Shows
Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Our Politicians at ChristmasIn a special Christmas edition of Since Attlee & Churchill, Lee and Richard have been searching through diaries, memoirs and other historical sources to find out how our politicians spend Christmas - and what some of them have contributed to our understanding of a traditional British Christmas. Featuring Ramsay MacDonald, Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, Tony Benn, Jim Callaghan, Barbara Castle, Margaret Thatcher and more.We wish you all a very happy Christmas. Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star...
2025-12-2434 minSince Attlee & ChurchillThe Heath vs Wilson Elections (Episode 2 of 4): The 1970 General ElectionIn part two of their miniseries on the Heath vs Wilson elections, Lee and Richard delve into the second of the contests fought between the pair. In May 1970, incumbent Prime Minister Harold Wilson asked the Queen for a dissolution of Parliament, judging it was his best opportunity to win a third successive election for Labour. Almost everyone expected Wilson to triumph. But when the votes were cast, Edward Heath and the Conservatives came out on top. How did it happen? And why did the polls and political commentators misjudge the views of the British people?In...
2025-12-221h 15Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Burnham's Path to Parliament & Do Parties Need to Make Pacts?In this week's Matters of Interest, Richard considers whether the Labour Party's internal rules - especially the power of the National Executive Committee over Parliamentary selections - could stand in the way of Andy Burnham's triumphant return to Parliament. And Lee considers whether the changing electoral landscape of Britain means parties no longer need to really make pacts with one another, because the voters are effectively doing it for them.Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!Buying...
2025-12-1748 minSince Attlee & ChurchillThe Heath vs Wilson Elections (Episode 1 of 4): The 1966 General ElectionLee and Richard are starting a brand new mini-series looking at some of the most dramatic and consequential general elections in post-war history: the four contests fought between Conservative leader Edward Heath and Labour leader Harold Wilson between 1966 and 1974. In this episode, they discuss Wilson's gamble on a snap election in March 1966. Boosted by a recent by-election win, Wilson thought it would be the perfect moment to seize the initiative and win a big majority. How did the campaign unfold - and did Wilson get the result he hoped for?In this episode, the following books...
2025-12-141h 08Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Expelling Peers & the Lib DemsIn this Week's Matters of Interest, Richard suggests that the use of the royal prerogative to deprive Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his titles of nobility might have inadvertently set a precedent for allowing prime ministers to eject troublesome members from the House of Lords without legislation. And Lee raises the strategy and success of the Lib Dems. Both Lee and Richard have experience of fighting against Britain's traditional third party, but what do they think of how the Lib Dems got to where they are today - and what the future holds?Enjoy listening to the Since...
2025-12-1050 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe 2025 CFP Bracket Reaction Show: The Alabama DisagreementThe College Football Playoff bracket is out. Richard Johnson doesn’t think it’s a big crime that Alabama was included. Alex Kirshner does. The hosts hash out their disagreement and then pull on some other threads from the big reveal: * Why Richard was able to see so much of this coming * Why Alex really hates Bama’s inclusion * Why Richard doesn’t * How Duke’s loss in the ACC Championship did or didn’t affect Miami’s case* Notre Dame’s decision not to play in a bowl game * Th...
2025-12-0846 minSince Attlee & ChurchillHow did Jeremy Corbyn win the Labour leadership?In this week's episode, Lee and Richard discuss one of the most dramatic events in Labour history: the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn, a man who had never before sat on the front bench, as the landslide winner of the party leadership. It's a story that covers the fallout of the Iraq war and reforms to Labour's leadership rules, Ed Miliband's decision to resign the leadership straight after election defeat and Andy Burnham's following of the Labour whip on Tory welfare measures. So, how did it unfold - and what were the consequences?In this episode, the following...
2025-12-071h 14Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Grounds for Resignation & Badenoch's Big WeekRichard kicks off this episode by looking at the reasons why ministers have resigned historically and what has prompted people to leave government since Labour came into office last year. Lee and Richard then debate whether politicians should rethink what constitutes grounds for resignation - either to make it more, or less, likely. Next, Lee discusses the most important week so far of Kemi Badenoch's leadership of the Conservative Party and considers what it means for the Conservatives, their fight for survival, and how they will try to return to government.Enjoy listening to the Since...
2025-12-0345 minSince Attlee & ChurchillDid the 1981 Budget really transform Britain's economy?As we've just had a Budget in the UK, Lee and Richard look back to one of the most famous - and controversial - Budgets in post-war British politics: the 1981 Budget delivered by Geoffrey Howe in Margaret Thatcher's first term as Prime Minister. This Budget provoked a furious backlash among some Conservatives as well as most of the economic establishment. But by luck or by judgement it marked the turning point in Britain's economic fortunes in the 1980s.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House...
2025-11-301h 01Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Removing the Labour Leader & Volatile Local ElectionsThis week, Richard delves into the Labour rulebook to explain the latest rumours of an attempt to remove Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader; and Lee looks at the extraordinary volatility of local by-election results which offer good news - and bad - for all of the parties, depending on where you look!Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!Buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here...
2025-11-2651 minSince Attlee & ChurchillHow did Neil Kinnock defeat Militant?Neil Kinnock’s showdown with Militant Tendency at the 1985 Labour conference is one of the standout moments of his Labour leadership - and of the entire history - of the Labour Party. In this week's episode, Lee and Richard explore the history of ginger groups in the Labour Party; how Militant established themselves in Liverpool in the early 1980s; and how their high-stakes fight with Thatcher's government became a totemic moment for Kinnock and his leadership.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'The Smallest Room in the House: 50 political oddities to read in mo...
2025-11-231h 06Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Refurbishing Number 10 & The Crisis of ReadingIn the latest Matters of Interest, Richard tears apart the complaints made by some employees in government about the condition of Number 10 Downing Street, opening up a discussion about the refurbishments of the building over the years and the power of Number 10 versus other government departments. Then Lee takes issue with a recent report about different types of 'reading' - including digital reading and audiobooks - and makes the case for books as the pinnacle of literacy.Buying your books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to...
2025-11-1942 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWho achieved 'the most significant by-election success ever’?In this week's podcast, Richard and Lee are joined by historian Tom Chidwick to discuss the life and times of Dick Taverne. In the early 1970s, the Labour MP for Lincoln was deselected by his party over Europe; in response, he resigned his seat and stood in a spectacular by-election. When voters went to the polls, Taverne achieved what John Curtice has called 'the most significant by-election success ever’. Why was he deselected? How did he win? And what were the longer-term consequences for Taverne - and British politics? In this episode, the following books are mentioned:...
