The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Come 2035, what will a trip away look like? Where will we visit when the planet is undergoing increasingly violent change? Siân Pattenden speaks with Tom Hall, vice president at Lonely Planet, about where our travel plans are headed. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Maybe the job of travel writers is different to what it was in the past. We need to have a range of voices.” “People need different experiences and exposure to as many perspectives as they can.” “I’m less convinced that the traditional idea of what a holiday is is what people need.” “The enthusiasm for travel that doesn’t prick your conscience is really strong.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB Presented by Siân Pattenden. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your pop culture update: “Quentin Tarantino meets Agatha Christie” in Brad Pitt action comedy Bullet Train. Icon of the 80s Clare Grogan joins us for the first Altered Images album in 39 years, Mascara Streakz. And movie monster the Predator goes up against Native Americans in hyperkinetic prequel Prey, out now on Disney+. DJ and journalist Anthony Teasdale completes the panel. Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Turns out that the 80s revival has lasted longer than the 80s themselves…” – Clare Grogan “Bullet Train’s great fun… but the problem is, it’s got a never-ending ending.” – Anthony Teasdale “I kept an emergency copy of Hong Kong Garden in my handbag… What do you mean you haven’t heard it? Play it now!” - Clare Grogan Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen back to an archive Bunker from Jan 2022. London’s restaurants are now closing at nearly the double the normal rate as rising VAT, rent, and energy costs add to the weight of COVID, post-Brexit labour issues and supply chain shortages. Corey Mintz, author of The Next Supper, and Eater London’s Adam Coghlan joined Jelena Sofronijevic to chew on why haute cuisine is cooling off, whether takeaway food is really so democratic…and if COVID has called time on the all-you-can-eat buffet. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Restaurants were told to diversify and prepare themselves for the rise of takeaways. But they didn't until the pandemic.” - Corey Mintz “The major delivery companies in the UK are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable.” - Corey Mintz “Today I discovered, ordered, and ate the food from a new restaurant within 30 minutes. Once you've tasted that, you can't go back.” - Adam Coghlan “If you hired an architect to build a restaurant today, they'd ask you where you'd like the Instagram wall.” - Corey Mintz “The £6k given to restaurants which closed over Christmas was mere chicken feed.” - Adam Coghlan https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With strike action in Britain set to intensify over the coming months, what is the state of our trade unions? Can they really force the Government’s hand over the cost of living crisis? Jane Holgate, Employment Relations professor at the University of Leeds, joins Alex Andreou to unpack what unions want, who supports them, and the challenges they face. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Trade unionism is all about the imbalance of power in the employment relationship.” “The Government is involved whether it likes it or not.” “Google searches for trade union membership have increased dramatically.” “Thatcher came to power with the purpose of curbing union power, voted in by millions from the working class.” “Given the huge profits companies are making, what workers are asking for isn’t unreasonable.” “If Labour wants to be the party of the working class then it must reflect their interests.” “If you annoy workers enough then you’ll see productivity fall.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Jade Bailey. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thatcher famously proclaimed that inflation is the parent of unemployment. But as shop prices soar, energy bills rocket, and interest rates rise, we’ve all become more aware of the everyday impacts of inflation. So how unique is the crisis we face now? Director of the LSE and former vice-president of the World Bank Baroness Minouche Shafik joins Ros Taylor to unpack inflation. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “COVID has caused upward inflation because of how it has affected global supply chains.” “The Bank of England can only control the demand, not supply, side of the economy.” “To get inflation under control, you have to have a period of restraint.” “Inflation is a regressive tax on the population that hurts the poor most.” “There's more room to grow in encouraging women in work.” “Rich countries spend 10% of their income on food. Poorer countries spend as much as 75%.” “The last time we had an economic crisis, we saw mass unrest.” “The term recession is used very loosely. But regardless, we have a difficult year ahead.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lionesses’ victory in the Euros inspires a generation of girls. Can it transform football… and society? Meanwhile Sunak flails to out-loon Truss. With popular culture pulling in one direction and a regressive Tory gerontocracy pulling in another, is there any space for a unifying national story any more? Historian Alex von Tunzelmann – author of Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Changed History – is our special guest. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “The Labour Party loves nothing more than hating the Labour Party… A fight between left and right has to happen every new moon.” – Marie le Conte “No wonder Truss and Sunak are promising anything and everything. They are dealing with a membership of Home Counties mad bastards with an average age of ‘ghost’.” – Ahir Shah “If you want to sort the two halves of Britain easily, just ask the question ‘Would you bring back hanging?’” – Alex von Tunzelmann “Anyone who spends 24 hours in France while not being white will know that no, France is not better at decolonising than Britain…” – Marie le Conte https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ros Taylor with Marie le Conte and Ahir Shah. