EI Talks...

Each week, we interrogate the most important and contentious issues of our time. Hosted by Paul Lay and Alastair Benn.

Mick Jagger in 1975.

Episode 9

EI Talks… Mick Jagger at 80

As the Rolling Stones frontman enters his ninth decade, EI asks whether there is a future ...

July 27, 2023

Travel poster encouraging tourists to visit Blackpool.

Episode 8

EI Talks… the future of tourism

Paul Lay and Alastair Benn discuss the explosion of tourism in the modern era and what mig...

July 21, 2023

Thai mural in the temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok.

Episode 7

EI Talks… anger

Paul Lay and Alastair Benn calmly discuss the uses and misuses of anger.

July 13, 2023

Cardinal Richelieu at the Siege of La Rochelle.

Episode 6

EI Talks… Sully, Richelieu, Mazarin

Paul Lay and Iskander Rehman discuss masters of early modern statecraft: the Duke of Sully...

July 6, 2023

Man as Industrial Palace, a poster commissioned by German physician and author Fritz Kahn in 1926.

Episode 5

EI Talks… AI and the threat to the arts

Paul Lay and Alastair Benn are joined by Times columnist James Marriott to discuss whether...

June 29, 2023

Niccolò Machiavelli. Credit: / Alamy Stock Photo

Episode 4

EI Talks… Machiavelli

Paul Lay and Alastair Benn are joined by Alexander Lee, biographer of Niccolò Machiavelli,...

June 23, 2023

The Ashes urn. Credit: David Bagnall / Alamy Stock Photo

Episode 3

EI Talks… Cricket

Paul Lay and Alastair Benn discuss the deep meaning of Cricket in light of the forthcoming...

June 15, 2023

String quartet playing in the Saint Nicholas Shopping centre, London.

Episode 3

EI Talks… the problem with Classical music

Paul Lay and Alastair Benn discuss the future of Classical music.

June 8, 2023

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks with the director of the London Defence Conference, Iain Martin.

Episode 2

EI Talks… strategy, resilience and defence

Paul Lay and Alastair Benn discuss the London Defence Conference and the return of strateg...

June 3, 2023