The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen. In this episode, Jo interviews the whistleblowing psychothe…

The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen. In this episode, Jo speaks to Stephanie Davies-Arai about c…

The publication of the Cass Review validated many of the concerns that “gender-critical” commentators and activists had expressed about transgenderism and transitioning. In this series, Jo Bartosch will explore how we got here — interviewing some of the people who helped to make it happen. In this episode, Jo interviews Dr Michael Biggs, Associate …

Josephine Bartosch is joined by Charlotte Gill to discuss silly academic research, the right to debate the apportioning of taxpayers’ money and our decadent intellectual culture.Autor: The Critic Podcast

An all star panel of Critic editors and contributors, chaired by deputy editor Graham Stewart, addressed the theme of the crisis in the universities. James Orr spoke about the narrowing of speech in the university, and the centralisation of increasingly politicised research at Oxford and Cambridge. Sebastian Milbank discussed the medieval origins o…

Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 267 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we head back to spice world of Arrakis for a review of Dune: Part 2, starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh. Rico and Jess discuss this masterful sequel from prestige director Denis Villenueve, talking through the haunting a…

Emma B from Children of Transitioners joins Jo Bartosch to discuss growing up with a trans father and the material and psychological challenges that it can cause.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 266 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we’re back to look at some of the movies we saw over the last few weeks. Rico and Jess take turns talking about movies they have watched recently, including Argylle, Anatomy of a Fall, American Fiction, Bob Marley: One Love and The Beekeeper. For episodes with similar movies, click belowVariety Shows…

On Episode 265 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we head to WWII Germany to review The Zone of Interest, starring Sandra Hüller and Christian Friedel. Rico and Jess discuss this Oscar Best Picture contender from director Jonathan Glazer, talking through the haunting story, the performances and characters, the audacious sound design (also Oscar nomi…

On Episode 265 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we’re looking forward to the 2024 movie slate and we chat about 10 movies we're excited to watch. Rico and Jess take turns naming 2024 movies that they want to watch. Although they share a few in common, of course the surprise each other with what they left off the list. They also talk about Ariana G…

On Episode 264 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we’re back from our holiday break to look back at the year 2023 and rank our top 10 movies of the year. Rico and Jess take turns naming their top 10 movies of the year. Although they share a few in common, the co-hosts surprise each other with their picks. They also talk about the year 2023 in movies…

Lisa Townsend, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, joins Jo Bartosch to discuss attempts to have her removed from her position for opposing the principle of “self-ID”, and to talk about how ideology can damage institutionsAutor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 263 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we’re back from our Thanksgiving break to review all the in-theater releases we watched recently, including Saltburn, starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, and Rosamund Pike. Rico and Jess discuss Emerald Fennell's wild dabaucherous romp Saltburn, the latest from Hayao Miyazaki The Boy and the Heron,…

Curator and critic Pierre d’Alancaisez joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the delusions of the art world and the opportunities for independent creativity.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 261 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we’re back in the Panem to review The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, starring Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, and Peter Dinklage. Rico and Jess discuss this prequel release from Hunger Games franchise director Francis Lawrence, talking through the plot, the performances from Z…

Former Braverman special advisor David Scullion joins Sebastian Milbank to discuss the Home Secretary's departure, what a SpAd is, and the ongoing battle between elected ministers and civil servants.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 261 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we’re back in the MCU to review The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani. Rico and Jess discuss the SAG-AFTRA strike ending, the Mean Girls musical trailer, what they’ve been watching since their last episode before diving into this late 2023 release from director Nia DaCos…

Writer and researcher Ellen Pasternack joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss telling people off on the tube and the fluctuating nature of social cohesion.Autor: The Critic Podcast

Barry Norris joins Graham Stewart to discuss his new Critic cover story “Britain, goner with the wind” and the fallacies behind the growth of wind power.Autor: The Critic Podcast

Jo Bartosch interviews comedy writer and author Graham Linehan about his new book Tough Crowd and what led him to write it.Autor: The Critic Podcast

Writer and commentator Rod Dreher in conversation with Critic executive editor Sebastian Milbank, to talk about Israel-Palestine, Viktor Orbán, and the dangers of romanticising victimhood.Autor: The Critic Podcast

Writer and researcher Christopher Snowdon joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss smoking, vapes, obesity and all kinds of prohibitionism.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 260 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we sing our hearts out and discuss Taylor Swift: The Era Tours! Rico and Jess discuss the blockbuster concert film. We chat about our favorite moments, what we wished to have seen in the movie and how it stacks up to concert movies we've seen before. For episodes with similar movies, click below Vari…

The writer Samuel Rubinstein joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss historical controversies, political controversies and where the two meet.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 259 of the Always the Critic podcast, Jess and Rico continue the mini Spooky SZN with another Daebak K-Rambles Podcast crossover episode to review of Ballerina, starring Jun Jong-Seo and Kim Ji-Hoon. Jess and Rico discuss this Netflix original film from writer-director Lee Chung-Hyun, talking through its derivative nature, the revenge pl…

