Rephonic
Artwork for Pivotal States
United States
China
Trump Administration
Venezuela
Iran
U.S. Foreign Policy
Taiwan
Middle East
Nicolás Maduro
Russia
NATO
Greenland
Sanctions
Nuclear Program
Oil Market
Latin America
U.s.-European Relations
Western Hemisphere
Chavismo
Migration Crisis

In a fragmented and transactional world, the United States faces a host of challenges. To meet the moment, Washington needs new habits of statecraft, the courage to make difficult trade-offs, and the wisdom to work with a diverse array of global partners. The American Statecraft’s Pivotal States podcast series focuses on key nations that present strategic challenges and opportunities for the Unite... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes24Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Pivotal States

Latest Episodes

Germany is the key power in Europe today. The future of the continent—and America's relations with it—will hinge on decisions made in Berlin. Yet the relationship is under mounting strain amid the war with Iran, President Trump's claims on Greenland,... more

YouTube

In Washington, policymakers frame competition with China as a zero-sum contest for power. But does slowing China’s progress actually benefit Americans—or is it a fool’s errand? What might a more stable future for U.S.-China relations look like, and w... more

YouTube

For more than sixty years, Cuba’s revolutionary government has survived economic crises and sustained pressure from the United States. But today, the island may be facing its most severe test yet. Daily life is grinding to a halt, under intense econo... more

YouTube

From 'spheres of influence' to 'naked imperialism' to 'peace through strength,' analysts of foreign affairs are offering competing explanations for Trump’s foreign policy whirlwind.  Over the past year, he has rattled the world with tariffs, negotiat... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Europe Inside Out
Europe Inside OutCarnegie Europe
Carnegie Connects
Carnegie ConnectsCarnegie Endowment for International Peace
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels SproutsCenter for a New American Security | CNAS
The Foreign Affairs Interview
The Foreign Affairs InterviewForeign Affairs Magazine

Recent Guests

Jessica Chen Weiss
David Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS
Johns Hopkins University SAIS
Episode: Should Americans Fear China's Dominance?
Michael Bustamante
Associate professor of Cuban and Cuban-American studies, University of Miami
University of Miami
Episode: What Does the United States Want From Cuba?
Oliver Stuenkel
Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment and Professor of International Relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Does Trump Understand America's Real Interests in Venezuela?
Colin Kahl
Professor at Stanford University and former policy chief at the Pentagon during the Biden administration
Stanford University
Episode: Peril and Promise in the U.S.–China AI Race
Tom Wright
Former Senior Director for Strategic Planning on President Biden's National Security Council and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
Episode: Hard Limits: Testing U.S. Power in Ukraine
Ashley Tellis
Colleague at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Hard Limits: Testing U.S. Power in Ukraine
Dr. Ali Vaez
Leading expert on Iran and US policy toward Iran, author of several books and articles on the subject
International Crisis Group
Episode: America and Iran: Is a New Chapter Possible?
Jeremy Shapiro
Director of Research at the European Council on Foreign Relations
European Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: How Pivotal is the United Kingdom? The Future of U.S.-UK Relations

Host

Chris Chivvis
Host of Pivotal States

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 47 ratings
  • Best Think Tank Podcast Ever Produced

    This is the best podcast that any think tank has ever produced. It does an amazing job of exploring a complex set of issues through skilled storytelling. The guests are all compelling and the show itself is easy to listen to

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bfeldman916
    United States2 years ago
  • Excellent

    Well crafted overview of corruption in democracies, including interesting historical references, interviews, and case studies.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Km_anders
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A reliable source for nuanced foreign policy conversations.
Thoughtful, well-researched analyses that illuminate complex geopolitics.
Thought-provoking discussions that stay accessible and engaging.
High-quality guests who provide actionable insights for policy and business.
Narratives blend historical context with current challenges in a compelling way.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#28
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#230
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#49
Austria/Government
Apple Podcasts
#82
Sweden/Government
Apple Podcasts
#95
Ireland/Government
Apple Podcasts
#126
Netherlands/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Does the United States Want From Cuba?
Q: Can you summarize the main strategic options the United States has toward Cuba?
The options range from a radical Obama-style open normalization with broad embargo relief, to a maximum-pressure approach that could involve threats or even military options, with a middle path resembling Biden's cautious engagement but with ongoing pressure. Each option has trade-offs between humanitarian impact, credibility, and potential political change inside Cuba.
Does Trump Understand America's Real Interests in Venezuela?
Q: What kind of conversations are going on in Latin American capitals right now regarding Trump's actions in Venezuela?
Discussions reveal a polarization in views, where right-wing leaders celebrate U.S. intervention while left-wing leaders express concerns, reflecting on the historical context of U.S. involvement in the region.
Does Trump Understand America's Real Interests in Venezuela?
Q: How should we conceptualize the importance of Venezuela in terms of America's role in the world, America's role in the region?
Oliver explained that Venezuela is significant due to its large oil reserves, migration issues, and its unique political dynamics, which influence U.S. foreign policy and regional stability.
Does Trump Understand America's Real Interests in Venezuela?
Q: How did you feel when you woke up on Saturday morning and heard the news about the operation that had taken place overnight?
Oliver expressed mixed feelings, celebrating the end of the Maduro regime while also feeling unsettled about the way it happened, reflecting on Venezuela's capacity for domestic change versus external intervention.
America and Iran: Is a New Chapter Possible?
Q: What is your perspective on the current strategy being pursued by the administration regarding Iran?
The administration's approach is wise in trying to resolve the nuclear standoff without isolating it from other regional issues.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Pivotal States

What is Pivotal States about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on U.S. foreign policy, global power dynamics, and the evolving landscape of geopolitics, with deep dives into China, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and regional security. Episodes often scrutinize strategy choices—engagement versus coercion, alliances, and the role of technology like AI in national security—through historically informed analysis and current-policy implications. Noteworthy is the mix of scholars, former policymakers, and think-tank experts who bring rigorous, data-driven perspectives to timely dilemmas, including U.S.-China competition, Iran policy, Cuba, and Ukraine. The show frequently threads nuanced debates about sustaining national interests while navigating alliance politics and domestic cons... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Pivotal States?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Pivotal States. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Pivotal States and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Pivotal States get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Pivotal States, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Pivotal States?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Pivotal States, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Pivotal States have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Pivotal States has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Pivotal States?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Pivotal States:

1. Europe Inside Out
2. Carnegie Connects
3. Brussels Sprouts
4. Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes
5. The Foreign Affairs Interview

How many episodes of Pivotal States are there?

Pivotal States launched 3 years ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Pivotal States?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Pivotal States?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Pivotal States from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Pivotal States?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Pivotal States. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Pivotal States?

Recent guests on Pivotal States include:

1. Jessica Chen Weiss
2. Michael Bustamante
3. Oliver Stuenkel
4. Colin Kahl
5. Tom Wright
6. Ashley Tellis
7. Dr. Ali Vaez
8. Jeremy Shapiro

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days