Chartwell’s Podcasts Of The Year
Podcasts have quickly become one of the best ways to learn, unwind, and stay inspired. Whether you’re after sharp business insights, big-picture thinking, or simply great storytelling, podcasts offer a flexible way to digest engrossing content. You can listen during your commute, at the gym, or while making dinner, turning everyday moments into opportunities to learn something new.
As we wrap up the year, I wanted to share a few of my favourite episodes a mix of powerful interviews to thought provoking ideas, these are the ones that stayed with me long after listening.
Geoffrey Hinton on “AI: What Could Go wrong?”
The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
As AI races ahead, host Jon Stewart speaks with Geoffrey Hinton, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto and the “Godfather of AI,” to unpack how neural networks work, what today’s systems can do, and why Hinton is worried about where this technology is headed.
Bryan Johnson on “Life-Changing Psychedelics and Superintelligence”
The Louis Theroux Podcast
In this episode, host Louis Theroux is joined by tech entrepreneur turned longevity evangelist, Bryan Johnson. Dialling in from his home in Los Angeles, Bryan tells Louis all about his quest to live forever, from the psychedelic experience that changed his life, to the role of superintelligence in the future.
Emma Grede on “Betting on Yourself”
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Host Mel Robbins sits down with Emma Grede, the self-made force behind SKIMS, Good American, and Safely, to talk about how she built an extraordinary life from nothing. From East London to Shark Tank and three billion-dollar brands, Emma shares the mindset and grit it takes to bet on yourself when no one else does.
Tristan Harris on “The Two-Year Warning for AI”
The Diary of a CEO
Hosted by Steven Bartlett in conversation with Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, who warns that a rapid AI arms race could blackmail citizens, hack democracy, and upend jobs by 2027, arguing that we have a narrow window to demand safeguards before AI becomes uncontrollable.
Rory Sutherland on “Psychology In The World Of Advertising”
Modern Wisdom
Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy and one of the most original minds in advertising, explains how small psychological shifts can drive big changes in consumer behavior. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who buys, sells, or creates anything.
Gareth Southgate on “The Truth About Leaving England”
High Performance
Hosted by Damian Hughes in conversation with Gareth Southgate, who opens up about England’s “almost” era, sharing the pressure, fear of failure, and tiny margins that have defined his leadership, reflecting on reshaping team culture through daily habits, respect, empathy, and vulnerability, and revealing what it is really like to lead under constant national scrutiny.
Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn on “Modern War and What It Leaves Behind”
The General & The Journalist
Hosts General Sir Patrick Sanders and journalist Tom Newton Dunn draw on frontline experience to explain how today’s wars start, unfold, and reshape the world, from Ukraine and Gaza to the next potential flashpoints. They speak to key players, unpack the future of nuclear weapons, and ask how ready we really are if war came tomorrow.
Anne Applebaum on “How Democracies Fail”
The Rest is Politics: Leading
Hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart sit down with journalist and historian Anne Applebaum to unpack what defines an autocratic state, how populism came to dominate global politics, and what might shape the endgame of the war in Ukraine.
Mo Gawdat on “AI: Overhyped or Underhyped?”
Moonshots
Hosted by Peter Diamandis in conversation with Mo Gawdat and Steven Kotler, two leading thinkers on technology and human performance, who go head to head on whether AI is overhyped or underhyped, and what this rapid wave of innovation really means for our future.
Gordon Corera on “The Chinese Spy Scandal: Breaching Westminster”
The Rest Is Classified
Gordon Corera unpacks MI5’s warning that a mass Chinese espionage campaign is targeting Westminster through LinkedIn, using two collapsed spying cases to explore what may really be happening behind the scenes and whether you should respond when someone like “Shirley” suddenly reaches out.
Mariana Mazzucato on “Trumponomics”
On With Kara Swisher
Host Kara Swisher sits down with economist Mariana Mazzucato to unpack whether Trump’s tariffs can really “make America rich again,” what Trumponomics means for U.S. industrial policy, how worried we should be about the trade deficit, and whether the AI boom is heading for a bubble or a bailout.
Jocko Willink on “Humble Leaders Lead Better Teams”
A Bit Of Optimism
Host Simon Sinek and retired Navy SEAL commander Jocko Willink explore why real leadership starts with humility, not being the best at everything. Drawing on lessons from combat and business, they discuss why new leaders should stop trying to prove themselves, listen more, and lead with curiosity and openness.
John Mearsheimer on “On Israel Hezbollah, US Elections & Russia”
Piers Morgan Uncensored
Host Piers Morgan and John Mearsheimer clash over Gaza and Ukraine, as Mearsheimer accuses Israel of genocide and calls Western support for Ukraine a doomed project, while Piers presses him on the moral cost of stepping back and the signal it sends to Putin.
David Olusoga & Sarah Churchwell on “Why We’re Obsessed With The Traitors”
Journey Through Time
Hosts David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell dive into the surprising history of reality TV, from its roots in WWII deception tactics to its influence on modern culture. They also unpack David’s experience on Celebrity Traitors and how the genre has shaped the way we see the world.
Keyu Jin on “ China’s Economy, Tariffs, Trade, Trump, Communism & Capitalism”
Lex Fridman Podcast
Economist Keyu Jin unpacks how China’s economy really works, from tariffs and trade with the US to the mix of communism and capitalism that drives its growth and global influence.
Paul Craven on “How to Think (and Sell) Smarter ”
Climb In Consulting
Behavioural science expert Paul Craven explores how people really make decisions and how to use ethical persuasion to lead, sell, and build stronger relationships, delving into Cialdini’s principles, the shortcuts our brains take, and what magic reveals about our hidden biases.
Gideon Rachman on “Donald Trump and autocracy in America”
The Rachman Review
Host Gideon Rachman talks to historian and author Anne Applebaum about the Trump presidency. The US president is increasingly accused of being a would-be dictator, but is it fair to compare Donald Trump to authoritarian leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping?
Stephen Sackur on “The Truth About Trump’s Epstein U-Turn”
The Rest Is Politics US
Hosted by Anthony Scaramucci and Katty Kay in conversation with Stephen Sackur, who explores why Trump now wants the Epstein files released, questioning whether he has nothing to hide or whether greater political factors are at play.
Kathryn Schulz on “Our Lives Are an Endless Series of ‘And’”
The Ezra Klein Show
Kathryn Schulz reflects on how we live with everything we are asked to feel in a single day, exploring the coexistence of horror and normalcy, life and death, grief and joy, and how we hold profound loss and profound love at the same time without becoming overwhelmed or numb.
Alice Han on “The State of Trade with China”
Prof G Markets
Hosts Scott Galloway and Ed Nelson are joined by China economist Alice Han, who unpacks Trump’s tariffs on China, DeepSeek’s “Sputnik moment” for AI, and why she believes we’re entering a period of heightened geopolitical instability.
Michael Gove on “Sanity and Common Sense in Modern Politics”
Quite Right!
Hosts Michael Gove, editor of The Spectator, and Madeline Grant, assistant editor of The Spectator, search for sanity and common sense in a world which increasingly seems devoid of both, mixing politics, culture and mischief as they unpack the stories that most piqued their interest, amusement or exasperation.
If you would like to book any of these speakers or to speak further, please get in touch.
With best wishes,
Scott Lincoln
Managing Agent