About this episode

The episode features a live discussion on Matt Goodwin's controversial views and his book, along with film recommendations related to the themes discussed.

This week’s episode is an edited version of Origin Story Live at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre on Wednesday 15 April 2026. It was a thrill to take the stage in the former terrain of Origin Story regulars such as Jeremy Bentham and John Maynard Keynes. Thanks to everyone who came along or watched the live stream, and to the people who helped make it happen. In part one, Ian unravels Matt Goodwin’s strange journey from ambitious young academic to GB News host, Reform UK candidate and fellow traveller of Viktor Orbán. Was he radicalised by his professional immersion in the far right, did he just follow the prevailing winds to money and influence, or was he always like this? Then Dorian breaks down Goodwin’s book Suicide of a Nation: Immigration, Islam, Identity, in which Enoch Powell meets ChatGPT, London has fallen and good old Britain is being betrayed by something called “suicidal empathy”. As sloppy as it is unpleasant, it positions Goodwin as the UK’s cut-price answer to Stephen Miller but will his unique charmlessness scupper his political aspirations? Goodwin predicted that the “elites” (ie, anyone who disagrees with him) would hate his book and who are we to disappoint him? In…

People in this episode

Host: Ian

Guest: Matt Goodwin

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: GB News, Reform UK

Books & works: Suicide of a Nation: Immigration, Islam, Identity, Batman Begins, All the President’s Men

Places: London, Bloomsbury Theatre

More episodes of Origin Story

• The General Strike – The Revolution That Wasn’t · April 7, 2026 · 1h 25m
• Introvert / Extrovert – In Two Minds · March 25, 2026 · 59 min
• Stephen Miller – American Fascist · March 11, 2026 · 1h 18m
• 15-Minute Cities – How Urban Design Entered the Culture War · February 24, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Blue Labour: We Need to Talk About Maurice · February 3, 2026 · 1h 30m
• Socialism: The Finale – What’s Left? · December 20, 2025 · 1h 40m

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