Festive highlights from Monocle Radio

We look back at some of the biggest Christmas songs over the years, meet the costume designer responsible for dressing the stars of Emily in Paris and recap What We Learned in 2025.

What We Learned in 2025

Andrew Mueller’s takeaways from the news in 2025, including Albania’s AI minister and Trump’s various follies.

Highlights from Monocle Radio: A year on from the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, the new editor in chief of ‘Esquire UK’ and a recap of Design Miami

Journalist Martin Smith discusses his interview with the president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, we meet the new editor in chief of ‘Esquire UK’ and Design Miami’s CEO, Jen Roberts, recaps this year’s fair.

What We Learned: The Fifa Peace Prize and Nicolas Sarkozy’s new book

This week, Andrew Mueller recounts what we learned from Trump’s Fifa Peace Prize win and Nicolas Sarkozy’s prison diaries.

Highlights from Monocle Radio: War photographer Lynsey Addario, wrapping up Design Miami and the National Gallery’s new restaurant

Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario on the personal toll of conflict. Plus: Kate Hawley, costume designer of the much-celebrated film Frankenstein, discusses her first Fashion Award.

What We Learned: Sabrina Carpenter vs the US government, Franklin the Turtle and a live-action pancake

Andrew Mueller discusses the week’s weirdest news, including singer Sabrina Carpenter and Franklin the Turtle’s spats with the Trump administration, and French far-right leader Jordan Bardella is pelted with eggs.

Highlights from Monocle Radio: Finnish ex-PM Sanna Marin, Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza and director Shih-ching Tsou

We hear from recently released Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza, head to Finland to meet former prime minister Sanna Marin and Taiwanese director Shih-ching Tsou discusses her new film.

What We Learned: President Macron’s assassination plot, US senator Mark Kelly under fire and ‘Adolf Hitler’ wins yet another election 

Andrew Mueller unpacks the week’s strangest stories, including a spat between US politicians, Candace Owens’ accusation against French president Macron and Adolf Hitler (not that one) wins another election in Namibia.

Highlights from Monocle Radio: Financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin, Dubai Design Week and the new boss at the helm of Mr & Mrs Smith

We hear from financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin on the next financial bubble, get the latest from Dubai Design Week and meet the new boss at the helm of Mr & Mrs Smith.  

What We Learned: JD Vance in prison, Maduro karaoke and a wild world record

Andrew Mueller recaps the week’s oddest stories. This week, Michigan man JD Vance (not that one) goes to prison, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro sings and a bizarre world record is broken.