On Episode 258 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we to New Asia to review The Creator, starring John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, and Madeleine Yuna Voyles. Rico and Jess discuss this 2023 release from director Gareth Edwards, talking through the genre of sci-fi A.I. robot movies, the stunning and impressive visuals, John David Was…

On Episode 257 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we’re finally back in time to review Dumb Money, starring Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, Pete Davidson, America Ferrera, Seth Rogan, Sebastian Stan, and more. Rico and Jess discuss what they’ve been up to and watching since their last episode before diving into this rare late-2023 release based on a re…

Dr David Butterfield, Literary Editor of The Critic, joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss his new article on Glastonbury, the different identities of the festival, and the decline of live music.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 256 of the Always the Critic Podcast, on the eve of Hurricane Idalia, we queue up our list of best storm movies. Rico and Jess take turns listing their top 5 storm movies, producing two vastly different lists based on slightly different criteria, citing movies like Twister, The Wizard of Oz, The Day After Tomorrow, Groundhog Day, and mor…

On Episode 255 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we each list out favorite movies in ABC order, one movie for each letter of the alphabet. Rico and Jess discuss and list 26 of their favorite movies in ABC order. Rico mentioned movies like The Dark Knight and Moneyball, while Jessica listed out Bridesmaids and The Mummy, among others. For episodes w…

On Episode 254 of the Always the Critic Podcast, it’s Blindspots: Volume 3, where we discuss some movies (classic or not) that we watched for the first time. Rico and Jess discuss and remove a wide range of movies from their shame lists. Rico got around to movies like Chinatown and The Big Short, while Jessica knocked out Waiting to Exhale and Kick…

Ben Sixsmith is joined by the writer Patrick Galbraith to talk about hunting, endangered ways of life and what opinion columnists can learn from gamekeepers.Autor: The Critic Podcast

Writer Charlie Bentley-Astor joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss Cambridge cancel culture, declining birth rates, decolonisation and the diminished prospects of the young.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 253 of the Always the Critic Podcast, it’s a double feature as we review two hotly anticipated movies that won the weekend (possibly the year), Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Rico and Jess first talk about Barbie and how much they connected with the clever, beautiful story and commentary, mentioning the excell…

On Episode 252 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we survive a car chase through the streets of Rome on our review of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part 1, starring Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, and more. Rico and Jess discuss the 6th MI installment, talking through the plot, the retcons, the practical …

Opinion columnists are experts at picking through ashes, and here Nick Timothy joins Ben Sixsmith to do it in a more literal sense as they discuss the ongoing Ashes series, their favourite Ashes moments and the recent report on equity in cricket.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 251 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we hit pause on reviewing a new movie and look back at the year 2023 so far, ranking our top 10 movies. Rico and Jess examine the 2023 movie outlook, comparing it to previous years and discussing what we can expect heading into the latter half of the year, rank their top 10 movies of 2023, and touch …

On Episode 250 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we put on our fedora (again) on our review of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, starring Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, and more. Rico and Jess discuss the 5th Indie installment, talking through the awesome and terrible, uncanny valley CGI, the new themes explored, Mikkelse…

Writer and researcher James McSweeney joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss a future of energy shortages, institutional dysfunction, and why the beliefs, not the tactics, of Just Stop Oil are the real problem.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 249 of the Always the Critic Podcast, it’s a double feature as we review the R-rated comedy No Hard Feelings and Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, before the non-spoiler section of our Daebak K-Rambles Past Lives review. Rico and Jess first talk about No Hard Feelings and how much they’ve missed Jennifer Lawrence, mentioning the rather tame …

On Episode 248 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we suit up and enter a new dimension (again) on our review of The Flash, starring Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, and more. Rico and Jess discuss the latest DC movie, talking through the terrible, uncanny valley CGI, the return of Keaton’s Batman, the divisive figure of Ezra Miller, the sta…

Jo Bartosch interviews India's most provocative feminist filmmaker, Vaishnavi Sundar, on her work on gender issues and the ensuing controversyAutor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 247 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we MAXIMIZE on our review of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, starring Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Pete Davidson, and so many more. Rico and Jess discuss the latest in the Transformers franchise, talking through the cast list, Anthony Ramos and his rising star pow…

Graham Stewart and Dr Radomir Tylecote debate and discuss the extent to which the civil service has been politicised and obstructs democratic processes in Britain.Autor: The Critic Podcast

Deputy director of the NIESR (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) Professor Adrian Pabst joints executive editor Sebastian Milbank to discuss the impact of the National Conservative conference, and the place of the nation in the modern world.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 246 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we suit up and enter a new dimension on our review of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, starring Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, and so many more. Rico and Jess discuss the sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, talking through the Hispanic representation, the ethical and moral quan…

Jo Bartosch joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the trials and triumphs of freelance writing, the state of the gender wars and the even darker side of pornography.Autor: The Critic Podcast

On Episode 245 of the Always the Critic Podcast, we swim fathoms below for our review of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Awkwafina, Daveed Diggs, and more. Rico and Jess discuss the latest Disney live-action remake, talking through how perfect Halle Bailey was as Ariel, the Aquaman-esque…

Tom Jones joins Ben Sixsmith to discuss the impoverished prospects for British youth, Conservative self-harm and the need for major national reform.Autor: The Critic Podcast