The Monocle Weekly
Conversations with authors, artists, and business leaders shaping the world. Monocle’s longest-running show delivers insights and interviews weekly.
Latest Episodes
Sean Ellis, Ed Yong, Mike Martin, Chloe Baker and Charlie Hatch-Barnwell
We discuss new book ‘Crossing the Congo’ with its authors: former army man Mike Martin, anaesthetist Chloe Baker and photojournalist Charlie Hatch-Barnwell. Plus: film-director Sean Ellis fills us in on Second World War true-life drama ‘Anthropoid’ and we look at the world of microbes with science writer Ed Yong, author…
Paul MacAlindin, Michael Bird and Travis Elborough
Orchestra conductor Paul MacAlindin describes how he helped musicians form the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq and we get a creative lesson in art history from Michael Bird, author of ‘Vincent’s Starry Night and Other Stories’. Plus: we celebrate open spaces with Travis Elborough, whose book “A Walk in the…
24-hour cities, falling box-office numbers and Canada’s Unesco World Heritage Sites
As London unveils its Night Tube, we explore the concept of the 24-hour city. Meanwhile, we ask why the box office has struggled this summer and speak to Canada’s environment minister about the country’s process for picking Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Ben Wright, Dominic Wilcox and Sofia Serbin de Skalon
Journalist Ben Wright discusses his book ‘Order!, Order! The Rise and Fall of Political Drinking’. Meanwhile, artist, designer and inventor Dominic Wilcox talks us through a new exhibition designed for dogs and we meet Sofia Serbin de Skalon, director of London’s Argentine Film Festival that takes place this week.
Neil Hannon, Bernadette Murphy and Alicia Bastos
Neil Hannon, frontman and songwriter for the Divine Comedy, joins us to discuss new album “Foreverland”. We also unpick the mystery of one particular painter’s troubled life with Bernadette Murphy, author of ‘Van Gogh’s Ear’, and celebrate the culture of Rio and Brazil with Alicia Bastos, a curator at Braziliarty.
Sir Lockwood Smith, Henry Eliot and Martin Creed
Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed talks us through his music and new album ‘Thoughts Lined Up’. Plus: we welcome Sir Lockwood Smith, high commissioner of New Zealand to the UK, to the show and speak with Henry Eliot, writer and co-author of unconventional travel guide ‘Curiocity: In Pursuit of London’.
Simon Hucker, Ali McGregor, Adam Rawson and Joel Karamath
Simon Hucker from auction house Sotheby’s talks us through ‘Bowie/Collector’, their exhibition and upcoming auction of David Bowie’s personal art collection. Plus: cabaret and opera performer Ali McGregor tells us how to hold a note and chef Adam Rawson and curator Joel Karamath discuss ‘The Rhône Touch’, a new exhibition…
DBC Pierre, Ethan Hawke and Joanne Rosenthal
Man Booker Prize winning author DBC Pierre tells us how to write a novel, as detailed in his new book ‘Release the Bats’, Hollywood actor Ethan Hawke looks back on the life of jazz musician Chet Baker – the subject of his new film ‘Born to be Blue’ – and…
David Goldblatt, Gillian McCain and Matt Potter
We look forward to the Rio Olympics with journalist David Goldblatt, author of new book ‘The Games: A Global History of the Olympics’. Plus: Gillian McCain joins us to discuss the stories behind music book ‘Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk’, which is 20 years old this…
Michael Kiwanuka, Dr Matthew Green and Ellen Wettmark
Andrew Tuck and Robert Bound welcome singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka to Midori House to discuss his new album ‘Love & Hate’. We also hear from historian Dr Matthew Green, who explains the history of London through seven drinks. Plus: Ellen Wettmark, cultural attaché for the Swedish embassy in London, tells us…
