The Side Quest Podcast

Has the Middle East stepped back from the brink—or is this simply a ceasefire with an expiry date? In this episode of  The Side Quest Podcast , we examine the  Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding , the landmark 2026 agreement between the  United States and Iran  that halted three months of direct military conflict. We break down:  Why the agreement was negotiated in Islamabad  The reopening of t...

How did a Prime Minister with a bold economic vision become the shortest-serving leader in British history? In this episode of  The Side Quest Podcast , we dive into the remarkable political journey of  Liz Truss —from her left-wing upbringing and Oxford years to her rapid rise through Conservative politics and her dramatic 49-day premiership. We explore:  How Truss climbed to the top of British p...

She was alive when the Titanic sank . She buried a brother lost at Gallipoli, sailed alone to India at 18, ran a nursery school in Hong Kong, drove a vintage Triumph until she was 97 — and beat COVID-19 at age 110. Meet Ethel Caterham: born in a Hampshire village with no electricity in 1909, now the world’s oldest verified living person. She’s outlasted six British monarchs and seen 19 different p...

The political carousel keeps spinning . Following the resignation of Keir Starmer in June 2026, the UK is preparing for yet another change at the top, with Andy Burnham emerging as the likely successor. In this episode, we examine the events that brought down Starmer’s premiership, from disappointing local election results to growing divisions within the Labour Party. We also explore what Burnham’...

In 1999, three actors walked into the woods with cameras and a script that was mostly improvisation — and walked out having accidentally created one of the most profitable films ever made. This episode unpacks the found-footage phenomenon that convinced audiences they were watching real footage of real deaths, the guerrilla internet marketing campaign that built that illusion before social media e...

In this short special breaking news episode , we react to the shock resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer following a collapse in support within the Labour Party. We discuss the events that led to his departure, the growing pressure from within his own ranks, and the rapid emergence of Andy Burnham as the frontrunner to succeed him. With Britain now facing its seventh prime minister in a deca...

On July 29, 2024 , Axel Rudakubana murdered three young girls and injured ten others at a children’s dance workshop in Southport — an atrocity that would soon spiral into nationwide riots fueled by false claims spread online. In this episode, we trace the full arc of the Southport tragedy: the attack itself, the criminal case that ended in a life sentence with a 52-year minimum term, and the disin...

Send us Fan Mail Vapes, pouches, disposables, and addiction—how did nicotine reinvent itself for a new generation? In this episode, we trace the journey from cigarettes to modern nicotine products, examine the science behind their health risks, and explore why governments around the world are cracking down. Along the way, we uncover the devastating consequences of regulatory failures through a maj...

Send us Fan Mail The United Kingdom and the United States have long shared what politicians call the “Special Relationship” — a partnership built through war, diplomacy, trade, and shared strategic interests. But how special is it today? In this episode, we explore the history of the Anglo-American alliance, from its defining moments of cooperation to the diplomatic clashes that have tested it ove...

Send us Fan Mail Are we on the verge of the biggest disclosure in human history, or is it all just smoke and mirrors? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the global Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) phenomenon to separate verified fact from wild fiction. We dive deep into documented, declassified government operations like AATIP and the mysterious KONA BLUE program, contrasting hard evi...

Send us Fan Mail For more than seven decades, McDonald’s and Burger King have fought one of the fiercest rivalries in business history. From Ray Kroc’s real estate empire and McDonald’s global domination to Burger King’s flame-grilled rebellion and bold marketing stunts, this episode uncovers the strategies, scandals, and campaigns that shaped the fast-food industry. Who really won the Burger Wars...

Send us Fan Mail Millions of young men are being pulled into an online world promising confidence, success and masculinity. But where does that path really lead? In this episode, we explore the rise of the manosphere—from men’s rights forums and self-help influencers to incel communities and some of the internet’s most controversial personalities. We examine how social media algorithms amplify the...

Send us Fan Mail He defeated the world’s most powerful empire, helped build a new nation, and then walked away from power. George Washington is remembered as America’s greatest founding father—but the real story is far more complicated. From the Revolutionary War and the birth of the presidency to the contradictions of slavery and liberty, we explore the triumphs, flaws, and defining decisions of...

Send us Fan Mail Power, Privilege and Predators What happens when influence and accountability collide? This episode investigates the allegations, associations and controversies that transformed a royal friendship into a global scandal. The Andrew and Jeffery Epstein story has caused shockwaves all over the world, we do a deep dive into what we know, how it happened and what could happen as the in...

Send us Fan Mail In 1989, the internet was an infant, the Vietnam War ended only 14 years prior and George H.W Bush was the newly elected US President. Bob Lazar made an extraordinary claim: he had worked at a secret facility near Area 51, reverse-engineering alien spacecraft. Decades later, government UFO disclosures and advanced military sightings have reignited interest in his story. Was Lazar...

Send us Fan Mail Few political journeys have been as dramatic as JD Vance’s. Raised in a struggling Ohio community, he overcame a turbulent childhood to become a bestselling author, Yale Law graduate, venture capitalist, U.S. Senator, and ultimately Vice President of the United States. In this episode, we explore the remarkable rise of the man behind Hillbilly Elegy , his transformation from outsp...

Send us Fan Mail Record numbers are crossing the English Channel. Billions have been spent trying to stop them. Governments have promised solutions. Yet the boats keep coming. In this episode, we uncover the reality behind Britain’s small boats crisis, from people-smuggling gangs and asylum hotels to the controversial Rwanda plan and the political rise of Reform UK. We also explore how Europe’s wi...

Send us Fan Mail A TON of once-classified records have been released, revealing decades of mysterious encounters that remain unsolved to this day. From Apollo missions to military operations, the files raise a chilling question: what was really out there? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Corporate landlords have become the villains of the housing market—but are they actually the main reason homes are becoming unaffordable? We investigate how Wall Street entered the housing market after the 2008 crash, examine allegations of rent manipulation and tenant exploitation, and uncover the shocking supply shortage that may be the real culprit behind soaring housing costs...

Send us Fan Mail What should be football’s greatest celebration is becoming a political battlefield. From Trump and FIFA to conflicts affecting entire nations, we uncover why many believe the 2026 World Cup could become the most divisive tournament ever held. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Banished, underestimated, and forged through hardship, Xi Jinping’s journey is unlike any other political story. This episode reveals how he climbed from the depths of China’s Cultural Revolution to command a global superpower—while sparking fierce debate over human rights, surveillance, and the future of international politics. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Keir Starmer’s premiership is in free-fall. From the Mandelson-Epstein scandal and the winter fuel U-turn, to Labour’s catastrophic local election losses and near-constant calls to resign — we break down how Britain’s Prime Minister went from landslide winner to one of the country’s most unpopular leaders in under two years. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail A deep dive into the multiple conflicts throughout the world and what our governments are doing about it.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Ever gone down a rabbit hole and ended up somewhere completely unexpected? That’s what this podcast is all about. Each episode of The Side Quest Podcast takes a detour into whatever sparks curiosity Support the show