Today, I interview Professor Ali Ansari of St Andrews University, about Iran, its history, its sense of self and its place in the world. The interview focuses on how the scope and place of Iran in global history - tracing how Iranian concepts influence global ideas, Iran's modern identity and the the broader middle east.

Today, I speak with Tom Gardner, the Horn of Africa correspondent for the Economist, who recently was expelled from Ethiopia. Full of insightful analysis on this crucial African country, the podcast focuses on the problems currently facing the country, as well as unpacking its cultural, historical and political context.