Lodestone's Festive Favourites 2022
We’ve had a busy and exciting year at Lodestone, working for more clients than ever before and seeing real impact. But there’s nothing like winding down for Christmas, perhaps with a glass of Never Say Die in hand, and getting lost in a good book. Or podcast. Or TV show. Whatever you fancy, really.
To speed you on your way to a cosy winter break, we’ve asked some members of our team for their recommendations. There’s something on offer for everyone at Lodestone – and the same goes for the eclectic picks below.
Harry Padfield Associate Director |
Qanon, January 6th, pizzagate and other conspiracy theories might not be the lightest of Christmas fare, but the Coming Storm podcast by Gabriel Gatehouse does a brilliant job of illuminating the divisions that exist within American society, which are pushing the US democratic system to its limit. In the UK, too, is our sense of shared reality itself under similar attack? |
Jenna Kearns Finance and Operations Manager |
As someone who rarely reads fantasy, I was sceptical about Piranesi even though it came highly recommended. The title character is pure and positive despite facing a difficult and gruelling world of isolation, which we all can relate to after the last few years. Piranesi’s life is stark, but he finds joy through difficult situations and has a resilience that really resonates. The twist at the end made me want to start again with a new perspective: has everything changed? |
Eric Robinson Senior Account Executive |
The B1M is a leading video platform for the construction industry, with 2.7 million YouTube followers. As well as showing how new projects push the boundaries of engineering and architecture, the channel also addresses the socio-political factors that drive them, like population growth, reputational needs, or a desire to better connect people and places. B1M flies the flag for infrastructure’s role in shaping the environment in which we find ourselves – scripting an accessible ode to the power of construction in improving human life. |
Martha Dalton Co-Founder and Managing Director |
January will start the 2 year countdown to the next general election. Lisa Nandy’s All In is an important contribution to the debate around a future Labour government’s priorities. Lisa is one of the most thoughtful members of the Shadow Cabinet and this manifesto for more inclusive and ambitious politics – led by local communities – is well worth examining. |
Jack Bell Account Director |
The History of Rome traces a small and fragile kingly city state through its evolution into a republic and empire. Podcast author Mike Duncan does a fantastic job at outlining the pivotal moments in Roman history – including the sacking of Carthage and Corinth, solidifying Rome’s dominance, and the fateful battle of Teutoburg Forest which so abruptly ended imperial expansion. Outside of these key geopolitical moments, Mike’s attention to socioeconomic change makes it essential listening for anyone with an interest in European history. Watch out for politicians who fashion themselves as modern-day Caesars! |
Jo Dalton Associate Director |
Over the past couple of years, I’ve really enjoyed reading Greek mythology – specifically books that retell a well-known story through the eyes of the female characters that are often forgotten or overlooked. After reading Madeline Miller’s ‘Circe’ and then Pat Baker’s ‘The Silence of The Girls’ and ‘The Women of Troy’ in 2021, my friend recommended Jennifer Saint’s ‘Ariadne’ which retells the story of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of the Princesses of Crete – sisters of the Minotaur – and continues the story beyond Theseus’ defeat of the Minotaur and escape from the labyrinth. |
Tom King Director |
In 2022 I finally tackled Robert Caro’s The Power Broker: a mesmerising biography of the man who built New York as we know it today. Robert Moses was a controversial figure in his own time, but has been reassessed much more critically since this 1974 Pulitzer-winning masterpiece was published. It is as insightful about the nature of power and how to wield it as about Moses himself. If you can’t face such a monumental tome, start instead with Motherless Brooklyn, Edward Norton’s underrated 2019 film noir, co-starring Alec Baldwin as the (lightly fictionalised) master builder. |
"Watch out for politicians who fashion themselves as modern-day Caesars!" - Jack Bell, Account Director
Fran O’Leary Co-Founder and Director of Client Services |
Former skater turned Stanford neuroscientist, Professor Andrew Huberman, explains the latest scientific developments, health and science-related tools on his podcast the Huberman Lab and in his newsletter the Neural Network. His magic is in explaining science in an accessible way for non-scientists like me, and outlining how you can apply the lessons to optimise your work, improve your sleep, be more creative and productive. Attracting a global audience, he has held sell-out public lectures and is followed by hundreds of thousands on social media. Better than any business book I’ve read, I’d highly recommend his content. |
Niamh McGurk Senior Account Executive |
While I may now be slightly too old for the traditional “Young Adult” book market, I couldn’t resist picking up Duck Feet by Ely Percy for the chance to read something in West Coast Scots that wasn’t a dreary poem. Set near where I grew up, it follows a group of friends as they navigate the rough and ready world of adolescence at Renfrew Grammar School. It tackles sensitive subjects such as drug use and teen pregnancy, without falling into the trap of painting working class life as one misery after another. Authentic and relatable, I wish this had been around ten years ago and I’ve already bought copies for all my younger cousins. |
Orlando Wind-Cowie Account Director |
I urge anyone who is interested in anything, to read anything written by Ben Macintyre. Macintyre’s work is both beautifully human and believable, which makes it very accessible. I’ve spent the last few years, much to the anticipation of those near to me at Christmas (both geographically and emotionally), only giving people his work. Loved ones from elderly family members to surly nephews and nieces have been bowled over by his storytelling and have retired to their rooms on Boxing Day, emerging only once having consumed every meticulously researched line of non-fiction wonder. However, if you can’t be arsed to pick up a book, his column in the Times is also worth a go. He even recently told the story of his own ‘tapping up’ by an intelligence recruiter whilst a student at Cambridge (of course)… |