2025-11-1654 minSince Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: BBC Neutrality & Net ZeroIn their regular mid-week episode, Lee and Richard clash on the current scandal engulfing the BBC before Richard shares some anonymous correspondence from the heart of Whitehall, exposing some of the challenges we face in being an effectively-governed nation.Enjoy listening to the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast? If so, we would be very grateful if you could leave us a 5 star review!***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - literally since Attlee & Churchill - and is hosted by Lee David Evans, an historian of the Conservative Party, and Richard...
2025-11-1243 minSince Attlee & ChurchillHow did war shape our politicians?In this episode, released on Remembrance Sunday, Lee and Richard discuss four titanic politicians of the twentieth century shaped by their experience of war. Clement Attlee and Harold Macmillan both served with distinction in the First World War, and Denis Healey and Edward Heath in the Second. This podcast looks at what their contribution to the war looked like - including their many brushes with death - before reflecting on the significance of their service on their political lives.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'The British General Election of 2019' by multiple...
2025-11-091h 08Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Politicians Changing Names & Funding Political PartiesIn this week's Matters of Interest, Richard shares some remarkable examples of leading British politicians who have chosen not to go by the name they were given at birth. Who did it? And why? Then Lee discusses the recent reforms to political donations in Australia, with a lively discussion about the need for - and the pitfalls of - reforming the way we fund our political parties.Did you know that there is a Since Attlee & Churchill Substack, including bonus podcasts? Find it here: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/Buying your books via the Since Attlee...
2025-11-0545 minSince Attlee & ChurchillHow did the MPs' expenses scandal unfold?In this week's episode, Lee and Richard discuss the biggest political scandal of a generation: the publication of MPs' expenses in 2009. Reported on by the Daily Telegraph after the sensational leak of over a million and a half documents from Parliament, the scandal captured the attention of the nation. From duck houses to moat cleaning, phantom mortgages to packets of biscuits - every detail seemed to fascinate the public and provoke fury towards MPs. How did it unfold? Was it as bad as it seemed? And are we still living with the consequences today?In this episode...
2025-11-021h 12Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: The size of the Civil Service, Digital ID & Compulsory VotingIn this week's Matters of Interest, Richard reflects on the historic size of the Civil Service and considers whether Reform's plan to reduce it is really the solution to getting things done in Britain. Lee thinks back to the noughties when Labour last tried to introduce ID cards and asks what Keir Starmer could learn from Tony Blair. And the pair discuss - and disagree! - on whether compulsory voting is a good idea.Visit the Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop to find books recently discussed on the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac***
2025-10-2944 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhy was Britain absent from the EU's beginning?In this week's podcast, we discuss one of the most important forks in the road in Britain's post-war history: when Clement Attlee's Labour government refused to take part in discussions on the Schuman Plan, which would become the European Coal and Steel Community and ultimately evolve into the European Union. What motivated their decision? Was it Germanophobia, or a devotion to socialism? And did their decision mean that European integration was set on a course that meant Britain could never truly be happy as part of the European project? We discuss these questions - and more!In...
2025-10-261h 01Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: 'Are the old Political Parties over?' & Thatcher's Legacy Richard kicks off this week's 'Matters of Interest' episode by discussing whether the old political parties in Britain - the Conservatives and Labour - are dying, changing, or simply finding they have new competitors vying for power. Lee focuses on the question of Margaret Thatcher's legacy, one he is keen to defend - and Richard even keener to condemn.Visit the Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop to find books recently discussed on the podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - literally since Attlee...
2025-10-2245 minSince Attlee & ChurchillDid Margaret Thatcher have to resign as Prime Minister?October 2025 marks 100 years since the birth of Margaret Thatcher. In this week's podcast, Lee and Richard discuss the dramatic events that came in her sixty-sixth year: her downfall as Prime Minister. Why did she resign after eleven and a half years in Number 10? Could she have fought on? And if she had stayed in power, would she have won the 1991/2 general election? Listen to find out their answers to these questions - and more.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'The World We Have Lost' by Peter Laslett. Available at: https://uk.bookshop...
2025-10-191h 12Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Political Awareness, Party Memberships & Public LoosThis week, Lee and Richard discuss whether the public really pay attention to politics - with Lee challenging the shibboleth of some political commentators that very few people really pay attention to what is going on in Westminster. They also discuss party memberships, following news that the Lib Dem membership has halved in the last five years. And Richard shares his thoughts on the importance of free-to-use toilets in public spaces, in a discussion that ranges from the London Underground to Japan via one of Barbara Castle's first ever political campaigns.Since Attlee & Churchill Substack, featuring bonus...
2025-10-1541 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWas Barbara Castle Labour's Iron Lady?115 years ago this week, one of Labour's most iconic politicians was born. Barbara Castle grew up in Yorkshire before attending Oxford University and becoming a Labour MP in 1945. For over three decades, she was one of the best-known MPs in the country and one of the most forceful advocates for socialism. In this episode, Lee interviews Richard about Castle's life and achievements and Richard explains why she is his favourite Labour politician of all time.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'A Year with Gilbert White' by Jenny Uglow. Available at: https://uk...
2025-10-121h 13Since Attlee & ChurchillMatters of Interest: Tory Conference, ECHR & Churchill's Boozy PrescriptionThroughout the month of October, Lee and Richard are experimenting with mid-week editions of Matters of Interest. In this first episode, Lee returns from Conservative Party Conference and shares his thoughts on Margaret Thatcher's legacy and the Tories' newly announced policies. And Richard discovers an almost century-old prescription given to Winston Churchill by an American doctor, which reveals a great deal about what it was like to live (and be treated) in America under prohibition.Since Attlee & Churchill Substack, featuring bonus podcasts: https://www.sinceattleeandchurchill.com/Since Attlee & Churchill bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org...
2025-10-0834 minSince Attlee & ChurchillThe Crucible of Conference (Episode 2 of 2): The Conservatives' 2005 Party ConferenceIn the second part of their miniseries on consequential party conferences, Richard and Lee discuss the Conservatives' 2005 gathering in Blackpool. In the wake of their third successive election defeat, Tories gathered on the Fylde coast to mull over the choice of leader. The front-runner at the start of proceedings would bomb on the conference stage and a little known MP would emerge as the leader-in-waiting - setting him on course to the party leadership and 10 Downing Street.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Looking for Rights in All the Wrong Places' by Emily...
2025-10-051h 08Since Attlee & ChurchillThe Crucible of Conference (Episode 1 of 2): Labour's 1952 Party ConferenceWith party conference season underway, Lee and Richard begin a new two-part miniseries discussing some of the most consequential Labour and Conservative conferences in the post-war era. First up is Labour's 1952 conference in Morecambe. Amidst pelting rain, Britain's socialists gathered in opposition for the first time in over a decade. The party was deeply split over its own record in government and its future direction - with combustible speeches and outrageous heckling dominating the proceedings in the hall.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Our Evenings' by Alan Hollinghurst. Available at: https://uk...