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reset the Years of Hurt Clock… England’s women bring football home at last. Have the Lionesses changed football forever? Meanwhile Rishi Sunak goes down in the most craven manner possible, Johnson aims to pack the Lords with cronies, and everything’s on fire. But never mind! The football! The football! Gavin Esler puts aside his Scottishness for a moment to revel in the pure joy of an historic victory with Andrew Harrison. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “As someone who is male, Scottish, and a bit jaded about football, the final restored my faith in the Beautiful Game.” "Maybe male spectators will learn that booing the other teams’ national anthem isn’t a good look." “The scandal is that we allowed Boris Johnson to happen… he is taking advantage of a system full of weaknesses.” “There’s no such thing as Conservative values any more. They’re just what you say to make headlines.” “The lasting legacy of the Johnson years is that you can say anything because no one believes that you mean it.” Presented by Andrew Harrison. Producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Assistant producer Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On episode 666 of The Bunker, we’re talking all things Satan. Where does our idea of the Devil come from? And why are we so obsessed with him? Jelena Sofronijevic talks to Erin Cülff of the Myth Monsters podcast and Dr. Michael David Barbezat, a research fellow at Australia Catholic University, to explore Satan in pop culture, from the snake in the Garden of Eden, via Dante’s Inferno and heavy metal, to a modern gay icon. “Villains are always easy to work with in storytelling.” – Michael David Barbezat “You see the Devil as an anti-hero in a lot of the stories we tell.” – Michael David Barbezat “I think everyone likes a bad boy.” – Erin Culff “Some of the business we see with devils and demons is also reinvention.” - Michael David Barbezat “The Devil has been drafted to serve many functions of social control." - Michael David Barbezat "Angels are hes, Demons are shes." - Michael David Barbezat https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your pop culture fix: Will Renaissance be a rebirth for Beyoncé? Amazon’s small-town sci-fi mystery Paper Girls, adapted from the cult comic – can it out-strange Stranger Things? And superior newsroom drama in The Newsreader, on BBC2 and iPlayer now. Telegraph TV critic Michael Hogan is our special guest. Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef “Beyonce records get freighted with sociopolitical weight, yet she's shrugged that off for a fantastic pop record.” - Michael Hogan “Paper Girls has out-strangered Stranger Things.” - Sian Pattenden “The Newsreader isn’t empty nostalgia. This is, Who remembers when work was like this, and it was awful?” - Andrew Harrison Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen back to an edition from our archives with The Bunker Gold. This week, after Tory leadership hopefuls Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss went head-to-head in fiery TV debates, we’ve chosen an episode from December 2021, Harsh Reality – How TV Shaped Modern Britain. We treat TV as the most disposable art form – but for decades it has shaped our world more than we know. From Big Brother to Shameless to Little Britain and Benefit Street, television chose the winners and losers of consumer capitalism, made it OK to sneer at the underclass, and then allowed that underclass a token comeback or two. Author Phil Harrison explores television’s innate cruelty, class dynamics and political subtext in The Age Of Static: How TV Explains Modern Britain. Has TV made our politics worse? And should it just give up on live political interviews altogether? “A show called Britain’s Hardest Worker pitted benefit claimants against one another. You wouldn’t have written that in a dystopian fantasy.” “Maybe the BBC needs to be in that permanent state of conflict or it’s not doing its job of challenging what we think.” “When Mentorn took over Question Time they promised ‘adrenaline-fuelled Thursday nights’. Is that the purpose of a serious news show?” “Nadine Dorries as a kamikaze Culture Secretary scares the hell out of me.” Written and presented by Justin Quirk. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

English football might be doing well on the pitch, but are we seeing the return of hooliganism off it? Since lockdown eased, there’s been a spate of incidents we thought had been left in the 1980s, so what’s going wrong in football at the moment? Professor Geoff Pearson of the University of Manchester joins Justin Quirk to discuss football’s crowd trouble problem, and what can be done about it. “These are fans who’ve been in lockdown, hitting it a bit harder now they can go to football again.” “The disorder seen at the Euros final was a perfect storm.” “Ultimately, good policing is one of the main pillars behind managing football crowds successfully.” “For the first time the Government is looking at the whole legislative framework around football. It would be nice to see an overhaul.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Justin Quirk. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Covid cases on the rise in Britain, how worried should we be about its resurgence? Tom Chivers, science writer for the i, joins Ros Taylor to discuss the latest uptick in coronavirus cases, what we know about the new variants and the role Covid could play in our lives in the years ahead. “Vaccines are significant when protecting against severe disease, but not reinfection.” “The virus doesn’t have to change very much to avoid your antibody immunity.” “We’ll still get the virus periodically, but our body will become better at fighting it off.” “We’ve only had two winters of covid so far, by 2030 it may well become part of the normal cycle.