Lionel Barber discusses the changing media landscape, the impact of social media, and how the award-winning Financial Times continues to respond to the digital age. The FT's editor warns about fake news and refers to past propaganda - subjects he will address on Saturday 16 September 2017 at the Alumni Weekend in Oxford (book online to secure your place at this session). In this wide-ranging podcast interview, Barber gives his perspective on current affairs, from the Europeans having the...

Dr Desirée Cox describes her extraordinary journey from growing up in a tough urban area in the Bahamas to becoming a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. She focuses on her medical studies at Oxford and her pioneering work to establish a regulatory framework for stem cell research in her home country. In this podcast interview, Dr Cox also explains her love of painting, and her efforts to ensure others reach their potential. Referring to advice she shared at a lecture at Pembroke in June 2017, she...

Dr Tom Crawford, also known as the Naked Mathematician, shares his love of Maths and describes how he is dispelling stereotypes to explain Maths to teenagers. Dr Tom Crawford, also known as the Naked Mathematician, shares his love of Maths and describes how he is dispelling stereotypes to explain Maths to teenagers. He speaks about his new Naked Maths video series, in which he explores mathematical patterns in an entertaining and hands-on way, from the formation of ocean waves to hexagonal...

Sir Roger Bannister relives running the first sub-four-minute mile in a special podcast to mark the anniversary of his extraordinary achievement in May 1954. Sir Roger Bannister relives running the first sub-four-minute mile in a special podcast to mark the anniversary of his extraordinary achievement in May 1954. He describes his training and how the record-breaking run (3 minutes 59.4 seconds) unfolded at the Iffley Road track in Oxford. Sir Roger mentions other highlights from his athletic...

Leading businesswoman Grace Sai describes how disruptive technology, including virtual and augmented reality, are changing how consumers interact with products. She also explains how the millennial generation is re-shaping the world of work because of its idealism, global connections and impatience. In this podcast, Sai shares examples from the Impact Hub – a co-working space and community she co-founded to develop start-ups and entrepreneurs in Singapore. Her success is in part due to what...

David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (Corpus Christi, 1984) David Miliband talks about the unprecedented global refugee crisis, its long-term characteristics and efforts to address the challenges ahead in this podcast. The President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee describes how the international NGO he leads is transforming lives through its humanitarian and resettlement work. The former Labour politician also discusses working at the highest...

Zoe de Toledo shares her extraordinary experiences of coxing at the highest levels, and her love of studying at Oxford in this podcast. She describes her part in the thrilling race that led to the GB women’s eight coming second in last year’s Olympics in Rio. The Olympian was also the cox during the dramatic Boat Race of 2012, when a swimmer disrupted the contest between Oxford and Cambridge on the Tideway. De Toledo continues by talking about Oxford’s academic strengths and why she...

Celebrated writer, broadcaster, performer and former politician, Gyles Brandreth, talks about his extraordinary career and varied interests in this podcast. Celebrated writer, broadcaster, performer and former politician, Gyles Brandreth, talks about his extraordinary career and varied interests in this podcast. He describes his busy undergraduate years during the Swinging Sixties and highlights how his experiences at Oxford laid the foundations for his successful working life. Brandreth...

Menswear designer, Patrick Grant, shares his experiences studying for an Executive MBA at Oxford’s Said Business School, and talks about how he became an award-winning designer. Patrick Grant, menswear designer and judge on the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee, shares his experiences studying for an Executive MBA at Oxford’s Said Business School, and talks about how he became an award-winning designer. During his MBA studies, Patrick bought Saville Row bespoke tailor Norton & Sons,...

Miles Young, newly-installed Warden of New College, Oxford, shares his experiences studying history as an undergraduate and talks about how he transitioned into a career in PR and advertising. Miles Young, newly-installed Warden of New College, Oxford, shares his experiences studying history as an undergraduate and talks about how he transitioned into a career in PR and advertising. Young was the Chairman and CEO of the international advertising, marketing and public relations agency Ogilvy...

Director of Modern Art Oxford, Paul Hobson, shares his experiences studying Modern History at Brasenose College and talks about how he transitioned into a career in contemporary art. Director of Modern Art Oxford, Paul Hobson, shares his experiences studying Modern History at Brasenose College and talks about how he transitioned into a career in contemporary art. As well as reading Modern History at Oxford University, Paul also completed post-graduate studies in aesthetics and contemporary...

Ruth Hunt discusses her current role at Stonewall and offers advice to students who are considering Oxford as a LGBT-friendly university Chief Executive of Stonewall, Ruth Hunt, shares her experiences studying English Language and Literature at St. Hilda’s and offers an insight into what it was like to be an LGBT student and President of the Student Union at Oxford. Hunt first joined Stonewall in 2005 as the Senior Policy Officer leading on research into homophobic bullying in schools. In...

