On the Couch

May 02 2024 22
On the Couch Podcast artwork

Welcome to On the Couch, a new political podcast from Reaction and broadcaster and psychotherapist Lucy Beresford. In each episode, Lucy is joined by a special guest to take a deep dive into the relationships making the headlines in politics today and explore the psychology of so much in political life.

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On the Couch: Steve Baker

May 02 2024 24 mins  
On this episode, Lucy Beresford speaks to Steve Baker MP about his mental health, the current dangers facing MPs in their constituencies and what the government can do to improve the nation's mental health.

On the Couch: Ali Miraj

Dec 21 2023 20 mins  
Lucy speaks to Ali Miraj, financier and political commentator, about 2023, what went wrong for Rishi Sunak and why he needs to stand up to the right of the party.

On the Couch: Dawn Neesom

Dec 07 2023 23 mins  
On this episode, Lucy speaks to Dawn Neesom, GB News presenter and former editor of the Daily Star, about the Covid inquiry and the stories we tell ourselves about what happened during the pandemic.

On the Couch: Jill Rutter

Nov 23 2023 20 mins  
Lucy speaks to Jill Rutter about the psychology of economics, the competing narratives around the Autumn Statement and whether Jeremy Hunt is listening to voters or Tory MPs.

On the Couch: Lord Darroch

Nov 09 2023 34 mins  
Lucy speaks to Kim, Lord Darroch about how Sunak and Starmer are seen to be handling the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On the Couch: Rachel Johnson

Oct 26 2023 19 mins  
On this episode, Lucy speaks to broadcaster and journalist Rachel Johnson about sexual harassment in Westminster and how to change the culture.

On the Couch: Robbie Griffiths

Oct 13 2023 22 mins  
Lucy speaks to Londoners' Diary columnist Robbie Griffiths about the role gossip plays in politics, and especially at Party Conferences.

On the Couch: Baroness Ros Altmann

Oct 05 2023 31 mins  
This week, Lucy speaks to Baroness Altmann CBE, leading UK pensions expert and former pensions minister, about why it's so hard to get people to focus on pensions, and why nudge theory has been proven to help.

On the Couch: James Kirkup

Sep 28 2023 26 mins  
Lucy speaks to James Kirkup, partner of Apella Advisors (and conference addict of 20+ years) who interprets the mood music of party conferences, whether Conference Lurghie is psychosomatic, and the strange cognitive dissonance of the attendees.

On the Couch: Lord Bethell of Romford

Sep 21 2023 21 mins  
Lucy speaks to James, Lord Bethell of Romford, about stopping children accessing porn and how more hours in the UK are spent watching PornHub than the BBC.