This week came as a bit of surprise as what seemed like an innocent debate about abolishing income tax, turned into a feisty family feud….. well, almost. In Front Page Face Off, we look at the real reasons why the Tory government gave up on their plans to make healthier foods cheaper for everyone, and also in another article, we ask whether political reporting and discussion is created with a definitive male gaze.

Plus the Rant Room is open for business again this week, Nige gets his racquets in a twist of the newest and most ‘vulgar’ sport.

And a special thanks goes out to the builders who were drilling outside Maya's place for the whole time we were recording....

LINKS TO ARTICLES

Health Foods

https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2025/may/17/uk-government-drops-healthy-eating-push-after-lobbying-by-ultra-processed-food-firms?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Young Women In Politics

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/21/young-men-women-far-right-online-politics-centre-left?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Rant Room Article

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/18/resist-the-unbritish-allure-of-padel/

If you would like to comment on this week’s topic and share your views, go to Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram - all @theconvincemepodcast.

If you'd like to get in touch, email us at studio@convinceme.co.uk

See you next week!

Nige & Maya

TimeStamps:

START 00:00

Intro: 00:00:39

Maya Debate Start: 00:01:28

Nige: Debate Start: 00:16:56

FPFO: 00:29:02

Rant Room: 00:42:09

Leave Comments Outro: 00:47:38

In this week’s caffeine-induced episode, we would first like to apologise for the incessant drilling going on in Maya’s ‘recording studio’, hope it’s not too distracting. Today, we discuss Labour’s new immigration White Paper, is it a step in the right direction, or are they kneeling at the feet of Farage?

In Front Page Faceoff, we bring up the cultural phenomenon that is celebrity court cases, in relation to Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

Plus the Rant Room is open for business, where Nige gets mildly annoyed at an article in the Telegraph about parents at work, and in TikTok Takedown, Maya discusses our ’sister’ (lol) podcast The Rest Is Politics with Rory Stewart changing his tune.

LINKS TO ARTICLES

Immigration White Paper

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper

Blake Lively/ Justin Baldoni

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/06/misogyny-slop-it-ends-with-us-america-rightwing-blake-lively-justin-baldoni?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Work From Home Parents

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/open-secret-parents-work-after-3pm/

If you would like to comment on this week’s topic and share your views, go to Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram - all @theconvincemepodcast.

If you'd like to get in touch, email us at studio@convinceme.co.uk

See you next week!

Nige & Maya

TimeStamps:

START 00:00

Intro: 00:00:37

Nige Debate Start: 00:01:35

Maya: Debate Start: 00:09:07

FPFO: 00:32:03

Rant Room: 00:39:42

Leave Comments Outro: 00:47:20

In this week's episode, we dive into a question that often gets overlooked: Do local elections in the UK actually make a difference? In light of the recent local elections, does Nigel Farage and Reform's success suggest a shift in public opinion or just a lucky coincidence? With turnout typically low and national politics dominating the headlines, it’s easy to assume local votes don’t carry much weight. But is that really the case?

As always, Maya and Nige take opposing sides — Maya arguing that local councils shape the everyday lives of citizens in powerful ways, the other challenging whether they have any real decision-making power or are just symbolic?

In Front Page Face Off, we discuss the Green Party and Zack Polanski wanting to try out 'Eco-Populism'. We also look at Yvette Cooper and her decision to publish the nationalities of criminals. Finally, we look at living in London and why anyone bothers since the cost of living is so high...?

Links to articles we discussed:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/22/home-office-foreign-criminals-nationalities-uk?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/property/house-prices/london-become-capital-frugal-living/

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/05/green-deputy-zack-polanski-launches-leadership-bid-with-uk-eco-populism-vision?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Timestamps:

Intro: 00:00:00-00:00:58

Maya's section: 00:00:59-00:08:46

Nige's section: 00:08:46-00:23:35

FPFO Article 1: 00:23:38-00:29:36

FPFO Article 2: 00:29:37-00:35:42

FPFO Article 3: 00:35:43-00:39:45

End: 00:39:46-00:40:07

Follow us on social media:

Youtube: @theconvincemepodcast

TikTok: @theconvincemepodcast

Instagram: @theconvincemepodcast

To get in touch, email us at ⁠studio@convinceme.co.uk⁠

See you next week,

Nige and Maya

Music by https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f...

License code: A6SBB5KU6LRP5KNQ

In this week’s episode, we discuss whether MPs should be allowed to have side hustles second jobs, is it necessary given the potentially short lived career of MPs, or should they be fully focussed on the job at hand?

In Front Page Faceoff, we talk anxious women, and why young people can’t be bothered to get out of bed unless you pay them well.

Plus we open up the Rant Room, because this week there was plenty to rant about!!

And Maya leaves you, the audience, with a final challenge!

LINKS TO ARTICLES

Guardian Report on 2nd Jobs

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/apr/21/mps-second-jobs-parliament-guardian-analysis

Women Green Voters

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/25/young-men-reform-women-green-voters

Young People

Young Ppl not get out of bed for £40k https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/04/25/young-people-are-right-not-to-get-out-of-bed-less-40k/

Ed Sheeran

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/face/how-men-can-look-10-years-younger/

Ugly Baby names

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/parenting/the-big-business-of-baby-names/

If you would like to comment on this week’s topic and share your views, go to Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram - all @theconvincemepodcast.

If you'd like to get in touch, email us at studio@convinceme.co.uk

See you next week!