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Truss and Sunak set out their economic plans, we discuss the viability of ‘Trussonomics’ and ‘Hedge Fund socialism’. Plus, what will the next Prime Minister mean for Britain’s standing on the world stage? And ten years after the London 2012 opening ceremony, our panellists look back on the last time the UK felt like a place to be proud of. “Every time they talk about tax cuts, that’s less money for public services.” - Miatta Fahnbulleh “Sunak talks a more credible game, whereas Liz is away with the fairies.” - Miatta Fahnbulleh “Tory politicians don’t care what they do with power, they just want to get their hands on it.” - Tom Peck “The only hope for the country now is Tory defeat in two years time.” - Tom Peck “I can imagine the international reaction to Sunak and Truss is ‘who?’.” - Arthur Snell “The opening ceremony projected Britain at its best. We’ve now fallen so foul of that.” - Miatta Fahnbulleh https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Produced and presented by Andrew Harrison with Arthur Snell, Miatta Fahnbulleh and Tom Peck. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Tory leadership contest rumbles on as Sunak and Truss go head-to-head on TV. Who is destined to win out, and who is on the ropes? Plus, transport logjams at Dover and Folkestone look likely to repeat over the summer, a tentative deal to release Ukrainian grain is reached, and Monkeypox vaccines are rolled out across the UK. Justin Quirk and Alex Andreou set out the days ahead. Support us on Patreon for early ad-free editions, merch and more: www.patreon.com/bunkercast “Tory members are risk-averse after the Johnson period of chaos, so my sense is they’ll go for Sunak.” – Alex Andreou “The whole Government has checked out… They all know their jobs won’t last past 5th September and none of them care any more.” – Alex Andreou “If you're planning on travelling, take a large lunch and a bottle to urinate into.” – Justin Quirk “Everyone’s assessing the consequences of sanctions for Europe. Nobody’s assessing them for Russia – which are penury.” – Alex Andreou Presented by Justin Quirk and Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What are young people talking about these days? And what do the unusual words they say mean? In a bid to understand Gen Z, Jacob Jarvis speaks with Olive Pometsey and Jade Wickes of The Face magazine to decipher the latest slang, and to ask how it comes about and why it’s so popular. “What sets us apart is that we’re the first generation to grow up with smartphones.” – Jade Wickes “Nothing is that serious, it’s all just self-deprecating humour.” – Jade Wickes “At its core slang is just like a shorthand and it takes on a life of its own.” – Jade Wickes “Everyone's blending together and that’s a very Gen Z thing, you want to be a bit of everything.” – Olive Pometsey “The Gen Z humour is very ironic and dry and self-referential which is reflected in the slang.” – Olive Pometsey Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paper Cuts: How I Destroyed the British Music Press and Nige Tassell’s surprisingly warmhearted indie odyssey Whatever Happened To The C86 Kids? Plus we bathe in the glow of euphoric 90s comedown music with ‘Fell From The Sun: Downtempo And After Hours 1990-91’. Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1aea7525-7891-4a88-8474-a08c45ea064b Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen back to an edition from our archives with The Bunker Gold. This week, after Britain recorded its highest temperatures on record, we’ve chosen Will We Be OK? Facing the Climate Emergency, first released in September 2020… Could there be cause for optimism on climate change? Do individuals have power over our planet’s future? Paul Behrens, author of The Best Of Times The Worst Of Times, tells Ros Taylor about the best and worst climate scenarios, why women’s rights are the key to a manageable future, meat, flying, renewables… and how to avoid falling into impotent despair about tomorrow. “We might have been able to save ourselves with minor changes once. Now we need a complete overhaul in the way we live our lives.” “The carrying capacity of a planet of carnivores is very different from a planet of vegetarians.” “There’s a clear path from eco-anxiety to hope, through action.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer: Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Nicola Sturgeon’s fight for indyref2 continues, will she get the vote she wants or is she running out of road? What will Boris Johnson’s departure mean for Scotland’s First Minister? Gavin Esler unpacks these issues with journalist Iain Macwhirter, author of Disunited Kingdom: How Westminster Won a Referendum But Lost Scotland. “Nicola Sturgeon has real problems in the party.” “Sturgeon is going to turn the next election into a de-facto referendum.” “Boris Johnson is the one Englishman you are allowed to hate, he’s extremely unpopular in Scotland - but of course he is gone now, and this poses a problem for the SNP.” “Boris Johnson has been the SNP’s greatest recruiting sergeant.” “Sturgeon is using this theatre of the courts to create more controversy in the run up to the next general election.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Gavin Esler. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic, Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Uber has transformed how we travel around cities – what do newly leaked documents tell us about its meteoric rise? The explosive ‘Uber Files’ give an insight into the tactics the taxi giant used to become a household name. Justin Quirk unpacks what these reveal with lecturer Dr. Jimena Valdez, who is working on the project Über-State: The Political Economy of Platform Capitalism. “The three most striking things are: the utter disregard for the law, the connections to political power, and the very little value they attach to drivers - that they call them ‘supply’.” "Suddenly, we feel like we can't live without our Ubers." "Uber has become this tag for everything that is wrong, but it's tech companies more widely." "Politicians and consumers thought that Uber was so cool, that it should be treated differently." “This is part of the servant economy.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Justin Quirk. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic, Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a heat-defying lo-fi edition, we discuss the latest blue-on-blue clashes as the race to replace Johnson comes to a head. Did a least-worst candidate emerge? We talk to guest Jamie Susskind, author of The Digital Republic: On Freedom and Democracy in the 21st Century about how to regulate the internet. And did those cosmic images from the Webb Telescope make us feel tiny and insignificant… or pretty damn important? “The debates gave me a sinking feeling of despair… It’s just a bunch of angry people talking over each other” – Jamie Susskind “The country’s entering a time of great crisis and the one thing we’re going to need is a Prime Minister with a grip.” – Jamie Susskind “We don’t count or matter in the Conservative Party leadership elections.” – Gavin Esler “It’s not a tenable position to be against net zero. Human-induced climate change is impossible to ignore.” – Yasmeen Serhan Presented by Ros Taylor with Gavin Esler and Yasmeen Serhan. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The heat is on in the Tory leadership contest. Two finalists are expected this week but could we even have a new PM by Friday? Plus, we look at what will happen in Parliament in the last days before recess. And, we brace for what could be the hottest day on record in Britain. Alex Andreou joins Andrew Harrison to chart the days ahead. "The more I see the more depressing it gets.” – Alex Andreou “I suspect Johnson will find a way to get out of his last PMQs.” – Alex Andreou “It says a lot about Johnson’s fall from grace that nobody wants to be associated with him.” – Alex Andreou “The momentum is now with Sunak, ironically the least ‘fresh start’ candidate available.” – Alex Andreou “There’s a Tory hustings at 2pm in an unventilated room. Good luck with that.” – Alex Andreou www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison with Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Alex Rees. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Tory leadership hopefuls pledge tax cuts galore, we ask if this would make any sense. What impact would these moves have? What else could they do instead? Andrew Harrison speaks to Giles Wilkes, a senior fellow from the Institute for Government and former special adviser to Theresa May on industrial and economic policy. “I suspect they’re hoping the Tory membership don’t have a memory of the 70s and 80s.” “These people running for the leadership are thinking in a three month timescale.” “It’s a terrible idea to pump money into the economy right now.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we listen to the force of nature that is Lizzo and her brand new album Special. Will it top 2019’s storming Cuz I Love You? Plus OFFICE POLITICA - film critic Linda Marric joins us to watch workplace drama The Good Boss movie with Javier Bardem directed by Fernando León de Aranoa. And BOO! We listen to Working Men’s Club’s second album Fear Fear. Plus we see Unstuck in Time, Curb Your Enthusiam director Robert Weide’s documentary about American literary icon Kurt Vonnegut. Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1aea7525-7891-4a88-8474-a08c45ea064b Presented and produced by Siân Pattenden and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why have we been told there isn’t a magic money tree? And could such a thing actually exist? Alex Andreou discusses this question and unpacks modern monetary theory with L. Randall Wray, a senior scholar at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College who has authored several books on the subject. “For a very long time we've had a view that finance is a scarce resource.” “What we have is this belief that the Government is just like a household and it could run out of money.” “There appears to be no limit to the private financial sector’s ability to layer up more debt.” “Politicians are scared to death of inflation… politically, it is a huge issue.” “We argue we should focus on resource availability and the public purpose.” “The economy decides what the deficit will be – it takes two to tango.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BMW, Volkswagen, Allianz and Dr. Oetker are all household names – but how did these German businesses get to be so wealthy? The reality of collaboration, collusion, and the active championing of Hitler and the Nazi regime – during World War II, and beyond – by corporations remains “happily ignored”. So how have global powers let them get away with it? Jelena Sofronijevic talks to financial journalist David de Jong, author of author of Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties. “The businessmen that I write about pressured Jewish businessmen to sell assets far under their value or there would be more dire repercussions.” “The vast majority of Germany’s business community went through this very flawed legal process called de-Nazification. This saw millions of criminals get off scot-free for their crimes.” “There were farcical legal proceedings that saw Nazi war criminals exonerated.” “The allied thinking that they needed to have a financially West Germany also led to those businessmen keeping their assets.” “Most of the characters in my book are sheer opportunists.” “As we get further away from the atrocities of the Third Reich, this history is receding.” “As consumers the bare minimum we should expect from these families is that they’re transparent.