2025-09-281h 01Since Attlee & ChurchillWhy did John Major resign (and then stand again for) the Tory leadership?In June 1995, John Major shocked the political world by resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party. But in the very next sentence of his resignation statement, he confirmed that he would be standing to be his own successor. Why? What did he hope to achieve? Who stood against him? And what were the consequences? We look back 30 years to these dramatic political events and ask what lessons other political leaders, including Keir Starmer, could learn from them.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'The Rage of Party' by George Owers. Available at: https...
2025-09-211h 11Since Attlee & ChurchillLabour Lives Cut Short (Episode 3 of 3): John SmithWe conclude our miniseries on the Labour politicians whose lives came to premature ends with John Smith. After spending his early life practising law in Scotland, Smith served in the Wilson and Callaghan governments before 1979. In opposition, he was never far from the action - and in 1992 was chosen overwhelmingly to lead the Labour Party. Yet after just 22 months in charge, he died of a heart attack. How different would Labour, and Britain, have been if he lived? We think very, very different indeed...In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'British By-Elections 1769–2025: The 88 By...
2025-09-141h 25Since Attlee & ChurchillLabour Lives Cut Short (Episode 2 of 3): Anthony CroslandIn part two of our mini-series looking at the Labour politicians whose lives came to tragic and premature ends, we turn to Anthony Crosland. Having established himself as one of the lighthouses of socialist thinking in Britain, Crosland became a senior minister in the Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan governments. He left his mark wherever he went, including his fierce attacks on grammar schools. Crosland died, unexpectedly, of a stroke whilst serving as Foreign Secretary. But was that the limit of his potential? Or could he have gone on to lead the Labour Party - even to defeat Margaret...
2025-09-071h 16Since Attlee & ChurchillLabour Lives Cut Short (Episode 1 of 3): Hugh GaitskellRichard and Lee begin a new mini-series looking at the Labour politicians whose lives came to tragic and premature ends, starting with Hugh Gaitskell. After becoming Chancellor just five years into his time as an MP, Gaitskell became the flagbearer for the Labour Right and, in 1955, the successor to Clement Attlee. His first meeting with the voters ended in defeat, but in 1963 he looked to be on the precipice of power. Then his health failed him. How did Gaitskell die? Would he have won the 1964 election? And would a Gaitskell premiership have been different to a Harold Wilson one...
2025-08-311h 25Since Attlee & ChurchillHow did Churchill use Chartwell to change the course of history?For this episode, Lee and Richard are joined by Katherine Carter, the curator of Chartwell, Churchill's country home, and the best-selling author of 'Churchill's Citadel'. Their discussion ranges from Churchill's decision to buy a semi-ruined home in rural Kent to the remarkable cast of characters - from Britain and around the world - that he invited to meet with him there. Throughout Churchill's wilderness years the connections he forged, and the information that was shared at Chartwell, changed the course of British history.Katherine's book, 'Churchill's Citadel', is available now in paperback: https://amzn.to/45Z6hnJ
2025-08-2459 minSince Attlee & Churchill"Alice, who the **** is Alice?"Alice Mahon may not be a well-remembered figure today, but for 18 years she served as MP for Halifax. In this episode, Lee and Richard discuss how this working class Yorkshirewoman entered the House of Commons and how her left-wing politics were received in Tony Blair's Labour Party. In doing so, they reflect on Blair's style of party management - in which left-wingers like Mahon were tolerated - and how it contrasts with Sir Keir Starmer's approach today. The episode finishes by asking whether, as Mahon apparently claimed, she was the inspiration for the Smokey song 'Living next door to...
2025-08-1755 minSince Attlee & ChurchillBonus: What was it like working for Ted Heath?In a special bonus episode to mark 25,000 downloads of the Since Attlee & Churchill podcast, Lee and Richard interview Dr Mark Garnett, a renowned historian of the Conservative Party and researcher for Ted Heath on the former prime minister’s memoirs. They discuss Heath’s approach to writing his much-anticipated autobiography; his ideology; how he came to terms with Thatcherism; and why he stayed around in the House of Commons for so long - a full 26 years after he lost the Tory leadership in 1975.About Mark GarnettMark is a political historian. He is the auth...
2025-08-1345 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhatever happened to the Young Conservatives?In 1949, the Young Conservatives boasted 160,000 members. They were the largest political youth organisation in the free world. Their social events were iconic and thousands of marriages, it was said, had been formed after encounters at Young Conservative committee meetings or balls. But by the mid-1960s, the organisation was declining; by the 1980s, it was in freefall. So what happened to the Young Conservatives? And can the Tories, or any other party, engage young people once again as members?In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors' by Matt Chorley...
2025-08-101h 00Since Attlee & ChurchillWas 'Black Wednesday' actually a good day for Britain?Black Wednesday, also known as the Sterling Crisis of 1992, is one of the most traumatic events in Britain's post-war economic history. It left Britain looking devalued and powerless compared to the economic powerhouse of Germany, whilst for John Major and his government it was a blow to their economic credibility from which they would never recover. But was it actually a bad day for Britain? And what was its legacy as Britain thought about joining the Euro, and eventually leaving the European Union, in the years ahead? Lee and Richard discuss this, and more, in this week's episode.
2025-08-031h 08Since Attlee & ChurchillThe Attlee vs Churchill Elections (Episode 3 of 3): The 1951 General ElectionThe third and final instalment of a special mini-series on the Attlee versus Churchill elections turns to the 1951 general election. In some respects, it was a repeat of the contest 20 months earlier - similar candidates, similar ideas, and a similar number of votes for both parties. But due to the workings of the electoral system, it gave the Conservatives and Winston Churchill a small majority in the House of Commons. Could Clement Attlee have avoided this election, or the defeat which brought to an end six years of Labour government? Lee and Richard discuss - and often disagree!
2025-07-271h 11Since Attlee & ChurchillThe Attlee vs Churchill Elections (Episode 2 of 3): The 1950 General ElectionThe 1950 general election, the second contest between Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, came four and a half years after Labour's landslide victory at the end of the Second World War. In many ways, this election was a referendum on the agenda implemented by Attlee as prime minister, from the NHS to the nationalisation of 20% of the economy. For Winston Churchill, 1950 was an opportunity to try and reclaim power after his shock rejection in 1945. Throughout, there was drama and the laying of the foundations for post-war British politics. In this podcast, Lee and Richard chart the election battle from the...
2025-07-201h 04Since Attlee & ChurchillThe Attlee vs Churchill Elections (Episode 1 of 3): The 1945 General ElectionThe 1945 general election is undeniably one of the key turning points in modern British history. It's also the first of three general elections that the namesakes of this podcast - Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee - fought against each other as leaders of their parties. In this first of three special episodes charting the Attlee vs Churchill elections, Lee and Richard look back at the contest that took place 80 years ago this month - featuring scuffles about when the election should be; rogue radio broadcasts that undermined the Tory campaign; and the curious history of 'Wakes Weeks' which saw p...