Nige & Maya

TimeStamps:

START 00:00

Intro: 00:00:34

Nige Debate Start: 00:02:01

Maya: Debate Start: 00:14:09

FPFO: 00:26:30

Rant Room: 00:39:50

Leave Comments Outro: 00:49:10

In this week’s episode, we talk about reducing everyone’s working week to 4 days. Sounds like a great idea? Well you better listen in.

In Front Page Faceoff, we talk about the right to vote at the age of 16 - are 16 yr olds only good for a bit of fun, or are they actually mature enough to take an interest in their political future?

And we open up the Rant Room, where we discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling on ‘how to define woman’ in accordance to the Equalities Act 2010.

Links to articles

2023 BBC Article on 4 Day Working Week

https://www.bbc.co.uk/worklife/article/20230319-four-day-workweek-trial-the-firms-where-it-didnt-work

Votes for 16 yr olds

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/17/labour-keir-starmer-votes-16-year-olds-sorry-not-convinced

Supreme Court Ruling

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/16/critics-of-trans-rights-win-uk-supreme-court-case-over-definition-of-woman?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

If you would like to comment on this week’s topic and share your views, go to Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram - all @theconvincemepodcast.

If you'd like to get in touch, email us at studio@convinceme.co.uk

See you next week!

Nige & Maya

TimeStamps:

START 00:00

Intro: 00:00:28

Maya: Debate Start: 00:01:14 Convince Me To Adopt A 4 Day Working Week

Nige Debate Start: 00:10:14 Convince Me Not To Adopt A 4 Day Working Week

FPFO: 00:34:48 Right To Vote For 16yr olds

Rant Room: 00:48:39 Supreme Court Ruling On The Definition of Woman

Leave Comments Outro: 01:07:22

In this week’s episode, we don’t mention Gary Stevenson once (unbelievable) but we do talk ‘strike action’ in the midst of the Birmingham Bin Strikes, which see rats running riots on the streets of the city (maybe?). Are strikes effective? What have we learnt from the junior doctors strike, the nurses strike, the Royal Mail strikes, the RMT strikes, aside from the fact that there have been a lot of strikes recently.

In Front Page FaceOff, we talk Liz Truss, not to Liz Truss, just about her, behind her back, as she is back in the limelight, writing an article in the Daily Telegraph, and launching a new social network, cos we need another one. Is she deluded, or genius, or a deluded genius?

Links to articles

Trump Is Right - article by Liz Truss

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/14/trump-bold-action-defeat-quangocracy/

Truss social network

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/apr/15/liz-truss-to-launch-uncensored-social-network-to-counter-mainstream-media

If you would like to comment on this week’s topic and share your views - go to Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram or TikTok - all @theconvincemepodcast.

If you'd like to get in touch, email us at studio@convinceme.co.uk

See you next week!

Nige & Maya

TimeStamps:

START 00:00

Intro: 00:33

Nige Debate Start: 01:43 Convince Me Strikes Are Effective

Maya Debate Start: 07:14 Convince Me Strikes Are Not Effective

FPFO: 38:51 Liz Truss

Leave Comments Outro: 00:51:14

In this week’s episode, we take on the controversial subject of privatising the NHS (gasp!). As always, we try to avoid the drama as we present both sides of the issue, and suggest some reasons as to why this institution is so sacred among the British public.

In FrontPage FaceOff, we stay on topic and discuss the introduction of the NHS stamp by the Royal Mail, and another journalist is on a rant about people not using headphones on public transport (eye roll emoji).

In TikTok Takedown, Maya talks Ed Sheeran and his latest release Azizam - is he bridging cultural divides, or is it just cultural appropriation?

Obviously we give a shout out to Gary Stevenson, and the growing evidence that shows he just might be right.

If you would like to comment on this week’s topic and share your views, go to Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram - all @theconvincemepodcast.

If you'd like to get in touch, email us at studio@convinceme.co.uk

See you next week!

Nige & Maya

Links to articles

Lord Darzi report into the state of the NHS:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-investigation-of-the-nhs-in-england/summary-letter-from-lord-darzi-to-the-secretary-of-state-for-health-and-social-care

Headphones article:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/09/where-have-all-the-headphones-gone-on-public-transport-the-noise-is-eating-into-my-soul?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

NHS Stamps article:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/09/nhs-letters-to-get-own-royal-mail-postage-class/

In this week’s episode, we get religious, kind of. Following the (right wing) media outburst last week when a Head Teacher at a primary school decided not to celebrate Easter, we decided to tackle the big question of whether Religious Education should be taught in schools at all.

In Front Page Faceoff, we’ll look at the phenomenon of ‘news avoidance’, and the value of ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees. We’ll also revisit last week’s episode on banning social media, with input from the UK Youth Parliament.

Plus Maya opens up the Rant Room, enters the Pink Pony Club and discussed Chappell Roan and her apparent disinterest in politics.

If you would like to vote in our poll, go to Spotify. Or leave comments on our YouTube, iTunes, Instagram - all @theconvincemepodcast.

If you'd like to get in touch, email us at studio@convinceme.co.uk

See you next week!

Nige & Maya

Links to articles

Deep & Meaningful - ONS Report

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/subject-report-series-religious-education/deep-and-meaningful-the-religious-education-subject-report#recommendations

News Avoidance

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/apr/01/outlets-seek-fresh-strategies-as-uk-poll-shows-news-avoidance-on-the-rise

Mickey Mouse Degrees

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/05/gen-z-shun-mickey-mouse-degrees-to-boost-career-chances/

Follow up on Social Media Ban

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/mar/27/banning-us-from-social-media-is-neither-practical-nor-effective-uk-teenagers-say