Share

cover art for FT Weekend: The stories we tell, with Elif Shafak

FT News Briefing

FT Weekend: The stories we tell, with Elif Shafak

This week we bring you one of the most popular episodes from our archive: a conversation with Elif Shafak, the most widely read woman novelist in Turkey. She and Lilah discuss national identity, the generational pain of conflict, and writing in countries that don't have freedom of speech. This conversation feels especially poignant today, as the war in Ukraine becomes even more devastating. This episode also features columnist Enuma Okoro on loving our cities, and economist Tim Harford on feeling less pressure to get everything done.

We’ll be back with a new episode, on the cultural side of the war in Ukraine, next week.

--------------

We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap

--------------

Special offers for FT Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast

--------------

Links from the episode:

––Key coverage of the war in Ukraine is free to read: https://www.ft.com/freetoread. You can also keep up with FT coverage by following @financialtimes on Instagram and Twitter.

—Enuma Okoro’s love letter to New York City: https://www.ft.com/content/e2507d84-9a12-4755-a9c7-41c9ea116947  

—Lilah’s piece about visiting Armenia: https://www.ft.com/content/2e2f38b0-e7a1-11e8-8a85-04b8afea6ea3 

—Review of Elif Shafak’s novel, The Island of Missing Trees: https://www.ft.com/content/1a064a06-bd19-43c7-8237-38931853d0e2 

—Tim Harford on to-do lists: https://www.ft.com/content/06ffe40d-fdcc-4be8-b536-810cedce7ed1 

—Oliver Burkeman on how not to waste your life (paywall): https://www.ft.com/content/dd0d477b-c1f7-4d74-af68-c1ef1692566c

--------------

The first US FT Weekend Festival is on Saturday, May 7 in Washington, DC. To attend virtually or in person, buy tickets at http://ft.weekendfestival.com – use the discount code FTFriends2022 for 10% off.

--------------

Sound design and mixing is by Breen Turner, with original music by Metaphor Music. 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • EU readies retaliation for Trump’s Greenland threat

    12:26|
    As Europe considers retaliation measures to US President Donald Trump’s tariff threat to NATO allies that oppose his Greenland-takeover bid, Denmark seeks to bolster its own relationship with the Arctic island. Plus, the US capture of Venezuela’s president has boosted demand for Latin America political risk cover. And, geopolitics is the topic du jour at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.Mentioned in this podcast:EU readies €93bn tariffs in retaliation for Trump’s Greenland threatDenmark’s development bank has ‘huge appetite’ to invest in Greenland, CEO saysNicolás Maduro ousting boosts demand for Latin America political risk coverBehind the Money podcast: Davos’ fight for relevance Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Julia Webster and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Credit: NBC, White House, World Economic ForumRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com
  • China’s state iron ore buyer flexes muscles

    12:05|
    The EU is proposing a new way to allow Ukraine to join the bloc, and it was the best year for US investment banks since 2021. Plus, a look into the iron ore market and the role China is playing in it, and a preview of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Mentioned in this podcast:EU ‘membership-lite’ plan for Ukraine spooks European capitalsJamie Dimon warns Trump administration’s attacks on Fed could boost inflationChina’s state iron ore buyer flexes muscles in talks with global minersBehind the Money podcast: Davos’ fight for relevance FT subscription sale here.Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
  • Why Japan’s prime minister might call a snap election

    11:46|
    US President Donald Trump has not ruled out military action in Iran and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to call a snap general election. Plus, Donald Trump’s “unpredictable” policies have prompted bond giant Pimco to diversify away from US assets, and US banks push back against Trump’s credit card cap plans. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump says he has received assurances ‘killing in Iran is stopping’Japan’s Sanae Takaichi to call snap electionDonald Trump’s ‘unpredictable’ policies to fuel multiyear shift from US, Pimco saysWall Street hits back at Trump credit card cap plansFT subscription sale  Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
  • London VC’s bet on Revolut pays off

    10:49|
    Two former senior executives at the collapsed subprime car lender Tricolor Holdings pleaded not guilty to fraud and financial crime charges, and Microsoft is pledging to “pay its way” for its AI data centres. Plus, US inflation stayed at 2.7 per cent in December, and we’ll talk about what Balderton Capital’s early investment in Revolut can teach us about venture capital investment. Mentioned in this podcast:Tricolor executives plead not guilty to charges stemming from collapseMicrosoft vows to ‘pay its way’ as it seeks to defuse data centre backlashUS inflation stays at 2.7% in DecemberBillions from a million: the London VC that hit the jackpot with RevolutFT subscription sale  Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello and Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
  • Markets shrug off investigation into Powell

    12:33|
    UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti is planning to step down in April 2027, and Paramount threatened a proxy fight in its latest move to force Warner Bros Discovery back to the negotiating table. Plus, the FT’s Robert Armstrong explains what could come next in US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on the Federal Reserve. Mentioned in this podcast:UBS boss Sergio Ermotti plans to step down in April 2027Paramount threatens proxy fight in battle for Warner Bros DiscoveryWhat is behind the criminal investigation into Jay Powell?Former Fed chiefs attack DoJ probe into Jay PowellFT subscription sale  Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino and produced by Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
  • US opens criminal investigation into Fed chair

    12:23|
    US federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, and civil unrest continues to threaten the Islamic regime in Iran. Plus, earnings season kicks off this week with the bank results.Mentioned in this podcast:US prosecutors investigate Jay Powell over revamp of Fed headquartersIran warns US against interventionWall Street headed for best investment banking year since pandemicFT subscription saleNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Julia Webster and Marc Filippino and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. The FT’s executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Source: Federal Reserve, White HouseRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com
  • Swamp Notes: Why Trump wants to ‘run’ other countries

    21:49|
    This is a repeat of an episode published on Swamp Notes, a sister podcast of the FT News Briefing on January 9, 2026. Subscribe to Swamp Notes on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen.After a military operation to capture Venezuela's leader, the Trump administration is seeking influence over other regions across the western hemisphere. The FT’s national editor Edward Luce and US-Europe foreign affairs correspondent Amy Mackinnon share their insights on how Trump and his cabinet have come to embrace the idea of foreign intervention.Mentioned in this podcast:Trump really wants GreenlandUS says using military is among ‘options’ to acquire GreenlandHow the US’s audacious operation to capture Nicolás Maduro unfoldedSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.CREDIT: Roll Call, CNN, Democracy Now!
  • Iranians protest over economic pain

    12:42|
    Glencore and Rio Tinto resume mining megamerger talks, protests in Iran over economic conditions are the largest in years, and the US trade deficit narrowed to its lowest level since 2009. Plus, is there a right way for chief executives to exit a company? Mentioned in this podcast:Glencore and Rio Tinto resume talks on mining megadealIran protests spread to neglected hinterlandsUS trade deficit slides to lowest level since 2009 in OctoberArt of the exit: is there a right way for CEOs to quit?CREDIT: Reuters Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
  • Venezuela’s crumbling oil infrastructure

    11:47|
    The US wants to control Venezuelan oil sales ‘indefinitely’ but the ‘catastrophic’ state of the Latin American nation’s crude facilities presents several hurdles. Plus, President Donald Trump banned institutional investors from buying single-family homes, and the UK and France pledged to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of sweeping US-backed security guarantees.Mentioned in this podcast:US seeks to control sales of Venezuelan oil ‘indefinitely’The ‘catastrophic’ state of Venezuela’s oil facilitiesDonald Trump moves to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homesFrance and UK commit to deploying troops under proposed Ukraine peace dealCredit: CNBC TelevisionNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com