The Big Interview
In-depth conversations with global leaders in art, design, literature, politics, business, and food. Learn from the best about their craft and successes.
Latest Episodes
Astronaut series: Nicole Stott
Veteran Nasa astronaut Nicole Stott sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her time on the International Space Station and what life in Earth’s orbit taught her about solving challenges on the planet.
Tony Leon
The politician and former South African ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay looks back on his career and shares the lessons he learned while working with Nelson Mandela.
Tarja Halonen
Finland’s first-ever female head of state looks back on her remarkable career in public service and shares her take on the prospect of Finland joining Nato.
Judit Polgar
The best female chess player of all time sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her remarkable life and career.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves
The former president of Estonia speaks to Andrew Mueller about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what this means for Estonia and other Baltic nations.
Michael Holding
The West Indies cricket legend looks back on his time as a fast bowler in the 1970s and 1980s and shares why he decided to write a deeply personal book about prejudice he faced both on and off the pitch.
Janina Kugel
The CV of German board-management expert, Janina Kugel, reads like a vertical line pointing upwards. In this edition, Monocle’s Emma Nelson sits down with the former chief human resources manager of Siemens to discuss leadership and the future of work.
Dirk Boll
President of Christie’s in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Dirk Boll, sits down with Monocle’s Robert Bound to discuss what it takes to oversee one of the world’s most prestigious auction houses.
Albie Sachs
South African freedom fighter and former Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs sits down with Monocle’s Andrew Mueller to discuss his influential role in the anti-apartheid struggle, and how he managed to resist the impulse to take revenge against the bomber who cost him his right arm.
Juan Manuel Santos
Former president of Colombia and Nobel Peace prize winner, Juan Manuel Santos, speaks to Monocle’s Andrew Mueller about his efforts to end more than 50 years of civil war in his country.
