Economist Podcasts

Two European startups are tackling the chromosomal abnormalities that make it difficult for older women to get pregnant. Their innovations might also prevent younger women from miscarrying. Belarusian culture looks increasingly Russian. And the world is taking a liking to biltong.

Guests and host:

• Catherine Brahic, environment editor
• Katie Bryant, senior video producer
• John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent
• Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
•

Topics covered:

• Infertility, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF),
• Belarus, Russia, Alexander Lukashenko
• Biltong, South Africa, meat
•

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of tomorrow’s legislative elections we consider the chances of a “blue wave”, the most influential demographics this time around and whether to expect election-administration trouble. Young people are deciding that bricks-and-mortar investment is not as dependable as the stocks-and-shares kind. And 100 years on from his death Harry Houdini still has lessons to teach about getting and staying famous.

Guests and host:

• Charlotte Howard, United States editor
• Kennett Werner, Washington correspondent
• Vinjeru Mkandawire, news editor
• Caitlin Talbot, digital culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• America’s midterm elections
• property, securities, investing
• Harry Houdini, fame

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

We examine the record of the man at the helm of India’s government. As protests pose a fresh threat, where will he take the country next? From New Hampshire to Virginia, our American-midterms series takes you to the races you might be missing. And the life of Winston Churchill’s last personal secretary.

Guests and host:

• Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief
• Daniella Raz, US correspondent
• Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
• Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Narendra Modi, India, Cockroach-Janta party
• America’s midterm elections, abortion, California
• Cecily Gemmell, Winston Churchill

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s richest person does not say much nice about philanthropy, and his foundation does not say much about itself. Our correspondent digs deeper. The next stop for our midterm-elections series is Kansas, where a Republican-seeming Democrat has an unlikely shot at the Senate. And an examination of the received wisdom about how many steps to walk in a day.

Guests and host:

• Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer
• Daniel Knowles, Midwest correspondent
• Sam Wikeley, science correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Elon Musk, Musk Foundation, philanthropy
• America’s midterm elections, Kansas
• wellness, walking, received wisdom

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Binyamin Netanyahu has underperformed but so has his main opponent, Gadi Eisenkot. Who will form a government? We decipher what the messy results mean for Israel. Our American-midterms series heads south to Georgia. And how film critics and audiences have agreed to disagree.

Guests and host:

• Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
• Rebecca Jackson, Southern correspondent
• Doug Dowson, data journalist
• Ọrẹ Ogunbiyi, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Israel, Binyamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot
• America’s midterm elections, Georgia, Jon Ossoff
• Film critics, cinema, the box office

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

It would be the first public listing from a frontier-AI firm—and perhaps the largest IPO of all time. We comb through the filing to understand how the company is thinking about itself and its industry. Our American-midterms series continues in the battleground state of Alaska. And scientists consider how to redefine the second.

Guests and host:

• Miles Kruppa, technology correspondent
• Aryn Braun, West Coast correspondent
• David Adam, science writer
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Anthropic IPO, AI
• America’s midterm elections, Alaska
• the second, metrology, atomic clocks

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, staged a historic comeback to win a fourth term. We ask how he did it, and what he must do next. Each day this week our correspondents in America are focusing on crucial midterm-election races; today we start in Texas. And tote-bag economics: why so many businesses are getting in on selling merchandise.

Guests and host:

• Ana Lankes, Brazil bureau chief
• Rebecca Jackson, southern correspondent
• Lizzy Peet, researcher
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Brazil election, Lula, Flávio Bolsonaro
• America’s midterm elections, Texas, Ken Paxton, James Talarico
• economics of “merch”

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigeria is suffering a worsening security crisis, compounded by a lean harvest, global aid cuts and rising energy prices. So why is President Bola Tinubu likely to win January’s election? Europe is struggling to develop a rival to Starlink and reduce reliance on American satellites. And our obituaries editor recalls the improbable career of author and conman Jeffrey Archer.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.

Guests and host:

• Ore Ogunbiyi, Africa correspondent
• Jonathan Rosenthal, international correspondent
• Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Nigeria, Bola Tinubu
• Starlink, Ukraine, Musk, OneWeb, Eutelsat
• Jeffrey Archer, Kane and Abel, perjury

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Muhammad bin Salman, crown prince of Saudi Arabia, was forced to postpone his annual investment summit. His other big bets on the kingdom’s future are also floundering. Sam Bankman-Fried, a crypto-billionaire supporter of effective altruism, calls our correspondent from prison. And things look hazy in Singapore and other Asian countries.

Guests and host:

• Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
• Shera Avi-Yonah, US business correspondent
• Vishnu Padmanabhan, Asia correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• MBS, Saudi, Davos in the desert, Future Investment Initiative
• Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX, effective altruism
• Indonesia, Singapore, wildfires, El Niño

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump’s administration is turning against Ukraine. But as European powers confront trouble at home, they are struggling to replace American support. Are US private science institutions entering a golden age? And the climb in art crime.

