Arts & Ideas Creators & Guests

Anne McElvoy is a journalist, Policy Editor at The Economist, and host of the Arts & Ideas podcast.

Philip Dodd is a broadcaster, entrepreneur, curator, writer, editor, and host of the Arts & Ideas podcast.

Neil Brand (born 18 March 1958) is an English dramatist, composer and author. In addition to being a regular silent film accompanist at London's National Film Theatre, Brand has composed new scores for two restored films from the 1920s, The Wrecker and Anthony Asquith's Underground.Brand has also acted and written plays for the BBC. His book, Dramatic Notes, focuses on the art of composing narrative music for the cinema, theatre, radio and television. For his contribution to music, in 2016, Brand was awarded with a BASCA Gold Badge Award.

Hanna Rosin is an author. She is editorial director for audio for New York Magazine.Previously, Rosin was a co-host of the second season of the NPR show "Invisibilia." Before that, she was a writer for Slate Magazine and a co-host of their podcast "The Waves." She covered politics and religion for the Washington Post for many years, and she has written for the New Yorker, The New York Times, GQ and The New Republic.Rosin's first book, "God's Harvard: A Christian College on a Mission to Save America," was published in 2007. Her second book, "The End of Men: And the Rise of Women, was published in 2012.

John Cullen Murphy, Jr. is an American writer, journalist, and editor. He was managing editor of The Atlantic magazine.

Jenni Calder is a historian and art establishment figure.

Sacha Coward is an LGBTQ+ history dude. Queer As Folklore, videogame tours & Escape Room builder. Mermaid lover. Lifts heavy things for attention.

Nisi Shawl is a writer, editor, and journalist. They are best known as an author of science fiction and fantasy short stories. In addition to writing, they teach about how fantastic fiction might reflect real-world diversity of gender, sexual orientation, race, colonialism, physical ability, age, and other sociocultural factors.Shawl's short stories have appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, the Infinite Matrix, Strange Horizons, and Semiotext(e). Their first collection, "Filter House," was published in 2008, and won the James Tiptree, Jr. Award. Their first novel, "Everfair," was published in 2016 and was nominated for a Nebula Award.With with Cynthia Ward, Shawl co-authored the creative-writing handbook "Writing the Other: Bridging Cultural Differences for Successful Fiction." The book is derived from the authors' workshop of the same name, in which participants explore techniques to help them write credible characters outside their own cultural experience. It received special mention for the James Tiptree Jr. Award.

Sir Dieter Robin Helm is an economist and academic, whose research interests include energy, utilities, and the environment. Currently, he is Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Oxford, and Fellow in Economics at New College, Oxford.Helm has written several books about economic growth, energy policy, and climate change. His first book, "Energy, the State and the Market: British Energy Policy since 1979," was published in 2003.

Bobby Seagull is a mathematician, teacher and writer. He appeared on the television program University Challenge in 2017, and in 2018 on Monkman & Seagull’s Genius Guide to Britain.

Romola Garai is an actress and film director.

Robin Askwith is an actor, singer, and former model.

Richard Lloyd Parry is a foreign correspondent and writer. Currently, he is the Asia Editor of The Times of London, based in Tokyo. He writes the "Asia Exile" blog for The Times website.Parry has written for Granta, the New York Times, and the London Review of Books. His first book, "In the Time of Madness," was published in 2005. His second book, "People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman," was published in 2011, and his third book, "Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's Disaster Zone," was published in 2017.

Symeon Brown is a reporter and author. Currently, he is a correspondent for Channel 4 News. He is a co-founder of Haringey Young People Empowered, which aims to improve youth and community relations and give young people a stake in the democratic process.Brown's work has appeared in The Guardian, HuffPost, The Voice, New Statesman, and Vice. His first book, "Get Rich or Lie Trying: Ambition and Deceit in the New Influencer Economy," was published in 2022.Symeon studied Economics and Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, and received his M.A. in Broadcast Journalism from City University.

Stephen Baxter is an author who writes hard science fiction author. He has written or co-written over 60 books.Before becoming a full-time author in 1995, Baxter taught maths, physics, and information technology. He is also an engineer.Baxter was born in Liverpool, England. He received his degree in mathematics from Cambridge University, his doctorate in engineering from Southampton University, and an MBA from Henley Management College.

Christopher Fowler is an author, primarily of thrillers. He is best known for his Bryant and May mysteries series.Fowler is the author of fifty novels and short-story collections. His first novel, "Roofworld," was published in 1989. He has received the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, The Last Laugh Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Edge Hill Prize, and the Green Carnation Award.In addition to novels, Fowler has written screenplays, video games, graphic novels, audio and stage plays.

Vicky Neale is a British mathematician and writer. She is Whitehead Lecturer at Oxford's Mathematical Institute and Supernumerary Fellow at Balliol College.

Spike Lee is a film director, producer, writer, and actor.

Julie Bindel is a long time feminist campaigner and journalist. She co-founded the law reform group Justice for Women.