The Big Interview
Long-form conversations about the lives and careers of the world's leading and most exciting names from the worlds of art, design, literature, politics, business and food. We hear from the masters themselves, about their art, their craft, their secrets and successes.
Episodes
Jack White
Long before The White Stripes shook the music world with its unique garage sound, Jack White was honing his artistic skills in Detroit. ‘Jack White: These Thoughts May Disappear’ at London’s Newport Street Gallery marks his first major exhibition, connecting craftsmanship and the visual language of the American Midwest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Billy Bragg
Why musician Billy Bragg has outsourced his memoir. More than 600 friends, associates, collaborators and fans collaborate in ‘Billy Bragg: A People’s History’, a book about the life and works of a songwriter whose work has become a soundtrack to people’s lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Richard Thaler
Pioneer of behavioural economics Richard Thaler discusses the arc of his career, from ‘heretic’ to Nobel Prize winner, and why it was so difficult to convince economists that behaviour and human nature contradict their theories. Also: his rules for a better way to play Scrabble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Russian politician, historian and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza speaks to Andrew Mueller about surviving solitary confinement in a Siberian prison, Putin’s future and why he hasn’t lost faith in Russian democracy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jacinda Ardern
New Zealand’s former prime minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to Andrew Mueller about her new memoir and the role that empathy plays in leadership, especially in times of crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Andrew Ross Sorkin – CNBC Squawk Box host, Dealbook founder, co-creator of TV series ‘Billions’ and author of ‘Too Big To Fail’ – has released a new book, ‘1929’, exploring the characters behind the Great Depression. He speaks with Chris Cermak about its lessons and when the next financial bubble will burst.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf
Laura Trevelyan
The long-time anchor of BBC World News America on becoming a US citizen the day after Donald Trump’s election and how her family’s history of slave ownership led her to apologise and offer reparations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Odile Renaud-Basso
The president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, founded after the Cold War, discusses Ukraine’s rebuilding and the institution’s newfound purpose in an age of retrenching from foreign aid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
American cyber-defence specialist Jen Easterly on why protecting US infrastructure matters
Jen Easterly led the agency keeping the US safe from cyber attacks for four years. She’s worried about where things have gone over the past few months. Emma Nelson discusses her life of service.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Norma Kamali
After a career spanning almost six decades, US fashion icon Norma Kamali is still reinventing herself. After immersing herself in the London fashion scene in the 1960s and establishing a New York boutique at the end of the decade, Kamali quickly rose to prominence. Her designs could be found on the star-studded dance floors of Studio 54, on an iconic 1976 Farrah Fawcett poster and on Whitney Houst
Bob Mould
An icon of US alternative rock, Bob Mould was a member of influential Minneapolis band Hüsker Dü, which combined screaming guitars with sweet pop melodies in the 1980s and inspired later acts such as Nirvana. Mould’s subsequent band Sugar recorded three acclaimed albums in the mid-1990s. He has since built up a solo catalogue that has included several stylistic deviations but keeps
Bill Broyles
The films of screenwriter Bill Broyles have time and again cemented themselves as classics of American cinema. Following his debut with the acclaimed series ‘China Beach’, came films including ‘Apollo 13’, ‘Cast Away’ and ‘Jarhead’. Broyles’ writing for the screen has been informed at least in part by an eventful personal life. As a young man,
Joe Wright
Joe Wright is the acclaimed film director known for single-take shots, redefining cinematic genres and updating classic narratives. He first appeared on the global stage with his feature directorial debut, ‘Pride & Prejudice’, starring Keira Knightley, followed by a string of celebrated releases that include the seven-time Academy Award-nominated drama ‘Atonement’, the
Ludovico Einaudi
Ludovico Einaudi is an Italian pianist and composer known for his unique blend of classical, folk and modern influences. His iconic albums, film scores and record-breaking concerts have made him one of the world’s most influential living composers. His new 13-track album, ‘The Summer Portraits’, is now available and Einaudi is also gearing up for a five-night residency at the Roy
Damian Woetzel
Damian Woetzel is a former principal dancer at the New York City Ballet and the current president of the world’s most prestigious performing arts conservatory, The Juilliard School. After an illustrious career as one of the world’s foremost male dancers, Woetzel went on to earn a degree from Harvard, serve on Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and direct a serie
Mayor Brandon Scott
Brandon Scott has been Baltimore’s mayor since 2020 and was re-elected in 2024. He is the youngest mayor in the city’s history and the first to be re-elected in 20 years, the latter achievement likely owed in no small part to his unprecedented success in reducing Baltimore’s notoriously high rates of crime, violence and homicide. A new documentary, ‘The Body Politic’,
Fred Kempe
A former journalist and editor at ‘The Wall Street Journal’, now president and CEO of The Atlantic Council, Fred Kempe’s life and career spans from the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall to the ongoing war in Ukraine and other geopolitical threats. A passionate advocate for American engagement in the world, Kempe sat down with Monocle’s Chris Cermak in Washington ahead of a US pre
