PODCAST · society
Snowcast
by Jon Snow
A weekly podcast from Jon Snow featuring original thinkers, campaigners, creators and performers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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RUTH MADELEY: celebrating the inclusivity of Doctor Who
Ruth Madeley was born in Westhoughton, near Bolton, and studied English and creative writing at university. She always wanted to work in the entertainment industry and thought that her path lay in scriptwriting. She was born with spina bifida and, as an ambulatory wheelchair user, Ruth just…
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DAN SCHREIBER: exploring the world of the weird with a QI elf
Dan Schreiber was born in Hong Kong, grew up in Sydney, and moved to England at the age of 19. Once here, Dan was hired as a researcher on the BBC panel show QI. And it was a job that Dan was born to do - one that combined his love for facts and comedy. In 2008, Dan launched The Museum of…
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LIZ BONNIN: sharing a passion for the natural world
Liz was born in France, grew up in Ireland, and studied biochemistry and wildlife biology at university. She has since travelled the world studying animal behaviour. And her documentaries include Drowning in Plastic, Galapagos and Should We Close Our Zoos? Liz is also part of Our Changing Planet…
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WAAD AL-KATEAB: a refugee and filmmaker who dares to dream
Waad Al-Kateab is a BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker. Born in Syria, Waad left home at 18, to study at the university of Aleppo. In 2011, she began shooting video on her phone, while attending pro-democracy protests. Waad went on to document the next five years in Aleppo, capturing…
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CAROL MORLEY: the detective filmmaker shining a light on forgotten women
Carol Morley is an acclaimed filmmaker, whose work includes short film, documentary and drama. She was born in Stockport, and spent her teens enjoying the Manchester music scene, before moving to London - where she studied Fine Art, Film and Video, at Saint Martins College. Her 2000 documentary,...
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PROFESSOR MARY BEARD: a don's life and love for Ancient Rome
Classics professor Dame Mary Beard was a bright child, who was bumped up a year at school, went on archaelogical digs as a teen, and studied classics at Newnham College. After completing her PhD, Mary taught at King’s College in London, before returning to Cambridge - where she remained for…
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AVA GLASS: crime reporter to "new queen of spy fiction"
Ava Glass is the pen name of Christi Daugherty. She was born in Texas and worked as a crime reporter before moving to the UK. A few years after settling in London, Christi was recruited to work in the communications department of the Home Office - tasked with helping the public understand what…
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STEVE GALLANT: finding courage on London Bridge and a purpose in prison
In November 2019, Steve Gallant was serving a life sentence for murder when he confronted the terrorist Usman Khan. Steve had been allowed out on day release, to attend a Learning Together event, near London Bridge. Learning Together was an initiative that brought students and prisoners together…
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ZAK OVÉ: shining a light on invisible histories through art
The British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové was born into an artistic family. After studying at St. Martin’s School of Art, he worked as a photographer and as a director of television and music videos. At the age of 40, Zak had an epiphany while filming in Trinidad. Feeling a distance from his subject...
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SARAH SANDS: editing the news and finding hope in hedgehogs
Sarah Sands grew up in Tunbridge Wells and cut her teeth on a local newspaper in Kent, before moving to the diary, on the Evening Standard. She later edited the Standard but not before spending some time at The Telegraph, and re-designing the Sunday edition, with the launch of two new magazines.…
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MICHAEL MANSFIELD KC: the power in the people
Michael Mansfield became a barrister in 1967 and, since then, he’s worked on some very high-profile cases in the UK. He has overturned miscarriages of justice, fought for civil liberties, and for change. He helped to free the Guildford Four and the Birmingham Six. He defended the Orgreave miners,...
