The Story

From the shadowy corners of incel forums, a new obsession was quietly emerging. To succeed, financially, socially and sexually, you need to level up your face and frame. Enter “Looksmaxxing”, the idea that how you look can be engineered to perfection to maximise your full aesthetic potential. It's a TikTok-fuelled culture of mogging, "bone-smashing", and glow-ups - and a way for young men to measure beauty, status, and self-worth. How far will some go to “max” their looks? Is it vanity, or a survival strategy in a hyper-visual world? And what does it reveal about the state of men’s mental health today?Our listener survey is live - find it here.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryHost: Rosie WrightGuest: Jack Burke, times contributor.Producer: Dave CreaseyRead more: Looksmaxxing: the worrying new extreme teenage trendImage: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Blackburn, a Times history correspondent who reads and main story, narrates Catherine Juleep Singh, goddaughter of Queen Victoria and daughter of the last Maharajah of Punjab. He describes her rescuing Jewish families to Britain, a meaningful pendant and its provenance, the Kassel meeting that triggered escapes, and her sisters’ exile and suffragette activism.

Anthony Loyd, veteran war reporter for The Times, joins the investigation with frontline experience and expert analysis. He recounts a tense prison meeting in Baghdad, examines evidence linking a detainee to ISIS activity, and pieces together new revelations about John Cantlie’s likely fate during the Mosul battle. The conversation explores prison access, strike records, and why Cantlie’s story still resonates.

Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent at The Times, gives quick, sharp reporting on the Mandelson files. He explains what the released documents show. He outlines who backed or warned about Mandelson, the chaotic exit negotiations, and what this might mean for the Prime Minister’s judgment. He warns more documents could follow.

Michael Stephens, RUSI senior associate fellow and RAND expert on Gulf security. He unpacks Iran’s strategy of targeted disruption, explains why different Gulf states respond differently, and describes threats to shipping, desalination and air defences. Discussion covers daily life under strikes and how this moment could shift Gulf–US ties and the region’s economic and security future.

Harry Wallop, consumer journalist who decodes how oil and gas swings hit household bills. Dr Ellen R. Wald, energy expert on Middle East strategy and oil geopolitics. They discuss why the Strait of Hormuz matters, how tanker disruptions spike prices, tools to calm markets, potential triple-digit prices if flows stop, and how oil shapes wars, inflation and home heating costs.

Catherine Philp, World Affairs editor and long-time Iran correspondent, provides on-the-ground analysis and background on Mojtaba Khamenei. She outlines how he rose through the Revolutionary Guard and his history with protest crackdowns. The conversation covers succession mechanics, Iran’s security apparatus, international reactions and the risks around targeting the new leader.

David Leslie, professor of ethics, technology and society, offers expert analysis on military AI. He discusses how AI compressed targeting teams and sped battlefield decision-making. He explains AI-enabled kamikaze drones, how targeting was accelerated in the Iran strikes, the Anthropic vs military dispute, and the ethical and regulatory hazards of machine-speed warfare.

Blanca Schofield, assistant culture and books editor for The Times and The Sunday Times, reports on Frida Kahlo’s legacy and the commercialization of her image. She traces Kahlo’s distinctive self-portraits, life-shaping injuries and politics. Blanca explores the family split, trademark battles, pop culture ubiquity and controversies like the Frida Barbie and corporate branding.

A personal account of how Iran’s political conflict has split families across generations. Family rituals, wartime memories and competing loyalties collide with fears after recent bombings. A coming-out story intersects with faith and dissent. Everyday control, protests and shifting support for the regime are all explored through one family’s experience.