Turning World

In this episode of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman speak with Helen Marks and Jeremy Hawthorn of Friends of Palestine. The conversation explores their perspectives on Israel and Palestine, including the history of the region, the legacy of the Holocaust, the meaning of Zionism, and the difficult distinction between criticism of Israel and antisemitism. They discuss the origins of the mo...

What does conservatism mean in Britain today? And what role should Christianity play in shaping public life? Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Mark Butchard to explore the ideas, traditions and values behind British politics. From Thatcher and Tony Benn to contemporary political leadership, the conversation considers whether modern politics has become detached from the principles that once...

In this episode of Turning World , Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Professor Peter North of the University of Liverpool to explore whether the economic systems we have inherited are capable of dealing with the challenges of the modern world. The conversation moves from socialism and economic planning to artificial intelligence, public ownership, Nordic social democracy and the lessons of...

What does it mean to die well, and could we change the way we think about death? In this episode of Turning World , Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by palliative care doctor Ffion Carlin to explore the realities of caring for people at the end of their lives. The conversation goes beyond medicine to consider dignity, compassion, fear, meaning and the way modern society approaches death. The...

What role do stories play in shaping who we are? In this episode of Turning World , Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Frank Cottrell-Boyce—award-winning author, screenwriter and former Children's Laureate—to explore storytelling as one of the foundations of culture, identity and community. Reflecting on a career that spans television, film and children's literature, Frank discusses why sto...

Andy Burnham's rise to the Labour leadership has prompted renewed debate about the party's future, its relationship with working-class communities and whether it can reconnect with voters who have drifted away over recent decades. In this episode of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by political commentator and author Kevin Meagher to examine what Burnham's leadership might mea...

The Makerfield by-election has been described as one of the most significant political moments in recent years. But what does it really tell us about the future of British politics? In this episode of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by political thinker Neal Lawson to explore the questions beneath the headlines. The conversation examines whether Labour can reconnect with its...

In this episode, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Laurence Thompson of Liverpool Post for a conversation about journalism, identity and cultural storytelling. The discussion explores the role of local journalism in holding power to account, shaping civic identity and preserving meaning in an increasingly fragmented world. Topics include: • Local journalism and democratic accountability •...

In this special episode of Turning World, Jon Egan reports from Makerfield after a day spent speaking to local residents, campaign teams and political operatives during one of Britain's most closely watched by-election campaigns. Rather than focusing on polling or Westminster commentary, Jon reflects on the conversations taking place on the ground and what they reveal about trust, political identi...

In this bonus episode of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman explore a question increasingly felt across the political spectrum: why do so many people no longer feel at home in politics? As traditional party loyalties weaken and trust in institutions continues to decline, political debate often seems unable to address deeper questions about belonging, meaning, identity and purpose. This con...

In Episode 5 of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman explore one of the defining questions of our age: why do so many people feel disconnected from meaning, place and community? Drawing on literature, cultural history, spirituality and personal experience, this conversation examines what has been lost as communities become more homogenised, public life becomes more managed and genuine face-t...

In Episode 4 of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Stephen Atkinson for a discussion about political realignment, civic identity and the widening gap between national politics and local communities. Stephen reflects on his move from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, while exploring the pressures facing local government, the importance of civic pride and whether practical p...

In Episode 3 of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Professor Paul Garner for an in-depth conversation on long Covid, chronic fatigue, chronic pain and the evolving science of mind-body medicine. As both a researcher and patient advocate, Paul offers insight into the scientific, social and personal dimensions of chronic illness — from predictive coding and psychosomatic sympto...

In this episode of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Zia Chaudry MBE for a thoughtful discussion about Muslim identity, social cohesion and what it means to belong in modern Britain. This conversation explores the tensions and opportunities surrounding diversity, Islamophobia, technology, education and integration, while challenging simplistic narratives about Muslim communi...

In Episode 1 of Turning World, Jon Egan and Keith Hitchman are joined by Dan Carden MP and Jonny Ball to explore one of the defining political questions of our time: what comes after Corbynism, and can Blue Labour offer a meaningful alternative? This conversation examines the future of progressive politics through the lenses of civic belonging, workers’ rights, trade unionism, authenticity and com...