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The EI Podcast

Engelsberg Ideas
Russia
China
Cold War
Ukraine
United States
Artificial Intelligence
Geopolitics
NATO
Liberty
Democracy
Soviet Union
Vietnam War
Japan
European Union
Vladimir Putin
France
Germany
Xi Jinping
Military Strategy
Mao Zedong

The EI Podcast brings you weekly conversations and audio essays from leading writers, thinkers and historians. Hosted by Alastair Benn and Paul Lay. Find the EI Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search The EI Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes372Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentHistory

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Latest Episodes

In the courtrooms of Nuremberg and Tokyo, the victorious Allies declared that civilisation must not merely win wars but also judge them, leaving a legal and moral legacy that persists to this day. Read by Leighton Pugh.

Image: The defendants at the ... more

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Daisy Christodoulou and Nicholas Wright join EI’s Paul Lay to discuss the crisis in British universities and how to fix it.

Image: Sightseers outside the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. Credit: Alamy

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From the gung-ho glamour of Ian Fleming’s James Bond to the decline and disorder of Mick Herron’s Slow Horses, postwar spy novels have captured the shifting myths, legends and caricatures surrounding the secret world. Read by Leighton Pugh.

Read th... more

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Marie Kawthar Daouda, author of Not Your Victim: How our Obsession with Race Entraps and Divides Us, speaks to EI’s Alastair Benn about the historical illiteracy of attempts to ‘decolonise’ Western culture. Instead, she argues that the moral complexi... more

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Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

DJ Taylor
Writer and critic analyzing post-war spy fiction
The EI Podcast
Episode: The anatomy of the spy novel
Marie Kawthar Daouda
Author of Not Your Victim, discussing the book and topics related to Western identity
Author, Not Your Victim
Episode: The roots of the West’s identity crisis
Joseph Ledford
Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Episode: Washington’s return to Latin America
Michael Auslin
Historian and writer invited to discuss the role of epic poetry in interpreting history
Episode: Can epic poetry revive History?
Adrian Wooldridge
Global business columnist at Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Episode: The need for muscular liberalism
Nigel Andrew
Entomologist and storyteller introducing the history of butterfly collecting
The EI Podcast (contributor)
Episode: The first butterfly collectors
Shiraz Maher
Reader in non-state actors at King's College London's Center for Statecraft and National Security
King's College London
Episode: The Gulf’s Iran dilemma
Phillip Dolitsky
Co-essayist on mega-influencers
Episode: The rise of the mega-influencer
Luke Moon
Co-essayist on mega-influencers
Episode: The rise of the mega-influencer

Hosts

Alastair Benn
Co-host of The EI Podcast; sometimes Deputy Editor of Engelsberg Ideas; frequently hosts discussions on history and culture.
Paul Lay
Co-host of The EI Podcast; Senior Editor at Engelsberg Ideas; engages in historical and geopolitical analysis.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 123 ratings
  • Very poor

    The usual partisan flimflam so ubiquitous in today’s podcast landscape. When I recognised an old Oxford professor (and quite a nasty one at that), I knew the show was officially irredeemable!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Excellent podcast

    This is a professional high-quality podcast. I have just listened to The Monroe Doctrine episode and found it very insightful hearing from Charlie Laderman. It was also excellently hosted by Jack Dickens. I’m looking forward to future episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rubyviking
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Thought provoking

    Such a well done show. Thoughtful, interesting and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bradbel
    United States7 months ago
  • The best podcast this side of the Potomac

    A truly excellent podcast with knowledgeable hosts, fascinating guests and a delightfully eclectic mix of topics. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    An honourable man
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Eclectic topics with strong hosts and credible guests.
Thought-provoking and engaging; fosters critical thinking.
Professional, high-quality discussions with knowledgeable guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#227
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#207
France/History
Apple Podcasts
#17
South Korea/History
Apple Podcasts
#67
Philippines/History
Apple Podcasts
#150
India/History
Apple Podcasts
#187
Netherlands/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Washington’s return to Latin America
Q: What is the endgame for the Western Hemisphere in this strategy—what would count as success?
Success would be security and stability across the region, with a working economy, restored oil and civil society, reduced transnational crime, and a multilateral, American-led integration that counters Chinese influence while preserving democratic norms.
Washington’s return to Latin America
Q: What does the institutional leadership look like in this shift, particularly in terms of diplomats and security chiefs?
Leadership combines seasoned diplomats bilingual in Spanish with a strong, security-focused policy team, including figures like Rubio and Landau, aiming to project a coherent, hemispheric strategy that blends diplomacy with strategic deterrence.
Washington’s return to Latin America
Q: Can you explain what the contours of this new strategy are and what the administration is attempting to do with it?
The strategy broadens homeland security to include a more expansive, multilayered approach that marries diplomacy, economic leverage, and military capability in the Western Hemisphere, with a focus on preventing malign influence from transnational criminal organizations and hostile states, while gradually shaping a regional order that aligns with U.S. interests.
The need for muscular liberalism
Q: What role do historical figures like Hobbes, Montesquieu, and Erasmus play in shaping liberal thought, and how do their ideas translate to today's world?
Hobbes introduced the idea of preserving individuals through a social contract; Montesquieu emphasized the spirit of laws and division of power within a liberal culture; Erasmus framed liberalism as a way of life rooted in doubt and liberty, all contributing to a nuanced, modern liberalism that values both rights and civic restraint.
The need for muscular liberalism
Q: How do you define liberalism, and what is its essential core beyond the different political flavors?
The core of liberalism rests on three pillars: individualism, tolerance or doubt, and constraints on power, with flexibility in how these are implemented across different institutional forms.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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Interests
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The EI Podcast

What is The EI Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This weekly series pairs sharp historical analysis with thought-provoking essays from leading writers and historians. Across recent episodes, topics span the enduring influence of mega-influencers on public discourse, geopolitical power shifts in multipolar worlds, and deep dives into literature, philosophy, and science. The conversations often blend rigorous scholarship with accessible storytelling, offering historical context and contemporary implications for media literacy, policy, and culture. A notable strength is the range of guests—from historians and political economists to literary critics and neuroscientists—providing varied perspectives on power, truth, and society, often challenging prevailing narratives. The format's strength l... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The EI Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The EI Podcast:

1. Past Present Future
2. The Foreign Affairs Interview
3. The Secrets of Statecraft
4. In Our Time
5. The Rachman Review

How many episodes of The EI Podcast are there?

The EI Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 372 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 The EI Podcast?

Recent guests on The EI Podcast include:

1. DJ Taylor
2. Marie Kawthar Daouda
3. Joseph Ledford
4. Michael Auslin
5. Adrian Wooldridge
6. Nigel Andrew
7. Shiraz Maher
8. Phillip Dolitsky

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