2025-07-131h 15Since Attlee & ChurchillWhat happened when Tony Blair cut benefits for single mums?In 1997, Tony Blair returned Labour to power with a landslide majority. But many people who hoped for radical change were left disappointed when he announced that Labour would continue with the Tory plan to scrap the Lone Parent Premium, a welfare top up for single parents. Lone parents protested; Labour MPs revolted; and Blair had to decide whether to plough on with the measure or surrender to his backbenchers. In the week after Keir Starmer buckled under pressure from his MPs over the Personal Independent Payment, Lee and Richard look at Blair's approach to a similar dilemma almost three d...
2025-07-061h 05Since Attlee & ChurchillWhat were the Kennedys up to in Britain?In this special episode, we're joined by Presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg to discuss the rich and complex relationship between the Kennedy clan and the United Kingdom. How did this Irish American family, whose patriarch was appointed American Ambassador to Britain, cope with being in England? How did it shape the young Kennedy children? And what relationship would they, including John F. Kennedy, have with Britain and its leaders in years to come?In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Rules of Civility' by Amor Towles. Available at: https://amzn.to/46lXjl3...
2025-06-291h 04Since Attlee & ChurchillWhy did Stanley Baldwin secretly donate 20% of his wealth to the nation?In 1919, a remarkable letter appeared in The Times. The author had estimated the value of his estate and decided to give 20% of it to the government as a 'thank offering' for the sacrifices made in the First World War. The letter was simply signed 'F.S.T.'. It would be several years before people discovered that the letters stood for 'Financial Secretary to the Treasury', the job held by future Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. In this podcast, Lee and Richard ask how and why Baldwin made this staggering yet secret gift and what it tells us about Britain's m...
2025-06-221h 04Since Attlee & ChurchillHow did 'Women Against the Common Market' try to keep Britain out of Europe?In 1970, an eccentric and passionate Eurosceptic campaign group was founded: Women Against the Common Market. Its founder, Anne Kerr (a former Labour MP) was determined to prevent Britain's entry into the European Economic Community and wanted to persuade women to stand with her. Of course, she failed to keep Britain out - and sadly died before she had the chance to make her arguments in the 1975 European referendum. But did she still make an impact? In this podcast, we look back at the dramatic and eye-catching ways in which Kerr and her allies campaigned to keep Britain out of...
2025-06-151h 05Since Attlee & ChurchillWas Eden right about Suez after all?The 1956 Suez Crisis has gone down as one of the most shameful events in modern British history. After Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal, part owned by the United Kingdom, the British government desperately sought to re-assert its authority. A conspiracy developed with France and Israel to intervene and strike a blow against Nasser. Yet the events ended in disaster, with Britain's reputation in tatters and Prime Minister Anthony Eden's political career cut short. But is our conventional understanding of the Suez crisis correct? Or was Eden right after all? In this episode, the f...
2025-06-081h 09Since Attlee & ChurchillDid Labour choose the wrong Miliband brother?After 13 years in government, the 2010 general election saw Labour ejected from office and on the hunt for a new leader. Curiously, two brothers - David and Ed Miliband - stood against each other in a five-way battle to lead the party. This divisive leadership contest led to accusations of fratricide and, when Ed won, many in Labour conclude that the party had chosen the wrong brother to lead it. Is that fair? In this episode, Richard and Lee look back on the 2010 leadership election and interrogate the decision made by MPs, members and trade unions about who would lead...
2025-06-011h 14Since Attlee & ChurchillHow did Viscount Stansgate become Tony Benn MP?In 1961 and 1963, two by-elections took place that changed British politics, and the fortunes of Tony Benn, forever. The first came after Benn was removed from the House of Commons following the death of his father. This elevated Benn to the peerage as the second Viscount Stansgate and meant, although Benn won the by-election, he was denied his seat in the Commons. After years of political and legal battles, Benn fought a second by-election and became an MP once more. In this week's podcast, Richard and Lee chart this dramatic time in British political history and discuss the consequences for B...
2025-05-251h 02Since Attlee & ChurchillDoes Michael Foot deserve a kinder verdict from historians?From 1980-1983, Michael Foot led the Labour Party through a disastrous and divisive period in its history, culminating in the famous landslide defeat of 1983. That result has marred how people think of Foot ever since. But Richard believes that Foot's long and remarkable career - as a journalist and a politician - deserves a more generous appraisal from historians. Is he right? In this episode we look back at Foot's long life to find out.In this episode, the following books, journals and articles are mentioned:'The President's Kill List: Assassination and US...
2025-05-181h 06Since Attlee & ChurchillDo private members clubs still matter in British politics?Private members clubs once played a crucial role in British politics, even acting as the organising hubs of the Conservative and Liberal parties. For centuries, politicians of every shade have drunk, dined and gossiped together behind the closed doors of London clubs. But do they still? And do clubs still influence our politics? In this week's episode, Lee and Richard tackle that question and identify the one post-war prime minister who, it seems, has never been a member of any club.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Ten Years to save...
2025-05-111h 02
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastHow Big a Deal is Bill Belichick's Mess?This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comBill Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson is the stuff of sports gossip legend, but we are most interested in what it says about Belichick’s ability to run an ACC football team. Alex and Richard discuss in this subscriber episode:* How Jordon filled a vacuum in UNC football communications* Why Alex thinks UNC should look for a way out of this marriage* Why Richard thinks that could be a substantial overreaction* What Urba...
2025-05-0610 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhich foreign leaders should be invited to address Parliament?Since the end of WWII, an increasing number of foreign leaders have been invited to address MPs and peers - whether in Westminster Hall, the Royal Gallery or elsewhere in Parliament. In 2017 and again today, a debate raged about whether Donald Trump should be among them. Lee and Richard look back on the history of foreign leaders addressing Parliament and consider whether it would be reasonable for Trump to be prevented from making an address to Parliament.in this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Vassal State: How America Runs Britain' by Angus...
2025-05-0559 minSince Attlee & ChurchillAre prime ministerial resignation honours an embarrassment?Prime ministerial resignation honours - first used in 1895 and regularly issued since - have been a perennial embarrassment for outgoing prime ministers. In this episode, Richard and Lee look back on the post-war lists, from Churchill to Sunak, Attlee to Brown, and consider who they chose to honour, why, and whether it harmed their reputation and legacy.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Priests de la Resistance!: The loose canons who fought Fascism in the twentieth century' by The Revd Fergus Butler-Gaillie. Available at: https://amzn.to/42xHFRq'Polarized...
