Hardtalk

Hardtalk

Hardtalk interviews the world's leading politicians, thinkers and cultural figures. In an in-depth, hard-hitting, half-hour discussion, Stephen Sackur talks to some of the most prominent people from around the world. Broadcast on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

  • Updated:
    Daily
  • Episodes available:
    Indefinitely help

Subscribe for free

Subscribe to this podcast and automatically receive the latest episodes.

More help with subscribing

Recent episodes (10)

  • Ayad Allawi 19 June 13

    Wed, 19 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    On Hardtalk, Sarah Montague talks to Ayad Allawi, former Prime Minister of Iraq. More than a thousand people were killed in violence in Iraq last month according to the United Nations. The country appears to be dividing along religious lines, not helped by its neighbour Syria's descent into civil war. Ayad Allawi has accused the current Prime Minister, Nouri Al Maliki, of turning into a dictator. So what hope is there now for keeping the peace in Iraq?

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • HT:Martin Amis 17 Jun 13

    Mon, 17 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    Stephen Sackur talks to Martin Amis. Early in his writing career he was pigeonholed as the enfant terrible of the British literary world. Four decades on he remains one of the most successful and closely scrutinised novelists of his generation.

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Ivo Daalder 06 Jun 13

    Fri, 14 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    HardTalk's Shaun Ley talks to Ivo Daalder, US Permanent Representative to NATO, at the organisation's headquarters in Brussels. The Alliance was formed to defend western Europe against the Soviet Union, with the United States an enthusiastic member. But today there are increasing divions over money and philosophy. Is it time for this 64 year old veteran security organisation to be pensioned off?

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Mo Ibrahim 12 Jun 13

    Wed, 12 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    Shaun Ley speaks to Mo Ibrahim, creator of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. His Index of African Governance suggests generally things are getting better. But some worry that China's willingness to lend money "no strings attached" is encouraging politicians to revert to their bad old ways. Is Mo Ibrahim's ambition of better governance being undermined from outside?

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Jean-Francois Cope 10 June 13

    Mon, 10 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    France is one of the political heavyweights of the European Union, a key world economy and a major global player. HARDtalk speaks to Jean-François Copé, the leader of the UMP, the main opposition party on the centre-right, who has lurched farther to the right on issues like gay marriage. He has also made comments about the French Muslim community which have led to accusations that he is threatening cultural harmony. Is he in danger of consigning his party to the political dustbin at home and on the world stage?

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Pierre Krahenbuhl 07 June 13

    Fri, 7 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    On HARDtalk, Stephen Sackur talks to Pierre Krähenbühl - Director of Operations, International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC is pulling some of its international staff out of Afghanistan, following a murderous attack on its Jalalabad compound. It's an unprecedented move in three decades of ICRC operations in Afghanistan. Is the organisation being overwhelmed by the danger and complexity of modern conflict?

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • 05 Jun 13: Robert Fowler

    Wed, 5 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    Robert Fowler, a senior Canadian diplomat, was held hostage for five months by Al Qaeda in Niger in 2009. He says that since his capture and release, terror attacks and events in the region, such as the brief Islamist takeover of northern Mali, should serve as a wake-up call of a jihadist danger. He believes militants aim to set up a seven thousand kilometre Islamic caliphate stretching from Mauritania to Somalia. Zeinab Badawi asks if he is scaremongering or if his fears are valid.

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Lindiwe Mazibuko 03 June 13

    Mon, 3 Jun 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    Sarah Montague talks to Lindiwe Mazibuko on HARDtalk. She's the Parliamentary Leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance Party. It's the biggest opposition party in South Africa, but still a long way behind the ruling ANC which has dominated politics in that country since the end of apartheid in 1994. How can the Democratic Alliance convince black South Africans that it's not just a party for wealthy white people?

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • Harold Koh 31 May 13

    Fri, 31 May 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    On HARDtalk, Stephen Sackur speaks to Harold Koh was the legal adviser to the US State Department 2009-13. President Obama says the US needs to redefine and recalibrate its strategic response to terrorism. From drone strikes to the future of Guantanamo, the Obama Administration has consistently struggled to reconcile its stated values with the realities of the so-called ‘war on terror’. Did President Obama betray America's highest ideals in the name of national security?

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

  • John Kerry 29 May 13

    Wed, 29 May 13

    Duration:
    24 mins

    Zeinab Badawi presents this special edition of HardTalk from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The US Secretary of State John Kerry, takes questions from a live audience on a wide range of areas of American foreign policy.

    Download 11MB (right click & "save target as / link as")

Terms of Use

The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.

All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties. You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast. To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of, or connected to, the download or use of the BBC Podcasts.

 

See the full Standard Licence Terms here.

Play recent episodes

You may also like

Burmese Evening Broadcast

  • News

BBC Burmese provides up-to-date news and current affairs in Burmese covering domestic and international news stories. Our coverage aims to reflect diverse opinions and offers in-depth analysis, making

12 hours ago

45 minutes

BBSeva from BBCRussian

  • News

BBC Russian Service daily web streaming show fronted by Seva Novgorodtsev that offers an unorthodox view on the day’s events that are not usually covered by regular news programming. The 30 minute

11 hours ago

27 minutes

Genres

    BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

    This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.