Snowcast

This week's guest is the award-winning journalist and sociology professor Gary Younge. From Mandela’s election campaign, to Obama’s presidency, Gary’s had a ringside seat, for some of the biggest stories of the last 30 years. And his latest book - Dispatches from the Diaspora - is a career-spanning collection of articles about race, racism, and Black life. In this conversation, Gary reflects on growing up in Stevenage, with a mother who gave him a sense of his own possibility. The translation education that gave him a love of language and the opportunities, and first steps, that helped launch his career.Relevant links:Gary Younge's websiteGary's writing in The Guardian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is the witty and politically astute writer and director Armando Iannucci.After a week dominated by headlines about the government's immigration policy, Gary Lineker, the BBC and impartiality, he and Jon talk about the broadcasting and political landscape. As well as The Thick of It, Armando's mock epic poem about the pandemic, and what he's working on next. Relevant links: Armando's poem PandemoniumChild Poverty Action Group(and for anyone who actually missed it) Gary Lineker's tweet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's Snowcast has a preview of Jon's new book, The State Of Us, which shares a few of the things he's learned about politics, humanity and the world. The first chapter takes Jon back to North Kensington in June 2017, watching a tragedy unfold in real time. The seeds of this book were sown while he stared up at Grenfell Tower and learned more about failures, and inequality, in the richest borough of Britain.The State Of Us is out now in hardback and as a Penguin audiobook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Harris started out in journalism, became political editor of The Observer, and had a ringside seat for the rise of New Labour. But, after striking gold with Fatherland, Robert launched a second career as a novelist and never looked back.Robert’s latest best-seller - Act Of Oblivion - is set in a country that’s divided after the English Civil War. It’s a fictionalised account of the greatest manhunt of the 17th century. And the pursuit - across continents - of the men responsible for the execution of King Charles I.Robert describes it as a “curiously contemporary novel”. And the past often calls to him when it has some relevance to the present day. Because - while he may not miss writing a column - Robert remains very much a political animal. And in this conversation, he reflects on two successful careers, and the political characters and rhetoric of the present day.Relevant links:Act Of OblivionRobert's other books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Munya Chawawa is a British-Zimbabwean satirist, who rose to fame with his DIY video sketches. He and Jon first met in 2017 - when Munya snuck into the ITN building - to interview him about Stormzy’s debut album. That memorable encounter became Munya’s first ever viral video. And he’s since amassed millions of followers, with his witty takes on politics, culture and the royal family.As Munya prepares for his first ever comedy tour, he talks to Jon about his childhood, career vision board, and his plans to sell out the 02 in the next five years.Related links:Munya's websiteMunya's InstagramRace Around BritainHow To Survive A Dictator with Munya ChawawaPrince Andrew: The Musical Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophie Scott is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL and an award-winning lecturer, whose TED talk, Why We Laugh, has been watched over 5 million times. Her new book, The Brain, features ten enjoyable essays which cover how brains have evolved over time, their composition and chemistry, and how they interact with the world around us.Sophie loves brains and hers is full of mind-blowing facts about, what she calls, “one of the most miraculous structures in the known universe.”If you listen to this interview, you’ll be doing your own brain a favour, as Sophie shares some brain hacks that might help keep your mind sharp. There's some good news for evening crammers and a bit of motivation for those disinclined to exercise.Related links:Sophie's book: The Brain: 10 Things You Should KnowSophie's podcast: The NeuromanticsSophie's TED Talk: Why We Laugh Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first guest on Snowcast is Jon Ronson. A brilliant writer, who made his name interviewing people on the fringes of society. Extremists, conspiracy theorists, those who’ve been publicly shamed and - more recently - individuals whose stories are intertwined with the culture wars of the present day.Jon describes himself as a humanist journalist. He’s curious, empathetic and, at his happiest, when immersed in stories that help him understand the world.He’s now based in upstate New York. But this conversation was recorded in London, in November 2022. Hot on the heels of the US Midterm elections and Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover.  Related links:Things Fell Apart (Jon's series for the BBC)Jon Ronson's websiteJon Ronson's books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Snowcast - a new weekly podcast from the journalist Jon Snow - launching Tuesday 7th February. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.