Jason Isbell
Back in 2013, American singer and songwriter Jason Isbell released the album ‘Southeastern’, which tracked his life as an enthusiastic-if-reckless archetype of the dissolute southern rocker. It was an overwhelming critical and commercial success. Five more studio albums followed, turning Grammy-winning Isbell into a chart-topper and – as of Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ – a movie
Gherardo Felloni
Gherardo Felloni, creative director of Parisian luxury-accessories house Roger Vivier, joins Monocle’s associate editor Grace Charlton to discuss the brand’s spring-summer 2025 collection. Felloni tells us about his vision for the brand, reissuing some of the most iconic buckled shoes to have walked this earth and updating house codes for the modern woman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in
Alison Loehnis
Widely considered to be one of the most influential figures in fashion and retail, the ad interim CEO and president of the Yoox Net-a-Porter Group, Alison Loehnis, has been a leading force at the pioneering online retailer for more than a decade. Here, she joins Monocle’s fashion director Natalie Theodosi for a sprawling conversation about leadership, balancing creativity and business, nurturing y
Karl Ove Knausgaard
More than a decade after reaching worldwide acclaim with his six-volume autobiographical novel ‘My Struggle’, the Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard has returned to the fictional form in ‘The Morning Star’ series. Knausgaard sat down with Gunnar Gronlid to talk about the latest entry ‘The Third Realm’, embodying new perspectives and his fixation with death, family and freedom. See omnystudio.com
Adrian Edmondson
British comedy veteran of ‘The Young Ones’ and ‘Bottom’ fame Adrian Edmondson sits down with Andrew Mueller to talk about his memoir ‘Berserker!’, his often violent skits with late collaborator Rik Mayall and using humour to deal with trauma.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
James Comey
Former FBI director-turned-crime-fiction-author James Comey speaks with Andrew Mueller about his new novel, ‘Westport’, the dangers of a new Donald Trump presidency and whether he regrets reopening the Hillary Clinton investigation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alison Jackson
Award-winning artist, photographer and filmmaker Alison Jackson sits down with Georgina Godwin to speak about her staged and satiric photographs of celebrity lookalikes, her time as a politician and her planned Donald Trump feature film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ziya Tong
Science broadcaster and author Ziya Tong sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her new documentary film, ‘Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics’, her stint as one of Canada’s top encyclopaedia salespeople and the struggle to communicate important science issues to the public. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Penelope Tree
Swinging sixties fashion icon Penelope Tree sits down with Georgina Godwin to discuss her debut novel, ‘Piece of My Heart’, and her rise to fame at Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball. Plus: her relationship with photographer David Bailey, the skin condition that ended her modelling career and her spiritual awakening.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Joel Meyerowitz
London and New York-based street photographer Joel Meyerowtiz sits down with Monocle’s photography director, Matthew Beaman, to discuss quitting his job after working with Robert Frank, finding “decisive moments”, how smartphones changed the world, his love of Leica and large-format cameras and how time has affected his photographs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gabrielius Landsbergis
The minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss the importance of military preparedness, diplomatic efforts and being able to explain and justify your arguments to the electorate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jacob Collier
The six-time Grammy award-winning musician sits down with Robert Bound to discuss the release of the fourth and final instalment of his ‘Djesse’ album series, his creative process, the influence of his mother and how he transforms his audiences into choirs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tim Peake
The British astronaut sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss his remarkable career, the future of space exploration and his new book ‘Space: The Human Story’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Madhur Jaffrey
The culinary legend and actress sits down with Robert Bound to discuss her cookbooks, which span the flavours of India, and how she unintentionally became a household name for anyone with a taste for South Asian cuisine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Malcolm Gladwell
Best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell sits down with Georgina Godwin to discuss his life, career and gripping podcast series, ‘Revisionist History’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bob Brown
The former Australian senator sits down with Andrew Mueller to reflect on the highlights of his political career and how he became leader of the world’s first Green party.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Margaret MacMillan
The celebrated Canadian historian sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her bestselling books, the history of warfare and the challenge that Vladimir Putin poses to the world order. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Badiucao
Chinese dissident artist Badiucao sits down with Georgina Godwin to discuss his life in self-imposed exile and how he uses his art to challenge censorship and human-rights abuses in China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rhiannon Giddens
