Hello and welcome to the Political Party. Today's guest is Helen Lewis Staffrite of the Atlantic,

formerly of the new statesman and host of the Fantastic BBC Sounds podcast. The new gurus. I'll

put a link to that and to all of Helen's work in the blurb. The podcast is amazing. It's exactly

the sort of thing. If you're into, especially in a little bit of Louis Thoreau, but with that really

doesn't do it justice, but great stories well told and a real focus on effectively cults and what

makes them and individuals. But also there's something that's very sweet about some of the people

involved. So it's just really, it's just a brilliant, if you're looking as I'm sure you often are

for just a highly bingeable podcast, then oh man, it's just great. So I hope there's more of it

because I could listen to that. I mean, the problem is with it, it's so good, you just binge it.

You listen to it in two days and then I'm like, well, okay, now I'm on the hunt for a new podcast

again, but I guess that's life. But many of you will know Helen Lewis, of course, one of the best

genesis in the country, a phenomenal writer from a centre-left perspective and someone who has

a very clear take on what's happened on the British left in the last few years and also some

really interesting stuff about the sex and gender debate. So this is wide-ranging, it's great. And also,

if you're familiar with Helen, you'll know what a talented writer she is. It is not surprising,

she's also a brilliant talker and this is just an hour or a little bit more in the company of

a highly articular, very thoughtful person. And it's just so good engaging with people who can,

you know, have done all the thinking and can talk about it in such a brilliant way. Before,

you have the treat of this interview, I can announce some future guests for the live shows. So

the show is now booked until mid-April. And here is the full lineup until then, and oh boy,

I mean, there's been a couple that have been closely illness confirmed, but haven't been able to.

So now I can fully confirm the guests for the next six shows. On the 23rd of January, my guests are

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