2025-04-271h 03Since Attlee & ChurchillCould 'English Socialism' save the Labour Party?The ideas underpinning English socialism go back to before the Norman Conquest, but they have been strangely absent from the Labour Party in recent years. In this week's episode, Lee and Richard discuss the concept of English socialism - what it is, where it comes from, how its distinct (but compatible) with British socialism, and why its values could be a recipe for the rejuvenation of the Labour Party today.In this podcast, the following articles and books are mentioned:'An American Sissy' by Gore Vidal. Available at: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1981/08/13...
2025-04-2056 minSince Attlee & ChurchillErnest Marples MP - a visionary, a scoundrel, or both?Few people today can recall the man who launched premium bonds, gave us the motorway network, or invited Dr Beeching to swing his axe on the United Kingdom's railway network. It was Ernest Marples, a post-war Conservative MP and ally of Harold Macmillan. Marples has a claim to be one of the most consequential ministers of the 1951-64 Conservative governments, but his personal immorality and financial failings left him off the frontbench, out of the Commons, and soon fleeing the taxman in Monaco. Lee and Richard discuss his sensational but consequential political career in this podcast....
2025-04-1352 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastInterview: App State Coach Dowell Loggains on a Unique CFB JobAlex interviews Dowell Loggains, the recently hired Appalachian State head coach who was most recently at South Carolina after a long run as an NFL assistant and coordinator. After Alex and Richard talk a bit about App State’s last 20 years, Loggains joins (17:10) to discuss:* Why he moved from the NFL to college football at a time when coaches are getting a lot of attention for doing the opposite* Why he isn’t worried about spring games turning into roster poaching showcases for rival schools* The concept of “fit” at a distinct school like App...
2025-04-0737 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhat is the socialist case for monarchy?For the past century, many of the most prominent left-wing politicians in Britain, especially Labour leaders, have judged that the institution of monarchy is compatible with their vision of a more equal Britain. Why? In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss the socialist case for monarchy, from the earliest days of the Labour Party right up to the present day. Richard, a socialist himself, makes the fascinating argument that the monarchy is a pre-capitalist institution which sits outside of what socialists want to achieve.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Britain...
2025-04-0658 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastCFB Lunch Break: The Big East is a Window Into the FutureThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comThis episode is for paid subscribers, but everyone can hear a preview. If you’re not a paid subscriber, you can get a weeklong free trial.Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson take a bunch of live questions from Split Zone Duo subscribers and discuss college football offseason news: * Maryland losing a basketball coach to the Big East is a sign of what’s coming in college sports’ new economy * Is the SEC the next flashpoint for in...
2025-04-0219 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWas this the most explosive Tory conference ever?In 1963, Harold Macmillan resigned as prime minister and triggered one of the most dramatic fights for the Tory leadership in modern history. Four men jockeyed for position at the party's annual conference in Blackpool, with an unassuming fourteenth earl eventually coming out on top. Why did Macmillan resign? Who should have succeeded him? And did the 1964 general election, which brought Harold Wilson to power, get decided by these combustible events a year earlier? That's the theme of this week's podcast.In this podcast, the following talks and books are mentioned:'The Rule of...
2025-03-301h 01Since Attlee & ChurchillWhat lessons can be learned from a political maverick?For almost 40 years, Austin Mitchell was a staple of the House of Commons. At the beginning of his career, he was an up-and-coming star with a successful media career. Yet for the vast majority of his time as an MP, he was overlooked by successive leaders and confined to the backbenches. In this episode, Richard and Lee look back on Mitchell's career and consider what lessons can be learned from the life of a political maverick.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Could it Happen Here? The Day a Prime Minister...
2025-03-2356 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastDid Oregon Just Make Itself Poach-Proof?This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comDan Lanning signed an extension with Oregon that makes it impossible for all but a few teams to hire him away, and most of them aren’t college. Steven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, and Alex Kirshner discuss what his contract says about the evolved pecking order in the coach carousel. After losing both Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal to Florida schools, has Oregon now ascended to be poaching-proof from everyone except the NFL, Ohio State, and Georgia? We run down some hypotheticals ab...
2025-03-1910 minSince Attlee & ChurchillDid Edward Heath deserve the name 'The Incredible Sulk'?Edward Heath spent more time in the House of Commons after he was Conservative leader (1975-2001) than beforehand. This long period, in which he was a frequent thorn-in-the-side of Margaret Thatcher and critic of her legacy, has become known as 'The Incredible Sulk.' But is that title fair? Why did Heath stick around for so long? What did he hope to achieve? And was he successful? That's the topic of this week's episode. In this episode, the following books and articles are mentioned:'Strengthening the Political Constitution' edited by Richard Johnson, published b...
2025-03-1657 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastCFB Lunch Break: ACC Settlement, Eddie George, and MoreThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comAlex and Richard take subscribers’ college football questions in this live recording, conducted on the Substack app on Tuesday. We call it CFB Lunch Break, because we’re taking CFB questions at lunchtime:* How we feel about player wearing #0 and single-digits* The winner and loser from the ACC’s settlement with Clemson and FSU, which keeps the ACC together for at least a bit* What’s the real reason that spring games are on the decline...
2025-03-1219 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWho was Labour's greatest champion of overseas aid?The government recently made headlines with its decision to reduce overseas aid to 0.3% of national income. In this episode, we cast our eye back to Labour's most vocal supporter of overseas development and international aid, Judith Hart. Based on her years as a minister in both Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan's governments, we ask: What was her approach to international aid? What did she manage to achieve in office? And what would she have made of what Keir Starmer and Labour are doing in office today?In this episode, the following books are mentioned:
2025-03-0956 min
I Dare You PodcastEpisode 163: Dad Advice on How to Find Live an Extraordinary Life with Richard JohnsonToday's episode is going to shift your mindset because we're diving DEEP into longevity, healthspan, and the secrets to living your BEST LIFE! I am so excited to introduce you to someone very special - my dad, Richard Johnson - an incredible 86-year-old US Navy veteran, retired corporate warrior, and successful entrepreneur.
Not only did Richard dedicate 32 years to Otter Tail Power Company, but he ALSO built his own business - Loon Bay Hardwood Floors - which he ran for 15 years! And get this - he's been married to his amazing wife, Sonja,(my mom) for 62 YEARS...
2025-03-0439 minSince Attlee & ChurchillHave confidence votes been a disaster for the Tory party?After years of tumult at the top of the Conservative Party, the method by which it removes its leaders has rarely been far from the headlines. In this podcast, Lee and Richard discuss how 'confidence votes' have been used to test the levels of support for Tory leaders among their MPs. It's a dramatic story - from Iain Duncan Smith's downfall in 2003, to Theresa May and Boris Johnson's near misses in 2018 and 2022, respectively.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Revolt on the Right: Explaining support for the Radical Right in Britain...