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Tory leadership hopefuls try to outdo each other on culture war clout and tax cuts, we assess the would-be PMs. Plus, with Big Dog turning lame duck, the panel looks at what Johnson might do in Downing Street until he is ejected from the building. And as Conservatives set out their stalls, who’s won the battle of the launch video? “He wanted to be Churchillian and his tenure is one of the most embarrassingly short tenures.” – Ayesha Hazarika “Penny Mordaunt’s pitch is that she’s very telegenic, was in the army and voted leave.” – Marie le Conte “Grant Shapps’ entire pitch is ‘you will keep your jobs if you vote for me’.” – Ahir Shah https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison with Ahir Shah, Ayesha Hazarika and Marie Le Conte. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the nation heats up, so too does the Conservative leadership race. There are 11 people in the running so far, what can we expect from them? Plus, the nation’s economic woes continue – we look at what more turmoil is to come. And, could we see record-breaking temperatures this week? Ros Taylor is joined by Naomi Smith to lay out the days ahead. "If I’m not maniacally laughing at the farce of it, I’m just depressed.” – Naomi Smith “We’ve got Conservative leadership candidates all promising to cut taxes, so how are they going to fund their levelling up agenda?” – Naomi Smith "New trade deals are not compensating at all for the trade that we’ve lost with the European Union.” – Naomi Smith “I think we are running into a long hot summer of very hard times for families.” – Naomi Smith "There are so many female candidates, and so many ethnic minority candidates, and yet everyone is right wing." – Ros Taylor "Labour's never had a female leader, whilst the Conservative Party might have had three Prime Ministers." – Naomi Smith "Whoever you want Penny Mordaunt to be, she can be." – Ros Taylor "Tax cuts on certain groups have no impact on economic growth whatsoever." – Naomi Smith www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor with Naomi Smith. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johnson’s going and his emphatic collapse in office was no less shameful than expected. But historically, just how abnormal was it? Jacob Jarvis speaks with Rock & Roll Politics host Steve Richards to discuss endgames of the past and where the latest Prime Minister’s ranks in the grand scheme of things – all recorded immediately in the aftermath of Johnson’s Thursday speech. “Johnson wants to be a Churchillian figure. Instead he will go down as someone who blew a big majority, and he will hate that.” “When Johnson lost Javid and Sunak, I knew we were going to reach the end quite quickly.” “When choosing a Prime Minister, you have to look beyond whether they can win an election.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

THOR BLIMEY! We talk about Taika Waititi’s latest Marvel creation Thor: Love and Thunder, starring Chris Hemsworth. Techno titans Paul and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital join us to discuss their retro-future-spective album 30 Something, plus the latest from London indie trillsters Superorganism, World Wide Pop. And we watch Sky’s new parenthood horror series The Baby. Where’s the kid come from, what’s he doing, and why is disaster never far away? Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1aea7525-7891-4a88-8474-a08c45ea064b “The Baby is right up our street. An evil baby killing people? That's funny.” – Orbital “Thor is the most metal Marvel movie yet.” – Andrew Harrison Presented and produced by Alex Andreou and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hearings on the Jan 6th attacks have produced some of the most explosive testimony ever heard in Washington – and put Donald Trump in the frame for criminal activity. But what do they actually mean? And what will the fallout be? Dorian Lynskey talks to Julie Norman, co-director of UCL’s Centre on US Politics, about the latest revelations and their potential ramifications. “We are seeing a person who was not acting in the best interests of the country on that day.” “I think you’ll start hearing more the question of electability among Republicans.” “Most people who are watching this with an objective lens are actually quite impressed with what this committee has done.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the world looks to alternative sources of energy, are we ready for the growth of nuclear power? Do we understand the risk that comes with atomic technology? Historian and author Serhii Plokhy joins Arthur Snell to discuss his new book Atoms and Ashes: From Bikini Atoll to Fukushima, which looks at six nuclear disasters that shook the world, and the lessons we can learn from them. “The history of nuclear disasters is very relevant to us today.” “Every nuclear accident produces a pause in the industry as people get scared.” “If we are not prepared to tolerate nuclear accidents then we have to look for alternative energy sources.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Arthur Snell. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tory sleaze rumbles on as opera becomes a new frontier in the Culture War and Chris Pincher MP lives down to his name. We unpack the current political turmoil and the latest class row between Raab and Rayner. Plus, the reversal of Roe v. Wade prompts women in the US to delete period tracker apps. What does it tell us about Big Health Data? And as the Fred Perry polo turns 70, we talk about the politics of clothes. Our guest this week is tech journalist and author of Social Warming, Charles Arthur. “I think it’s quite a safe bet to assume there will be another vote of confidence within a year of the last one.” – Marie Le Conte “Codes of class are so nuanced in Britain, but if you haven’t grown up here it probably makes no sense.” – Justin Quirk “I don’t think the Tories have ever been the party of upward mobility.” – Charles Arthur “Every office in the country has a woman like Angela Rayner in it, but in Westminster she stands out.” – Justin Quirk https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison with Marie Le Conte and Justin Quirk. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tory sleaze is in focus yet again – how will Boris Johnson handle the backlash this week? Amid the Chris Pincher scandal, can Number 10’s line on the matter stand? Plus, on July 4, we look across to the United States and the latest political fallout there. And what action is needed to tackle the rise in COVID cases? Alex Andreou is joined by Yasmeen Serhan to lay out the week ahead. "There are a lot of allegations of sexual misconduct involving Tory MPs." – Alex Andreou "There is a deep desire on the part of Number 10 to say, ‘This matter has been settled.’” – Yasmeen Serhan "There are so many allegations facing the Conservative Party that you could start to think it was normal." – Yasmeen Serhan "The Supreme Court has historically been seen as an ahistoric institution, but no longer." – Yasmeen Serhan “You should brace yourself for running into COVID again." – Yasmeen Serhan www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou with Yasmeen Serhan. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MPs are increasingly held in contempt by the public. How can Parliament improve its standing? Dr Hannah White, deputy director of the Institute for Government and author of Held in Contempt, joins Ros Taylor to discuss what’s wrong with the House of Commons, and how Westminster can repair its reputation in the wake of recent scandals. “It only dawned on me over the decade I worked there how Parliament wasn’t a normal workplace.” “There’s a small minority of MPs who don’t treat staff well, and there are no consequences for that.” “Most people don’t have much idea of the difference between Parliament and Government.” “The Prime Minister’s main job was to tell the country the rules, if he didn’t understand them he should’ve sorted that out.” “Society has changed a lot, but the Palace of Westminster hasn’t.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Jade Bailey. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your pop-culture update: Russia hacks the UK in C4’s The Undeclared War. Does the drama bring the software to life? My Life As A Rolling Stone: new takes on Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie? And where’s Bill? Plus we talk to Lord Chancellor of chillout William Orbit, and V**gra Boys’ “brilliantly stupid” new album stands proud against cave-dwelling conspiracists. Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1aea7525-7891-4a88-8474-a08c45ea064b “It's terribly difficult to dramatise hacking and counterhacking…” – Sian Pattenden “Cave World is like being on motorway with all the traffic coming towards you.” – Sian Pattenden Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Britain entering a new era of crisis? And what can we learn from the previous ones? Phil Tinline, author of The Death of Consensus: 100 Years of British Political Nightmares, talks to Dorian Lynskey about the previous occasions when Britain’s ruling consensus broke down, and if current turmoil will force us to change course once again. “When it comes to political futures, we always think of the worst-case scenarios.” “The nature of consensus is that it is a messy compromise.” “There are things Labour is now prepared to advocate because it has lost four general elections.” “In America there is such a consensus on support for Ukraine, perhaps more than most European countries.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Jade Bailey. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The rise of online clothes shopping has also led to the rise of the return. What actually happens to the items we send back? In the last year, 51% of British shoppers sent back items they purchased online - but these goods don’t always end up back on the shelves. Jelena Sofronijevic talks to Dana Thomas, European Sustainability Editor at British Vogue, host of The Green Dream with Dana Thomas, and author of Fashionopolis, and Dr Mark Sumner, Lecturer in Sustainable Fashion at the University of Leeds. “Fast fashion is like fast food. We consume it quickly, then we're hungry for more.” - Dana Thomas “Most brands work hard to get clothes refurbished and back on sale.” - Mark Sumner “Just because it's more expensive, doesn't mean it's more sustainable.” - Mark Sumner “I'm an advocate of fast fashion - which might seem perverse, as a sustainability lecturer.” - Mark Sumner “There is a whole generation of fashion brands that are strictly online.” – Dana Thomas “Luxury brands will try and retain exclusivity by burning stock, by throwing stock away, ensuring nobody can use those returns.” – Mark Sumner For more, listen to The Bunker Daily: Wild Wild Waste — How the West litters the world with Ruth Michaelson. https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fashionopolis-Price-Fashion-Future-Clothes/dp/1789546060 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does the fallout from last week’s by-elections show that Boris Johnson is losing touch with reality? Plus, the panel explore what the G7 Summit means for the conflict in Ukraine, how the Supreme Court ruling on abortion will affect American women, and why RMT leader Mick Lynch is the left’s latest pin-up. “The world's two oldest parliaments are in Iceland and the Isle of Man. Neither have anything to do with the Magna Carta.” - Arthur Snell “The whole property market is so out of whack that a treehouse to get little Wilf on the ladder might not be a bad thing.” - Ahir Shah “Johnson has escaped once again, but his problems are far from over.” - Yasmeen Serhan “Since 2016, America has been embarking on the great backslide.” - Yasmeen Serhan “It's not theories and ideologies that are clashing here, but fundamental world views.” - Yasmeen Serhan https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor with Arthur Snell, Ahir Shah and Yasmeen Serhan. