Episode 1: General David Petraeus
Andrew Neil talks to the former CIA director about Ukraine, America’s role in the world and its politics at home
Podcast
The Backstory
with Andrew Neil
In this series of in-depth conversations, I’ll speak to the people in power and those trying to influence them to find out what’s driving events at home and abroad. We’ll be publishing a new episode every Tuesday.
Episodes
Inside the interview: General David Petraeus
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with former CIA director and commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus
Episode 2: Fiona Hill
Andrew Neil talks to the British-born Russia expert about Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and how she went from a deprived town in the North East of England to advising three US presidents
Inside the interview: Fiona Hill
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with former director for Europe and Russia at the US National Security Council, Fiona Hill
Season 2
Episode 3: Robert Kagan
Andrew Neil talks to the hawkish US foreign policy thinker about Russia’s war in Ukraine, his belief in liberal interventionism and why he thinks there’s a constitutional crisis in the United States
Inside the interview: Robert Kagan
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with Robert Kagan, a contributing columnist at the Washington Post and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution
Episode 4: Wolfgang Ischinger
Andrew Neil talks to a man once described as Europe’s most powerful ambassador about Germany’s shifting security policy and why he would still invite Russia’s foreign minister to the Munich Security Conference
Inside the interview: Wolfgang Ischinger
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German ambassador and chair of the Munich Security Conference from 2008 until 2022
Episode 5: Ash Sarkar
Andrew Neil talks to the left-wing writer and contributing editor at Novara Media about why she’s “literally a communist”, her support for Jeremy Corbyn and how she deals with the abuse she gets on Twitter
Inside the interview: Ash Sarkar
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with the left-wing writer and contributing editor at Novara Media, Ash Sarkar
Episode 6: David Davis
Andrew Neil talks to the veteran Conservative MP and former cabinet minister about Boris Johnson’s troubles, Rishi Sunak’s plans to ease the cost-of-living crisis and life as a rebel on the backbenches
Inside the interview: David Davis
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with veteran Conservative MP and former cabinet minister, David Davis
Episode 7: Charles Moore
Andrew Neil talks to the former editor of the Daily Telegraph and member of the House of Lords about Boris Johnson, the character of the Conservative Party, and his own role at the apex of journalism and the Establishment
Inside the interview: Charles Moore
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with Charles Moore, the former editor of the Daily Telegraph and member of the House of Lords
Episode 8: Justin King
Andrew Neil talks to the former Sainsbury’s chief executive about the cost-of-living crisis, the government’s response to it and whether he would ever go into politics himself
Inside the interview: Justin King
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects in his interview with Justin King, former chief executive of J Sainsbury
Episode 9: David Miliband
Andrew Neil talks to the former foreign secretary and president of the International Rescue Committee about the Labour Party and Keir Starmer, the war in Ukraine and the UK government’s Rwanda policy.
Inside the interview: David Miliband
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with former UK foreign secretary and president of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband.
Episode 10: Kevin Rudd
Andrew Neil talks to the former Australian prime minister and president of the Asia Society about China under President Xi Jinping, its relationship with the United States and whether Australia could become a republic under the new Labor government
Inside the interview: Kevin Rudd
In a bonus episode for Tortoise members, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with the former Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd
Episode 11: Katharine Birbalsingh
In the final episode of this series Andrew Neil talks to the headteacher and chair of the Social Mobility Commission about education policy, her teaching philosophy and how her own background shapes it
Inside the interview: Katharine Birbalsingh
In the final bonus episode of the series, Andrew Neil reflects on his interview with headteacher and Social Mobility Commission chair, Katharine Birbalsingh