Human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti has launched Shami’s Speakeasy, a new weekly podcast produced by Bespoken Media Scotland and recorded between London and Glasgow.
The series takes inspiration from the secret bars of the interwar years, creating a space for open conversation at a time when debate can often feel polarised.
Each episode invites guests to speak about what motivates them, how they cope with challenges, and where they continue to find hope.
The podcast began today with a double episode featuring interviews with former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and author and journalist Gary Younge. Future guests will include Doreen Lawrence, Darren McGarvey, and former Supreme Court president Baroness Hale.
Chakrabarti explained: “In difficult times, reasonable debate is itself an act of resistance. It can also be the spark for action. In our Speakeasy we discuss what drives people, and how conversation can kindle the courage to do things differently.”
To accompany the series, the Speakeasy Zine will provide additional resources such as facts, figures, suggested reading and activities, along with original artwork from Dundee-based artist Josh Moir. These will be made available online and sent directly to subscribers free of charge.
Dave Howard, director of Bespoken Media Scotland, said: “It can feel like reasoned, compassionate voices are being drowned out in the present climate, both here in the UK and across the Atlantic. So I’m glad that our Bespoken team can help bring Shami’s Speakeasy to life, as a place for nuance, compassion, and hope for the future.”
