I may have mentioned that I’ve been making a podcast series called The Brexit Breakdown. I made 26 episodes for The UK in a Changing Europe, a research organisation based out of King’s College London who are expert in all things Brexit. Everyone liked it so we made 12 more. In May 2019 we began a new run of 26 episodes.

Each week I have a guest from the world of politics or diplomacy of business on to talk about what Brexit means to them and what ordinary folk need to know about the huge change that’s coming to this country. And we’re joined by a wonk from UK in a Changing Europe as a sort of on-site fact checker and to drill into the issues as required.

One of the features involves asking both the guest and the academic for a recommendation for something that folk can turn to to help understand Brexit.

I’ve collated the recommendations here It’s a sort of library of items from the academic to the esoteric that explain Brexit. Some seem more serious than others but they all go to the heart of the issue whether that’s explainers about the technical details of Brexit or bits of art of one sort of another than tap into a feature of Brexit – perhaps a book that explains dissatisfaction with politics or a song that sums up how negotiations have unfolded or a film with uncanny parallels. Basically I guarantee you’ll find something on this list to enjoy.

See below

Here’s the list:

Episode 1

Matt Chorley, editor of the Times Red Box: Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance 

Anand Menon, director UK in a Changing Europe: Listen Liberal by Thomas Frank

Episode 2

Grant Shapps, Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield and former party chairman: watch BBC Parliament

Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe: Brexit and British Politics by Geoff Evans and Anand Menon

Episode 3

Jonathan Isaby, editor of Brexit Central: How to Lose a Referendum by Jason Farrell and Paul Goldsmith

Simon Usherwood, reader in politics at University of Surrey: follow Richard North and Andrew Duff on Twitter and listen to his own podcast A Diet of Brussels

Episode 4

Gisela Stuart, chair of Vote Leave and Change Britain: Create More podcast, episode 21

Catherine Barnard, professor of European law at Cambridge University: The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Episode 5

John Mills, chairman of Labour Leave and chair of JML: Brexit Economics and other pamphlets by John Mills

Matthew Goodwin, Professor of Politics at Rutherford College, University of Kent, and Senior Visiting Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House : Brexit: Why Britain Voted to Leave the European Union by Harold D Clarke, Matthew Goodwin and Paul Whiteley

Episode 6

Steve Bullock, former UK negotiator to the EU: follow David Allen Green, Steve Analyst Ian Dunt, Jo Maugham, Steve Peers, Kenneth Armstrong on Twitter

Helen Drake, Director, Academy of Diplomacy and International Governance, Loughborough London: educate yourself

Episode 7

Chris Wright, founder of Chrysalis records: the work of Peter Brookes, political cartoonist for The Times

Simon Usherwood, Deputy director of UK in a Changing Europe: follow Brussels correspondents Nick Gutteridge,  Jennifer Rankin and Matt Holehouse

Episode 8

Chuka Umunna, Labour MP for Streatham and chair of All Party Parliamentary Group on EU Relations: BBC Reality Check

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: the work of Katy Hayward

Episode 9

Alison McGovern, Labour Campaign for the Single Market and MP for Wirral South: the work of Professor Philip McCann

Simon Usherwood, Deputy director of UK in a Changing Europe: follow spoof Twitter accounts Berlaymonster and Martini Seltzermayr

Episode 10

Nicole Sykes, Head of EU Negotiations at the Confederation of British Industry: Tony Connelly, RTE Europe editor

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: David Cameron’s Bloomberg speech

Episode 11

Baroness Angela Smith, shadow leader of the House of Lords: Don’t Leave me This Way by The Communards

Catherine Barnard, professor of European law at Cambridge University: Brexit and Ireland by Tony Connelly

Episode 12

Eloise Todd, CEO of Best for Britain: Monty Python’s black knight sketch

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: the work of Raquel Ortega and Philip McCann

Episode 13

Bernard Jenkin, MP and chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs select committe: study European history

Dr Alan Wager, Researcher at UK in a Changing Europe: ‘Brussels should start listening to voters’ by Danny Finkelstein

Episode 14

Gráinne Maguire, comedian: The Irish Passport podcast

Sir John Curtice, superwonk and election exit poll overlord: read UK in a Changing Europe output and follow the links

Episode 15

Lord Kerslake, former head of the civil service: All Out War and Fall Out by Tim Shipman

Simon Usherwood, deputy director of UK in a Changing Europe: We Can Work It Out by The Beatles

Episode 16

Tony Connelly, Europe editor, RTE: BBC Brexitcast podcast

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: follow Peter Foster, Europe editor at The Daily Telegraph

Episode 17

Madeleina Kay, Young European of the Year: follow Mike Galsworthy of Scientists for EU

Dr Alan Wager, Research Associate at UK in a Changing Europe: Question Time by Dave

Episode 18

Arup Banerji, Regional director for the EU at the World Bank: Who Can You Trust? by Rachel Botsman

Simon Usherwood, Deputy director of UK in a Changing Europe: Mr Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Episode 19

