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Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell

Arthur Snell
Ukraine
Russia
Iran
United States
Israel
NATO
Brexit
Syria
Migration
European Union
Donald Trump
Climate Change
Saudi Arabia
France
Hezbollah
China
European Parliament
Yemen
Assad Regime
Gaza

Behind the Lines with Arthur Snell is a geopolitics podcast. Every week we give the listener access to the best informed people to help you understand this turbulent world and get a feel for the things that will matter in the future. I am on Bluesky here and you can read some of my thoughts on world affairs here arthursnell.substack.com/ If you enjoyed this podcast please spread the word a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes161Founded3 years ago
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Latest Episodes

How to fix the UK economy and pay for defence, with Chris Coghlan MP

If you would like to support this podcast please consider taking out a paid subscription to my Substack arthursnell.substack.com or if you don't want the hassle of a subscription y... more

As huge protests that began with high school students sweep through France and a student-led movement takes over the government of Serbia, another authoritarian political leader, India's Narendra Modi finds himself under threat from a Gen Z-led polit... more

An update on the situation in Iran and the Gulf region with Charlie Gammell.

If you would like to support this podcast please consider taking out a paid subscription to my Substack arthursnell.substack.com or if you don't want the hassle of a subscr... more

Listen to Luke Harding describe the depths of Trump's betrayal of Ukraine, of the West and of the rules-based international order.

If you would like to support this podcast please consider taking out a paid subscription to my Substack arthursnell.su... more

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Recent Guests

Akanksha Narain
Independent researcher and writer on South Asian politics, with a background in journalism and political and security risk analysis.
Episode: The Cockroach Revolution: the Gen Z political movement upending Indian politics
Charlie Gammell
Iran expert and former diplomat
Episode: Iran, the Middle East and Trump: chaos continues, with Charlie Gammell
Luke Harding
Guardian journalist, Russia and Ukraine correspondent
The Guardian
Episode: Luke Harding on Trump's Betrayal of the West
Katja Bego
Scholar at Chatham House, author of Deep Connections
Chatham House
Episode: Deep Connections: Kaja Bego on the undersea cables that underpin the global economy.
Garth St Clair
Citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, drug demand reduction prevention specialist and talk show host
Iron Dependency (NGO)
Episode: Banned from Britain: One Man's Migration Story
Iona Craig
Freelance journalist specializing in Yemen
Yemen Data Project
Episode: The Houthis Strike Back - Iona Craig on the Red Sea and the Crisis in World Energy Markets
David Wells
Counter-terrorism and international security expert
Former UN counter-terrorism researcher; independent consultant
Episode: When the bad guys start using AI: David Wells on counter terrorism and AI
Steve Feldstein
Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Bytes and Bullets: Steve Feldstein on how tech is reshaping modern warfare
Jimmy Rushton
British security analyst and journalist based in Kyiv
Kyiv Independent
Episode: Ukraine update: deep strikes on Russian oil and a shifting US position

Host

Arthur Snell
Host of Behind The Lines

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 465 ratings
  • Consistently brilliant serious exploration of geopolitics and relatedatters. Arthur is a great host and finds truly brilliant experts on different topics

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Mark Hazelwood
    2 months ago
  • Consistently outstanding

    Arthur Snell continues to consistently deliver first rate interviews with outstanding authors. We’ll miss the podcast during the summer break

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OlivierMP
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • The ‘experts’

    Why are you interviewing a British person on what’s going in Ukraine? Are there no Ukrainians you could have asked?

    This is a bugbear of mine that in the anglosphere there is this belief that no one else can give an opinion other than someone else from the anglosphere and then a lot of context of the issue being discussed gets lost in this filter.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Takievi
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Great episode on the “in-between States”

    Hannah Lucinda Smith is first class, another brilliant episode. Keep it up Arthur!Gammell.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OlivierMP
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Latest episode on Iran!

    This weeks episode on the straits of Hormuz and its closure makes for the most sobering listening possible! The fact that this analysis isn’t across the media worldwide just underlines how unprepared and myopic we have become! Horrendous times ahead

    Thanks again Arthur for your analysis and guest choice

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    agah1971
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host for letting guests develop their ideas without interruptions.
Insightful, expert guests that elevate understanding of current events.
High regard for the depth and nuance of geopolitical analysis.
Guests are clearly knowledgeable and well-prepared.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#72
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#167
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#161
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#210
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#24
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#63
Ukraine/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Cockroach Revolution: the Gen Z political movement upending Indian politics
Q: Could you say a bit about that?
The first protest phase focused on alleged leaks in the NEET exam, the cost and stress of retaking it, and demands for education reform and the education minister's resignation.
The Cockroach Revolution: the Gen Z political movement upending Indian politics
Q: What is this cockroach party? And what is it about?
The Cockroach Janta Party began as a response to the Chief Justice of India comparing unemployed young people to cockroaches. It rapidly gained an online following but is not a registered political party.
Iran, the Middle East and Trump: chaos continues, with Charlie Gammell
Q: What's life like for ordinary Iranians in the aftermath of what has been extraordinarily dramatic events in their own country?
Gammell describes economic disruption from the internet shutdown, heightened domestic security, the risks of protesting during conflict, and the continuing pressure of state violence and executions.
Iran, the Middle East and Trump: chaos continues, with Charlie Gammell
Q: Who is running Iran at the moment?
Gammell says power is shared among IRGC figures, people close to Mojtaba Khamenei, and elected officials, with disagreements about how to preserve the Islamic Republic.
Luke Harding on Trump's Betrayal of the West
Q: So what is your best summary of how Trump interacts with both Putin and the Russian state?
Trump essentially functions as a Russian asset, using diplomacy and rhetoric in ways that advance Russian interests, while Moscow cultivates leverage over him through intelligence and financial ties, creating a complicated, multi-layered relationship.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Behind The Lines

What is Behind The Lines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A high-signal geopolitics program that consistently invites expert guests—ranging from security analysts and journalists to scholars and policymakers—to unpack global power dynamics, regional conflicts, and the evolving tech-safety landscape. Conversations often center on great-power competition, defense policy, war/peace diplomacy, and the politics of Europe, the Middle East, and the broader Indo-Pacific. A notable edge is the host's emphasis on calm, informed deliberation, with guests who bring on-the-ground reporting, historical context, and policy analysis. This blend makes it a strong fit for decision-makers, PR teams, and brands seeking insight-driven exposure in geopolitical and policy spaces.

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Which podcasts are similar to Behind The Lines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind The Lines:

1. Quiet Riot
2. This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler
3. The Bunker – Your daily news Deep Dive
4. Oh God, What Now?
5. Disorder

How many episodes of Behind The Lines are there?

Behind The Lines launched 3 years ago and published 161 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Behind The Lines?

Recent guests on Behind The Lines include:

1. Akanksha Narain
2. Charlie Gammell
3. Luke Harding
4. Katja Bego
5. Garth St Clair
6. Iona Craig
7. David Wells
8. Steve Feldstein

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