Guests and host:

• Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editor
• Shera Avi-Yonah, US business correspondent
• Vendeline von Bredow, senior Germany correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Ukraine, Witkoff, Zelenksy
• Scientific research, National Science Foundation
• Art theft, Louvre, Museum for Applied Art

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

What started as student protests ballooned into national lawlessness. The disorder plays into the hands of France’s political extremes; expect more of it. In Zimbabwe white farmers are returning to work land taken by Robert Mugabe a quarter-century ago. And our columnist considers the delicate wording that might indemnify AI firms if the bots happen to wipe out humanity.

Guests and host:

• Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief
• John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent
• Andrew Palmer, “Bartleby” columnist
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• France riots, French politics
• Zimbabwe, agriculture, white farmers
• AI, extinction-level events, legalese, parody

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The province of Alberta will vote on secession today. It is unlikely to go ahead, but the separatist vibe is just one of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s many headaches. Our correspondent examines China’s efforts toward brain-computer interfaces, finding the country is closing the gap with America. And Britain’s “bug superhighways” link up the shrinking number of lush insect habitats.

Guests and host:

• Robert Russo, Canada writer
• Don Weinland, China business and finance editor
• Bella King, news editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Canada, Alberta, separatists, referendum
• China, brain-computer interfaces
• Britain, insects, conservation

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent weeks, AI has solved hundreds of previously unanswered maths problems. Our correspondents ask if machines can do the same in other areas of science and what role human researchers may play. Why crisps are getting chunkier and chocolate chewier. And celebrating the life and work of author Annie Dillard.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.

Guests and host:

• Alex Hern, AI writer
• Alok Jha, science editor
• Avantika Chilkoti, global business writer
• Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Scientific research, mathpocalypse, AI
• Crisps, snacks, texture, crunchtok
• Annie Dillard, nature, obituary

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under Alice Weidel’s leadership the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a right-wing populist party, has been riding high. A series of successes in state elections have brought it closer than ever to power at national level. Ms Weidel is perhaps best known for her calls for “remigration” and criticism of Germany’s support for Ukraine. She spoke to The Economist’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, for The Insider, our video show for premium subscribers. Hear their conversation in full.

Watch the show—and sign up to the Insider newsletter.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Their struggles to get jobs or buy homes once propelled political movements. Now many millennials are out-earning their parents and in positions of power. Our correspondent explains the transformation. Sophisticated tech tools are being used to sway voters in Israel. And why you should hold your tongue to high standards.

Guests and host:

• Callum Williams, senior economics writer
• Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent
• Bella King, digital news editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Millennials, home ownership, unemployment
• Israel, election, Netanyahu
• Tongue-scrapers, dental hygiene

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump claims to have brokered a deal to import Russian diesel and an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. As attacks on Kyiv continue, our deputy editor says Trump is risking Ukraine’s future for a mid-term bounce. India’s government is failing to quell Gen Z protests. And how song binds us together and brings joy.

Guests and host:

• Edward Carr, deputy editor of The Economist
• Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
• Joel Budd, Britain social affairs editor
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Ukraine, diesel, energy ceasefire, Starlink
• Cockroach party, Modi, Abhijeet Dipke
• Singing, Sacha Langton-Gilks, choir

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago Donald Trump created the Board of Peace to rebuild Gaza. Yet for many Palestinians, life is even harder, as the ceasefire is repeatedly violated, crime is rising and poverty rife. Why record labels are in a spin over AI music. And Japan is struggling to benefit from the global matcha boom.

Guests and host:

• Nicolas Pelham, Middle East correspondent
• Henry Tricks, US technology and media editor
• Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Gaza, Board of Peace, Hamas
• AI music, slop, Warner Music Group
• Matcha, Japan, Kagoshima

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend, Yemeni rebels struck Saudi Arabia’s international airport in the deadliest attack on a Gulf Arab country since the Iran war began in February. Our correspondent reports from Riyadh. How European manufacturers are adjusting to high energy prices and war. And the revival of writing by hand.

Guests and host:

• Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent
• Guy Scriven, global business writer
• Caitlin Talbot, culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Saudi Arabia, Houthis, Yemen, Riyadh airport
• European carmakers, energy prices, tariffs
• Cursive, handwriting

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Decades of messaging have not worked, so governments are trying new ways to get citizens to eat well, from scary labelling to taxing the junkiest foods. Will it work? The death of a plague researcher in Russia is made more mysterious by the government’s resolute lack of transparency. And a tribute to Cyril Hilsum, the inventor behind ubiquitous flat-screen displays.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.

Guests and host:

• Slavea Chankova, health-care correspondent
• Alex Turner, defence editor
• Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• diet, public health, health policy
• Russia, plague, bioweapons
• Cyril Hilsum, liquid crystals, flat-screen displays

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bond yields across the rich world keep ticking up. We take a global look at where the risks are mounting most, and just how much worry is warranted. What might have once seemed fanciful is becoming real: delivering daylight to dark parts of the world using mirrors in space. And the fatal earnestness of “The Social Reckoning”.

Guests and host:

• Alex Domash, economics correspondent
• Tim Cross, senior science writer
• Tom Wainwright, culture correspondent
• Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• bond yields, monetary policy, animal spirits
• satellite technology, darkness and light
• “The Social Reckoning”, Aaron Sorkin

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.