POLITICAL CURRENCY
Ed’s latest audio venture, Political Currency, is a weekly podcast produced by Persephonica which Ed co-hosts with former Chancellor George Osborne. Launched in September 2023, the podcast features accessible economic analysis as Ed and George explore the biggest political economic issues and take us inside Number 11 to understand how decisions are really made and to hold the country’s leaders to account.
With a General Election looming and the UK economy confronting persistent inflation, rocketing mortgage costs and structural changes following the pandemic and Brexit, Ed and George tackle the issues that will determine how Britain votes and the stories really affecting people’s pockets. This new podcast takes listeners inside Downing Street and the Treasury, to the city and to newsrooms as Ed and George explain how the politics of money really works.
“The politics of money is back leading the news again, but all too often the stories which are going to have the most transformative impact on people's lives get the least attention. George and I want to bring economics back to life and on the agenda - with explanation and entertainment in equal measure. Politics is never far from the markets so I'm looking forward to teaming up with my old political rival as we throw all our experience from Whitehall and Westminster into the show.” - Ed Balls
THE MID•POINT WITH GABBY LOGAN
Ed joins Gabby to talk about how he is loving the so-called midlife crisis because it’s only really at the midpoint that he’s been able to say yes to the many things he would like to try – including famously, dancing on Strictly! Ed also discusses what raising a young family within the world of politics was like, the new podcast he's cohosting Political Currency, and Gabby gets his thoughts on how middle-aged women in particular could have a huge say in the next General Election.
ROB BECKETT AND JOSH WIDDICOMBE’S PARENTING HELL
Ed joins comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe to discuss the highs and lows of parenting (and life).
The News meeting
Ed sits in for James Harding in the editor’s chair for this episode of Tortoise’s The News Meeting. He is joined by journalists Liz Moseley, Claudia Williams and Mark St Andrew who each pitch the story they think mattered most this week - Stanley Johnson’s knighthood, river rights, and another Met apology. You can listen to the episode here.
Virtues of Vulnerability
For Ed, the decision to talk publicly about his stammer was pivotal - as a politician, displaying vulnerability was almost unthinkable. Ed's decision turned out to be a good one, but opening up in this way had risks, and things might have been different. In this personal programme for BBC Radio 4 Ed talks to people from sport, politics, business and media, hearing how they dealt with life’s challenges, displaying their vulnerability, often in full public view. He speaks to Michael Palin, Facebook's Nicola Mendelsohn, one of the most powerful women in tech; politician Paula Sherriff, Paralympian and Strictly Come Dancing star Will Bayley, journalist Nick Robinson, and writer and activist Scarlett Curtis.
Through archive and original interviews, Ed revisits past moments of vulnerability, including his own, speaking to those involved to shed fresh light on the pitfalls and benefits of displaying one’s vulnerable side. You can listen to the programme here.
Dream Dinner Party
In December 2020, Ed hosts a gathering with a twist for BBC Radio 4. At his Dream Dinner Party, all the guests are from beyond the grave, longtime heroes brought back to life by the wonders of the radio archive.
Ed is joined by former chancellor Denis Healey, comedy legend Les Dawson, feminist pioneer Nancy Astor and Hollywood great Danny Kaye among others for half an hour of mesmerising and unexpected conversation. They talk with him and with each other about everything from politics to cookery and from playing the piano to overcoming insecurity - illuminating a series of great lives, as well as the triumphs and vulnerabilities of a man who has gone from suffering rejection at the ballot box to becoming an unlikely national treasure via the Strictly dance floor. You can listen to the episode here.
Great Lives
In 2019, Ed chose 20th-century English composer, organist and teacher, Herbert Howells when he appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Great Lives - the biographical series where guests look at someone who has inspired their lives.
Ed sits down with presenter Matthew Parris and the biographer of Herbert Howells, Paul Spicer, to take a look at the composer’s life. You can listen to the episode here.
ED'S OTHER podcast & RADIO APPEARANCES INCLUDE...
