Thinking Class
Thinking Class is a weekly long-form interview podcast exploring the cultural, historical, and civilisational forces shaping England, Britain, and the Western world.
Hosted by John Gillam, the show brings together historians, philosophers, theologians, economists, and public intellectuals for conversations that go beyond the news cycle by examining the deep roots of the West's present predicament and asking what genuine recovery might require.
Guests have included David Starkey, Lord Jonathan Sumption, Lord Nigel Biggar, Robert Tombs, Peter Hitchens, Lionel Shriver, Roy Baumeister, Kathleen Stock, Carl Trueman, and many others.
If you value serious conversation about Britain, the West, and the forces shaping our future, then this is the show for you.
New episodes every week.
Thinking Class
#099 - Paul Embery - Why Diversity Is Britain's Greatest Challenge
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Paul Embery is a firefighter, trade union activist, writer and broadcaster. Paul has been a member of the Labour party since 1994 and active in the wider labour movement for most of his adult life. He has served on the executive council of the Fire Brigades Union and as the national organiser of Trade Unionists Against the EU.
Paul has written extensively about working-class politics and culture, including for UnHerd, The Huffington Post, The Spectator, Spiked and Compact. His first book is Despised: why the modern Left loathes the working class, which was published in 2020.
In this episode of Thinking Class, Paul Embery and John Gillam analyse why cultural, economic, and identity pressures are reshaping British politics and society — and why mainstream political parties, especially Labour, often find themselves at odds with the concerns of working-class voters. Paul reflects on his lifelong experience in the Labour movement to explore how cultural identity, economic insecurity, and political alienation intersect in contemporary Britain.
They examine why diversity has become a central challenge for national cohesion, how political elites have misread public sentiment, and what a renewed sense of community and responsibility might require.
Where to find Paul Embery's work:
- Follow and subscribe to Paul on Substack
- Follow Paul on X/Twitter
- Buy Paul's book: Despised: Why The Modern Left Loathes The Working Class
- You can listen to my previous conversation with Paul here.
About Thinking Class:
Thinking Class is a long-form interview podcast exploring the cultural, historical, and moral forces shaping England, Britain, and the wider Western world.
Hosted by John Gillam, the show features serious conversations with historians, academics, and independent thinkers.
Thinking Class is concerned with discovering long-term patterns over headlines and hot-takes. Expect historically-grounded analysis on matters of national character, institutions, demography, belief, and political legitimacy.
New episodes every week.
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