Tom Holland - “A Civilisational Earthquake” The Fall of Christianity and Rise of Islam in the West
In this episode of The Brink, Jake sits down with Tom Holland, historian and co-host of The Rest Is History, for a profound conversation about faith, Western civilisation, and the moral roots of our culture.We explore how Christianity shaped the West’s ideas of compassion, morality, and universal values — and what happens when a society begins to forget those origins. Holland explains how the cultural revolutions of the 1960s mirror past religious upheavals, why our politics still carry a deeply Christian imprint, and how secularism has inherited both the virtues and contradictions of faith.The discussion also turns to Islam, Judaism, and the tension between universalism and identity — from the invention of the medieval blood libel to modern antisemitism and jihadist ideology. Together, we ask whether the moral framework that built the West can survive without the religion that inspired it.This is a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation about belief, history, and what remains sacred in a disenchanted age.Watch the full conversation here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/a-civilisational-earthquake-tom-holland?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
45:00
--------
45:00
‘We are deeply compromised’ Britain’s National Security Crisis with Lord Walney & MP Tom Tugendhat
In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Lord Walney (John Woodcock) and MP Tom Tugendhat, former Security Minister, for a deep dive into Britain’s growing national security crisis. From Russian assassination plots and Chinese espionage to Iranian influence and homegrown extremism, this conversation exposes the threats the UK can no longer afford to ignore.We discuss how Britain’s institutions have become “deeply compromised,” why successive governments have failed to act on intelligence warnings, and the urgent need to ban organisations like the Muslim Brotherhood and IRGC. This conversation explains how economic interests, political cowardice, and cultural fear have left Britain open to infiltration from hostile powers and how this weakness is being exploited on the streets through protests, intimidation, and radicalisation.We also examine the failures of policing, the role of the media, and the question of whether Britain still takes national security seriously.This is a sobering and essential conversation about the threats facing modern Britain and what it will take to defend the country before it’s too late.Watch the full conversation here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/we-are-deeply-compromised-security?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
39:52
--------
39:52
Banning Israeli Football Fans: A New Low for Britain | The Brink Rapid Response
In this Rapid Response clip, we react to Aston Villa’s shocking decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their upcoming Europa League match — a move that has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about double standards, fear, and antisemitism in Britain.Andrew and Jake unpack how a combination of local politics, police weakness, and community intimidation led to this decision — and what it says about the state of Britain’s values. We explore how Islamist pressure, media hypocrisy, and political cowardice have converged to create a climate where protecting Jewish fans has become controversial.From the police’s failure to confront real threats, to the wider culture of capitulation spreading through British institutions, this rapid response asks: who really runs Britain’s cities — our elected government or the mob?This discussion is from our Substack Rapid Response series.👉 Access this rapid response in full here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thebrinkpodcast/p/banning-israeli-football-fans-a-new?r=63dafp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
16:34
--------
16:34
Mossad Spymaster Reveals the Truth About Espionage, Netanyahu, Pagers, Qatar and The Propaganda War
In this episode of The Brink, we sit down with Yossi Cohen, former Director of Mossad and one of the world’s most renowned spymasters. From leading the 2018 raid on Iran’s nuclear archive to brokering the Abraham Accords, Cohen has shaped some of the most pivotal moments in recent Middle Eastern history.We discuss the art of intelligence, emotional control under extreme pressure, and the secrets behind Mossad’s most daring operations — including the legendary “booby-trapped pages” that crippled Hezbollah. Cohen also reflects on Israel’s intelligence failures before October 7th, his criticism of the country’s leadership culture, and whether he could one day step into politics himself.This is a rare and candid conversation on espionage, leadership, and the moral choices that define the defence of Israel.Watch full episode here: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
38:36
--------
38:36
The Hostage Release Changes Everything: Exploring Trump’s Deal, the Future of Gaza and Hamas
In this Rapid Response episode of The Brink, we react to the breaking news that Israeli hostages have finally been freed after two years in Hamas captivity. A moment of relief, sorrow, and reckoning for Israel and the wider West.We discuss the emotional weight of their return, the moral clarity of this moment, and what it reveals about the divide between those who stand for life and those who justify terror. From the international reaction and Western media’s coverage to the political failures that allowed Hamas to endure, we explore what this means for Israel’s future and for the moral state of our own societies.We also break down Donald Trump’s role in securing the deal, the geopolitical fallout with Qatar and Turkey, and what the next phase of this war could look like. This is a raw and timely Substack Rapid Response from The Brink.👉 To access all of our rapid response breakdowns and watch them live, sign up to our Substack: https://thebrinkpodcast.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to your much-needed antidote to centrist dad podcasts. Presented by Daily Telegraph columnist and foreign correspondent Jake Wallis Simons and former parachute regiment officer and geopolitical analyst Andrew Fox, The Brink brings their wealth of real-life experience to bear upon the most important topics of the day, from Israel to immigration, Ukraine to Islamism, asylum hotels to the rise of Reform UK. With a host of stellar guests and an emphasis on common sense, Jake and Andrew explore what it will take to bring the West back from the brink. A podcast from the edge of what’s coming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
UK