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SIR CHRIS BRYANT: why we need to fix Parliament
Sir Chris Bryant was born in Cardiff, and lived in Spain as a child, before returning to the UK. After reading English at Oxford, he studied Theology and was ordained in the Church of England. He then spent time in Latin America, and worked as a curate, before deciding to leave the church and…
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STEPHEN DAVIS: investigating the secrets surrounding Flight 149
Stephen Davis is an investigative journalist and author, who has worked around the world, on newspaper stories and documentaries. He’s also a podcaster, whose most recent series investigates the sinking of the passenger ferry Estonia. It is Europe’s worst shipping disaster - since the Titanic…
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PROFESSOR ROSE ANNE KENNY: how to live a longer and healthier life
Professor Rose Anne Kenny is an expert in ageing who has over 35 years of clinical and research experience. She’s a Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College, Dublin, and the Director of Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, at St. James's Hospital. Rose Anne is also the brains…
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JESS MCDONALD: the reality of being a detective in The Met
Jess McDonald was one of the first recruits on The Metropolitan Police’s Direct Entry Detective Scheme. Launched in 2017, to address a shortage of detectives, this scheme was not without its critics. Successful applicants had a direct route into a career as a detective, without first undertaking…
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MATT FORDE: impersonating & interviewing politicians
The Nottingham-born comedian Matt Forde has been fascinated by politics ever since he was 9 years old. Raised by his mum, without much money, Matt experienced life: “at the sharp end of every political decision taken by the government.” He studied politics at university and, after working for a…
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MICK LYNCH: strikes, workers' rights & rail nationalisation
Mick Lynch is the General Secretary of Britain's largest specialist transport trade union, the RMT. In May 2022, the RMT announced that its members had voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes, in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. At the time, they said it was the biggest endorsement of...
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CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS: bringing South London to the world
South Londoner Candice Carty-Williams has gone from publishing house marketing executive, to literary sensation - and now, she's taking on TV. Queenie, her 2019 debut, was a best-seller. Critics and readers loved it and Candice won several awards, including book of the year at the Nibbie’s. Fast...
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SIR BEN OKRI: the power of art at a time of crisis
The poet and writer Sir Ben Okri was born in Nigeria and spent some of his childhood in London, before moving with his family to Lagos, on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War. This experience had a defining impact on Ben, who has said that he is “crammed full” of the painful things that he…
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ANITA ANAND: Empire, kick-ass women & learning from history
The voice of broadcaster and writer Anita Anand will be familiar to many. Her career began while she was still at university, in the newsroom of satellite channel Zee. Anita was then snapped up by Radio 5 Live and she has since presented many news and current affairs programmes on the BBC. In…
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JACK THORNE: diverse stories, political engagement and a load of love for Channel 4
The award-winning screenwriter and playwright, Jack Thorne, joins Jon to discuss his work, passions, activism and politics. They discuss Jack's new TV show, Best Interests, (starring Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen) and why it was so tough to write this story. At the age of 42, Jack was diagnosed...
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TIM MARSHALL: the politics and power of the new space race
Journalist, broadcaster and best-selling author, Tim Marshall, joins Jon to talk about the power and politics of the new space race. Tim's new book - The Future Of Geography - looks at how the developments in space will change our world forever. The new space race is on, with China, USA and…
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REV RICHARD COLES: passion, prayer, power and policing
The Reverend Richard Coles left two major institutions within the same year; The BBC and The Church, but he cannot and will not sit still. Richard joins Jon to discuss his fascinating life and career, the power of prayer and what the future holds for him without a dog collar... Jon and Richard...
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DAVID HAREWOOD: acting, storytelling & eloquent activism
David Harewood is an actor, director, author and activist. He was born in Birmingham, trained at RADA, and made a name for himself on the stage, with big roles that included Othello and Martin Luther King. Most recently, he played the right-wing commentator William Buckley Jr. in Best Of Enemies.…
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DAME JOAN BAKEWELL: life at 90 and the joy of being freelance
Dame Joan Bakewell is a broadcaster, journalist, author and Labour Party peer. Her broadcasting career spans six decades and she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Royal Television Society in 2016, and a BAFTA fellowship in 2019. At the age of 90, she is still presenting TV programmes...
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PROFESSOR HANNAH FRY: understanding algorithms and A.I.
Hannah is a Professor of Mathematics at University College London. She is an expert in algorithms, who studies the patterns in human behaviour – particularly in an urban setting. Hannah is also a brilliant communicator, who shares her passion for maths - in books, podcasts, radio, television, and...
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PHIL WANG: how to be from two worlds at once
The comedian and writer Phil Wang was born in Stoke-on-Trent and spent his childhood in Malaysian Borneo, before moving to Bath at the age of 16. Phil successfully combined engineering with comedy at Cambridge University. He won the Chortle Student Comedy Award in his second year, a Comedy…
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ADJOA ANDOH: from Bridgerton's Lady Danbury to Richard III
When not playing Lady Danbury, in the huge Netflix series Bridgerton, Adjoa is a renowned stage actor. Celebrated for her performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, The National Theatre, and The Globe. Where, in 2019, she played Richard II, in the UK's first all-women-of-colour production....