The Grammy award-winning American singer sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her remarkable career and mission to highlight the untold stories of people who have contributed to musical history in the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Steve Earle
Steve Earle, one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation, joins Andrew Mueller to discuss his new tour, play and why his enduring hit ‘Copperhead Road’ is the newest state song of Tennessee, where marijuana remains illegal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Erna Solberg
The former prime minister of Norway sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her political career and the future of Europe’s relationship with Russia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chuck D
Andrew Mueller sits down with the ground-breaking hip-hop pioneer and revolutionary activist to discuss his extraordinary career and his new illustrated memoir, ‘Livin’ Loud: ARTitation’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jason Rezaian
Journalist Jason Rezaian of ‘The Washington Post’ discusses his 544 days in an Iranian prison, what it took to get him out and what he believes should be done to help other journalists who have been wrongfully detained. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Carla Hayden
The first African American and female Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, joins Christopher Cermak to discuss the role of libraries as a cornerstone of democracy and her efforts to spread the word about their wonders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Angélique Kidjo
Five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo joins Emma Searle to discuss her unstoppable career and genre-defying repertoire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
James Olson
The former chief of counterintelligence for the CIA, looks back on his 30-year career with the agency and discusses how he coped with the moral dilemmas of spying.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nathan Law
Trailblazing pro-democracy activist Nathan Law joins Andrew Mueller to discuss his new memoir and how he went from being Hong Kong’s youngest legislator to living in political exile in the UK. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mubin Shaikh
Former counterterrorism operative Mubin Shaikh joins Andrew Mueller to explain how he went from being a supporter of Islamist extremism to working undercover for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service inside the “Toronto 18” terrorist group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hella Pick
Veteran journalist Hella Pick reflects on her remarkable life, from arriving in the UK on a Kindertransport in 1938 to becoming a trailblazer for women in journalism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bill Browder
Hedge-fund manager and political activist Bill Browder shares his insights on Russia’s war in Ukraine and how he became Vladimir Putin’s enemy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marjorie Margolies
The former US congresswoman, Emmy award-winning journalist and women’s-rights activist sits down with Christopher Cermak to discuss motherhood and the arc of her remarkable career in politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dmytro Kuleba
Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, speaks to Carlota Rebelo about his country’s fight for freedom and how he manages to keep hope alive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
M aka Michael Chow
The painter and restaurateur discusses his remarkable life and new London show with Robert Bound.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Karl Jenkins
The man behind ‘The Armed Man’ and ‘Adiemus’ speaks to Emma Nelson about his remarkable life and career as one of Britain’s greatest and most versatile composers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yana Peel
Chanel’s global head of arts and culture sits down with Robert Bound to share her take on the evolving international art market, and how the brand endeavours to champion trailblazing artists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tony Cragg
The Turner Prize-winning British sculptor speaks to Robert Bound about his creative process and his fascination with the emotional qualities of materials.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aleksander Kwaśniewski
Former president of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski meets Andrew Mueller in Warsaw to discuss his remarkable political career, why he decided to lead Poland into the EU and Nato, and what it was like to sit across a table from Vladimir Putin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marin Alsop
Internationally renowned conductor Marin Alsop sits down with Emma Searle to discuss the joys and challenges of leading an orchestra and how, despite rejections and being told, “Girls can’t do that,” she persisted to become the first woman to lead major orchestras in Europe, South America and the US.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mellissa Fung
The Canadian journalist sits down with Emma Nelson to discuss her career as a war correspondent, being abducted on assignment in Afghanistan and how this trauma refuelled her mission to tell the stories of those caught in conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Firooz Zahedi
Photographer Firooz Zahedi sits down with Rob Bound to discuss his special friendship with Elizabeth Taylor and how he went from growing up in conservative Iran to capturing Hollywood glamour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alexander Stubb
The former prime minister of Finland sits down with Markus Hippi to discuss his remarkable political career, Finland's decision to join NATO, and the war in Ukraine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edward Enninful: the editor in chief of British ‘Vogue’ sits down with Sophie Grove to discuss his new memoir, ‘A Visible Man’, growing up in Ghana and what it was like working with some of the most iconic fashion trailblazers, including Kate Moss, Anna Wintour and Naomi Campbell.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alberto Alessi