2025-03-0258 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhat use is the House of Lords, anyway?For longer than it's been possible to talk about British politics, the House of Lords has played an essential role in how this country has been governed. But the 20th century saw their Lordships subordinated to the Commons and many of the peers, known as hereditary peers, stripped of their membership of the upper house. In this episode, Lee and Richard chart the history of the House of Lords and consider how it got to where it is today and ask: what use is the House of Lords in modern Britain? In this episode, the following b...
2025-02-231h 01
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastAnatomy of a Coaching Carousel: 2001This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comThe coaching carousel before the 2001 season transformed college football. Some programs set themselves up for national championship (or even dynastic) runs. Some screwed themselves. Some set the stage for the next several decades of the top tiers of the SEC and Big Ten. In this episode, Alex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey take a fine-toothed comb through the consequential coaching cycle at the end of 2000: * The hires that worked really well (Gary Patterson to TCU, Pete Carroll to...
2025-02-1830 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWho are the best political heroes?Most politicians have at least one hero, someone in whose footsteps they hope to walk and whose achievements they hope to emulate. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss whom senior Conservative and Labour politicians have named as their heroes - from the sublime to the occasionally ridiculous - and also share their own political lodestars.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Loyalists and Loners' by Michael Foot. Available at: https://amzn.to/3CUo9of'A Fabulous Failure: The Clinton Presidency and the Transformation of American Capitalism' by Nelson...
2025-02-1651 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhatever happened to Labour Zionism?For much of its history, Labour was Britain's most pro-Zionist party - with MPs on the left of Labour the most supportive of the Jewish state. But from the 1960s, things began to change and, ultimately, the factional dynamics reversed. In this episode, Richard and Lee discuss how Labour went from being an enthusiast for Israel to being fiercely divided about the existence, and actions, of the world's only Jewish state.In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'The Betrayal of Anne Frank: Less a Mystery Unsolved Than a Secret Well Kept...
2025-02-091h 06
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe Gump Report: Angst and Opportunity in AlabamaThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.com2024 was a weird (read: bad) year for a lot of college football teams in the state Alabama. Justin Ferguson, publisher of the Auburn Observer and all-purpose ball-knower in the state, joins Alex and Richard to discuss:* How everyone’s feeling after the two Iron Bowl teams went a combined 7-9 in the SEC, tied for their worst joint record of the century* Why this will be an offseason of hope for Auburn, and why Hugh Freeze will ha...
2025-02-0615 minSince Attlee & ChurchillHow did Margaret Thatcher take over the Conservative Party?February 2025 marks fifty years since the election of Margaret Thatcher as leader of the Conservative Party. To mark this anniversary, Lee and Richard discuss the blockbuster leadership contest that elevated her to the top of the Tories, the first woman to lead a British political party. It’s a story that is full of drama: from the stubbornness of Ted Heath to the rebelliousness of Conservative MPs, right up to the moment that Thatcher wins and a new age in British politics begins. In this episode, the following books are mentioned:‘Kingmaker’ by Graham B...
2025-02-0245 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastYour Guide to the 2025 CFB OffseasonAlex Kirshner, Richard Johnson, and Steven Godfrey discuss the stories they are most interested to watch unfold between now and September. In this show: * Podcast update: Godfrey is becoming host emeritus and will take a lighter load as he works on other things, but you’ll still hear him on SZD regularly. * Richard is tracking a series of potential changes to the postseason and end-of-season schedule, not just (more) playoff expansion but also all the SEC/Big Ten saber-rattling that will accompany it. Plus potential changes to the transfer portal schedule and a resolution of th...
2025-01-2953 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhy did Soviet premier Nikita Khruschev say, if he were British, he'd vote Conservative?1956 was the year that saw the Suez crisis and the brutal suppression of the Hungarian uprising. But before either of those events, Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev made a nine day visit to the United Kingdom. Included on a packed agenda, which saw the Soviet delegation tour the country, was a dinner with the Labour Shadow Cabinet. Almost immediately, the set-piece between Britain's left-wing party and the Russian communist leader got off to an awkward start - and ended with shouts of 'God forgive you!' across the dinner table. In this episode, Lee and Richard mention t...
2025-01-2642 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastChampionship Hurry-Up: A Good DayRichard Johnson and Alex Kirshner put a bow on the national championship game, a 34-23 win for Ohio State over Notre Dame: * How the Buckeyes did it * Notre Dame’s attempt to stop them, including that late third down * Ryan Day’s unique legacy * And more odds and ends from the title gameThanks so much for listening this season, our fifth as a podcast. We’ll be back next week with Steven Godfrey to dig up our pre-2024 time capsule and turn our attention toward the offseason. Much more s...
2025-01-2137 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhich U.S. Presidents were the favourites of British monarchs?In a special episode recorded in Palm Beach, Florida, Lee and Richard interview presidential historian Alvin S. Felzenberg about two centuries of relations between American Presidents and British monarchs. Topics include: who was the first President to meet a monarch - before, during, and after their presidency? And who did the late Queen Elizabeth II like most of her American counterparts?In this episode, we mention the following books:'American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy' by David Corn.'The Leaders We Deserved (and a...
2025-01-1949 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastNational Championship Preview Show Feat. Shehan JeyarajahCBS Sports national college football reporter Shehan Jeyarajah joins Alex and Richard for a preview of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame. Shehan and Richard were at the two semifinals, and now everyone gathers to frame up the title game: * When Ohio State has the ball * When Notre Dame has the ball * Why a lot of our analysis of Notre Dame’s chances keeps coming back to “what if this was a completely different team?” * Assessing the first go-around for the 12-team playoff * Picks We’re excited to see many...
2025-01-1752 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe 2024 Split Zone Duo CFB Awards SpecialRichard, Godfrey, and Alex name their winners in the 2024 Split Zone Duo college football awards, aka “The Zonies” aka “The Splitty Ds.” * Team of the Year (not the best team, but the one that we most enjoyed watching or became most interested in going forward) * Moment of the Year * Proof of Concept of the Year, for coaches showing good signs * Minority Coach of the Week of the Year * Portaling of the Year * Bad Situation of the Year, aka “the Bryan Harsin Award for Forestalling the Inevitable,” an honor with m...
2025-01-151h 21Since Attlee & ChurchillWhat happened to the grace and favour house for women ministers?From 10 Downing Street to Chequers, Bute House to Dorneywood, senior British politicians love grace-and-favour homes. They are the properties made available to the prime minister and other senior government figures during their period of public service. In this episode, we recall the forgotten story of a woman who tried to leave her estate to the nation for the benefit of the most senior woman in government, only to find her plans frustrated. In this episode, we mention the following books:‘The Time of My Life’ by Denis Healey. Available at: https://amzn.to/406riJi
2025-01-1237 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe 2024 Playoff Semifinal Preview ShowRichard and Alex preview the CFP semifinals: * Notre Dame-Penn State at the Orange Bowl* Ohio State-Texas at the Cotton BowlThe matchups we’re looking at. The keys to the game. The one post-Rose Bowl thing Alex wants to walk back. And much more! SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd* Use code SZD20 for 20% off your first order fr...