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the US Supreme Court strikes down abortion rights, what does the ruling mean for women in America? The fallout from last week’s by-elections and rail strikes continue, where next for the Tories? And G7 leaders meet in Germany this week, with Ukraine, climate change and food security on the agenda. Justin Quirk is joined by Naomi Smith to set up the week ahead. “Abortion access being limited doesn’t stop abortions, it stops safe abortions.” - Naomi Smith “The right to abortion now sits with state legislators.” - Naomi Smith “Johnson will cling on, it now depends on if the cabinet move.” - Naomi Smith “400 million people rely on Ukrainian food supplies, the world will not see an end to rising prices any time soon.” - Naomi Smith www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Justin Quirk with Naomi Smith. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week is a little bit special, as we are joined by Andrew and Siân live from Glastonbury 2022! Keeping it strictly music, we went along to see Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic Elvis, with our special guest Linda Marric. Could we not help falling in love with it or did we get the G.I. blues? And, staying with the festival theme, Jelena and our producer Jade head to Margate Dreamland Leisure Festival, to catch up with its organisers and line-up stars HighSchool. Was the rollercoaster more highs than lows? “The trailers for Elvis are quite bland and dead. They do the film a great injustice” - Alex Andreou “I think Austin Butler was born to play Elvis” - Linda Marric “Elvis is the apex of Baz Lurhmann’s artistic style” - Jelena Sofronijevic “The film really tries to tell a wider story of US consumerism in music” - Jelena Sofronijevic Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1aea7525-7891-4a88-8474-a08c45ea064b Presented and produced by Alex Andreou and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Geoff Dyer talks to Dorian Lynskey about his career and new book The Last Days of Roger Federer: And Other Endings. In this, he examines the matter of final performances and pieces, through the tales of artists, sportspeople and writers. The pair also discuss how Dyer’s work takes shape, and how he reflects on his own writing. “The sense of not being ideally qualified to write about a subject has been quite enabling for me.” “Write the book only you could write is the mantra I repeat.” “Some genre defying stuff now feels a comfortable genre in itself.” “I think I’ve managed to turn the lack of a readership into some sort of freedom.” “If you can turn your weaknesses into some kind of strength, that’s a very happy outcome.” “The writing life has gone hand in hand with the continuation of my self-education.” “If you're able to engage the reader's curiosity and interest they’ll keep on reading.“ https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Days-Roger-Federer-Endings/dp/1838855742 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can China control what its authors write as tightly as President Xi might want? Writers have found dazzling ways to sidestep the “literary president”’s clampdown on free expression. China expert and Times book desk veteran Megan Walsh tells Andrew Harrison how the Chinese are reading everything from world-beating subversive science fiction… to lurid pot-boilers with titles like ‘My Dangerous Billionaire Husband'… to anarchic works of online fiction that often run longer than the Bible. What does it tell us about the world’s rising superpower? “Xi Jinping has put himself forward as literary president.” “People don't think that fiction from authoritarian regimes is worth reading… but they’re wrong.” “Chinese readers are very good at reading between the lines.” “We expect Chinese writers to always be political, but that’s not always why people write.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you heard this podcast before? Or are you experiencing Déjà vu? Catherine Loveday, neuroscience professor at the University of Westminster, joins Alex Andreou to explain the strange sensation that you've already experienced something, even when you know you never have, and why for some people it can become a serious problem. “Déjà vu is the conflict you feel when you don’t remember something but feel that you must.” “The feeling of familiarity helps us find our way in the world. When it goes wrong it can be quite disturbing.” ”Our brains are fantastic prediction machines.” “Déjà vu is a temporary aberration of our memory system.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Elina Ganatra. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From ethics to Northern Ireland to the ECHR to a mysterious disappearing story about his wife’s job prospects, Johnson is mired in legal and culture war battles. But why doesn’t anything stick to the PM? Plus, rail strikes: this is the age of the strain. And as Internet Explorer bows out, what are our fondest memories of the early Internet? Law and policy commentator David Allen Green is this week’s guest. “I don’t think law is a particularly lefty profession, but the work lawyers do is being politicised.” - David Allen Green “The only reason the Government tried to force this through was performative cruelty.” - David Allen Green “If you’re younger than 50, there isn’t that reference point that Labour equals strikes.” - Justin Quirk “I’ve decided to start calling this the Procrastination Madness Government.” - Marie Le Conte “The Government wants to create division and it wants the strikes to go ahead.” - David Allen Green “I remember the internet being a tool for checking false claims. That hasn’t quite worked out…” – David Allen Green https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou with Justin Quirk and Marie Le Conte. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With 1970s-style strikes due this week, what can we expect the fallout to be? The Conservatives are trying to shift blame anywhere it might stick, while they also face tests in two by-elections. Plus, we look at the Ukraine latest and unpack France’s election results. Andrew Harrison is joined by Gavin Esler to chart the week ahead. "We’ve had 12 years now of Conservative government. Are we any better off?” – Gavin Esler "We are under government by slogan.” – Gavin Esler "Boris Johnson might be Nicola Sturgeon's greatest weapon." – Gavin Esler www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison with Gavin Esler. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Music education in the UK is in a perilous place, with the largest cuts in spending per pupil for 40 years, falling teacher recruitment numbers, and huge drops in GCSE and A-Level uptake. With a new National Plan for Music Education imminent, will it be enough to ensure music matters? Jude Rogers talks to Chrissy Kinsella, Chief Executive of the London Music Fund, about transforming under-served communities, if learning tunes are really less important than science and tech for career prospects, and why some people still think music is more a luxury than a necessity. “Classical music will always be full of elite, old, white people unless we change it.” “The problem always is and always will be funding.” “Wouldn't it be amazing if every primary school had a music teacher?” “We often focus on academic attainment, but we should also be celebrating music for the joy of music.” “There's such a lack of joined up thinking from central government.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jude Rogers. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your pop-culture update: Is the MCU’s first Muslim superhero saga Ms Marvel really a cape-fest or a family comedy in disguise? Will Baltimore crime drama We Own This City match up to its creator’s classic creation The Wire? DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy serves up a Balearic breakfast and on the 40th birthday of ABC’s Lexicon Of Love, guest Clark Collis helps us choose THE greatest albums of all time. Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1aea7525-7891-4a88-8474-a08c45ea064b “I had to have three vodkas before seeing The Joker. And four afterwards.” – Clark Collis “Defining Balearic is like trying to define jazz…” – Cosmo “I can very much empathise with not wanting to go to Comic Con with your parents…” – Clark Collis https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Siân Pattenden. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Co-produced by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You can’t discuss Turkey’s politics without mentioning its strongman president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. What does he want? Gonul Tol, founding director of the Middle East Institute's Turkey program and author of the upcoming book Erdoğan’s War, talks to Alex Andreou about Erdoğan’s journey from reformer to autocrat, how his 19 years in power have changed Turkey, and what the future holds for the country and his leadership. “When Erdogan came to power in 2002 he was a different man, or so he said.” “Erdogan appealed to segments of the country that would traditionally be reluctant to support an Islamist leader.” “Institutions do not matter in today’s Turkey.” “Turkey is a problematic partner for the West, but important in the Ukraine crisis.” “If Turkey held free and fair elections today, Erdogan would lose.“ https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Elina Ganatra. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who decides the value of a piece of art? And how do they come to their conclusions? In May, Andy Warhol’s 'Shot Sage Blue Marilyn' sold at Christie’s for a record £158 million, making it the most expensive painting of the 20th century – but it is merely the biggest wave in an international tsunami of art sales. Jelena Sofronijevic speaks to Mary-Alice Stack, Chief Executive at Creative United, and Erling Kagge, polar explorer, former politician, and author of A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art, to discuss placing a value on creativity. “The price is reflective of the market, not the value of the artwork.” – Mary-Alice Stack “Now, we don't talk about art, we talk about the art market,” – Erling Kagge “Art fairs are the least best place to buy an artwork.” – Mary-Alice Stack “There was a time when galleries felt like the preserve of the moneyed classes.” – Mary-Alice Stack “There's a sense that if you need to ask the price, you can't afford it.” - Mary-Alice Stack “Fantastic art is being made every day.” – Erling Kagge “The auction houses are competing against themselves.” – Mary-Alice Stack “What matters to artists is the creation of the work in the first place.” – Mary-Alice Stack https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production https://uk.gestalten.com/products/erling-kagge-buying-great-art Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The disappearance of British reporter Dom Phillips and indigenous people’s campaigner Bruno Pereira has shown how serious the threats to journalists in Brazil are. It appears that the worst fears of Dom’s family may be true and he and Bruno will not be found alive. In tribute to a former colleague of ours and a brave and formidable reporter, here is the podcast that Dom made with Dorian Lynskey in May 2020, at the height of the COVID pandemic. It has not been edited. To donate to Dom and Bruno’s families please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dombruno-missing-in-the-amazon-rainforest Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Lead producer: Jacob Jarvis. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices