Theatre of war

<div>In this week’s episode: What is the next act in Putin’s theatre of war?</div><div><br></div><div>For this week’s cover story, James Forsyth writes about Putin’s dangerous dramatics on the Russian-Ukrainian border and where they might lead. James joins the podcast along with Paul Wood, who writes in this week’s magazine that Putin’s bluff may be backfiring. (00:49)</div><div><br></div><div>Also this week: How important is gallows humour?</div><div><br></div><div>The BBC’s new comedy-drama, This Is Going To Hurt, based on the best-selling book of the same title by trainee doctor turned comedian Adam Kay depicts some truly gut-wrenching scenes with a touch of gallows humour. This week in The Spectator, Andrew Watts writes a defence of making dark jokes in serious situations as not only a stress relief exercise, but a genuine necessity for getting through the day. He joins the podcast along with Ed Patrick, a comedian and NHS anaesthetist whose new book <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1914240200">Catch Your Breath</a> about working in the NHS during the pandemic is out now. (16:05)</div><div><br></div><div>And finally: why have we stopped whistling?</div><br><div>Whistling can be seen as a bit annoying at best and rude at worst. But in this week’s Spectator, Steve Morris laments the loss of everyday whistling. He considers it a way of bringing music into one’s life for those who don’t own a piano. He joins the podcast along with whistling world champion <a href="https://davidmorris-whistler.com/contact/">David Morris</a>, who has released six albums of his whistling. (25:50)</div><div><br></div><div>Hosted by Lara Prendergast and William Moore</div><div><br></div><div>Produced by Sam Holmes</div><div><br></div><div>Subscribe to The Spectator today and get a £20 Amazon gift voucher:<a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/voucher">www.spectator.co.uk/voucher</a></div><div><br></div><div>Listen to Lara's food podcast Table Talk: <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcasts/table-talk">https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcasts/table-talk</a></div><p>Become a <em>Spectator </em>subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/follow-your-podcasts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spectator.co.uk/adfree</a> to find out more.</p><br><p>For more <em>Spectator</em> podcasts, go to <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcasts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">spectator.co.uk/podcasts</a>. </p><br><p>Contact us: [email protected]</p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>