Design heavyweight Alberto Alessi sits down with Josh Fehnert to discuss the ills and advantages of running a family business and the fine line between art and design. Plus: a few choice tips for success in business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Platon
The award-winning photographer has turned his camera on political figures and global superstars, including the Obamas, Prince and Muammar Gaddafi. He sits down with Charlie Filmer-Court to discuss his life’s work and what it was like to be an inch away from Vladimir Putin as he captured his photograph. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vitali Shkliarov
The Belarusian-American democratic activist and political strategist sits down with Christopher Cermak to discuss what it was like to work on Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns, his imprisonment in Belarus and his lifelong goal to help opposition politicians challenge authoritarian regimes in eastern Europe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Poppy Northcutt
The women’s rights attorney and former Nasa engineer speaks to Emma Nelson about working on the male-dominated space programme in the 1960s, what it was like to help retrieve the Apollo 13 astronauts after their mid-flight disaster and why she’s concerned about the threat to Roe vs Wade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vikas Swarup
Vikas Swarup, the Indian author and former diplomat, tells Georgina Godwin about his postings across the world, pivoting to writing after a decades-long diplomatic career and his international best-selling book ‘Q&A’, which was adapted into the hit film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Astronaut series: Susan Kilrain
The astronaut and engineer speaks with Andrew Mueller about working in space, her previous life as a fighter pilot and the toughest job she’s had: being a mother.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Katharine Hayhoe
Katharine Hayhoe, the Canadian atmospheric scientist, sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss the climate crisis and her new book ‘Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jack Barsky
How did a young scientist in East Germany become a spy for the KGB, live a secret double life as an undercover agent in the US and, years later, get American citizenship? The former Soviet spook tells Andrew Mueller about his extraordinary life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kristin Hersh
The US singer-songwriter sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her musical career fronting alternative rock bands Throwing Muses and 50FootWave, her solo albums, and her new book ‘Seeing Sideways: A Memoir of Music and Motherhood’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kateryna Yushchenko
The former first lady of Ukraine sits down with Emma Nelson to discuss her upbringing in Chicago, her husband’s poisoning during his election campaign and what it was like to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Astronaut series: Naoko Yamazaki
The second Japanese woman in space talks to Georgina Godwin about the International Space Station’s robotic arm, adjusting to life back on Earth and what the war in Ukraine could mean for space exploration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Astronaut series: Soyeon Yi
Soyeon Yi, South Korea’s first and only astronaut, speaks to Georgina Godwin about her trip to space, the view from the International Space Station and a complicated return to Earth in which she landed among nomads in Kazakhstan – and inspiring the next generation of Stem leaders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Astronaut series: Sian Proctor
Astronaut, geologist and science communicator Sian Proctor joins Andrew Mueller to discuss making space more accessible, overcoming setbacks and being the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nicole Stott
Veteran Nasa astronaut Nicole Stott sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her time on the International Space Station and what life in Earth’s orbit taught her about solving challenges on the planet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tony Leon
The politician and former South African ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay looks back on his career and shares the lessons he learned while working with Nelson Mandela.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tarja Halonen
Finland’s first-ever female head of state looks back on her remarkable career in public service and shares her take on the prospect of Finland joining Nato. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Judit Polgar
The best female chess player of all time sits down with Andrew Mueller to discuss her remarkable life and career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dirk Boll
President of Christie’s in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Dirk Boll, sits down with Monocle’s Robert Bound to discuss what it takes to oversee one of the world’s most prestigious auction houses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves
The former president of Estonia speaks to Andrew Mueller about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what this means for Estonia and other Baltic nations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michael Holding
The West Indies cricket legend looks back on his time as a fast bowler in the 1970s and 1980s and shares why he decided to write a deeply personal book about prejudice he faced both on and off the pitch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Janina Kugel
The CV of German board-management expert, Janina Kugel, reads like a vertical line pointing upwards. In this edition, Monocle’s Emma Nelson sits down with the former chief human resources manager of Siemens to discuss leadership and the future of work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
