campaign of generational warfare. 

Nish and Coco are joined by political correspondent Liz Bates to find out if there are votes to be won in these wedge politics. Later, they speak to Christine Jardine from the Liberal Democrats about their differences with Labour as well as the electoral battleground that is Scotland. And, as the campaign heats up - the WTF moments are multiplying. Nish, Coco and Liz dissect their favourites from the week.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Liz Bates, Sky News

Christine Jardine, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP

Audio credits:

BBC 

Sky News

Shrek - Paramount pictures
 

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices