The Today Podcast

In the week that Israel invaded Lebanon and Iran attacked Israel with missiles, Nick and Amol take a step back to ask how we got here.

They’re joined in the studio by Sir Simon Gass, one of the UK’s most experienced Iran watchers who was the UK ambassador to Tehran and political director at the Foreign Office.

How powerful is Iran? What might happen now both Hezbollah and Hamas appear to have been weakened? And what are his hopes and...

Ruby Wax began her career as a classically trained actor. She’s also starred in sitcoms, made documentaries and done celebrity interviews. Now she’s best known as a mental health campaigner. In this bonus episode she opens up to Amol about her difficult upbringing, the highs and lows of her career and the art of the celebrity interview.

Details of support with mental health are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Regular episodes of T...

Amol and Nick with their take on Keir Starmer’s first Today interview since becoming PM and behind the scenes insights about what it’s like doing big political interviews.

Plus, Ruby Wax drops in for Moment of the Week.

You can hear more of Amol’s conversation with Ruby Wax in a bonus episode that will drop on Saturday morning.

Subscribe to The Today Podcast on BBC Sounds so you don’t miss an episode.

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In this bonus episode, Nick talks to Keir Starmer after his first Labour conference speech as prime minister.

Check back later to get Amol and Nick’s take on the interview and make sure you subscribe to The Today Podcast on BBC Sounds so you don’t miss an episode.

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The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick R...

Pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah have exploded across Lebanon killing several people and injuring thousands more.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant says the country is "opening a new phase in the war" - and the "centre of gravity is shifting to the north through the diversion of resources and forces".

Sir Alex Younger, a former head of MI6, talks to Amol and Nick about the significance of the attacks, which were report...

How do independent MPs work together to hold the government to account? What do the producers behind Today do? And why does the programme mark the end of each hour with the pips?

Amol and Nick return with answers to more listener questions.

You too can put a question to Amol and Nick. Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note to WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or you can email Today@bbc.co.uk

Episodes of The Today Podcast with A...

As Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the NHS is released, Nick and Amol take a look at what needs to be done to bring about real change.

They speak to Professor Sir John Bell - one of the country's most decorated doctors and an adviser to government during the Covid-19 pandemic - who believes that more funding is not the only way of improving the NHS.

Plus, the nation's favourite pub landlord Al Murray drops in with his moment of ...

A scathing report from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has concluded that all 72 deaths were avoidable – but were the result of a chain of failures by governments, "dishonest" companies and a lack of strategy by the fire service.

Nick assesses whether anyone will now be held accountable – and whether this might be the moment that substandard social housing becomes a major political issue.

He’s joined by Emma Dent Coad...

“Things will get worse before they get better.” That was the gloomy warning given by Keir Starmer this week, in his first major speech since becoming prime minister.

Labour have previously blamed the Tories for the ‘economic black hole’ they say they’ve found in the public finances since taking office. But what did Starmer mean when he referred to a ‘societal black hole’ left by his predecessors? And if there are cracks in British s...

What tips would you give a government minister ahead of a Today programme interview? What was the best advice you got when you first became a Today presenter? And how do you get up so early?

In this special summer edition of The Today Podcast, Amol and Nick take on questions from some invited guests and friends of the podcast, including the queen of the high street Mary Portas, historian Greg Jenner, TV’s Kirstie Allsopp, Peaky Blin...

Amol and Nick use their decades of experience as journalists to discuss the future of news in this special episode of The Today Podcast.

Joining them are Sun editor David Yelland and former No10 communications director Simon Lewis – the duo behind Radio 4’s When It Hits The Fan – to look at what’s happening in journalism, where the future lies for the profession... and why it really matters for us all.

If you have a question you’d li...

Elon Musk has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir Starmer on his platform ‘X’ this week over the handling of riots in England and Northern Ireland.

The disorder follows the fatal stabbing last week of three young girls in Southport and has been fuelled by misinformation online, the far-right and anti-immigration sentiment.

This week Amol looks at whether social media companies should be forced to go further in stopping the spread of misinf...

Every week on The Today Podcast Amol and Nick share something significant that’s happened to them that week and they call it their ‘moment of the week’.

But as Nick’s on holiday, Amol invited one of Britain’s best known comedians, Frank Skinner, to The Today Podcast studio to help him out.

And they ended up talking for so long about faith, class, parenthood, grief - and, of course, poetry, we’ve made it into a bonus podcast.

Frank Ski...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have been championing growth this week. But will their plans actually work?

Amol has assembled an expert panel to provide their take on how to generate more wealth in the UK – Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson and venture capitalist and co-founder of Lovecrafts, Cherry Freeman.

And comedian Frank Skinner joins Amol with his moment of the week – watch o...

Amol and Nick take on more questions from listeners – such as whether having younger MPs will lead to a change in policies and why do politicians sound more sensible when ejected from office?

Plus they answer questions on the state of political journalism and whether podcasting makes it easier or more difficult to maintain impartiality.

If you have a question you’d like to Amol, Nick and the Pod Squad to answer get in touch by sendin...

This week Keir Starmer dealt with a Labour rebellion on the two-child benefit cap that saw the whip removed from seven of his MPs. Meanwhile in America, Kamala Harris has moved quickly to mobilise her campaign and define her Republican rival.

To make sense of it all, Nick and Amol turn to Prof Mary Beard for a classical perspective on power, succession, and rebellions. What was Cicero’s advice for winning elections? Which Latin quot...

Joe Biden is out and has endorsed his vice president. But will Kamala Harris win the Democratic nomination – and can she beat Donald Trump in November?

Amol and Nick are joined by fellow Today presenter and Americast host Justin Webb for his take on the big news. Who might Harris pick as her running mate? How will she frame Trump in the contest? And why might it all come down to the voters of Omaha, Nebraska?

If you have a question y...

Sir Keir Starmer has been quick to meet with a host of world leaders since entering Downing Street. After his in-person meeting with Joe Biden, and a personal phone call to Donald Trump, Amol and Nick dissect how the new PM will navigate ‘the special relationship’ in turbulent times.

And closer to home, European leaders are meeting this week in Blenheim Palace. Baroness Cathy Ashton, the EU’s former foreign policy chief, joins Nick...

Amol and Nick look at whether the language of politics might now grow less heated after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump – and what effect the shooting will have on the US election.

Keir Starmer will put the disappointment of the European Championships result behind him and look forward to this week’s King’s Speech – but will he face his own problem from the left wing?

Plus, pollster and friend of the podcast James Kanagasoo...