Sonia Delesalle-Stolper, UK correspondent for Liberation: the play Ubu the King by Alfred Jarry and The Ministry of Silly Walks sketch by Monty Python

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: read the foreign press particularly El Pais, Liberation and Der Spiegel

Episode 20

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Conservative MP for Berwick: No, directed by Pablo Larrain and starring Gael Garcia Bernal

Dr Alan Wager, Research Associate at UK in a Changing Europe: Yes to Europe by Robert Saunders

Episode 21

Henriette Engbersen, UK correspondent for SRF: take a cab tour in Northern Ireland

Catherine Barnard, Professor of European law at Cambridge University: Ivan Rogers’ Glasgow speech

Episode 22

Margot Parker, deputy chairwoman of Ukip: Brexit: The Movie

Simon Usherwood, Deputy director of UK in a Changing Europe: Twilight Arch by James Turrell

Episode 23

Simon Evans, comedian: talk to his dad/your parents/an expert in a particular field

Dr Alan Wager, research associate at UK in a Changing Europe: The Museum of Brexit

Episode 24

Mary Creagh, Labour MP for Wakefield and chair of the Environmental Audit Committee: You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones

Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe: work of The Hansard Society

Episode 25

Victoria Hewson, counsel to the international trade and compliance unit at the Institute for Economic Affairs: watch the 1975 Oxford Union speeches by Peter Shore and Barbara Castle

Sir John Curtice, superwonk and election exit poll overlord: Brexit: Why Britain voted to leave the European Union by Harold Clarke, Matthew Goodwin and Paul Whiteley

Episode 26

Matthew Elliott, former chief executive of Vote Leave: Change or Go from Business for Britain

Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe: Munich by Robert Harris

Bonus recommendation

Steve Bullock, former UK negotiator at the EU: Just by Radiohead 

 

SERIES 2

Episode 1

James Kirkup, Director of the Social Market Foundation: the UK in a Changing Europe

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: MP counters like this and this

Episode 2

Asa Bennett, Brexit commissioning editor at The Telegraph: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Dr Alan Wager, research associate at UK in a Changing Europe: Conservative Home

Episode 3

Andrew Bridgen MP: the Institute of Economic Affairs Brexit research

Catherine Barnard, Professor of European law at Cambridge University: The Best of Matt 2018

Episode 4

Stephen Gethins MP, SNP Foreign Affairs spokesman: The European Union: what it is and what it does

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Middle England by Jonathan Coe

Episode 5

Michael Heseltine, Lord and former deputy prime minister: Listen to The Price of Victory

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Watch Brexit; the uncivil war and read The British General Election of 2017 by Philip Cowley and Denis Kavanaugh

Episode 6

Charles Clarke, former Home Secretary: subscribe to UK in a Changing Europe newsletter

Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at King’s College London: the UK Trade Policy Observatory, the Institute for Government and BBC Reality Check

Episode 7

Ayesha Hazarika, comedian and former Labour adviser: change your broadband provider

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Brexit and Public Opinion 2019

Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at King’s College London: the ‘euro-sausage‘ episode of Yes Minister

Episode 8

Nick von Westenholz, Director of EU Exit and International Trade at the NFU: the work of Gildas the monk

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Dante’s Inferno

Matt Bevington, policy researcher at UK in a Changing Europe: Inside Europe; ten years of turmoil

Episode 9

Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director of the Women’s Budget Group: Titanic

Catherine Barnard, Professor of European law at Cambridge University: Implications for business and trade of a no deal exit

Episode 10

Dr Brigid Fowler, senior research at The Hansard Society: This Blessed Plot by Hugo Young

Dr Alan Wager, research associate at UK in a Changing Europe: watch Catherine Barnard on Question Time

Episode 11

Simon Collins, Shetland Fishermen: Giles cartoons

Dr Christopher Huggins, senior lecturer at Suffolk university and UK in a Changing Europe fisheries researcher: Fish Town

Episode 12 (LIVE)

Chris Wilkins, former director of strategy at Number 10: Please Sir by Martyn Joseph

Mike Gapes MP: Tony Connelly, RTE Europe editor

Catherine Barnard, Professor of European law at Cambridge University: Making your mind up by Bucks Fizz

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Bohemian Rhapsody (film – for a break from Brexit)

 

SERIES 3

Episode 1

Claire Fox, writer, director of the Institute of Ideas and Brexit Party candidate: A Brexit Proposal by Chris Bickerton and The Full Brexit

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: The European Elections and Brexit report

Episode 2

Nikki da Costa, senior counsel with the Cicero Group and former director of legislative affairs at Number 10 Downing Street: The Change Curve

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Talking Politics podcast 157: the Copernican Principle

Episode 3

Alexandre Fasel, Swiss ambassador to the UK: The Good Brexiteers Guide to English Lit by John Sutherland

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Thatcher, a Very British Revolution

Episode 4

Paul Goodman, editor of ConservativeHome: The Uncivil War written by James Graham

Adam Cygan, Professor of EU Law at the University of Leicester: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon

Episode 5

Polly Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Demos: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Andy Haldane’s TED Talk ‘Putting the ‘public’ in public institutions’

Episode 6

George Brandis, Australian High Commissioner to the UK: History of England by G M Trevelyan

Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at King’s College London: Defeated by Brexit by Christopher Cook

Episode 7

Jonathan Portes, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at King’s College London: Get Ready for Brexit government website

Catherine Barnard, Professor of European law at Cambridge University: The Realities of a No Deal Brexit, Spectator article by Ivan Rogers

Sir John Curtice, superwonk and election exit poll overlord: live news web pages on BBC, Guardian or similar

Episode 8

Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London: the work of the Constitution Unit

Seb Dance, Labour MEP for London: Catch 22 by Jospeh Heller

Episode 9

Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London: The Political Theory of Populism by Nadia Urbinati

Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Post Truth by Matthew d’Ancona

Episode 10 (LIVE)

Catherine Barnard, Professor of European law at Cambridge University: Toy Story 4

Jill Rutter, senior fellow at Institute for Government and senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: Hamilton

Sir Jonathan Faull, ‘erstwhile Eurocrat’ – former director general of departments of justice, internal market, press and communications at the EU: Great Nations of Europe by Randy Newman

Peter Foster, Europe editor at the Telegraph: holiday in Northern Ireland

Episode 11

Hussein Kassim, Professor of politics at University of East Anglia: Our Island Story by Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall

John Vincent, CEO of the International Federation of Airworthiness: House of Cards (BBC version)

Episode 12

Katy Hayward, reader in sociology at Queen’s University, Belfast and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: I Am The Border So I Am by @BorderIrish

Jonathan Powell, director of Inter Mediate and former chief of staff to Tony Blair: buy an Oyster card and visit the Camden/Islington border and an Easyjet flight to Northern Ireland to visit the border at Warrenpoint

Episode 13

Sir John Curtice, superwonk and election exit poll overlord: BBC Reality Check

Jill Rutter, senior fellow at Institute for Government and senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: UK in a Changing Europe general election centre

Episode 14

Sir John Curtice, superwonk and election exit poll overlord: The Financial Times election coverage

Mark Pack, editor of LibDem newswire: Talking to a Brick Wall by Deborah Mattinson

Mark Wallace, executive editor of Conservative Home: White Elephant by William Norton

Sienna Rodgers, editor of LabourList: The Resolution Foundation weekly email

Episode 15

Jill Rutter, senior fellow at Institute for Government and senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: Richard III

Rafael Behr, Guardian columnist: The Italian Job

Asa Bennett, Brexit commissioning editor at The Telegraph: Romanifesto by Asa Bennett

Episode 16

Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: May at 10 by Anthony Selsdon

Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe: University of Sussex UK Trade Policy Observatory

Episode 17

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: The State of the North report from the IPPR

Will Straw, former executive director of Britain Stronger in Europe: British Journey by Joe Hayman

Episode 18

Katy Hayward, reader in sociology at Queen’s University, Belfast and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: follow David Henig, and others…

David Bailey, Professor of business economics at Birmingham University and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: Brexit isn’t done; what next for the car industry? by Anoosh Chakelian

Sarah Hall, Professor of economic geography at Nottingham University and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: read the regional press

Episode 19

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Listen Liberal by Thomas Frank

Ian Dunt, editor of Politics.co.uk: Leroy Jenkins

Melanie Phillips, columnist for The Times: Richard II Act 2 Scene 1

Episode 20

Meredith Crowley, International Trade Economist, University of Cambridge and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: Free Trade Under Fire by Doug Irwin

Raoul Ruparel, former Special Adviser at the Department for Exiting the EU and special adviser on Europe to Theresa May: the story of the Maastricht rebels, John Major’s autobiography

Episode 21

Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe: The Brexit Blog by Chris Grey

Meg Russell, Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London and senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe:Three Years in Hell; the Brexit chronicles by Fintan O’Toole

Episode 22

Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Goldfinger

Lucy Powell, Labour MP and shadow business and consumer minister: Brexitland by Rob Ford (forthcoming)

Episode 23

Dr Philippa Whitford, SNP MP and Westminster health spokesperson: All Out War by Tim Shipman

Professor Tamara Hervey, Jean Monnet chair of EU Law at Sheffield University: Brexit, Health and Me film

Episode 24

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Inequality; what can be done by Tony Atkinson

Nick Timothy, former joint chief of staff to Theresa May: watch Sunderland Til I Die (but not to understand Brexit)

Episode 25

Anand Menon, Director of UK in a Changing Europe: Electoral Shocks; the volatile voter in a turbulent world from the British Election Study

Philip Rycroft, former permanent secretary at the Department for Exiting the EU: Thomas Cromwell; a life by Diarmaid MacCulloch

Episode 26

Jill Rutter, senior fellow at Institute for Government and senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe: Eyemouth fishing disaster memorial

Dr Christopher Huggins, senior lecturer at Suffolk university and UK in a Changing Europe fisheries researcher: Cornwall; this fishing life