2025-01-0641 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWho was the Macmillanite in the Thatcher Cabinet?Few people remember Peter Walker today. But for more than a decade he was one of the most important figures in Margaret Thatcher's government - in spite of the fact he styled himself as an Macmillanite and not a Thatcherite. In this episode we discuss Walker's career, the role he played in 1980s Britain, and whether or not he was able to exercise much influence as a Cabinet minister.In this episode, we discuss the following books:'Taken as Red' by Anushka Asthana. Available here: https://amzn.to/4fI2k8T
2025-01-0543 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastCFP Quarterfinal Hurry-Up: Ohio State Is a War MachineAlex Kirshner and Richard Johnson share their thoughts on the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, in reverse chronological order: * Notre Dame scores the first technical upset of the playoff vs. Georgia* Ohio State runs Oregon out of Pasadena * Texas escapes Arizona State by a whisker * Penn State handles a prickly Boise State SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com...
2025-01-0347 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe Playoff Quarterfinal Preview 2024, Plus BowlsRichard Johnson and Alex Kirshner preview the College Football Playoff quarterfinal games in order: * Penn State vs. Boise State, where everyone is skeptical of an upset * Texas vs. Arizona State, where the Sun Devils have a path but it’s narrow against a dominant Texas defense * Ohio State vs. Oregon, which looks like CFB’s game of the year * Notre Dame vs. Georgia, where SZD picks a narrow upset Plus: Washington State hires a coach, and we’ve got notes on a big collection of December bowl games, from TCU op...
2024-12-2956 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhy did the 1964 Labour government get off to such a bad start?An incoming Labour government gets off to a difficult start, taking tough and unpopular decisions which they say are necessary because of the inheritance left by the Conservatives. It's not Keir Starmer in 2024, but Harold Wilson six decades ago. In this episode, we consider Wilson's tricky start as prime minister, how a controversial and sensational by-election crystallised the issues facing Britain and its government in the mid-1960s, and the ways Wilson tried to recover ahead of the 1966 election.In this episode we discuss the following programmes, articles and books:'Lucan' on BBC...
2024-12-2944 minSince Attlee & ChurchillDid the late Queen secretly reference a Prime Minister's illness in her Christmas speech?If you're British or live in a Commonwealth realm, the Sovereign's Christmas message is synonymous with Christmas. And it's one of those broadcasts that we're talking about in this festive special of 'Since Attlee & Churchill'. In particular, Richard and Lee ask whether, in her 2013 Christmas message, Elizabeth II made a covert reference to the illness of one of her former prime ministers.In this episode, we mention the following books/articles:'The Queen' by Ben Pimlott. Available here: https://amzn.to/41JdDKx'The Way the Wind Blows' by Alec Douglas-Home...
2024-12-2626 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe SZD 2024 Holiday Subscriber MailbagThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comRichard, Godfrey, and Alex answer questions from SZD’s paid subscribers on a long range of football (and then non-football) topics. After discussing the first weekend of the playoff and the week’s CFB news, the Q&A covers: * Potential expectation-beating teams for 2025* Positional value in the transfer portal * The downstream effects of HBCU celebrity hires * New Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion * New ETSU head coach Will Healy* New...
2024-12-2330 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastPlayoff Hurry-Up: CFB Is a Blowout SportAlex and Richard discuss the first-round College Football Playoff games, which followed the playoff tradition of being very lopsided:* Ohio State crushes Tennessee in Knoxville, Ohio* Clemson is feisty but loses at Texas* Penn State obliterates SMU (something that was going to happen whether Kevin Jennings threw those pick sixes or did not)* Notre Dame is in a different weight class than Indiana, but just don’t forget: Alabama would have met the same fatePlus, NDSU gets a history-altering win over South Dakota State, Montana State also punches it...
2024-12-2241 minSince Attlee & ChurchillWhat happened to Peter Shore's Labour Party?Two-time Labour leadership candidate Peter Shore represented a version of left-wing politics that has mostly disappeared: constitutional socialism. He opposed Britain's entry into Europe and believed in the power of the House of Commons to deliver a radical socialist agenda. Yet by the time he left the Commons in 1997, the party he had represented for over three decades had abandoned many of his ideas. Why? In this episode, we mention the following books/articles:'A Constitutional Socialist' by Richard Johnson. Available at: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/06/a-constitutional-socialist'Ed Miliband is o...
2024-12-2236 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe Playoff First-Round Preview Show + Weekend Tasting MenuRichard Johnson, Steven Godfrey, and Alex Kirshner discuss the first-round College Football Playoff games and more on this week’s show: * Indiana at Notre Dame, where the Hoosiers have the chance to do the funniest possible thing * SMU at Penn State, where the sport’s chaotic December calendar is really coming into focus with a Penn State transfer* Clemson at Texas, where the Tigers will try to play Cinderella * Tennessee at Ohio State, where Richard and Alex disagree on how feasible a Vols upset of the Buckeyes really isThen...
2024-12-181h 18Since Attlee & ChurchillCould Harold Macmillan have been a Labour prime minister?Harold Macmillan, Conservative prime minister from 1957-1963, was one of the most iconic politicians of the twentieth century. In this episode, we rediscover some forgotten historical sources which pose the question: could he have been a Labour prime minister? One very surprising Labour figure certainly thought so...In this episode, we mention the following books/articles:'Could Macmillan Have Become a Labour Prime Minister?' by Lee David Evans. Available at: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143749625?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web'The Abuse of Power' by James Margach...
2024-12-1628 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe State of the Bowls, Feat. Bowl Season's Nick CarparelliNick Carparelli is the executive director of Bowl Season, the group that represents the interests of CFB’s many bowl games. Alex and Richard interview him about:* What if anything worries him right now about the state of bowls * Bowls’ efforts to thrive in a world of opt outs, and how bowls might fit into the next economic iteration of the sport* The payout landscape for different kinds of bowl games * Bowls in baseball stadiums. Bowls in the Bahamas. What’s next? * The differences between representing big bowls and small...
2024-12-1037 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe CFB Playoff Bracket Reaction ShowThe College Football Playoff bracket is set. Richard, Alex, and Godfrey discuss: * The committee getting it right this time * First-round matchups and who got a favorable draw* Any quibbles with the seedings * The weakened state of championship games* The Richard Johnson Transfer Portal MinuteSUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET COOL STUFF* Enter your pick for the Nokian Tyres Road Trip of the Week and be automatically entered in a monthly drawing to win tires at www.nokiantyres.com/szd* Use code SZD20 for 20...