Dr Oliver Cox shares his passion for England’s greatest landscape designer, Capability Brown, in an interview recorded for the tercentenary celebrations of Brown’s birth. In discussing Brown’s achievements and how he has been perceived over the generations Dr Cox offers a preview of his talk on 18 September during the tenth Alumni Weekend in Oxford. Dr Cox continues by explaining his love of Oxford, where he has completed three History degrees and is now employed as the inaugural Heritage...

Recorded only days after the EU referendum, this wide-ranging interview focuses on uncertainty in British politics and the transformative nature of an Oxford education. Baroness Shephard - a Remain voter - discusses the implications of Brexit and what the future might hold, as well as her own political career at the heart of John Major's Conservative government in the 1990s. An alumna of St Hilda's College, where she read French and Latin, Baroness Shephard emphasises how studying at Oxford...

Freelance journalist and broadcaster Henry Bonsu shares his experiences studying Modern Languages at Magdalen College and offers an insight into what it was like to be a black student at Oxford in the late eighties. Bonsu started his career as a journalist with BBC radio in 1990, working on programmes such as Today, World at One, Public Eye, and Black Britain, before establishing himself as the anchor of the Drivetime programme on BBC London 94.9 FM where he would interview prominent...

Kathleen Sullivan praises the tutorial system and her Oxford education, explaining how it has contributed to her successful career in academia and the courtroom. She shares her experiences as the former Dean of Stanford Law School, and refers to her work representing major companies in the US Supreme Court. A Marshall scholar, Sullivan read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Wadham College in Oxford, where she developed her love of constitutional law, as well as interests in rowing...

Comedian and broadcaster Ruby Wax shares her experiences of studying mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy and why she taken on a mission to save the world’s mental health. Wax started her career as a comic interviewer with shows such as Don’t Miss Wax, The Full Wax, and Ruby Wax Meets, and was also a script-editor for the popular TV series, Absolutely Fabulous. Since studying Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Kellogg College, she has written two books about her...

Multi-talented alumnus Tom McMillen describes his extraordinary life as a professional basketball player, scholar, politician and businessman. At 6’ 11’’ and from a sporty family, the American was always destined for basketball, and he played at the highest levels, including in the controversial final between the US and USSR at the Olympic Games in 1972. A Rhodes scholarship to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at University College in Oxford followed, and he juggled his studies...

Interview with Olympic athlete and public speaker Mara Yamauchi as part of the Alumni Voices Podcast series. Olympic athlete and public speaker Mara Yamauchi shares her experiences training for competitive sports and offers an insight into what it takes to become a world-class long distance runner. Studying PPE at St. Anne’s College, Mara started her career as a diplomat with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and was posted to Tokyo for four years, before returning to her dream of becoming...

Tim Harford shares his prize-winning economic insights, explaining why you can’t buy a decent used car and why you should exercise caution with big data. The author of the million-selling The Undercover Economist talks about the numbers of everyday life and his journalistic career, including writing for the Financial Times and presenting More or Less on BBC Radio 4. In this podcast interview, the Economics Commentator of the Year for 2014 describes how his interest in economics developed...

Mark Goldring describes his distinguished career in international development, including his role as Chief Executive of Oxfam. Drawing upon his own experiences in Borneo, Bangladesh, Syria and beyond, he highlights the causes of poverty, and solutions. In this podcast interview, Goldring identifies the major global challenges ahead, including conflict, climate change and inequality, and he shows how Oxfam is tackling them through long-term development projects and humanitarian...

Louise Chantal shares her love of the theatre and describes her involvement in Oxford’s cultural scene during her student days and running Oxford's famous Playhouse today. She explains how producing plays dominated her years as an undergraduate when she studied BA English Language and Literature. Chantal mentions her sabbatical year as the first University Drama Officer, working with Oxford University and producer Cameron Mackintosh to support student drama at Oxford. A former president of...

Dr Ben Goldacre – author of the bestsellers Bad Science and Bad Pharma – dissects what is wrong with modern medicine and argues for better evidence-based medicine in this podcast. He describes his latest projects, including an Ebola trials tracker, to improve the transparency of clinical trials. Dr Goldacre explains his research at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences’ Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, part of Oxford University. He also refers to structural challenges...

Dr Maria Misra shares her experiences as both a student and academic at Oxford University, as well as her love of South Asia, in this podcast. She explains how her intellectual interests have evolved from studying English and PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) to specialising in the history of 20th century India and the British Empire. In the interview, Dr Misra, an Associate Professor of Modern History and a Fellow of Keble College, contextualises contemporary Indian politics and...