
Monocle on Culture
Robert Bound and guests explore what’s new in art, film, books, and media. Expect lively discussions, in-depth interviews, and expert insights.
Latest Episodes

Broadcasting during a pandemic
We look at the role of public broadcasters during the pandemic. TV critic Scott Bryan tells us what the BBC has been up to while the CBC/Radio-Canada’s Catherine Tait talks about the practicalities of…

The art of an online gallery
As art institutions and commercial galleries shut their doors to the public, we speak to critics Ben Luke and Jane Morris about what effect closures will have on audiences and businesses. Plus: we speak…

‘The Mirror & the Light’ by Hilary Mantel
Robert Bound, John Mitchinson and Ted Hodgkinson review the final – and rather hefty – instalment of Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell trilogy.

‘Among the Trees’
Robert Bound, Francesca Gavin and Ossian Ward get to the root of the Hayward Gallery’s new exhibition.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire
We discuss female relationships, the queer gaze and the beauty of Céline Sciamma’s latest film. Ben Rylan is in conversation with Karen Krizanovich, Caspar Salmon and Chiara Rimella.

Steve McQueen at Tate Modern
We discuss the new show of the artist and filmmaker, Steve McQueen, and revisit an interview with the man himself.

‘Adults’ by Emma Jane Unsworth
Lucy Scholes and Susannah Butter discuss Emma Jane Unsworth’s new novel about Jenny McLaine, a thirtysomething London journalist whose addiction to social media begins to take over her life.

Parasite
We review the newly released dark comedy by Bong Joon-ho, which picked up the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year. Film critics Simran Hans and Tim Robey join Robert Bound in the studio.

Mushrooms: the art, design and future of fungi
Curator Francesca Gavin takes Monocle’s very own fun-guy, Robert Bound, on a tour of her new mushroom exhibition at Somerset House, which explores the ways fungi have been used in art.

Uncle Vanya
Theatre critics Matt Wolf and Lyn Gardner join Robert Bound to give their verdict on the new production of Chekhov’s ‘Uncle Vanya’ at the Harold Pinter Theatre, starring Toby Jones and Ciarán Hinds.