2024-12-0938 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe Ryan Day Decision PointThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comThanks to the 12-team playoff, Ryan Day’s current situation at Ohio State is unlike any hot-seat drama in college football history. Godfrey, Richard, and Alex talk about the weird dynamics facing the Buckeyes right now, like:* How many playoff games does Day have to win? Is it one? Two? Four?* Does the $30 million-plus buyout matter to Ohio State?* If Day has lost the fanbase—and it sure looks like he has, for now—how much d...
2024-12-0514 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastWeek 15 Tasting Menu: Champs Are HereAlex, Richard, and Steven preview Championship Weekend, in order: * WKU at Jacksonville State * Tulane at Army* UNLV at Boise for a playoff spot * Miami vs. Ohio * Iowa State vs. Arizona State * Georgia vs. Texas * Marshall at Louisiana * Penn State vs. Oregon* Clemson vs. SMU Plus, updates on the lower-level postseasons and the debut of THE RICHARD JOHNSON PORTAL MINUTE, a one-minute (or so) update on interesting names going into the transfer portal. SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS AND GET...
2024-12-041h 11
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastWeek 9 Hurry-Up: The Gig'em EconomyRichard Johnson and Alex Kirshner recap Week 9 in college football, including:* Texas A&M beats LSU, and Mike Elko makes a point* Texas survives an odd game against Vanderbilt* Miami gets a breakthrough, and FSU flirts with history* BYU, Pitt, and Indiana all remain unbeaten* Kansas still can’t beat Kansas State* A classic MSU-UM game* UNLV misses an opportunity* The MAC and Sun Belt races are WIDE open* UTSA’s nightmare year* How to lose a game with a 6...
2024-10-2735 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe Eyes List: A Soft LaunchThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comWelcome back to another year of "The Eyes List,” where Split Zone Duo discusses coaching situations that we’ve got our eyes on. Richard, Godfrey, and Alex discuss the first two in-season head coach firings of 2024: ECU’s Mike Houston and Southern Miss’ Will Hall. Plus, Oklahoma fires Seth Littrell and puts the first blue-blood coordinator opening on the board.In this episode for paid subscribers, SZD discusses: * The specific challenges faced by ECU and Southern Miss * W...
2024-10-2309 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastWeek 9 Tasting Menu: Throw Out The RecordsRichard, Alex, and Godfrey preview Week 9 of the college football season, with looks ahead at two dozen of the weekend’s games. Including:* Notre Dame-Navy* A&M-LSU* Mizzou-Alabama* Boise State-UNLV* Tulane-North Texas* Illinois-Oregon* Washington-Indiana* Syracuse-Pitt* Oklahoma-Ole Miss* FSU-Miami* Wazzu-San Diego StateAnd a lot more.SPLIT ZONE DUO GOES TO NASHVILLE WITH NOKIAN TYRES: On Friday, 10/25 and Saturday, 10/26, we’ll join our friends for two events: a 5 p.m. Friday meetup at Bearded Iris...
2024-10-231h 25
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastUSC’s Cautionary NIL Tale + Spring Portal Window BreakdownUSC reporter Luca Evans of the Orange County Register joins Alex to talk about the many challenges facing the Trojans in the NIL and collective space (4:19). How does a rich school with a blue-blood football history run into difficulty in this new world? USC is the best window into that question. Then Richard and Alex talk about the unusual buildup to the April transfer portal window (33:32) and break down interesting position groups to watch over the coming weeks: Michigan’s QBs, Penn State’s WRs, and more at Miami (x2), UNC, USC, and Washington. To close, they discuss the diff...
2024-04-161h 13
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastHow we fix the rules in college footballRichard has ideas for how to make college football’s ON-FIELD rules a little bit better. Alex and Godfrey like some of them and don’t like others. Let’s discuss the optimal width for the hashmarks, whether it’s time to shift the rules around RPOs and linemen downfield, the NFL’s new take on the kickoff, and then some more chaotic ideas that we’ve been kicking around.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splitzoneduoExclusive content: https://www.splitzoneduo.comMerch: https://www.homefieldapparel.com/collections/split-zone-duoSOCIAL MEDIA
2024-04-031h 07
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe Eyes List: 2023 finale (?)This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.splitzoneduo.comRichard and Godfrey spin through the highlights of a mostly wrapped-up coach hiring and firing cycle. Some highlights of the discussion: * What the Jon Sumrall hire says about how Tulane does business* Syracuse’s swing on Georgia assistant Fran Brown * Why new Houston coach Willie Fritz is the Ball Coach Blueprint * A noteworthy angle to Derek Mason taking the Middle Tennessee job* Deion Sanders’ evolving (or maybe just clarifying) approach at Colo...
2023-12-1407 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe ACC 2023 preview showSteven Godfrey and Richard Johnson take you on a magical and not-at-all predictable journey through the sport's most predictable conference. Visit the lovely cul-de-sac of .500 clubs! Determine which HOMEGROWN HERO has the most impossible set of expectations (Spoiler: Richard thinks it ISN'T Miami)! And let's debate which narrative is dumber: Clemson DONE or Florida State BACK? Also Alex isn't here so there's not much Pitt discussion. You're welcome. Production: Anthony VitoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. This is a public episode...
2023-07-1955 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastThe Week 8 Hurry-Up keeps a low turnover marginA 30ish-minute debriefing on the college football weekend with Alex Kirshner and Richard Johnson. Clemson and TCU continue to get away with it. LSU has the juice. Oregon's offense does what it wants. It's time to make peace with Texas. Ohio State is America's scariest team. Nick Saban owns Mike Leach. Miami should not be this bad. Alex shares coach firing reports with Richard live on the podcast. Cincinnati backs into one. South Alabama decides it wants to be a hurry-up air raid team. Buffalo punks Toledo. And more! Subscribe to our Patreon at splitzoneduo.com. Production: Anthony Vito. ...
2022-10-2340 min
Split Zone Duo: College Football PodcastMichigan, and how we talk about football coachesSteven Godfrey, Richard Johnson, and Alex Kirshner discuss the story surrounding sexual abuse at Michigan and how Bo Schembechler factors into the conversation. (Content warning: The opening segment of the show includes discussion of sexual abuse and its handling by college administrators and sports fans. It ends at the 31:14 mark of the show.) Much of that segment is about how we, as a college sports industry, build up coaches and then have trouble walking away from their legacies. Then the group discusses the soon-to-expand College Football Playoff, Richard defends the notion of Alabama losing multiple games, and we answer...
2021-06-161h 25