BOOKED IN

How did an Al Qaeda bomb maker who spent time with the mastermind of 9/11 end up as one of the most important agents for British intelligence? Tim Lister co-authored the fascinating book, Nine Lives, about Aimen Dean’s extraordinary life. In it, he documents everything from Dean’s respect for Osama bin Laden to the moral conflict he grappled with, while also delving into his own fascinating career as one of the most respected journalists at CNN.  

Jane Ferguson is without a doubt one of the most accomplished and respected war correspondents of our generation. In her memoir, No Ordinary Assignment, she documents with extraordinary candour how a difficult upbringing in Northern Ireland during The Troubles led her to some of the most dangerous front lines around the world. As The New York Times review noted, it is "a brutally honest exploration of what it means to be a war reporter". She is a woman I have immense respect for, and I was honoured to chat with her recently.

Andrew Lownie is the author of 'Entitled', a damning look at the former Prince Andrew. After four years of research, Lownie was one of the first to say the King's brother could be arrested for misconduct in public office - a point he was making about the disgraced royal months before the recent release of the Epstein files. During our conversation, he also made the explosive claim that Andrew could one day face charges of treason.

Donald Trump is on his way back to the White House, and I thought it warranted a special overview.Normally I chat to an author on this podcast about the book they've written - but I felt there is so much content, and so much information out there since Donald Trump was announced the winner of the election - that I felt the best use of an episode today would be to almost filter through the most helpful information I've come across.It looks at where the latest developments, historical context, where Trump's legal challenges currently stand, Biden's legacy, and an insight into what diplomacy might look like for a second Trump term. No matter how you feel about this election, let's be real - it's going to be discussed at your work, with your friends, in social settings etc over the coming days and weeks.I have no interest in telling anyone how to feel today, I only care that I'm a helpful source of impartial analysis and context - so I hope you find today's episode helpful.

Rashid Khalidi is the author of a bestselling book called 'The Hundred Years' War on Palestine' - looking at the tumultuous century from the Balfour declaration in 1917 up until 2017. This book is not just a historical overview - it is also a deeply personal look at the author's family roots in the region. We spoke about his perspectives - as a Palestinian, an American, and a historian - on everything from the establishment of Israel, the unwavering bond it shares with America, and the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza.

Lord Mountbatten was a great grandson of Queen Victoria and an uncle of Prince Philip. During his marriage to Countess Edwina, he famously said they spent all their married lives "getting into other people's beds". In 1979, he was murdered by the IRA off the coast of Sligo in one of the most significant moments of The Troubles. Yet, decades after his death, he made headlines once again in 2022, when a man accused him of sexually abusing him when was an 11-year-old boy. Author Andrew Lownie has written the most comprehensive biography of this complex figure, and was generous enough to chat with me about his research.

Last weekend marked 40 years since an IRA bomb very nearly killed the British Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher. The bombing of a hotel in Brighton during the 1984 Conservative Party Conference was one of the most significant moments during the Troubles. In a chilling line while taking responsibility for the attack, the IRA said "today we were unlucky, but remember we have only to be lucky once, you will have to be lucky always". Rory Carroll, author of 'Killing Thatcher', sat down with me to talk about the significance of this moment, and its unintended consequences.

For eight seasons, Mary Bonnet has been one of the most popular members cast on the hit show, Selling Sunset. Always the one to stay out of the drama, it came as no surprise to me that she decided to name her newly published memoir, 'Selling Sunshine'. However, what I had not appreciated nor understood from the show, was just how many challenges Mary has faced throughout her life. She has a tattoo on her arm that reads 'but the fighter still remains', and in a twisted sense of irony - she never knew how much the day she got the tattoo would test that fighting spirit. Please note: this episode touches on grief, miscarriage, abuse, rape and teenage pregnancy.