Planet Normal: Live Special at the Battle of Ideas 2025

Planet Normal: Live Special at the Battle of Ideas 2025

Author: The Telegraph October 23, 2025 Duration: 1:22:38

This episode was recorded live at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London on 19th October 2025


In this very special episode of Planet Normal, the rocket beams in live from the Battle of Ideas Festival featuring not one, but two very special stowaways..


Labour Life Peer, Lord Maurice Glasman, founder of the Blue Labour movement, shares his thoughts on the state of the Labour Party and slams the progressive policies which he argues is destroying its traditional party roots.


Inspirational sailor and author Tracy Edwards CBE, famous for skippering the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989, explains what true leadership and resilience looks like in the face of overwhelming odds and institutional sexism. Plus Tracy gives some shocking revelations about the criticism she faced in standing up for women's rights when the story of her voyage was adapted by the arts industry.


And your co-pilots weigh in on the government’s nonsensical energy policy which is causing so many in the country pain through the soaring cost of living. 


Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Read Allison ‘The Met’s U-turn on ‘hate crimes’ is welcome, but our police are still in thrall to Leftist forces’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/21/noncrime-hate-incidents-metropolitan-police-left-wing/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/

Read Liam ‘China’s influence is vast. It has taken over ‘Russia’s backyard’’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/19/chinas-influence-is-vast-it-has-taken-over-russias-backyard/ |

Read Oliver Brown’s interview with Tracy Edwards:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sailing/2025/08/24/tracy-edwards-trans-activists-fights-back/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

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Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

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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

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