Rephonic
Artwork for Conversations

Conversations with Bill Kristol

Bill Kristol
Ukraine
Russia
Donald Trump
Anti-Semitism
Joe Biden
China
United States
Israel
NATO
Biden Administration
Hamas
Iran
2024 Presidential Election
European Union
Republican Party
Democratic Party
World War II
Bakhmut
Kharkiv
Hezbollah

Conversations with Bill Kristol features in-depth, thought-provoking discussions with leading figures in American public life.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes308Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Conversations

Latest Episodes

How has the second Trump presidency differed from the first? How did Trump’s experiences during his time out of office and on the campaign trail in 2024—including his trial in New York and the assassination attempts—shape him? What can we expect in t... more

YouTube

Where do things stand in the United States nine months into the second Trump administration? Where do things stand in Ukraine, and what are the implications of the war for the future of liberal democracy around the globe? In this Conversation, the di... more

YouTube

“It’s hard for me to imagine a voter that votes in 2026 that doesn’t have Trump on their mind.”

According to veteran Democratic strategist James Carville, Trump "keeps jacking the stakes up, every day” and remains the focal point of American politic... more

YouTube

The second Trump administration’s approach to China so far differs from the more consistently hawkish posture of the first term. 

To analyze the increasingly dangerous state of our geopolitical situation and the threat posed by China, we are joined ... 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.

Recent Guests

Anne Applebaum
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist, expert on Eastern Europe and authoritarianism.
The Atlantic
Episode: Anne Applebaum on Ukraine, Europe, Trump, and the Danger of Authoritarianism
Scott Lincicome
Vice President for Economics and Trade at the Cato Institute, columnist for The Dispatch
Cato Institute
Episode: Scott Lincicome on Trump's New Tariff Regime: Unpredictability, Uncertainty, and Risk
Ray Takeyh
Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and expert on Iran and Iranian-American relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Ray Takeyh on the War between Israel and Iran—and the Future of the Iranian Regime
Jason Furman
Professor of Economics at Harvard University, former Deputy Director of the National Economic Council and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Obama administration
Harvard University
Episode: Jason Furman on the Trump Tariffs and the US Economy
A.B. Stoddard
Veteran correspondent and analyst of Congress and political issues.
Episode: A.B. Stoddard on Trump’s Second Term
Steve Vladeck
Professor of Law at Georgetown University, expert in Supreme Court and federal courts, and author of a book on the shadow docket.
Georgetown University
Episode: Steve Vladeck on the Trump Administration, the Courts, and the Rule of Law
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
Expert on immigration policy at the American Immigration Council
American Immigration Council
Episode: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on Immigration in Trump’s Second Term: What Will Happen?
Jack Goldsmith
Harvard Law Professor and former Assistant Attorney General
Harvard University
Episode: Harvard’s Jack Goldsmith on the Coming Trump Presidency
John Bolton
Former National Security Advisor and Ambassador to the UN, served in multiple Republican administrations
Episode: John Bolton on Trump’s Cabinet Picks and What to Expect in His Second Term

Host

Bill Kristol
Host of Conversations with Bill Kristol, who engages in deep discussions with leading figures across various sectors in American public life, often focusing on political analysis, legal topics, and current events.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • Timothy Snyder

    Thank you so much for interviewing this great thinker of our times. All of your conversations are so great — in-depth and intelligent and, even when the content is deeply troubling, a source pf calm for me.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    poodaddle
    United States11 days ago
  • Tim Snyder

    Great conversation - truly appreciate Professor Snyder’s insights on the No Kings protest and on the ground reporting on Ukraine.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    THF Seattle
    United States12 days ago
  • Well informed

    Great podcast with well informed host-guests and up to date political commentary

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vicmold
    United States12 days ago
  • Intelligent conversations

    Bill Kristol has interesting and timely guests, asks good questions and allows the time and space for those guests to answer. Bill is bright, thoughtful, willing to entertain new ideas or different stances and open to new things. I learn and enjoy -- even when sometimes I think I can skip an episode, I am always glad to have listened.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EllaMcC
    United States13 days ago
  • Good Show with James Carville!

    The best shows are ones with interesting guests or I especially liked the English professor who would talk about Shakespeare

    Bill K has a great voice -I wish there were more podcasts

    They are good length

    And they are always in depth

    It's always best when it's a political operative-it be great if Mike Murphy scaraMucci

    Historians such Mitchum

    Beschloss

    Doris kerns Goodwood

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nyc-lb
    United States22 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Many find the long-form format refreshing, as it allows for comprehensive discussions rather than sound bites.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful and intelligent conversations, often noting the depth of analysis on pressing political issues.
Reviewers frequently highlight the quality of guests and the engaging style of the host, which enhances the learning experience.
Overall, audience feedback indicates a strong preference for nuanced discussions that move beyond mere headlines.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#132
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#178
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#187
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#197
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#76
Ireland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#104
Norway/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Aaron Friedberg on the Trump Administration's Surprising China Policy
Q: How has Trump's administration impacted the bipartisan consensus on China?
Trump's mixed record on China has fractured the bipartisan consensus, raising questions about future U.S. policies and commitments.
Aaron Friedberg on the Trump Administration's Surprising China Policy
Q: What is the current state of the U.S.'s military and diplomatic policy towards China?
The U.S. policy towards China seems unresolved and is not being discussed robustly, suggesting an unclear strategy moving forward.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick: Immigration and Deportation in the Trump Administration
Q: What will the history books say about the first six months of the Trump Administration regarding immigration and deportation?
The administration made immigration a top priority and significantly increased resources dedicated to enforcement.
Ray Takeyh on the War between Israel and Iran—and the Future of the Iranian Regime
Q: What indicators or events should we watch for to understand how the situation will develop in Iran?
Key indicators include potential American intervention, how the Israeli military success unfolds, and how the regime responds to evolving internal dynamics and public perception.
Ray Takeyh on the War between Israel and Iran—and the Future of the Iranian Regime
Q: What does the current internal cohesion of the elites in Iran look like?
The internal cohesion of the elites in Iran appears to be weakened, and there is significant dissatisfaction among various factions and even within security organizations.

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 Conversations

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

Expect in-depth discussions that revolve around significant contemporary issues in politics, governance, and international affairs. Topics often include U.S. foreign policy, the intricacies of the legal system under recent administrations, and pressing economic challenges, particularly in relation to tariffs and immigration policies. The conversations not only cover the implications of specific events but also explore the broader ideological battles shaping democracy and society. Unique in its long-form interview style, the format provides an opportunity for experts to delve deeply into their areas of expertise, making complex topics accessible to a broader audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for Conversations?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Conversations. 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 Conversations and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Conversations get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Conversations, 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 Conversations?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Conversations, 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 Conversations have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Conversations 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 Conversations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Conversations:

1. The Mona Charen Show
2. Hacks On Tap
3. To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes
4. Shield of the Republic
5. The Bulwark Podcast

How many episodes of Conversations are there?

Conversations launched 11 years ago and published 308 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 Conversations?

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 Conversations?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Conversations 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 Conversations?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Conversations. 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 Conversations?

Recent guests on Conversations include:

1. Anne Applebaum
2. Scott Lincicome
3. Ray Takeyh
4. Jason Furman
5. A.B. Stoddard
6. Steve Vladeck
7. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
8. Jack Goldsmith

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