Headline Highlights: Covid Parties, NewNewLabour & Spotify Wrapped

On todays episode of the Meridian Podcast, Emilia and Michael sit down with Sky News Special Correspondent Alex Crawford. Crawford is based in Istanbul and her incredible career has spanned over 30 years, and includes reporting from Libya, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Syria, and most recently Ukraine. She was awarded an OBE for her services to journalism, and has won several awards for her reporting, including a BAFTA and two Emmy’s.   We spoke with Alex about her career as a foreign correspondent, and how she initially got into journalism. She also shared stories of her experiences in incredibly dangerous conflict zones, such as sheltering in a mosque whilst under siege in Libya, and also her work in Afghanistan and Ukraine, how civilians have constantly been instrumental to her story-telling, and what she believes are the fundamentals to good journalism.    Hosts: Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie) Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6)  Editor: Michael Gaughan   Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Theme music courtesy of Gavin Luke, via Epidemic Sound, with subscription.  All credit goes to original owners, The Meridian Podcast is not for profit.

On this week’s episode, Emilia sits down with retired US army Lieutenant General Mark Hertling to discuss the war in Ukraine. They talk about the incredible determination of the Ukrainian army and civilians alike, the state of the Russian Army, and how the conflict may finally come to an end. General Mark Hertling served in the US army for 37 years, retiring in 2013 as the Commanding General of the US Army Europe and Seventh Army. He also served as the Chief of War Plans on the Joint Staff, and is currently a Military Analyst for CNN. Hosts:  Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie) Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6)  Editor: Emilia Hardie Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive.  Creative Commons licence can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.   Theme music courtesy of Gavin Luke, via Epidemic Sound, with subscription.

On this week’s episode, Emilia and Michael discuss former President Donald Trump launching his second bid for the Oval Office, what we can expect from his campaign, potential rivals such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and what this means for the Republican Party as a whole. They also take a look at the recent midterm results, asking what this means for President Biden and his agenda over the remaining two years of his term.   Hosts:  Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie) Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6) Editor: Michael Gaughan   Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive.  Creative Commons licence can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.  Theme music courtesy of Gavin Luke, via Epidemic Sound, with subscription.

On this week’s episode, Emilia and Michael discuss the US midterm elections. Joined by two student journalists from the University of Georgia, we ask about the results we know so far, what we are still waiting to find out, and what this all means for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections.   Hosts:  Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie) Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6) Editors: Emilia Hardie and Michael Gaughan Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Theme music courtesy of Gavin Luke, via Epidemic Sound, with subscription.

On this week’s episode, Emilia and Michael discuss the ongoing protests in Iran, following the death of 22-year-old student Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s “morality police”. Joined by Empoword Journalism’s Beau Roddis, and Iran expert Marzieh Kouhi-Esfahani, we ask what sparked the protests, why they have grown so large, and what the enduring legacy of the movement might be. Hosts:  Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie) Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6) Editor: Emilia Hardie. Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Theme music courtesy of Gavin Luke, via Epidemic Sound, with subscription.

On this week’s episode, Emilia and Michael host a discussion on the recent chaotic events of British politics. The panel had a lively, passionate discussion about the events of the past week, the downfall of Liz Truss, and what the future may hold for Britain under the leadership of Rishi Sunak.   The panel is made up of Chair of Wirral Young Labour - Finlay Gordon, Officer for Greater Manchester Youth Conservatives -  Nathan Eckersley, Oliver Hall- Comment Editor of Oxford University's Cherwell newspaper and Jacob Cousens - Politics Editor at Palatinate.   Hosts and Producers:  Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie)  Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6)   Editor: Michael Gaughan   Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.  Theme music courtesy of Gavin Luke, via Epidemic Sound, with subscription. Introductory clips courtesy of BBC news and Number 10 official twitter account.

Welcome to the new series of The Meridian Podcast!  This week, new hosts Emilia Hardie and Michael Gaughan sit down with CNN’s Chief International Correspondent and author of ‘On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist’ Clarissa Ward (@clarissaward)   Since her first rotation in Baghdad for Fox News at the age of 25, Clarissa has been in the thick of conflicts and disasters across the globe.  We ask her about the reality of covering war, her perspective on events in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and her advice for young journalists.   We hope you enjoy this episode! Let us know your favourite moments, and be sure to purchase a copy of Clarissa’s book: On all Fronts: The education of a Journalist available here:  https://www.waterstones.com/book/on-all-fronts/clarissa-ward//9780525561491?awaid=3787&utm_source=redbrain&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=css&gbraid=0AAAAADA7Q_JAT3uXGi64eaj88eAG0pr6T&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhY-aBhCUARIsALNIC06e2l-h2KIBS7fQ_aziUwn9-K-6s0IWkyNPqdOlcXFS-IuSsH8RrxkaAiHwEALw_wcB Hosts and Producers: Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie) Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6)  Editor: Michael Gaughan  Introduction music courtesy of Soularflair on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.  Theme music courtesy of Gavin Luke, via Epidemic Sound, with subscription. 

The Meridian Podcast is relaunching! New hosts. New ideas. Same name. Join Emilia Hardie (@emiliahardie) & Michael Gaughan (@mikegaughan6) as they bring you discussion and analysis of news stories big and small with young journalists, commentators and creatives, as well as interviews with some of the biggest names in news media. Follow us on all major streaming platforms @themeridianpodcast On social media: Twitter: @meridianpodcast Instagram: @themeridianpodcast And our new TikTok: @themeridianpodcast Credits: Music by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sound / Sourflair via Free Music Archive with Creative Commons

Merry Christmas! The last episode of 2021 is a real treat for you all, as Ollie and Eve sit down with Julie Etchingham of ITV News (@julie_etch). Julie has spent her career at the centre of British broadcasting and has become best known for her role as moderator of ITV's infamous election debates.  She has been at the heart of campaign debates, trying to control up to 7 different politicians at once, each with their own agenda and style. We ask her how someone can prepare for such an encounter, and what's running through her head when they're live on air.  This conversation covers a huge range of topics, including the differences between ITV and the BBC, the experience of women in the media over the years, and how *that* interview question with Theresa May came about. We hope you enjoy it - please let us know your favourite moments! We will be back in 2022 with more discussion, debate and interviews! Until then, stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas and new year.  Hosts & Producers: Ollie Lewis and Eve Bennett Editor: Ollie Lewis @_ollielewis @_evebennett Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at [email protected] Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information. Introduction music courtesy of Podington Bear on Free Music Archive. Creative Commons licence can be found here. No changes were made to this track and this track is not being used for commercial purposes.

In the penultimate episode of this year, Ollie and Eve review the week's news in true chatty Meridian Podcast style. Hear their thoughts on why the Downing Street Christmas party has become such a huge story, what Labour's recent reshuffle means for their election chances and why the Strictly Come Dancing casting department have nailed it this year.  We'll be back in two weeks with our Christmas special interview! Think you have a good idea for a future podcast episode? Email us at [email protected] Want to write for The Meridian Magazine? Click here for more information