The Bunker – News without the nonsense

This episode was recorded prior to the Mar-a-Lago search affidavit being released on Friday... The FBI raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort made headlines worldwide. What will the fallout be – legally and politically? Julia Azari, professor of Political Science at Marquette University, joins Justin Quirk to discuss what the raid means for Trump and US politics more widely, and why it has taken so long for the law to catch up with America’s 45th President. “This has somewhat overshadowed the January 6th hearings.” “How do we find political peace but also ensure people are equal under the rule of law?” “Even if Trump is given the Nixon treatment, the debates around Trumpism won’t go away.” “Even if the Republicans take control of Congress, this won’t go away.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Justin Quirk. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our always-on digital world is changing how we read, which means it’s altering how our minds work. Literary critic Sven Birkerts, author of Changing the Subject: Art and Attention in the Internet Age, tells Andrew Harrison how the act of reading is fundamentally different when the printed word is just part of an ever-changing multiplex – and why the state reading puts you in is more important than the words on the page (or the screen). “A book used to be an escape, but now the outside world is always insistently present.” “It’s harder to get inside your own head when there is so much to escape from.” “Audiobooks are fine but you can’t process a literary sentence at the speed of a voice.” 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. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE 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 we’ve chosen an episode from April, 2020. It’s the end of the world as we know it and… some people are quite into that, it seems. Why are so many people so keen on the end of everything? What do doomsday preppers, alt.right catastrophists and billionaire plutocrat antidemocrats like Peter Thiel have in common? And is the communal response to COVID proving their worst ambitions wrong? We talk to Mark O’Connell – author of book Notes From An Apocalypse: A Personal Journey to the End of the World and Back – about the dark fantasy of the End Times. https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented and 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

Electric cars have been sold as an answer to green, clean travel. But is the reality that clear-cut? Henry Sanderson, author of Volt Rush: The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green, joins Ahir Shah to discuss whether they’re really a climate-friendly solution, resource mining and de-coupling energy reliance from China. “A lot of green products mask dirty supply chains.” – Henry Sanderson “China is present at all stages of the supply chains: from mine to processing.” – Henry Sanderson “With mining resources - nothing comes for free.” – Henry Sanderson “The DRC is the Saudi Arabia of cobalt – they know they have one chance to get this right.” – Henry Sanderson https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Ahir Shah. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After replacing Angela Merkel at the end of last year, how is German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s tenure going? Alex Andreou discusses the problems he faces with German author and journalist Annette Dittert. “Scholz has come to power by imitating Merkel, by promising no surprises.” “Scholz doesn’t seem to be able to make decisions when they need to be done.” “He is coming from this old school, appeasement policy towards Russia.” “People are still missing Merkel, Scholz cannot pull the EU together the way she could.” “In such a time of crisis, there is just not room for populism.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All work and no play makes… the basis of Truss’s Thatcherite utopia. We unpack the likely PM-to-be’s “graft” remarks. Plus, six months since the invasion of Ukraine, how is the conflict shaping up? And, with the end of the £10 flight inbound, award-winning transport journalist John Walton joins us to discuss the future of the aviation industry. “On Brexit, Truss will always be the great political half-and-half scarf.” – Tom Peck “It doesn’t really matter what Truss believes in, because the main thing she believes in is herself.” – Tom Peck “The dystopian leadership contest nightmare has been so bad that voters might even remember it in two years!” – Tom Peck https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Justin Quirk with Arthur Snell, Marie Le Conte and Tom Peck. 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

How will Russia react after the car bomb killing of a key Putin ally’s daughter? Is Ukraine set for intensified attacks, despite denying involvement? Plus, sewage spewed across beaches dirties the Government’s record further as the Tory leadership contest dribbles on. Is it too late for them to clean up their act and the country – even slightly? Gavin Esler lays out the week ahead with Andrew Harrison. "Just because you don't want to sound like Russian state media, doesn't mean there aren't conspiracies involved." "You could do a decline of man cartoon from David Cameron to Boris Johnson." "It's Armando Iannucci I feel sorry for. How do you satirise this lot?" “The Conservatives seem to be keen on finding someone they think is even worse than Boris Johnson.” www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Andrew Harrison with Gavin Esler. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. 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

Apparently, all you need is love – but why? What makes it fundamental to our survival, and why doesn’t heartbreak put us off it? Jacob Jarvis speaks to Dr. Anna Machin, an evolutionary anthropologist and author of Why We Love: The New Science Behind Our Closest Relationships. “The reason we crave love is that it fulfils a fundamental survival need which is to meet other people.” “Humans are the most cooperative species on the planet. That’s the basis of love.” “To love at the cost of somebody else, while damaging for them, doesn’t harm you.” “In the first weeks of a relationship, your brain can’t notice a bad partner. Love is blind.” “There has to be an unpredictable nature to keep us on our toes.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your pop culture update: We are joined by the rhyme-nocerous himself, one half of Flight of the Conchords, Bret McKenzie! New Zealand’s finest joins us to talk about making music with the Muppets and the Simpsons, and his debut solo album 'Songs Without Jokes'. Justin Quirk joins to chew on Hot Chip’s new album, FREAKOUT/RELEASE and Bolton’s answer to Black Mirror, Red Rose, out now on BBC Three. “I like the juxtaposition between sweet melodies, and saying the world is screwed.” - Bret McKenzie “Winning the Academy Award was the one night that Hollywood felt glamorous and not depressing.” - Bret McKenzie “FOTC was a student film production that just ended up on HBO.” - Bret McKenzie “The Simpsons is almost the fabric of television.” - Bret McKenzie “There’s always something about Hot Chip that feels a bit like an academic exercise to me.” – Justin Quirk “Red Rose captured the duality between our lives online and our lives offline.” - Bret McKenzie Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Presented and produced by Jelena Sofronijevic 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

In this week’s Bunker Gold, listen back to Arthur Snell’s discussion with one of his contacts in Afghanistan in the aftermath of Kabul’s fall in August 2021. Originally released a year ago today, the pair discussed what the situation was like after the Taliban’s astonishingly swift takeover–while the person, who we chose not to identify, was in hiding. https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast “Kabul has been left without anything.” “Everything is closed down. You would think it is the Stone Age in Kabul. You wouldn't have seen this a week ago.” “This was a win-win for Russia.” “The Taliban have made fake promises to the international community. Of course they have not changed.” Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Greensill Capital collapsed it brought down a multi-billion dollar empire and exposed David Cameron's greed. Alex Andreou talks to financial journalist Duncan Mavin about the failed project, which is covered in his new book The Pyramid of Lies. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Lex Greensill was very good at understanding what motivated politicians.” “Greensill Capital was trying to be disruptive.” “David Cameron brought huge credibility to Greensill Capital.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Producer: Jacob Archbold. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by 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

As tensions between ethnic Serbs and Albanians rise in Kosovo – how will this situation develop? With fears over an escalating conflict in the Balkans, journalist Una Hajdari joins Jelena Sofronijevic to discuss the latest. "Poisonous nationalist rhetoric is being spread by political leaders in Serbia, Croatia, and Kosovo." "Putin is Serbia's ally, but he's accidentally advocating for Kosovo." "Comparing past events to ethnic cleansing now leads to deadly incidents." “Rhetoric can lead to isolated but deadly incidents.” “Any time you hear a leader talking about expanding a country’s territory outside of its borders, you know that’s bad news.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jelena Sofronijevic. Producer: Jacob Archbold. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by 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

The murder attempt on Salman Rushdie continues to reverberate. What does it mean for tensions with Iran – and for free speech? Plus, the economy’s in the toilet and the Prime Minister’s on a Greek beach. Will anyone get a grip of the cost of living crisis? And if TikTok becomes the dominant social media platform, how do we feel about China owning the arena of political debate? Our special guest is Helena Wadia of the Mediastorm podcast. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Iran’s capacity to stir up trouble remains. Even if they’re not responsible for this attack, they set the tone.” – Gavin Esler “We usually equate emergency with urgency. Somehow that message didn’t get through.” – Helena Wadia “The energy crisis feels like the straw that broke the camel’s back… A big shift has to come because the alternative is unthinkable.” – Ahir Shah “Rushdie has a very wicked sense of humour. And some people, especially the very religious, don’t get the joke.” – Gavin Esler “Didn’t Dominic Raab already prove that you can’t do your job from the beach? When Kabul fell?” – Ahir Shah https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Justin Quirk with Ahir Shah and Gavin Esler. 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

Coming up in the next seven days: The attack on Salman Rushdie continues to reverberate. Will Keir Starmer’s plan to freeze the energy cap burst Truss and Sunak’s tax-cuts bubble? And Trump’s worries mount as more details emerge of what the FBI found in Mar-a-Lago. Alex Andreou looks at the next seven days with Justin Quirk. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Sunak just needed to sit back and let Truss reveal herself for the idiot she is – but he blew it spectacularly.” “When it comes to Trump zealots, you’re not dealing with logic but religious fervour.” “It’s getting harder and harder for the government to call these strikers communist loons.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou and Justin Quirk. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Lead producer: Jacob Archbold. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s 75 years since British India was split in two, but what does Partition mean today? Signalling the end of British colonial rule in the subcontinent, and leaving thousands dead and millions displaced – why are we not taught about it in schools? Ahir Shah discusses family histories and second generation identity with fellow British-Asian comedian Eshaan Akbar. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “All you are taught at school is: Henry VIII was a bit of a legend, then World War Two.” – Ahir Shah “Wounds created in 1947 remained open and festering for decades.” – Ahir Shah “You have these two senses of us in your head - I can’t believe WE did this to US.” – Ahir Shah https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ahir Shah. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold, Jelena Sofronijevic and Alex Rees. Assistant Producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Music by Jade Bailey. 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: Does Netflix smash The Sandman only make sense if you’re a comics geek? Super-producer Danger Mouse’s return to hip hop leaves our panel “totally blown away.” And why does Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99 leave such a nasty taste in the mouth? Music business writer Eamonn Forde joins Alex and Andrew. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “Tom Sturridge as Dream has an incredibly striking look, like a terribly deprived version of Bernard from Black Books…” – Eamonn Forde “Sandman puts a bunch of myths in a bag and shakes them.” – Alex Andreou “This is a fantastic album… Danger Mouse has done Pop 101 for hip hop and just written bangers.” – Eamonn Forde Get yer free opera classics: https://www.mariacallasmuseum.org/_cetra/cetra.htm Hear all the music on our rolling playlists. Spotify: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/77075591-255c-47eb-9062-815c4dd469ef Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison and Alex Andreou. 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

In this week’s Bunker Gold, listen back to Jude Rogers in conversation with Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, from January 2021. On the last day of Trump’s warped presidency, his niece Mary – psychologist and author of Too Much And Never Enough: How My Family Created The World’s Most Dangerous Man – reflected on the making of a man who impressed his psychopathologies on a nation. How does a person get like this? What is it like when a family member places the entire world in peril? And could a defeated Trump represent an even worse danger to American democracy? “For the first time in his life he can’t spin a loss into a win. And it’s driving him crazy.” “At a very deep level, Donald knows he’s never been truly successful and has no skills.” “When Donald was elected I knew he would do to my country what he and his father had done to my family.” “What shocks me is that there are people on this planet who are weaker than Donald. I didn’t think that was possible” “In the election, if he was going down, he would try to take the rest of us with him. And that’s exactly what he did.” “Failure to live up Fred Trump’s demands got you destroyed. And that’s what happened to my dad.” “If the cameras disappear, Donald ceases to exist.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB Presented by Jude Rogers. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. 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 workers on strike and services cancelled, why are Britain’s railways such a mess? And how can they be fixed? Tom Haines-Doran, research fellow at Leeds University and author of Derailed: How to Fix Britain’s Broken Railways, joins Ros Taylor to discuss the problems with the UK’s train system, and what needs to happen for our railways to get back on track. “Once a new Prime Minister is in place we could see a lot more strike action take place.” “The Government has deliberately shifted the cost of running the railways onto passengers.” “It’s extraordinary the Government would put up prices 13% after a year of turmoil on the railways.” “Railway workers really do have some power.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Additional sound effects from www.zapsplat.com and AlienXXX via Freesound.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last week has ignited tensions around the island, but why does China want to crush Taiwan? Cindy Yu, host of the Chinese Whispers podcast, joins Alex Andreou to explain the status of Taiwan, why Pelosi’s visit has angered Beijing, and how the situation could develop in the months ahead. “If Taiwan declared independence they would incur the wrath of Beijing.” “The national security law has made a peaceful reunification with Taiwan almost impossible.” “If the West doesn’t want to get into a decoupling situation with China, it needs to be strong on Russia.” “Xi has made it part of his legacy to reunite China with Taiwan.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Sunak and Truss argue over cutting taxes, what about emissions? Madeleine Cuff, i’s environment correspondent joins us to pick apart the pair’s climate credentials. Do they have any? Plus, healthcare commentator Roy Lilley takes us through what you need to know about the state of the NHS staffing crisis. And, as spiders are reanimated in an experiment akin to a David Cronenberg movie, we ask… why? "The NHS has the biggest carbon footprint of any institution in Europe." - Roy Lilley "15% of the UK population takes 70% of its flights." - Madeleine Cuff “We should frame environmentalism as the militant wing of the National Trust” - Justin Quirk "Truss and Sunak's campaigns are simply fantasy island economics." - Justin Quirk ​​"It’s really macabre. Some of the language around the utility of the spiders is quite stomach churning. They say they can get about a thousand 'repetitions' out of the carcass." - Madeleine Cuff Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Arthur Snell and Justin Quirk. 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

As the cost of living crisis bites, will this week’s Truss U-Turn be “handouts” or an emergency budget? Can the Mail nobble the Privileges Committee before it nobbles Johnson? Tensions rise over Taiwan and the Russians are shelling nuclear plants in Ukraine. Just another week, then… Alex Andreou looks at the next seven days with Jacob Jarvis. Complete our listener survey for a chance to win a Bunker t-shirt: https://bit.ly/3zFSySB “The Government has checked out – not just the ministers but civil servants too… Most departments are on skeleton staff.” “Their whole goal is to pretend that this is a brand new Government – and that’s hard to do if your first months are consumed with the Partygate probe.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis and Alex Andreou. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant producer: Kasia Tomasiewicz. Audio production by Jade Bailey. Music: Kenny Dickinson. Lead producer: Jacob Archbold. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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