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ALASTAIR CAMPBELL: passing the baton to a new generation
Alastair Campbell started out in journalism and became Political Editor of the Mirror, before entering the political fray and helping return Labour to power, with a landslide victory in 1997. He remains a prolific writer who’s found his voice - and lots of listeners - as a podcaster. Disagreeing...
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DR RACHEL CLARKE: palliative care in the NHS & Ukraine
Dr Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor, and best-selling author. Who spent a decade, working as a journalist, before deciding to change careers. She took her science A-Levels, studied in the evening and started at medical school, just before her 30th birthday. When the time came to...
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RICHARD CURTIS: laughter - and our money - as vehicles for change
Richard Curtis is an award-winning writer and director, who spends a great deal of his time trying to change the world. He's best-known for his work with Comic Relief but Richard campaigns on many issues. In 2020 he launched Make My Money Matter to raise awareness that our money is a major...
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BARONESS DOREEN LAWRENCE: a 30th anniversary pledge for Stephen
Doreen was born in Clarendon, in Jamaica, and moved to London in 1962. She worked as a bank clerk before marrying and settling happily into family life. But on the 22nd April 1993 her eldest child Stephen was murdered in an unprovoked racist attack. Though five suspects were quickly identified to...
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BRIAN COX: Succession & saying goodbye to Logan Roy
As fans around the world follow the fourth and final season of Succession, we seized the chance to spend time with the brilliant actor Brian Cox. This award-winning series has captured the public imagination with its witty and scathing take on dysfunctional one percenters. The news from creator...
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MIKAELA LOACH: active hope in the climate crisis
When she was 16, Mikaela Loach decided to go vegan, boycott fast fashion and start a blog. She learned more about the climate crisis, became involved in the movement, and began to communicate her passion to others. Mikaela’s Instagram following grew and, in 2020, she featured in the Woman’s Hour...
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GARY YOUNGE: Stevenage to South Africa & Obama's Camelot (without a castle)
This week's guest is the award-winning journalist and sociology professor Gary Younge. From Mandela’s election campaign, to Obama’s presidency, Gary’s had a ringside seat, for some of the biggest stories of the last 30 years. And his latest book - Dispatches from the Diaspora - is a…
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ARMANDO IANNUCCI: satire, Lineker & the BBC
This week's guest is the witty and politically astute writer and director Armando Iannucci. After a week dominated by headlines about the government's immigration policy, Gary Lineker, the BBC and impartiality, he and Jon talk about the broadcasting and political landscape. As well as The Thick…
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THE STATE OF US: a preview of Jon's audiobook
This week's Snowcast has a preview of Jon's new book, The State Of Us, which shares a few of the things he's learned about politics, humanity and the world. The first chapter takes Jon back to North Kensington in June 2017, watching a tragedy unfold in real time. The seeds of this book were sown...
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ROBERT HARRIS: stranger than fiction politics
Robert Harris started out in journalism, became political editor of The Observer, and had a ringside seat for the rise of New Labour. But, after striking gold with Fatherland, Robert launched a second career as a novelist and never looked back. Robert’s latest best-seller - Act Of Oblivion - is…
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MUNYA CHAWAWA: Stormzy, sketches & selling out the O2
Munya Chawawa is a British-Zimbabwean satirist, who rose to fame with his DIY video sketches. He and Jon first met in 2017 - when Munya snuck into the ITN building - to interview him about Stormzy’s debut album. That memorable encounter became Munya’s first ever viral video. And he’s since…
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PROFESSOR SOPHIE SCOTT: brain health hacks & mind-blowing facts
Sophie Scott is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL and an award-winning lecturer, whose TED talk, Why We Laugh, has been watched over 5 million times. Her new book, The Brain, features ten enjoyable essays which cover how brains have evolved over time, their composition and chemistry…
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JON RONSON: culture wars, conspiracy theories & post-truth news
Our first guest on Snowcast is Jon Ronson. A brilliant writer, who made his name interviewing people on the fringes of society. Extremists, conspiracy theorists, those who’ve been publicly shamed and - more recently - individuals whose stories are intertwined with the culture wars of the present...
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Introducing Snowcast
Welcome to Snowcast - a new weekly podcast from the journalist Jon Snow - launching Tuesday 7th February. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Snowcast have?
Snowcast currently has 42 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Snowcast about?
A weekly podcast from Jon Snow featuring original thinkers, campaigners, creators and performers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often does Snowcast release new episodes?
Snowcast has 42 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Snowcast?
You can listen to Snowcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Snowcast?
Snowcast is created and hosted by Jon Snow.
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