Planet Normal: Best Voyages from the Rocket 2025 P2

Planet Normal: Best Voyages from the Rocket 2025 P2

Author: The Telegraph August 12, 2026 Duration: 41:32

You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hxtGEUicygE


Summer continues on Planet Normal! In this, the second part of our best of the rocket series, our co-pilots take a look back at some of their favourite voyages on the rocket of right thinking from the year so far.


Back in January, Allison and Liam spoke to General Sir Peter Wall, former Chief of the General Staff, following The Telegraph’s revelations about Sir Keir Starmer’s role in a legal case that paved the way for hundreds of British soldiers to face investigation over alleged historic war crimes. Sir Peter discussed the impact of the cases on the Armed Forces and warned that soldiers need to know the state will support them.


And then, in February, Liam was joined by actress Sophie Winkleman to discuss her campaign to protect children from smartphones, social media and excessive screen use in schools. Sophie also shared her concerns about the growing use of AI in education, arguing that children need to learn to think for themselves rather than rely on technology.


Read more from Liam here

Read more from Allison here

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk

Click for 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Every Thursday, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan step outside the daily noise to offer a different perspective on the week’s events. Planet Normal, from The Telegraph, is a conversation that often challenges the prevailing narratives found in mainstream media and political circles. This podcast digs into the stories shaping society, culture, and the news, focusing on the viewpoints and concerns that feel increasingly sidelined. Pearson and Halligan, both seasoned columnists, bring a blend of sharp analysis and relatable frustration to topics ranging from family life and economic pressures to broader cultural shifts. Their discussions feel like a break from a scripted debate, offering listeners a space where common sense and direct commentary take precedence. Tuning in provides a weekly reset-a chance to hear arguments grounded in everyday experience rather than abstract theory. It’s for anyone who feels the conventional discourse doesn’t quite reflect the reality they see. You’ll find the tone is more like a candid chat between two well-informed friends than a formal news broadcast, making complex issues accessible and engaging. This is the appeal of the Planet Normal podcast: a consistent, thoughtful alternative that speaks plainly about the forces shaping our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Planet Normal
Podcast Episodes
Liar, liar, Reeves’ pants are on fire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:47
With reaction to the autumn Budget still on the lips of news outlets everywhere, your co-pilots are here to make sense of the chaos.Allison doesn’t hold back and thinks Reeves has ‘lied’ to the electorate and inflated he…
Reeves Budget snowstorm of discontent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:08
The rocket of right thinking is back for a crucial Budget Special as Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her second major fiscal statement. Her new £30 billion tax rise means a staggering £70 billion increase in just two ye…
Reeves reverse ferret and Mahmood's immigration gamble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:15
This week the Rocket welcomes former Prime Minister Liz Truss to discuss next week’s Budget as well as the co-pilots diving into the latest political issues. From the dramatic U-turn on immigration by the Home Secretary,…
March of the BBC’s ‘tinfoil hat’ brigade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:35
After a Telegraph bombshell, both the BBC Director-General and Head of BBC News are OUT as the corporation is exposed for its "FAR LEFT ideological capture".Our co-pilots take a look at the shocking truth behind the bill…
Home Office fails to secure its own ‘fit note’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:24
Following the speech from Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledging tax rises are coming round the mountain, your co-pilots are here to wade through the incoming madness.Assisting co-pilot Halligan this week is returning gu…
Labour’s asylum seeker 'Carry On' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:41
Our co-pilots, energised from their trip down to earth for the live show at the Battle of Ideas festival last week, are back on the Rocket to try and make sense of a week of madness!They address the growing discontent fo…
Planet Normal: Live Special at the Battle of Ideas 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:38
This episode was recorded live at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London on 19th October 2025In this very special episode of Planet Normal, the rocket beams in live from the Battle of Ideas Festival featuring not one, bu…
Trump’s peace plan and the China spy row unfurling in Westminster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:52
With co-pilot Halligan off the train and back in the rocket the team has returned to wade through the madness.As Donald Trump declares “peace in the Middle East” Liam and Allison take their hats off to him as they credit…
October 7th freed Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi speaks to Allison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
In a special episode of Planet Normal co-pilot Pearson brings you a long interview with Eli Sharabi, who after the 7th of October spent 491 days as a captive of Hamas under the tunnels of Gaza.Eli has recently told his s…