Rephonic
Artwork for This Is Not A Drill

This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

Podmasters
United States
Ukraine
Xi Jinping
Taiwan
China
European Union
Iran
Russia
Democracy
Cold War
Israel
Yemen
Uk Immigration Policy
NATO
Migration
Sudan
Middle East
Communist Party
Human Rights
National Rejuvenation

Exploring threats to global stability from Ukraine to China to the Middle East with host Gavin Esler – former BBC News presenter, Washington correspondent and host of Newsnight – plus Ukraine-based war reporter Oz Katerji and independent conflict analyst Emma Beals. This Is Not A Drill dives deep into the dangers, corruption, conflicts, disinformation, rivalries and ruthless realpolitik that are m... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes182Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsSociety & CultureNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for This Is Not A Drill

Latest Episodes

Trump’s shock announcement that he would be lifting economic sanctions on Syria has sparked celebrations in the streets of Damascus.

What are the consequences for the recovery of a nation rebuilding its state and infrastructure after more than a dec... more

As the crisis across the India-Pakistan border escalates, can the conflict be brought back from the brink?

To discuss the latest from the region and the wider context of a deep-rooted interstate rivalry, Gavin Esler talks to Christopher Clary, assoc... more

Ukraine and the US have reached a long-awaited agreement on a deal over American access to Ukrainian mineral resources. What does this mean for Ukrainian resilience in the fight against Russian invasion – and for a US-Ukraine relationship strained by... more

As a follower of This Is Not A Drill, we thought you might like to try our brand new, not-entirely-dissimilar podcast CRIME SCENE. Every week ex-Met Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe and former Mirror editor Alison Phillips lift the lid on how c... more

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

Tymofiy Mylovanov
President of the Kyiv School of Economics and former finance minister for Ukraine
Kyiv School of Economics
Episode: Ukraine mineral deal – What it means for Kyiv's fightback
Ngaire Woods
Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: Trump vs. the global order – How can the world rebuild without America?
Luke Harding
Guardian journalist reporting from Ukraine
The Guardian
Episode: Ukraine peace talks – What happens if Trump walks away? – with Luke Harding
Kenneth Rogoff
Harvard Professor of Economics
Harvard University
Episode: Bottom dollar – How Trump gave up America's grip on the global economy
Ciaran Martin
Former Chief Executive Officer at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, now Professor at Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government
Oxford University
Episode: Trump and Five Eyes – Will he break global intelligence?
Nicolai von Ondarza
Expert from Die Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (German Institute for International and Security Affairs)
Die Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
Episode: Germany rearms - Can Europe go it alone?
Sam Greene
Professor of Russian Politics at King's College London and Director for Democratic Resilience at the Centre for European Policy Analysis
King's College London
Episode: Peace talks deadlock – Can Putin stare Trump down?
Mike Martin
Former British Army officer and Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells
House of Commons Defense Select Committee
Episode: Can Britain win its race to rearm? – with Mike Martin MP
Klaus Dodds
Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway University, London
Royal Holloway University, London
Episode: Trump’s Greenland grab – A great power contest in the Arctic?

Host

Gavin Esler
Former BBC News presenter and host, with extensive experience in covering global affairs and politics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.7k ratings
  • Unlistenable

    I had high hope as I always rated Esler in his BBC days, but this is rendered unlistenable by the number of ads and the crass jingles.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Radionoush
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • 4 x 30 second adverts

    what a joke ! never witnessed such contempt for listener . in total 7/8 adverts in a 30 minute podcast . swerve it !

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jeffcooz1239
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Good but can improve

    Needs to stop the intrusiveness but it’s a bit boring, yawn. Could be a lot better.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Wassup my G how u doin
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Uplifting

    A great conversation

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NHS CLEANER
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • BBC hack

    Another ex bbc lefty yawn

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    very funny and clever pod
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews express concerns over the show's direction and balance, indicating a desire for more diverse viewpoints.
Listeners feel that the blend of political analysis and current affairs is informative and engaging.
The professionalism of the hosts and their interviewing skills are often highlighted positively.
Insights from varied experts are regularly praised, enhancing the quality of discourse.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#49
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#71
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#193
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#105
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#129
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#50
New Zealand/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ukraine mineral deal – What it means for Kyiv's fightback
Q: How difficult is that process going to be for Ukraine in terms of EU integration and dealing with corruption?
Tymofiy suggests addressing corruption as a public health issue and focusing on the institutional structure rather than viewing it as a moral failing.
Ukraine mineral deal – What it means for Kyiv's fightback
Q: How do you see the situation with the mineral deal between the United States and Ukraine?
Tymofiy highlights the importance of the deal, emphasizing the need for constructive accommodation of economic and political considerations.
Trump vs. the global order – How can the world rebuild without America?
Q: Do you think therefore what we have to do is figure out a way of having a different type of leadership in many of these organizations?
Woods argues that if America retreats from these organizations, countries like Japan and others could form new cooperatives to fill the void.
Trump vs. the global order – How can the world rebuild without America?
Q: Can we begin with the order within the Trump White House itself?
Professor Woods notes the disarray and unpredictability of the Trump administration, particularly in the Defense Department.
Germany rearms - Can Europe go it alone?
Q: How far is Germany likely to get involved in what Kirsten Stammer calls the Coalition of the Willing?
There is contemplation of military help, but public debate about ground troops in Ukraine is largely absent; historical context makes this politically sensitive.

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 This Is Not A Drill

What is This Is Not A Drill about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This content-rich series explores various global conflicts and geopolitical tensions, focusing on the implications of contemporary issues from Ukraine to China and the Middle East. Through deep conversations with experts and journalists, it addresses critical topics such as military strategy, disinformation, and international relations. Unique insights are often provided by the host and his team, who bring diverse backgrounds in journalism and political analysis, ensuring a blend of facts and engaging discussions that challenge conventional views. The show's dedication to uncovering complex narratives makes it a valuable resource for listeners interested in understanding the intricate dynamics shaping the world today.

Where can I find podcast stats for This Is Not A Drill?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for This Is Not A Drill. 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 This Is Not A Drill and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does This Is Not A Drill get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for This Is Not A Drill, 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 This Is Not A Drill?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for This Is Not A Drill, 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 This Is Not A Drill have?

To see how many followers or subscribers This Is Not A Drill 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 This Is Not A Drill?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Is Not A Drill:

1. The Bunker
2. Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell
3. Oh God, What Now?
4. American Friction
5. Origin Story

How many episodes of This Is Not A Drill are there?

This Is Not A Drill launched 4 years ago and published 182 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 This Is Not A Drill?

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 This Is Not A Drill?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for This Is Not A Drill 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 This Is Not A Drill?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of This Is Not A Drill. 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 This Is Not A Drill?

Recent guests on This Is Not A Drill include:

1. Tymofiy Mylovanov
2. Ngaire Woods
3. Luke Harding
4. Kenneth Rogoff
5. Ciaran Martin
6. Nicolai von Ondarza
7. Sam Greene
8. Mike Martin

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