Bonus Episode - Working Lunches with James Harding

01/30/25 • 6 min

What can a lunch tell you about a colleague, or a job candidate? In this bonus episode, Founder and Editor of Tortoise Media, James Harding, discusses the power of the working lunch.

Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership in Moncler.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can a lunch tell you about a colleague, or a job candidate? In this bonus episode, Founder and Editor of Tortoise Media, James Harding, discusses the power of the working lunch.

Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership in Moncler.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previous Episode

James Harding

Around the table with friends we were talking about the kind of movies we like best. My vote was for movies about journalism — His Girl Friday, Broadcast News, The Insider, All the President's Men.

I don’t need to watch a movie to see my favourite journalist, I just call James Harding — the youngest ever editor of The Times, Washington editor of the Financial Times, and head of BBC News. In 2018 he founded Tortoise, an online news platform, with the principle of responsible, deep journalism. Slow news in the age of high-speed information.

James and I speak often about what’s happening in the world, our families, what he’s writing, where he’s going and a lot more. Today we’re in The River Cafe to talk about food and memories.

Two friends, a journalist and a cook together. That’s what I call news.

Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next Episode

Zoe Saldaña

A couple of months ago I discovered a sign on the door to my office, saying ‘Do not disturb.’ Zoe Saldana was inside, changing into her dress for lunch downstairs to celebrate the release of her new movie, Emilia Pérez. Afterwards I walked her to her car, talking about how to make the perfect rice. A few minutes later, we'd agreed to do a podcast together.

Since then, I've seen her everywhere, on screens and newspapers, magazines and posters. Last month she won a Golden Globe, and in February and March she’s a contender for both a BAFTA and an Oscar. Now, Zoe is back here with me on a Saturday morning in The River Cafe, to talk about food, family, and happiness.

Ruthie's Table 4, made in partnership with Moncler.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruthie's Table 4 - Bonus Episode - Working Lunches with James Harding

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:01.080

You were listening to Ruthie's Table four in partnership with Montclair,

Speaker 100:00:08.199

would you say.

Speaker 200:00:08.839

That, as a journalist and you're meeting someone, do you think you'd get a better interview or conversation with them in a restaurant over food or would you rather go to their office or in a separate room. You like to do it over food.

Speaker 3