Films — Culture

May 04 2023 37 ep. 5 mins 4

Films — Culture Podcast artwork

We hand pick the very best in music, art, theatre, media, books and film from every corner of the globe.

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Outpost News: Britain’s smallest radio station

May 04 2023 6 mins

Located in the northwestern corner of the Scottish Highlands, Gairloch is a coastal village of about 700 people that is known for its mountains, sea loch and rugged landscape. Monocle paid a visit to Two Lochs, reportedly Britain’s smallest commercial radio station, which is nestled on Gairloch’s shores, run by a handful of volunteers and has built a loyal fanbase of global lis

Inside the world’s largest costume company

Feb 20 2023 6 mins

Peris Costumes is the world’s largest company dedicated to selling and renting costumes for film, stocking more than 10 million garments. Monocle took a peek behind the scenes of its Madrid-based HQ to meet its artisans and see how the industry is booming, thanks to the rise of streaming platforms.

Sisu: The art of Finnish fortitude

Mar 15 2022 3 mins

Finland is a swimmer’s paradise and residents take to the water year-round. In colder months the practice often involves carving a hole into ice – a demonstration of “sisu”, the unique Finnish concept of fortitude in the face of adversity. Monocle joins journalist Katja Pantzar on an icy dip, to explore the mindset that dates back more than 500 years. Discover more stories

Ísbíltúr: Iceland’s ice-cream road trips

Feb 09 2022 3 mins

We hit the road with journalist Egill Bjarnason, finding the best spots to grab a cone on a journey into the Icelandic custom of ‘ísbíltúr’. It’s one of many Nordic lifestyle concepts that can teach us a thing or two about how to achieve a better quality of life. Discover more stories and ideas from the region with ‘The Monocle Book of the Nordics’, [available now from

Why Greeks live longer

Sep 27 2021 2 mins

Nestled in the heart of the Aegean, the island of Ikaria used to be a secluded spot with a humble and unhurried way of life. Today, a third of the island's population lives to be more than 90 years old. We venture to the local kafeneios, wild beaches and abundant allotments to meet the bronzed seniors.

The 2021 Monocle Art Survey

Jun 28 2021 3 mins

From gallerists to artists, collectors to auctioneers, we check in with industry players to find why – digital innovations or not – seeing art in real life matters, how the past year has shaken up the market and what exhibitions you should add to a calendar that’s filling up nicely.

Studio Babelsberg: reel deal

May 06 2021 2 mins

Despite the ubiquity of digital effects in cinema, Berlin’s Studio Babelsberg has preserved the craft of prop making. Its lifelike items continue to appear in some of the biggest movies today. We inspect the studio’s stunning hand-built sets and its museum-like archives.

Media on the move

Mar 16 2021 6 mins

We visit two bold companies finding canny ways to pivot their product for changing audiences. Transhelvetica, a Swiss magazine, and Spiritland, a London-based hospitality and audio venture, are each shaping the media landscape for the better.

Venice Biennale: art of nationhood

May 31 2019 7 mins

In the second report from this year’s Venice Biennale, we head to the national pavilions to meet the artists and curators who are raising their countries’ profiles on the world stage.

Venice Biennale: best in show

May 21 2019 5 mins

We sit down with Ralph Rugoff, the artistic director of 2019’s Venice Biennale, to round up the highlights of this year’s event.